The Arlington Select Board is scheduled to meet at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. Location and access remain to be reported, though the body most typically meets in person in its chambers in Town Hall, 730 Mass. Ave., and the meeting usually is live-streamed by local cable television station ACMi.

Among other agenda topics, there is expected to be a review and possible approval of a bond issue, a special-event request for a menorah lighting for Hanukkah (which runs Dec. 7-15 this year), a request for approval for a new restaurant called the Mill Cafe, 14 Mill St., and consideration of winter banner hanging for the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

The board also may discuss and possibly vote concerning the overnight parking pilot program and the combined-sewage overflow, aka CSO, situation with Alewife Brook, at the town line between Arlington and Cambridge in East Arlington. The board sent a letter Nov. 28 to the federal Environmental Protection Agency expressing its concerns. 

The Arlington Redevelopment Board is scheduled to meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, in person, at the Arlington Community Center Main Hall, 27 Maple St. 

The agenda is here >>   (linked items have supporting documents).

This meeting is not on Zoom.

Staying power creates enviable status with many enduring favorites

Frederick Kalil reviews

Tryst has been ensconced in the center of town long enough that it might be beset with a resulting invisibility factor. In restaurant years, 19 is a venerable age. Its apparent staying power speaks to a status as trusted standby, at least, and somewhat more than that, a recent check-in proved.

In earlier times you might have found me here perched at the bar for a burger or shrimp tacos and a cocktail. Returning now, a glance at the menu gives a clue to the place’s longevity. A number of familiar items have survived since yesteryear, testimony to enduring favorites that continue to sustain the following of regulars.

There’s little mystery to the secret of success where elevated comfort food is involved. The difference here is a level of attention that aims above the pub-grub level, with the limited number of menu items honed to focus on the kitchen’s strengths. Executive chef Daniel DeCarpis’s stints at multiple spots in the North End is a cue to take note that pastas and breads are made in house.

Recently, Arlington Public Schools (APS) have received three grants  totaling $72,000 from the Arlington Education Foundation (AEF), whose mission is to support innovative projects and enhance teaching and learning in Arlington Public Schools.

 According to AEF President Elizabeth Goodsell, the $15,000 “Innovation in Education Grant” for performing arts was approved last September. An important objective is to make the learning process in orchestra and jazz band more accessible and efficient by using modern digital means to display music.

The call went out: pedestrian down: Just after 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, a car making a left turn onto Water Street from Mass. Ave. in Arlington Center struck and injured a female pedestrian in the crosswalk.

The driver, a 72-year-old Arlington resident, stated to police that he hadn't seen anyone crossing and that he was going no more than 5 miles per hour. The woman, also from Arlington, after asking for help getting to her feet, told officers that she hadn't seen any vehicle coming her way before being hit. The responding officers issued the driver a citation for crosswalk violation, judging him clearly at fault because the woman had obviously made entry into the crosswalk. The woman's identity age and medical condition have not been released.

Capt. Richard Flynn, spokesman for the Arlington Police Department, emphasizes that the moment a pedestrian steps off a curb into a crosswalk, the approaching driver becomes the responsible party -- and that all Arlingtonians should take this matter very seriously. He said that all drivers must assume that anyone on a curb at a crossing may suddenly step into a crosswalk -- and that, for their part, pedestrians should not assume that their first step off the curb will be immediately registered by the driver of a vehicle turning their way.

This was the second vehicle/pedestrian crosswalk collision in the second half of this month.

Food, beer, music and art works of many sorts are what the Roasted Granola Café, in cooperation with Arlington Brewing Company and Arts Arlington, is planning to provide starting this Thursday, Nov. 30,  through Dec. 30.

With the Select Board having approved the necessary licensing late last month, ABC says it will have the following each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9:30 p.m. for buyers 21 and older: "We'll be pouring town favorites including Spy-P-A, Jedermann and Zwolfand will be introducing new brews to the lineup such as Marley's Ghost Christmas Ale. We are excited to bring the community together this holiday season and look forward to seeing friends and family as they enjoy a pint or two." 

The Town of Arlington recently created a Sustainable Landscape Handbook -- a comprehensive guide to shaping and maintaining an environmentally friendly landscape. Town officials say that whether the reader is a seasoned gardener or novice homeowner, this handbook provides valuable tips and strategies for transforming property into a beautiful and sustainable haven.

It can be be downloaded for free from the Planning Department website.

A town news release states that "The Sustainable Landscape Handbook caters to a wide range of landscaping projects, from small garden updates to large-scale transformations. Detailed instructions, practical advice and inspirational designs are presented in a clear and easy-to-follow format, making it an indispensable resource for both beginners and experienced landscapers."

Arlington's newest Jiu-Jitsu gym, NESF Boston, opened at 965 Mass. Ave. on Oct. 23; its managers say that they are now offering a seven-day free trial to first-time local visitors.

NESF Boston says that it offers classes in Jiu-Jitsu for everyone from martial arts beginners to seasoned practitioners and that classes are designed to accommodate all fitness levels, providing a challenging yet rewarding workout that contributes to overall health and well-being.

A message from the proprietors says that classes are available to suit any skill level, that the curriculum promotes effective fundamental techniques as a foundation for both novice and advanced practitioners and that the curriculum teaches practical self-defense skills that empower individuals with the confidence to navigate real-world situations.

'Worst offender: Somerville’s SOM01A combined sewer overflow.

The Nov. 20 meeting covered many subjects.

UPDATED Nov. 29: The town’s veterans official, temporary permission for beer at a local café, stronger demands on coping with Alewife Brook flooding, semiquincentennial plans, Conservation Commission members, road improvements, bond issuance and other matters occupied the Select Board at its most recent meeting.

Town Manager Jim Feeney began the Nov. 20 proceedings by introducing Philip McGovern, director of veterans services, who briefly sketched his career as “hybrid of civilian and military service” as a lawyer. He mentioned his service in the National Guard and in Iraq; board member Steve DeCourcey, welcoming McGovern, mentioned his Purple Heart award and tour in Afghanistan. YourArlington earlier announced his appointment.

A longtime Woburn resident, McGovern said that in Arlington he looks forward to “getting integrated into a place where I actually work with individuals and help them get the benefits that they deserve, as well as with a community.” Board member Diane Mahon recognized McGovern’s “strong suit” in mental-health services, adding, “There are a lot of things that you do that we probably won’t know about, so I want to thank you in advance."

Alewife Brook some time before summer flooding. / David Stoff photo

UPDATED Nov. 28: Save the Alewife Brook, based in Arlington, is pleased that the state Legislature and governor have allocated $100,000 toward studying the Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO) problem that has been sporadically affecting residents for decades. Meanwhile, the Arlington Select Board is finalizing a document to send to the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) today, expressing its own concerns about the CSO issue.

"The Mystic River Watershed Association will receive the funds from the state, and they will be responsible for the hydraulic study that looks at dredging," said Kristin Anderson, Arlington resident, founder of Save the Alewife Brook and a Precinct 11 Town Meeting member. "We're quite thankful for the awesome work of the Mystic River Watershed Association," she told YourArlington via email Monday, Nov. 27.

According to Anderson's group, a CSO of more than 8 million gallons of raw untreated sewage went into Alewife Brook, a body of water near the Cambridge town line, on Aug. 8.  The overflowing brook then flooded onto the adjacent Alewife Greenway, and, the group says, some people unknowingly thus were put at possible risk as they walked and jogged on the path in the days following.

Old Schwamb Mill, 17 Mill Lane, today is opening a new exhibit, "Embroidery Dreams," Saturday, Dec. 2. The opening reception is slated to run from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Malden based artist Anna Thai creates embroidered artwork, jewelry and garments. The exhibit is expected to run through March 2, 2024.