News Briefs

Resident Parking Stickers Available Online

Applications for 2023 Resident Parking Permits are now being accepted. Yellow 2022 permits expired on Saturday, Dec. 31. There is a $5.00 fee for a parking permit and a fee of $10.00 for a visitor’s placard whether you apply online or by mail. These fees are waived for senior citizens, or residents with a valid handicapped parking placard or plate issued by the RMV.

In-Person applications are no longer accepted except under special circumstances by appointment. All applications are only accepted online or by mail. Motorists must remove expired stickers prior to affixing the new 2023 sticker. Resident parking stickers must be affixed to the lower, driver’s side corner of the windshield. Failure to affix them to the window in this location may result in a parking ticket being issued. City Hall systems is the Town’s vendor for parking permit fulfillment. If there is an issue with your order, you will receive an email from City Hall Systems. Please do not disregard this email. Doing so will delay fulfillment of your order.

Online Municipal Services

Residents can pay taxes, parking tickets and apply for resident parking stickers on the town website at https://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/ or by dropping payments and applications in the drop box located at the Town Hall front door.

Residents having difficulty completing a transaction online can email the following departments directly for further assistance.

• Assessor’s Office – [email protected]

• Building Department – [email protected]

• Harbor Master – [email protected]

 â€¢ Library – [email protected]

 â€¢ Parks and Recreation – [email protected] s

 â€¢ Town Clerk – [email protected]

 â€¢ Tax Collector – [email protected]

• Town Manager – [email protected]

Explore Nature with DCR

The following Winter Programs at DCR’s Belle Isle Marsh Reservation in East Boston have been announced.

All programs are free and open to the public. An adult must accompany children. Reasonable accommodations available upon request. Please follow all current COVID guidelines: Mass.gov/COVID. Dress for the weather including possible ice on the ground. Programs are cancelled during inclement weather. For more information call (781) 656-1485 or email [email protected]

If you would like to receive regular emails about our current program schedule, please send an email message to [email protected].

An Oasis for Birds

7:30 am–8:30 am                                                              

Saturdays, Feb. 4 & 18 

Explore DCR’s Belle Isle Marsh and vicinity, known birding hotspots with a total yearly bird count of about 265 species. We will search for Snowy owls, other raptors, native sparrows, finches, and waterfowl. Expect to move to different locations by car or on foot. Appropriate for adults and teens. Dress for the weather including possible ice on the ground. Programs are cancelled during inclement weather. Co-sponsored by the Brookline Bird Club and the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh. Meet at DCR’s Belle Isle Marsh Reservation parking lot, 1399 Bennington Street, East Boston.

Note that this program meets every month of the year on the 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month except when the Saturday is a state or national holiday.

Winter Wildlife Activities

9:00 am—10:00 am                                 

Saturdays, Feb. 11 & 25          

Wednesday, Feb. 22 

Can you imagine living outside the entire winter like the coyotes do at Belle Isle Marsh in East Boston? Join a DCR Park Interpreter as we explore the trails of the marsh searching for signs (tracks, scat and chews) left by the wild creatures that are active during the winter. Appropriate for all ages. Dress for the weather including possible ice on the ground. Programs are cancelled during inclement weather. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Belle Isle Marsh. Meet at DCR’s Belle Isle Marsh Reservation parking lot, 1399 Bennington Street, East Boston.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees nearly 500,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike trails, watersheds, dams, and parkways.   Led by DCR Commissioner Doug Rice, the agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our commonwealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr

Winthrop Offers Weather Safety Tips for Residents

With forecasted temperatures expected to be significantly below freezing Thursday night through Saturday the town would like to remind residents to review and follow several key safety tips.

Gale watch in effect from Friday morning through Saturday morning…

• WHAT…Northwest winds 20 to 30 kt with gusts up to 40 kt and waves around 3 feet possible.

• WHERE…In Massachusetts coastal waters, Boston Harbor.

• WHEN…From Friday morning through Saturday morning.

• IMPACTS…Strong winds can cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility.

• ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Strong winds will also lead to dangerously low wind chills Friday and Friday evening.

Wind chill watch in effect from late Thursday night through Saturday afternoon…

• WHAT…Dangerously cold wind chills possible. Wind chills as low as 30 below zero.

• WHERE…Portions of northern Connecticut, central, eastern, northeastern, southeastern and western Massachusetts and northern and southern Rhode Island.

• WHEN…From late Thursday night through Saturday afternoon.

• IMPACTS…The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

• ADDITIONAL DETAILS…In addition to the dangerously low wind chills, strong northwest winds may cause power outages Friday afternoon and evening.

The Winthrop Fire Department asks that residents follow these tips from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency:

Minimize outdoor activities for the whole family, including pets.

If outside, dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer.

Be a good neighbor. Check with elderly or disabled relatives and neighbors to ensure their safety.

Additionally, because of the extreme cold, other areas of your home and vehicles may be affected:

Increased fire risk due to unsafe/improper use of alternative heating sources or people trying to thaw frozen pipes with blowtorches or similar devices.

If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Locate the area of the water pipe that might be frozen. Likely places include pipes running against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation.

Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, or wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame devices. A blowtorch can make water in a frozen pipe boil and cause the pipe to explode. All open flames in homes present a serious fire danger, as well as a severe risk of exposure to lethal carbon monoxide.

Possible increase in incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning from unsafe/improper use of alternative heating sources.

Ensure you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as alternate emergency heating equipment in case you lose electricity.

When utilizing alternate heating sources, including a fireplace, wood stove or space heater, make sure chimneys have been properly cleaned and devices are properly ventilated

Always operate generators outside and away from your home.

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