Abington is nothing if not generous.
So Abingtonians will have plenty of opportunities to give their time, talent, and treasure this weekend with multiple nonprofits holding major fundraisers Sunday.
First up on Saturday is a blanket making event with Annie’s Kindness Blankets. Volunteers are invited to stop by the Senior Center between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and help make the comfort blankets, which are then given to people in emotional and physical need. People can also donate 72″ of fleece fabric for the blankets.
On Sunday morning, is the 2nd annual Abington C.O.P.E.S 5K. The charity fun run replaced on the calendar the annual 5K organized by the Coombs Foundation last year, but still bears many of the same details. the race starts at 9 a.m. at the entrance of the Woodsdale School, with the course running down Route 139, up Lincoln Street, down Hancock Street, and back to the Woodsdale, where there will be food trucks, a bouncy house, a DJ, and other fun activities. Walkers are also welcome. Interested participants should register here: Money raised supports the group’s mission of educating and supporting the community in all areas of substance use, including prevention and recovery.
Then the 43rd annual Abington Music Parents Crafts Fair kicks off at 10 a.m. More than 80 crafters spread over 2 floors are expected at the Middle/High School this Sunday, in addition to raffles and bake sales. The fair is open until 3 p.m. Cost of admission is $3 for adults and $2 for kids. Money raised supports music programs in Abington schools.
Finally, Sunday marks six months until Abington’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Committee organizers are holding a meat raffle Sunday from 2 – 4 p.m. at Lucky 777’s Bar & Grill in Holbrook. The 2024 edition of the parade will be the 44th.
MONDAY IS 22nd ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 ATTACKS
It was 22 years ago today that four hijacked planes killed 2,977 people from 93 nations, injured thousands more, condemned tens of thousands to lifelong repiratory problems, and kicked off two decades of geopolitical upheaval. One of those killed in the attacks was Abington resident Jeffrey Coombs. His wife, Christie, and children, Matthew, Meaghan, and Julia, continue to honor his memory through the Jeff Coombs Fund. The Commonwealth’s official remembrance ceremony can be viewed here. For those looking for personal recollections of the day, historian Garrett Graff has a thread on his Twitter/X account featuring excerpts from his gripping oral history of the tragic day.
FIRE BUILDING COMMITTEE CHAIR HITS BACK ON “OUTRIGHT LIES” ABOUT PROJECT
Fire Station/DPW Building Committee Chairman Derek Haimaidi on Sunday posted a vociferous defense of his committee’s work, saying he “could not in good conscience watch as a small number of people spread false information and outright lies” across many of the Abington-centric Facebook pages. Town officials are working with the committee to scale back the proposed project, which was originally budgeted at $58.3 million, and featured new offices and support buildings for both the fire department and public works department. Scott Lambiase said the goal is to get the project pricetag down to under $40 million ahead of the Oct. 14 Special Town Meeting. One alternative being eyed is to have the DPW take over the town’s two existing fire stations, which could be more easily rehabbed into storage garages than liveable firehouses. Haimaidi said despite setting up an information website, with a way for residents to submit questions, the committee, to date, has not received a single question from residents. His post directly called out one resident for making comments despite never having attended a meeting or asking questions of the committee, as well as selectmen Tim Chapin and Kevin DiMarzio (DiMarzio declined to comment on Haimaidi’s post; Chapin did not immediately return a message seeking comment). “I hope that questions can be answered between now and [the Special Town Meeting], mistruths can be corrected, and the townspeople can be informed so we can begin this project without further delay and increased costs,” he wrote. “A website has been established with all the facts, and the town has posted videos and minutes about this project for the past three or more years.” Haimaidi and Selectman Kevin Donovan, a building committee member, recently recorded an Abington CAM show with Lambiase about the project.
AIR BASE REZONING PLAN UP FOR DISCUSSION
Abington voters will be asked at next month’s Special Town Meeting to approve a major rewrite of the zoning rules that govern development at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station. The Southfield Redevelopment Authority, which is the group in charge of the area now known as Union Point, is asking the three member communities — Weymouth, Abington, and Rockland — to approve new zoning rules for the property. Brookfield Properties & New England Development, the land’s new master development team, says the land is currently undevelopable with the zoning rules currently in place. The current zoning divides the land into several different zoning districts. Abington’s land currently cannot have housing built on it per a 2014 Town Meeting vote. The proposed new zoning would unwind much of that, create one large open space zone around the entire perimenter of the property in order to meet federal wildlife protection rules, and then place the rest of the property’s undeveloped land into a multi-use development district. This district would allow the developers to sign deals to build whatever is financially viable at the time, whether its commercial, residential, or a mix of both. According to an analysis from the developers, when fully built out, the development would add less than 100 schoolchildren to Abington, while giving the town somewhere between $4 and $5 million in additional revenue after expenses.
The Abington Planning Board will discuss it at their meeting tonight, and then hold a public hearing about it next Monday, in advance of the Special Town Meeting. Weymouth has already approved the new zoning. Rockland voters will consider it this fall as well. A representative for the developer said the zoning rules have to be voted up or down in their entirety and can’t be amended from the floor.
GREEN WAVE ATHLETICS
(Compiled by Charlotte and Sadie Hernandez)
CROSS-COUNTRY
Varsity Boys
Tuesday, 4 p.m. vs Mashpee Middle/High School
Varsity Girls
Tuesday, 4 p.m. vs Mashpee Middle/High School
GOLF
Varsity
Monday, 3:30 p.m. @ East Bridgewater Jr./Sr. High School (PPD)
Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. vs Cohasset High School @ The Valley
Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. vs Sandwich Middle/High School @ The Valley
Junior Varsity
Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. @ Norwell High School @ Harmon Golf (PPD)
FOOTBALL
Varsity
Thursday, 6 p.m. @ Apponequet Regional High School
Junior Varsity
Monday, 4 p.m. vs Cohasset High School
Freshmen
No Games
BOYS SOCCER
Varsity
Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. vs Mashpee Middle/High School
Junior Varsity
Wednesday, 4 p.m. vs Mashpee Middle/High School
GIRLS SOCCER
Varsity
Monday, 4:30 p.m. vs Carver Middle/High School
Wednesday, 4 p.m. @ Mashpee Middle/High School
Junior Varsity
Tuesday, 4 p.m. vs Notre Dame Academy
Wednesday, 4 p.m. @ Mashpee Middle/High School
VOLLEYBALL
Varsity
Monday, 5:15 p.m. @ Cohasset High School
Thursday, 5:15 p.m. @ Carver Middle/High School
Junior Varsity
Monday, 4 p.m. @ Cohasset High School
Thursday, 4 p.m. @ Carver Middle/High School
Freshmen
No Games
(FOR THE MOST UPDATED GAMES AND SCORES, PLEASE CHECK ARBITER LIVE SPORTS)
MEETING SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Opioid Settlement Fund Committee, 3 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a discussion on a special town meeting warrant item, and setting a start date for grant applications.
Griffin Dairy Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes reports from the project manager and community garden manager, as well as updates on the new well and community yard sale.
Board of Health, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussions about draft tobacco sales regulations and smoking in public places regulations.
Planning Board, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a public hearing on Rose Place, and discussions about zoning changes at SouthField, and around the MBTA stations.
Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes requests by National Grid/Verizon for new poles on Brockton Avenue and Bedford Street, an update on the Fire Station/DPW Building Committee, and a closed session to discuss litigation.
Board of Library Trustees, 7 p.m., Public Library. Agenda includes a report from the library director, discussion about capital improvements, and updating the website, among other topics.
TUESDAY
Abington/Rockland Joint Water Commission, 3:40 p.m., 366 Centre Ave., Rockland. Agenda includes a closed door session to discuss union contract negotiations, a presentation from Harmon Residences, complaints from ratepayers, and a possible vote on water for 0 Summer Street.
Conservation Commission, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda incudes discussions about 161 North Quincy Street, 0 Summer Street, and Center Avenue.
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