Graham Dimmock, who teaches science, was the faculty speaker at the Arlington High School commencement on June 3, 2023.  

Thank you for this great honor and congratulations on your imminent graduation from high school.

Today I get the privilege to offer you some advice at the close of one epoch of your life, and the beginning of the next. These three pieces of advice are certainly an incomplete list. Also, these are less like tasks to be accomplished and more like habits of mind that must be nurtured.

My first piece of advice is that you continue to learn, for the rest of your life. And I don’t mean that you need to continue your formal education at university or in apprenticeships or the like. Those are fine, I suppose. What I mean is that I urge you to find something you care deeply about, and learn everything you can about it.

Samip Phuyal, honors speaker, addressed the Arlington High School commencement on June 3, 2023. 

Good afternoon and welcome all friends, family, alumni and esteemed faculty members. First of all, I want to congratulate the class of 2023. We made it. I remember when we first got our Spy Ponders emails, and 2023 seemed so far in the future, but we’re finally here.

Today, we celebrate our achievements over the last four years, reflect on the journey that led us to this moment, and look forward to the endless possibilities that lie ahead.

This class is nothing short of remarkable. We’ve excelled academically, brought home numerous awards and titles, and most importantly, worked incredibly hard to get to where we are now. 

Megan Carmody, president of the student council, was an Arlington High School speaker on June 3, 2023. 

Good afternoon everyone, and congratulations to the class of 2023.

Today is a day I have thought about for a long time. Since I was a little kid, I've always wondered what my graduation would look like. I would sit and watch the graduation episodes of my favorite Disney shows and try to imagine if mine would be similar.

One thing I never pictured when daydreaming of this big day was me speaking at graduation. Not because I didn’t think I would be able to stand in front of hundreds of people or speak without stuttering, but because I didn’t think I would have anything to say.

Olivia Moir, honors speaker, addressed commencement at Arlington High School on June 3, 2023. 

Faculty, staff, family, friends, Arlington High School class of 2023: I am grateful to have this opportunity to share my thoughts with you on this momentous day.

Exposed beams and broken tile, columns and clock towers,

We started off our 4-year journey 

In a different world. Sometimes I 

Mona Mohtadi, president of the senior class, was an Arlington High School speaker on June 3, 2023.

I stand here before you as a representative of a generation that will change the world. I stand here before you as a representative of a generation that has begun to change the world.

Never before has the world been in more need of change. Never before has change been so close at hand: We just have to reach out and do our part to make it a reality. I don’t say this as a
platitude. I say it with the full confidence I have in my peers, classmates and friends, those with whom I serve in my community and those whom I serve who will tomorrow be standing in my
place.

UPDATED June 3: The following plea seeking support for his longtime effort in the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) is from Officer Mike Hogan and K9s of the Arlington Police Department. He is one of 64 from Arlington participating. Scroll down to see all of the names.

This August, I am proud to say, I will have the privilege of riding in the Pan Mass Challenge for the 11th time as a member of the Arlington Angels Team.

I will be riding for my wife, Nancy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago and received treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

I now know firsthand how important it is to raise money for DFCI, so it can continue its research for life saving cancer treatments.

I will also be riding for my sister-in-law Colleen Lombard, who also received treatment for breast cancer at Dana Farber.

Tarkett Co. graphic used in 2014 report about Peirce Turf.

Linda Hanson, a Precinct 9 Town Meeting member, wrote this column about moving forward on artificial turf. She thanks Christa Kelleher, a Precinct 5 meeting member, for her contributions.

I am sharing an edited version of remarks given to the recently concluded Town Meeting on Article 12, a proposal to institute a temporary moratorium on the installation of artificial turf on town land pending the findings of an Artificial Turf Study Committee to investigate artificial turf in regards to its safety, environmental impact and cost effectiveness, as well as the available natural alternatives to its use.

This was one of the most contentious debates during this Town Meeting, and I’d like to offer some thoughts about how we can move forward on the important issues raised during this discussion.

I have close personal experience with the issue of field adequacy and availability. I coached boys' soccer for 13 years in the “all grass era,” so I know firsthand what it's like to vie for limited practice space and attempt to reschedule games with limited options due to weather cancellations. It was challenging, to say the least.

UPDATED May 26: The following opinion was sent to all Town Meeting members three days after the 2023 annual meeting ended. Signing it were Pavia Christiana, Calvin Cheung, Collin Burrell, Theo Ginggen, Dorsey Mitchell and Lorenzo Hamlin. It was published with the authors' permission. 

We hope this email finds all of you in good health and spirits. We are Ottoson Middle School students, concerned about the issue of affordable housing in the town.

There is a lack of affordable multifamily homes, and we are advocating for a change in zoning bylaws to allow for more of these homes, and for them to have access to public transportation.

We believe that spreading multifamily homes around town will create more ethnic diversity in Arlington Public Schools. Additionally, this aids Arlington's economy by creating job diversity and benefiting the town's gross domestic product.

YourArlington's policy about letters to the editor

UPDATED April 26: YourArlington welcomes opinions of all kinds from local residents, including national issues so long as you can draw a local connection. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in June on Roe v Wade must have echoes here, too. Letters are reviewed for fairness, factualness and taste.

Town Meeting began April 24. Factual letters supporting town candidates are welcome. Length of such letters should be no more than 400 words.

NOTE: When emailing a letter to The Advocate & Star, consider copying YourArlington at the same time. Your opinions will be published sooner.

Please support your view with facts and arguments that attempt to adhere to reason.

You may write on any subject, so long as you try to make a connection to Arlington. If you can't do that, then your residence in town will be a sufficient connection.