'Words matter,' Helmuth tells board, addressing Colorado LGBTQ violence

Select Board member Eric Helmuth at Nov. 20 vigil. / Helen Newberg photo

Select Board member Eric Helmuth made it personal.

At the board's Nov. 21 meeting, he shared that he and his husband “were honored” to attend the Arlington vigil observing the Transgender Day of Remembrance held the previous evening. 

That event took place on the lawn of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church and was sponsored by the town’s Rainbow Commission, Human Rights Commission and Disability Commission.

Transgender Day of Remembrance takes place annually on Nov. 20. The day is marked by events around the globe honoring transgender and gender-diverse people who have lost their lives to violence motivated by bias.

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Authority hears about manor leases grants, senior resources, collection efforts

Board member Jo Anne Preston expressed concerns about employing an agency to collect money from residents.

The Arlington Housing Authority discussed grant money, upcoming resources for seniors, a contract with a collection agency and meetings with tenants at its Nov. 16 regular board meeting in the Winslow Towers Community Room. 

During the updates at the beginning of the meeting, Executive Director Jack Nagle said four units have been successfully leased out, and three more offers are in progress at Chestnut Manor following last January's fatal fire, which damaged 18 units. 

“We are committed to filling these units as soon as possible,” Nagle said. 

He also noted the electrical shutdown set for Chestnut Manor the following day, Nov. 17, part of the testing for the electrical-panel upgrades.

All 132 units at Winslow Towers are to receive air-source heat pumps. The aim is to save the AHA money and move to more energy-efficient technologies. Replacements have begun, with continued updates to residents about their progress. Nagle encourages any residents with questions to reach out.  

The board is waiting for a start date on weatherization work at Menotomy Manor and will keep residents updated and try to get it scheduled as soon as possible. 

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Headline testing, using Tino bold (700 weight)

Here's what an h1 head looks like (46 pt.)

Here's what an h2 head looks like (36 pt.)

Here's what an h3 head looks like (33 p.)

Here's what an h4 head looks like (27 pt.)

Here's what an h5 head looks like (24 pt.)

Here's what an h6 head looks like (18 pt.)

UPDATED Nov. 29: Arlington's tax rate for next year will drop slightly, but taxes are projected to rise.

The Select Board has unanimously approved an $11.21 tax rate for 2023, a decrease from last year’s $11.42 rate. The vote was 4-0 (Diane Mahon absent.)

At the same time, a Nov. 21 presentation by assessors shows a 6.3-percent increase in taxes considering all property categories.

The town is also not shifting any water-and-sewer debt onto the real estate tax this year.

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Initial discussion held on 4 potential zoning measures

UPDATED Nov. 29: The Arlington Redevelopment Board on Monday, Nov. 21, began holding preliminary discussions of four potential zoning amendments, which may come before the spring Town Meeting. The proposals and their proponents are:

• Open-space requirements for multifamily and mixed uses (Laura Wiener, Xavid Pretzer, James Fleming and Patrick Hanlon);
• Eliminating minimum parking in B5 District (Fleming);
• Eliminating usable open-space requirements (Fleming); and
• Affordable housing on nonconforming parcels (Barbara Thornton).

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Minuteman soccer players from Arlington named conference all-stars

Six Arlington students at Minuteman High School have been named Commonwealth Athletic Conference League all-stars for the fall 2022 season.

Both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams at Minuteman qualified for their respective tournaments. The girls’ team earned a home game in the state tournament.

The girls’ team ended the season with an impressive 12-5-1 record, while the boys’ team accomplished a 10-4-4 record.

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Homan rated proficient; assistant super leaving; new position in works

Elizabeth Homan receives first evaluation.

Rod MacNeal Jr. heading to private school.

UPDATED Nov. 20: Personnel was the theme of the Nov. 17 School Committee meeting: The superintendent was rated proficient in her first review, a longtime assistant superintendent is set to depart for a job outside Boston and Arlington Public Schools is still short two school nurses, three special-education teachers, 19 paraprofessionals and more.

At the meeting and in the review, Elizabeth Homan, who became superintendent July 1, 2021, was described as having made “a strong start” in her role and was called “approachable,” “collaborative,” “thoughtful” and “a strong communicator.” The committee voted unanimously to receive the evaluation.

Homan’s overall rating was “proficient,” the second-highest category; the highest possible is “exemplary.” In four major categories among the many addressed in the 15-page document, her ratings were as follows: instructional leadership, 5 proficient, 2 exemplary; management/operations, 5 proficient, 2 exemplary; family/community engagement, 4 proficient, 3 exemplary; and professional culture, 6 proficient, 1 exemplary.

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EATS to open headquarters, market Nov. 28 in East Arlington

We have been dreaming of this building for eight long years, and our grand opening this month is a result of the astounding generosity of so many in this town.'                                                       -- Lauren Ledger, board president

Arlington EATS, at 117 Broadway, E. Arlington.

UPDATED Nov. 18: Arlington EATS plans to open the doors on Nov. 28 to its first dedicated operational headquarters in its more than 30-year history. The new building at 117 Broadway is the home of EATS Market and the organization’s offices. 

This long-planned accomplishment, near the Thompson School, comes as its records show that need has grown greatly since the pandemic began.

EATS Market, the effort's largest program, “is the term we use for our food pantry,” Andi Doane, executive director of EATS, told YourArlington, in response to queries.

“All the food is free for any Arlington resident who is in need of food. We transitioned from using the word 'food pantry' to 'market' several years ago as a way to dignify the process of coming to EATS.”

She added: "We want the community to know that we provide more than canned goods and pasta, which is what you often think of when you hear the word 'food pantry.' In addition to shelf-stable pantry items, we offer fresh produce, meat, dairy, eggs and tofu."

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Arlington micro press announces release of 50th book

The late Richard Horn, author of the novel titled Encyclopedia. / courtesy Richard Schober

Tough Poets Press, founded, owned and operated solely by Richard Schober of Arlington, is about to release its 50th book since its founding in early 2015: a reissue of Encyclopedia, from 1969, by the late Richard Horn. The press has previously republished many new editions of novels -- some by well-known authors, some not -- and is a small independent publisher of new and rediscovered unconventional and neglected literary fiction, poetry and nonfiction.

"I'm running a Kickstarter now to help cover the costs of producing this new edition," Schober told YourArlington. Details are here >>

The Kickstarter description calls Encyclopedia a "comical literary oddity" that was Horn's only published novel. The unconventionally structured book garnered good reviews from major newspapers upon original publication by Grove Press more than half-a-century ago but has since lapsed into obscurity.

As of mid-November, the project had found 149 backers and from them raised more than $3,000 -- more than enough to complete publication of the relatively short (168-page) paperback book. The crowdfunding effort can accept additional backers through Nov. 25, and publication is expected in January 2023, Schober wrote in an email interview.

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