Arlington, Massachusetts

Longtime resident recalls how Red Sox gave her hits she needed

Last Updated: 16 May 2022 | Published: 14 May 2022 | Written by Bob Sprague | Hits: 1339

Wally greets Marianne Comeau at Del's.

UPDATED May 15: You may have seen Marianne Comeau doling out paddles for canoes at Spy Pond in summers past. Or at the Ed Burns rec center working with kids. Or simply jogging around town, something she has done since 1979.

The affable friend to police officers who knows when house fires hit shows up all over town.

When Wally the Green Monster visited for the ribbon-cutting Saturday, May 14, at Del's Lemonade, in Brattle Square, Marianne was there -- in body and in spirit. She helped cut the ribbon, welcoming Del's, here since August.

The longtime resident has a real connection with Wally, the Red Sox mascot.

"I remember the day in April of 1997 when Wally came out the left-field door at Fenway," she told YourArlington. At the time, she was doing game promotions for the Sox. "Weeks later, I was asked to be Wally's escort around the park and on special appearances."

That included working with Wally and all the Major League Baseball mascots during the 1999 All-Star Game. She took them in an open trolley for appearances throughout Boston.

Comeau worked for the Red Sox in the mid-to-late '90s, earning credit as an intern while attending UMass/Amherst.

Another thrill: She was chosen to audition to be the public-address announcer and was honored in a pregame ceremony as an outstanding employee.

Housing Corporation hires new executive director

Last Updated: 06 May 2022 | Published: 06 May 2022 | Written by HCA, Bob Sprague | Hits: 1674

Erica Schwarz

Residents arriving at Downing, Broadway

UPDATED May 6: Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA) has announced that Erica Schwarz is its new executive director. She plans to join HCA on Wednesday, May 11.

As she comes on board, residents are beginning to occupy the Downing Square and Broadway developments.

A news release from the nonprofit says that Schwarz will be working to further affordable housing and community development in Arlington together with HCA’s board, staff, members and the community at large.

She comes to Arlington after three years and seven months as a project director for the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority.

Housing authority leadership welcomes first Latina

Last Updated: 29 April 2022 | Published: 26 April 2022 | Written by Melanie Gilbert | Hits: 1549

Mayra Cruz, new assistant executive director

'Really excited to bring her on board.'
-- Jack Nagle

As board elects all males

For the first time since its founding in 1948, the Arlington Housing Authority (AHA) has hired a Latina to an executive-level leadership position. The board of commissioners welcomed Mayra Cruz as the new assistant executive director at its April 21 board meeting.

“[Mayra] has extensive experience in housing authorities, which includes Boston and Cambridge,” said Executive Director Jack Nagle. “We’re really excited to bring her on board to work toward our goals and initiatives.”

Cruz joins the housing authority at a time when it is embarking on extensive and expensive building renovation and rehabilitation projects across its aging senior and family-housing portfolio.

NEWS DISHES: Sabzi in East Arlington closes

Last Updated: 14 February 2022 | Published: 27 January 2022 | Written by various sources | Hits: 64565

Dishing up some Arlington restaurant-related news morsels:

Sabzi, the Mass. Ave. restaurant in East Arlington featuring Persian fare, has shut down.

Marc Hurwitz, who published Boston Restaurant Talk, ), reported the closing. A Facebook post from Sabzi said, "The size of our little restaurant just could not adequately sustain itself given the many pandemic hurdles and the ongoing staffing shortages. It has been a true privilege to serve this community. We have made many good friends and will forever treasure this experience."