Atwood House on May 23, 2022. / Melanie Gilbert photo

'I’m reaching out to the state.'
-- Jack Nagle

For the first time since 2012, the Arlington Housing Authority (AHA) is actively seeking to either build or acquire existing property in town to add more units to its housing portfolio. The AHA is the town’s largest provider of public housing.

Executive Director Jack Nagle told the board during the monthly meeting May 19 that state funding for a special-needs housing development, called Chapter 689 -- first discussed nearly 17 years ago -- may still be available.

“I’m reaching out to the state and trying to get some information related to how to get this moving,” Nagle said. “There is some bonded funding attached to this project – a little over $2 million.”

ACMi News has won the Hometown Media Nationwide Award in the category of news access.

Arlington Community Media inc. (ACMi), Arlington’s community-access television studio and a YourArlington media partner, submitted a newscast from Oct. 15, 2021 – anchored by Paul Wehrlin and ACMi intern Nicole Garay.

The newscast featured a report by ACMi News Director Jeff Barnd about Arlington's participation in celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, an area coyote attack and a follow-up interview by ACMi's Communications Manager James Milan with Arlington Police Chief Julie Flaherty, an interview with Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine regarding the town's ARPA framework, an APD Gun Buy-Back Program and an update on AHS events produced by ACMi Field Production Coordinator Anim Osmani.

Arlington Community Education is sponsoring “An Evening with Pop Artist Howie Green,” set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Arlington High School.

The cost for this one-night event is $15.

Join the internationally recognized pop artist, designer, author — and Arlington Community Education cover artist — for a colorful overview of his career and journey through several decades of creative pursuits. They include TV, toys, collectible figures, publications, Hollywood, web and multimedia, album covers, urban sketching, public art and, as he puts it, “the kitchen sink!"

Find further information about the event and Green here >>

The town Zoning Board of Appeals is due to meet Tuesday, May 24, at 7:30 p.m., to hold four hearings via this Zoom link >> 

See the agenda here >> 

Hearings

From left: Alex DerStepanian (coxswain), Daniel Kim (stroke), Logan Freeman, Xander de Venecia, Rohan Gandhi, Dereck Leigh, Will Newberry, Charles Forney,  Matthias Warkentin (bow). / Photo by Hugh McCabe

Boys U-17 qualify for nationals

The Arlington-Belmont Crew Boys U-17 won a place last weekend at the U.S. Rowing Northeast Regionals competition in Lowell, as the team seeks support for its fund-raiser, which ends Friday, May 27.

"We are asking the Arlington and Belmont communities to support the Arlington-Belmont Crew Team and purchase tickets as part of our May Virtual Cash Calendar fund-raiser," said Doug Rosner, A-B Crew board president.

He said the funds are needed so that A-B Crew can continue to be accessible to all, especially when teens are in particular need of community, outdoor exercise, mental focus and opportunities to build confidence.

The fund-raiser helps keep athlete costs down, and gives us the resources to develop our team to its full potential, he said.

Get ready. The Arlington Greek Festival is set to return starting Friday, June 10, at 11 a.m. through Sunday, June 12, at 6 p.m., at the St. Athanasius Greek Orthodox Church, 4 Appleton St.

As always, there is no admission fee, and the venue is handicapped-accessible

Gyros, Souvlaki, Loukoumades . . . oh my!

Noose allegedly left at work. / Patch photo

An Arlington man has accused the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) Local 292 of discrimination and harassment in a complaint filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the independent state agency that enforces state antidiscrimination laws, YourArlington partner Patch reports.

Richard S. Summers, 56. an African American who has been a customer representative at NAGE since May 2020, said he began experiencing discrimination and harassment in the workplace in August 2021 and has continued to experience retaliation ever since.

According to the complaint, Summers' supervisor at the time made several racially charged comments directed toward him and later retaliated against Summers for confronting him by stripping him of privileges, moving his office and changing his duties. In addition, an anonymous lynching noose was left where Summers works several months after the comments were made.

Patch has reached out to NAGE for comment on Summers' complaints and plans to update the story when it hears back.