At last, our long statewide nightmare is over.
As of today, gormonds and revelers can enjoy food and drink at their favorite pubs, taverns, bars, pour rooms, restaurants, diners, bistros, and . Night owls can also now stay out past 9:30 p.m. doing… whatever they do.
Gov. Charlie Baker has rescinded an order put in place back in November designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 due to irresponsible late night reveling.
Whether it made a difference or not is for future epidemiologists to decide. But for those who own and operate businesses dependent on nighttime customers, the relaxed rules will surely be welcomed.
Gov. Baker said he was lifting the curfew largely based on two factors: the post holiday surge appears to be waning, and the vaccines are being administered. Its this latter development that some hope Baker can spend more time on.
According to multiple media reports, a number of local health officials are frustrated at the slow release of the state’s allocation of vaccines and ineffective communication from the state. According to a national chart put together by Bloomberg, Massachusetts lags behind all New England states when it doses administered per 100 people. The state has apparently only administered 49% of its allocated doses. And Massachusetts is also one of a few states that doesn’t have a state registration database or specific plans to start inocculating the elderly.
Abington Health Agent Marty Golightly isn’t yet criticizing the state — or the federal government. But he’s clearly itching to get moving faster.
“Abington is ready to execute the vaccination plan. What I cant expedite is delivery of the vaccine,” he said in an interview with Abington News. “We are ready, wiling, and able. As soon as we get that delicious science juice, we will get it out to people as fast as possible.”
The town Health Department does have enough doses to schedule a vaccination clinic for this Wednesday (more information below) so that’s a start.
COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC
Those who qualify to receive a dose of “sweet science juice” under Phase 1 of the vaccination roll out can sign-up for the Abington Board of Health’s first clinic, scheduled for this Wednesday. Those in Phase 1 include health care workers, first responders, and those in congregate care and long-term care facilities. The clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Middle/High School. People MUST pre-register and can do so by calling the Health Department at 781-982-2119.
HIGHLAND ROAD GARAGE LICENSE
Selectmen Monday night will continue to deliberate whether to issue a commercial garage license to a woman looking to open a repair shop on Highland Road. Licensing hearings are typically pretty perfunctory. However, during a standard background check, Police Chief David Majenski, who currently is taking personal time and ceded day-to-day operations to his deputy chief, recommended selectmen deny the license because the woman allegedly rented a van that was later used in a crime. The woman vehemently denied the accusation during the Board’s hearing, saying she had no idea there even was an incident, she had no idea she was linked to the incident, and that police had never spoken with her about it until Majenski brought it up. She held up her current status as an employee of the state Department of Probation and youth soccer coach as evidence of her character. The board asked her to provide three professional references at Monday night’s meeting, which she said she is able to do.
BEAVER BROOK PLAYGROUND
Selectmen on Monday will also consider putting together a committee that will consider whether to tear down the wooden Beaver Brook Playground behind Memorial Field and replacing it with a more modern structure. Town Meeting approved funding for the effort this past spring, at the request of a citizen’s group, but the necessary town boards haven’t yet formally approved the plan. The large, sprawling playground was built more than 30 years ago with volunteer labor at a time when many communities around the region built similar playgrounds . Many towns in the years since have torn down theirs down, leaving the Abington playground one of last remaining structures of its kind.
NOMINATION PAPERS
Those interested in running for municipal office can still pick up nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s Office. Here is a list of those who have taken out papers and for what office:
Alex Hagerty, Board of Selectmen; Christine Henrikson, Board of Selectmen; Tim Chapin, Board of Selectmen; Jaclyn Abrams, School Committee; Chris Schultz, Board of Health; Melissa Pond, Board of Health; Erik Henrikson, Sewer Commission; Bill Cormier, Water Commission; Richard Muncey, Water Commission; Ann Kent, Board of Assessors; Gail Bergin, Library Trustees; Henry DiCarlo, Library Trustees; Mary Gillis, Library Trustees.
MEETINGS
Monday
Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., via Zoom. Agenda includes a commercial garage license at 43 Highland Road, a discussion on the board awarding the Abington’s Best award to the owners of Bemis Drug, an operational update from Dep. Chris Cutter, and a Committee to Renovate Beaverbrook Playground.
Tuesday
School Committee, 7 p.m., Middle/High School auditorium. Agenda includes reports from the AHS principal, the director of student services, the assistant superintendent for business and finance, and the superintendent.
Wednesday
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. The agenda includes reviews of the town clerk, planning board, and police budgets.