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.

Biodegradable trays are replacing Styrofoam in the lunchroom at the Brackett and Peirce schools this fall.

The two schools are participating in a pilot program to test the “green” trays. Rob Rice, food service director of the Arlington public schools, said he hopes to begin using the trays at all seven elementary schools if no major drawbacks are found.

Rice also hopes to eventually use biodegradable food service products at the Ottoson Middle School and Arlington High School cafeterias.

Levenson says he seeks unused vacation pay, not severance

With Superintendent Nate Levenson gone and a permanent interim superintendent in place, questions have been raised about whether his replacement can, on her own, end the arbitration of fired Ottoson teacher Chuck Coughlin and whether Levenson has retained an attorney to negotiate a severance package. Two key sources have discounted both claims.

Lost search for a Black Hawk: One Arlingtonian's view

Town officials believe that crowds this year were the largest in a decade. While no clear estimate is available, the town pays for an insurance policy to cover as many as 25,000 people. Several food vendors sold out before 2 p.m. Sept. 20, and the Explorers reportedly made more than $2,000 the night before. The Sons of Italy booth reportedly sold 50 pounds of sausages before 1:30 p.m. and had to close. Some said the big hit was the Tango Restaurant booth, whose hamburgers and sirloin tips were big sellers. The 2009 Town Day is set for Sept. 25 (night) and 26. Rain date is Oct. 3.