The Arlington Police Department responded to a wide variety of calls for service during the week of Aug. 22-29. A sampling of those calls appears below.

• On Monday, Aug. 23, at 12:27 p.m., police were called to Pleasant Street on a report that a vehicle had been broken into overnight. The center console and glove box were opened and items moved around, but nothing appeared to have been taken. The vehicle’s ignition was also damaged during the incident, which is under investigation. Patrol Officer Ed Walsh took the report.

Cyclists in the Center: Some ride the sidewalk ...

Cyclists are expected to follow an Arlington bylaw requiring them to walk their bikes on sidewalks. To catch their attention, new signs were posted at Mass. Ave. and Pleasant. Ordering the signs was Town Manager Brian Sullivan after a selectmen's vote Aug. 9. 

Scott Smith of the selectmen's Tranmsportation Advisory Committee (TAC) explained that last winter TAC and the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee were asked to suggest a program to improve bicycle safety, with a particular focus on Arlington Center. Results included a brochure, a study on reengineering theintersection to improve safety and mobility for all users, and some short-term recommendations. For details, click here >>

This summer, after Sullivan asked what could be done now, TACdeveloped the some short-term recommendations, to include signs/stencils and paint. They were presented to the selectmen in June. See the documents here >> and item 10 here >>

A Winchester man has been arraigned on four counts of first-degree murder in connection with a quadruple homicide in Winchester, a news release from Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said Thursday, Sept. 2. Thomas Mortimer IV, 43, was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on four counts of murder in the first degree.

Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant held without bail. His next court date is Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. in courtroom 630 for a motions hearing.

Globe, Sept. 3: Suspect wrote confession after slayings

3 yacht clubs to close

Groundwork Somerville on Monday, Sept. 13, plans to oversee the application of aquatic herbicide to selected patches of water lilies that have become overgrown on the Lower Mystic River around the Riverside Yacht Club and the Mystic Wellington Yacht Club in Medford, and the Winter Hill Yacht Club in Somerville. The controlled spraying will be conducted by Aquatic Control Technologies, which specializes in the removal and management of aquatic plant species. The spraying was put off Aug. 30.

The Arlington Republican Town Committee has endorsed Dr. Gerry Dembrowski in the Seventh Congressional District. "We are proud to support Gerry’s positive message of lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, and job creation," said Chairman Jim Dolan.

Dembrowski, a chiropractor, has a private practice in Woburn.

Dembrowski will face fellow Republican Thomas P. Tierney of Arlington in the state primary on Sept. 14. The winner will face Democrat Edward Markey in the general election Nov. 2.

The Arlington Pop Warner 2010 season began Monday, Aug. 2, with practice at 6 p.m. at Peirce Field at Arlington High School. Online registration is open here >>

For the 2010 season, Arlington Pop Warner is offering a middle school football team, for youngsters 11 to 14. Those 11 to 13 must have a minimum weight of 105 pounds (no maximum weight limit). Fourteen-year-olds have a minimum weight of 105 pounds and a 165 pounds maximum.

The aim is to allow those to participate who could not in the past because they were above the maximum weight limit for the A division.

YourArlington poll results: Your views

The following are the results of all polls conducted on this Web site -- 43 -- beginning with the one most recently concluded. All are unscientific and are limited by the options available. Despite this, they provide a snapshot of community opinion in this way: They aim to show how those responding feel about the question. If you have ideas for future polls, please let the publisher of this site know.

From 7 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, to 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, YourArlington published an unscientific poll asking this question: Should Arlington spend its share of education job funds -- however much they turn out to be -- this year or next?

A neighbor's view of dirt pile at Symmes.

Treasurer clarifies bond cost, saving, says past taxes paid

The pile of dirt rising above Arlington that once was Symmes Hospital was supposed to have pricy apartments by last summer, offering views of Boston and returning tax revenue to the town by now, but the national economy stopped in its tracks the largest potential development project in town history. Instead, the site is producing a pile of bills and no income for the town. Still, given a struggling economy, the town treasurer says he has control of a tough situation.

Told that some in town believe a $6 million to $7 million Symmes payment is due this year, Gilligan said in an interview in July, "Nope, that's not true."

The amount paid on bonds for the site this month was $456,393, $99,393 of that interest. Another $70,975, all interest, is to be paid in February.

No Symmes costs have yet hit the town's tax levy, according to town officials who reviewed the issue for Charles Foskett, chairman of the town's Capital Planning Committee.

Aug. 15: Planners keep pushing
May 24: The neighbors' view