Hullabaloo BBQ, local artisan barbecue created by Food Link board member and volunteer Ivan Basch, has raised more than $65,000 since 2015 for Food Link, an Arlington-based organization that rescues fresh food and contributes to environmental sustainability.

 Once a year, just in time for Memorial Day, Basch puts his state-champ-level and certified barbecue judge skills in service of Food Link. 

Anticipate detours, delays around Mass. Ave., bikepath

UPDATED May 12: Join the Arlington Education Foundation (AEF) and be a part of history: Register for the first AEF 5k Run/Walk, set for from 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday, May 15, to celebrate education in Arlington and raise funds for the Arlington Education Foundation.

Stephanie Peters

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 'Stand Up for Ukraine'

What's funny about the invasion of Ukraine? Not much.But humor can raise funds for its beleaguered people.

Veteran comic Stephanie Peters, long a Cambridge resident, was the host for a tribe of comics with jokes for a serious purpose, "Stand Up For Ukraine," held Sunday, May 1, at the Regent Theatre.

Raising money for the World Food Program are these Boston headliners, who are volunteering:

Tony V, 

Will Noonan, 

Colleen Galvin, 

A marvelous annual Arlington tradition has returned.

The Guns & Hoses hockey match between Arlington police and firefighters was tabled in three previous years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. But on April 8, it was game on at the Ed Burns Arena, to benefit autism awareness.

Here’s ACMi News Director Jeff Barnd with a game recap:

The Mooty girlsDid you know that March 1 is National Pancake Day? Emmie, Rosie and Frannie Mooty of Arlington do. They look forward to this day each year.

On National Pancake Day, the local community comes together, through IHOP and Children’s Miracle Network to support Boston Children’s Hospital - helping children like the Mootys receive optimum care from a top pediatric hospital.

The Mootys are a family connected by blood, but not by bloodlines.

Tracy and her husband, Patrick, decided to start a family, but Tracy has thalassemia, an inherited disorder that causes irregular red blood cells and severe anemia. It requires blood transfusions every three weeks.

The couple learned there were many orphans in China with special needs — including thalassemia -- and without proper medical care, many die.

They saw Emmie’s picture on an adoption website; her sweet little face looked up at them with the word “thalassemia” written below.

Tracy shared the 2-year-old’s medical file with her hematologist at Boston Children’s. He confirmed she had a severe form of the disease that would require lifelong blood transfusions and lots of specialized care. He also said he’d be delighted to welcome a new patient.

The Arlington Knights of Columbus #109 is collaborating with Abbott’s Frozen Custard and Andrina's Pizza to raise money for the Chestnut Manor Fire Fund.

Buy a kit for $40, and 25 percent of each sale goes to the Chestnut Manor Fund to help those affected by the fatal Jan. 22 fire. 

Each kit includes: one pint of vanilla custard, one pint of chocolate custard, chocolate sauce, M & Ms, rainbow sprinkles, pizza dough, marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.

You have two ways to order: Sign up in the Knights lounge on the fund-raiser board or order through John Donato, at donatojohn68 at gmail.com.

UPDATED Feb. 17: Arlington EATS thanks the community for helping it reach its capital-campaign goal of $1.25 million.

The nonprofit reached that substantial number as 2021 ended, and it acknowledges the generosity of so many neighbors. "Your kindness will increase access to food, provide connections to other agencies, and enable us to maintain our operations under one roof for the first time in 30 years," a current newsletter says, referring to the new headquarters at 117 Broadway.

"If the pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that we all need one another," the newsletter says.

Paulette Schwartz, left, and Peggy Gardiner Ride for Food for Food Link.

UPDATED, Oct. 4: The nine in-person Arlington participants (plus one adorable dog) had a great ride on lovely roads Sunday, Oct. 3, and are thrilled at the progress they have made.

They continue to accept donations through Halloween, Thanksgiving and until Giving Tuesday, on Nov. 30, as we enter the busiest season of the year for food insecurity. When the cold season brings heating costs, there is less money for food, and your support will help Food Link rescue more food.

Team members are bicycling, hiking, camping and kayaking this fall to fight hunger in a healthy way. All are a part of the Ride For Food team for Food Link, Arlington’s own food-rescue nonprofit.

The 10^th annual Ride For Food, a charity event, took place Oct. 3, in Dedham, with 20 hunger-relief charities fielding teams. Because of the pandemic, however, there is a “do it yourself” virtual option.

Team captain Karin Turer says, “During last year’s Ride For Food, each participant did their own activity since there wasn’t an in-person ride – people got very creative and really enjoyed getting to do an activity at a time and place that was convenient to them. So when you add the uncertainty of planning with a pandemic around, having a virtual option makes sense.”

Sixteen people are on the team, pretty evenly split between those participating in the ride and others doing their own thing.

UPDATED Nov. 2: The Arlington Democratic Town Committee will be holding a food drive for Arlington EATS, the local food pantry.

Contributions will be collected on Saturday, Nov. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m., at First Parish Church, at Pleasant Street and Mass. Ave.

Donations can be brought to the parking lot between the church and the library.

In addition to the usual items (canned tuna, peanut butter, pasta, etc.), Arlington EATS is requesting soup, cereals (especially Cheerios), honey, cake/cookie/brownie mix and snacks (pretzels, crackers, granola bars, etc.).

Alzheimer's isn't waiting — and neither is Carmel Murphy-Kotyan of Arlington. She is participating in the Sept. 26 Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's care, support and research.

Every dollar you donate helps the Alzheimer's Association provide care and support to those facing Alzheimer's and all other dementia, and advance critical research.

Will you support the resident's efforts by making a donation on her fund-raising page? Find it here >>