Happy Flag Day!
Abington News is at tonight’s Board of Selectmen’s meeting and will be providing live updates as possible.
DIANE KEITH & NANCY CAVANAGH
The Board started its meeting with a moment of silence remembering Diane Keith and Nancy Cavanagh, both of whom passed away recently. Keith was at one time the executive assistant to the Board of Selectmen and a member of Friends of Abington Seniors. Cavanagh was a member of multiple Abington boards, including the Planning Board.
PRIDE MONTH
Alex Hagerty, Abington’s first openly gay member of the Board of Selectmen, made a statement at the start of the meeting recognizing June as Pride Month. “Our LGBTQ people matter,” said Hagerty, sporting a rainbow colored tie. “No human should be harmed, jailed, or killed for being themselves.”
TIKI GARDEN —> TWO GALS SPORTS BAR
Tiki Garden, which has been in operation on North Quincy Street for 40 years, is closing. A new bar, called Two Gals Sports Bar, will be opening Aug. 1. Selectmen unanimously approved the transfer of the restuarant’s liquor license and entertainment license to the new owners, Carol Rodrigues and Grace Rodrigues, both of whom have more than three decades in the food service and restaurant industry. May Lai, who has owned Tiki Garden for 44 years, told the board “I’m just getting old and I’d like to retire.” She said the town, fire department and police department has been great to her over the decades. “I hope these people can get the same respect you’ve given me all these years,” Lai said.
LIVE MUSIC COMING TO FOOD TRUCK NIGHT
The Wednesday night Food Truck Rodeo is Abington’s newest, hottest event. Now, diners will be able to enjoy some live music. Selectmen unanimously voted to approve live acoustic music at the request of organizers. Katie Keefe, owner of Ellie’s Treats, said the idea is to have someone on an acoustic guitar – nothing too electric and loud.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES STARTS JULY 11
Selectmen received an update from Jan Prall about this year’s Summer Concert Series, which is in its 17th year. This year’s lineup features a number of new performers, as well as a couple returning favorites, including Dale & The Duds and Studio 2, the Beatles tribute band. The annual children’s night event, however, will not take place. Prall reminded people that dogs are not allowed on the field, per town bylaws.
TOWN AUCTIONING OFF SURPLUS PROPERTY
Abington will be auctioning off four parcels of surplus land in the near future. The parcels are 168 Bank Street, 930 Washington Street, Chestnut Street Lot 32 on assessors map 57, and Diane Circle Lot 37 on assessors map 13. Town Meeting designated these parcels, as well as a number of others, as surplus back in 2018. Not all the lots may be buildable, according to Town Manager Scott Lambiase, but some may be. Anyone who buys them at auction will have to go through the traditional permitting process. “It’s really buyer beware,” Lambiase said.
SCOTT ON SOCIAL
Selectmen gave Lambiase permission to have an official “Town Manager” social media presence in order to respond to posts and comments that “Are as far from the truth as you can imagine.” Lambiase said he would only chime in on social media pages in order to answer questions, put out statements, and correct factual errors, not to engage in the hand-to-hand combat that often springs up. A town-managed Instagram page may also be in the works. Despite encouragement from selectmen, Lambiase said he has no plans to create a TikTok account.
CAMERAS AT ISLAND GROVE
During his report to the board, Lambiase said security cameras are up and operational at Island Grove, and proving “quite effective.” He said the first night they were operational police were able to stop a party and accompanying bonfire inside the Grove.