A forum for 23rd Middlesex candidates for state representative co-sponsored by InsideMedford.com and the Medford High School social studies department took place last night in Medford. The event at the high school's Caron Theater, moved from the library because of expected turnout, drew about 35 people to hear five hopefuls. Among them were Sen. Jim mMrzilli as well as Medford School Committee members Ann Marie Cugno and Paulette Van der Kloot. Read about the forum here. InsideMedford's link tot the race is here.

The Board of Selectmen on Jan. 28 reviewed and approved asafety plan for school pedestrians, which has been supported by Stand, a school-advocacy group. You may read a draft of the plan here >>. Last week the School Committee voted unanimously to adopt a plan proposed by the Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) to ensure the safe arrivals and departures of students at school.

The Arlington High School visual arts department unveiled "The River of Hands Mural," a large tile mosaic, in the AHS lobby, on Jan. 17, three days after snow postponed the original unveiling. It was worth the short wait, as the public can see in the photo above or in the larger version below.

Seven Ottoson students and one from Peirce competed well in a national test aimed at creating a city of the future. The eight were among 38 teams of students who entered this year's National Engineering Week "Future Cities" competition, in which students create a SimCity model. With all the interim deadlines and requirements, only 10 teams qualified to make it to the regional competition, and the Arlington team of four seventh-graders, three sixth-graders and one fifth-grader was one of those that competed Jan. 19 at Northeastern University.