Sunday, March 24, 2013
The following is a Letter to the Editor from Barbara Goodman, a former Arlington School Committee member and Walnut Street resident.
There are many people who have worked hard over the year to make Arlington a better place to live. But only one of them is running for the Board of Selectmen. Kevin Greeley has dedicated a significant part (24 years) of his adult life to the Town of Arlington. I am particularly grateful for the commitment he has made to our schools. Kevin has been a relentless champion of our efforts to rebuild all of our elementary schools and he has worked tirelessly to ensure that all Arlington Public Schools are adequately funded. We have worked side-by-side on this issue for years. In addition, Kevin has worked to create a town that is welcoming to all and that is attractive and safe, with rising property values and a vibrant business community. Kevin…
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The following is from Carol Band, a Bartlett Avenue resident.
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Wednesday, March 20
I support Judson Pierce as a candidate for School Committee. Serving with him on the Friends of Menotomy Rocks Park and watching him during his first term as a member of the School Committee, I have been impressed with his ability to communicate clearly, build consensus and to listen. But Judson Pierce does more than listen. He works. His efforts have helped make the School Committee more effective, given teachers a new contract, created an anti-bullying policy and brought the new Thompson School to life. For the sake of our children and our town, we need to continue this progress and with Judson Pierce on the School Committee, we will. Carol Band Bartlett Avenue
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The following is a Letter to the Editor from the town's Transportation Advisory Committee. It was submitted by its principal author, Richard Turcotte.
Those who have expressed their ardent support for the Mass. Ave. Corridor Project do so for many of the same reasons as do those in opposition: a desire to make our wonderful, vibrant town an even better community. The members of Arlington’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) share that commitment. We are ever-mindful of the many competing interests, concerns, and financial constraints accompanying changes both great and small on the projects for which we are asked to assist and advise town officials. It is an obligation we try to honor to the best of our individual and collective abilities. TAC has been an active participant in the project since its inception, and has voted unanimously for it in the past. The overwhelming majority of…
Sunday, March 17, 2013
The following is a Letter to the Editor from Stephen Greene, chairman of the Wastewater Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.
The condition of the Mystic River has been subject to much press attention lately. While it is wonderful to see increased interest in water quality, we would like to clarify that the water quality in the Mystic is fairly similar to that of the Charles River. The Wastewater Advisory Committee, a citizen’s group that provides an independent forum for discussion of issues facing the MWRA, has reviewed the data on both rivers. Unfortunately, despite the many millions of dollars the MWRA has spent since 1990, pollution still flows into the Neponset, the Charles and the Mystic rivers during wet weather. But the quality of water in the Mystic should see improvement in the next three years. The MWRA and the City of Cambridge together will spend at…
Friday, March 15, 2013
The following is a Letter to the Editor from Jayme Purinton, a PTO co-president and Ridge Street resident.
Judson Pierce is a man of strong morals, ethics, intellect and let’s not forget an incredibly important requirement of a School Committee member … compassion. Jud has the innate ability to listen and move swiftly on issues that affect the people whom he represents. Jud consistently seeks feedback and insight from people in the community, making sure he brings a solution-oriented mindset to the School Committee. Jud helps Arlington teachers and administrators to focus on the growth and development of students by working for them, us and the Town all at the same time. Jud has worked tirelessly in his role on the School Committee over the past three years to establish new teacher’s contracts, decrease athletic fees and to hire additional …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The following is a Letter to the Editor from Scott Zaccheo, a Washington Street resident.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, March 12
Over the last three years, the Arlington School Committee has successfully faced many challenges, and provided solid leadership. Part of their success has been due to the current chair, Kirsi Allison-Ampe. I met Kirsi five years ago while walking my daughter to school. Over the years, not only did our daughters become friends on the way to Stratton, but also I developed a great respect for Kirsi and her practical approach to problem solving. Over the past three years, Kirsi has very willingly dedicated her time to addressing the issues facing our school system, and become a highly respected member of our School Committee. Her proactive and thoughtful approach has not only helped lead the Arlington Public School system through some fiscally…
Friday, March 8, 2013
We would love to have a robust Letters to the Editor section on the site; here is how you can help.
It’s a question we get asked a lot: “How do I submit a Letter to the Editor?” And with the Mass. Ave. Corridor Project, overnight parking and a host of candidates on the April ballot, and a bottled-water ban, revised leaf-blower ban, self-serve gasoline and medical-marijuana dispensaries set to go before Town Meeting later that month, we thought there was no better time to answer. (Don’t get us wrong, Letters to the Editor don’t have to be political. Sometimes the small issues resonate the most.) There are two ways to submit a Letter to the Editor to Arlington Patch: 1. As a blog post. Submitting a Letter to the Editor as a blog post is easy (really as simple as writing an email) and immediate (as soon as you hit “Approve,” it’ll be live …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The following is a Letter to the Editor from Stephen Harrington, a Precinct 13 Town Meeting member and Columbia Road resident. The letter is addressed to Thomas Broderick, a chief engineer in the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Highway Divisi
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Thursday, February 28
I've walked in Arlington for most of my life. Living my first 20 or so years near the bottom of Gray Street, meant I walked daily along Pleasant Street to school, to church, to the Boys' Club, to catch a bus and to the Regent Theatre starting around the age of 5 or so. At that time, Pleasant Street was four lanes wide, two in either direction. Even with more than 52,000 residents in Arlington, far more than today, Pleasant Street was safe enough for a child to cross alone. Today, Pleasant Street is two lanes and is difficult to navigate during much of the morning and afternoon commute. Congestion makes Pleasant St. difficult to cross, creates delays when trying to make turns out of side streets or left turns onto side streets and has …
The following is a Letter to the Editor from Margaret Nichols, an Everett Street resident.
- OPINION
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Thursday, February 28
My husband and I are writing IN FAVOR of the Mass. Ave. Corridor Project. Having lived in Arlington since I was a child back in the 1940s, I am very excited about getting this done. We live on Everett Street where I sit for the longest time at Mass. Ave. while attempting to exit onto a roadway that encourages speeding traffic. After leaving the light at the fire station in Arlington Center, the speed for most vehicles increases to the point of disbelief. I have witnessed so many people attempting to cross Mass. Ave. on a crosswalk while almost being hit by speeding cars. Also, the bicycle safety must be addressed with more and more cyclists out there. This project will also help alleviate this problem. Add to that the beautification of an …
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
A committee's been formed to make sure that the Thompson School's Bill Shea Library is well-stocked when it opens next fall.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The following is a Letter to the Editor from Sheri Baron on behalf of the "Books for Bill" Committee. This past summer we lost a very beloved member of our community. Bill Shea had long served Arlington as a member of Town Meeting, the Arlington Human Rights Commission, and the Permanent Town Building Committee, among many other civic and cultural pursuits. Bill was a champion for our town’s school system, as evidenced by his tireless advocacy and work on re-building Arlington’s schools. Bill was an avid reader, and a firm believer that education, particularly reading, could make a critical difference in the lives of young people. Bill often cited “The Little Engine that Could” to motivate young and old alike. Last spring, the Arlington …
Crooked Townies Must Go
11:12 am on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Kevin MUST GO ............ Why hasn't he paid his Taxes? Is he special? While the rest of us are working and paying our taxes he is out riding around in a nice sweet Caddy rubbing it in our faces... Pay your Taxes Kevin more ›