No Summer Al Fresco Dining In Belmont Center As Eateries Not Interested In Outdoor Service

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Photo: Outdoor dining in Belmont Center 2021

The days of al fresco dining in Belmont Center – a staple of local restaurants since 2020 – has all but ended as Leonard Street eateries are not interested continuing to provide open air service this summer, according to the leader of Belmont’s largest business organization.

“There’s not going to be any outdoor dining for this upcoming season,” said Deran Muckjian, president of the Belmont Center Business Association, who has been in discussion with the three restaurants – il Casale, the Wellington, and Stoneheart Pizza – which led the push for street-side service in the past few years.

Speaking before the Select Board on March 24, Muckjian said the reason for the pull back was simply a financial decision: The revenue being generated from the added outdoor tables didn’t justify the expense the businesses put into it.

“I hope the residents are not disappointed, but it was really an economic thing,” said Muckjian. “You can’t blame the restaurants’ thinking. They have a lot of space indoor that’s not being utilized, so they figure they can bring [customers] back inside.”

The Select Board at its Monday, March 24 meeting, were scheduled to go over this year’s sidewalk dining policy which was established during the early days of the COVID pandemic. With indoor dining under wide-ranging of state restrictions including masking and mandated space requirements, the town sought to assist local restaurants by increasing outside spaces to be used for al fresco dining. The plan expanded table service into Leonard Street behind jersey barriers, allowing the businesses an opportunity to salvage sales and keep the “door” open.

The initial plan included blocking off Leonard Street from Alexander Avenue to Concord Avenue before being modified to include a single lane running down the middle of the road with barriers down the length of the street, restricting street parking which angered many non-eatery retailers.

Over the past few years, the once popular eating option has seen a decreasing interest from restaurants asking for the extra space as COVID restrictions ended and

Muckjian said there will be limited fresh-air options including il Casale utilizing its patio in front of the restaurant, and “maybe” adding a couple tables on its sidewalk.

“It’s wide enough there and they’ve had it before. That’s their extent of outdoor dining,” he said. Muckjian suggested the select board establish rules on sidewalk-only dining and agreed with the board that the cost of a permit on future al fresco dining be upped from $250 to $500, putting the town in line with nearby communities such as Winchester.

Don’t Be Fooled, Vote! Town Election 2025: Tuesday, April 1; All You Need To Know

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Photo: Go out and vote!

This is not an April Fool’s prank: Belmont’s annual Town Election is Tuesday, April 1!

Registered voters may cast their ballots in person only on Election Day; polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the following polling locations: 

A list of the candidates for town-wide office and Town Meeting, can be found in the Belmont League of Women Voters guide.

  • Precinct One: Beth El Temple, Zonis Auditorium, 2 Concord Ave.
  • Precinct Two: Belmont Town Hall, Select Board 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.

If you are wondering if you are a registered voter and your voting precinct, go to the Town Clerk’s web page or phone the Town Clerk’s office at 617-993-2600.

Election results for town wide and Town Meeting races will be announced at Town Hall after the polls close and are located on the Town Clerk’s website early Wednesday morning.

Taylor Yates: Let’s Build Belmont’s Future Together

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Photo: Taylor Yates (2nd to the left) and supporters

I’m Taylor Yates, and I’m running for Belmont Select Board. I’m a homeowner, a father of three, and a small business owner.

I moved to Belmont in 2018, just like a lot of you, to make a home for my family in a community that invests in itself. Belmont’s got great schools, it’s close to Boston, and people really put down roots here. This is a town where people stay for decades and generations, and they work together to shape its future.

I dove headfirst into Belmont government. I started on the Vision21 Committee, got elected to Town Meeting, and chaired the successful ‘Yes for Appointed Treasurer’ campaign. I was appointed to the Planning Board and have since been elected Chair. Along the way, I’ve championed key initiatives: I pushed to allow restaurants by right in Belmont; got the MBTA Communities Act passed by one of the largest margins in the state; and have reformed the Planning Board to focus on planning and economic development.

I’m running for Select Board because the next three years are going to determine where we are in 10 years. There are two possible futures:

  1. We’ve run out of time and resources to deal with our thorniest issues and are forced to make some heartbreaking tradeoffs
  2. Belmont is the best it’s ever been, we’ve kept the things we love about our town, enhanced them, and added to them.

When the Select Board makes those decisions I want to be there so I can bring my energy, collaboration, and vision to the table to ensure Belmont’s best days are ahead.

As chair of the Planning Board, I secured funding for a Belmont Center overlay district, a Brighton Street overlay district, and a 10-year comprehensive plan. Our residents are hurting from tax increases and service cuts, which means we need to increase our commercial tax base, boost our small businesses, and make our Town a better place to live.

That’s a lot of work, and we wouldn’t have been able to do it six months ago. When I became Chair, I decided that the Planning Board was going to have the courage to tackle our biggest and most persistent problems. We were going to do the work necessary to give people the choice to decide if we want to move forward or not.

But that was easier said than done. The Planning Board was bogged down with a lack of processes and direction. That meant we spent too much of our time working on the wrong things. I put in a lot of hours to solve that so we can pursue this ambitious 2025 economic agenda.

That’s the kind of leader I am: I start with a vision, break it into actionable steps, and deliver results. 

I believe there’s a shared vision in this Town: a thriving, dynamic town that honors its past while embracing progress. I’ve spoken to thousands of voters in this campaign, I’ve heard you, and I want to be the leader that works with you to actually fix our problems and set us up for a brighter future.

Let’s build Belmont’s future together!

Paul Joy: My Vision For Belmont

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Photo: Paul Joy has a vision for Belmont

Belmont, I’m Paul Joy, and I’m running for Select Board because this isn’t just about me. It’s about us. On Tuesday, April 1, we get to decide what our town becomes. 

I live on Harvard Road with my wife and three kids—Thomas, Lucas, and Alexandra—who attend Chenery and Wellington every school day. My wife, Yuan, is an immigrant and also teaches at the Belmont Co-Op Nursery School. We’re raising our family here, facing the same rising costs—taxes, rent, small business pressures—that is felt across our community all feel. I’ve heard your stories on porches, at games, in shops, over the phone, and they’ve shaped me. Together, we can build a Belmont that thrives for all of us.

What have I done for us? 

  • As Chair of the Economic Development Committee, I’ve fought to fill empty storefronts, bringing jobs and boosting our tax base to ease our burdens: supporting our schools and services. But it’s more than that. 
  • I chaired the Co-Op Nursery School Board, raising funds to keep tuition affordable and give our teachers bonuses, because early education sets our kids up for life. 
  • I’ve coached our kids on Belmont’s soccer fields, and helped organize practices and clinics at the same time. 
  • On the education side, I can’t tell you how proud I am of the work-based learning virtual internship program that Belmont High School students have available to them.  

My family’s roots trace back to Thomas Joy, who built Boston’s first Town House, a place that literally helped shape American democracy. And as an immigrant family today, we bring that legacy forward, proving Belmont is stronger when we embrace our diversity.

What sets me apart? 

  • I don’t just nod along—I ask hard questions and stand firm for what we need. 
  • When others accept “that’s how it’s always been,” I push for better, not quick, fixes, but durable solutions.
  • I’ve seen us struggle with a cost of living crisis, seeing seniors stretched thin, small businesses balancing rent and red tape, and renters and families priced out. I’ve demanded we rethink how we grow and that includes applying every year for every competitive grant opportunity that we can.  
  • I’ve called for a town voice to unite our business owners, amplifying their ideas to keep our downtown vibrant, not drowned out by endless construction or big chains. We need growth that works for us, not against us – in places like Brighton Street and Cushing Square, and South Pleasant St not just Belmont Center – where we can sustain it without losing our charm.


We’ve got a vision worth fighting for: a Belmont where our commercial tax base grows so our wallets don’t shrink, where our kids learn in strong schools, and our seniors stay in homes they’ve built. I’ve got the experience, as a teacher, consultant, and coach, to make it real, tackling problems with data, grit, and heart. I’ve always sought zoning changes with our entire community in mind, cut red tape like parking, and listened to you. We can partner with our shop owners, not steamroll them, and plan finances that last, not just patch holes.

Some say we should settle, that change is too messy. I say we’re tougher than that. We’re the town that shovels each other’s driveways, cheers our kids on, and keeps our shops alive. We don’t back down, we rise. My ancestor Thomas Joy didn’t just build a building; he built a place for us to stand up and demand more. I’m here to do the same, not for me, but for us. On April 1, we choose: a Belmont that builds, grows, and thrives together.

So, Belmont, let’s do this. Grab your neighbor, your friend, your family—head to the polls on April 1, and Vote Joy. Check out joyforbelmont.com to see our plans—because this is our campaign. We’re not just voting for a person; we’re voting for us: a town where we all belong, prosper, and shine.

Let’s make it happen, together. Thank you.

Freedom Is Focus Of 2025 Belmont World Film’s International Series Beginning March 31

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Photo: DJ Ahmet is the opening feature of Belmont World Film’s 23rd International Film Series that starts March 31.

The focus of Belmont World Film’s 23rd International Film Series is “Freedom on Film,” beginning Monday, March 31, and running weekly through June 16 at Apple Cinemas in Cambridge and the West Newton Cinema.

The series presents eleven films that were screened at the biggest international film festivals in which three were their countries’ submission for the Academy Award’s Best International Feature film.

The powerful lineup explores the many dimensions of freedom, from personal liberation to political resistance, showcasing compelling stories from around the globe and shedding light on the struggles and triumphs of those who dare to break barriers. The series invites audiences to engage with diverse perspectives on what it truly means to be free.

Opening night features the East Coast premiere of DJ Ahmet, winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award and the Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film depicts a sweet, coming-of-age drama about 15-year-old Ahmet, who finds solace in music while navigating tradition, family expectations, and first love in a remote Macedonian village. The screening at Apple Cinema in Fresh Pond will be preceded by a dinner reception at the theater featuring North Macedonian cuisine from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Other highlights include: 

  • Reading Lolita in Tehran, based on the best-selling memoir by Azar Nafisi on April 28. 
  • Under the Volcano, about the trials of a Ukrainian family on vacation in Tenerife, Spain on the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The film was Poland’s submission for the Best International Feature Film Oscar.
  • The closing night film of the main series is Four Mothers. A heartfelt Irish comedy starring James McArdle is about a gay Young Adult novelist on the cusp of literary success, who’s unexpectedly tasked with caring for his ailing mother and three of his friends’ mothers over a chaotic weekend. Tickets includes an optional closing night dinner featuring Irish cuisine.

Funding for the International Film Series is provided by Juliet Jenkins/Leading Edge Realty and the Quebec Delegation of Boston. The Belmont LGBTQ+ Alliance is a community partner.

Individual tickets are $14 in advance (no fees) and $16 at the door with cash or check. “Passports,” which can be shared with one other person, offer eight films for $95. Memberships, for which individuals receive tickets or passports and other benefits, are also available. EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholder tickets and passes are half-price. The opening and closing dinners have separate admissions.

For tickets, passes, or for more information visit www.belmontworldfilm.org or call 617-484-3980. Like us at www.Facebook.com/BelmontWorldFilm or follow us on Instagram @Belmont_World_Film or X at @BelmntWorldFilm.

Foundation For Belmont Education’s Casino Night Gala Brings Support To Educators [Photos]

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Photo: Dancing the night away: The return of the annual Foundation for Belmont Edcuation gala

High rollers and haute couture mingled in the Jordan Athletic Center at the Belmont Hill School for games of chance and Indian cuisine as the Foundation for Belmont Education hosted “Casino Night” on Saturday, March 22.

The return of the popular annual fundraising gala – last held in 2021 – saw the basketball court transformed into a casino and a dance floor, with a sit down a la carte dinner making it a super fun night out with folks who support the future of Belmont public schools. Patrons were treated with a raffle, on-line and silent auctions and games with dancing to boot. Melissa McKenna and Maria Olajangu, FBE co-presidents, hosted the night’s events that proved to be an outstanding night of fundraising for the commuity’s educators.

The gala’s main speaker was Josh Streit, Belmont High School educator who was last year’s FBE Outstanding Teacher Award winner. Streit told the audience that amoung the myriad of roles a teach has, there is one that stands out: the role of support. “How can I best support my students? How can I support their learning, their development. and their emotional well being.”

Streit said he sees the FBE in the same way, while it plays many important roles in our community and in our schools, “the most significant thing the FBE does is support” with summer grants, recognition, and classroom materials.

“But beyond this material support, it’s the feeling of knowing that there’s a community behind me, whether that’s the FBE or my colleagues, that truely makes a difference,” he said.

“We all want to feel supported, to know that we have someone behind us, rooting for us. And that’s what the FBE does for educators in this district.”

Photos:

Due To Pending Rain Event, Belmont Town Grass Fields Are Closed March 20-21

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Photo: Belmont’s grass fields are closed March 20-21

Due to a pending soaking rain and the oversaturation of the ground, the Belmont Department of Public Works has closed all of the town’s grass fields on March 20 and March 21. This includes activities such as youth sports and dog walking.

This is the second closure of town fields this year; they were closed for 12 days in February due to melting snow cover and rainy conditions.

Breaking: Massive Blackout In Belmont As Manhole Fire Plunges Town Into The Dark [UPDATES]

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Photo: The service map from Belmont Light’s webpage shows the town impacted by the outage

A manhole explosion at approximately 10 p.m. on Hittinger Street is responsible for plunging most of Belmont into the dark, according to Belmont Light, the municipal electrical utility.

The explosion and subsequent fire “caused the entire west side of town to lose power,” read a message on the utility’s Facebook account. While power remained on in the southeast section of Belmont and along Belmont Street and Trapelo Road into Cushing Square, all other neighborhoods and streets were dark. The resulting loss of electricity left most homes without power, street lights to go out, and resulted in drivers negotiating intersections without traffic signals.

Belmont Light said it has crews at the location, which is nearby to one of its transformer stations.

“We are ensuring that line workers can safely enter the manhole before determining the extent of the damage. We will provide an update ASAP,” the posting read.

UPDATE: At approximately 11:31 p.m., Belmont Light reported it had identified a failed cable and are testing others in an attempt to isolate the issue.

“We hope to start to pick customers back up within 30 minutes [at midnight, March 19] and will be making progress to restore power for all customers following testing.”

UPDATE: Belmont Light has completed the work bringing power back to the town.

More Sports: Svistunov Repeats as Div. 1’s Top Wrestler; Lehr Second In Meet Of Champions; Belmont Youth Hockey Girls Take 2 State Titles

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Photo: Belmont High’s Ava Svistunov is now a two-time Massachusetts Division 1 champion

Ava and Eva bring home the silverware

It took Belmont High’s Ava Svistunov less than six minutes of total mat time in her three matches to retain the title of Massachusetts’ top Division 1 wrestler at the MIAA Wrestling Divisional championships held at North Andover High School.

On Feb. 22, Svistunov won the title at 114 pounds, a weight class one step higher than last year when she took the 107 pound crown. Not that moving up made much difference as the junior stormed through the category, defeating Saphira Sao from the powerful Lowell High team in the finals via a fall in the first period.

Belmont High Eva Cohan

Svistunov’s teammate Eva Cohan came home with her own medal, taking third at 120 pounds; her only defeat coming at the hands of eventual champion Adriana DeGroat from Framingham High. Cohen would go on to compete at the Girls All-State Championships on the next weekend.

Dana Lehr and Noah Geiger were on-track indoors

After being a lynch pin in the midfield on the Belmont High varsity soccer team in the fall, senior Dana Lehr traded her boots for track spikes and showed her versatility as an athlete with top-notched performances going round and round the indoor track.

A member of Emerging Elites – the same club Belmont’s Ellie Shea, the USA Under20 cross country and track member, competed – Lehr doubled at the Middlesex League Indoor Track & Field Championship, winning the one (4 minutes, 57.74 seconds) and two mile (10:56.10), taking the deuce by more than 20 seconds.

At the MIAA Indoor Meet of Champions held on Feb. 22 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, Lehr would hang on to Needham High’s junior sensation Greta Hammer (who won in 10:21.48) before running solo for an impressive second and setting her indoor PR of 10:33.19. Lehr was invited to run in the two mile at the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet held in Boston, where she crossed the finish line in 10:43.53. Lehr will attempt to repeat as All-State outdoors 2 mile champion this spring.

Belmont High also showed off some young talent as first-year Noah Geiger took 7th in the two mile at the MIAA State Division 2 Championships finishing in 9:59.69, running as the only 9th grader in the finals. Geiger was 4th in the Middlesex meet (9:57.71).

State titles for Belmont Girls Youth Hockey

There will be two brand-new banners just waiting to be hung in the new Belmont rink and community center this December. And they belong to a pair of teams from Belmont Girls Youth Hockey who won state titles on March 2 at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough.

The Under 12 Tier IV girls showed a great deal of grit after starting the tournament losing two of their first three games. But with some help from other teams, Belmont got into the semifinals where they defeated Milton, 2-1. In the finals, Belmont topped Hingham, 2-1, exercising some revenge on the town whose high schoolers defeated Belmont, 2-1, in the MIAA state Division 1 quarterfinals.

In the Under 14 Tier III division, Belmont came out on top of KP Walpole, 3-2, in the semi-finals. A three goal second period against Charlestown put the championship game to bed as the Marauders secured its state title with a 5-2 victory. With five eighth graders having played varsity hockey this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a few of the state champions on the high school team much sooner than later.

Spring Is Poking Out At Habitat [Photo]

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Photo: A spring bloom

Take a walk through the Mass Audubon Habitat. The turtles are back in the pond, the deer are out in force, and all sort of flora are making their way though the winter canopy of leaves and brush. Soon the goats will be out in their pens and patrons will be readying the annual plant sale. Spring officially arrives this Thursday, March 20, at 5:01 a.m., but you wouldn’t be wrong to say it’s already here.