O’Donovan, Gray Spark Belmont Girls’ Hockey To State QF With Shutout Over Waltham

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Photo: Emma O’Donovan scoring her first goal vs Waltham.

It’s been the script Belmont High School Girls’ Hockey has been using the entire 2019-2020 season: Junior Emma O’Donovan scores, First Year Bridget Gray saves.

And Belmont didn’t deviate from its successful formula as O’Donovan’s brace was all the Marauders needed as Gray came up with a 31 save 2-0 shutout victory over Waltham High School in the Sweet 16 of the State Girls’ Division 1 tournament on Monday, March 2, at the Ryan Rink in Watertown.

“We knew this was going to be a big game,” said Belmont Head Coach Ken Murphy, having played the Hawks earlier in the season that ended in a 1-0 victory.

“It just went our way tonight. Our goalie really stepped up and made some terrific saves,” said Murphy.

Next up for Belmont is the highest remaining seed in the tournament as the 7th seed Marauders take on two-seed Austin Prep on Saturday, March 7 at noon at Woburn.

It turned out to be an afternoon for recording landmarks as O’Donovan knotted her 30th goal and 40th point for the season while 9th grader Gray racked up her 10th shutout in 22 games with a gaudy 1.38 goal against average.

“It was a big team effort. We came out pretty slow as we had a lot of nerves in the locker room but we managed to pull it together in the end,” said O’Donovan.

From the puck drop the game pitted teams’ mirror images with similar breakout transition styles with great goaltending on both ends anchoring the defense.

Belmont took advantage of the game’s first power play when O’Donovan took a pass from Senior Meaghan Noone and between a pair of Waltham defenders snapped her favorite wrist shot by Waltham’s senior goalie Caitlyn Burke’s blocker to break the deadlock with 9:35 remaining in the second.

Enter Gray who stoned Waltham the rest of the way making 13 of her 31 saves in the third.

“It was definitely stressful in the third,” said Gray, making stellar saves off a pair of Waltham power plays early in the final stanza. “But in the moment, you’re really not thinking about it, you just think ‘how can I save the puck the best you can’.”

Gray and Murphy both acknowledged the steady work from the defensive led by the speedy Noone who skated down Waltham’s wingers and led the transition.

“I’m never nervous when she’s out there,” Murphy said about Noone.

Seniors Maggie O’Connor and Jenna Crowley along with junior Del Bonnin prevented the Hawks from setting up in the slot or cross the blue line unchallenged.

“I can’t tell how many blocked shots they had. They help me out so much,” said Gray.

With 30 second remaining, as junior Kendall Whalen dumped the puck towards Burke, O’Donovan reached out and tipped the puck by Burke to seal the win.

Both Murphy and the players acknowledge that Saturday’s match up against Austin Prep will be a testing contest.

“They’re very good but I think we have the heart to really give them a game and hopefully get the win,” said Gray.

Health Dept: Risk Low For Coronavirus In Belmont; No Cases In Town

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Photo: Wesley Chinn, director of Belmont Health Department, speaking before the Select Board.

Despite the first cases of Massachusetts residents contracting the novel coronavirus in the past two days, the chance of Belmont residents coming down with the remains quite low according to the town’s health officials.

“[W]e are pleased to report that as of 3 p.m. this afternoon [Monday], the risk for coronavirus remains low in Massachusetts,” said Wesley Chin, the director of the Belmont Health Department, who updated the came before the Select Board on Monday, March 2.

As of Monday, “[t]here are no cases in Belmont,” said Belmont Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Haley.

“Were monitoring continuously and just try to calm the nerves of people that just don’t know what to believe what they see on the news,” he noted.

Chin said as “this is a rapidly evolving situation,” his department met Monday with the town’s Emergency Management team consisting of representatives of the Fire and Police departments, town administration and representative the schools.

Haley, who is the town’s Risk Management director, said he and other town health officials have had two hour-long phone calls with the state’s Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control to discuss how towns and departments will address all situations involving the coronavirus.

“From the fire department, we are prepared to respond for any emergency calls,” said Haley.

“We have specialized kits to deal with [the coronavirus], if need be. Dispatchers have been trained to screen all calls to try to get as much information as possible or possible exposure,” said Haley.

In addition, venerable populations to the coronavirus – the elderly and residents with prior health conditions – which include residents at the assisted living complex Belmont Manor and McLean Hospital will be contacted by the Health Department, said Chin.

Both Haley and Chin said the public is best served by following the CDC’s advice on general prevention methods which include:

  • Frequent washing of your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap.
  • Avoid touching your nose and mouth.
  • Stay at home if you have flu-like symptoms and contact your physician. “That is the best way to stop the virus,” said Chin.

According to Belmont’s Public Nurse David Neylon, symptoms include fever, shortness of breath and coughing.

Belmont Votes Today: Presidential Primary 2020; Polls Open at 7 AM, Schools Closed

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Photo: Get to the polls, today.

Belmont votes today, Tuesday, March 3 in the 2020 Massachusetts Presidential Primary.

POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M.

BELMONT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED.

Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration status and voting precinct before they go to vote by visiting the Town Clerk’s web page.

Voters who have not returned a census in 2019 or 2020 are classified as “inactive” voters, a status that requires the voter to present identification to return to the active voting rolls.  Think about carrying your ID when you go to vote to make the process seamlessly.

BELMONT VOTING LOCATIONS

  • Precinct One: Belmont Public Library, Assembly Room, 336 Concord Ave.
  • Precinct Two: Belmont Town Hall, Selectmen’s Room, 455 Concord Ave.
  • Precinct Three: Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
  • Precinct Four: Daniel Butler School Gym, 90 White St.
  • Precinct Five: Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
  • Precinct Six: Belmont Fire Headquarters, 299 Trapelo Rd.
  • Precinct Seven: Burbank School Gym, 266 School St.
  • Precinct Eight: Winn Brook School Gym, 97 Waterhouse Rd., Enter From Cross Street.

Don’t know your voting precinct?  Visit the Town Clerk’s website for a list of Belmont precinct assignments by street:

  1. Select Town Departments,
  2. Select Town Clerk,
  3. then select Elections: Information for Residents and scroll down the page.

Or go directly here.

WHO CAN VOTE, AND FOR WHOM

Your enrollment as a voter will determine which party ballot you will receive at the polls.

There are four political parties in Massachusetts. If you are enrolled in one of these four political parties when you go to the polls, you can only vote for that particular party:

  • D – Democratic Party
  • R – Republican Party
  • J – Green-Rainbow  Party
  • L – Libertarian Party

Only voters who are not affiliated with a political party, called Unenrolled (U – commonly known as No Party or “Independent”) and voters in Political Designations may choose any one of the four party ballots when voting in Primary Elections.

ARRIVE EARLY, CONSIDER TRAFFIC AND LIMITED PARKING

Belmont Police will designate voter parking at each of the polling locations however with a very busy election, parking close to the voting sites is often a challenge. Plan ahead: consider walking, carpooling with a friend or voting “off peak” during the middle of the day.  Only voters who arrive at the precinct and are in line for the Voter Check-In before the close of polls at 8 p.m. can be permitted to vote; those who come too late will miss out.

If you would like further clarification of your party, voting  status, voting precinct or have any other questions related to the upcoming election, please call the Belmont Town Clerk’s Office at 617-993-2600 or email: townclerk@belmont-ma.gov

Police Seek Witnesses In Fatal Car/Motorcycle Crash On Winter Street

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Photo: The intersection where the accident took place.

Belmont Police Department is asking the public for information concerning a collision between a car and a motorcycle that occurred on Winter Street this past Monday, Feb. 24, that killed a Watertown teenager.

First responders found the victim, Andrea Martocchia, 16, a junior at Minuteman Regional Vocational Tech High School, in serious condition after his green Kawasaki Ninja model motorcycle collided with a brown Toyota Camry operated by a Belmont resident near the intersection of Winter and Robin Wood Road at approximately 4 p.m.

Martocchia was traveling southbound towards Marsh Street when he collided with the car heading northbound towards Route 2. The teen died on Thursday, Feb. 27.

“This is a tragedy involving the loss of a life in our community,” said Belmont Police Chief James MacIsaac. “My heart goes out to the victim’s family during this difficult time.”

“We are asking for any persons who may have witnessed the crash to please come forward. Anyone with information should contact Officer Matt Benoit of the Belmont Police Department at 617-993-2501 or 617-993-2535,” said MacIsaac.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Belmont Police Department, with the assistance of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.