Winthrop health needs assessment deadline is April 7
For the first time, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop are combining forces to conduct a comprehensive regional Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and design a Community Health Im-plementation Plan (CHIP). Major hospitals, along with health centers, human services providers and non-profits that serve ar-ea residents, are working with municipal leaders, health depart-ments and the boards of health of each community to develop the plan. Residents of the three communities are being urged to go online and fill out a survey that asks about local health issues and other aspects of community life.
The effort is being co-coordinated by the North Suffolk Public Health Collaborative and the Mass General Hospital Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) with the ultimate goal of identifying, prioritizing and addressing the most urgent health needs faced by each community and the region. Such assess-ments are often used to apply for targeted funding to help ad-dress community needs.
Every three years, most hospitals conduct a community health needs assessment to meet requirements set by the Affordable Care Act. The Massachusetts Attorney General also requires such a report and is encouraging regional collaboration among stakeholders, including among healthcare systems who share the same service areas. “This is one of the first regional assess-ments of its type in Massachusetts,†said Jeff Stone, Director of the North Suffolk Public Health Collaborative.
According to Town Manager Faison, “This is an important pro-cess for Winthrop. I frequently stress the need for data and analysis at the municipal level so that we can improve services we provide to residents. It is exciting to partner with our neighbors because public health issues can impact our communities in different ways.â€
The collaborators have set an ambitious timeline. The CHNA and CHIP will be completed by Sept. 30, and will result in a guide for a three-year community health improvement plan that all pro-viders can use. The process includes intensive data collection–hundreds of resident surveys, interviews and focus groups as well as collecting data from other agencies such as the MA De-partment of Public Health and the US Census.
A website has been created, www.northsuffolkassessment.org, to provide information to anyone who may be interested. People who live or work in Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop are encour-aged to complete a survey. It is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic, reflecting the languages most frequently spoken in the communities.
Chamber of COmmerce STREET POLE BANNER PROGRAM
Advertise 24 hours a day, seven days a week with our Street Pole Banner program. Banners are a great way to create attention-grabbing signage for your business and help us beautify our streets. Catch the eyes of tourists, residents and businesses for an en-tire year. Enhance your brand and have a sustained presence in Winthrop. Costs are: $500.00 on the thoroughfare and $600.00 at an intersection. We will honor renewals and if we have locations available, we will open those to any Chamber member busi-ness interested in having a banner.
Banner Guidelines:
All text will be set up in one of our pre-determined printed layouts. Winthrop Chamber of Commerce membership must be current for your business to participate. Banners will be ordered upon receipt in full. Banners may not be installed on signal lights, poles currently occupied by other members or on poles outside of competitors. We cannot be respon-sible for wear or tear on the banner (caused by wind and weather). Any wear and tear will be determined by the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce on one of the two maintenance dates scheduled during the year and if repairs need to be made the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce will get quotes and let you know if you are interested in repairing the banner. This maintenance will only occur on two (2) dates as scheduled by the Chamber. Therefore, no individual repairs or maintenance will be performed on any banner except for these two dates as scheduled by the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce.
STREET POLE BANNER CONTRACT: Payment can be made via credit card or check. If paying with a credit card please call the office so we can process it. Checks should be made payable to the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce. Deadline: April 9, 2019
Banner Rates: $500 for Thoroughfare and $600 for Intersections
Dog License Late Fee HAS STARTED
Beginning April 1, dogs can be fined by the Animal Control Officer if not properly licensed per MGL Chapter 140 Section 137. Residents were notified in the following ways:
• License form was included in your annual Census. This mailing went to every household in Winthrop over 12,000 homes received this census and license notification in January.
• Press release on WCAT and the Winthrop Tran-script.
• Email blast sent to residents that have signed up for Town Manager’s Blog–sign up
at https://www.town.winthrop.m a.us/subscribe
• Licenses in 2018 clearly stated that the license was an annual license due again in January of 2019.
Therefore, any dog found not to be properly licensed will be subject to a citation fee as well as a late fee. Please license dogs immediately online or via regu-lar mail. Owners are required to have, in their pos-session ,proof of rabies, even if you think it is on file, that is the law. The online link is below, please call our office with any questions. A list of properly li-censed dogs for 2019 is available for inspection in the Town Clerk’s Office.
http://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/town- clerk/pages/dog-licenses.
2019 SENIOR CITIZEN PROPERTY TAX WORK
Applications for the 2019 Senior Citizen Property Tax Work -Off Program are now available at the Senior Center and online at https://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/council-aging/pages/senior- citizen-tax-work-program-2019.
Applications are due back to the Senior Center by 2pm on Wednesday, April 17th. For more infor-mation on the program, please visit our website, or contact the Senior Center at 617-846-8538.
WPL APRIL SCHEDULE
Check out what’s happening at the Winthrop Public Library, Metcalf Square in April! Our programs are always free.
We will continue with the following hours through the spring:
Monday 10-6
Tuesday 11-8
Wednesday 10-8
Thursday 11-8
Friday 10-5
Saturday 10-5
For Adults
Tuesday, April 2, 16, and 30, 11:30 a.m. :
Tech Drop-In – Afternoon Sessions
and
Tuesday, April 9 and 23, 5:30 p.m. : Tech Drop-In – Even-ing Sessions
On Tuesdays, we offer free basic computer help and assistance with library resources. Come by and work with staff on: basic computer skills, ereaders and mobile devices, web searching, email, library resources (Overdrive, Gale Databases, Ances-try.com, and more). A full list of dates can be found here.
Wednesday, April 3, 10:30 a.m. : Mystery Book Club
WPL&M Mystery Book Club continues “A Literary Road Trip.†The next book will be McNally’s Gamble by Lawrence Sanders. View the full 2018-2019 list here.
Tuesday, April 9, 6:00 p.m. : Knitting Book Club
Bring a craft and come in for a lively talk about the book!
Tuesday, April 16, 1:30 p.m. : Violet the Clown
Come and see Violet’s fun-filled transformation into Violet the Clown! Violet will also perform a magic show. All ages are wel-come at this school vacation week event.
Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 p.m. : You, Me, and Them Book Club
This book group hopes to facilitate discussion about social val-ues using popular literature. March and April’s book is Not Quite Not White by Sharmila Sen.
For Teens and Tweens
Monday, April 1, 3:30 p.m. : Tween Library Group
Do you want to have a say in what happens at the library? Do you want to help plan fun things to do here? Join us for our Tween Library Group meeting! There will be snacks! Open to grades 5-8
Friday, April 5, 3:15 p.m.: Teen Library Council Meeting
Join us for our monthly meeting to discuss teen issues at the li-brary and plan programs for teens!
Tuesday, April 16, 1:30 p.m.: Violet the Clown
Come and see Violet’s fun-filled transformation into Violet the Clown! Violet will also perform a magic show. All ages are wel-come at this school vacation week event.
Friday, April 19, 3:15 p.m. : Teen Book Club
Young adults reading YA books once a month. Snacks will be provided!
For Kids
Monday, April 1, 8, 15, and 22, 11:45 a.m.: Toddler Craft Time
Toddlers can join us every Monday for a craft project.
Tuesday, April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 3:00 p.m. : Kids Cre-ate Club
A hands-on activity time for children on Tuesdays after-school. Open to grades 3-6.
Wednesday, April 3, 10, 17, and 24, 10:30 a.m.: Little Wiggles
Clap your hands, stomp your feet & wiggle with the beat! This is a high-energy music and movement program where your chil-dren will be wiggling and giggling throughout. Ages 2-5 years.
Wednesday, April 3 and 17, 3 p.m.: Lego Club
Lego Club is on the first and third Wednesday of every month in the Hazlett Room.
Friday, April 5, 12, 19, and 26, 10:30 a.m. : Storytime – In-fants& Toddlers
and
Friday, April 5, 12, 19, and 26, 11:30 a.m. : Storytime – Preschoolers
Storytime is every Friday in the Children’s Room.
Wednesday, April 10 and 24, 3 p.m.: Pokémon Club
Pokémon Club meets the second and fourth Wednesday in the Hazlett Room. Trading is optional.
Tuesday, April 16, 1:30 p.m. : Violet the Clown
Come and see Violet’s fun-filled transformation into Violet the Clown! Violet will also perform a magic show. All ages are wel-come at this school vacation week event.
Library Announcements
Next Trustees Board Meeting:
Thursday, April 11, 5:30 p.m.
(Open to the Public)
We will be CLOSED on Monday, April 15 for Patriots’ Day
You can always find more information about our programs on our calendar, on Facebook, or by calling 617-846-1703.