Aerial photo of Mirak property in Arlington Heights, showing outline of proposed apartments in 2020.

After more than 14 months of public discussion, the 124-apartment project at Mirak in the Heights, the largest housing proposal since Town Meeting adopted town's master plan in 2015, is moving toward resolution by the town Zoning Board of Appeals.

On July 26, that board voted to close its long-held public hearing and to begin deliberating the order of conditions for 1165R Mass. Ave. at its Aug. 24 meeting. Deliberations are to continue Sept. 2, two days before the 40-day period to render a decision ends.

Read a summary of the July 26 meeting by Steve Revilak, who is a ZBA member and offers his notes as a public service >>  

Arlington is among some Massachusetts communities whose officials seek significant cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions and want the state's support to proceed.

"Let us be your test kitchen," Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine told lawmakers Tuesday, July 27, WBUR reported. "Let Arlington, let Lexington, Brookline and Acton, others that are pursuing this — let us put this effort forward. The people of Arlington want it to go forward."

Three bills before the Municipalities and Regional Government Committee would prohibit fossil-fuel infrastructure in new buildings or those undergoing major renovations in Brookline, Lexington and Arlington. Rep. Tami Gouveia and Sen. Jamie Eldridge, both of Acton, have also filed bills that would allow municipalities interested in pursuing such policies to do so without first receiving legislative approval.

New windows at Winslow Towers can be seen on the Mystic Street side.

Return to remote meetings; public guidelines issued

Technological and financial challenges required a return to online Zoom meetings for the July 21, board meeting of the Arlington Housing Authority (AHA).

June’s well-attended meeting at the Drake Village/Hauser complex in Arlington Heights was the first in-person gathering in 14 months. In his opening remarks, Chairman Brian Connor said, “Unfortunately, we don’t have [hybrid] technology. It’s rather expensive. Hopefully, we’ll be able to figure it out, but for right now, our board meetings will be through Zoom.”

The authority is following an updated guidance issued by Gov. Baker extending certain Covid measures – such as remote meetings – until April 2022.

Hybrid technology allows in-person meetings to be held simultaneously with a remote-access feed for staff, board members and the public, and is currently in use with the town’s Select Board meetings.

UPDATED, July 28: Arlington’s culinary options keep expanding. On July 19, the Select Board unanimously approved two additional food providers:

• Ginger Exchange Express/Master Pies

Can’t decide between ordering take-out pizza and Asian food? Now you can do both from one place.

Ginger Exchange Express/Master Pies will offer a wide variety of pizzas, salads and appetizers, along with an assortment of Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Korean cuisine, including sushi, Pad Thais, and rice and soup bowls.

The Town of Arlington seeks individuals to serve as members of several committees covering a variety of subjects. By serving on a town committee you will make a valuable contribution to the community and meet other residents who strive to make Arlington a better place for all.

Here is a list of some committees that are currently seeking members.

An in-depth look at new public-school superintendent

Dr. Elizabeth Homan, marathoner.

UPDATED, July 21: One day before she officially became Arlington’s top education official, Dr. Elizabeth Homan posted a video to introduce herself as schools superintendent, and in it she mentions almost immediately, “You all can call me Liz.”

The video is accessible in five languages. As of July 17, the English-language version had 852 views, the Spanish version 14 views, the Portuguese version 12 views and the Mandarin and Japanese version 29 views each. That is nearly 1,000 views in less than three weeks.

In the seven-plus minutes of the video, she gives an overview of her life and career, explains her three core values of equity, empathy and excellence, and walks the viewer through her four-phase entry plan for leading the district and shows photographs of her husband, their two preschoolers and the family pet.(That last one would be Gertrude the dog, who stars in 21 clips on Homan’s personal YouTube channel, which went online in 2009.)