The intensity expressed at the budget hearing Tuesday, March 9, to reject proposed cuts and seek solutions was palpable. So is the reality of state budget issues directly affecting Arlington.

No sooner had the voices of 34 citizens resounded in Town Hall -- calling for support for a range of programs, from the arts to sports to Metco -- than Rep. Will Brownsberger reported on his Web site that a 5-percent reduction in local aid appears likely.

Redevelopment Board members expressed cautious enthusiasm after hearing a presentation Monday, March 8, aimed at restarting the long-stalled project at the site of the former Symmes Hospital. A representative of Timber Ridge Homes, based on Long Island, as well as current and former reps from JPI, showed the board plans for 113 townhomes. The proposal is a concept only at this point.

 Superior Judge Thayer Fremont-Smith has rejected the arbitration ruling issued last October that called for Charles E. Coughlin Jr. to be reinstated to his position with back pay. In a ruling March 2, the judge calls for a new arbitration before a new arbitrator.

The judge wrote that in ruling Oct. 27 arbitrator Richard G. Boulanger "did not make any findings or draw any conclusions about Coughlin's conduct." Instead, the arbitrator excluded any consideration of conduct and focused only on the administration's failure to follow the schools' policy about anonymous complaints. Read the full document here >>

Behind seniors Paul Kehoe, John Needham and Michael Settipani, Arlington Catholoc boys edged rival St. Mary’s of Lynn, 2-1, on Saturday, March 6, in the Division 1 North hockey MIAA final at Chelmsford Forum in Billerica.

Arlington Catholic, back-to-back division champions, capitalized on two of three power-play opportunities, and the Spartans came up empty on five man-advantages. Globe story >>. AC plays Archbishop Williams, the South Division 1 champ, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the TD Bank Garden. The Bishops beat Weymouth, 4-1, in Bourne.

The Town of Arlington plans to present the second of two community meetings about a report prepared for the town by RKG Associates analyzing the existing and potential uses of the Parmenter and Crosby School buildings. The first meeting was held Wednesday, March 10, at the Crosby School, 34 Winter St. The second is set for Tuesday, March 16, 7 p.m., at the Senior Center, 27 Maple St. See the report here >>

Read the full release at arlingtonma.gov/planning.

The arts curriculum in the Arlington public schools faces serious cuts, and two veteran arts educators offer their plea to the public. Read what they write here >>.

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