Belmont Girls’ Soccer Leaves It Late In 2-1 Home Opener Win As Frosh Goalie Shines

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Photo: Ella Gagnon (21) scoring the equalizer vs. Wilmington.

It wasn’t the way freshman goalie Bridgette Martin wanted to start her first varsity game against Wilmington.

On the first ball that came her way, Martin – who admitted being nervous when the game got underway – hesitated for a second and saw it go behind her and tapped in by Jocelyn Palmer less than 30 seconds into the home opener on Saturday night, Sept. 8.

But that “oops” moment didn’t get the 9th grader down, just mad. 

“I got pretty angry after the goal and that anger fueled my adrenaline. It kicked in and it got me going to the ball hard,” she said. 

While her mistake put Belmont (2-0-0) behind the Wildcats (0-2-0) for nearly 70 minutes, Martin was superb the remaining 79 minutes, stopping three breakaway and a looping shot heading goalward to keep the match within one. That allowed the usual goal happy Marauder offense (it won its opener 11-0 over Burlington) to find a way by a disciplined Wilmington defense to score twice in the final 12 minutes to eek out a 2-1 victory at Harris Field.

“I really have to say Martin showed a heck of a lot of class,” said longtime Marauder Head Coach Paul Graham. And that effort was crucial, said Graham, “because despite dominating the game especially in the first half, we couldn’t find any way to score.” 

Not that the Marauders didn’t come close, including hitting the crossbar and seeing two through balls miss everyone in the six-yard box. At the other end of the pitch, Martin heroics was highlighted in the 23rd minute when she made a reflex save off freshman Alyssa Granara from 10 meters out then hurried back to the goal line to snag the rebound that was floating just under the crossbar.

The second 40 minutes saw Wilmington play a much tighter game and began controlling the ball with better success. One area that Belmont continues to take advantage was its physical play, continuing to knock Wildcats off the ball or winning possession with their speed. Senior center forward Ella Gagnon was a constant threat but Wilmington’s goalie Alyssa Morrison, in only her second varsity start, made her share of reaction stops. 

Just eight minutes into the second half saw Martin make the game-changing save as Wilmington’s Annie Wingate received a perfect pass to face the Belmont goalie alone eight meters from a wide-open goal. Closing the distance, Martin left arm got just enough of Wingate’s rocket shot to see it dribble pass the right post. 

“We practice these shots in practice a lot. Normally I close the girl down and see what I can do,” said Martin.

With the margin still at one, Belmont finally broke through with less than 12 minutes to go when senior left wing Morgan Krauss stayed wide and squared a perfect centering pass that Gagnon tapped in from five meters out. And just after the nine-minute to go mark, sophomore Jenna Thomas looped a shot that beat Morrison who was well off her line. Gagnon had a hand in preserving the win. With seconds remaining in the match, she jumped as part of the defensive wall and deflected a shot by senior Thea Alberti that was heading into the upper right corner of the goal. 

“Wilmington is a team that is always good and these are the teams that you have to beat if you want to go deep in the playoffs,” said Graham. “This win puts us on the map,” he said. 

 

Yard Sales In Belmont; Sept. 8 – Cleaning Out Agassiz

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Photo: Yard sales in Belmont.

After Labor Day yard sales in the Town of Homes.

60 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8  8:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
64 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8   8:30 a.m. 1 p.m.
52 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8 8:30 a.m. 1 p.m.
95 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8 8:30 a.m. 2 p.m.
67 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8 8:30 a.m. 1 p.m.

Extended Opening For Belmont Gallery’s ‘Rhythm and Hues’

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Photo: “New Orleans Band by Woody Giessman

The Belmont Gallery of Art’s latest exhibition, “Rhythm and Hues: Art Inspired by Music” opens today, Friday, Sept. 7 with special extended hours, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Nearly 42 artists are taking part in this show that celebrates art inspired by music. 
The opening reception takes places on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring a talk and singing by artist Woody Giessman, the original drummer of the 80’s Boston pop group, the Del Fuegos. Wine and light refreshments will be served.
A special gallery pop-up show featuring African crafts will show on Sunday, Sept. 10.
The Belmont Gallery of Art is located in the Homer Building, 19 Moore St., in the Town Hall complex. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. 
Questions? Contact Rebecca Richards at admin@belmontgallery.org

Preview: 2018 Belmont High Field Hockey [Video]

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Photo: The 2018 Belmont High Field Hockey senior captains: (from left) Mia Kaldenbaugh, Morgan Chase, Jordan Lettiere.

Coming off a 12-2-2 regular season, Belmont High’s 2018 Field Hockey has high expectations for the coming season, as noted by the Boston Globe ranking the 2017 Middlesex Liberty runners-up 19th in its preseason poll.

Repeating as league champions in 2015 and 2016, the Marauders are looking to make the Division 1 North sectional playoffs for the 12th time in 13 years. Top competitors will include last year’s Liberty champs and North sectional finalists Winchester, Lexington and improving teams such as Arlington and Wilmington. And there will be the annual tussle with next-door neighbors and perennial Division 2 state champions, Watertown.

Belmont Police Seek Witnesses to Fatal Pedestrian Crash 

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Photo: Investigators at the scene of the accident Aug. 28.

The Belmont Police Department is asking the public for information about a fatal pedestrian crash at the intersection of Sycamore and Lexington streets in Belmont, according to a press release.

Officers responded to the intersection at approximately 8:25 a.m. on Tuesday Aug. 28. A white 2015 Ford van had struck and killed 39-year-old Sachi Thanawala of Sycamore Street.

We are asking for any persons who witnessed the crash to please come forward. Anyone with information should contact Sgt. Ben Mailhot of the Belmont Police Department at 617-993-2501 or 617-993-2538.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Belmont Police Department, with the assistance of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit.

State OKs $80.6M Grant To Build New 7-12 School; Critical Debt Vote In November

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Photo: The design of the new Belmont 7-12 High School.

The future of the new 7-12 High School is now in the hands of Belmont voters.

Last Wednesday, Aug. 29, the Massachusetts School Building Authority approved a $80.6 million grant towards the $295.2 million Belmont High School Building Project, endorsing more than two years of collaboration by the authority, the Belmont High School Building Committee, the Belmont School Department, citizens, town committees and boards, and various town departments, according to the head of the Building Committee.

“We are incredibly pleased that the MSBA has voted to approve funding for the Belmont High School Building Project,” said William Lovallo, Building Committee chair.

The next step in the project process is the all-important town-wide vote on Election Day, Nov. 6, where voters will decide to approve a debt exclusion of $214.6 million to fund the balance of the project, an amount for which Belmont’s taxpayers will be responsible.

If the town votes in favor of the debt exclusion, the project will move forward with the first evidence of construction occurring in the Spring of 2019. The current project timeline is to complete installation and open the 9-12 High School portion of the school in September 2021 and to open the 7-8 grade portion of the school in September 2023.

“We are especially grateful for the support of State Sen. Will Brownsberger and State Rep. Dave Rogers, who attended multiple MSBA board meetings and were strong advocates for the Belmont High School Project. The project has reached this stage thanks to the collective efforts of so many throughout the town, and it is a testament to how invested Belmont’s citizens are in the continued success of our schools,” said Lovallo.

The BHSBC was formed to explore solutions to the Belmont High School building deficits, including an aging infrastructure and space constraints due to overcrowding. In January 2018, after more than 50 public meetings, forums, and workshops, the Belmont School Committee voted for a 7-12 grade configuration for the school. Also, at that time, the BHSBC determined that a school design with a significant addition and minor renovation would most appropriately and effectively address the educational and facility-related needs of Belmont’s students, and would support continued enrollment growth and evolving teaching models, according to a press release from the Building Committee.

Go to belmonthighschoolproject.org for additional information on the Belmont High School Building Project and to view interior and site designs, and to follow the project journey.

Services For Crosswalk Victim Today, Wednesday, In Waltham

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Photo: Sachi Gaurang Thanawala

Services for the victim of a pedestrian/vehicle accident in the crosswalk at Sycamore and Lexington will be held today, Wednesday, Sept. 5 in Waltham.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services for Sachi Gaurang Thanawala of Sycamore Street at the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons, 773 Moody St., Waltham, Wednesday, September 5, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A private cremation service will follow.

Thanawala died last week on Aug. 30 after she was hit heading to work at nearby Belmont Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation by a commercial van crossing from Sycamore onto Lexington on a raised crosswalk the day before.

Sachi was born in Ahmedabad, India and is the eldest of the three; she lived in the USA since 2002. For anyone who knew Sachi, she lived her short life of 39 years wearing her heart on her sleeve, nurturing and giving every step of her way. An occupational therapist by profession, her life was dedicated to service.

“She will be deeply missed by her friends and family alike. Her memories, thoughts and spirit will guide us all in our journey ahead,” said an obituary on the Brasco & Sons website.

She is survived by her husband Aakash Patel, two sons Arnav and Veer, who are 8 and 4 years old respectively. Her other immediate family includes her parents Gaurang and Daksha Thanawala; her parents-in-laws Jayendra and Rita Patel; Sachi’s siblings Dwiti and Varun, and their respective spouses Sidarth and Nandini; and her brother-in-law Aalok and his wife, Sajni. She also had two nieces and a nephew, and countless other family members and close friends.

Belmont Voters Come Out All Day To Cast Ballots In State Primary

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Photo: They voted Tuesday.

A small stream can eventually over time create a deep valley.

On Tuesday, it was a steady stream throughout the day entering Belmont’s eight polling sites that produced an impressive figure of residents to take the time to vote on a hot, humid election day.

Approximately 5,000 voters or just under 30 percent of eligible voters took out a ballot for the state primary election held on Tuesday, Sept. 4. In precincts 1 and 6, a third of voters came out to cast ballots. Even the lowest level of participation at Precinct 4 was at 25 percent.

It was a number that impressed Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman as the election came a day after the Labor Day holiday and without a high profile race – such as the upset by Ayanna Pressley over incumbent Michael Capuano in the nearby Seventh Congressional District Democratic primary – to bring out the voters.

“It was a trickle, no one needed to wait to vote at any time but if that happens all day, it comes out to 30 percent,” said Cushman who released the unofficial results just after 9 p.m.

In races involving Belmontians, it was nip and tuck for most of the night but incumbent Marian Ryan of Belmont pulled ahead of challenger Donna Patalano by more than 11,000 votes, 81,098 to 70,061, to secure the Democratic nomination for Middlesex County District Attorney. In her hometown, Ryan swamped Patalano, 2,338 to 1,359.

In the District 3 Governor’s Council primary, long-time incumbent Marilyn Devaney beat back the challenge of Nick Carter, 49,528 to 39,122, while in Belmont, the newcomer took the “Town of Homes” 1,763 to 1,660.

In the race to “beat the blanks,” – both were unchallenged – State Sen. Will Brownsberger took home 3,508 (only 516 blank ballots) votes while Dave Rogers, Belmont’s state representative, received 3,207 vs. 817 blanks.

To see the complete results, head over to the Town Clerk’s website. 

Town Accepts Belmont Savings’ Gift Of A Town Clock For The ‘Delta’

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Photo: Hal Tovin, Belmont Saving’s executive vice president and Kayla Murphy, vice president, senior marketing manager with the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation’s Town Clock proposal.

Soon, commuters and residents will know just how late they are running passing through Belmont Center as the Board of Selectmen last week accepted a new town clock to be placed in the “delta” in front of Belmont Savings Bank whose foundation is providing the funding. 

The 15 foot tall, four face clock, black with gold highlights that will include a plaque from the foundation about the gift, will be manufactured by the Electric Time Company of Medfield, a leading tower, post and bracket clock firm (they made the street clocks at DisneyWorld, restored the clock at Harvard’s Dunster House and installed clocks in the scoreboards at AT&T Park in San Francisco and Chicago’s historic Wrigley Field). 

The Belmont Savings Bank Foundation, created in 2012 a year after the bank converted from the mutual holding company to stock holding company, is spending $26,000 for the clock and its installation on the “delta,” said Hal Tovin, Belmont Saving’s executive vice president, COO and a director of the Foundation. Since its inception, the foundation has provided $1 million in grants and gifts to non-profits in the communities the bank does business. 

The idea of a town clock was proposed by Bob Morrissey, the foundation’s chair, a gift to the town that is purposeful, recognizable and a centerpiece for “a sophisticated town center.” The delta – which had a controversial creation – was created during the renovation/reconstruction of Belmont Center completed in 2016. The town will be responsible for the maintenance and cleaning after the clock is installed. 

Just where the clock will be located is still up in the air. While the bank had proposed it close to the corner of Leonard Street and Concord Avenue near the historic horse water trough (with the upside down “1884” date), Selectmen Chair Adam Dash said town and police input should be provided to all the tower not to be a visual impediment to drivers entering the Center.

While the selectmen warmly accepted the gift from the bank, just who will have final say on where and if it can be installed without bumping up into town bylaws. Office of Community Development Director Glenn Clancy noted the clock will require a zoning review as it likely falls under the signage provisions.

Charles Clark, the Planning Board chair, said the best way to look at the clock is as a sign “and if so it doesn’t meet the signage bylaw” due to height and other considerations. But Clark also said that since clocks are not specifically noted in the zoning code, it will likely fall under a catch-all “other” category which will free it from a lengthy special permit process.

According to Tovin, the clock could be up and running soon after final approval by the town is completed. 

Police Chief Gets A Raise, And His Retirement Date

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Photo: Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin on a tour of the current police headquarters.

Belmont’s long-standing Police Chief Richard McLaughlin received a pay raise and a contract extension which will allow him to end his career in his hometown. 

McLaughlin received a glowing review by Town Administrator Patrice Garvin who approved the pay raise which increases the chief’s total annual compensation package – made up of salary, holiday pay and a first responder stipend – to $185,567 retroactive to July 1, 2018. 

“In general, the Chief received the highest marks … and excedes expectations” in running the town’s police department, Garvin told the Board of Selectmen last week, who approved the pay increase unanimously. 

In addition to his review, McLaughlin request the selectmen extend his contract through Dec. 31, 2019 – it was scheduled to end at the end of June of next year – was also accepted, with the stipulation that his pay will remain flat through 2019. 

McLaughlin told the Belmontonian after the meeting the extension was sought so he could retire in his current position. 

“Yes, my last day will be the end of 2019,” said McLaughlin. 

A Belmont resident, McLaughlin began his career with the Arlington Police in 1980 and spent 27 years with the department reaching the rank of captain. He was appointed Belmont’s top cop in February 2007. This spring, McLaughlin helped in facilitating final design plans for a major renovation of the department’s 85-year-old headquarters at the corner of Concord Avenue and Pleasant Street, one of his long-term priorities as chief.