The dedication of Arlington's first public community mural took place on a cold, sunny Friday morning, Oct. 31, at the MBTA bus depot in Arlington Heights.

This mural project was made possible thanks to the support of the Arlington Cultural Council, the MBTA and the office of the town manager. The mural was painted by students from the Dearborn Academy under the direction of artist Tova Speter and with the help of artists Anyahlee Canas and LeeAnn Love Price.

Taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony were, from left above, Daniel A. Grabauskas, general manager, MBTA; Enrique Velasquez, a Dearborn student; Howard Rossman, Dearborn principal; state Rep. Sean Garbally, lead artist Tova Speter and Town Manager Brian Sullivan. The photo was taken by Canas.

 Sept. 29: Murals brighten Heights bus depot

Last June, the College Board announced that it will allow students to choose which SAT II scores are reported to colleges. With this decision, which will go into effect next March, students will be able send scores they are proud of while preventing colleges from seeing lower scores.

Since 2002, the College Board has been reluctant to allow students to choose which scores are shown because this gives an advantage to more wealthy students. A wealthy student will be able to take a test as many times as he or she wishes and then simply send the highest score to colleges.

Since the Subject Tests can cost as much as $40, and many students are already required to take three, there are some families for whom numerous retakes are not an option.

Men's hockey holds on to win season opener, Colby, Nov. 21 > >

Michael Doherty of Lynnfield scored his first two collegiate goals and sophomore goaltender Cody McKinney stopped 32 shots in net as the Colby College men’s hockey team opened the season with a 3-2 victory over University of Massachusetts at Boston. The Mules went ahead quickly when Karl Burns tallied just 1:02 into the contest off assists from Jeoffrey Jarnot and Wil Hartigan of Arlington.

Crackdown set for mid-November

Town officials aim to crack down on drivers who ignore parking tickets and those who fail to properly register their vehicles. Police Chief Frederick Ryan and Town Treasurer Stephen J. Gilligan jointly announced the plan. "Most people in Arlington are conscientious about paying parking fines in a timely manner," Ryan said. "A small number ignore repeated efforts to collect the fines due the Town. We will be working with Treasurer Stephen Gilligan to identify those scofflaws and to seize their vehicles until fines are paid."

Burns

The issue flashed to the surface after Burns announced that the town would use its auditors to check into a couple of school matters, including Title I. Committee members Ron Spangler and Sue Sheffler expressed immediate dismay about not being informed until then. Later, member Leba Heigham also expressed concern.

Former Arlington schools' superintendent Nate Levenson testified Oct. 30 in Boston in the latest arbitration hearing involving the case of fired Ottoson teacher Chuck Coughlin, his lawyer told YourArlington. Barry C. Klickstein, a partner with Duane Morris of Boston, wrote in an e-mail Oct. 30, "Nate appeared voluntarily for further questioning this morning before the arbitrator."

Chief sees reduced community policing

Will the administration stay at AHS?

Largest kindergarten class in 30 years

The 2008-2009 school year is turning out to be a banner year for Arlington public school enrollment. The district’s student population is at its largest since 1984, with 4,594 students, according to numbers the district prepared for the Massachusetts Department of Education and current as of Oct. 1. This represents an increase of 2.3 percent over last year’s enrollment of 4,492 students.

The kindergarten class made a more dramatic jump -- 13 percent, from 400 to 453 students, making it the largest kindergarten class in more than 30 years. The increase led to the hiring of three additional teachers, one each at Brackett, Dallin and Stratton.