Week in Review

Arlington schools were back in session this past week, and, at the high school's first day, a small crowd gathered to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of its return to the morning announcements after a 40-year absence.

Football also returned to Arlington, as the Spy Ponders defeated Newton South 20-14 in their opening game on Saturday. The night before, Arlington Catholic's squad fell to Shawsheen Valley Tech 12-8 under the lights at Pierce Field.

The high school's girls' volleyball team started its season with a convincing win over Cambridge.

Also in sports news, more than 100 skaters turned out for the grand re-opening of Veterans Memorial Skating Rink. The rink underwent $1 million in renovations over the summer.

With fall approaching, the election season is starting to heat up. State Rep. Will Brownsberger, a Democrat representing the 24^th Middlesex District, received an endorsement from the Sierra Club, one of the state's largest environmental organizations.

On Thursday, just over the town border, a Lexington woman, who sought medical attention on August 29, was diagnosed with West Nile Virus. She is improving but remains in the hospital, according to the state Department of Public Health.