
Arlington EATS to get $90k supporting work with farmers' market
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- YourArlington staff By
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Arlington EATS, at 117 Broadway, E. Arlington.
Arlington EATS is one of 150 local nonprofits that will share in $30 million through Cummings Foundation’s major annual grants program. It is to receive $90,000 over three years to support its growing work with the Arlington Farmers’ Market (AFM), which opens June 14.
Arlington EATS’ mission is to engage the community in eliminating food insecurity and hunger in Arlington. Arlington EATS operates a number of programs to provide access to food, including:
- EATS Market, a food pantry and home delivery service designed to foster dignity;
- School-based programs, including vacation and summer groceries and snacks during the school day;
- Fresh Bucks, a voucher program at the AFM; and
- Partnerships with social service agencies and nonprofits that make resources more accessible to food-insecure residents.
Mystic River Watershed Association awarded $90,000 Cummings grant
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- YourArlington staff By
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Fourth-grade students from Jada Simmons-Ononeme’s science class at the George Keverian School in Everett participated in MyRWA’s Storm Drain Design Project for the fourth year in a row.
The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is one of 150 local nonprofits that will share in $30 million through Cummings Foundation’s major annual grants program. MyRWA was selected from a total of 630 applicants during a competitive review process. It will receive $90,000 over three years, the association said.
The Mystic River watershed is a critical natural system that connects 21 communities to the ocean and provides much-needed benefits to the 600,000 people who live there. Every day, MyRWA works to protect water quality, restore important habitat, build climate resilience, transform parks and paths, and engage youth and community members.
“The Mystic River watershed is an amazing asset for our communities, and it is a great entry point for area youth to learn about science and the environmental issues,” said Patrick Herron, executive director of MyRWA, in a June 1 news release. “Thank you to the Cummings Foundation for recognizing the importance of connecting youth to nature in their backyard.”
Minuteman public praises Clement, critiques Dawson, committee
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- Judith Pfeffer By
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Superintendent-Director Kathleen Dawson
Principal George Clement
UPDATED June 2: Arlington residents and others the evening of May 25 extolled Minuteman High School Principal George Clement, excoriated district Superintendent-Director Kathleen Dawson and blasted the Minuteman School Committee for allowing the fraught situation to occur.
The immensely popular Clement has been absent from his office in recent days, his employment status currently unclear. Dawson’s refusal to renew his contract, set to expire June 30, triggered a student walkout covered by three television stations, a unanimous faculty vote of no confidence in Dawson and two ongoing online petition drives on Change.org demanding, respectively, that officials keep Clement and dump Dawson, with total signatures exceeding 2,000.
At the May 25 meeting, in comments on the petition drives and in other ways, many people have suggested that Dawson’s consistently off-putting approach with her subordinates had motivated at least four other high-level managers to resign so far.
Case of ex-inspections chief delayed until August
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The state Ethics Commission case alleging that a former Arlington official was involved in conflicts of interest is expected to be argued in August, not in June, as previously scheduled.
Eron L.A. Hackshaw, presiding officer in the case involving Michael F. Byrne, the town's former inspectional services director, denied a defense motion seeking an indefinite stay. "However, under the circumstances," the May 23 order says, "a reasonable continuance of the proceedings is warranted to accommodate respondent’s scheduled neuropsychological evaluation."
Residents support business, shared space, multifamily housing near transit, survey says
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- Kristin Anderson By
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UPDATED May 31: Arlington respondents overwhelmingly favor vibrant business districts and shared community space, with multifamily housing near public transit and the bike path, a town survey shows. See the numbers at right.
In March, more than 1,000 people participated in Arlington’s MBTA Communities Visioning Survey, created to collect public input and identify community goals and priorities regarding where multifamily housing should be allowed by right.
According to Claire Ricker, Arlington’s director of planning and community development, the town received a $20,000 technical-assistance grant to hire planning consultant Utile to assist with siting and mapping the town’s multifamily (three-family or larger) districts and with developing appropriate use and density requirements.
Utile analyzed the data from the town’s MBTA survey and presented the results to the public at the MBTA Communities Working Group meeting on May 16. The consultant translated the results into an actionable design framework, which it provided in a summary analysis and two early draft plan maps.
Covid incidence May 31: Wastewater number highest of 9 counties reporting but still low
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- Judith Pfeffer By
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UPDATED May 31: YourArlington continues to report a running tally of Covid-19 incidence regionally based on wastewater analysis by Biobot Analytics. These figures are in reverse chronological order toward the end of this ongoing column, along with an explanation of why most scientists consider wastewater analysis statistics to be valuable data.
This information may be of greater meaning now in mid-2023, as major organizations including many Massachusetts hospitals are ceasing universal masking mandates -- and many other measures of what is no longer officially a pandemic soon may no longer be kept at all.
Based on readings taken May 31, 2023, Middlesex County, where Arlington is located, is down again from the week prior, to 284, making it the highest of the nine counties reporting updated results this week. New numbers are not yet available from Franklin, Hampshire and Worcester counties.
Middlesex is higher than the nationwide average of 161 but still relatively low compared with highs over the past two winters.
All the numbers cited here represent Covid-19 virus concentration per mililiter of wastewater; however, this is not the same as the total number of Covid-19 infections, which is near-impossible to know.
2nd annual Spring Fling to hit Heights June 10
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UPDATED June 2: The second annual Spring Fling Festival is set for 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 10, in the Heights business district, at Mass. Ave. and Park Avenue. Rain date: June 11.
Enjoy an afternoon of top-notch live music, poetry, activities for children, more than 55 painted storefront windows and more – all free.
At left is one of those windows and its painter, Iris Peterson at the Heights Pub. See more windows and photos of two musical groups here >>
This festival is put together by several local organizations -- the Arlington Heights Community Association (AHCA), the Arlington Commission for Arts and Culture/ArtsArlington, ArtLinks and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.
“Arlington is such a vibrant town and increasingly recognized for its arts, culture, and environmental activism,” said organizer Janet O’Riordan in a May 22 news release. “People in the Heights have been clamoring for more events and we are delighted to respond with our second spring festival and showcase the wonderful talent and energy in our community.”
New Minuteman Bikeway signs to point toward businesses
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- Susan Gilbert By
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Sign designs by Jeff Dawson Associates.
UPDATED May 30: 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.”
Housing Corp. of Arlington's 20th walk raises $48k, includes protesters
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- Renee Abbott By
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HCA walkers support rent control. /Renee Abbott photos
UPDATED May 30: 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 part of HCA’s newest property, 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.
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