News Briefs

COMMISSIONER FOR THE BLIND VISITS WINTHROP

The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) will be conducting a series of listening sessions. These sessions will seek to solicit consumer, provider and community perspectives on a range of services provided by MCB, as well as allow for input and feedback on other topics of importance.

MCB is inviting consumers, families and all key stakeholders to attend sessions nearest them. MCB Commissioner, Paul Saner will be on hand to hear your insights.
For those who cannot attend in person, comments may be submitted in writing to the Office of the Commissioner, MCB, 600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 or by email: [email protected]

EGG HUNT AND CHARACTER BREAKFAST

On Saturday, March 19, from 8:30am – 11:30am at the Fort Banks School. Tickets available at Parks and Rec office, or online at Winthroprec.com, Winthrop Pro Shop and Winthrop Book Depot. Join us for breakfast, games, music, facepainting, egghunt and fun with your favorite characters. Tickets: $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Call 617 846-8243 for more information.

FRIENDS OF BELLE ISLE

The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh will hold their annual meeting on Sunday, March 20 from 2 – 4 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church Hall, 222 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop. The meeting is free and open to the public. The featured speaker will be Sean Riley, DCR’s Forest and Parks Supervisor for Belle Isle Marsh Reservation who is an expert on owls. Come and learn about the Snowy Owls that live in our area and how they are banded by Sean and others and then tracked on their migration. The Friends of Belle Isle Marsh is an environmental advocacy organization whose mission is primarily educational. Refreshments will be served at the meeting.

Veterans and Military Family Benefits

IBEW Local 103 presents the 2016 Boston Building Trades’ Veterans and Military Families Benefits Expo Vets & Family of All Ages Welcome Saturday April 16, 2016 – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm IBEW Local 103, 256 Freeport St, Dorchester, MA

Multiple organizations will be on hand to talk with veterans and military service members about education, financial planning and healthcare resources. Veteran Benefit Administration and state Veteran Service Officers will be available for veterans to apply for federal and state disability compensation and other benefits.

Vendors will include representatives from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VBA and VHA), the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services and the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea, the Massachusetts Veteran Service Officers Association, other Massachusetts State Offices, Educational Institutions and Non-Profits.  For more information or to RSVP Contact: Keith Jermyn at [email protected] Free Parking & Free Admission!

Humans of Winthrop

Attention Photographers or Anyone with a Camera! You are invited to participate in a project that will result in a collection of photos representing the Winthrop community. Interested residents of all ages should contact the library to register to take part in this fun project. Please register by Friday, April 8.

There are a few guidelines to follow:

• All photos are to include at least one person as the main

focus. But, any number of people may appear in a photo.

• All photos should be taken in Winthrop during the month

of April 2016. See http://www.humansofnewyork.com/

if you need inspiration.

• Each photographer may submit up to 10 photos.
• All submissions may be exhibited or included in a

published book, and will be added to the Library’s

historical archive on the Noble Digital Heritage, with

proper artist credit.

• All entries will be judged by a panel whose decisions are

final.

• Have fun!!

Winthrop Public Library

2 Metcalf Square

Winthrop, MA 02152

617.852.1703

www.winthroppubliclibrary.org

Community completes $600k streetlight conversion

Project will reduce electricity consumption, utility costs

Winthrop Town Manager James McKenna announced this week that the town in February, completed the $606,500 LED Streetlight conversion project that was approved by the Winthrop Town Council last year. The project was funded through a tax-exempt lease purchase, which will allow the town to pay off the cost of the project over a 10-year period, with no impact on the local taxpayer.

“This is one of several important projects we are doing in Winthrop to reduce our energy costs and become a more energy efficient community,” said McKenna. “This town-wide conversion to LED lights gives the town new fixtures with a  visually appealing and uniform standard, at a cost that is paid for through our energy savings.”

The project was designed to reduce the amount of electricity the town uses annually and help to drive down utility costs for the community. The streetlights were installed by Siemens Inc., beginning in November and a total of 1,218 town owned streetlights were converted to LED streetlight heads, which use less electricity and require less maintenance. The life expectancy of the new LED streetlight fixtures and bulbs is up to 20 years and all of the parts and materials are warrantied for 10-years by the manufacturer.

The new streetlights are expected to use 578,308 fewer kilowatt hours of electricity than the old bulbs and generate annual savings in electricity costs and maintenance of approximately $97,500. The town’s annual lease payment of $77,000 will be paid out of the savings generated by the use of the new bulbs, meaning the Town Council did not have to appropriate any new money to fund the project.

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Hong Kong Dragon helps kids

Hong Kong Dragon on Woodside Avenue in Winthrop has graciously offered to donate 20 percent of your total bill – for those who dine in or take out – on Friday, March 25 between 5-10 pm – to the Ginormous CLimb, a fundraiser run by the Suffolk County Children’s Advocacy Center to fight child abuse.

Coupons can be obtained from the Winthrop Police Department and the Winthrop Transcript.

Please consider helping the Children’s Advocacy Center by eating a great meal from Hong Kong Dragon and/or joining the Winthrop Police team, “Winthrop’s Finest”, as we ascend 60 floors to the top of the John Hancock Building on Saturday, April 2. Visit the CAC website for more information on the Ginormous Climb.

Fireworks donations sought

Fire Chief Paul Flanagan has announced that the town fireworks in Winthrop will go off on July 3. Flanagan said they are looking to raise $30,000.

Donations for the fireworks can be mailed to: Winthrop Fireworks, 40 Pauline St., Winthrop, MA 02152

Drone Alert

The Winthrop Noise, Air, Pollution and Airport Hazards Committee (AHC) advises all Winthrop residents that effective February 21, 2016 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASD), commonly referred to has “DRONES”, which weigh more than .55 pounds, must be registered with the FAA by the owner, age 13 and above, which is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and be subject to all FAA regulations as to operation, with failure to register subject to civil penalties up to $27,500 and criminal penalties up to $250,000 and/or improvement. In addition, no Drone may be flown within five (5) miles of an airport without prior FAA approval. Consequently, since the Town of Winthrop lies within the specified five (5) mile limit perimeter of Logan International Airport, flying of any and all Drones here in Winthrop without prior notice to and approval from the Airport Operator and Air Traffic Control Tower is strictly prohibited, subject to above stated requirement and penalties.

A word to the wise should be sufficient. Contact the FAA registry at uas.faa.gov for registration and operational data.