Winthrop Transcript - Winthrop Massachusetts Newspaper

Sealed with a Kiss: As More Soldiers Return from Overseas, Being Reunited is Becoming More Common

Seth Daniel — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:59:00 +0000

For six months, Winthrop native Mike Delehanty had been stationed in remote areas of Afghanistan – training members of that country’s police and military forces. Weeks at a time, he found himself so far off the beaten path that communicating with his wife and children back home was absolutely impossible. As a Marine, though, on his third tour overseas, it had become a situation that was somewhat expected, though still difficult. Last Tuesday around 1:45 a.m., surrounded by mothers, wives and tired children, Abbe Delehanty watched a group of Marines march in tight formation from a barracks to an area right in front of the group of anxious children and fretting wives and mothers. As the Marines stood at attention and received their last briefing, the excitement and anticipation was without parallel. Finally, the officer dismissed Mike Delehanty, and he was finally home – this time probably for good. “I just fell into his arms and I didn’t want to let go of him,” said Abbe during a phone interview this week. “It felt like everything in the world stopped.” As the military begins major troop drawdowns in Afghanistan and overseas, moments such as these have become more common around [...]

Bertino Resignation Announced: Town Manager, Superintendent Working to Find a Replacement

Joe Domelowicz — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:58:45 +0000

The lingering personnel matter that erupted in late March, after former CFO Michael Bertino reportedly was involved in an angry exchange at Town Hall, has been resolved this week, with the news that Bertino has tendered his resignation and it has been accepted by Town Manager James McKenna. McKenna said that he was not able to discuss the specific terms or circumstances of the resignation, as it is a town personnel matter. “We wish Mr. Bertino well in his future endeavors,” said McKenna. “Now we’ll begin a search for his replacement.” Bertino was relieved of his duties in late March following an incident at Town Hall and has been on leave of absence since that time. McKenna said that he and Superintendent of Schools John Macero have already begun discussions about how to identify a successor for Bertino at the top of the town’s financial department. “With consolidation, he (Macero) and I are somewhat joined at the hip financially speaking now, and so we are going to develop a committee of five or six people to begin a recruitment process to find a new CFO,” said McKenna. For his part, Macero said that he and McKenna are focused on bringing [...]

Volunteers Needed to Help Clean Markers

Joe Domelowicz — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:58:29 +0000

Winthrop Vietnam veteran and proprietor of Honan Sign Company, Richard Honan, is once again posting a call to arms, of sorts. Honan, who is well-known in town as a veterans advocate and active in the veterans community in Winthrop, is once again organizing an army of grave marker cleaners in time for Memorial Day. Honan and a group of volunteers have been cleaning up grave markers at the cemeteries for last several years, in an effort to help the town make the cemetery look as good as possible for the annual Memorial Day services. “We’re just asking folks to lend a hand and honor those who have given their life in defense of this great Country,” said Honan of his annual effort. “We will be cleaning the bronze Veterans grave markers in the Winthrop Cemetery. Come on down to the cemetery on Saturday and show that you care. Bring your children and educate them why we take the time to honor those who gave their life defending the United States of America.” The clean up effort will take place on Saturday, May 12th, Honan suggested that people volunteering bring an old knife, a bucket, gloves and maybe a small brush, [...]

Herren’s Message: Former Nba Player Talks Candidly About His Battle with Drugs

Transcript Staff — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:58:16 +0000

One of the most dramatic and emotional speaking appearances in some time in our schools took place last Friday when former NBA player Chris Herren addressed the entire student body in the Winthrop High School gymnasium. Herren was a basketball star at Durfee High School in Fall River before going on to play at Boston College and Fresno State University where he was eventually drafted to play professionally in the NBA. But along the way, Herren got caught up with drugs. He told the attentive audience at WHS how his bad decisions destroyed his relationship with his family and cost him millions of dollars in his pro contracts and ultimately his career as a professional basketball player. It was a sad and emotionally jarring tale because Herren, who is 33 now, should be winding down an All-Star career in the NBA and perhaps even starring for his hometown team, the Boston Celtics, with whom he played but one season. That incredible story he told about leaving the FleetCenter and looking for his drug dealer just minutes before his NBA game underlined the depths of his drug dependence. Herren was candid with our students about the poor choices he made and [...]

Town to Honor Norm Siefert with Naming of Ferry Bldg.

Joe Domelowicz — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:58:16 +0000

Town Manager James McKenna announced this week that the dedication ceremony officially naming the new Town Harbor Terminal Building at the Winthrop public landing for Winthrop resident Norman Siefert will take place on Saturday, May 26, beginning at 10 a.m. at the landing. “That is the time when Norm’s family can travel into town and get here for the dedication and we certainly wanted to take that into consideration in picking the date,” explained McKenna of the Memorial Day weekend timing of the event. “As for dedicating the terminal in honor of Norman, that is based on the long history he has had in town, in being active with the waterfront and in particular with the development of the landing and all that has gone on there,” added McKenna. “I think it is a very fitting to honor him and all of his years of dedicated service to the town, and our waterfront, by naming that building after him.” Siefert, who is also a World War II Navy veteran, was lauded by Winthrop veterans director Larry Holmes. “Norm Siefert is a guy that has always been out there offering to help out,” said Holmes. “I remember when I was the [...]

Swampscott Vote: Miller Field Rebirth Must Be a Top Priority

Transcript Staff — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:58:15 +0000

Winthrop residents were likely a bit surprised by the votes this week in Swampscott against a $2.5 million project to install artificial turf and install lights as part of a large renovation project for historic Blocksidge Field. Private donors had raised $800,000 for the project, but Swampscott Town Meeting on successive nights failed to give the proposal the two-thirds vote it needed for passage. Swampscott, like Winthrop, is a sports-minded town with an outstanding athletic history, especially in football. We hope Winthrop residents are not fazed by the Swampscott votes this week. As our town leaders consider the construction of a new middle school/high school complex, we hope that Miller Field (which basically is useless as a sports complex for any sport) remains a top priority so it too, can become a showcase athletic facility, much like Manning Field in Lynn and so many other cities and towns who realize the importance of having a great field on which our athletic teams can thrive, rain or shine.

Thank You Dave: Popular Basketball Coach Will Be Missed

Transcript Staff — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:58:13 +0000

Every so often a coach comes along and through his hard work and the example he sets, he builds a program that reaches the pinnacle of Northeastern Conference competition. That individual for the past decade was Dave Brown, who not only put Winthrop High boys basketball back on the map, but brought our school a state championship. Brown never used as an excuse the fact that Winthrop was by far the smallest school in the conference. He just knew that Winthrop kids had to work that much harder to be the best. With Dave Brown, a respected Winthrop Police officer, father, husband, and former basketball star himself, leading the program, you always knew that our student-athletes were being well taken care of and were receiving a sound education both in basketball and in life’s lessons. The fact is that Dave Brown did a tremendous job as the head coach of the Winthrop High boys basketball program. While his win-loss record was excellent, the measure of his greatness as a coach comes from the praise he is receiving from his players who benefited from his knowledge and his ability to teach the game and make it a fun experience. We hope [...]

Ferri Reaches 500 Strikeout Plateau

Transcript Staff — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:58:11 +0000

Winthrop High star softball pitcher Alex Ferri achieved a milestone seldom seen in the schoolboy ranks, as she reached the 500 career strikeout plateau Monday against Revere. Alex, who drew within striking range of the mark with an 11 strikeout performance last week against Salem, wasted no time in taking care of business as she struck out the Revere side in the bottom of the first inning. “We knew she was shooting for the 500 strikeouts, so we figured we would try to bunt on her to start the game. But she mowed us right down,” said an admiring Revere head coach Joe Ciccarello. The game was stopped and Ferri was presented with the ball to commemorate the achievement. “Alex is a great example of an athlete who works hard and never stops trying to improve,” said WHS head coach Dave Guffey, who noted that no other WHS pitcher has even come close to Ferri’s accomplishment. “She worked hard in the off-season to be in top condition and she has been getting stronger as the season has progressed. I think she’s the best pitcher in the league.” Unfortunately for Alex, who will take her talents to Framingham State College next [...]

Obituaries 05-10-2012

Transcript Staff — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:58:10 +0000

Marie ‘Chickie’ Faretra Former Proprietor of “Before & After Ladies’ Apparel” of East Boston Marie “Chickie” (Falzarano) Faretra died unexpectedly at her East Boston Home on May 5. She was 85 years old. “Chickie” was born and educated in Chelsea and lived in Revere for many years before moving to East Boston more than 25 years ago. During her working career, she wore many hats – as a clerk at the “Old Racket Store” in East Boston, as a bar maid in several of the local cafes and finally in ladies’ apparel. She worked as an associate at Tello’s of East Boston before opening her own dress shop “Before & After” of East Boston which she operated for 12 years. She was the daughter of the late Giovanni and Rita (Terino) Falzarano, founders and operators of Rita‘s Flower Shop in Chelsea for more than 65 years; wife of the late Pasquale “Pat” J. Faretra and the mother of the late Pasquale “Pat” Faretra and John M. Faretra; beloved mother in law of Rita M. Faretra of West Peabody; cherished grandmother of Lisa M. Kieran and her husband, Timothy of Wilmington and Ilia L. Faretra of West Peabody; dear sister of [...]

Racing to the Finish Line

Transcript Staff — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:12:18 +0000

Winthrop High School sailing team competed against Gloucester last week in the Harbor. A Winthrop crew makes for the finish line in this photograph.