Sold in Belmont: Dorset Road Colonial Takes a Price Tumble for a Reason

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

• 18 Dorset Rd. Center-entrance Colonial (1937), Sold for: $912,500. Listed at $1,035,000. Living area: 2,797 sq.-ft. 9 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths. On the market: 181 days.

Oh, the poor sellers of a very nice Colonial a stone’s throw from Route 2; victims of the reality of the housing market stomping on the perception that any home on Belmont Hill is worthy of a seven-figure sales price. Not to say that this house’s design is a detriment to the sale; in fact, it’s a beautiful period Colonial with outstanding architectural features (just look at the living room’s exposed arched beams – but why is that big flat screen in the bay window?! – and molding), what appears to be original lighting fixtures and a garage hidden in the back. Take away the horrible new shower and back-to-the-future granite-top kitchen island (next time, use tile), this is an outstanding house for a growing family with four bedrooms, three baths and a quarter acre.

But was it worth the initial +$1 million price tag? Obviously the population of buyers seeking this house have kids they were expecting to be hanging around for a few years and putting down a cool mil along with handing Treasurer Floyd Carman a $1,000 check each month was not in their calculations, especially when houses in Belmont’s “Lowlands” can be gobbled up for 250,000 fewer dollars. The result: take a look at the offering price from Independence Day to New Year’s Day. It’s like watching a climber fall off the Matterhorn.

List Price: July 9, 2014: $1,035,000

Sept. 4: $1,025,000

Sept. 5: $1,024,000

Sept. 24: $999,000

Oct. 22: $949,000

SOLD: Jan. 6, 2015: $912,500

Remember the days when sellers and their salespersons would list low and see the bids come in? I do. What’s happened?

Rally to Support Belmont’s Police Officers Set For Saturday Noon

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Inspired and modeled after rallies including a recent example in Boston, Belmont residents will be meeting in front of Belmont Town Hall at noon on Saturday, Jan. 10 in a show of support for the men and women of the Belmont Police Department.
A rally organizer, who wished not to be named, said the rally is in response to a recent increase in “anti-police rhetoric” and the murder of New York Police Department officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu on Dec. 20. 
“[I]t is a difficult time for law enforcement and their families and we want them to know that for every person condemning them, there are folks out there who appreciate them too,” the organizer said.
She said last week many officers from Belmont attended the funerals of the slain NYPD officers “and we just felt it would be nice to feel as though they have community support following a difficult time and endeavor.”
“After seeing similar rallies in Dorchester and surrounding towns, we, the organizers, felt that it would be nice for anyone in town to take a moment to show our support for the men and women who keep us safe,” she said.
A march and demonstration seeking change to how law enforcement and the justice system views African-American men was held in Belmont on Dec. 14.
There will be no speakers at the rally and sometime after noon, the group will head for locations residents hold political signs during election times including the Town Common facing the commuter rail tunnel and the intersection of Concord Avenue and Leonard Street.
“We welcome folks to bring signs of support or just [show up],” she said.

Belmont Library – Once Again – Seeks a New Director

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The search for a new director of the Belmont Public Library has begun again, and this time, it’s on the fast track.

In a recent appearance before the Belmont Board of Selectmen, Chair of the Board of Library Trustees Elaine Alligood and the library’s interim director Emily Reardon said the campaign have restarted to find the next leader of the library located at 336 Concord Ave.

The search is the second since long-time director Maureen Conners announced her retirement in August. After interviewing an unknown number of candidates in October, the trustees decided in November that none of those finalists meet the qualifications they were seeking.

Alligood said, unlike the previous search, Belmont will not be competing with more than a half-dozen similar-sized Bay State communities seeking library directors that occurred this past fall. She said only Wellesley is seeking to replace its library director at this time.
“This time, we believe the process will be accelerated and we’ll have a new director by February.

The director’s salary range is $76,859 to $109,140 commensurate with experience and includes a full benefits package, according to the job notice released in the summer.

Belmont Boys’ Basketball Unable to Overtake SpyPonders in Second Loss

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Despite 22 minutes characterized by numerous errant passes, missed shots and general sloppy defense, Belmont High School Boys’ Basketball team clawed its way to back into its game with undefeated Arlington in its Middlesex League matchup on Tuesday, Jan 6, at Belmont’s Wenner Field House.

Adam Kleckner‘s driving shot with little over two minutes remaining in the third quarter squared up the contest at 45 with the hope the Marauders could somehow sneak a victory from the visiting SpyPonders.

But a fast-break basket and a pair of foul shots upped Arlington’s lead to four (49-45) at the end of the third quarter. And those late points proved to be a springboard for the SpyPonders as they ran off 21 points to win running away by 15, 70-55.

For Belmont (5-2), the loss to neighboring Arlington (7-0) was a step back for a team that is struggling since two important pieces to a team that ran off four victories – starting shooting guard Matt Kerans and sixth man Cole Barets – are shelved for some undetermined period.

“Arlington’s a great team and you can’t beat that sort of team when you’re not playing good basketball,” Belmont Head Coach Adam Pritchard told the Belmontonian.

“We didn’t play physical, didn’t box out and made too many mistakes,” said Pritchard.

Belmont started out smartly as the Marauders took a 7-2 lead after three and a half minutes via a great assist from starting senior point guard Ben Lazenby (11 points) to Kleckner (15 points), along with a three point basket and a jumper from an offensive rebound by senior Seth Altman. 

Despite Kleckner picked up his second foul at four-and-a-half minutes, a pair of free throws from Altman (who scored a career-high 15 points) and two hoops from Kleckner’s replacement, junior forward Luke Peterson (6 points), had Belmont holding a 13-10 lead with two minutes to play in the first.

But Belmont next two times with the ball were stolen by Arlington who was led by senior guard Josh Lee (a game high 23  points) ran off 7 points in the final minute to lead 19-15 at the end of the quarter.

While a Lazenby drive to the basket brought Belmont within two (23-21), Lee (a pair of threes and a driving jumper) and his teammate, the outstanding soccer phenom Miles Robinson (6 of his 15 points) upped the SpyPonder’s lead to 8 (37-29) at the half.

Belmont got back into the game via Altman who hit a pair of threes and a nice floater to tie the game at 43 before it tied the game again at 45.

But the sloppiness of their play and the quickness of the SpyPonders doomed the Marauders to its second loss in the past three games.

A Lens into the Lives of the ‘Disempowered’ at the Gallery of Art

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In a partnership with Belmont’s McLean Hospital and the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, the Belmont Gallery of Art is holding an opening reception this evening, Jan. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for its latest exhibit, “Photovoice: A Lens into Our Lives.” The exhibit runs from today, Jan. 8 to Jan. 31.

The gallery is located on the third floor of the Homer Building in the Town Hall complex at 19 Moore St.

Photovoice is a public research process that gives cameras to people who have been disempowered, to take photographs of their communities. These photos are narrated with the goals of promoting critical dialogue and knowledge of personal and community issues and to promote possible solutions to policy makers.

The exhibit was created as part of a “peer-led anti-stigma program” which was implemented at Waverley Place, the community program of McLean Hospital located in the heart of Waverley Square at 12 Church St., and was developed by BU’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

Hours for the show are Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Belmont’s King Breakfast Focus on Cost of Non-Engagement on Race

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Belmont’s 21th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Breakfast will take place on the King Holiday, Monday, Jan. 19, at Belmont High School, beginning at 8:45 a.m.

WGBH Senior Investigative Reporter Phillip Martin will present the keynote address, “What If We Do Nothing?:  Ferguson and the Cost of Non-Engagement.”

“The Human Rights Commission is very pleased to work with the Belmont Schools, Belmont Against Racism, the Belmont Religious Council, the Belmont METCO Program, Belmont High’s Belmontian Club and its many other partners in presenting the 21st annual MLK Community Breakfast,” said Barbara Watson, chair of the Belmont Human Rights Commission.

The annual breakfast draws anywhere from 250 to 400 attendees.

The breakfast serves as a critical fundraising event for the Belmont Schools’ METCO Support Fund, a fund established by Belmont Against Racism and managed by the Belmont School Department, providing financial support to many Belmont METCO related activities, including late-day transportation for high school students from Boston who participate in extracurricular activities at the High School.

The breakfast is a very special event in Belmont, said Watson.  It brings together people of all ages, Belmont residents, Boston residents who participate in, or are associated with, Belmont’s METCO program, town officials and administrators, town agencies, including the Police and Fire Departments, businesses, community leaders and volunteers and representatives of church groups, as well as others in surrounding communities, who are interested in gathering to celebrate and promote the values of Dr. King.

In addition to the Belmont Human Rights Commission and Belmont Against Racism, sponsors and conveners include, among others, the Belmont Religious Council, the Belmont School Department, Belmont High School, Belmont High School PTO, Belmont High School Belmontian service club, Belmont METCO program, Belmont Disability Commission, Vision 21, Chenery Middle School PTO, League of Women Voters, Belmont Gay Straight Alliance Committee and Belmont Special Education Advisory Commission.

The event receives support from many local businesses and individuals, including Quebrada Bakery.

Businesses and individuals who are not able to attend the Breakfast but would like to contribute to the Fund are asked to send their checks to:

BAR

PO Box 649

Belmont, MA 02478

Belmont Girls’ Hoops Torrid Second Half Key to Comeback Win over SpyPonders

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A combination of their hallmark hard-nose defense and a season’s best scoring effort highlighted a come-from-behind victory as Belmont High School Girls’ Basketball upped its record to 4-1 as the Marauders defeated neighboring Arlington High School, 62-54, in a clash of one-loss teams at the Wenner Field House on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

“They are a very good team with five who can score so this is a good win,” said Melissa Hart, Belmont’s head coach after her charges came back from a nine-point deficit (34-25) early in the third quarter to take a four-point lead (44-40) at the end of the quarter by going on a titanic 21-6 run by mixing their stiffling brand of ball-dogging pressure defense, winning rebounds all the while going on a scoring spree led by Irini Nikolaidis scoring 11 of her team high 16 points in the third.

“[Nikolaidis] was enormous on both ends of the court,” said Hart, as the defensive specialist was able to drive the lane countless times to receive the ball from senior point guard Sophia Eschenbach-Smith who dished out 10 assists and created three steals to go along with two points.

Unlike their three consecutive wins against league opponents, the SpyPonders entered the game with a winning record (5-1), a capable backcourt, a large center and players who could hit from the perimeter. After going ahead early, Belmont found it difficult corralling the SpyPonders’ shooting guard, junior Grace Carter (8 of her 13 points in the first quarter) and in the second quarter Arlington’s center, Mallory DeFeo (8 points of her game high 18 in the quarter).

With the rest of the team’s scorers falling silent, the Marauders were kept in the game by excellent shooting from freshman Jenny Call who went 4 for 5 shooting from the outside, scoring 8 of her 11 points in the quarter.

“I have to be ready when I get into the game to contribute,” said Call after the game.

Trailing at the half (28-21) for the first time since the opener at Watertown, Belmont began the comeback behind its active defense – the team finished causing an astonishing 19 turnovers by Arlington – and the ball handling of freshman Carly Christofori (who kept exploiting the SpyPonders’ defense to find teammates under the basket including senior forward Elena Bragg (4 points) and senior center Linda Herlihy (3 of her 7 points in the third).

The comeback was secured by Belmont’s edge under the boards as Bragg, Herlihy and Sarah Stewart (8 points) each who took down four rebounds.

Belmont upped the lead to 10 twice only to see the SpyPonders reduce it to four in the final two minutes but Christofori sealed the win with a three point shot and going 6 for 8 from the free throw line.

“We needed a game like this, where we have to fight back into the game, before going to Woburn,” said Hart, referring to Friday’s match with the undefeated leaders of the Middlesex League in Woburn.

Burrrrr: Bundle Up Tonight as Temps Will Feel 24 Degrees Below Zero

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It’s gonna get cold tonight. Dangerously so.

The National Weather Service issued a Wind Chill Advisory at 4 a.m. cautioning residents that bitterly cold wind chills that will feel like – 24 degrees from 5 p.m. today, Wednesday, Jan. 7 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8.

“Dangerously cold wind chills will result in frostbite or hypothermia if precautions are not taken,” says the advisory.

Winds will pick up during the day and reach between 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph with temperatures ranging from 5 to – 5 degrees.

“If you are heading outdoors, dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves,” notes the advisory.

 

Grove Street Playground Ready to be Redressed

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It’s been sized and appraised. Now, how should the Grove Street Playground be dressed?

This month, the town will formalize a contract for a landscape architecture firm – familiar with Belmont – to begin the  creation a master plan for the 10-acre site on the Cambridge-townline used by numerous youth sports groups, residents and neighbors.

David Kale, Belmont’s town administrator, told the Belmont Board of Selectmen at its Monday, Jan 5 meeting the town was finalizing a contract with Dedham-based Activitas Inc. to create a master plan for the playground.

Currently, the playground is one of the most used in the town. With three dedicated ball fields, Grove Street is the base for youth baseball in Belmont. The soccer field in the lower section is used from early spring to late fall by Belmont Youth Soccer. In addition, the park has four tennis courts, a basketball court (used as a backdrop for a political ad by Maura Healey, the incoming state Attorney General) and a new playground. After any significant snow fall, the playground becomes a place many smaller children first learn to sled.

Yet the evolution of the playground from an open space to a location for many athletic facilities was completed with little planning. Responding to the concerns of residents and neighbors, the Capital Budget Committee submitted in June for Town Meeting approval $30,000 toward the creation of a comprehensive plan to determine if there are efficiencies in land use.

During the fall, a survey was conducted to provide a detailed overview of the playground and its current uses.

Activitas is best known in town for creating the Belmont Athletic Facilities Study as well as managed last year’s Belmont High School Track and Harris Field renovation.

Kale said the firm will hold public meetings to hear from athletic groups, residents and those who live close by for opinions and ideas.

“Anyone interested in Belmont parks should attend those meetings,” said Belmont Selectmen Chair Andy Rojas.

Belmont Joining Smart 911 Network

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Many Belmont residents own smartphones. Smart watches are just around the corner.

And beginning in the next few weeks, Smart 911 will be available to every Belmont resident.

That’s the word from Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin after he presented what was an upgrade to the town’s existing 911 system to the Belmont Board of Selectmen at its Monday, Jan. 5 meeting.

“We want to get as many people as possible onto the system,” said McLaughlin, calling it “an enhancement to community policing.”

Smart911 – currently being used by the Massachusetts State Police, in Watertown, Medford, Chelsea and Stoughton and on the campuses of Boston College and MIT – allows citizens to create a Safety Profile at www.smart911.com for their household that includes any information they wish first responders to have in the event of an emergency.

“It is all voluntary; residents can provide as much or as little information to the system,” said McLaughlin, adding the profile is secured, and password protected. The company – Rave Mobile Safety of Framingham – also verifies the information every six months to keep it up-to-date.

When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is displayed to one of the two Belmont dispatchers located at the Police headquarters on Common Street, allowing them to send the appropriate response teams with the right information for those making the call.

“Right now, we only have the phone number and address. We don’t know what to expect,” said McLaughlin.

Police, fire and EMTs can be aware of a greater amount of information that is not known under the current system: fire crews can arrive at a house fire knowing how many people live in the home and the location of bedrooms including children’s rooms, EMS can be advised of allergies or specific medical conditions and police can have the photo of a missing child in seconds rather than minutes or hours.

McLaughlin said that the system can include all phones used at the location including cell phones, emergency contacts, vehicle identification and even the number of pets.

The chief said an added benefit is the personal information is “portable” which allows it to be used in other communities served by Smart911.

“Let’s say you are in Orlando [Florida] and need to contact 911, [the dispatchers] there will have the callers information because the caller is using a cell phone that is linked to the system,” said McLaughlin.

Outstanding restraining or protection orders can not be placed into the system by residents, said McLaughlin, indicating that local police are informed of those court-issued judgements.

The Smart911 system costs $9,000 annually – $4,500 for each dispatcher – with a three-year contract. The town will begin promoting Smart911 through its website and through social media in the upcoming weeks.

The Selectmen gave their support for the town to join Smart911.

“This is exciting for our community,” said Chair Andy Rojas.