More Than Three Dozen Belmont High Musicians Earn Placement In NE Senior District Festival On Jan. 8-11

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Photo: Belmont High musicians will participate in the MMEA Northeast Senior District Festival, Jan. 8 to 11, 2025.

The Massachusetts Music Educators Association holds its annual District Auditions across the state for students to be accepted into honors Bands, Choruses, Orchestras, and Jazz Ensembles. Northeast Senior District Auditions for high school musicians were held on Saturday, Nov. 16, at North Andover High School. 

This school year, 91 students from Belmont High auditioned for at least one MMEA-Northeast District Ensemble, and 13 students auditioned for more than one. These students practiced for several weeks and months leading up to audition day, putting in hours of work on their own with their ensemble directors in school and many with private music teachers outside of school. 

This year, 43 students were accepted to perform in the MMEA Northeast Senior District Festival, which will take place from Jan. 8 to 11, 2025.

The fact that ninety-one of our high school students took the chance to audition for Senior Districts speaks to how highly our community values music and the arts as a part of our student’s lives,” said Arto Asadoorian, Director of Visual and Performing Arts at Belmont Public Schools.

“There are few communities in the state where these many students perform at a Senior District level and where these many students feel prepared and brave enough to audition in person for Honors Ensembles,” said Asadoorian. “Our music faculty is proud of every single student who auditioned for Senior Districts this year, for their time, effort, and preparation, and for representing Belmont High School’s music department in a very positive way.”

The student musicians honored to perform at the senior district festival include:

* Denotes students who have earned recommendations to audition for the MMEA All-State Festival

  • Max Abouzeid, trumpet
  • *Peter Aloisio, trumpet
  • *Parker Brookins, trumpet
  • *Sophia Bufano, trombone
  • *Noah Chin, cello
  • *Mark Chumack, trumpet
  • *Eli Coleman, bassoon
  • *Bethany Eagar, French horn
  • *Sophia Edrington Martinez, chorus
  • Sam Engler, string bass
  • Brendan Han, viola
  • Lynn Han, violin
  • *Hank Hicks, bassoon
  • Derek Huang, trumpet
  • Ethan Kim, trombone
  • Hanna Kim, flute
  • Barnabas Kwak, clarinet
  • *Caroline Lafkas, chorus
  • *Daphne Lee, violin
  • Sunho Lee, cello
  • Lauren Lin, viola
  • *Daniel Liu, violin
  • Austin Mann, chorus
  • Henry Moriarty, clarinet
  • *Stella Ovcharova, timpani
  • *Ryan Park, jazz trumpet
  • *Hailey Peck, violin
  • Andrew Quinn, cello
  • Lili Rigoulot, euphonium
  • *Fiona Rodriguez-Clark, cello
  • Luka Rozgic, string bass
  • *William Sattler, chorus
  • *Marcus Sendzik, viola
  • *Liam Sinclair, chorus
  • Sophia Sun, clarinet
  • William Sun, alto saxophone
  • *Ken Takayama, jazz tenor saxophone
  • *Rayna Thomas, chorus
  • *Qingyin Yang, clarinet
  • *Hibiki Yoshikawa, trombone
  • *Yolanda Yu, flute
  • *Evan Zhang, clarinet
  • *Emily Zhou, flute

Done! After Two Decades Of Delays, Beaver Brook Culvert Finally Replaced

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Photo: The new roadway over the Beaver Brook culvert at the Waltham/Belmont line.

After two decades of delays in deciding who would pay what part of a several million-dollar infrastructure project, a brand new tunnel carrying Beaver Brook under the main thoroughfare between Belmont and Waltham is now in operation.

The days of vehicles bouncing over steel plates as they crawled over a crumbling underground culvert, which allowed Beaver Brook to cross Trapelo Road at the border of Waltham and Belmont, have finally ended.

“The culvert? It’s finished,” said Glenn Clancy, Belmont’s long-serving Town Engineer, at a recent Select Board meeting. But don’t expect a ribbon cutting when the remaining items on the “punch list” are tidied up in the new year.

“I think everyone involved is just happy that it’s done,” said Clancy, Belmont’s contact on the project.

The more than three-decade delay in the rebuild was due to the culvert’s location: half of the infrastructure lies in Waltham, and the other half in Belmont. During this time, the two municipalities could not agree on which should pay for what.

“That’s always been a contentious thing. We knew we wanted to replace it, but the biggest issue preventing that was jurisdiction: was it Waltham? Or was it Belmont,” said Clancy.

Finally, in 2019, it was agreed that the two communities would split the project 50/50, although, in the end, Waltham performed more work and accrued additional costs, said Clancy. Belmont’s Town Meeting approved spending up to $800,000 from the town’s Sewer Enterprise Fund, accompanied by a $100,000 state earmark.

In 2022, the state legislature responded to requests for funding by appropriating $2 million to replace the culvert. In October 2022, Waltham—which took the lead on the work—requested bids and, in March 2023, granted the contract to E.T. & L. Corp.

The work began in early July 2024. It included razing the existing culvert and building the new tunnel and its wing walls. It also called for creating a new block wall on the downstream/Waltham side, constructing a moment slab and bridge railing, and constructing a flood wall on the upstream/Belmont side. Finally, minor drainage work, new sidewalk construction, paving, guardrails, and other minor work were and will be completed.

A Spotlight Now On Belmont High Wrestling As Program Grows In Numbers, Competitiveness

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Photog: Belmont High’s Josh Hartley celebrates pinning his opponent in the 165-pound bout in the season opener vs Reading Memorial High

After several decades in the dark, Belmont High wrestling is now under the spotlight.

And that’s an actual spotlight, the Wrestling Mat Light, a 500-watt LED bulb that illuminates the competition circle with 50,000 lumens, that now hangs from the ceiling of Wenner Field House. 

And there’s a good reason for the program to be seen in a new light. Under the leadership of Belmont Head Coach Craig Janjigian and his assistant Andrew McCahill, wrestling attracted an ever increasing number of athletes who dedicated themselves to the sport.

The program had not presented a complete competitive roster since the golden age of Belmont wrestling in the early 1990s when the Baghdady brothers and cousins led the program to individual and team titles. Now with 45 student-athletes on the roster, the program matches the size of some of the strongest state programs.

“I think last year was our first year with a full varsity lineup, and this year we do have another full varsity lineup, and each one of those kids have been getting better and better,” said Janjigian.

The squad’s new found popularity was evident when the Marauders hosted Reading Memorial in the season’s opener. The parking lot was filled, and the stand was crowded as fans entered a dark Wenner Field House, with a single light illuminating the mat. Music blared during the pre-match warm-up, while the score and time were projected on the fieldhouse wall.

In the opening match, the second (or third) generation of Belmont’s vaunted wrestling family hit the mat as first-year Romy Baghdady started the dual match with an exciting 106-pound bout that went the distance, ending at 7-9.

Belmont’s Romy Baghdady

In the following contest, Belmont’s reigning state Div. 1 champion junior, Ava Svistunov, took on her male opponent. (Duel meets allow for co-ed competition since most teams don’t have many female wrestlers). After a guarded first round, Svistunov dominated the second round with speed and grappling prowess, winning via pin. [On Dec. 21, Svistunov pinned her female opponent to take the 107-pound title at the prestigious early-season George Bossi Lowell Holiday tournament]

Unlike past seasons when Belmont would win one or two of the matches, the squad has developed experienced grapplers that are competitive in nearly all weight classes and especially in the middle weight divisions. Will Babcock (150) won in the first round on a quick pin, while Ryan Murphy (157) followed with a big 5-0 third round to win his match. Josh Hartley (165) battled in a high-scoring bout and was leading 10-8 in the third when he used his height advantage to get enough leverage to pin his Reading opponent.

Belmont’s Ava Svistunov

When Enzo Passos (215) pinned his Rocket competitor, the Marauders came into the ultimate bout down by a single point, 33-34, a margin against Reading that hadn’t been seen in recent memory. Ultimatley Belmont would come up seven points short, 33-40.

Belmont’s varsity grapplers at the opening of the season included Max Devitt (120 pounds), Rayan Azhari (126), Walter Pressey (132), captain Luke Coelho (138), who took his match to overtime, Jonathan Doban (144), Max Lewie (175), Jack Papazian (190), and Will Lockwood (285).

Belmont will host the annual Brenden Grant Tournament: Saturday for Boys and Sunday the Girls, Jan. 4 and 5.

Yet it’s not just the wins the wrestlers attained or the popularity the sport has achieved that Janjigian sees as the program’s most valuable asset.

“It’s certainly the participation but it’s also the enthusiasm. There’s a clear sense of joy that the kids are having. That’s my whole thing because it’s one of the most demanding sports you can do, and if you’re not having fun doing it, what are you doing? I like to see the vast majority of the team actually having fun doing it. It is something that I’m very proud of.”


Celebrate Chanukah With Menorah Lighting at Belmont Center, Thursday Dec. 26

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Photo: The poster of the Belmont Center Menorah Lighting

Join your neighbors at this year’s Belmont Center Menorah Lighting taking place on Thursday, Dec.26 at 6 p.m. The ceremony featuring music, songs, and Chanukah treats will take place at the delta (Concord Avenue and Leonard Street} in front of the M&T Bank branch.

The annual event is coordinated by the Center for Jewish Life Arlington-Belmont which provides synagogue services, spiritual guidance, community outreach and education to inspire all Jewish people to discover a common bond of faith and observance.

What’s Open And Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas in Belmont

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Photo: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Christmas is a day of gift-giving and reflecting on cheerful times from past years around the tree, gift giving, before decamping to the dinner table to watch the latest holiday movie on the Hallmark Channel and professional sports events or just relaxing with family and friends.

For those who don’t celebrate the day, several fine Chinese restaurants will be open, and movies are premiering on the big screen on Christmas. A Complete Unknown the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, and three animated pics: Mufasa: The Lion King, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Moana 2.

And if you have a “need” to get out of the house, here are a few places around town closing early Christmas Eve and open on Christmas:

Christmas Eve early closings:

  • Star Market at 535 Trapelo Rd. will close at 6 p.m. The pharmacy closes at 5 p.m.
  • CVS: The store at 264 Trapelo Rd. is closing at 10 p.m. (the pharmacy at 6 p.m.) and 60 Leonard St. at 10 p.m. (with the pharmacy shutting its doors at 6 p.m.)
  • Starbucks at 110 Trapelo Rd. in Cushing Square will close at 5 p.m.
  • Dunkin’ at 353 Trapelo Rd. is closing at 8 p.m., while the store at 52 Church St. is closing at 7 p.m. The store at 350 Pleasant St. will shut down at 6 p.m.
  • MBTA buses and subway lines will run on a Sunday schedule. The commuter rail is on the weekend schedule.

Christmas Day

Dunkin’

  • The Dunkin’ at 353 Trapelo Rd. will operate from 4:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.
  • The 52 Church St. location in Waverley Square will be open from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 350 Pleasant St. will be open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Starbucks

  • The “Cushing Village” location at 110 Trapelo Rd. will be open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CVS Pharmacy

  • The store at 264 Trapelo Rd. will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • The operation at 60 Leonard St. in Belmont Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas.
  • The pharmacies on Trapelo Road and Belmont Center will be closed.

Star Market

  • Belmont’s supermarket, located at 535 Trapelo Rd., is closed for the holiday.

If you are looking to get around on the MBTA:

  • The Fitchburg/South Acton Commuter Line will operate on a weekend schedule, and buses in Belmont will also operate on a Sunday schedule.

Opening Day For Belmont High Hoops an Up (Girls) and Down (Boys) Affair

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Photo: Belmont vs Melrose

It was an up-and-down result for Belmont High’s Hoop teams on their opening day of the 2024-25 Boy and Girls’ campaign on Friday, Dec. 13. While the Marauders Girls romped past Melrose, the Boys wasted the efforts of a pair of impressive sophomores as the Raiders took home the victory from the Wenner Field House.

Boys: Melrose 51, Belmont 47

Belmont Head Coach Darren Martinez didn’t sugarcoat his team’s opening performance losing to a solid – but hardly great – Melrose squad. It needs to improve everywhere.

“There’s a lot to be learned on both ends of the floor, individually and as a team. We just had a lot of self-inflicted wounds that hurt you, I expected a little bit of sloppiness. I wish we would have come prepared, but just like I’ve always told you past couple of years, players win, coaches lose. So that’s on me,” said Martinez.

But Martinez saw a few sparks of optimism during the game, pointing to a pair of sophomores in Brayden Dargon and Pete McLaughlin who led the Marauders in scoring with 15 and 8 points.

It was somewhat understandable that the season opener would get off on a as Melrose (1-0) ran off to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes only to see Belmont (0-1) go on a 9-0 run behind the slick play of Dargon to finish the first quarter up 11-8.

But just like that, the Raiders said “Hold our Gatorade” and matched Belmont’s surge with one of its own, an 11-0 spurt to snatch a 19-11 lead after 3:31 into the quarter, an advantage it would not give up for the remainder of the contest. Belmont did bring the deficit back to two, 21-19, but would trailed 23-19 at the half.

The third quarter saw the lead stay steady in the four to five-point range as Belmont’s guard kept the Marauders in range with a pair of knockdown jumpers as the Raiders entered the final eight minutes leading 37-32. Once again Belmont began hitting their shots and when Will Murphy hit a corner three with six minutes to cut the lead to a single point, it appeared Belmont had grabbed the game’s momentum for a late-game charge.

But Melrose’s senior big man Owen Mujalli would do what senior captains are expected in the final moments: put the team on his back. Mujalli first stole a cross-court pass and drive for two, then hit a spinning jumper for a deuce, and finished with a line-drive three to give Melrose a critical six-point spread, 47-41, in the final two minutes.

Belmont would fight back with a two-from Williams with 25 seconds remaining cutting the lead to a single possession, 50-47. But an apparent clean steal from a Belmont double team was blown as a foul, much to the noisy consternation of the Belmont Girls team watching in the stands. Mujalli – who scored 10 of his game high 18 points in the fourth – knocked down one of two from the charity stripe and ended the game with a defensive rebound.

“I’m gonna challenge my upper class and my juniors and seniors to be leaders and step up and help the young guys. To have sophomores step up like that is great, but I don’t think any great team is relying on sophomores to carry them,” said Martinez.

Next up for the Marauders will be an early season traveling two miles to historic rival Watertown on Tuesday, Dec. 17. It will be played at Watertown Middle School.

“The team showed its potential at times in the game, but they need to be better prepared mentally and physically for future games, especially against tougher opponents like Watertown, that’s for sure,” he said.

Girls: Belmont 70, Melrose 21

It was all smiles as the Girls’ Marauders entered Wenner Field House after the crimson and white dismantled the host Raiders by nearly 50 points, 70-21. “We beat them. Period,” a Marauder said emphatically describing the game between two mismatched Middlesex League teams.

Senior point guard Gabby Orfanos scored a game-high 18 points which included four threes, and sixth-player extraordinaire senior Brynn Connolly added 11 points. First-year Sarah Geller, who third-year head coach Shantell Jeter is high on after the preseason, started the game and knotted eight points.

Gabby had a real breakout game to show what she can do in every game while having a freshman on the floor to start tonight was also another message that we sent,” said Jeter.

Each of Belmont’s 14 member squad got a chance to get on the court in the game which Belmont outscored 22-1 in the first quarter.

“It was a good team effort,” said Jeter. “While they didn’t really have too much we still had a lot of opportunities to work on” a lot of our stuff” including a chance to mix and match lineups. Jeter also praised the team’s defense, producing a handful of five-second calls

Belmont will host its first home match against Watertown on Tuesday with tip-off at 6 p.m. said the Raiders will provide a much stiffer opponent this time around.

“We’ll have to be more intense. We gotta turn up every game,” she said.

0:18


Like about this game. I’m sure I’ll find some good things as well. When we listen and when we played together, when the ball moved, we got good shots.


yeah, we showed spurn to what we can do, and a lot of that is, you know, the bench has to be ready to play. You know, the starters played a lot in the second half, and a lot of it has to be with guys kind of not being ready, maybe nerds for the first game, a little bit of jitters.

I have to get them prepared, but they have to themselves, be mentally and physically prepared as well, so hopefully we bounce back on Tuesday, but it’s not going to be any easy against Watertown mastery.

What’s Opened, Closed In Belmont On A Wet Thanksgiving 2024

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Photo: Thanksgiving (c. 1935) by Doris Lee (1905–1983), Art Institute of Chicago

It’s going to be one wet and cold Thanksgiving.

From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Belmont and eastern Massachusetts will be drenched with nearly an inch of cold rain with the expected high temperature reaching only the mid-40s. While snow could coat the ground in the Worcester hills and out west in Franklin county and there is some possibility of brief freezing rain statewide, the National Weather Service said as of 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving that it doesn’t have enough confidence in widespread icing occurring in eastern Mass. to issue a Winter Weather Advisory.

Despite the forecast, football is on the early morning menu as the 102nd edition of the Thanksgiving Day rivalry between neighbors Belmont and Watertown high schools will take place on Harris Field at (around) 10:15 a.m.

One of only ten recognized by the federal government, Thanksgiving is both a national and state holiday, so most businesses along with federal, state and town offices are closed shut.

In Belmont, town offices, the Senior Center at the Beech Street Center (which currently houses the Belmont Public Library) and the Benton Library will also be closed on the holiday and Black Friday, Nov 29.

But there are a few places where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the kitchen to pick up a coffee or hot chocolate or hit at least one drug store to pickup your prescription you forgot about.

What’s open:

  • Starbucks in Cushing Square (Trapelo and Common) is open from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving and 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Black Friday.
  • Dunkin’ at Trapelo Road and Beech Street will be operating from 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The location on Church Street in Waverley Square will be open from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. (go see the newly-remodeled interior that was renovated overnight!) The store at 350 Pleasant St. will be open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • CVS at 264 Trapelo Rd. is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • CVS in Belmont Center on Leonard Street is operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pharmacy is closed.
  • Star Market in Waverley Square is closed.

Epstein Nixes Select Board Re-election Run; Backing Planning Board’s Yates To Fill Vacancy

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Photo: Roy Epstein

Roy Epstein, a two-term member of the Belmont Select Board, has decided not to seek re-election for the seat he’s held since April 2019.

“I wanted to tell you that after months of thinking about it, I’ve decided not to seek a third term on the Select Board this spring,” said Epstein.  “This has honestly been one of the greatest privileges and one of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had.  As those of you know who have been there, it’s hard to give it up.  I thank everyone who asked me to run again.  It’s very rewarding to have served and to feel that people believe I’ve done a good job,” he said.

“Thank you … for being part of the community in Belmont that is vitally concerned with how our little democracy can continue to thrive,” Epstein noted. “I said in 2019 that good government doesn’t just happen. It takes constant work. And you are key partners in helping to make it happen.

Epstein was first elected to the board in one of the closest races in town election history, defeating Jessica Bennett by 128 votes out of roughly 5,150 ballots cast. He was re-elected in 2022 by a comfortable two-third margin.

In an email sent on Monday night, Nov. 25, Epstein said he will be backing the candidacy of Taylor Yates, the Planning Board chair who has taken out nomination papers for Select Board.

As for his support of Yates, Epstein said he had been impressed with Yates in his support of the leaf blower bylaw in 2022 and his leadership of the Yes for Appointed Treasurer Committee and championing the MBTA Communities Act that came before this month’s Special Town Meeting.

“I know that [appointed treasurer] was controversial and not all of you agreed with the decision.  But Taylor organized a fair, fact-based campaign and events have proved that an appointed treasurer has worked out well,” said Epstein.

Epstein pointed to his experience leading the Planning Board as “an excellent training ground” to fill the seat on the board. “[Yates] showed the intelligence, maturity, and demeanor we need on the Select Board,” he said.

“By the end of the Special Town Meeting, I felt strongly that we had just seen the next member of the Select Board.”

Belmont High Football Thanksgiving Day Game vs Watertown (v.102) At Home

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Photo: Belmont will host Watertown for the 102nd time on Thanksgiving.

Belmont High continues its century-long Thanksgiving Day rivalry with neighboring Watertown as the two sides meet at Belmont’s Harris Field, Thursday, Nov. 28 at 10 a.m.

It’s a game Watertown has circled on the calendar after suffering the most lopsided result in the 101 games played when the Marauders beat up the Raiders, 47-0, at Watertown’s Victory Field. Watertown leads the series, 50-46-5.

It’s been a rebuilding year for both teams as the Raiders come into the match at 3-7 while the Marauders – who lost their two varsity quarterback within the first 15 minutes of the opening game against Shawsheen Tech – come in at 2-8.

Tickets for the game will be online only – in fact, your phone will be used to enter the stands. Go to https://gofan.co/event/2331689 to purchase your tickets. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Town Sets Holiday Hours Through New Year’s

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Photo: Town Hall in Belmont

Belmont Town Administrator Patrice Garvin has released the holiday schedule for town employees and offices.

Thanksgiving holiday hours

  • Wednesday, Nov. 27: 1 p.m. Town Hall and town offices Early Closure.
  • Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving), and Friday, Nov. 29: Town Hall and town offices are closed.

Winter holiday hours

  • Tuesday, Dec. 24: Noon Early Closure
  • Wednesday, Dec. 25 (Christmas): Town Hall Closed
  • Tuesday, Dec. 31: 2 p.m. Early Closure
  • Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025 (New Year’s Day): Town Hall Closed

Due to the holidays, no building, plumber or electrical inspection will be performed on Wed., Nov. 27, Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29. All inspection requests for these dates will be performed on Monday, Dec. 2.

In a meeting with the Select Board before the first night of Special Town Meeting, Garvin said while she doesn’t want to set precedent of providing early release before an official holiday, she did note that it is just “a few hours” that the staff will appreciate the gesture,