News Briefs

DeLeo Announces Office Hours

Speaker DeLeo’s staff will be holding office hours on Friday, January 26.  Winthrop office hours will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Senior Center (35 Harvard Street, Winthrop, MA). Revere office hours will be held from 11 a.m. to noon at the Revere Public Library, 179 Beach Street, Revere, MA.

Anyone who has a question or concern is encouraged to stop by. For those who cannot attend and need assistance, please call Speaker DeLeo’s office at 617-722-2500.

 

Book and Toy Exchange Jan. 20

The Winthrop Parents Forum invites local parents to a free “Book and Toy Exchange” on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Cummings School, 40 Hermon St. The event is organized by Therese Ockenden, local Parents Forum coordinator, with support from Anita Preble, director of Winthrop Parents Network.

Mrs. Preble, school adjustment counselor at the Cummings, says she is “delighted to collaborate with Parents Forum since one of the main goals of Winthrop Parents Network is to connect parents to resources in the community.”

“The way the book and toy exchange works,” says Mrs. Ockenden, “is that parents come with their child or children and bring a book or toy or both, to pass along.” At the event, parents and kids pick up a book or toy brought by someone else — no money changes hands – and parents have a chance to learn about community resources, including Parents Forum.

Coordinator Therese Ockenden will present Parents Forum at the Chelsea Revere Family Network starting later this month and says, “I am eager to host more workshops and welcome inquiries from individuals, as well as staff at schools and other agencies in the community.” Where the Heart Listens, the Parents Forum handbook, will be available for purchase at reduced price at the Book and Toy Exchange.

 

Town Census and Dog Licensing 2018

The 2018 Annual Town Census has been mailed to all households on Tuesday, January 16. Winthrop residents should verify or correct any information, sign, and return the census within 10 days of receipt.

The data from the census is used to compile the Winthrop voter list, Winthrop school planning, and other reports required by Massachusetts General Law, therefore all members of the household should be included. If a resident does not receive a census form by the end of January, the Town Clerk’s Office should be contacted at 617-846-1742 to have a duplicate form sent.

Failure to respond to the Annual Town Census will result in the removal from Winthrop’s active voting list and removal from the resident list for any non- registered voters.

A completed census can be returned by mail or hand-delivered to drop-off boxes located in the Town Hall lobby, the Senior Center and the Administrative Office on Golden Drive and the Library.

The bottom of the census form includes a Dog Registration Form or Dogs can be registered online by visiting the Town Clerk’s webpage at www.town.winthrop.ma.us Dogs must be licensed by March 1, 2016 to avoid a late fee. Proof of current rabies vaccination is required for licensing. The Town does not save rabies information from year to year, it is the owners’ responsibility to provide proof of rabies vaccination for the animals in the home, that is the law. The census and the dog license form can be mailed into the Town Clerk’s Office in the same envelope.

 

WE CAN HELP    WITH YOUR HEATING BILLS!

CAPIC’s Fuel Assistance Program is Open for the 2017-2018 Season

CAPIC’s Fuel Assistance Program is accepting applications for this winter’s heating season.  The program serves families in Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop and assists households in paying heating bills from November 2017 to April 2018.   The program is open to tenants as well as homeowners, whose income is within 60% of the state median income.  Heat may be oil, propane, kerosene, gas or electric. For more information please call 617-884-6130.

 

MASSPORT AIRPLANE NOISE COMPLAINT LINE

Residents who are being disturbed by airplane noise are encouraged to call the MassPort Noise Hotline 24 hours a day. The phone number is (617) 561-3333.

 

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DISAPPOINTED IN TIMIMG OF 2018 PRIMARY

Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin has announced that the date for the 2018 Massachusetts primary election will be Tuesday, September 4, the day after Labor Day.  The Secretary’s announcement included that he is filing legislation for a period of five days of early voting ahead of the election, and seeking funding for local elections officials to support the costs of early voting.

While the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (LWVMA) is pleased that Secretary Galvin has embraced our recommendation to extend early voting to the primary and that he recognizes the benefits of early voting for voters, we are disappointed in the timing of the primary, which is earlier than the dates LWVMA recommended.  Voting on the day after Labor Day will prove challenging for voters in the Commonwealth, especially for families preparing children for the start of school, and for candidates who are eager to get their message out to voters.

We hope that the legislature will support Secretary Galvin’s legislation for early voting in this and future state primary elections and that he will be successful in identifying funding to support early voting.  We also hope that he and his office will be prepared to roll out a robust public relations campaign to make voters aware of the date.