Potholes? This money helps.

For once, the town announced how it will be spending $1.1 million in state funds for roads before politicians took credit.

On April 30, the posted a news release listing the road and highway projects in town. See that here >>

On May 8, a news release from the office of Rep. Sean Garballey provided the politicians' side of the story.

Display in lobby at Dearborn Academy shows how mural looked from 2008 to 2013.

Cultural community seeks answers; commission member resigns

The push for public art in Arlington, launched seven years ago and pursued in earnest beginning last year with fund-raising success and a large mural at the Boys & Girls Club, has hit a glitch: Art in town needs a clearer path to revere current creative expressions.

Consider the mural painted by Dearborn Academy students on the MBTA bus depot in Arlington Heights in 2008 and publicly honored that year. Through a series of miscommunications and the lack of a process to acknowledge its value, the mural has fallen victim to a contractor's work to construct a convenience store at the site.

Louise Popkin with poet Mario Benedetti

A translation by Louise B. Popkin of Arlington is among six books to make the short list for the Oxford-Weidenfeld prize in the UK.

Witness: The Selected Poems of Mario Benedetti (White Pine Press) is the only book of poetry and the only one published in the United States to be a finalist for the honor.

"The other five finalists are all novels," she wrote in an email, "written and translated by very heavy hitters, so I feel a bit like the Little Engine that Could ... don't think I have much of a chance of winning, but feel great about having gotten this far."

Family gathers for Marc Fucarile. His mother is at right. / Boston Globe photo

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Globe, May 8: Family's painful wait

At the Arlington Heights Post office, the desk clerk's eyes welled up as soon as she was asked about Marc Fucarile.

"My son," Maureen Fucarile said quietly.

Marc, among hundreds injured in the Marathon Monday bombings, remains in serious condition after losing a leg.

His case shows the personal connections affected when pressure cookers loaded with shrapnel explode in a crowd.

Marc was among 14 who had limbs amputated. They included brothers J.P. and Paul Norden, who were standing nearby.

Town police roles after Marathon lauded
Globe, April 29: Friends aid recovery

Fulchino

Barbara Fulchino, head of circulation at the Robbins Library, has been honored as the outstanding paralibrarian for 2013 by the Massachusetts Library Association.

The award is given to someone in the paralibrarian ranks that consistently provides excellent service to all and often goes beyond the call of duty.

Arlington’s director of libraries, Ryan Livergood, called Fulchino "the epitome of an outstanding paralibrarian, and no one is more worthy of this honor."

With 51 percent of the vote, Gabriel Gomez won the Republican special state primary held Tuesday, April 30, to fill the vacancy created in Congress because Senator John Kerry resigned and was appointed secretary of state. For the Democrats, Edward Markey beat Stephen Lynch, 58 percent to 42 percent.

Initial unofficial primary results are being reported at Boston.com.

With 21 Arlington precincts reporting, Markey received 6,201 and Lynch 1,901. For the GOP, Gomez, 547; Sullivan, 469; and Winslow, 135. Precinct results >>

Avocado offers its own election recipe

The deadline to register to vote for the special state election is Wednesday, June 5. The election is set for Tuesday, June 25.

For more information about these elections, visit the state election website.

The candidates for US Senate, in brief, according to The Globe:

Republicans

Gabriel E. Gomez, 47, of Cohasset. he is a former Navy SEAL and private equity investor.

What he’s running on: He’s not a “career politician.” Wants to “reboot” Congress with a lifetime ban on lobbying; term limits and a pay freeze.

Potential weakness: He alienated conservatives by supporting President Obama in 2008 and praising Democratic Governor Deval Patrick in a letter seeking appointment to the Senate.

Michael J. Sullivan, 58, of Abington, a former state and federal prosecutor, legislator and acting director of ATF.

What he’s running on: Experience, calling himself “tested and trusted.” He touts his tough-on-crime background but dismisses new gun control proposals as ineffective.

Potential weakness: Conservative bent, close ties to former President George W. Bush’s administration, could make him unappealing to general election voters in liberal Massachusetts.

Daniel B. Winslow, 54, of Norfolk. a state representative, onetime judge, former lawyer for Governor Mitt Romney’s administration.

What he’s running on: A socially progressive and fiscally conservative platform. Limited government, simplified tax code that ends corporate welfare and cuts corporate tax rates.

Potential weakness: His one liners and quick wit have brought him endorsements but little momentum and his ideas are often dismissed as gimmicks by his colleagues.

Democrats

Stephen F. Lynch, 55, of South Boston, a US congressman, former legislator and onetime ironworker.

What he’s running on: His underdog status and reputation as a fighter. The conservative Democrat is known for bucking his party in D.C., even on high-profile issues such as Obamacare.

Potential weakness: He has lost support from unions over issues like Obamacare and may have muddled his message to voters when he dropped his opposition to abortion during this campaign.

Edward J. Markey, 66, of Malden, a US congressman and former state legislator.

What he’s running on: Longtime liberal record on issues from gun control to climate change to abortion rights.

Potential weakness: His 36 years in Congress are derided by rivals who seek to portray him as part of the dysfunction in D.C.