A progressive non-profit in Abington has teamed up with the Black & Brown Student Union of Abington High School to coordinate an art exhibition and performing arts showcase spotlighting minority artists and performers. The events are timed for the conclusion of Black History Month.
Heather Sage-Hartery, of ASPIRE — Abington for Social Progress, Inclusion, Representation, and Equity — said the group reached out to the student union to see if they had ideas on how to mark the month.
“They thought an arts festival or higlieting arts would be good way of highlighting their community,” she said.
The result is a two part showcase this week; a visual arts exhibition in the Copeland Room at the Town Library, and a performing arts showcase this Saturday at the Beaver Brook Elementary School Gym.
The arts exhibit features work from eight minority artists, including three from Abington High School. The pieces range from paintings and pastels to upcycled dolls and floral preservations. The public can see the exhibit during the library’s operating hours. A reception is scheduled for Wednesday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“I was really impressed to see the variety of pieces and how they represented themselves and their experiences through art,” said Sage-Hagerty.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. is the performing arts showcase, featuring a combination of students and professional performers. Sage-Hartery said the lineup includes five Abington High School performers doing vocal or instrumental performances, plus the step team from Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School.
The show case is family friendly and free to the public.
DOUBLE WATER MAIN BREAK OUTSIDE ABINGTON CENTER
It was a serious case of the Mondays for residents living between Route 18 and Abington Center this morning. A double water main break overnight resulted in no water Monday morning to dozens of homes. Abington/Rockland Water Works Superintendent Kristel Cameron said a main broke near the Rt. 18/West Chapel Road intersection Sunday evening. And then the water main gate at the intersection of Belmont and Orange Streets went later in the night. Cameron hopes both breaks will be fixed and water turned back on later Monday, with cleanup and repaving wrapping up Tuesday.
“Crews have been working tirelessly to fix the breaks,” she said in an email. “This is a multiple break situation that is being addressed simultaneously (today) when possible.”
Residents affected by the breaks can fill up containers at the Water Works headquarters on Centre Avenue in Rockland.
BOYS/GIRLS HOCKEY, BASKETBALL IN TOURNEY GAMES THIS WEEK
The regular season is over but tournament season is just starting for the boys and girls hockey and boys basketball teams. On Wednesday, the #22 Norwell/Scituate/Abington girls hockey team plays #11 Marshfield at 3:20 p.m. at The Bog in Kingston. And then the #18 Abington boys hockey travels to Bourne to play the 15th-ranked Canalmen starting at 7:30 pm. On Thursday, the 16th ranked Green Wave boys basketball team will host #17 Medway at 7 p.m. We wish the teams well, although the road certainly gets tougher if the Abington squads win. If the Green Wave hockey team wins, they likely get the honor of once again sailing over to the island of Nantucket where their season ended last year. A win by the boys basketball team (17-5) gives them a date with top-ranked Charlestown (18-2).
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING THURSDAY
A town committee has spent the past 18 months reviewing the town charter and has prepared a list of proposed changes. The Charter Review Committee is holding a public meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. at Town Hall to discuss them, answer questions, and take comments. The full list of changes is available on the town website. They include updating the Abington Board of Selectmen to the Abington Selectboard, encouraging boards and committees to adopt strategies that improve public oureach and involvement, altering the way board vacancies are filled, and revising the budget presentation timeline. The changes will be up for a vote at the Annual Town Meeting on April 1.
EARLY VOTING FOR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY UNDERWAY
Super Tuesday is next week but in-person early voting is underway. Massachusetts is one of 16 states and territories holding its Presidential Primary on Tuesday, March 5. Under state law, voters can cast their ballot now by showing up in-person at the Cotter Room at Town Hall. The Abington Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday – Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. More information on absentee voting and mail-in ballots is available here.
TIME RUNNING OUT TO RUN FOR TOWN OFFICE
There’s 15 days left to collect signatures to run for town office and make it on the Annual Town Election ballot. There’s only two competitive races on the ballot so far, which is surprising considering all the strong opinions shared regularly on the town Facebook groups. Three candidates have taken out papers to run for two sets on the Board of Selectmen: incumbent Tim Chapin, Jason Harris, of Constitution Avenue, and the town’s Building Commissioner, and Paul Bunker, of Peregrine Road, the chairman of the Conservation Commission. Water Commissioner Tom Dion is seeking reelection; William Cormier has taken out papers for Dion’s seat as well as the one currently held by Paul Mollica. Mollica has not yet taken out nomination papers. School Committee member Heidi Hernandez, of Orange Street, is running for reelection. She is so far joined by Pam Neely, of Adams Street. Gail Bergin, of Morton Street, Mary Gillis, of Temple Street, and Henry DiCarlo, of Central Street, are each looking for another term on the Library Board of Trustees; Rick Collins, of Orange Street, is seeking a third term on the Planning Board; Ellen Delany, of Washington Street, is running again for the Housing Authority. Nobody has taken out papers to run for the two open Board of Health seats. Candidates need 50 signatures from registered Abington voters to make the ballot. All signatures must be turned in by March 11, at 5 p.m.
GREEN WAVE ATHLETICS
Boys Varsity Basketball
Thursday, 6:30 p.m., vs Medway High School
Boys Varsity Hockey
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., @ Bourne High School
Girls Varsity Hockey
Wednesday, 3:20 p.m., @ Marshfield High School
MEETING SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Affordable Housing Trust Fund Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussion with Habitat for Humanity about a Plymouth Street home, efforts to increase affordable housing units in town, status of the Center and North Schools, and the committee’s web page.
Board of Health, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussion about animal regulations, and food truck inspection reciprocity.
Board of Selectmen, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes an award presentation by the Plymouth County Treasurer, a discussion about transferring the town’s OPEB balance to the county OPEB fund, and a legislative update from Rep. Sullivan and Sen. Keenan.
TUESDAY
School Committee, 7 p.m., Middle/High School Library. Agenda includes an update on the English Language Arts department, technology services department, and the Chester Millet and Deirdre Volunteer Service Awards, as well as updates on the proposed FY25 budget and proposed improvements to Memorial Field.
WEDNESDAY
Open Space Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes discussing the results of the Open Space Master Plan survey and review of possible park trail maps.
Abington Housing Authority, 6 p.m., 71 Shaw Avenue. Agenda includes approval of required federal forms and statements, consideration of an amendment to financial assistance.
Finance Committee, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a discussion of the proposed Town Manager and Community Preservation Committee budgets.
THURSDAY
Charter Review Committee, 6 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda includes a public information session on proposed changes to the town charter.