I had the pleasure of hosting the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for the new Community Center for Methuen’s Arlington Neighborhood. This Center, designed to house the many beneficial programs run by Methuen’s Arlington Neighborhood, has been a goal of ours for many years. It was a stated goal when I ran for Mayor, and I am proud to see it come to fruition. We have had a visit by Lt Governor Tim Murray to the old center, and I am grateful to Governor Patrick and his administration for their help in building this new facility. The Arlington Neighborhood serves the many children of this neighborhood in many ways, including vital after school programs and homework help. With the help of the state and federal governments we have been able to outfit the center with computers and internet service. This group is a model of how concerned local residents can actually turn around a neighborhood, with grit and hard work. I will write more about this group in the future. As a City Councilor I represented this area, and I am amazed at the change that has occurred. Read the Eagle Tribune article at this link.