News Briefs

Capic Welcomes new members

CAPIC’s board of directors is pleased to announce Winthrop Town Council President, Ronald Vecchia, Chelsea City Councilor Joseph Perlatonda, and Judie VanKooiman as its newest members.
Both Winthrop Town Council President, Ronald Vecchia and Chelsea City Councilor Joseph Perlatonda represent the public sector. Town Council President Ronald Vecchia has appointed Nick DelVento as his permanent representative to the board and Councilor Perlatonda has appointed David Mindlin, Esq. as his permanent representative to the Board. Judie VanKooiman is representing the private sector and the Winthrop Council on Aging.

 

CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK ANNOUNCES NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Congresswoman Katherine Clark announced an addition to her Washington, D.C. office, hiring Kathryn Alexander as her new communications director. Alexander joins the Congresswoman’s seasoned team during a time when Clark’s footprint in Washington and within Democratic leadership is expanding. In 2017, Congresswoman Clark was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee,concurrent to her roles within the House Democratic Caucus where she serves as both a Senior Whip and a member of the Steering and Policy Committee.

Alexander is charged with crafting and executing the Congresswoman’s communications strategy to support her legislative priorities, which include increasing gun safety, preventing online harassment, and combating the opioid crisis.

Alexander spent the last two and a half years at Solomon McCown & Company (SM&), a public affairs firm headquartered in Boston. Prior to working as a political and communications strategist at SM&, Alexander provided guidance to numerous electoral campaigns at Cence Cincotti Strategies, including the successful elections of former Fall River Mayor Sam Sutter, former Middlesex & Worcester State Sen. Jennifer Flanagan; and managed former State Sen. Barry Finegold’s campaign for State Treasurer.

Raised in Sherborn, Alexander is a native of Clark’s district. She graduated magna cum laude from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y..

 

CLARK, CAPUANO SECURE AIRPORT NOISE MITIGATION STUDY

Highlighting the collaboration between the state and federal delegation, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano and State Sen. Joe Boncore, announced that the Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by Congress on March 22, and included a mandate requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study how to address aging airport noise mitigation insulation and funded an additional eight field staff positions at the FAA dedicated to addressing aviation noise. Congresswoman Clark utilized her position on the Appropriations Committee to secure the inclusion of this study mandate after the three offices identified concerns from residents of the aging system and impact of aviation noise.

“This is a quality-of-life issue for residents near Logan Airport, many of whom reside in homes that, due to the level of aviation noise they experience, qualify for federally funded noise insulation. When this equipment reaches the end of its useful life, residents should not be on the hook financially to replace it,” said Rep. Clark. “Sen. Boncore and I regularly discuss ways we can collaboratively resolve local issues, and when he brought up this concern, we immediately went to work to see how we could help. Supported by Congressman Capuano’s input and expertise as a longtime advocate and member of the Transportation Committee, we were able to make progress for residents who deal with airplane noise on a daily basis.”

“People who reside near Logan Airport experience increased noise every day. Mitigation programs have provided some measure of relief, but nothing lasts forever. Impacted residents should not be responsible for replacing aging noise insulation. Now, the FAA is required to address how to manage insulation that is losing its effectiveness. I appreciate the hard work of Congresswoman Clark and State Sen. Boncore for their efforts to address this important quality of life issue,” stated Congressman Capuano.

“Congressman Capuano and Congresswoman Clark’s leadership on this issue has demonstrated their ability to translate the concerns of our communities into concrete results on Capitol Hill,” said State Sen. Boncore. “As neighboring communities, air traffic affects our lives. It is important that we understand the full impact of air and noise pollution on our homes, so we ensure the highest quality of life for residents.”

Over the last several decades, residents in certain communities surrounding Logan Airport were provided federally funded noise mitigation insulation to reduce the impact of aerial noise pollution. That sound mitigation insulation is now aging. The Omnibus bill directs the FAA to report to Congress on the effective lifespan of common sound insulation including window and door upgrades, weather-stripping, and other mitigation treatment and provide recommendations for the replacement of sound insulation that has exceeded its effective lifespan. Additionally, the bill provides the FAA with the funds to hire eight new field staff to address community noise concerns.

 

DCR Traffic Advisory: Winthrop Shore Drive

Continuing through September 2018, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will implement a full road closure along Winthrop Shore Drive in the Town of Winthrop between Beach Road and Beacon Street from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday with potential work on weekends) to accommodate roadway demolition, new sidewalk curbs, and paving work associated with the agency’s Winthrop Shore Drive Improvements Project. Traffic patterns and detours will be clearly marked and a police detail will be on site.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike trails, watersheds, dams, and parkways. Led by Commissioner Leo Roy, the agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visitwww.mass.gov/dcr. Contact us at [email protected].