News Briefs

FUNDRAISER FOR ZONTA CLUB

The Zonta Club of Chelsea is having a fundraiser comedy night at Giggles Comedy Club on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. Lenny Clarke is the featured comedian. Tickets are $30. Contact [email protected] for more info. Each year the Zonta Club donates gift certificates for Winthrop families in need during the holiday season. They also provide several scholarships for graduating high school seniors.

TAKING PIE ORDERS

The Winthrop High School Class is taking orders for Thanksgiving pies. Place your order the a Mike’s Pastry pie by Nov. 13 and pick up at St. John’s School on Tuesday, Nov. 24 between 2:30 and 5 pm. Pies will be delivered in town between 3:30 and 5:30 pm for a $2 fee. Any questions call Karen Perrin at 617-642-0017 or Cathy Norris at 617-233-2723.

CLOTHING DRIVE

A clothing drive trailer will be in the Larsen Rink parking lot October 30-November 7. This is sponsored by the Winthrop High School Parent Teacher Committee. Donations may include clothing, coats, jackets, pairs of shoes, linen, bedding and small toys. Any questions email: [email protected] or call 617-846-8987.

POST LOOKING FOR MEMBERS

American Legion Post 146 is conducting its Annual Membership Drive. Please see Winthrop’s Veteran Service Officer, Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli in town hall for membership information or call her at 617-846-3065

DELEO ISSUES STATEMENT

Speaker of teh House Robert DeLeo has issued the following statement regarding an article on the State Probabtion scandal that appeared in Wednesday’s Boston Globe.

“The Globe article that appeared today distorts completely my testimony on the Probation Department investigation by the Supreme Judicial Court and selectively quotes my testimony out of context.

For example, the article claims that I didn’t have a clue about the probation budgets being considered by the legislature.

The actual questions and answers involved one specific line item included in 7 years of state budgets, each state budget being for approximately $29 billion and each containing more than hundreds of line items and hundreds of pages.  I was asked if the numbers for the probation budget appeared to be correct.  I answered from memory that I didn’t have a clue.  That I could not speak to the specifics of any one line item in multiple state budgets of that magnitude is certainly understandable.

The article points out that I was unaware of a patronage system within the Probation Department that involved rigged hiring and promotional policies.  That is accurate.  I testified that I knew elected officials and others recommended candidates to the Probation Department but did not know how many were recommended or how many were hired.

The article repeats what has previously been reported on by the Globe, that Charles Murphy testified that he was told to spare the probation department of any budget cuts, a statement about which I have no memory. What the Globe conspicuously fails to report was that Mr. Murphy further testified he sought a budget cut of 10% from the probation budget but, in fact, the budget was cut 14% that year.  It is clear, under those circumstances, that the probation budget was not spared nor did I take any action to protect it from cuts. Unfortunately for the Globe, the facts don’t support its narrative.

The article also suggests that O’Brien played a role in my election as Speaker of the House and that jobs in the Probation Department were used to influence the votes of individual legislators.  Yet, not one legislator testified that their vote was secured by a job in probation or they were influenced in any way by a job offer for a constituent.  All testified under oath that no such action occurred.  Neither the Globe nor the United States Attorney has any evidence to the contrary because such conversations never occurred.

I testified truthfully and without immunity before Paul Ware and stand by the testimony I gave under oath.

It is quite disturbing that transcripts of testimony that were unavailable to me and under protective orders of the United States District Court and the Supreme Judicial Court are in the possession of the Boston Globe.  I ask that those violations of these Court Orders be investigated by the proper authorities.”

PARK COMMITTEE TO HOLD FUNDRAISERS

The Winthrop Parks Committee will be holding two fundraisers in the next few months and we wanted to let you know about them!

One is on Saturday, Oct 31st (Halloween) starting at 10am. We’ll be having a Pooch Parade where people can bring their dogs for a parade and talent contest. It will be at Ingleside Park and we’re hoping to have the MSPCA, rabies clinic, microchipping clinic, demonstrations from State Police dogs and more! There will be prizes for the winning pooches!

The second will be our second annual Turkey Trot 5k race on Saturday, November 28th starting at 10am behind the High School near Ingleside Park.

OPEN HOUSE AT NORTHEAST VOKE

The Northeast Metro Tech High School in Wakefield will hold an Open House on Weds., Nov. 4, from 6-8:30 p.m.

There will be guided tours and demonstrations. Grade 9 applications are due by March 1, 2016. For additional information, please call (781) 246-0810 x1302.

CLASS OF 1966

RHS Class of 1966 is having a reunion next year.

The 50th Reunion is currently assembled and looking for classmates. To get in touch, contact [email protected].

The event will take place on Sept. 17, 2016.

NARFE TO MEET NOV. 4

The North Shore Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 4 at 1:00 pm at the Torigian Community Life Center, 79 Central Street, Peabody. A guest speaker, Alexander Stathopoulos, Blue Cross Blue Shield Field Service Executive, will discuss 2016 changes in BC/BS Health Benefits Programs. A business meeting will follow which will include a raffle and refreshments.

CLARK TO HOLD SENIOR FAIR

Congresswoman Katherine Clark will hold her First Annual Senior Resource Fair in Winthrop on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Join experts from agencies and non-profits around the community to learn more about nutrition and wellness, financial planning, senior safety, Social Security, Medicare and support groups.

The event will take place form 9-11:30 a.m. at the Robert DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard St., Winthrop.

For more information, call (781) 396-2900.