Belmont Fire Log: Co-Workers Fall Victim to Careless Disposal of Smokes

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Photo: The victims. 

On the fence

Sept. 6 – At 8:35 a.m., Engine 1 and its crew sped to Waverely Square’s Church Street for a report of a smoldering mulch fire that had extended to a nearby fence post. The team used hand tools and a two-and-a-half gallon can of water to extinguish the fire.

Needs air 

Sept. 6 – At a quarter past 9 a.m., a crew from the Belmont Center station were sent to nearby Stone Hearth Pizza on Leonard Street for a “medical emergency.” Turns out that the alarm went off because painters didn’t ventilate the area tripping the alarm.

Let us in

Sept. 7 – Just before 3 a.m., fire crews were dispatched to a distillery on Brighton Street after the duct smoke detector went off. The firefighters who were first to arrive could not get inside the store because the keys inside the lock box could not open the door’s deadbolts. So an outside visual inspection was performed, and there were no signs of smoke or fire.  The crews made a return visit to the location an hour later companies for a second false alarm activation. 

I’m getting in

Sept. 7 – At 10 past 8 p.m., a crew was dispatched to South Cottage Road for a person who forgot their keys and needed a little help getting inside the townhouse. The property owner signed a release form then used some force on the door lock in the garage to get inside.

A little help

Sept. 8 – At just about 1:30 a.m., firefighters were sent to Slade Street for yet another resident who locked themselves out of their abode. This time, entry was gained through an open first-floor window. There was no damage. 

Power play

Sept. 8 – At a minute past 10 a.m., Engine 1, Engine 2 and the Ladder truck took off to Winter Street house for a report of an odor of smoke inside the house. Turns out an electrical power strip was arcing in the home office. Fire personnel unplugged the strip and used water to cool a scorched area of the rug. Firefighters also spoke with the homeowner regarding overloading of plugs and a missing face plates to several outlets in other parts of the home.

Lost: a working couple

Sept. 9 – At just before half-past 4 p.m., crews were dispatched to the rear of Salon Monroe on Pleasant Street for the aftermath of an outdoor rubbish fire. They found an extinguished fire in the right rear corner of the building where a mop and bucket had burned due to the careless disposal of cigarettes. Occupants were advised to use a proper container for disposing of smoking materials in the future.

Sports: Field Hockey Romp Again, Volleyball Takes First Win Over Stoneham

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Photo: Volleyball in action.

Field Hockey: Stoneham 2, Belmont 7

With a young defense still making progress as a unified squad, Belmont High School Field Hockey has found a unique approach to winning games while the ‘D’ gets up to speed.

Score goals. Lots of them.

On Friday, Sept. 11, Belmont (2-0-0) defeated host Stoneham, 7-2, scoring a combined 13 goals in its first two games while letting up just the pair. 

“I’m happy with how the offense is scoring,” said Belmont Head Coach Jessie Smith.

“It’s always nice to be scoring seven goals a game. Although we played on a grass field which makes the game a bit more messy, the goals were all quite nice,” Smith said, as junior midfield standout AnnMarie Hebalow scored the hat trick with two unassisted goals and a penalty stroke, a brace coming in the first half.

“She took quick, hard shots today that were very effective,” said Smith.

Senior center forward Kerri Lynch scored her fifth goal of the season with the assist from Serena Nally who got on the goal scoring column with an assist from Hebalow. Newcomer Bridget Gardiner finished the five-goal first half with an assist from Kate McCarthy. 

Nally got her second goal in the second half with a Habelow assist, as she finished the game with five points.

“Defensively I’m hoping we can step it up a bit,” said Smith. “We need to work on checking our speed, recovering, and moving the ball to the offensive end when we gain control of the ball.

Volleyball: Stoneham 0, Belmont 3

Travel is always enlightening and for Belmont’s Volleyball team, it is also beneficial as the Marauders (1-1) defeated Stoneham on Friday, Sept. 11, 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-9).
The team was led by senior captain Faye Reagan, who contributed many key service runs – she was 22 for 23 serving with 8 aces in the game – particularly when the squad was down 18-21 in the second set and she went on a 7-point run.  
Fiona Martin also played a great game offensively, contributing three aces and leading the team in kills with four. 
“[Martin] was consistent, confident and aggressive the entire match.  Sophomore Julia Logan also had a great night at the service line, serving 7 for 7 with 5 aces,” said head coach Jen Couture.

Couture said that in the match the Marauders lost to defending league champions Melrose, 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-8) on Wednesday, Sept. 9, senior captain Katelyn Messer led the front row with 3 kills and 4 blocks. 

“She has the power to intimidate opponents by her presence in the front row.  Her blocks and powerful kills energize the team,” said Couture. 

District Enrollment Keeps Marching Higher as School Year Begins

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Photo: More students have entered Belmont schools in the past three months.

The news on student enrollment levels in Belmont’s six public schools from School Superintendent John Phelan continues along a familiar theme of the past five years: more are still coming.

At the Sept. 8 School Committee meeting, Phelan reported that between June 1 to Sept. 3, 72 net additional students in Kindergarten through 12th grade entered the system which now serves a total enrollment of 4,362.

Since 2009, approximately 400 additional students have been added to the district’s rolls. 

Phelan said he is “very optimistic” of the total figure as it was close to actual number of children counted on the first day of school, Wednesday, Sept. 2, which saw an attendance rate of 97.5 percent.

“Everyone came and were welcomed to class,” said Phelan.

Notable in the new enrollment data is the jump in the number of students at the Chenery Middle School which crossed the 1,300 student mark with 1,320 pupils, an increase of 38 students in the past 90 days.

But Phelan said he’s confident that total and middle school numbers will rise as every day “two or three more students” were being enrolled in the first week of school opening.

To keep up with the rising numbers, Belmont High has converted existing modular space behind the school into classrooms, the only school that will be using non-permanent structures this year. In June, Phelan said it looked increasingly possible that added physical space will be required in the 2016-17 school year to accommodate the new students. 

This Week: Medal of Honor Visit, Big Band Concert, Office Hours and Book Groups

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Photo: The three present day variations of the Medal Of Honor.

On the governmental side of this week:

  • The Zoning Board of Appeals will discuss a number of variances and special permits requests for two family day-care businesses at its Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Art Gallary in the Homer Building, located in the Town Hall complex. 
  • The Other Post Employment Benefits Study Group will review its charge from the Belmont Town Meeting, discuss its work plan and discuss its schedule at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall. 
  • Community Path Implementation Advisory Committee Agenda will create a finalized list of identified challenges at its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall. 

Tuesday is story time at both of Belmont libraries. 

  • Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer run library, 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.
  • Pre-school Storytime will be held in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room at 9:30 a.m.

• Meet Kelsey Perkins of US Rep Katherine Clark’s staff at noon, Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. as she hold office hours.

• Storytime for 2’s & 3’s on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 10:30 a.m. in the Flett Room, Come and listen to stories and rhymes, sing and even dance. For 2- and 3-year-olds.

• Join our SHINE counselor Ed Siegfried for his presentation: “Your Options: Medicare Open Enrollment Period” on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 1:15 p.m. in the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. The Open Enrollment Period – which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 – is when those on Medicare can change their supplementary insurance for 2016. Each year the pricing and coverage of Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Part D drug plans change. Very often you can save money by reviewing your coverage. SHINE counselors are able to quickly search all the available plans and discuss their costs for 2016.

• Graphic novel fans in fourth to sixth grades, discuss your favorite graphic novels, hear about some you may not know about and try making your own during Tween Tuesday Book Discussion Group’s “Make Your Own Graphic Novel” on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Library’s Flett Room.  Please register by calling the Children’s Room at 617-993-2880.

• The Belmont Art Association is meeting Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Flett Room 

• Medal of Honor recipients Tom Norris, Clint Romesha and Donald Ballard will speak to mostly sophomores at Belmont High School about themselves and the courage, commitment and sacrifice they demonstrated to earn the nation’s highest military honor at Belmont High School on Wednesday, Sept 16. The honorees will arrive onto Hittinger Field by helicopter around 8:45 a.m. and speak to the students from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

• Infant Lapsit Storytime on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 10:30 a.m. in the Flett Room is for infants up to 12 months and pre-walkers, a short program of songs and rhymes that is followed by time to play socialize.

• On Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in the Flett Room, the Belmont Book Discussion Group will discuss The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.  Everyone is welcome to attend. Copies of the book can be requested through the library catalog or call the library Reference staff at 617-993-2870.

• Storytime for 1’s for walkers and toddlers under 24 months will take place Thursday, Sept. 17, at 10:30 a.m. in the Flett Room, sharing simple stories, songs, and nursery rhymes and end with time to play.

• Join other second and third graders to talk about this month’s book, Dory Fantasmagory, by Abby Hanlon Thursday, on Sept. 17, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Flett Room. Please register by calling the Children’s Room at 617-993-2880.

• The Community Preservation Committee is holding a public meeting to discuss the process in applying for a grant from a pool of $1.2 million that will be distributed in fiscal 2016. The meeting will take place on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m in Town Hall. 

• Al Natale, famous Belmont bandleader, returns to the Beech Street Center with his Classic Swing Orchestra to perform another of his very popular concerts of big band music on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m to 9 p.m. Admission is $10 per person at the door. This concert will also feature the talented vocalists Sandi Bedrosian and Jim Bamante in a repertoire of old-time favorites and new selections. Don’t miss this very entertaining evening of music! The event is open to the public, so bring family and friends. The concert is presented by Friends of the Belmont Council on Aging and all proceeds will support Senior Center programs and services.

• State Sen. Will Brownsberger‘s Chief of Staff Barbara Miranda will be holding office hours at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Friday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m

• OTAKUrabu program for teens: watch anime, do a craft/activity, plan for future events and nibble on some Japanese snacks (while they last – they’ll go fast) on Friday, Sept. 18, from 2:30 p.m to 5 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Provided to you for free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Just drop in, no registration required. 

 

Sports: Belmont Stumbles to Stoneham, 28-14, in Football Opener

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Photo: Belmont senior Robbie Aiello hauling in a Cal Christofori pass for the touchdown vs. Stoneham. 

“Damn,” said Head Coach Yann Kumin as his Belmont High School Football team shook hands with their Stoneham counterparts after the visiting Spartans (1-0) handed the Marauders an opening game defeat, 28-14, at Belmont’s Harris Field under the Friday Night Lights, Sept. 11.

“We coulc beat that team,” Kumin told Belmont Athletic Director Jim Davis as he walked to huddle with his staff and players.

With a year of Kumin’s active and professional coaching under their belts and working off a solid pre-season – including handling a Waltham team in a scrimmage six days earlier – many viewed the game under the lights with a motivated crowd in the stands cheering them on against Stoneham as the right platform to show the improved and updated version 2.0 of the Marauders during the game.

Yet Belmont offense could not sustain drives, and the Marauder defense appeared overmatched by the bigger and talented Stoneham linemen that allowed the Spartan’s Evan Taylor to collect 222 yards rushing and three TDs – most right up the middle of the line – while keeping possession for long stretches. 

“They have a big senior offensive front and we knew that going in. They established the inside run against our defense and it took us until the second half for us to stop them,” said Kumin. 

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While Stoneham’s running game behind Taylor was active, the Marauders’ backs Ben Jones and Mekhai Johnson along with big senior tight end Justin Wagner never got started as the offense could only manage a handful of first downs and only one sustained drive. 

“We ran them early and just weren’t able to get the run game going that way we wanted to,” said Kumin. 

Belmont’s most efficient offensive weapon was the arm of junior Quarterback Cal Christofori, who pitched a pair of long passes – 74 and 47 yards – that hit their marks leading to Belmont’s touchdowns. 

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After a quick four downs in which Belmont turned over the ball on downs to start the game, the Spartans kept it simple, head down field behind its big line taking six minutes to travel 43 yards where Spartan QB Brandon Cann scored from the two-yard line with 3 minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

Belmont would tie it up at 7 when Christofori hit senior Robbie Aiello with a perfectly thrown pass to allow the senior wide receiver to walk into the end zone at the 2:22 mark.

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Stoneham responded quickly, going 69 yards in nine plays to take a 14-7 lead with 9 minutes remaining in the second quarter behind Chase’s first of three consecutive TDs.

Belmont would make its first first down on the subsequent drive but would stall on its 45-yard line.

The Spartans would then take nearly the entire five and a half minutes left in the half to move 76 yards on the ground and air as Chase took a sweep 23 yards before catching a 34 yard pass to get into Belmont’s red zone. Stoneham kept it on the ground to score with 38 seconds remaining to take a 21-7 lead into the half. 

After Belmont’s defense halted Stoneham for the first time in the game – but only after the Spartans’  held the ball for 8 minutes in the quarter – Christofori came out winging the ball, hitting senior Joe Shaughnessy for 10 and 9 yards as senior Trey Butler (the lacrosse standout playing his first high school football game) got the Marauders a first and 10 on the 34 yard line.

But the drive died and Stoneham took over at its 27 yard line with a minute-and-a-half remaining in the quarter, driving the field before scoring its fourth and Chase’s third with eight minutes left in the fourth to up the lead to 28-7.

Christofori hit senior wide receiver Grant Gilbert for nearly 50 yards to the Belmont 18 yard line. Johnson took the ball to the one and Christofori hit a diving Shaughnessy to finish the scoring with 6:18 remaining in the game. 

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“We have to go back to work on the grass field and fix our offense in order to take on Medford next week. But I’ll tell you, we’re a good team. There were moments of great responsiveness by this football team, some explosive offensive moments that we were able to move the ball well through the air and protect our quarterback. There we all positives for me.” 

“I see a really bright future. I’m not excitied to loss 28-14 but there are a ton of positives that I can take out of this game,” said Kumin. 

Belmont Yard Sales, Sept. 12-13

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Photo: Yard sale in Belmont.

Yard sales in the “Town of Homes.”

• 48 Concord Ave. Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• 34 Foster Rd., Saturday, Sept. 12, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 53 Hillside Terr., Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to noon.

• 75 Lorimer Rd., Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 67 Trowbridge St., Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 12 & 14 Walnut St., Saturday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 110 Watson Rd., Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and 13, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Sports: Building A Football Team in Belmont, Year Two [Video]

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Photo: A scene from Belmont Football 2015: First Look 2.0

Belmont High School senior James Neylon and Belmont resident and Dexter School student Lucas Tragos have completed the sequel to last year’s documentary on Belmont High School Football’s first year under a young and dynamic head coach Yann Kumin.
In Belmont Football 2015: First Look 2.0, the 20-minute film features the work put in by players and coaches this pre-season as well as takes you inside the homes of two of the team’s star players. 

This Weekend: Green Garden Tour Sunday, Pet Some Instruments, Honesty in Art

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Photo: Poster for this year’s Green Garden Tour.
Artist’s Limited Exhibit at Bellmont Caffe
 
Belmont Gallary of Art and Belmont Art Association artist Shahen Zarookian will present his “Four Hour Exhibit” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (thus the name of the exhibit) on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Belmont Caffe, Leonard Street.
 
Green Garden Tour  Sunday

Explore organic gardens in town as Sustainable Belmont hosts its 5th annual Green Garden tour on Sept. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. rain or shine.

This free self-guided garden tour highlights a variety of safe and healthy organic garden practices. You’ll have a chance to visit Belmont’s only farm, talk to the gardeners at the Burbank Elementry School, and Belmont High School students who are growing food for Belmont’s food pantry. Also visit local growers who specialize flowers or vegetable gardens, chicken-raising, composting, and bee keeping. Participants will have an opportunity to enter a chance to win a free home-garden visit with master gardeners, Nancy Forbes and Lucia Gates, with each garden you visit.

Garden Tour maps can be picked up at the Beech Street Center at 266 Beech Street on Sept. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 pm, or you can find information here www.sustainablebelmont.net

Pet and Play Musical Instruments at the Powers

The Powers Music School, 380 Concord Ave., is holding its annual open house and instrument petting zoo from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday,  Sept. 13. Visitors can take several different instruments for a test drive, speak to teachers at the zoo, make a craft to take home and listen to a demo from an early childhood class, including Music Pups, Dalcroze Eurhythmics and Suzuki classes. Admission to the event is free, and registration is not required.

Sports: Lynch Pins Field Hockey Win in Opener, Volleyball Fall to Powerhouse

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Photo: Belmont High Field Hockey.

Field Hockey: Melrose 0, Belmont 6

Belmont Head Coach Jessie Smith was hoping that senior forward Kerri Lynch – one of the strong core of returning starters from last year’s playoff team – would profit from being the forward the squad would be targeting to score this season.

After the opening game of the 2015 season on Wednesday, it appears that Lynch is taking to her new role just fine.

In the season opener against host Melrose, Lynch scored four times and assisted on another to lead the Marauders to an emphatic 6-0 shutout.

“Lynch is playing center forward for us and she clearly played an excellent game today,” said Smith. “Kerri is extremely athletic and she knows how to score. I’m hoping to see a lot more of this in the next two months.”

Sophomore Christine MacLeod – who is coming off a very strong softball season as the Marauders’ leading pitcher – had 6 saves in net in her first start on the varsity.

“We came out a little flat initially, but really stepped it up in the second half,” said Smith. “The passing in the second half led to multiple goals. The kids are using 10-15 yard passes really nicely.”

Smith praised senior defender and captain Molly Thayer as she is “so steady and so reliable” and pointed out that “Kate McCarthy really stepped up her play today. Her goal in the second half was a beautiful drive from the edge of the circle.” 

Smith added that Serena Nally “is excellent at center midfield. She has a quick shot and she’s able to distribute the ball so well.”

Volleyball: Melrose 3, Belmont 0

Last year, Melrose Volleyball was one of the best in the state, in the top 20 poll for the entire year, going 20-2 in the regular season and was the number 1 seed in the regional playoffs. So Belmont, coming off a 16-6 record, knew it would be a tough hill to climb in the season opener. The results, a Belmont loss,  25-13, 25-16, 25-8, will serve as a marker for the rest of the season for the young Marauders. 

Sold in Belmont: Time for a Pricing Haircut Across Housing Types

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Photo: 275 Brighton St.

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

483 Pleasant St. Condominium (1986). Sold: $840,000. Listed at $895,000. Living area: 2,175 sq.-ft. 6 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 155 days.

54-56 Falmouth St. Multi-family (1900). Sold: $780,000. Listed at $825,000. Living area: 3,684 sq.-ft. 13 rooms, 7 bedrooms, 3 baths. On the market: 64 days.

182 Waverley St. Condominium (1891). Sold: $477,000. Listed at $479,000. Living area: 1,095 sq.-ft. 7 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. On the market: 52 days.

275 Brighton St. Colonial with extension (1946). Sold: $875,000. Listed at $895,000. Living area: 2,010 sq.-ft. 8 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 105 days.

Data compiled by Zillow, the online real estate database company, report that long-term sale prices for all housing in Belmont has hit its peak and will begin a slight downturn in values in 2016. 

So, was that the reason the four home sales – including two condos, a single- and a multi – that occurred last week in Belmont each failed to reach its initial list price? Is the hot real estate market cooling along with the seasons?

Probably not. While, indeed, the homes required a “haircut” of its list price to move the sale, there remains a short inventory of homes in Belmont. Also, mortgage rates remain low, enticing potential homebuyers as the market awaits the Federal Reserve raising grates by at least 25 basis points later in the month.

More likely, the failure of list prices to hold their position could be influenced by the small number of sales in the sample, half the usual number impacted by the holiday. Or sellers and their Realtor/sales person continue to overvalue homes, hoping to squeeze as much money from their houses.

So not to worry; there is no Belmont bubble homeowners need to be concerned over … yet.