Opinions

CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR JIM McKENNA

We’re so pleased that the Winthrop Town Council voted to extend the contract of Town Manager James McKenna, who has done an outstanding job as the leader of our town since his arrival here. McKenna has brought many innovative ideas and advanced so many development projects in the town. From the E.B. Newton School (which became the Winthrop Cultural Center), to the Dalrymple School residences, to the former Winthrop Hospital site (Arbors at Winthrop), to the Temple Tifereth (Feldman Seaside Apartments), to the brand new middle school/high school project and others, James McKenna, with the aid and support of the Town Council, Supt. of Schools John Macero, the School Committee, town boards, the School Building Assistance Committee (for the school project), has gotten things done in a positive way.

Of course, it has been so beneficial to our town that our state legislative delegation of Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo and Sen. Anthony Petruccelli have brought grants and funding to Winthrop for various programs and projects, helping Winthrop to become the best it could be.

Above all, James McKenna has brought a sense of professionalism to our town government, providing the highest  quality of services to our residents and improving the town’s financial picture. It is no wonder that whenever there is a vacancy for a town manager’s position, James McKenna’s name pops up as the leading candidate even when he hasn’t expressed an interest in that position.

One of the most visible accomplishment is just how much better cosmetically the town looks and James McKenna would be the first to tell you that he couldn’t have accomplished that without the work and dedication of DPW Director Steve Calla and the DPW employees.

The committee members who selected James McKenna as our town manager deserve a lot of credit, as does the Town Council for appointing him to the position. We’re glad that Town Manager McKenna, assistant to the Town Manager Joseph Domelowicz Jr., and the staff will be guiding our town for years to come.

Thank you, PATRICK J. LALLY

It’s always great to be in the company of Patrick J. Lally, aide to United States Senator Edward J. Markey, as we were Monday when the Senator had a speaking engagement at the Jordan Boys and Girls Club in Chelsea. Patrick has been a great friend to the town, previously as an aide to Markey, when Ed was the congressman representing the Town of Winthrop. Patrick has always looked out for the best interests of our town and been accessible to our residents, even as his responsibilities have expanded as an assistant to Sen. Markey. What we’ve also noticed during our times spent at events where Senator Markey is in attendance, is the amount of respect and admiration that Patrick has earned from his colleagues in government service and the Senator’s constituents in Winthrop and other communities.

We tend to take for granted the esteem and prestige there is in being a member of the United States Senator’s team and having a direct connection to the United States Senate and the federal government, but Patrick Lally has been a true champion for our town and we can see why Senator Markey has entrusted him with the responsibility of a leadership position and being his liaison to communities such as Winthrop.

Thank you, Patrick Lally, for your outstanding work.

CHEERLEADING TITLE

The more we hear about the Winthrop High cheerleaders’ national championship and the long journey home from South Carolina to Richmond, Virginia, to Winthrop, the more legendary the achievement becomes in WHS sports history. With only one senior on the team, Jessica Vigliotta, the team prevailed over squads from across the country to bring home Winthrop’s first-ever national championship.

We understand that there may be a sign installed at the town border proclaiming this phenomenal achievement by the 2015 National Champion Winthrop High School Cheerleading Squad — and what an appropriate and fitting honor that would be for the girls.