Young bicyclists check their wheel at the Thompson School.
A group that supports encouraging bicycling to school found welcome
listeners at the School Committee's recent community relations
subcommittee meeting. The Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee has been
asked to draft a pilot program for one or two Arlington schools, a plan
that is expected to be presented to the superintendent in early
November.
Subcommittee members moved positively on a plan discussed by five
people representing bicycle and transportation interests that would
start small and then see whether it could get rolling for all of
Arlingon's public schools. Peirce Principal Robert Penta expressed
caution, and Rose Casazza, representing traffic supervisors (crossing
guards), offered opposition.
When town voters go to the polls in Arlington on Nov. 4, they will face
a fourth, "mystery" ballot initiative. The nonbinding question focuses
on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent in 12 years, and its
recent addition to the town ballot was a surprise to those in the town
clerk's office.
No one questioned there knew what group had collected
the 200 signatures required to place it on the ballot. Neither did the
spokesman for Secretary of State William Galvin.
A memo from the School Committee chair confirms the final amounts former Superintendent Nate Levenson was paid and states that he received "no severance or other payment." He received a payment for bit more than 23 days of unused vacation time, or $13.728.09 after he resigned Aug. 7.
As economic uncertainty sweeps the world, one cost issue remains certain in Arlington -- health insurance rates are rising beyond the 7-percent limit set by the town's five-year plan in 2005. Selectmen voted 4-0 (Kevin Greeley was absent) Oct. 6 to accept recommended rates for health insurance -- which range in 10- to 31-percent increases.
Selectmen Annie LaCourt, who presented the rates to the board, said Oct. 7:
As the November election approaches, "The Public Square," hosted by School Committee member Jeff Thielman, features an in-depth conversation on Question 1, the ballot initiative that asks voters if they want to eliminate the Massachusetts income tax.
The show begins with on-the-street interviews and is followed by a debate between Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and Rich Aucoin of the Committee for Small Government. Widmer opposes the elimination of the income tax, and Aucoin supports Question 1. Their discussion is spirited and engaging, and will add to your knowledge on this important issue.
Arlington residents, union members and Arlington public school staff members gathered at the Sons of Italy Hall on the night of Saturday, Oct. 4, to support Stavroula Bouris, former Ottoson Middle School principal, and Chuck Coughlin, former Ottoson technology teacher. Both were present. The event, the second of its kind in a year, was called ThanksForGiving II. The 2007 event, the first benefit for the pair last November, was called ThanksForGiving because it occurred the day after Thanksgiving Day.
Cyclists on the bike path pass the Brattle Street Pumping Station, which is undergoing renovation. In the background are the Menotomy Village condos.
Drivers impatient with the irregular closings of Brattle Street for the
past year better get ready for more next year. While part of the work
on Brattle near the Mill Brook has been completed, work on a culvert at
that site is expected to occur next summer.
Laura Prichard, named director of fine arts for the Arlington public schools this summer, has announced a Web calendar of 2008-09 events at www.localendar.com >>. The fine arts staff now includes John DiTomaso, AHS music techonology lab; Shelly Magno, Dallin School art teacher; and Prichard, a music teacher (mainly at Ottoson). Coming soon to the AHS Web site are a monthly report, teacher bios and a full list of fine arts (K-12) staff.
Announcements:
The AHS fall play, "The Laramie Project," has been cast and will be
directed by Michael Byrne, with assistance from Susanna Quaintance,
a student teacher from the Brandeis theater department.
Muralists at the MBTA depot in the Heights sketch out artistic ideas earlier in the process.
Dearborn students provide the paint in Cultural Council effort
Students from Dearborn Academy in East Arlington are putting paint to the murals they designed to enliven the MBTA bus depot in Arlington Heights. Described as the town's first public community mural, the project is under the direction of artist and art therapist Tova Speter. Helping the student painters is a team of artists that include Anyahlee Canas, Leeann Love and Speter.
"The
students at Dearborn Academy are the real artists in this project, even
though they didn't realize it at first," Speter wrote in an e-mail
Sept. 28.
"They have
designed a thoughtful mural, are empowered by the process, and are in
turn empowering the surrounding neighborhood to realize that the energy
and spirit of community artwork is truly transformative: both for the
space and for the people who will enjoy it daily."
CVS, which has two stores in Arlington now, is planning a much-larger third retail store next to Arlington High School, where the Hodgdon-Noyes auto dealership closed in April. Town Planner Kevin O'Brien confirmed Oct. 1 that the national chain filed an application for a special permit on Sept. 18 for a 12,900-square-foot store.
Listen to the third annual Pan-Celtic winter sojourn with guitar virtuoso J.P. Cormier
and guests Kimberley F...
4th initiative is nonbinding -- and a surprise
A memo from the School Committee chair confirms the final amounts former Superintendent Nate Levenson was paid and states that he received "no severance or other payment." He received a payment for bit more than 23 days of unused vacation time, or $13.728.09 after he resigned Aug. 7.
Laura Prichard, named director of fine arts for the Arlington public schools this summer, has announced a Web calendar of 2008-09 events at 
