From Belmont to Ferguson: Residents Demonstrate Solidarity, Concern

In the chill of a cold, Sunday darkness, a long line of people illuminated the night with candles as they weaved a chain of protest from Belmont Center, under the commuter rail bridge and towards the post office on Concord Avenue.

The marchers, numbering more than 200, were accompanied by a steady chant of concern.

“Hands up, don’t shoot!”

“Black lives matter!”

When the assembly reached the entry to The First Church in Belmont at the intersection of Concord and Common, the crowd began a call-and-response heard across the country for the past three weeks.

“What do we want?”

“Justice.”

“When do we want it?”

“NOW!”

For the participants – some who first marched in the 1960s Civil Rights demonstrations to a large number of teenagers and children who were participating in their first action – the events of the past four months involving the deaths by police of several black men and youths which many claim the judicial system appeared indifference to the action of law enforcement brought them out to voice their collective anger.

At the church, the group sang “We Shall Overcome,” before laying on the ground in silence for four minutes, one minute for every hour the body of Michael Smith – shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. – laid on the street on a hot August afternoon.

For Molly Thayer and her friends from Belmont High School, participating in the march was a symbolic joining of hands from suburban Belmont to Ferguson and Staten Island, NY where Eric Garner died after a struggle during an arrest.

“Belmont is not a town that we have these sorts of incidents but there’s a need to express our support for people who are effected. We can not look away,” Thayer said.

That sentiment is what prompted Patricia Garcia, the chair of First Church’s Social Action chair, to call for a march in Belmont, “because it is a mostly-white community so we tend to see what occurred in Ferguson and elsewhere as being far away.”

“But what happened there and across the country happened to human beings, to African-American men. We all have a stake in learning what happened, why and do something about it,” said Garcia, a native from Mexico.

After spending an hour in active protest outside, most of the marchers entered the church’s sanctuary to talk, vent or discuss their and the country’s emotional state.

“I had to be here,” said one speaker while another said he “must act in some way” to the increase in incidents around the country.

“It’s been 26 years since Rodney King, and we’re back,” said Mike Collins from Belmont.

For Marian Evans Melnick, a First Church congregant and Watertown resident, cell phones and small video cameras in the hands of ordinary people have made possible “that immediacy where one person can make a difference” and allow everyone to bare witness to incidents.

Longer term, a way to alter the now injurious impact of the judicial system on many African Americans is to “dial back” the overtly punitive sentencing requirements for many non-violent offenders, according to State Sen Will Brownsberger, who is the co-chair of the Joint Judiciary Committee on Beacon Hill. Currently, a sentence for a non-violent drug crime has 700 “collateral” effects on a person including loss of licenses, denial of housing and long probation periods.

“It’s gone too far,” said Brownsberger.

From the protest was a sign of hope, said Collins.

“I am heartened by the fact that so many young people were here,” he noted.

“We need young people in New York and San Francisco but also here in Belmont” to come out for change.

Letter to the Editor: Lobby to Preserve Tennis Courts in Belmont

To the editor:

Our town once had three tennis courts at Town Field, ten at Belmont High School and four at Chenery Middle School.

We have lost two at the Middle School when they rebuilt it for parking. Six-to-eight courts at the High School leaving two to dilapidate.

There are two tennis teams at the High School which need to practice from March to the end of May and play their matches.

The town also removed four where the [Skip Viglirolo] ice rink is. There used to be four covered and lighted courts at that location before they made it into a hockey rink.

Tennis is a life-living sport. Grove Street Playground people fought to restore their courts.

We have lost 11 tennis courts to date. Please do not add to that number.

The public courts are used by the  school tennis teams, children taking lessons after school and other people. No reservations are made; people just go down and play so you do not have a count of who is playing.

Why is the cost so high? The courts must be totally restructured to allow proper drainage etc.

Last time it cost about $20,000 to $25,000 to rebuild them. I worked with Dick Bette when that happened. They have been patched many times and just painted two years ago.

Please consider what we have and do not eliminate another lifetime sport for all ages to play.

Anyone who enjoys the sport of tennis, please read the article and lobby for their preservation.
Maryann Scali

Prospect Street 

Saturday’s Power Outage Left 2,000 Belmont Light Customers in the Dark

The Christmas lights went out to about a quarter of Belmont homes on Saturday, Dec. 13 as a large-scale blackout hit the town.

According to Becca Keane, Belmont Lights’ executive assistant and communications coordinator, the outage, first reported at 12:51 p.m. on Saturday, was related to an energy supply issue from NStar, the town’s wholesale power supplier.

The issue resulted in a loss of distribution out of one of the three Belmont Light substations. The resulting drop in power caused outages to nearly 2,000 customers, said Keane.

Before long, Belmont Light’s field and engineering teams had the problem under control with power restored by 2:20 p.m.

“The shortest outage lasted approximately 1 hour, 10 minutes and the longest approximately 1 hour 35 minutes,” said Keane.

“We don’t anticipate further service interruptions and the issue was not caused by Belmont Light’s system,” she added.

This Week: BHS Winter Concert Wednesday, Hanukah Menorah and Holiday Sing Tuesday

• On the government side of the week, the Belmont Board of Selectmen will meet on Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. to hear about the future of the former Macy’s site and make the appointments to the Community Path Implementation Advisory Committee; the Planning Board will review and vote on the proposed Cushing Village design modifications and future housing production for Belmont Housing at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and the School Committee also meets on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. (starting a half-hour earlier than its usual time).

Pre-School Story Time will be held at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer run library, at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may attend with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is located at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.

• Staff from the office of U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark will be meeting with residents at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. They bring coffee!

Beth El Temple Center will be lighting the outdoor Hanukah menorah at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16 on the first night of the “Festival of Lights.” Afterwards, there will be the annual Latke Party with singing and eating. $10 per person or $20 per family at the door. A portion of the proceeds donated for Tikkun Olam.

• Evening Yoga at the Beech Street Center is held every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at 266 Beech St. Non-seniors, seniors, beginners and experienced are welcome.  You don’t need to be flexible. Practice is done with bare feet; mats and props are provided. Cost is $15 a class. For more information, call Susan at 617-407-0816.

• A Holiday Town Sing with faculty from Powers Music School is being hosted by the Belmont Public Library in the Assembly Room on Tuesday, Dec. 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Making music together will surely warm your heart on a cold New England winter’s night. Bring your friends, bring your family, and bring lots of holiday cheer for a song-filled evening that will brighten your holiday season. Everyone is welcome. Sponsored by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.

• The annual Belmont High School Winter Concert takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The Winter Concert will showcase more than 400 student musicians performing in bands, orchestras and choruses. Here is the program with a list of all the performers.

The Book Discussion Group for Chenery Middle School students from the lower school in 5tha and 6th grades will take place Thursday, Dec. 18 from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Flett Room.

Hot Topics, the current events group at the Beech Street Center, will be holding its next meeting at the center on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m.

• Well-loved local musician Liz Buchanan performs original songs and traditional favorites (with Christmas only six days away expect a few songs about the coming holiday) on Friday, Dec. 1910:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Assembly Room of Belmont Public Library.
State Sen. Will Brownsberger will be holding office hours on Friday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
• The Belmont High School’s Performing Arts Company is holding a Holiday Coffeehouse on Friday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Performers will include Belmont High School students showcasing their talents in bands, solos, a capella, duets and more. There will be food for sale, including pizza and other ‘dinner’ foods; home made holiday treats of ALL varieties, cold drinks, coffee, hot chocolate and ice cream sundaes. All  proceeds will fund the PAC’s January trip to New York City, where 46 students will attend two Broadway shows and take part in a workshop with Broadway actors.

Open Homes: The Priciest Open House in Belmont is on … Waverley?

Belmont has some neighborhoods and byways that are readily associated with upscale homes and family manses: Belmont Hill, the McLean property, Somerset, Marsh, Grey Birch and Rutledge.

And this week, joining the avenues of the ritzy-priced homes is … Waverley Street.

Where are the smelling salts?

If you knocked on the doors of property owners along that fine street between, let’s say, Town Field and the square, the homeowners would say they live in a great neighborhood with good folks. But they would admit their humble road would hardly be considered a place where high-income houses are located.

But this weekend, the priciest open house is not in the converted asylum on McLean Hospital (a mere $1,495,000 for a condo) or on the Hill. No, it is the attached townhouses at 54-56 Waverley St. Priced at nearly $1.6 million, the new construction (built in 2009) duel homes are, um, tightly situated (i.e. crammed) onto 9,000 square feet of land with a garage – the salesperson calls it a “barn” that can become an office space – in the back.

So what do you get? Just like some newly-built residences around town, this is a standard two-family that has been fed steroids: each townhouse has three levels along with a portion of the basement that takes up nearly 4,400 square feet total. Each unit has six rooms, three bedrooms and either 2.5 or 3.5 bathrooms. It’s the Arnold Schwarzenegger of multi-family homes. Ja!

The townhouses are also being shopped around separately but how can you break up this pair? It’s being showed today, Saturday, Dec. 13, from noon to 2 p.m.

 

Tennis, Someone? Community Preservation Ponders Need for Court Repairs

Does Belmont have too many tennis courts?

And who plays on them, and when?

While pondering the supply and demand of the 24 courts in town (with 22 actually available to be played on), the town’s Community Preservation Committee appeared willing at its monthly meeting held Wednesday, Dec. 10 to conduct an extensive study not just to answer those questions.

Wednesday’s meeting was to update the committee and possibly cast votes on the seven grant application seeking funding from the town’s Community Preservation Act account.

They include:

  • Belmont Veterans Memorial Project: $150,000
  • Wellington Station exterior restoration and rehabilitation: $26,300
  • Electrical upgrade at units owned by the Belmont Housing Authority: $522,500
  • Winn Brook Tennis Courts: $295,000
  • Pequossette (PQ) Park Tennis Courts: $250,000
  • Digitization of historic Belmont newspapers from 1890 to 1983: $25,000
  • Rehabilitation and restoration of the 1853 Homer House: $100,000.

Approved by Belmont voters in November 2010, the Community Preservation Act fund is financed by a property tax surcharges and annual stipends from the state’s “Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund.” The funds must be targeted towards recreation, historic preservation, affordable housing and open space. 

The tennis courts at the two locations – Winn Brook is adjacent to Winn Brook Elementary and Joey’s Park while PQ is behind the VFW building off Trapelo Road – were “patched up” about five years ago and, according to the recently retired Director of Public Works Peter Castanino, are ready to more extensive reconstruction.

“We are now in the sweet spot … where the courts have reached their useful life,” Belmont Town Administrator David Kale told the committee. The renovation projects were put forward by the Board of Selectmen.

With the money available and the timing optimum, Kale said “[w]e can be proactive to reconstruct the courts so they are available for the next 30 years.”

Yet CAC member Anthony Ferrante, the Recreation Commission appointee to the committee, didn’t believe the two locations are in such desperate condition for the committee (and town taxpayers) to spend $300,000 before more is known about the courts usage and popularity.

“The sense of urgency is not there,” said Ferrante. 

Kale noted that point of view is valid only if Ferrante assumes that future money will be available which in the current economic climate is a big “if.”

“Strike while the funds are available and … be ahead of the curve as we were with Harris Field and the Underwood Pool,” said Kale, referring to the $850,000 reconditioning of Belmont High Schools main field and the more than $2.2 million the committee spent on the new Underwood Pool complex.

Ferrante countered, saying the Underwood experience – in which a building committee was created to create a detailed building and financing program – would direct the CPC towards a comprehensive study before committing limited resources to a recreational facility that may or may not be used by sufficient number of residents.

“Let’s first take a look at all the tennis courts and come to a conclusion on how many are needed,” said Ferrante.

“My gut says PQ needs to be reconstructed but I need more than my gut saying this. Planning is not taking place,” he said.

While agreeing with the premise of a study, member Charles Clark said he would vote to approve funding to reconstruct the PQ courts since the nearby area has undergone renovation including the repair of Trapelo Road, the adjacent sidewalks and the construction of new housing. 

But for Farrante, the lack of any hard data – unlike the Town of Lexington which compiles numbers on activity with its online permit system – results in a vote  a vote based on conjecture.

“There is my opinion and your opinion but not a lot of facts for the decision,” said Farrante.

But even if the CPC decides to conduct a master plan of the tennis facilities in town, “I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that PQ will survive even if you reduced the number of courts from 24 to 16,” said Belmont Treasurer and CPC member Floyd Carman, noting the PQ court is the only town recreational site in the Waverley Square area.

While the consensus at the meeting was that PQ would be funded this year, Winn Brook’s court would be put under a study’s microscope along with the other courts in town including those at Grove Street Playground, the High School, and the Chenery Middle School.

Yet Farrante was still critical of the process of spending funds without a solid factual reason to do so.

“I’m opposed to spending money simply because of inertia,” said Farrante.

The CPC decided to wait until its next meeting in January before voting on recommending funding applications for Town Meeting approval in May 2015.

Eric Garner Vigil at First Church, Belmont Sunday at 6:30 PM

The Social Action Committee at First Church, Belmont Unitarian Universalist will be holding an hour-long candlelight vigil in front of the church on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. “to join our brothers and sisters in Staten Island, NY, and all around the country, seeking justice for the death of Eric Garner.”

Hundreds of vigils, marches and civil disobedience – some turning violent – have been held across the country after grand juries in St. Louis and New York City declined to indict police officers who many believe were responsible for the deaths of Garner and Michael Brown.

“Many of us feel that the NYC Grand Jury’s failure to indict the NYPD on chokehold death is unconscionable. We really needed to do something as a community – in solidarity, out of desperation for sanity. We feel we have a responsibility as a congregation to affirm that all lives matter,” wrote the committee in a press release.

The vigil will be followed by a group discussion in the Parish Hall at 7:30 p.m.

New Sick Time Law Effects Even Companies With Just a Single Worker

This article is by Laura A. Panos, of the Law Office of Laura A. Panos50 Leonard St. 617-484-9600.

On Nov. 4, Massachusetts voters passed a new law that mandates earned sick time for employees. Beginning on July 1, 2015, employers with 11 or more employees must provide paid sick time, while smaller employers may provide the sick time as unpaid. And the new law doesn’t just affect every employer: all employees, including part-time and temporary workers, are eligible for sick leave.

Under the requirements of the new law, employees may accrue and use up to 40 hours of sick time per calendar year, and may carry over up to 40 hours of unused sick time to the next calendar year. The law also dictates the rate of accrual: employers must provide at least one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked. Employees may use earned sick time to care for a personal, physical or mental illness, injury or medical condition, or one affecting the employee’s family member. Sick time can also be used to attend medical appointments for the employee or the employee’s family member, or to address the effects of domestic violence on the employee or the employee’s dependent child.

While the details of the new law will not be clear until the Attorney General issues regulations, what is clear is that the law impacts every employer with more than one employee. It is important for smaller employers (those with under 11 employees) to be aware that they will be required to accrue the hours for all employees, even if these sick hours are not to be paid when the employee uses them. Forthcoming regulations will provide further compliance information.

This Weekend: High School Improv Friday, Christmas Events Saturday, Concerts Sunday

• The Performing Arts Company of Belmont High School is holding its Improv Night, an evening of hilarious, made-up, on-the-spot theater on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the school’s Little Theater.

• A reception will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for Belmont Art Association artists Jane Wentzell and Christine Chang, who are currently being featured at unCOMMONfinds at 432 Common St. in Cushing Square from Dec. 8 through Jan. 5. The reception is being held in conjunction with a wine tasting at The Spirited Gourmet, 448 Common St. A coupon for dessert (with 2 entrees purchased) at Savino’s Grill, 449 Common St., will be available at reception, (valid for that evening).

• Since it’s sold out, this is a reminder to those with tickets for the Holly Jolly Trolley Tour that the event takes place this Saturday, Dec. 13 in front of the Belmont Savings Bank in Belmont Center starting at 4 p.m.

Family caroling at the Belmont Center Christmas tree on Leonard Street beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. 

• The winter sports season gets underway on Saturday, Dec. 13 as wrestling travels to Cape Ann to participate in the Triton Quad Meet at Triton Regional High School while Watertown/Belmont high schools Girls’ Ice Hockey combined team will open its season at Duxbury, the defending state champions which knocked off W/B in the quarterfinals in last year’s playoffs and also defeated Belmont in the Div. 2 semifinals in 2012.

• A hidden treasurer from right here in Belmont, the Massachusetts Youth Symphony Project based at the Powers Music School, is giving its Winter Concert sponsored by Belmont Savings Bank on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. at The Fenn School, 516 Monument St. in nearby Concord. The senior, junior and sting orchestras will perform. 

• The Belmont Historical Society presents mezzo-soprano and pianist Vanessa Schukis in an afternoon of holiday music on Sunday, Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Schukis, who teaches voice and is on the faculty of the Powers Music School, has been a soloist/section leader for the historic Old North Church in Boston for 26 years and a soloist/cantor for 15 years at St. Paul’s Church in Wellesley, and continues to perform in theater, opera and concert engagements throughout the United States. She has sung the National Anthem and ‘God Bless America’ at a Boston Red Sox game. The concert is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Contact the Belmont Historical Society for more information at 617-993-2878.

Belmont’s Rogers Named ‘River Friend’

Photo: Massachusetts Rivers Alliance Executive Director Julia Blatt presents State Rep. Dave Rogers with River Friend Award. (photo by Mark P. Smith)

The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance recognized Belmont State Rep. Dave Rogers with a “River Friend” award for his outstanding contributions to the restoration and protection of the Commonwealth’s rivers during the alliance’s annual meeting in Belmont.

Although only in his first term, Rogers played a key role in allowing water reform rules to continue to move forward this year, despite opposition by some legislators. The new rules, developed by the Patrick administration over five years with the help of a large stakeholder group, will improve protection for dry rivers throughout the state.

“Rep. Rogers understood what was at stake and quickly jumped in to save this initiative,” said Julia Blatt, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance’s executive director.

“He knew just what to do, and didn’t hesitate to stand up for our rivers.  We are grateful to him for his quick action.”

Rogers was recognized along with his State House colleagues, state Rep. Carolyn Dykema and state Sen. Jamie Eldridge. Longtime Ipswich River advocate and Alliance founder Kerry Mackin, was also honored.

The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance is a nonprofit organization that protects and restores the Commonwealth’s rivers of and provides a unified voice for river protection in the state. Founded in 2007, the Alliance mobilizes and coordinates its members on issues including water pollution, stream flow, and wildlife habitat.