Recapping the People and Events that Highlighted 2014 in Winthrop

January 9

Town Clerk Carla Vitale administered the oath of office to Council President Peter Gill,  Councilors Paul Varone, Nicholas DeVento, and Russell Sanford and new Councilor-at-Large Richard Boyajian,  School Committee members William Holden and Brian Perrin and new member Dawn Sullivan.  Lawrence Holmes and Attorney Joseph Boncore were sworn in as members of the Winthrop Housing Authority.

The first storm of the 2014 hit Winthrop residents causing little damage but produced spectacular pictures.

January 16

Councilor Nicholas DelVento was elected as vice president of the Town Council.

Assignments at the new Middle/High School facility as the current Middle School will house the High School students as well.

January 23

The third snowstorm of the season had Winthrop residents shoveling out.

January 30

New recycling ‘toters’ were distributed to Winthrop homeowners.

The Winthrop High School hockey team made it six straight beating rivals Saugus and Marblehead.  The Page brothers were standouts in the effort.

February 6

Playmakers will present “Alice in Wonderland.”

Debra A DelVecchio was named as Associate Justice of the East Boston District Court.

 

February 13

Playmakers ponder selling the Playhouse on Hermon Street.

WHS Hockey forward Buddy Page has reached the 100- point milestone.

February 20

Whinthrop Hockey Micahel Eruzione was featured on the Lifetime Television.

Town Department of Public Works employees work through another snowstorm.

February 27

Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo pushes anti-bullying legislation.

Winthrop seniors will be able to have an open campus.

March 6

Gilbane Inc. was recommended as the project manager for construction of the new combined High School/Middle School building by the School Building Assistance Committee.

Winthrop High School Drama Society competed in the Massachusetts Theater Guild Drama Festival.

March 13

Winthrop High Girls lost to to St. mary’s 47-45 in the North final.

Town offciials are accepting application for HOME rehab program.

March 20

Massachusetts Gaming Commission will hold a public hearing on the casino proposal at Suffolk Downs.

Parks Committee will be holding a Family Fun Night.

 

March 27

Bobbie Finocchio will step down as Cummings School Principal to assume a position in Amherst, MA

School Committeeman Bill Holden has concerns about the proposed modular classrooms proposed for the Cumming School due the the construction of the new High School/Middle School complex.

April 3

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority has agreed to put its food waste program on hold.  The plan called for food waste trucks to use the streets of Winthrop with food waste to the plant on Deer Island.

Winthrop residents were none too happy about the casino plans at Suffolk Downs at a hearing before the Winthrop Council.

April 10

Winthrop resident Bob Deeb has turned into a one man renewal team reinvigorating several Winthrop landmark building such as the Wadsworth Building on Winthrop Street and Michael’s Mall on Putnam Ave.

Winthrop School Committee cut the proposed budget submitted by the Winthrop School Department by more than $800,000.

 

April 17

Al Legee has been named the new Commissioner of Inspectational Services.  Legee previously worked for the City of Chelsea.

Winthrop resident Tom Derderian authors a book on the Boston Marathon.

April 24

Local business owner Jo Pino has audtioned for the ABC-TV Show Shark Tank.

Its official, the Playmakers voted to sell the Playhouse on Hermon Street.

May 1

The Honorable John MacDonald was sworn in as the new First Chief Justice of the East Bosotn Court.

Viking Pride has started the countdown for a great time remembering the almost 40 years of history at the old Winthrop High School on Main Street.

 

May 8

The long delayed health study on the effects of Logan Airport on residents was released.  The study had been planned to be released in 2013.

Town officials are heading to mitigation with owners of the proposed casino in Revere.

May 15

Winthrop residents were given a tour of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authroity facility on Deer Island.

New grade configurations were approved by the Winthrop School Committee.  Pre K through Grade 3 will be at the Gorman Fort Banks School.  Grades 4 through 7 will be at the Cummings School, and grades 8 through 12 will be at the Middle School.

 

May 22

Eric Moor steps down as the Health Director.

Department of Public Works is asking for volunteers to help complete the renovation at Pond St. Park.

May 29

Town officials have signed a deal with the owners of the proposed casino in Revere.  The Town will receive $2M in annual payments.

Winthrop Farmers’ Market will be returning to French Square for the summer months.

June 5

Local Nursery School teacher and owner Elaine Marley retired.

Local waters will be a lot cleaner as oyster beds will be placed at three locations. Oysters are known as rinsing the water quality wherever they are placed.

June 12

145 students received their diplomas from Winthrop High School following graduation ceremonies on Miller Field.

Members of the Winthrop Historical and Improvement  Association held their annual Strawberry Festival at the Deane Winthrop House located on Shirley Street.

 

June 19

Councillors approve a $5,000 transfer to study the proposed $3M in  improvements at Miller Field.

Chief Petty Officers Brian Pettee was picked to serve aboard the USS Constitution in Charlestown.

June 26

Winthrop Marketplace celebrated its 15th year in business.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new Winthrop High School/Middle School on the site of the Winthrop High School complex on Main Street.

 

July 3

Winthrop Beach has earned a ‘A’ ranking in water quality from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay organization.

Local resident Betsy Shane had a  key role during the Boston Pops Show on July 3.  Betsy helped with producing the afternoon show that led upto the annual fireworks show on the Esplanade in Boston.

 

July 10

Winthrop Library Dirtector Peter Struzziero was one of the keynote speakers at the American Libtray Association event in Las Vegas.  Struzziero talked about the changing ways that libraries must deliver their services.

Many Local residents took part in the Annual Horribles Day Parade.

July 17

Plans are progressing for the renovation of Coughlin Park in Point Shirley.  Linda Bressard, chair of the Winthrop Parks Committee said that the Town received a state grant of $200,000 for the project and Town officials have pledged another $50,000.

The Winthrop Chamber of Commerce held their annual Legislative Luncheon that included local officials as well as Sheriff Stephen Tomkins, Rep. Robert DeLeo and Senator Anthony Petrucelli.

July 24

Winthrop Police have charged a 22 year old man with allegedly breaking and entering into several homes.

The annual Sand Sculpting Festival on Revere Beach drew many local residents to view the works of art on the beach.

 

July 31

Police arrest a Winthrop man for alleged heroin distribrtion.

Police are planning many events for the annual National Night festivities.

August 14

Veterans were honored with cookout at the Landing.  The event was coordinated by John Floyd of the Elks and Tim Gover of the Coast Guard.

Wintrop Explorer Post 99 attended the annual National Law Enforcement in Indianna.  The local post is made up of High School and college age students who are training to become secret servicemen, police officers and soldiers.

August 21

Dr. Bornstein, a family pediatric doctor is retiring after more than 50 years at TLC Pediatrics.

Trudy Macero has received the Unsung Heroine Award from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women at a State House ceremony.

August 28

School Bells rung for Winthrop Public School students as they started the new academic year.

Winthrop Elks held their annual Help Hook the Cure Stripped Bass Derby at the Lodge on Washington Ave.

September 4

A truck carrying sand for Winthrop Beach turned over Brown Circle in Revere.  Brown Circle was closed for more than two hours as crews cleaned up the mess.

Candidates are making their final push as Primary Day is less than a week away.

September 11

Donations to the Winthrop Public Schools from organizatins and individuals exceed more than $6M.

Winthrop voters shied away from the polls on Tuesday as only 19 percent of the elgibile voters cast their ballots in the state primary.

The Winthrop High School football team came back from a three touchdown deficit to beat Saugus.

September 18

Councilors received an update on the Massachusetts Open meeting Law from their town counsel.  The update was to make sure that Councilors knew about the any changes that might have been  added to the law.

The Winthrop High School Girls soccer team bested Saugus to win their season opener.

September 25

The Republican Town Committee came out in force to back the efforts of Charlie Baker in his bid to become Governor.

Statewide coordinators of the Vote Yes to repeal the casino law has found support in Winthrop.

October 2

The Winthrop Playmakers will present “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

The Belle Isle Festival took place as many local residents took part in the festivities that included pumkin decorating, hayrides and music from Billy Goodspeed.

Vikings continue their undefeated streak as they defeated Revere 21-0.

October 9

Council delayed vote on a $2,8M water main project.  Councillors are seeking added information to expand the project.

Gorman School has earned top rankings for performance in the MCAS scores.

October 23

Massport has donated $170,000 to East Bsoton Neighborhood Health Center to address early symptoms of childhood asthma and adult COPD in Winthrop.

A group addressing heroin and opiad addiction in area communities including Winthrop spoke before the Winthrop Council about its plans to help reduce the number of local overdoses.

 

October 30

The Winthrop Vikings clinched thier Northeast Conference Title by defeating Danvers 27-16.

Massachusetts Water Resources Authority officials have agreed to barge all their food waste to Deer Island rather than use trucks that would have to go through local neighborhoods on their way to the facility.

 

November 6

Winthrop teachers Gorman/Fort Banks Elementary are looking for new ways to help local students score better in the MCAS.

Electricity users will see their bills increase due to constraints in the supply of natural gas.

November 13

Winthrop officials have a clearer picture of the health need of residents due to the work of a local committee and the Massachusetts General Hospital.  The assessment highlighted three areas of concern– substance abuse disorders, environment and cancers.

Undefeated Winthrop High Football squad will take on undefeated Lynnfield for the Division 4 North Title.

November 20

Tax rate dropped from $15.58 per thousand to $14.31 for local homeowners.

East Boston Neighborhood Health Center received “Top Places to Work” award by the Boston Globe.

November 26

Town officials unveil an ecomonic roadmap for development.  The study was a collaboration between Winthrop officials and the UMass Boston.  The study showed that the population has decreased from 20,335 to 17,497 in the last four decades as well a decline in local jobs.

Winthrop Chamber held its annual holiday lighting festival in French Square.