About 30 town residents and postal workers attending a Town Hall meeting on Monday, Oct. 3, heard objections to the planned closings of branches in the Heights and East Arlington as well as complaints about parking at the Court Street facility.

Postmaster James Holland heard the opposition about the planned closings, which are among 31 in Greater Boston, in part because they generate less than $600,000 per year in revenue. See the Oct. 4 report on Boston.com >>

AHS grad ties soccer mark at Carleton

Simon Ginet, at left, an Arlington High School graduate who is now a sophomore at Carleton College, made his first career start and tied the Carleton record by delivering assists on the Knights’ first three goals.

Six players scored as Carleton men’s soccer team (6-3-2) pulled away in the second half for a 6-1 victory over Northwestern College. See Carleton College, Oct. 4 >>

Arlington couple shapes New Rep’s ‘Rent'

Benjamin Evett and Kelli Edwards, an Arlington couple play, a role in "Rent," the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical at the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown. See how in the Sept. 1 Boston Globe story >>

Somerville wants state to explain Green Line delay

The Board of Aldermen passed a resolution Thursday, Aug. 25, calling for top state transportation officials to appear before it to answer for the recent delay of the Green Line extension project and urged the city’s mayor to explore renewing legal action against the Commonwealth. See Boston Globe, Aug. 26 >>

 Lowell treasurer, a town resident, dies in I-93 collision

Police continue to investigate why Lowell City Treasurer David McGurl, an Arlington resident, was killed on Interstate 93 Monday, Aug. 15, when his car collided with a tractor-trailer truck.

State Police said the 57-year-old was driving south on the highway when he veered off the road to his right in the area south of Exit 47 and collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer unit that was parked in a emergency cutout of the roadway to the right of the breakdown lane.

For more about this story see the Aug. 15 Lowell Sun >> | Globe obituary >> 

In entrepreneurial spirit, Arlington teen "drops out"

Jeffrey Lim is among a number of under-20 college students receiving grants so they can drop out of school to pursue their dreams, The Boston Globe reports Aug. 6 in a page one story, which takes a broader look at Thiel Foundation grants.

The story of Lim's award was first reported by YourArlington in May.

Heights, Eastie post offices considered for shutdown

Two branch post offices in town -- in the Heights and East Arlington -- are among those on a list considered for closing. If both are shut, Arlington would be served by only the Court Street post office. See the July 27 Boston Globe story, which focuses on Boston area facilities.

Town gains nearly $375K from new meals tax

Arlington has netted nearly $375,000 in new revenue since the town adopted a local option tax on meals served in restaurants, according to figures released by state revenue officials and reported by Boston.com >>.

Lexington School Committee denies open-meeting charge

The Lexington School Committee is denying it violated state open meeting laws when it voted on a contract extension for Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash during a closed meeting in June. Lexington residents Eric Eid-Reiner and Dawn McKenna filed separate complaints with the town in mid-June, saying the School Committee’s June 1 vote on Ash’s contract should have been held in a public meeting rather than in executive session. See Boston Globe, July 7, 2011 >>

Retired Lexington fire chief says he tore up falsified certificate

Lexington’s former fire chief says one of his top firefighters offered him a bogus emergency medical certification card two years before the state launched a wide-ranging investigation into phony cards, but the chief says he tore it up and didn’t tell authorities.

William Middlemiss, who retired as chief on Thursday, June 30, testified to a state agency last month that the firefighter, Mark Culleton, offered the bogus certification to him and his assistant chief in 2008. He said he admonished Culleton never to obtain a false card again, but he didn’t tell state authorities because he felt it was a personnel matter. See July 2 Boston Globe >>

Arlington airman missing since 1943 is home at last

An Arlington airman whose P-38 Lightning went down in New Guinea in 1943 has come home.

The remains of 2nd Lt. Richard S. Ryrholm Jr., missing since World War II, were laid to rest in a full military ceremony at Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Saturday, June 18.

Read an account from the Sunday, June 19, Boston Globe >>

Read SignOn San Diego, June 24 >>

In Globe photo by Josh Reynolds, relatives of Ryrholm include nephew Jan Harper of California (holding flag).

DiMasi lawyers seek to quash Kirwan testimony

Lawyers for former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and Richard Vitale, his financial adviser and longtime friend, have filed a midtrial motion urging US District Judge Mark L. Wolf to strike or have jurors disregard part of the testimony of prosecution witness Leslie A. Kirwan, The Boston Globe reported Friday, May 27.

The former secretary of the state’s Executive Office of Administration and Finance, who is an Arlington resident, testified Wednesday, May 25, that she would not have approved a $13 million state contract with a software company and would have sought legal advice if she had known, as prosecutors allege, that DiMasi was receiving money for pushing company interests.

The defense lawyers argued that Kirwan’s testimony was inadmissible because neither DiMasi nor Vitale was under any duty to disclose such information; they never had a chance to do so; and because the statement supported an invalidated legal theory that failure to disclose the information constituted honest services fraud, one of the charges in the case.

Kirwan testifed May 25 that she was relieved once the $13 million contract with Cognos was signed, because the speaker had been so invested in the matter, lobbying her, her subordinates, and other administration officials, The Boston Globe reported May 26.

The Arlington resident told a federal jury that she approved what turned out to be a questionable contract with a Burlington software company in 2007 in part to mend rocky relations between the Patrick administration and House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi.

Town to get $93K in Wheelabrator settlement

The Town of Arlington is to get more than $93,000 as part of an agreement to settle allegations that Wheelabrator Technologies Inc. broke environmental laws by failing to properly treat and dispose of ash, The Boston Globe reported Thursday, May 19.

The payment to Arlington was announced by Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office May 19 as part of a $7.5 million settlement the Wheelabrator reached with the state earlier this month.

Arlington man pleads not guilty in midair scare

The Boston Globe reports that Robert Hersey, at right, 43, of Arlington has pleaded not guilty to charges lodged after he tried to open an emergency door during Delta Flight 1102, which arrived safely at Logan Airport on the night of Tuesday, May 10.

He was accompanied after the incident by a Weymouth police officer.

May 12, Boston Globe >>

Donnelly, Tea Party face off on Wisconsin union issues

As a deal was reached Thursday, Feb. 24, in the the Wisconsin Assembly between Democrats and Republicans, see a debate between Christen Varley of the Massachusetts Tea Party and state Sen. Ken Donnelly, Democrat of Arlington, on New England Cable News. Donnelley is pro-union, and Varley supports Gov. Scott Walker Of Wisconsin.

See video here >>

Fatal shooting in West Medford

A man was fatally shot and his father was wounded at a house on Jerome Street in West Medford on Friday, Feb. 18, the office Middlesex District Attorney Gerald T. Leone said. Medford police responded to a report of shots fired at about 10:40 p.m., InsideMedford reported Saturday, Feb. 19.

John Hatch, 36, died after he was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Hatch’s father, whose identity was not released, was also taken to Lawrence Memorial before he was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital. He is expected to survive, according to the statement. In addition, see Feb. 21 Globe.

Arlington's anonymous tweeting hero

Mike, 29, is an IT professional, some "random dude" from Arlington. That's all he'll tell the public. But, according to a Feb. 18 Globe story, he may be a hero.

In a tweet last week, Mike argued that the cyborg from the 1987 camp classic "RoboCop," set in Detroit, would be a great ambassador for the city.

The idea took off. In six days, the Web site DetroitNeedsRoboCop.com passed its fund-raising goal of $50,000. Mayor Dave Bing says the notion is no slam-dunk.

More >>

Former Governor’s Council member Callahan dies

Michael J. Callahan of Medford, a former member of the Governor’s Council, has died, The Boston Globe reported Jan. 7. His successor, Terrence Kennedy, said Callahan died Jan. 6 after a battle with melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

Concord group eyes local income tax

A group of Concord residents, aiming to change how the town raises revenue, is working on a proposal for state lawmakers that would allow communities to adopt a local income tax in addition to the property tax. The town committee is also charged with reaching out to other communities to drum up support for the plan. Pat Sinnot, a member of the Local Option Income Tax Committee, said efforts will pick up now that the election is over. Boston Globe West, Nov. 11 >>

Belmont building chief eyes Alewife project

Belmont’s building commissioner has launched an intensive review of plans for a major apartment complex on privately owned land in the Alewife nature preserve, an evaluation that could delay final approval by weeks or more, The Boston Globe reports Sunday, Oct. 31.

O’Neill Properties Group recently applied for permission from Belmont officials to begin work on its long-delayed, 300-unit apartment complex, proposed for a parcel surrounded by the 120-acre Alewife Brook Reservation near Arlington.

But Glenn Clancy, Belmont’s director of community development and building commissioner, said he would like to see more detailed plans and studies on certain aspects of the proposal before granting a building permit.

Lexington firefighters sue over EMT ruling

Five Lexington firefighters are suing the state in an effort to clear their names after the state Department of Public Health suspended their licenses to provide emergency care in July, The Boston Globe reported Oct. 23. Some Armstrong EMTs faced a nine-month ban, The Globe reported in June.

40B -- for and against

The Nov. 2 ballot question targeting the 1969 affordable-housing law has energized both sides of the debate, including those who wants to retain the law as well as opponent John Belskis of Arlington, The Boston Globe reports Oct. 17.

Project aims to stem Alewife flooding

Cambridge plans to start building this fall a 3.4-acre storm-water detention basin just west of the MBTA’s Alewife Station that will catch runoff before it reaches the waterway. Even if the basin does cause a "tiny bit of increased flooding, it's worth it" Arlington Selectwoman Clarissa Rowe is quoted in a Sept. 19 Boston Globe report, the point of the program is to reduce the combined sewer overflows into the brook.

Rowe, who also chairs the Arlington-Belmont-Cambridge Flooding Control Group, said Arlington would seek mitigation from Cambridge if the basin causes additional flooding.

Opponents say it will cause more flooding in East Arlington and other vulnerable areas, but after multiple failed appeals and more than two years of delays, Cambridge is preparing to begin construction on a project that city officials say is critical to reducing sewage overflows into the Alewife Brook.

The basin is part of a $117 million project funded by Cambridge and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to cut overflows into the brook from old sewer lines that combine storm runoff with domestic sewage. The effort to reduce the overflows must be completed by 2015 under the federal court order controlling the cleanup of Boston Harbor and streams flowing into it, including the Mystic and Charles rivers.

Opponents say the $14 million collection basin will cause more flooding around the Alewife Brook in areas such as East Arlington and North Cambridge, which are already plagued by repeated floods during heavy storms. The Friends of Alewife Reservation support the plan.

Lexington students to return to school after PCB levels declared safe

Students at the Joseph Estabrook elementary school in Lexington, delayed from starting school while officials deal with potentially unsafe levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in the building, are expected to return to the school on Monday, Sept. 13. Boston Globe, Sept. 11 >>

A 3-wheeled push for for better T service

Bijan Afshartous, 71, a Lexington Town Meeting member, pumps the pedals of his three-wheeled bike, pushing a petition for improved bus service in for the area, including Arlington. Boston.com, Aug. 5 >>

Y to train staff after Woburn breast-feeding flap

An incident at the Woburn Y involving a Medford mom has led the Greater Boston YMCA to vow to train its 1,500 employees in Eastern Massachusetts about a state law protecting mothers’ right to breast-feed in public. Elizabeth Gomez told the Arlington e-mail list that an employee had told her to stop breast-feeding her baby because it violated the Y’s policy against eating food in a child care facility. Boston Globe, July 30 >>

Arlington firm hopes for 'green' gold in Suriname

Haber, Inc., headquartered in Arlington, at 58 Medford St., has announced that it will be running gold-extraction demonstrations in Suriname on sulfide gold ore. Haber will perform demonstration runs in the South American nation within 45-70 days using its hydrometallurgical "green" recovery technology on sulfide ores to prove to the government of Suriname, small-scale miners and mining companies that it can more than double the current extraction efficiencies and eliminate the use of mercury. MarketWatch.com, July 28 >>

Newly licensed Arlington cyclist crashes in Maine

What was meant to be a cool maiden road trip from Massachusetts to Canada ended when a new motorcyclist was taken to the hospital following a crash on Interstate 95. Patrick Cronin, 19, of Arlington, received his motorcycle license just four hours before crashing his bike on the Maine Turnpike in New Gloucester near milepost 70. Police say the accident serves as a reminder why helmets are important. Lewiston Sun Journal, July 27 >>

Belmont Uplands project draws state approval

A 229-unit apartment project, facilitated by the state's 40B affordable-housing law, may be built across Route 2 from Arlington in a nature reserve on the Belmont-Cambridge line after approval from state regulators. The action drew a sharp response from a lawyer for the Friends of Alewife Reservation. Boston Globe, May 27 >>

Bike lanes for Mass. Ave. -- in Boston

Five-foot-wide bike lanes are coming to Mass. Ave. -- in Boston. The lanes are due to be created on the busy downtown artery, from Boston Medical Center to Symphony Hall. See "Mass. Ave. to get bike lanes as part of $18m rebuilding," Boston Globe, May 22 >> Similar lanes are part of the proposed Mass. Ave. project from Pond Lane to Alewife, in Arlington.

Ex-town DPW chief retiring in Conn.

Joseph Loyacano, the former public-works director in Arlington, will retire this fall after more than 12 years directing the DPW in Norwich, Conn. Loyacano, 66, came to Norwich in 1997 after four years as public works director in Arlington and a 26-year career in the U.S. Navy. When Loyacano was director in Arlington, he commuted from his home in Connecticut. Norwich Bulletin, April 23 >>

Penta to lead St. Agnes School

Former Brackett School and Peirce Principal Bob Penta has been appointed as the new principal of St. Agnes Catholic school beginning in July, Boston.com has reported.

Penta, of North Reading, resigned as principal at Peirce at the conclusion of the 2008-2009 school year, ending 15 years in Arlington public schools. He's currently principal of the Dorchester Central Campus at Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy.

Place to meet for meat coming to Heights

A small chain of butcher shops based in New England will soon be opening an outlet in the northwest suburbs of Boston. According to its Web site, The Meat House is going to open a shop on Mass. Ave. in Arlington Heights, a short distance west of the Park Avenue intersection (where Game Crazy and Hollywood Video used to be). Boston Restaurant Talk, April 6 >> | Also Shop in the Heights >>

New signs part of $20m Rt. 2 effort

Contractors are swapping out the familiar green signs as the state Department of Transportation spends nearly $20 million in federal stimulus and state funds on a variety of upgrades to local sections of the busy commuter artery. Boston.com, Feb. 21 >>

New task force eyeing potential areas for off-leash dogs

After a narrow defeat at Town Meeting last year, Arlington officials and residents have launched a new task force to identify areas for an off-leash dog park. Boston.com, Feb. 18 >>

Local-option income tax pushed in Concord

As part of an effort to make Concord more affordable and diverse, local officials want to shift the tax burden off most property owners and onto the town’s wealthiest residents. Boston Globe, Feb. 14 >>

Cost, turnout may lead MIAA to cut Arlington as tourney venue

The MIAA’s football committee Feb. 8 heard a glowing financial report on last fall’s playoffs, but not about Arlington, where a playoff game drew 415 fans. Boston,com, Feb. 9 >>

House gets appeal for 40B ballot measure

Secretary of State William Galvin has delivered to the House of Representatives an initiative petition seeking placement of the repeal of MGL 40B before the voters of Massachusetts on the November State election ballot. Pursuing this effort has been the Coalition to Repeal 40B, led by John Belskis of Arlington.

Belskis wrote in an e-mail Feb. 7: "Almost seven years ago a group of people from 12 different towns gathered at a meeting in Braintree. These citizen activists initiated the organization that now has members in almost 200 of the 351 Massachusetts cities and towns. Their efforts and the support of many others has reached what was once thought an impossible goal."

North Cambridge Catholic moving to Dorchester

North Cambridge Catholic High School is moving to a larger facility in Savin Hill. “We’re going there to grow,’’ school president Jeffrey Thielman said, adding that he expects enrollment to rise from 260 to as much as 400 over the next four years. Thielman is a member of the Arlington School Committee. Boston Globe, Dec. 23 >>

2 ex-youth soccer coaches in Medford accused of rape

Two former Medford soccer coaches have been arrested on forcible child rape charges, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said today in a news release. Roger Lau, 26, of Medford , was arrested late last night on four counts of forcible child. Thomas Heinz, 26, of Medford , was arrested this morning on one count of forcible child rape. Lau and Heinz were to be arraigned in Somerville District Court. The investigation is ongoing. For more, see InsideMedford, Dec. 22 >>

Accused AC football player pleads not guilty

Arlington Catholic High School football player James LaShoto, accused of unnecessary roughness during a game Sept. 19, entered a not-guilty plea in court Monday to an assault and battery charge. Authorities say the 17-year-old hit Abington High School player Daniel Curtin after Curtin’s helmet was knocked off during the game.WHDH, Dec. 21 >>

Arlington debtor linked to campground bankruptcy

The owner of an East Wareham campground and nearby cranberry bogs has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Brock P. Tucy reported having assets of $18.1 million in real property and $90,000 in personal property. The holders of the biggest unsecured claim listed by Tucy is Peter D. Angelo of Arlington, who reported having unsecured trade debt of $1.3 million and another $500,000 in debts secured by collateral. Boston Business Journal, Dec. 16 >>

East Lexington group goes green for Mass. Ave. safety

A group in East Lexington takes action to address a safety issue on Mass. Ave., near Arlington after a woman was hit by a car last spring. Boston Globe, Dec. 10 >>

Za to open 2nd restaurant, in Kendall Square

Eclectic restaurant EVOO in Somerville and Za in Arlington will be moving to Kendall Square in Cambridge, as Za opens a second location in the same building. Boston Restaurant Talk, Nov. 23 >>

Brigham's, near bankruptcy, shuts out longtime Arlingtonians

After sheriff’s deputies unexpectedly told employees at the Brigham’s restaurant near Arlington High School to leave Nov. 13, locked-out employees were angry at owner Luke T. Cooper of Deal Metrics in Baltimore for leading the chain on a path to failure. The Brigham's in the Heights remains open. Hood owns the brand, and the store is owned by an independent franchisee. Boston Globe, Nov. 20 >>

Family seeks answers in cyclist's death in Arlington

Retired Newton educator Robert Zeeb, 71, training to ride his bicycle across the country, died Nov. 10 after his bicycle hit a hole long Route 2 in Arlington. Nov. 15, Boston Globe >>=

Dilboy noise roils Sunnyside

When noise from the neighboring Dilboy Field in Somerville began to bombard her Arlington home several years ago, Susan Hoye said, she kept records about how many times she called to complain. The Sunnyside resident and her husband called Somerville’s Police Department and City Hall, as well as Arlington selectmen and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Boston Globe, Nov. 12 >>

Flood insurance spurs concerns near Alewife Brook

Thousands of Massachusetts property owners, including those near the Alewife Brook, are discovering their homes and businesses are in newly designated federal flood zones, forcing them to buy additional insurance coverage that can easily exceed $2,000 annually. Boston Globe, Nov. 7 >>

AC player charged in head-butt

A criminal charge has been filed against an Arlington Catholic football player who allegedly head-butted an opposing player whose helmet had been knocked off in a football game last month. James LaShoto, 17, is facing a charge of assault and battery stemming from the Sept. 19 incident in which LaShoto allegedly hit Abington player Daniel Curtin, 17, in a game played at Arlington Catholic. Boston Globe, Oct. 31 >>

Effort pursues farm at Arlington border

Lexington Community Farm Coalition is gathering signatures for a petition calling for the town to establish a local operation at the Busa Farm property on Lowell Street. In May, Lexington’s Town Meeting authorized the purchase of the 8-acre farm for about $4.1 million. Town Manager Carl Valente said the town hopes to close on the purchase and sale agreement this fall. Boston Globe, Oct. 16 >>

Headbutt by AC player draws probe

A troubling hit at a high school football game has police looking into possible charges. Channel 7, Oct. 5 >>