News Brief

Absentee Ballots Available for Presidential Primary

Absentee Ballots can be mailed to you or dropped off at the Town Clerk’s office. Download your Absentee ballot form at: https://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/sites/winthropma/files/news/englishabsente e-ballot-application.pdf

Early Voting

Prior to the enactment of this new law, the only way a registered voter was able to vote prior to Election Day was through absentee voting. Although absentee voting will still be available for registered voters who qualify, only those who will be absent from their city or town on Election Day, or who have a disability that prevents them from going to the polls, or have a religious belief preventing the same, are legally allowed to vote by absentee ballot. Unlike absentee voting, early voting is for every registered voter. Registered voters do not need an excuse or reason to vote early. Early voting can be done in person or by mail. In Winthrop, early voting can be done in person in the front hall by the main entrance of Winthrop Town Hall. Monday, Feb.  24, 8am to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.  25, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.  26, 8am to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb.  27, 8 a.m. to 7pm Friday, Feb.  28, 8 a.m. to noon. For additional information or clarification please email cvitale@town.winthrop.ma.us.

Democrats to Elect Delegates to State Convention

The Winthrop Democratic Town Committee will hold a caucus on Wednesday, March 4, 6:45 p.m. at the Robert A. DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard St., to elect delegates and alternates to the 2020 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across the state will gather at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, 300 Arcand Drive, Lowell, MA 01852 on Saturday, May 30, 2020.

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Winthrop. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women. Youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be “add-on” delegates. The Robert A. DeLeo Senior Center building is handicapped accessible.

Details on the rules can be found at www.massdems.org.  For general information on the Convention or the Democratic Party please contact 617-939-0800 or contact@massdems.org.

Flood Insurance information posted

With the past months flooding due to the extremely heavy rainfall, and recent severe storms in the New England area, New Englanders should prepare for the hurricane season (June I thru Nov 30). Homeowners, renters, and business owners are urged to purchase a policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Flood Insurance

Homeowners insurance does not typically cover flooding, so you may need to purchase flood insurance. At Floodsmart.gov you can learn how to buy flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Remember: it takes 30 days from date of purchase for flood insurance to take effect.

FEMA assistance is not the same as insurance. Assistance only provides the basic needs for a home to be habitable. Insurance covers more damages. NFIP payment are not dependent on state or federal disaster declarations.

Got to www.floodsmart.gov to learn more about any property’s flood risk, estimate and NFIP premium or locate an insurance agent who sells flood insurance. Visit www.ready.gov/floods for flood information and safety tips.

Veterans Service News

The next Veterans/Families Food Banks will take place on Wednesday, March 4th at the American Legion (next to Town Hall). Pick-up is from 10-11 a.m. If you are new to our Food Bank, then you must preregister with Veteran Services.

There is a local scam going around calling Veterans and asking for personal information with promises to get rid of debt, help with claims and other bogus offers. The calls are coming from (617) 752-6891. Please do ot give him/her any of your personal information!

Vietnam Veterans Books are available at Winthrop Veteran Services. The books are beautiful hardcover book covering the Vietnam War, titled: 50th Commemoration – A Time To Honor. Vietnam Vets have priority in receiving these books.

Veteran Services does all Memorial Dedications on the Sunday prior to Memorial Day. If you would like a Veteran who has passed, to have a Memorial Dedication, please contact Winthrop Veteran Services as there are requirements that must be met.

Students named to the Dean’s List AT URI

The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that more than 6,000 undergraduates have qualified for the fall 2019 Dean’s List. The students represent nearly all of Rhode Island’s cities and towns, all six New England states, New York and New Jersey, and many other states and nations.

The following local students have been named to URI’s fall 2019 Dean’s List:

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Dani Zanelli

To be included on the Dean’s List, students must have completed 12 or more credits during a semester for letter grades with at least a 3.30 quality point average. Part-time students qualify with the accumulation of 12 credits with a 3.30 quality point average.

Massa Named to President’s List at Merrimack College

Gabriella Massa of Winthrop has been named to the President’s list at Merrimack College for the Fall semester of 2019.

She is the daughter of Anthony and Gina Massa of Winthrop.

An Accounting major, Gabriella is a Senior at Merrimack who is also presently studying for her Masters, along with her undergraduate studies in Business Administration.  She is also a member of the Honors Program, an Honors Peer Mentor and an FYE Mentor.

The only Catholic Augustinian college in New England, Merrimack College is an independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,200 undergraduates, continuing education and graduate students from 34 states and 36 countries, comprising schools of liberal arts, science and engineering, health sciences, education and social policy, and business. The college’s 220-acre campus is situated approximately 25 miles north of Boston in North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges & Universities/Medium Programs institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a top-50 Regional University/North in U.S. News, and a top-10 Most Transformative institution in Money Magazine.