'... a big chunk of money ... the right choice.'

-- Kirsi Allison-Ampe

Taking funds from nearly $8m contingency

Agreeing with the superintendent, the School Committee voted unanimously Thursday, Sept. 22, for the second of two choices presented to cope with the ongoing reconstruction of Arlington High School. “Option 2” was the more expensive choice but the one that would keep all AHS students on campus for full school days from the first scheduled instructional date of the 2023-24 school year.

“Option 2” will require the postponement of certain aspects of the construction, at an estimated cost of $1.2 million, all to be paid from the already established contingency fund of nearly $8 million. See both options here >> 

“This is specifically the kind of thing that contingencies are built for,” said committee member Jeff Thielman, head of the building subcommittee. “The needs of the students are paramount.” Later, making the motion favoring option 2, he said that this choice is “not increasing the total cost of the project” and that “this is in the best interest of the students,” particularly freshmen.

The best part of this work is meeting members of the community who are also passionate about sustainable living."                                                                                                                -- Ceilidh Yurenka

Ceilidh Yurenka, owner of YES!, welcomes the public.

For at least 26 years, 212A Mass. Ave. in East Arlington has been an address associated with the art of sustainability.

Wedged between Maxima Gift Center and the Continentale Hair Salon, the Capitol Square location has harbored Artbeat, an art studio, Greater Goods Collaborative – and now YES! The name stands for Your Eco Source.

Jan Whitted offered her artistic touch at Artbeat from 1996 to 2019. Just before Covid-19 hit, Whitted opened a walk-in studio. Greater Goods arrived in August 2020 with its positive message, sharing space later with YES!

Now the purveyor of sustainable practices is having a grand reopening through Sunday, Sept. 25. Here’s what to expect:

• Join a new loyalty incentive program. Get a punch card and receive a punch for every $10 spent. Get 10 punches to receive $10 off the next purchase;
• Meet others in zero-waste initiatives, such as Arlington Mothers Out Front and Recirclable;
• Decorate hands with henna and support Henna for Humanity to raise money for humanitarian causes in India;

Seven of the Arlington residents involved in 'Iolanthe.' 

UPDATED Sept. 24: Arlington's local theater organization, Arlington Friends of the Drama, has launched its centennial season with a well-known Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera – "Iolanthe."

The show opened Sept. 16 and is scheduled to run through Oct. 2, with performances Fridays and Saturdays  at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m.

Review: Production sings

Tickets are $25 per seat and may be purchased online or by calling 781-646-5922 and leaving a message. Tickets will be made available at the door if the performance is not sold out.

Organizers emphasize that masks are required to be worn throughout each performance; these are available for free in the lobby. Also, audience members must present proof of vaccination/identity before admittance to the theater. 

All ages are welcome, though organizers note that the show runs well over two hours, with one brief intermission.

AFD Theatre is at 22 Academy St., behind Town Hall and across from the Arlington Community Center. It is reachable by public transportation  -- the 77 bus -- and is wheelchair-accessible via a lift at the street level on Maple Street.

UPDATED Sept. 24: The return of Town Day -- the 44th -- drews thousands of people on a beautiful, blue-sky day, followed after dusk by 22 minutes of fireworks on Saturday, Sept. 17. See a brief clip of "the bombs bursting in air" here >>

Town Day had not been held since 2019 because of the continuing pandemic.

Chamber of Commerce video >> | See photos here >>

Atlas PyroVision Entertainment Group of Jaffrey, N.H., provided the aerial displays, the first since Town Day Night in 2018, as shown in the photo. The cost was $10,500.

The Town Day Committee raises funds through fees, donations and sponsorships. This money goes into a Town Day Fund, and all expenses relating to Town Day, including fireworks, are paid from that fund, Select Board Chair Len Diggins explained Sept. 20 in response to questions from YourArlington. The only exception: The town gives $5,000 for Town Day expenditures as an appropriation for celebrations and events. 

A perspective piece about this year's Town Day was published here >>

Watch 'Pony Boys' on Tuesday, Sept. 27, a New York Times' Op-Doc

Tony and Jeff Whittemore head for Montreal. / 1967 family photo

Spy Pond Productions of Arlington has announced that the film directed by Eric Stange has been acquired by The New York Times Op-Docs, the award-winning series of short subject documentaries. The film debuts on the website (nytimes.com) and The New York Times YouTube page. There is no paywall.

Read the story from last April by Marjorie Howard.  

UPDATED Sept. 22: In 1967 two young boys and their beloved pony took off on a monthlong adventure that brought them fame, fun and a wealth of great stories. Tony Whittemore, 11 at the time, and his brother Jeff, 9, drove a pony cart from their home in Needham to the Montreal World’s Fair.

INSIDE ARLINGTON:
Among our many-faceted residents

Their story has now been made into a documentary called “Pony Boys,” directed by Arlington filmmaker Eric Stange, with music by John Kusiak, also from Arlington. The movie had its premiere on Saturday, April 30, at the Independent Film Festival of Boston at the Somerville Theater.