Putting Your (Library) Cards on the Table (Video)

Belmont librarians happily accept Arlington's 'Library Card Challenge' to see which library can issue the most cards this month.

It's a contest that Belmont’s Library Director Maureen Conners was only too eager to take on. "We are up to the challenge," said Conners at Arlington's Robbins Library Thursday morning, Jan. 31, where it's library director, Ryan Livergood, challenging three surrounding communities to see which library could increase its new library card registration the most in February (as a percentage increase compared to February 2012). “When I started as library director in April of 2012,” Livergood said, “one of the things I wanted to do was get out in our community and remind people of the value of a library card.” Conners, Lexington’s Koren Stembridge and Somerville’s Maria Carpenter all accepted Livergood’s challenge, and at a Thursday press …

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Charges Dropped Against Former Belmont Firefighter in Harassment Case

Verdict for Laurent Roy as judge dismissed case on Nov. 15, as former Belmont fire captain blasts pressure that saw the former department lieutenant resign his position.

A Cambridge District Court judge dismissed charges against a former Belmont firefighter who was arrested two years ago this month for criminal harassment and violating two restraining orders against a female employee of the Armstrong ambulance company. The verdict handed down on Thursday, Nov. 15 in favor of Laurent Roy, 50, of Homer Road, Arlington, said that significant evidence surfaced to impeach the woman's credibility.  "The court will only proceed with cases which they believe are valid, that just wasn't the case here. The needle was pointing more and more towards the accuser of being the aggressor," said a family attorney. A firefighter in Belmont beginning in 1996 and promoted to lieutenant in 2005, Roy resigned from the …

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Arlington-Belmont Crew Races in Head of the Charles

By finishing in the top half, Arlington-Belmont Girls Fours secured a place in next year's regatta.

The Arlington-Belmont Crew Club had two entries in the 48th annual Head of the Charles Regatta that was held on the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21. One of the most prestigious of all regattas, this year it drew more than 2,000 entries from nearly 700 clubs coming from 37 states in the U.S. and 22 countries. The Arlington-Belmont girls Fours – four rowers, each with a single oar, along with a coxswain – finished in 37th out of a total of 85 entries. In a very tight race – the top four boats were separated by less than 10 seconds – Arlington-Belmont finished only a minute and a half behind the winner, with a time of 20:56. Rowing were Laurie VanBenschoten, Annalise Routenberg, Katelyn …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Hegarty Supported by Out of District Residents

"We believe that she is committed to giving equal attention to her Arlington and North Cambridge precincts as well as to Belmont."

To the Editor: As parents of two children currently attending Arlington Public Schools and as a public school educator, we support Margaret Hegarty for State Representative in the September primary. We know that she will work hard to maintain Chapter 70 funding which is so important to our schools. We believe that she is committed to giving equal attention to her Arlington and North Cambridge precincts as well as to Belmont.  With her legal background and past work in the State House, we know that she will work hard to accomplish the important goals that she is committed to.  As precinct 19 voters, we are ineligible to vote for Margaret. We encourage those in her voting precincts to cast a vote in her support on Sept. 6th. Patricia and …

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Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Past Arlington Selectman Backing Hegarty

"None of the three candidates come from Arlington. But, I am convinced that Margaret will listen when we call ... ."

To the editor: The 24th Middlesex District is lucky to have three qualified Democrats running to represent us. After much thought and conversation with the candidates, I have decided to endorse Margaret Hegarty. We need more women legislators on Beacon Hill. In 2011, only 23.5 percent of the House was women. We need to do better. Anne Paulsen of Belmont represented us on the Hill for a long time and we were very well served during her tenure. Margaret is ready to take up her mantle. Margaret comes from a politically active family in Belmont. Her ten year old daughter and her parents often join her on the campaign trail. I am confident that Margaret will work hard for the entire district. She understands how the current local aid formula …

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Democrat State Rep Candidates Take Center Stage

Margaret Hegarty, Bobby Reardon and Dave Rogers answered questions from Arlington voters Thursday at the town's Senior Center.

The three Democrats vying to represent Belmont and sections of Arlington and Cambridge came together Thursday to introduce themselves to more than 100 voters in a candidates forum at the Arlington Senior Center. State rep candidates Margaret Hegarty, Bobby Reardon and Dave Rogers answered a number of questions from the audience, as well as made opening and closing remarks, at the event, which was sponsored by the Arlington Democratic Town Committee and moderated by state Sen. Ken Donnelly of Arlington. The three will square off at the Sept. 6 primary, with the winner going onto face Republican Tomi Olson and independent candidate Jim Gammill, both from Belmont, at the Nov. 6 election for now state Sen. Will Brownsberger’s former House seat…

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Candidates Forum Thursday in Arlington for Belmont's House Seat

Meet Democrat hopefuls Margaret Hegarty, Bobby Reardon and Dave Rogers tomorrow in Arlington.

The Arlington Democratic Town Committee is sponsoring a candidates forum for the state House of Representative race to represent the 24th Middlesex District on Beacon Hill. The meeting will be held Thursday, July 26 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Arlington Senior Center, 27 Maple St., behind Town Hall in Arlington Center. Arlington State Sen. Ken Donnelly will moderate the forum. The three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the Sept. 6 state primary election will introduce themselves to voters and take questions from the audience. The winner of the primary will advance to the Nov. 6 general election. The candidates attending the forum are Belmont residents Margaret Hegarty and Bobby Reardon and Dave Rogers from North Cambridge…

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UPDATE: Photo Gallery: Garbage Truck Rolls Over on Pleasant Street (VIDEO)

A garbage truck rolled onto its side Monday afternoon while turning right onto Pleasant Street from Lake Street near the Arlington-Belmont town line.

A JRM Hauling and Recycling garbage truck rolled onto its side at about 2:30 p.m. Monday while turning right onto Pleasant Street, toward Belmont Center, from Lake Street in Belmont. The one-vehicle crash, across from the Open Door Baptist Church, closed the westbound lane of Pleasant Street, Route 60, for more than three hours. Two heavy-duty tow trucks from Waltham Auto Tow were called in to flip the truck onto its wheels. One of the trucks then towed it away. About a dozen men from JRM and Waltham Auto Tow worked to clear the scene. In addition to righting the truck, the men put down saw dust to soak up fluids that appeared to be leaking from barrels on the truck labeled “hydraulic fluid.” No injuries were reported at the scene. The …

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Harvey a Finalist to be Arlington's Asst. Super

Belmont High's principal also in last group to lead Hamilton-Wenham schools.

Belmont High School Principal Dr. Michael Harvey was named one of five finalists to become Arlington’s next assistant superintendent, the district’s human resource officer, Robert Spiegel, told the Arlington School Committee on Thursday, April 12. On Monday, Harvey, who has been principal of Belmont High School for the past six years, was selected as one of four finalists to be the next superintendent of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District. Last year, the Ipswich resident was one of two finalists to become Belmont's interim superintendent. The School Committee hired former Chelsea superintendent Dr. Thomas Kingston. In Arlington, Harvey joins Arlington's K-12 director of history and social sciences, an elementary school principal …

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Never Too Young for Hockey: Under-10 Girls in Finals

Girls going for the win at the inaugural Pink of the Rink tournament in Arlington.

Oh, the Under 10 (players under 10 years old) Girls Team from the Belmont Youth Hockey Association may look cute and sweet, but don't let that fool you. With rough-and-tumble names like Molly, Meaghan and Maggie, they are a group of hard-nosed hockey players and want nothing more than to be champions. And they will have that chance tonight, Feb. 23, at the inaugural Pink of the Rink Hockey Tournament in Arlington as the team meets the Lynnfield Ice Cats – a team they have defeated earlier in the tournament – at 6:30 p.m at the Ed Burns Arena. Coached by Pete Noone, the 18 youngsters have been victorious over Arlington, 3-2, and Lynnfield, 3-1, to get into the finals.  And these girls have connections with the successful Belmont High School…

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