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Winthrop Police Department Welcomes Two New Officers

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Chief Terence Delehanty is pleased to report that the Winthrop Police Department is welcoming two new officers who graduated from the police academy.

Officer Alexis Joyce and Officer Nicholas Disciscio graduated from the Lynnfield MPTC Police Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 17, after an intensive 26-week academy program.

Both officers are Winthrop natives and graduated from Winthrop High School. Joyce went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Salem State University and Disciscio went on to receive a Finance and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Salem State University.

Both officers will now begin an intensive, 12-week Field Training course under the supervision of veteran officers.

“I’m pleased we were able to hire two well-qualified young adults who have strong backgrounds,” Chief Delehanty. “We are excited to see where their careers at Winthrop Police Department take them.”

Winthrop Health Department Invites Residents to Community Event in Recognition of National Recovery Month

Winthrop Health Department Invites Residents to Community Event in Recognition of National Recovery Month

Health Director Meredith Hurley and the Town of Winthrop invite the community to a candlelight procession and community event in recognition of National Recovery Month.

WHEN:

Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Beginning at Winthrop Town Hall, 1 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA, ending at Harold  French Square

WHAT:

September is National Recovery Month, which aims to highlight gains in substance use treatment and prevention while also honoring the lives lost to substance use disorder.

Winthrop Public Health and Clinical Services is hosting a community event that will include a candlelight procession from Town Hall to French Square to honor those lost to substance use disorder, followed by an event in French Square with several speakers, educational resources and information provided by local addiction and recovery organizations, food and other refreshments.

There will be several speakers in French Square, and emotional supports will be available in consideration of people who may experience grief while attending.

Organizations that include the Winthrop Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery (CLEAR) team, the Massachusetts Organization of Addiction and Recovery (MOAR) and Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) will provide information on recovery and treatment resources.

Food and refreshments will be provided by several Winthrop restaurants.

For more information and to view the candlelight walk route, visit: https://winthropclear.com/.

Winthrop Police Announce Parking Ban and Closure of Flood Gates at Short Beach Ahead of Expected Winter Storm

Winthrop Police Announce Parking Ban and Closure of Flood Gates at Short Beach Ahead of Expected Winter Storm

WINTHROP — Chief Terence M. Delehanty and the Winthrop Police Department wish to share important information ahead of this weekend’s expected storm.

At this time, the National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for Suffolk County, including the Town of Winthrop, for Saturday, Jan. 29. Snow accumulations of as many as 18-24 inches are possible, with wind gusts potentially approaching 60 miles per hour. Motorists are urged to stay off the roads and avoid travel if possible.

Residents are advised that a parking ban will be in effect from Friday, Jan. 28, at 10 p.m. until further notice due to the predicted storm. According to a town ordinance in effect until May 1, all motor vehicles must be removed from town streets upon the announcement of an expected or impending snowstorm. Vehicles that are found to be in violation of the parking ban may be towed and the vehicle owner could receive a ticket. 

For a map showing where parking is allowed during the snow emergency, please click here. Note that due to construction, the Hagman Road Lot will not be available for winter parking.

Residents also should know that the Short Beach flood gates on Winthrop Parkway in Revere will be closed beginning Saturday, Jan. 29 at midnight. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

For information about the response along Winthrop Parkway, please visit the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website here.

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Winthrop Public Health Department Issues Warning for Marijuana Laced with Fentanyl

Winthrop Public Health Department Issues Warning for Marijuana Laced with Fentanyl

WINTHROP — Public Health Director Meredith Hurley would like to issue a warning for marijuana laced with fentanyl.

The Connecticut State Lab recently confirmed the presence of fentanyl in a marijuana sample after numerous people who reported only using marijuana overdosed. 

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid typically used to treat severe pain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and has been linked to overdoses and death.

“Fentanyl is often disguised with other drugs, and people may not know that they are consuming it,” Director Hurley said. “With the recent discovery of marijuana laced with fentanyl in Connecticut, it is more important than ever to be vigilant and to know the signs of an overdose. Remember, always dial 911 in the event of an overdose.”

The Winthrop Public Health Department wishes to share the following symptoms, which may be signs of an overdose:

  • Small, constricted pupils
  • Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
  • Slow, shallow breathing
  • Choking or gurgling sounds
  • A limp body
  • Pale, blue or cold skin

If residents notice someone that they believe is experiencing an overdose, they should immediately dial 911 and administer Narcan if available. Narcan, otherwise known as Naloxone, is an opioid antagonist that can reverse the effects of a potentially fatal overdose by displacing the drug from the receptors in the brain. Narcan is available for purchase without a prescription at most pharmacies, and health insurance can be used to offset the cost.

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Winthrop Fire Department Responds to Explosion in Residential Building

Winthrop Fire Department Responds to Explosion in Residential Building

WINTHROP – Chief Paul Flanagan reports that the Winthrop Fire Department responded to an explosion in a multi-unit dwelling.

At 10:56 p.m., on Thursday, Aug. 12, Winthrop Fire dispatchers received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting an explosion at 5 Irwin St. Upon arrival first responders found exterior damage to a basement door. Once inside the building, they discovered there had been an explosion in the laundry in the basement.

Winthrop first responders treated a 57-year-old woman who had been burned severely in the explosion. The woman was later transported by ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital.

The explosion caused damage on all floors. The Fire Department and Building Commissioner consider the building uninhabitable, due to both the damage and compromised safety devices such as smoke alarms.

Twenty-eight residents from the 14 units have been relocated to area hotels.

The Winthrop Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Suffolk County District Attorney Crime Prevention and Control (CPAC) Unit.

The American Red Cross was instrumental in assisting displaced residents with relocation. The Town also has received an offer of assistance from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency during the weekend, if needed.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation by the Winthrop Fire Department and the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

Town of Winthrop Announces Delivery of New Trash Bins

Interim Town Manager Terence Delehanty and Department of Public Works Director Steven Calla announce that new trash barrels are being delivered to residences throughout town this week and next.

Each new bin will hold 64 gallons of trash. Bins will be distributed as follows:

  • A single-family house will receive one bin.
  • A two-family house will receive two bins.
  • A three-family house will receive three bins.
  • Condo complexes of three units or less will receive one bin per unit.

Each bin will have an individual serial number and tracking chip specific to that address. 

“We strongly urge residents to stencil their new bin with their address and unit,” Manager Delehanty said. “Each bin will be billed to the owner of record for each dwelling and stenciling will eliminate any confusion.”

The new bins are identical to residential recycling bins in use for many years but have blue lids rather than yellow. This will allow the town’s waste hauler to distinguish between trash and recycling.

The Town is drafting new trash regulations, and will update the public when those have been finalized. The Zero Waste Committee is preparing a guide of best practices for solid waste, recycling and composting that will be distributed to members of the community in the coming weeks.

“Our trash hauler will continue to pick up additional trash that is neatly placed beside the bin in an appropriate covered barrel,” Director Calla said. “However, eventually this excess trash will have an additional cost. We ask residents to be mindful about recycling and to make every attempt to put out only enough trash to fit their bin each week.”

All bins should be delivered by the middle of next week. Anyone who has received an additional bin in error or did not receive the correct number of bins per unit is asked to call the Winthrop Department of Public Works at 617-846-1341.

*UPDATE* Winthrop DPW Restores Water Service

*UPDATE* Winthrop DPW Restores Water Service

Town Manager Austin Faison reports that water service has been restored after an interruption earlier today.

Residents may see some discoloration in their water, but it is safe to use. Residents are advised to run their facet until it is clear.

Earlier this afternoon a pressure reducing station on the Winthrop-Revere line malfunctioned, preventing water from entering into Winthrop from Revere via Massachusetts Water Resources Authority infrastructure. The Winthrop DPW worked with MWRA officials to establish an alternative water source and correct the issue.

Town of Winthrop DPW Working to Correct Issue After Water Service Interruption

Town of Winthrop DPW Working to Correct Issue After Water Service Interruption

Town Manager Austin Faison reports that the Town of Winthrop’s Department of Public Works is working to correct an issue that has resulted in an interruption in water service in town.

Earlier this afternoon a pressure reducing station on the Winthrop-Revere line malfunctioned, preventing water from entering into Winthrop from Revere via Massachusetts Water Resources Authority infrastructure. The Winthrop DPW is working with MWRA officials to establish an alternative water source and correct the issue.

An alternative water line has been established and service will gradually be restored.

“We apologize for the sudden inconvenience this has caused and want to assure our residents we’re doing everything we can to correct it as efficiently as possible,” Public Works Director Steven Calla said.

The Town of Winthrop will provide updates as they become available.

Town of Winthrop Set to Begin Phase 1 For Road Resurfacing Project

Traffic Disruptions, Detours to be Expected 

Town Manager Austin Faison and Department of Public Works Director Steve Calla announce that a three-phased pavement restoration project will begin on Monday, Sept. 28 and will create traffic disruptions for numerous streets in town while the work progresses.

The project will consist of mill and overlay maintenance work to repair deteriorated pavement on many roadways throughout the town. The work has been divided up into three phases and each phase consists of a milling component and a resurfacing component.  Phase 1 is expected to take about a week to mill and will be followed by a week of resurfacing work.  While the resurfacing begins on the first phase, the milling work will continue on the second phase.

Parking will not be allowed on these roadways from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and signs with the with specific restrictions, dates and times will be posted in those areas while the work is completed. All residents and business owners on the affected roadways will also receive written notifications with more specific information pertinent to their area. Residents should expect delays in these areas while the work is performed and are encouraged to seek alternative routes whenever possible. Detours, including those for bus routes will be put in place as well.

The streets that will be impacted during the first phase are:

  • Pleasant Street from Brookfield Road to Pauline Street
  • Sargent Street and Sargent Street Extension
  • Washington Avenue from Winthrop Street to River Road
  • Shirley Street from Revere Street to Beach Road
  • Beach Road from Veterans Road to Shirley Street
  • Myrtle Avenue
  • Shirley Street from Beach Road to Sturgis Street
  • Sturgis Street
  • A small section of Tewksbury Street at the Shirley Street end
  • The outbound lane of Shirley Street from Terrace Avenue to Tewksbury Street
  • Shirley Street from Bay View Avenue to the Church Square near Holy Rosary Church
  • Shirley Street from the Holy Rosary Square to Siren Street
  • Elliot Street
  • A half-lane portion of Tafts Avenue from Otis Street to Shirley Street

Specific information pertaining to Phase 2 and Phase 3 of this project will be shared next week. Residents are encouraged to check the Town’s website and social media for additional updates as well.

Town of Winthrop Urges Residents to Remain Vigilant Against COVID-19 Virus Following Spike in Cases

Town of Winthrop Urges Residents to Remain Vigilant Against COVID-19 Virus Following Spike in Cases

Town Remains in the “Red” High Risk Designation

Town Manager Austin Faison and Public Health Director Meredith Hurley report that Winthrop has seen a rise in positive COVID-19 cases recently, and are urging the community to follow COVID-19 prevention guidance.

At this time, the town is still designated a high risk community by the Commonwealth. Since receiving this designation, the town has worked in close collaboration with the  Department of Public Health to address the recent rise in the prevalence of the novel coronavirus in our community

According to data shared by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Wednesday, there have been over 20 new confirmed positive cases of the virus in Winthrop over the past two weeks.

Winthrop Health officials believe that the numbers may be slightly lower than reported by DPH because the local numbers include a number of college students, attending school out of state, whose parents reside in Winthrop. Winthrop officials are working with DPH to correct the numbers to reflect current Winthrop residents.

All community members are urged to take part in the free COVID-19 testing now available at the McKenna Basketball Courts, 5 Walden St. Previously, free testing was being offered behind the E.B. Newton School.

Testing is available at this site on the following days and times:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 2-7 p.m. (drive-through)
  • Tuesday and Thursday from 2-7 p.m. (walk-up)

Testing providers are able to provide information in English and Spanish.

COVID-19 prevention tips from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health include:

  • Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing, maintaining a minimum of six feet from others, is critical.
  • Those who must go out are urged to:
    • Avoid gathering in groups
    • Maintain six feet from people outside your household
    • Do not shake hands or hug
    • Wash your hands often
  • Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands
  • Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces where social distancing from people outside your household is not possible. This does not apply to those under the age of two and with underlying health conditions.
  • Face coverings should:
    • Cover the nose and mouth
    • Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face
    • Be secured with either ties or ear loops
    • Permit breathing without difficulty
    • Be able to be washed and machine dried without damage. Face masks should be washed regularly depending on the amount of use.

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website here.

Winthrop residents are reminded to visit WinthropCOVID19.com, which serves as a dedicated town resource for information on the pandemic.