I favor speaking up for the voiceless, but public words defending others who would remain off-stage have to tell a more complete story than they do in the case of paying $3,000 in annual fees for all-day kindergarten.

Arlington resident Stephen Harrington, who has spoken persistently in the past in a successful effort to reduce fees for high school athletics, uses similar arguments about kindergarten fees, but the math stands up only because the tale is incomplete.

During public participation Jan. 26, he told the School Committee that the cost of full-day kindergarten is "ludicrous," should be lower, amounts to an illegal tax and efforts to collect it are "heavy-handed." His comments, to which committee members made no response, as per their policy, came as parents who have not paid the fee face having their children dismissed at 11 a.m. starting Jan. 30. 

Harrington concludes that parents have overpaid more than $400,000 in each of the past two years for such fees. I wanted to learn how he reached that number, so I requested a copy of his comments Jan. 27. He has not responded. If he does, I will add a link to the response to this opinion column.

The following was submitted by Ellen Mass, of Friends of Alewife Reservation (FAR), one of the groups opposing the Belmont Uplands project

Maintaining open spaces at the Alewife Reservation is a battle that shows no sign of abating.  Even as global warming ensures more heavy precipitation frequently flooding the entire area (March 2009), the multimillion-dollar development plan for “Discovery Park,” situated on a delicate “floodway,” continues to move forward.

That development along with four others planned for the area occupy the FEMA floodway and 100-year flood zone, increasing the likelihood of more frequent flooding and threatening the Reservation’s biodiversity and increasing displaced water runoff.

In "Pieces of Dreams," Arlington musicians, inspired by a dramatic connection from beyond, made the 24th Martin Luther King observance memorable -- and healing.

The event in Town Hall auditorium, long the traditional opening of the annual town election season, brought out a spectrum of people, including those holding and seeking office.

On Monday, Jan. 16, transcendence met immediacy.

I have two questions for you:

-- What kinds of news would you like to see reported in 2012?

-- How do you propose to make that happen?

The first question is fairly easy to answer; the second one isn't.

 Arlington's political season traditionally begins in January. This year, potential candidates began taking out papers in October. As of Dec. 13, five had done so for key town and school offices. Election information >>

In an effort to encourage conversation about Arlington issues, I offer the list below. Others who may want to add to the list should do so at the comment link below this post.

I welcome answers to these questions from candidates, who may send responses for publication to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Issues -- for town and school candidates:

-- Do you support the process to revamp Mass. Ave. in East Arlington? Is there anything you would do differently going forward?

As publisher of YourArlington.com, I apologize for providing to the public private information about Arlington regular- and special-education students.

The information, on a draft map showing proposed lines for the town's seven elementary-school boundaries, was public from 8:20 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, as reported in a news story.

A preliminary corrected map was posted on my site early that afternoon, and a link to the final, corrected map was published later that afternoon.

I apologize to all who felt this intrusion.