News Briefs

Police cracking down on handicap parking

If you’re thinking about pulling into a handicapped parking space think again. Winthrop Police are always on the lookout for violators, said Police Chief Terence Delehanty, and this past weekend they found several violators and slapped them with hefty fines.

At 3:58 p.m. last Friday an officer stopped at Cumberland Farms at 48 Revere St. to find a yellow Crown Victoria taxi parking in the handicap spot. The back seat passenger came out of the store and the driver came out with a coffee. A $300 parking ticket was issued to the driver.

Shortly after, at 7-11 at 43 Revere St. the officer observed a black Acura parked in the handicap parking space without a placard or plate. A $300 parking ticket was issued.

At 9:48 p.m. last Friday night a Winthrop officer a blue 2000 Mercury parked in the handicap parking spot without a placard or plate. A $300 parking ticket was issued for the violation.

Winthrop weathers the freeze

Despite the frigid, below normal, below zero temperatures over the past weekend, the town of Winthrop did fairly well, with no major water main breaks and no fires.

About 35 homeowners and apartment dwellers did, however, have to contend with burst or frozen pipes, according to Fire Chief Paul Flanagan.

“We had everything from minor pipe bursts to multiple ceilings coming down, from single family homes to apartment buildings,” Flanagan said.

The first call for assistance came in at 10:24 a.m. for a water meter which had frozen and burst at a Shirley Street residence. Steve Calla, director of Public Works, said his crews did go out to assist where they could.

Calls then came in from residents on Cliff Street, Wilshire, Bartlett Road, Shore Drive, Waldemar Avenue, Court Road and South Main Street. All reported burst pipes and one was concerned about a past sewer pipe issue.