YourArlington turns 17 years old on Sunday, Dec. 10. Time for us to think about "applying to college." Do we shoot for an Ivy, or for a more affordable alternative?

In effect, the site devoted to Arlington news and opinion is considering a parallel transition.

Following the award of a $20,000 grant from a national organization that supports local news and a successful gala in November -- we raised more than $26,000 -- YourArlington is looking to the future. Its nonprofit board is considering proposals from consultants who will help shape what the site aims to be, in 2024 and beyond.

Maria Elder of Arlington, an undergraduate studying vertebrate physiology at The Pennsylvania State University at University Park, Pa., offers some holiday advice.

After Thanksgiving, stores and families rush blindly into the Christmas spirit -- maybe a little too fast. Most people worry about buying the perfect gifts, cooking the perfect dishes and curating the perfect house -- and miss enjoying the holiday itself. 

Don’t get me wrong. I love the holidays; my house in the Mt. Gilboa neighborhood was the first stop on the Halloween house tour in my town. However, I adamantly believe that every person should decorate for the holidays as a way to fully immerse themselves in the spirit and increase their happiness. 

Kara Baskin of Arlington, a writer for The Boston Globe, has written a caring tribute to the work done at The Children's Room, a longtime nonprofit in town. Titled "The Children’s Room in Arlington wants to normalize the last taboo: grief," her Parenting Unfiltered column has been republished with the author's permission.

Baskin

As parents, we sweat the small stuff, even when deep down we know it’s pretty meaningless. Missing homework. Carpools gone awry. The struggle to get your kid to wear a coat from November to March.

But death is a great leveler; it puts the small stuff in perspective. In Massachusetts, 1 out of 13 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18. The Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) reports that 6 million kids in the United States will lose a parent or a sibling by 18.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey proclaimed Nov. 16 Children’s Grief Awareness Day, responding to the growing number of kids coping with childhood bereavement. Sometimes it’s due to suicide caused by a mental health crisis in a system that’s stretched to the brink. Other times, it’s addiction. Or else it’s random bad luck, like an accident in a crosswalk or a cancer diagnosis. During the holidays, the losses seem more acute. Life feels unfair.

The following local organizations are among those participating in #GivingTuesday, Nov. 28, and after:

Town Health and Human Services'
assistances programs

Following on the heels of Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes #GivingTuesday. Please consider making a donation to one of Arlington Health and Human Services' assistance programs/services at arlingtonma.gov/donate.

Holiday Help Program Seeks Spread Joy to Youth and Families  

The Holiday Help Program is a project that assists low-income Arlington families purchase gifts for their children during the holiday season. To make a tax-deductible contribution to support the program, select “Holiday Help” at ahhscc.org. 

YourArlington's policy about your views

UPDATED Nov. 14: YourArlington welcomes opinions of all kinds from local residents, including national issues so long as you can draw a local connection. For example, the war pitting Israel and Hamas must have echoes here, too. Letters are reviewed for fairness, factualness and taste.

Factual letters about Arlington issues are welcome. Length of such letters should be no more than 800 words.

NOTE: When emailing a letter to The Advocate & Star, consider copying YourArlington at the same time. Your opinions will be published sooner.

Please support your view with facts and arguments that attempt to adhere to reason.

You may write on any subject, so long as you try to make a connection to Arlington. If you can't do that, then your residence in town will be a sufficient connection.