It took awhile but it appears winter has finally arrived.
A steady stream of flurries this past weekend sets us up for the first real snowfall of the season. It won’t be much — about 3-5 inches of snow — and then temps are expected back up in the 50s near the end of the week. But the storm, which is racing across the country triggering tornados in the Midwest, is going to make Monday night and Tuesday a real mess.
If you want a real silver lining following this dreary winter, Abington yards will likely green up very quick this spring.
Oh yea, and the Abington St. Patrick’s Day parade is 19 days away.
AHS STUDENTS COLLECTING MONEY, SUPPLIES FOR TURKEY QUAKE VICTIMS
A group of Abington High School students have teamed up with the Jeff Coombs Foundation to organize a blanket and sleeping bag drive for survivors of the recent earthquake in Turkey. The group is looking for new twin-sized blankets and new sleeping bags. Donation bins are set up at the Abington Police Station, Abington Public Library, and Abington Middle/High School. Used items will be rejected. Financial donations can be made via Venmo: @erin-obrien-74728. Deadline for making donations is this Friday, March 3, when all donations will be brought to the Turkish Consolate General in Boston. The drive is being led by Project 351 Senior Hannah Tirrell, as well as AHS students Brenna O’Brien, Lainey Hogan, Bella Norton, and Leah Daye. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb. 6, leading to more than 50,000 deaths. An estimated 1.5 million people are currently homeless across the region.
WINTER SPORTS PLAYOFFS STARTS THIS WEEK
Every Green Wave winter sports varsity team qualified for postseason play, with the boys and girls basketball and hockey teams in action this week. On Wednesday, the 24-seed Norwell/Abington combined girls hockey team will travel to Burlington for a 6:10 p.m. game. Meanwhile, the 24-seed boys basketball team will host North Reading at 7 p.m. On Thursday, the 11-seed Green Wave hockey team will host West Bridgewater at 8 p.m. at the Rockland Ice Rink. And on Friday, the 21-seed girls basketball team will travel to Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff.
LIBRARY HOSTING HIGHWAYMEN TRIBUTE CONCERT SATURDAY
The songs of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson — collectively known as The Highwaymen supergroup — can be heard Saturday during a free concert at the Abington Public Library. The concert features local musician Matt York, who said he lived in Austin, Texas as Nelson’s career hit its zenith. “Later, I was a rock and roll kid and Cash was beloved in the rock/rockabilly world. At some point, I just fell in love with classic country and it’s all I listen to and play,” he said. The show will feature selections from the Highwaymen albums as well as the singers’ distinguished solo careers. A grant from the Abington Cultural Council is making the performance possible.
LIST OF TOWN ELECTION CANDIDATES GROWS
It appears the Planning Board will also see a competitive race at the Annual Town Election. Michelle Kearney, of Adams Street, has taken out papers to run against incumbent Bruce Hughes, of Randolph Street. Kearney ran last year for an open seat on the baord and was edged out by Rick Shepherd by just 30 votes. There are also four candidates running for the two School Committee seats up for election. Loganberry Drive resident Melanie Whitney has returned nomination papers joining Pond Street resident Nicole Emery and incumbents Chris Coyle, of Karen Lane, and Wendy Happel of Adams Street. And it appears there will be a race for the Board of Selectmen. There are two seats up on the Board of Selectmen, and both incumbents, Alex Bezanson, of Randolph Street, and Michael Kolodziej, of Lantern Lane, have taken out papers, as has former selectman Kevin Donovan, of Adams Street.
Town Clerk Leanne Adams, of Shaw Avenue; Moderator Shawn Reilly, of Dorsey Street; Water Commissioners William Cormier, of Olson Street, and Robert Toomey, of Washington Street; Assessor Lawrence Keough, of East Battery Street; Sewer Commissioner Mark Jamieson, of Andrew Ford Way; and Library Trustees Barbara McLaughlin, of Checkerberry Road, Susan Crowley, of Linwood Street, and John O’Neill, of Colonel Hunt Drive, have all taken our papers as well. Anyone interested in running for town office can still take out nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s Office. The deadline to return papers is March 13.
MEETING SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda inclues budget updates from the planning department, public works department, and senior center, a vote to close the Annual Town Meeting warrant, and consideration of candidates for the opioid settlement fund allocation committee.
TUESDAY
Abington Historical Commission, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes possible grants to repair the Island Grove Bridge, the commission’s CPA requests, and the status of the Historical Properties Inventory
School Committee, 7 p.m., Middle School Library. Agenda includes a discussion on changing the challenged book policy, as well as updates from the math and art departments.
WEDNESDAY
Open Space Committee, 5:30 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda includes grant opportunities, possible signage for lands, discussion about a future survey.
Cable Advisory Committee, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes reviewing the final version of the new Verizon contract.
THURSDAY
Zoning Board, 7 p.m., Town Hall. The board will meet in an executive session to discussion the 40B proposed for Summer Street.
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