Testing Holiday Recipes Ahead of Time at the Public Library
Abington, MA · November 8, 2026
Steady drizzle is tapping against the windows early today. Take your time with the morning roast, but save an appetite for lunch over on Summer Street by noon.
The Lead
Following an in-depth review of spring MCAS results, school administrators and committee members are taking a close look at daily classroom habits, student screen time, and literacy instruction across elementary grades. While high schoolers scored above state benchmarks in biology and civics, district data revealed notable dips in elementary math and fifth-grade English Language Arts. Assistant Superintendent Christopher Basta attributed part of the slump to testing fatigue and shifting student motivation now that MCAS is uncoupled from graduation, but committee members aren't treating the numbers passively. Pointed questions were raised during public discussion over whether heavy reliance on Chromebooks and personal mobile devices is quietly eroding sustained reading and handwritten composition. The district’s English Language Arts curriculum committee is now actively auditing classroom reading materials and writing frequency, with administrators aiming to implement targeted instructional tweaks well before any state-level guidelines arrive.
Local Pulse
Police Department Earns Regional Safety Honor Safety The department received AAA’s 2026 Silver Award for sustained efforts to reduce crashes and improve roadway safety town-wide.
Town Prepares to Phase Out Surveillance Cameras City Hall Chief John Bonney announced the department will remove automated license plate readers in the coming months to preserve community trust.
Today's Outlook
- High 54°F · Low 43°F — Drizzle (71% chance of precipitation)
- Keep a waterproof layer handy today as damp drizzle keeps conditions cool and slick.
What's On Around Town
Today
Annual Veterans Celebration Abington Senior Center (441 Summer St), Noon–2:00 PM · Free Catered lunch, giveaways, and family activities honoring town veterans and military families.
Dam and Mill History Walk Hobart Pond Dam (Pond St), Whitman, 10:00 AM · Free Whitman Historical Commission hosts an on-site look at local industrial heritage.
Sunday Drag Brunch Players Sports Bar & Grille (86 VFW Dr), Rockland, Noon · Paid South Shore entertainment paired with a full afternoon brunch menu.
Tomorrow
- Friends of the Library Book Talk Abington Public Library (600 Gliniewicz Way), 10:15 AM · Free
- Indoor Dinosaur Playground Whitman Public Library (100 Webster St), Whitman, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM · Free
- APL Tests Cookbooks: Holiday Edition Abington Public Library (600 Gliniewicz Way), 7:00–8:00 PM · Free
Tuesday
- Library Movie Afternoon Abington Public Library (600 Gliniewicz Way), 1:30 PM · Free
- Rockland & Abington Water Commissioners Joint Water Works Office (366 Centre Ave), Rockland, 4:00 PM · Free
- Mystery Book Club Discussion Abington Public Library (600 Gliniewicz Way), 7:00 PM · Free
Spotlight & Story
- Abington
- Royal Governor Joseph Dudley christened the settlement in 1706 to thank Anne Venables-Bertie, Countess of Abingdon, whose influence with Queen Anne secured his governorship. Dudley’s original charter spelled it "Abingdon," until a colonial clerk’s slip dropped the second "d."
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