Around the Region: Clerk Fends off Robber with Crowbar, Kerrigan Trial Continues

Here's a look at some of the top stories from around the region last week:

MELROSE -- A video posted on YouTube shows the clerk at Melrose Mobil using a crowbar to fend off a would-be robber on Wednesday night. Melrose Police Lt. Mark DeCroteau said on Friday afternoon, "The one I saw on YouTube appears to be the same robbery. I’ll tell you that’s not the entire video. That looks like a portion of it."

: STONEHAM—This week, Stoneham Patch has been live-blogging and providing updates throughout the day from the trial of Mark Kerrigan, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery in connection to his father’s death in January 2010.

: MALDEN—The South Broadway Park restoration project is all but dead after a contentious Tuesday night City Council session. The council could not muster the eight votes needed to fund the project; the council actually voted 6-5 in favor of a $5.5 million bond to fund the $6.4 million project, but failed to garner a two-thirds majority needed for a financial vote. The project would have improved drainage in the area, shifted the field space to the south and away from residences, added tennis courts, a basketball hoop, artificial field turf, lights and other amenities. Two city councilors to revive discussion over the project next week.

CHARLESTOWN -- Hundreds of residents packed into the Charlestown Knights of Columbus on Wednesday night to meet with Rep. Mike Capuano, D-Somerville, and weigh in on future improvements to Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square. Judging by the 50 or so people who spoke at the event, the crowd seemed to be evenly split: half in favor of a surface redesign that would fill in the underpasses on Rutherford Avenue and half in favor of upgrades that would preserve the underpasses.

: ARLINGTON -- Members of the Arlington Education Association have approved a new contract with the Arlington School Committee, which officials said could save the town $1.3 million in fiscal year 2012.