Noel Buck and parents at Gillette. / Twitter

Arlington High School senior Noel Buck, who joined the New England Revolution Academy at age 12, made his long-awaited Major League Soccer debut with the Revolution at age 17 on Saturday, Aug 13.

Buck, who appeared in 66 games at the youth level, eventually transitioned to the New England Revolution II and impressed there as well. He signed an MLS contract in January and got his chance to compete with the Revolution on Saturday after months of anticipation. Buck didn’t squander it, and he more than held his own.

He subbed during the second half and played 27 minutes, helping the Revolution outlast D.C. United, 1-0, at Gillette Stadium. The midfielder Buck, the seventh Homegrown Player in club history, completed seven of eight passes and nearly set up a Carles Gil goal.

Buck was most pleased to get the win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

“It’s a dream, really. It’s a dream come true,” Buck told reporters. “It’s a lot of emotions, you know. It’s just a lot. I mean, it feels great obviously. But there’s also a quick turnaround that we’ve got to be mindful of.”

His teammates and head coach praised him for his poise and level of execution. Andrew Farrell said he was “unbelievable,” and Bruce Arena called it an “excellent first performance.”

Do you need funding for an open space, outdoor recreational facility, affordable housing or historic preservation project?

 The Community Preservation Act Committee is accepting preliminary applications for projects to be funded in fiscal 2024 under the act that helps guide administration of the fund from taxpayers and the state.

The deadline for the preliminary application is noon, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. 

The act raises an estimated $1.8 million annually via a tax surcharge and state funds that are designated for major public investments in these categories. 

ACMi has had many interns over the years who “cut their teeth” in Arlington and then moved on to success in commercial television. One of them, who now works as a TV reporter in Savannah, Ga., missed us so much that she came back to visit recently. That gave us the opportunity to have a current news intern interview the now-seasoned former intern. Here’s Savannah Anderson with her profile of Isabel Litterst:

Advocates, a nonprofit human-services provider, has been designated by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to operate community behavioral-health sites serving Arlington residents.

The effort is part of a state initiative designed to provide accessible and equitable mental health care, including to people in crisis who otherwise would seek care in a hospital emergency department.

The service sites in Waltham and Framingham plan to open in January and to serve 31 communities in eastern and central Massachusetts. They will operate among a statewide network of 25 centers whose mission is to help meet the growing demand for behavioral health care caused, in part, by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

DPW topping-off with town officials and partners. / Jim Badershall, Commodore, photo

A topping-off ceremony for the new, $44 million public-works facility on Grove Street was held on Tuesday, Aug. 9, celebrating construction to date. The completion is scheduled for fall 2023.

Hosted by the town’s project partners, Commodore Builders and Sydney Project Management, the owner’s project manager, the ceremony commemorated the project’s continued progress with the placement of the last steel beam, marking a major milestone of the project.

“It is wonderful to see the new public-works facility take shape,” said Town Manager Sandy Pooler, in a town news release.

“It is appropriate to have a modern facility befitting of the vital services public works provides the Arlington community all year long. From managing major infrastructure -- like water and sewer and our roadways to maintaining our trees, parks and cemeteries -- their work is instrumental to the quality of life in Arlington.” 

Page leads a recent rehearsal. / Mystic Chorale photo

UPDATED Aug. 12: After 33 years of service, founder and Artistic Director Nick Page will lead a final season of preparation for his final concert with Mystic Chorale, titled “The Heart Dances, the Soul Sings.”

This project will be his last involvement with the Arlington-based musical group before his long-planned relocation to Missouri.

Rehearsals are to begin next month, with the concert in December

Organizers say they hope that this season and its concert will pack an emotional punch, balancing explosive energy and tenderness.

Page has been known over the decades for his enthusiastic direction and award-winning musical arrangements. This upcoming Mystic Chorale season, as in the past, will feature pieces old and new.

The season theme comes from a new piece composed by Page called "Halev Roked," with the words “The heart dances, the soul sings.” More songs than ever will feature the chorus as a whole, including Ysaye Barnwell’s arrangement of "I Am Determined (To Walk in Freedom)" and the anthem "The Storm is Passing Over (Courage My Soul)."