
New Minuteman Bikeway signs to point toward businesses
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- Susan Gilbert By
- Category: Selectboard summaries
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Sign designs by Jeff Dawson Associates.
The Select Board at its May 22 meeting unanimously accepted wayfinding signs to be installed along and near the Minuteman Bikeway, donated by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
In a May 18 memo to the Select Board, former Planning and Community Department Assistant Director Kelly Lynema wrote, “In 2021, Arlington, along with Lexington and Bedford, developed a Local Rapid Recovery Plan (LRRP) for Bedford Center, East Lexington and Arlington Heights. The LRRP was a grant-funded plan to support local businesses in light of the impact of Covid-19, and focused on recommendations to better connect these business districts with their common asset: the Minuteman Bikeway.”
Rat czar? SGAR? People ponder perennial problem of rodent control in Arlington
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- Jake Bentzinger By
- Category: Health
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Residents discuss the rodent problem at May forum. / Jake Bentzinger photosArlingtonians made their voices heard clearly at the "rodent forum" held recently.
They urged the town’s Health Department to step up community outreach efforts and to work with residents to address public health issues caused by rodent control efforts.
According to the town website, “In 2014, The Arlington Health Department began noticing an increase in rodent activity across town. This trend was [also] seen in other areas of the United States, particularly in urban areas.”
In the most recent six years (2017 through 2022), the Health Department completed an average of 225 rodent inspections per year, health officials said in response to a YourArlington inquiry.
Police investigate after car hits 2 pedestrians outside Stop & Shop
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- YourArlington staff By
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UPDATED May 28: Arlington police are investigating after two pedestrians were struck by a motor vehicle Saturday, May 27.
At 10:16 a.m., Arlington Police and Fire responded to Stop & Shop, at 905 Mass. Ave., for a report of a motor vehicle crash involving multiple pedestrians. On arrival, Arlington officers found two people injured in the parking lot, and Arlington Police and Arlington Fire personnel began to administer emergency medical care.
The crash occurred after a 2005 Mercury Marquis driven by an 87-year-old man from Belmont struck an unoccupied parked car, which then hit a flower stand in front of the store. The flower stand struck the building, causing cosmetic damage, Boston.com reported. The parked vehicle is owned by a woman from Harwich, who didn’t report any injuries, police said in a statement. Police said that the driver then reversed the vehicle and struck pedestrians. The report was updated to pinpoint the number of pedestrians at two.
Housing Corp. of Arlington's 20th walk raises $48k, includes protesters
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- Renee Abbott By
- Category: Fundraisers
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HCA walkers support rent control. /Renee Abbott photos
The Housing Corporation of Arlington was the host for a walk on Sunday, May 21, to raise money for affordable housing. Attendees embarked on a three-mile walk and later were joined by members of the Torrington Tenants Association of Arlington protesting their rent increase.
The event kicked off at noon in the green space between Robbins Library and Town Hall. Attendees got free green T-shirts with a depiction of 117 Broadway, which is HCA’s newest property and has 48 apartments, on the front and a list of event sponsors of the event on the back. People enjoyed the free pizza, coffee, fruits and snacks courtesy of local supermarkets and pizzarias.
In total, the event raised $48,165 through raffles and a donation box on top of the $47,000 raised through sponsors. Raffle winners could win gift cards to local businesses including Quebrada,The Roasted Granola Café and Arlington Bakery. There was also a kids raffle with prizes for Play Time Crafts and Cookie Time Bakery.
Years pass, so board demands removal of double poles at 2 sites
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- Susan Gilbert By
- Category: Selectboard summaries
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Double pole at Adams, Mass. Ave. / Town photo
The Select Board has unanimously authorized Town Manager Sandy Pooler to demand that Verizon coordinate with other licensees to promptly replace two double poles, at 319 Mass. Ave. and Adams Street and at 108 Warren St. These double poles are still not fixed after more than two years.
A double pole occurs when a replacement utility pole is built alongside an original pole--to update the electric, telephone, cable or other wires--and the original pole is not yet removed.
According to a statutory reference, once a new pole is installed, the old pole should be removed within 90 days. Verizon’s May 15 semiannual report states that Arlington has 78 double poles, of which 66 are more than three years old.
Pooler said at the board's May 22 meeting, that although one of the utilities had moved its equipment to Mass. Ave. and Adams Street, he was not told which utility was involved. “The level of communication has been horrendous," he said, "I’m more than happy to follow up to get more specific direct communication from Verizon and other utilities in town to make improvements to these poles.”
Pooler will seek Verizon’s commitment to conduct a full audit of its double-pole inventory, and update the list for omissions before submitting it to the state for its next semiannual double-pole report, for the period ending Nov. 30, 2023.
Arlington-based organization aiding Asians awarded $45k Cummings grant
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- YourArlington staff By
- Category: Town news
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Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs award commendation ceremony.
Arlington-based JB Line Inc. (Japanese Bostonians Support Line) has been chosen to receive $45,000 over the next three years from the Cummings Foundation, a news release said.
JB Line aims to provide specialized support for Japanese-American and other Asian-American communities who experience unique challenges shaped by their culture.
It is among 150 local nonprofits that will share a total of $30 million through the nearby foundation’s major annual grants program.
JB Line was selected from a total of 630 applicants during a competitive review process.
'23 meeting ends as session 7 OKs Ottoson students' compost plan, CPA
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- YourArlington staff By
- Category: Town Meeting
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Ottoson students urge composting. / Paul Schlichtman photo
Arlington High School student Henry Fenollosa. / Paul Schlichtman photo
UPDATED May 23: The seventh session of the 2023 annual Town Meeting, on Monday, May 15, voted all remaining 25 articles. By way of contrast, the 2022 Town Meeting, held over Zoom, lasted 13 meetings and ended June 8.
The previous day, Sunday, May 14, Town Moderator Greg Christiana announced that Monday's meeting was to begin with a motion to skip to Article 56 -- an appropriation for a pilot compost-collection program -- so that the Ottoson Middle School students who developed the article could present it to the meeting. That article was approved.
After that, the meeting returned to the sequence starting at Article 41, an appropriation for transportation infrastructure.
'Final vinyl' sale a record success; patrons get vintage LPs, library reaps revenue
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- Tony Moschetto By
- Category: Library news
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'Final Vinyl' sale at Robbins Library. / Tony Moschetto photos
UPDATED May 25: The Community Room at Robbins Library, 700 Mass. Ave., was the place to be Saturday, May 20, for the “Final Vinyl” event. It lasted six hours, during which all of the library’s estimated 2,000 to 3,000 LPs were offered up for sale starting at $3 each, or, for the real bargain hunter, two for $5.
Thanks to Director of Libraries Anna Litten and the library's booster club, the nonprofit Friends of the Robbins Library, the cozy basement space resembled a mom-and-pop-type record shop that a music customer might have visited in the 1980s or even earlier.
The atmosphere was festive. A hit song from six decades ago, “Blame it on the Bossa Nova,” by '60s pop chanteuse Eydie Gormé, played from a small turntable on one side of the room, even prompting some Friends volunteers to dance.
BEING Mr. B: Taking a spin through life of teacher, coach, marathoner
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- Cayla Kwok By
- Category: People
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Justin Bourassa, AHS English teacher, opens up. /
Cayla Kwok photo
You might have heard the name Justin Bourassa from his appearance on "Jeopardy!," standing beside then-host Alex Trebek and displaying an impressive range of knowledge. Or perhaps you know him as the assistant coach to the 2021 divisional championship boys' cross-country team at Arlington High School. Or maybe because Bourassa himself is a seasoned 14-time marathon runner.
INSIDE ARLINGTON:
Among our many-faceted residents
Many community members recognize him by his thickly framed glasses and his amiable grin, but high schoolers know him as Mr. Bourassa, Coach B. or the student-favorite nickname “J-Bou.” In addition to his impressive accomplishments and many titles, he is widely known to the AHS community as a dedicated and respected teacher who goes above and beyond both inside and outside the classroom.
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2nd annual Spring Fling Festival June 10
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