Boys’, Girls’ Soccer: Three Wins, Three Shutouts, All Good

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Walt Whitman wrote in his collection “Leaves of Grass” of “the teeming quietest, happiest days of all!/ The brooding and blissful halcyon days!”

These are indeed the halcyon days for both of Belmont High School soccer teams. In the first three games of the new season, the teams are undefeated (3-0), scoring goals (the boys have tallied seven over that stretch while the girls are averaging a gaudy six per game) each win has been via the shutout.

And to the delight of the head coaches – the boys’ Brian Bisceglia-Kane and Paul Graham for the girls – the games has seen long stretches (sometimes the entire match) in which the Marauders have dominated possession with an aggressive brand of attacking soccer backed by a solid two-way midfield play.

In the latest pair of games, the girls’ have gone on the road to defeat Melrose, 3-0, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and Stoneham, 6-0, on Thursday, Sept. 11. The boys’ have enjoyed their stay on Harris Field’s new turf rug with victories over Melrose, 2-0, on Tuesday and a 3-0 win over Stoneham on Thursday.

“I think the group is doing a great job staying focused on what we are trying to do,” said Bisceglia-Kane after Thursday’s game where the Marauders

scored three times in the final 20 minutes of the first half.

Senior Co-Captain Norman Kilauititu scored his second goal of the year – although his best play occurred in the second half when he nearly scored from a wide bicycle kick to the thrill of the assembled girls’ team in the stands – followed by Danny Rizzo‘s 18 meter rocket set up by a wonderful series of short passing and finally Alex Berets flew by a pair of Stoneham center backs to volley David Chen‘s pass into the side of the goal. The game was the third clean sheet for senior goalkeeper Peter Berens.

Yet Bisceglia-Kane, who is in his first year as the Marauder’s head coach, said he is not concerned with the score of the games.

“I really don’t determine success by winning; you can win a game when you don’t deserve it and lose a game when you do,” he said, but rather determine success based on the goals they set for themselves before the game.

“That is how players stay focused … and allows them to work out of situations when they are down in a game,” said Bisceglia-Kane.

For the Belmont Girls’, the attacking beat goes on as six different players scored in the first 16 minutes of their game at Stoneham as the Marauders made fast work breaking down the Spartans.

But it’s not the number of goals that has impressed Graham so far this season but in the variety they are scored. Scores are coming from set pieces (corner kicks), physical scrambles in front of the net and building up from the midfield.

“This is the first year where when I put our subs in we do not go down in quality. Everyone of these kids want to play,” said Graham.

Yet Graham, who is nearing his 300th victory, is not about to proclaim this team as anything other than “good, so far.”

“Let’s put this into prospectus; we still haven’t played the better [Middlesex League] teams,” said Graham, who believe that Arlington and Lexington “are the class of the league as of right now” followed closely by the Marauders and their arch rivals Winchester.

“We are way ahead of last year’s team but I try to be a realist. I will know much more when we meet Arlington (away on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 3:45 p.m.),” said Graham.

Belmont Savings Matching Grant Could Help Save Underwood Pool

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There just might be outdoor swimming next summer in Belmont after all.

The Belmont Savings Bank Foundation, the community grant-making wing of Belmont Savings Bank, announced Thursday, Sept. 11 that it will match, dollar-for-dollar, up to $200,000 in private donations raised towards building a new Underwood Pool.

The potential $400,000 will allow the Underwood Building Committee to accept the current low bid of $4.55 million from Methuen-based New England Builders and Contractors to erect the new pool complex on the site of the current historic 102-year-old facility at Concord Avenue and Cottage Street.

“The bank understands how much Belmont residents care about the Underwood Pool, and once again they are partnering with us to make a positive difference in the community,” said Ellen Schreiber, secretary of the Underwood Pool Building Committee.

The future of the new two-pool facility had been in question since late August when the initial low bidder Seaver Construction of Woburn, abruptly withdrew its $3.84 million offer on the project that the Building Committee has budgeted at $4.16 million.

As a result of the Foundation’s challenge, the Building Committee is launching a fundraising campaign to raise $200,000 “from large donors as well as from the grassroots to complete the funding for the New Underwood Pool project,” said Schreiber, who has set up a donation website, www.underwoodpool.com

All donations are tax-deductible – the committee will be working with Belmont’s Partners in Play and the Winn Brook PTO – and is restricted for the pool project.

In a separate announcement, New England Builders and Contractors has agreed to extend until Oct. 31 signing a contract with the committee to build a new facility. The current deadline to award the work is Sept. 26. The firm also said it would build through the winter and attempt to have the structure open for the 2015 recreation season beginning the final week in June.

As a result, “[w]e need to raise $388,000 in donations as a public-private partnership … by October 31,” said Schreiber.

“The timeline is aggressive, but the grant from the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation really makes it possible,” she said.

“As a donor, it is very exciting to know that every dollar you give is being doubled. And this is a true matching grant – for every dollar we raise, the foundation will give us a dollar, up to $200,000. So we encourage people to help complete the funding for the Underwood Pool,” said Schreiber, who is well-known for help leading a massive community effort to build the new Joey’s Park adjacent to Winn Brook Elementary on Cross Street that opened in October of last year.

Those interested in making a large donation can contact Ellen Schreiber at ellensch@verizon.net or 617-290-6216. Make donations of any size by check or online at www.UnderwoodPool.com.

Sold in Belmont: Polar Opposites on the Affordability Scale

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A weekly recap of residential properties bought in the past seven days in the “Town of Homes.”

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• 91 Richmond Rd. Classic Garrison-style Colonial (1940), Sold for: $1,110,000. Listed at $1,129,900. Living area: 2,204 sq.-ft. 9 rooms; 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 97 days.

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• 51 Berwick St. #3. Single-floor condominium (1900), Sold for: $390,000. Listed at $365,000. Living area: 1,000 sq.-ft. 4 rooms; 2 bedrooms, 1 baths. On the market: 45 days.

 

Belmont Field Hockey Rebounds Past Melrose

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The first two games of the 2014 seasons has been like night and day for the Belmont High School Field Hockey team.

It was like night when the Marauders visited defending state champions (and undefeated for more than four years) Watertown High in the season opener last Friday as the Red Raiders kept the Marauders in the dark on how to break down the four-time consecutive state champs, losing 4-0..

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the light was back on for Belmont as they celebrated playing on their newly-renovated turf field for the first time with a convincing 7-0 drubbing of Melrose High on a cool night, Sept. 10.

Where Belmont was sputtering at times against Watertown, the team – and especially the offense – was playing with all cylinders running as six players scored and everyone played.

“Things that we have been hoping would occur actually did,” said Head Coach Jessica Smith.

“I was looking for Suzanne [Noone] and Annemarie [Habelow] to work well together and they did,” said Smith pointing to the most impressive goal of the night when the senior midfielder Noone fed the high-scoring sophomore Habelow a picture perfect pass into the attacking circle that the talented 10th grader buried in the back of the net from distance.

“I’m picturing that play many times this season,” joked Smith.

Yet Smith said the win was impressive because everyone played with “a real drive” after the first-game loss.

And that determination led to a battery of goals from a slew of players. Habelow scored twice with fellow starters Noone, Kerri Lynch and Julia Chase picking up one each while subs Jacqueline Hill and Kate McCarthy each got their first goals of the season.

Senior goalkeeper Kate Saylor shared the clean sheet with backup Nicole Crowley who kicked out a breakaway attempt late in the game to preserve the shutout.

With the midfield, led by varsity veteran Noone, communicating and working together better and the defense, backstopped by Lauren Noonan and Emma Pejko, being more assertive and confidence, the team “is showing they can compete.”

“But there are a lot of teams between Watertown and Melrose in talent so I want to see how we handle teams in the middle of the group,” said Smith.

Only Eight More Market Days Left in Belmont

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There are only eight more Thursdays before the end of the Belmont Farmers Market season. Apples are starting to come in as are other fruits such pears, peaches and plums. They all are ready for canning and baking. 

The market is open today from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (note the earlier closing time) in the Belmont Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Channing Road and Cross Street behind the Belmont Center shopping district.

This week, the guest vendors are Turtle Creek Winery, Matt’s Amazing Smokehouse, Sara Ran Away with the Spoon, Soluna Garden Farm and Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm. For a list of weekly vendors, visit the market’s Web site.

This Week’s Food Truck: It’s Benny’s Crepe Cafe, starting at 3 p.m.

In the Events Tent:

•   Bob Leger plays guitar and sings from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

•  One of Boston’s best young magicians, Ryan Lally, returns to amaze us with magic, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

•  The Belmont Public Library sponsors storytime for preschool and older children. Denise Shaver, head of the Children’s Department, reads from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Belmont Food Pantry
Bring non-perishable items each week to the Market tent. The Market has supported the Pantry with nonperishable food collection over the years, along with donations of fresh produce from the Market’s community garden project.

SNAP Payments

The market accepts and doubles SNAP benefits (formerly called Food Stamps) up to an extra $25 per Market day while matching funds last. Your donations to our parent organization, the Belmont Food Collaborative (belmontfood.org), help with programs like this. You can donate securely on the web site, or mail a check to PO Box 387, Belmont, MA 02478. We appreciate your support!

The Market is open on Thursdays through October 30, rain or shine.

Fast Freestylers Wanted: Contact Belmont High Swimming

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All Belmont High School Girls’ Swimming Head Coach Ev Crosscup wants are a few freestyle swimmers who can quickly travel from Point A to Point B.

That would make the legendary coach happy.

After the season opening duel meet clash with powerhouse Acton-Boxborough High at the Wenner Field House Pool in Belmont, on Wednesday Sept. 10, Crosscup was clearly pleased with the overall performance of his team as the Marauders held their own against the visitors who placed fourth in last year’s Division 1 championships.

“I thought we had some real strong efforts. I was happy and pleased with that but we have to get better in some important areas,” he said, after the final score, a 96 to 87 A-B win, was announced.

And that area is the team’s current deficit in the shorter-distance freestyle events. The lack of a steady point producer in the 50 and 100 yards has been a thorn to the team’s side for the past few years and Wednesday’s opener was not an encouraging one for Belmont’s long-time coach.

“That was glaring again as it was last season,” said Crosscup, a season which Belmont took second in the Division 2 state championships.

In the 50, 100 and 200, Belmont’s highest placement was third with the remaining swimmers finishing in 5th and 6th while the 200 relay finished in the bottom

“We don’t seem to have that sprint freestyler and that killed us again today,” he said.

While the shorter free distance races didn’t go to plan, there was a nice surprise in the 500 yard free with Sara Noorouzi taking first, breaking six minutes, with a 5 minute, 50.72 second race, and bringing home the sweep as Elizabeth Levy (5:57.21) and Dervela Moore-Frederick (6:07.07) followed.

As expected, Belmont’s big hitters came through, led by junior star Jessie Blake-West who won her speciality, the 100 fly (which she won the state championship last year), already breaking 59 seconds with a 58.75 in addition to winning the 200 Individual Medley by just about 10 seconds over teammate Maya Nagashima (2:13.41 to 2:23.31).

Also showing great form was Emily Quinn who held off A-B’s Tiffany Shao – who finished second in the Div. 1 state meet last year – in the best battle of the afternoon, taking the 100 breaststroke, 1:12.28 to 1:13.93.

Blake-West and Quinn have returned to swim the 200 Medley Relay this season – the relay is the defending state championships – finishing second to A-B’s number one in 1:58.03, swimming with Solvay Metelmann and Maya Nagashima

Nagashima placed second in the 100 backstroke in a fast time of 1:04.06.

And junior Thea Kelsey scored three 8’s for her reverse dive in the pike position which help win her the 1 meter diving competition with 210 points.

“You can see the effort they are putting into their swimming. It’s a good start to the season,” said Crosscup.

Now, about those freestylers.

Taxpayers Likely on Hook for $2.6 Million Belmont Center Re-Do

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At first glance, Belmont appears to love the future look of Belmont Center.

The proposal including refurbished roads, new sidewalks, more parking, a new greens-space “common” and modern electronic parking plan was presented to 60 residents during a Town Hall meeting held Monday, Sept. 8 as town officials reintroduced the four-year Belmont Center Reconstruction Project.

“A lot of these improvements, besides being aesthetically pleasing, are really about creating a plan for Belmont Center … and something to be proud of,” said Belmont Board of Selectmen Chair Andy Rojas, praising the initial design that could begin early in 2015 with completion on Halloween of next year.

The public’s reaction to the presentation was upbeat – Town Meeting member Don Mercier did object to replacing “valuable parking spaces” with a small village common that will be located in front of Belmont Savings Bank on Leonard Street – with several suggesting “tweaks” to control traffic and pedestrian safety.

With utility and water infrastructure work completed around Belmont Center in the past two years, “the project is ready to go,” said David Kale, Belmont’s town administrator.

But while the project’s important features have been nailed down, the town’s blueprint to finance the $2.6 million project has come apart as anticipated money from Beacon Hill and the one-time sale of town properties failed to emerge.

“We will have to come up with a funding plan that will need to be shared and approved by the Board of Selectmen, the Warrant Committee and Capital Budget if we choice to get this project underway,” said Kale.

In the past year, a proposal to fund the project with a state grant and a predicted increase in highway funding never materialized due to budgetary constraints and alternative priorities.

“Our likelihood of receiving extra money for [state highway funds] is probably not likely,” said Kale.

No decision on “sold” town-owned parcels

At the same time, an alternative trial balloon to use the proceeds of town-owned land sold to the developers of a pair of high-profile building projects – the 186,000 sq.-ft. Cushing Village and luxury housing near Woodfall Road – has been derailed as each team has put on hold purchasing those parcels anytime soon.

“Those conversations and negotiations are ongoing and hopefully there will be a positive conclusion,” he said.

But Kale said he is not expecting either sale to be completed by the time the Special Town Meeting convenes on Nov. 17. The 290 member legislative body will need to determine how to finance the $2.6 million reconstruction project for it to meet the scheduled construction timeline.

“What we are doing tonight is allow you some time to ask questions … and show you what we are faced with in terms of funding sources,” said Kale.

The funding uncertainty had some asking aloud if the project should be presented before Town Meeting in its current state.

“I don’t see how we can talk about this project with no funding in place. It doesn’t make any sense,” said Joseph White of Maple Terrace.

It appears Town Meeting members will be presented with three funding scenarios, according to Kale: do nothing, partially funded from the town coffers or fully fund the project through the issuance of debt.

“No one believes nothing should be done,” said Rojas.

While Glenn Clancy, the town’s director of Community Development, said the stop gap plan is to place a new asphalt layer on the Center’s streets, Kale and the Board of Selectmen are moving towards crafting a funding plan for the project “that will shape Belmont Center for the next 30 year,” said Clancy.

“Right now, more than likely, it will be from reserves from a debt issuance or some appropriation,” said Kale.

“Basically float a bond for x number of years and amortized the cost of the $2.6 million” over that time period,” he said, with the possibility of using money in the “free” cash account – the town’s “savings” account – or procuring funds from the town’s pavement management program to reduce the debt amount.

Rojas admitted that structuring the financing for a “new” Belmont Center “is going to be a challenge” – the Special Town Meeting will also hear a report on the new $5.2 million Underwood Pool complex which is $400,000 over the low bid, resulting in a “lost” pool season next summer – “but this is about a vision for your Town Center and that is what we really want to focus on.”

Belmont X-Country Off To a Fast Season Start

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The 2014 cross country season got off to a fast start for Belmont High School Girls’ and Boys’ teams as both swept by visiting Stoneham High at Belmont’s Clay Pit Pond course on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

In the Girls’ race, Belmont junior Leah Brams remained undefeated for her career on her home course – and in Middlesex League competition – cruising to an easy wire-to-wire win while leading her team to a 17-44 victory, speeding over the 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) distance in a whippet-fast 19 minutes and 33 seconds.

Placing second was junior Sophia Klimasmith (20:37) and third was fellow 11th grader Meredith Hughes (21:02). Carly Tymm (23:09 in 5th) and freshman Camilla Carere (23:19 in 6th) rounded out the scoring.

Over at the Boys’ race, Belmont senior Ari Silverfine broke 18 minutes with a 17:57 to take top spot over the course that takes runners around the pond several times and through several Belmont High School athletic fields.

Seniors Charlie Smith (18:21) and Seth Altman (18:30) ran to place and show while sophomore Wilder Manion (18:57) and Noan Miller-Medzon (19:07) took 5th and 6th as Belmont defeated the visiting Spartans 17-44.

Coakley, Tolman, Ryan Takes Belmont’s Primary Vote

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Belmont voters came out in stronger than expected numbers in the 2014 Massachusetts state party primaries held on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

The election saw one in four Belmont voters – 4,619 of the town’s 18,066 registered voters for 25.6 percent – come out to cast a ballot which is a higher percentage then in 2012 (21.1 percent) and 2010 (20.7 percent).

Belmont voters gave a big 1,500 vote boost to home-town candidate and winner Marian Ryan for the Democrat nomination for Middlesex District Attorney in a bruising campaign against Mike Sullivan.

And while voters did select Warren Tolman over eventual winner Maura Healey (who filmed a portion of her campaign commercial at the Grove Street basketball courts) in the Democrat Attorney General race, it was by a very narrow margin – by just about 300 votes – considering the candidate had a great deal of name recognition through his brother, Stephen, who was the town’s long-time state senator.

And the race for Democrat governor was as close in Belmont as it was statewide with Maratha Coakley slipping by Stephen Grossman, 39 percent to 35 percent – about a 150 vote margin – with Donald Berwick getting a better than expected 26 percent.

Here are the results:

Democrat

Governor 

Martha Coakley          1,547      39%

Steven Grossman       1,371      35%

Donald Berwick          1,008     26%

Lt. Governor 

Leland Cheung            1,694     55%

Stephen Kerrigan          930      30%

Michael Lake                  444      14%

Attorney General

Warren Tolman             2,094    53%

Maura Healey                1,819     46%

Treasurer

Deborah Goldberg         1,355     41%

Thomas Conroy                999      30%

Barry Finegold                  919      28%

Governor’s Councillor 

M.M. Petitto Devane      1,728    57%

Charlie Shapiro                1,316    43%

Middlesex District Attorney

Marian Ryan                     2,530    71%

Michael Sullivan               1,032    29%

Republican

Governor

Charles Baker                      483     82%

Mark Fisher                          105     18%

Belmont Fire Log: Elevator Rescue on the First Day of School

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Did I forget to do something?
Sept. 1 – Just before 3:30 p.m., Engine 1 and the Ladder truck were dispatched to a Beech Street two-family for a report of natural gas inside the house. The second floor occupant said he could smell gas coming from the floor below. Fire crews could also detect the unmistakable odor. Since the downstairs neighbors weren’t in at the time, firefighters scrambled through an unlocked window. Once inside, they proceeded to the stove where they found the knob in the “on” position. The knob was turned off and the apartment was ventilated. The fire chief phoned the homeowner and left a message on their cell phone.
One final time

Sept. 1 – A minute before 8 p.m., Engine 1 was dispatched to a different Beech Street location for smoke coming from the back of a two family. Turns out it was a barbecue.

... and it all falls down
Sept. 1 – At a quarter to 10 p.m., a fire crew was sent to a Oak Street home after the homeowner called to say that the house was in danger of collapse. With firefighters at the ready, the town's building inspector determined that the structure - an old-style Colonial built in 1890 – was safe to be inside but two basement support columns needed to be repaired pronto.
Now that's hot
Sept. 2 – It was so hot on Monday that a smoke detector in a Country Club Lane garage activated simply due to the heat.

Summer sparks 
Sept. 2 – There was an impromptu light show at the corner of Lewis Road and School Street just after 8 p.m. when an electrical wire began shorting out and started a fire on the secondary wires. Belmont Light was notified.

Stuck on the first day
Sept. 3 – Just before 10:30 a.m., on the first day of school, the Ladder truck was sent to the Wellington School after two men became stuck in an elevator. How embarrassing! Fire crews rescued the men by shutting down the elevator and then rebooting the electrical system. The elevator company was notified.

Wild gas grill takes on wooden deckSept. 3 – At a quarter ’til 7 p.m.,  fire crews proceeded to Orchard Street for a gas grill gone bad. They arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the grill, located against the rear wooden porch. The grill was moved away from the house and the fuel source shut off. The remaining fire was extinguished by fire personnel.

Box truck totaled in blaze 
Sept. 5 – Just after 3 a.m., Engine 2 and the Ladder Truck made a middle-of-the-night run to Crestview Road where they discovered a box truck with its engine compartment completely on fire in a person’s driveway. Two water hoses were used to extinguish the fire which originate in the engine area and extended to storage area of the vehicle.

Good-bye summer
Sept. 6 – Just after 6:30 p.m., a final barbecue on Arthur Road produced so much smoke the fire department was called to investigate. Just the final throngs of summer.