Scrub-a-Dub: Commuter Bridge To Undergo Cleaning Today, Wednesday

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Photo: The Belmont Center Commuter Rail bridge set for a cleaning in the next days.

One of Belmont’s iconic images will get its first cleaning in its history as the Belmont Center Commuter Rail bridge will undergo a power washing beginning Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 18.

The private initiative spurred by former Belmont Selectman Angelo Firenze and the Belmont Citizens Forum – which has been actively collecting private donations for the past several years to pay for the bridge cleaning – should be complete by Wednesday, Aug. 19, according to Town Administrator David Kale who made the announcement to the Board of Selectmen at its Monday, Aug. 17, meeting.

Well-known Belmont landscaping business, Dante Muzzioli Associates, will be performing the work. 

The washing will begin “after traffic” abates on Tuesday, and will “do as much as they can” before finishing on Wednesday. 

Kale said the private group received permission from the bridge’s owner, the MBTA, and is using volunteer donations to perform the work.

This Week: Henna Tattoos Thursday, Books From Around the Globe

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On the government end of “This Week”:

  • The Board of Selectmen is meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17, at Town Hall. The board will vote on a possible sale of the municipal parking lot in Cushing Square to all for the construction of Cushing Village and discussing the recommendation from the Special Town Meeting urging the board to adopt the original design for the Belmont Center Reconstruction Project.
  • The School Committee along with School Administrators will meet after its annual summer retreat at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the School Administration Building at 644 Pleasant St. Lots of talks of strategic plans, logistics and school committee goals for the coming year.
  • The Temporary Net Metering Working Advisory Group is meeting on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall. 

• Pre-School Summer Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer run library, on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 10:30 a.m. 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.

• Kelsey Perkins of US Rep. Katherine Clark‘s staff will be holding office hours in Belmont at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. 

• There will be a Genre Party for 4th to 6th graders from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, in the Assembly Room of Belmont Public Library.

• Blues Dogs with Belmont’s own Bob Jones will be performing at this week’s Payson Park Music Festival beginning at 6:30-ish p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 18 at the Payson Park Playground, at the corner of Payson and Elm.

• The International Fiction Book Club will discuss A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry Wednesday, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Flett Room  Join us on the third Wednesday of the month for fun conversation, tea and snacks.  Everybody is welcome.  If you have questions, or need help finding a copy of the book, contact Kylie at ksparks@minlib.net.
 
• Come to the Belmont Farmers Market, rain or shine, on Thursday, Aug. 19, from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Parking Lot.
 
• Join professional Henna artist Mandy Roberge on Thursday, Aug. 20 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library for a unique workshop where library patrons can receive beautiful henna tattoos while learning about the history of the art form, known as mehndi. The henna paste is applied artfully to the skin in breathtaking designs and stains the skin for several weeks. It is safe for all skin types. Patrons are welcome to bring designs of their own choosing.

• Belmont Public Library’s “Chillin’ with Villains – Marvel Movie Series” continues on Friday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. with a screening of “Dick Tracy” in the Assembly Room.

• Barbara Miranda, State Sen. Will Brownsberger‘s Chief of Staff, will be holding office hours in Belmont at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Friday. Aug. 21, from noon to 1 p.m.

Belmont Light to Customers: Cool It Using Electricity During Peak Heat

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Photo: Air conditioning units use a great amount of electricity.

The summer’s first official heat wave – three consecutive days of 90-plus degree temperatures – is expected to put a mighty mechanical and monetary strain on Belmont Light, the town’s utility.

In anticipation of Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 17-18, being high electricity usage days, Sagewell, Inc. –the Woburn-based administrator of Belmont Light Energy Efficiency – is asking its 11,000 customers to help Belmont save energy and money by reducing their electricity consumption on the first two days of the week between 3 p.m.and 6 p.m. 

Electricity cut during peak times helps Belmont mitigate rising utility costs, according to Sagewell.

“Nearly one-third of your electric bill is for the cost of procuring sufficient capacity for peak days and these costs are continuing to increase for all utilities across New England,” Sagewell notes.

Here are some tips to reduce Belmont peak electricity consumption:
●     Adjust air conditioners between four p.m. and 6 p.m. and turn off the AC in rooms that are not used. Adjusting the thermostat even by 2-3 degrees helps.
●     Use a microwave oven or an outdoor grill instead of a stove or a regular oven.
●     Shift laundry and dishwasher use to after 6 p.m.
●     Shift other electricity use to before 3 p.m. or after 6 p.m.

Residents and businesses with questions or would like advice on how to decrease peak energy consumption, feel free to contact Sagewell at support@sagewell.com or by calling 617-963-8141.

Belmont Yard Sales, Aug. 15-16

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Photo: Yard sale in Belmont.

Yard sales in the “Town of Homes.” 

• 393 Belmont St., Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• 405 Belmont St., Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to noon.

• 531 Belmont St., Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 77 Grove St., Saturday, Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

• 4 Harvard Rd., Saturday, Aug. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• 32-36 Lewis Rd, Sunday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• 538 School St., Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 579 School St., Saturday, Aug. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Selectmen Decision on Long-Delayed Cushing Village Set for Monday

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Photo: The proposed future home of Cushing Village development. (Google map)

While many residents attending the Belmont Board of Selectmen’s Monday evening meeting, Aug. 17, are coming to see how the three-member council reacts to last week’s Special Town Meeting vote, it’s another decision before the board which will have long-lasting ramifications for town.

Monday will likely see the selectmen decide to accept what insiders are calling a “voluminous” and “complicated” financial plan for the long-delayed multi-purposed Cushing Village project proposed for the heart of Cushing Square at the corner of Common Street and Trapelo Road.

Cushing Village’s development partners Smith Legacy Partners and Cambridge-based Urban Spaces is seeking to construct a three-building complex comprising 115 apartments, about 36,000 square feet of retail/commercial space and a garage complex with 230 parking spaces. It would be Belmont’s largest commercial/housing project in decades.

The selectmen will meet in a “working session” with town officials early Saturday morning before going into a second executive session to discuss the terms for both the sale of the municipal parking lot at Williston Street and Trapelo Road for $850,000 to the partnership as well as their ability to finance the project.

Since winning approval from the Planning Board after an 18-month review, the project has stalled due to several reports that Smith Legacy – the development company which began pursuing the project nearly eight years ago – could not secure commercial financing for the project.

Earlier in the month, the Planning Board extended by 30 days the Special Permit allowing for the construction of the approximately 167,000 square-foot development beyond its two-year limit of Aug. 19.

After paying nearly a quarter of a million dollars in fees to extend its opportunity to purchase the parking lot, Smith Legacy found an equity partner in Urban Spaces in April of this year at which time the stalled project began moving forward.

Yet with distractions including Urban Spaces’ CEO being arrested for soliciting sex on Craigslist and a hurried filing of the proposed financial plan, the selectmen have the options of rejecting the proposal, accept it or tell the partners to clarify and resubmit sections of the proposal. 

Sold in Belmont: Historic Walter Pierce Modern Abode Tops $1.2 Million

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Photo: Walter Pierce-designed house on upper Concord Avenue.

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

39 Payson Rd. #2, Condominium (1923). Sold: $525,000. Listed at $ 459,900. Living area: 1,288 sq.-ft. 6 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bath. On the market: 50 day.

18 Brookside Ave. Colonial (1935). Sold: $865,000. Listed at $749,000. Living area: 2,000 sq.-ft. 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. On the market: 77 days.

661 Concord Ave., Walter Pierce-designed modern (1961). Sold: $1,250,000. Listed at $1,195,000. Living area: 2,660 sq.-ft. 9 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bath. On the market: 78 day.

117 Beech St., Multi-family (1915). Sold: $640,000. Listed at $619,900. Living area: 3,825 sq.-ft. 11 rooms, 5 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 28 days.

25 Elm St., Colonial (1923). Sold: $820,000. Listed at $ 799,000. Living area: 1,930 sq.-ft. 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath. On the market: 77 day.

6 Prentiss Ln. Colonial (1932). Sold: $1,170,000. Listed at $1,295,000. Living area: 3,093 sq.-ft. 11 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. On the market: 120 days.

37 South Cottage Rd, #93, Townhouse condominium (2011). Sold: $1,325,000. Listed at $1,395,000. Living area: 2,994 sq.-ft. 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath. On the market: 154 day.

12 Franklin St., Colonial (1924). Sold: $815,000. Listed at $849,000. Living area: 1,648 sq.-ft. 8 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. On the market: 73 days.

10-12 Upland Rd. #10, Condominium (1925). Sold: $444,000. Listed at $439,900. Living area: 944 sq.-ft. 6 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. On the market: 71 day.

14 Dundonald Rd. Ranch (1951). Sold: $1,180,000. Listed at $1,095,000. Living area: 2,374 sq.-ft. 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths. On the market: 70 days.

32 Foster Rd. #2, Condominium (1927). Sold: $457,500. Listed at $ 469,900. Living area: 1,268 sq.-ft. 6 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. On the market: 70 day.

54-56 Sycamore St., Two-family (1925). Sold: $752,000. Listed at $729,000. Living area: 2,600 sq.-ft. 12 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 135 days.

Changes to the original design have taken place – the kitchen was enlarged in 1998 and the windows replaced in 2000 – and the house is not the “spare but stylish split-level” he is famous for (located in Peacock Farms in Lexington), but the sublime modernist residence at 661 Concord Ave. designed by Walter Pierce is a house of historic architectural merit.

While some may lump Pierce with another young post-war architect Carl Koch – the architect/builder of Belmont’s Snake Hill Road development (do yourself a favor and take a walk up Snake Hill Road off Pleasant Street to view this impressive experiment in suburban housing) – they were from two distinct school’s; Pierce is from MIT’s “American” version of modern architecture with its Scandinavian influences of emphasizing the space in and outside the building.

You can see (actually it’s hard to see from the road with non-native evergreens and an ugly fence out front) Pierce’s deft touch – a great profile of the Lexington resident is in his obituary – in the upper Concord Avenue house near Day School Lane.

The house is, in fact, a triple, split level (which in less-trained builder’s hands became a tired stereotype by the late 60s, the home of Mike and Carol Brady’s bunch) with a towering facade that slopes towards the back yard. Designing with the land in mind, the building has a narrow front (going from 17 feet at the entry to 28 feet in the back) with a substantial length, about 50 feet. Open the front door and up you go to the bedrooms; down to the family room, kitchen and dining room, the “basement” level is the open family space that leads to the patio and impressive backyard that is next to Habitat land.

While the interior space might be a distraction to modern homebuyers who want space over function – the dining room is a tight spot, and the kitchen is functional, not grandiose – the house works due to Pierce’s use space; it’s just so open and airy (can you say Sweden?) without interior walls. It’s impressive to have all that weight carried by the walls yet have nice sized windows to add natural light and a view of the landscaped yard. Modern touches include lack of detail – I love the mid-level fireplace – and stuff. What? No center island in the kitchen with indoor grill and install wok? It’s not a masterpiece or a trendsetter, but a solid design that any architect would love to have in their portfolio.

Surprisingly, the Pierce house – so thoughtfully created by a master architect – sits next to one of the worst-designed homes in town, both built within a year of each other. Go figure.

Besides having one of the best names in Belmont – a wee bit of the Highlands in dear ol‘ New England – and being a rare dead-end in town, Dundonald Road is one street on “the Hill” that has kept its modest homes intact. But that might be coming to an end; do you really spend $1 million plus for a 60 year old ranch without envisioning a demolition permit in your hand? 

Young Professionals Wanted for Belmont High’s ‘Real World Career Night’

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Photo: The poster for Real World Career Day.
For Belmont High Schoool Senior Tess Hayner, last year’s first-ever “Real World Career Day” – her idea of having young professionals discuss with high school students the ins and outs of finding a career – is well worth holding again. 
 
“Based on positive feedback, I know the students appreciated the chance to interact with relatively recent college graduates, now working in the real world.” said Hayner 
 
The second annual “Real World Career Events” will take place on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Belmont High School cafeteria

“We were thrilled with the wide variety of professions that attended last year’s event, and now hope to recruit even more professionals from different fields,” said Hayner, who is managing this year’s event  with junior coordinator Anya Sondhi.

And like last year, the event is seeking a wide-array of workers in their 20s and the early 30s who graduated from any high school between the years of 1999-2011, to volunteer and hold short, informal conversations with Belmont High juniors and seniors.

“My goal is by the end of the night, after many conversations with various young professionals, the juniors and seniors of Belmont High School will feel less intimidated, and perhaps inspired when it comes to turning their hobbies and interests into lifetime careers,” said Hayner.

All professions are welcome. Business people, educators, graphic artists, technicians, medical workers, scientists, accountants, you name it!

An introductory video and volunteer entry form can be found here, or email Tess and Anya at rwcareernight@gmail.com for more information.

“Whether you’re in your dream job, working towards your dream job, or still unsure of what that dream job even is, we want to hear from all of you,” she said. 

Peaking Peaches, Basil and Corn at Belmont Farmers Market

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Photo: Peaches are peaking. 

August abundance continues at the Belmont Farmers Market. There’s peaches and blueberries for breakfast. Tomatoes with basil, mozzarella and fresh bread for lunch. And corn on the cob with a green salad for dinner. Perhaps with hamburgers and sausages from the grill. All this and more is available on Market Day this week.

 
The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays throughout the summer until the final week of October. The market is located in the municipal parking lot at the intersection of Cross Street and Channing Road in Belmont Center.

Schedule of Events
  • 2 p.m.- 3 p.m.: Magic by Ryan Lally
  • 2 p.m.- 5 p.m.: Belmont Public “Pop-up” Library
  • 3 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.:  Yoga for Kids by Groundwork yoga + wellness
  • 4 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.: Storytime by the Library
  • 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.: Music by The Hoot Owls
Monthly and occasional vendors at the market this week are:  
Carlisle Honey, Carr’s Ciderhouse, Soluna Garden Farm.

Weekly Vendors: 
Boston Smoked Fish Co., C&C Lobsters and Fish, Dick’s Market Garden Farm, Fior D’Italia, Flats Mentor Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co., Gaouette Farm, Goodies Homemade, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Nicewicz Family Farm, Sfolia Baking Company, Stillman Quality Meats

Freshman Orientation at BHS Set for Thursday, Aug. 27

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Photo: Mr. Marauder.

The first day of school is always daunting, especially when it’s in a new building with people you don’t know.

In an attempt to ease those anxieties and make the transition from middle school a tad less stressful, the Belmont High School Connectors Program is sponsoring a Freshman Orientation for the approximate 300 raising 9th graders entering the High School on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5 p.m. to  7:15 p.m. 

There will be a smaller Connectors event for upper-class transfer students on Friday, Aug. 28 at lunch time.

Events for the new students will include:

  • A student-led tour of the building,
  • Group meetings with guidance counselors,
  • Joining current students for a pizza dinner,
  • Parents are welcome for the opening panel from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • Pre-registration or sign-up is unnecessary. 

The Connectors is a joint program of staff, teachers, students and the High School’s PTO to provide information, support and companionship so a new student’s adjustment to high school will go smoothly.

Swimmingly: Residents Swarm to New Underwood Pool Opener

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Photo: Off the slide and into the pool.

Lorraine Benoit had spent 10 hours on the job at the new Underwood Pool, literally opening the doors for the first day of swimming at the new $5.3 million facility on Monday, Aug. 10.

On a sunny, warm summer day, hundreds of Belmont residents – there was no official number because the counter was left in the front desk because it was so busy – entered the fence to take a dip in the two pools, rest on the grass banking and even voluntarily venture into the two bath houses to change and take a shower.

“Everything is ready to go. I’m just hoping everything goes well,” said Benoit, the pool’s manager who has been working at Belmont pools since 1964.

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For the early birds who came early, it was a chance to finally test the facilities which took nine months to build from ground breaking on a freezing cold November day.

“I’m here to swim laps,” said Jim Crawford, one of nearly two dozen residents – most of them pre-teens and younger – who waited patiently for the official opening at 9 a.m. 

“I figured I’d swim first thing in the morning and rest for the rest of the day,” said Crawford.

Julie Campisano brought her six-and-a-half year of twins who didn’t have to travel very far to reach the pool; they live across Cottage Street from the facility. 

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“We saw it being built all winter and couldn’t wait for it to be open. It’s so exciting,” said Campisano.

With many town officials present, including Town Administrator David Kale, the DPW’s Director Jay Marcotte and Health Director Angela Braun, the kids and adults marched in and much like when someone has a new car, tentatively entered the water, seemingly not wanting to spoil the new-ness of the premises.

But soon children where washing out of the slide, jumping off the diving board while the adults took a more placid approach, taking photos of their children or hitting the designated lap area.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid and now I’m 73,” said Mary Turner, “from famous Waverley Square.”

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Turner, whose children and grandchildren all learned to swim at the Underwood, said she appreciated the chance to do laps “since you really couldn’t do that in the old pool.”

By 2 p.m., the pool was nearing capacity as blankets covered the grass and the sound of kids and splashing could be heard from School Street to well down Concord Avenue. While the crowds diminished by afternoon, people were still arriving as shade settled across the entire location.

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With the exception of the super slippery pool surface leading into the pools – especially noticeable in the “kiddie” pool when entering from the “zero entry” section – which required Department of Public Works employees to place bath and auto mats in the area, the “new Underwood” won a near universal thumbs up from residents.

“It’s been a great success, despite the little problem we’ve experienced,” said Anne Paulsen, chair of the Underwood Pool Building Committee, who stood drying off after test driving the facility. She said the slipping issue would be resolved after the pool is closed for the season when the contractor will apply a textured “sand” paint.

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Just after 6 p.m., Benoit was preparing for the umpteenth “deep end test,” in which young swimmers demonstrate the swimming prowess required to allow them to leap off the diving board into 12 feet of water. 

“It’s been fabulous today,” said Benoit, who praised the gaggle of lifeguards, many who had spent the entire day at the site. 

“Everyone did a great job today,” she said as she drifted over to the next group of youngsters ready to brave the test.