Voters Approve Marijuana Bylaw Limiting Pot Businesses in Belmont [VIDEO]

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Photo: Voters by a two-to-one margin approve limiting pot businesses in Belmont.

Belmont declared Tuesday, Sept. 25, that marijuana as a business should be kept at a minimum, as voters by a two to one margin limited pot to be sold at two retail stores.

At Tuesday’s special town election, a little more than 2,000 voters voted ‘yes’ to prohibit all types of marijuana establishments with the exception of retailers, just about double (2,004 to 1,160) those who opposed the measure, which would have permitted all sorts of pot commerce – such as growers and processors as well as an unlimited number of stores – to be located in town.

The special election was called when Town Meeting at its spring annual meeting approved the language which allowed the town to select the retail-only business option.

Approximately 18 percent of registered voters ventured on a dank, rainy day to the polls, a good size participation considering the non-financial nature of the ballot question.

Town Meeting members will soon decide where the pair of pot shops can be located when the Planning Board presents proposed retail marijuana overlay districts at the Nov. 12 Special Town Meeting.

While Belmont is now open for retailers to apply to the state’s Cannabis Control Commission for a license, past actions by town officials will likely place the Town of Homes on the back burner for pot entrepreneurs. In the spring, the Belmont Health Board increased the age of those purchasing weed and related products to 25 years old while prohibiting the delivery of products in town. With Belmont surrounded by communities with fewer restrictions – Boston, Watertown and Cambridge come to mind – the consensus is that businesses will skip over Belmont to those with more favorable bylaws. 

Talk On Increasing Climate Resilience This Wednesday, Sept. 26

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Photo: Flooding at Clay Pit Pond, March 2018.

Julie Wormser, deputy director of the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), will speak Wednesday, Sept. 26 at the Belmont Public Library on the organization’s Climate Resilience program and working with municipalities, businesses, and community organizations on a regional climate resilience strategy for the watershed.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Library’s Assembly Room.

The talk will discuss ways Belmont groups, businesses, and the town can help increase resilience to both drought and flooding from climate change. This is a meeting of the Belmont Stormwater Working Group, a collaboration between the Belmont Citizens Forum and Sustainable Belmont.

Belmont Volleyball Extends Record Winning Streak To 6, Tops Middlesex Liberty Division

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Photo: Waiting for the serve.
Belmont High School Volleyball continued its historic winning streak by defeating perennial league powerhouse Winchester, 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 25-23, 18-25, 15-5), on Friday, Sept. 21 at the Wenner Field House. The Marauders’ (6-0-0) six consecutive victories to begin the season breaks a long-standing team consecutive win streak that stood at five. The win places Belmont atop the Middlesex League Liberty Division standings.

“This is the most mentally tough team that I’ve ever coached,” said Belmont Head Coach Jen Couture. “Teams like Winchester push us to play our best and that’s what we had to do to win that match. It was a team effort.”
“They aren’t afraid of making mistakes, but instead, learn and adjust. They understand that we’re going to lose points and sets but the most important thing is who wins the last one.  They have the will to win and escalate their game to match each opponent,” Couture said.
Couture pointed to the consistent play of Belmont senior co-captain Leah Babroudi throughout the match, who was 15 for 15 serving with 3 aces, and perfect on serve receive 21 for 21. 
“Leah was all over the place on defense, covering her hitters and keeping balls alive. She is one of the biggest competitors on the team and her energy on the court is contagious. She is so tough and never lets a missed dig get to her.  She just shakes it off and gets the next ball up,” said Couture, who captained Belmont in 2004.

The Marauders started off a little slow in the first, keeping pace with the Sachems until they pushed from 19-18 to 25-18 to close the first set. 

The second set was back and forth, with each team going on 3-5 point scoring runs including one by Jenny Vetrano to bring the Marauders to 24-18.  Vetrano was 18 for 18 serving with 1 ace. The Sachems sided out and Senior Captain Luna Colozzo went on a run of her own bringing the score to 24-24 before the Marauders could side out and finish off the set 26-24. 
The third set was also close throughout with the Marauders inching away later in the set to win 25-23.  As the match progressed, libero Sophia Estok continued to read Winchester’s hitters better and better making incredible digs (25 total).  Setter Mindee Lai also played superb defense and was second in digs with 17. 
Strong passes and smart hits by senior co-captain Jane Mahon (14 kills) helped the Marauders to get into a groove early in the fourth set, as they were able to side out on the first pass for the first 5 servers. However, a serving rotation error saw Belmont’s lead reduced from 10-5 to 8-6, which caused the team to lose momentum and eventually the set.

While it was too late to take back the set, which they dropped 18-25, they picked up enough steam to start off the fifth set strong.  Estok went back to serve and brought the Marauders to a 6-1 lead.  Clutch kills to by Nena Trifunovic (7 total, 4 of her last 5 swings being kills) kept the momentum going and the team never let up.  Finally at 11-5 Mahon went back to serve and finished out the match, ending the final set 15-5.

 

Belmont is back home in the Wenner Field House hosting Arlington on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m.

Belmont Votes Today, Tuesday, Sept. 25: Pot Bylaw

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Photo: Belmont voters head for the polls today.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Belmont votes today, Sept. 25, in a Special Town Election to determine the direction of a marijuana bylaw approved by Town Meeting in the spring.

What does your vote on the ballot question mean?

A Yes vote allows retail marijuana establishments to be licensed in Belmont and limits the number to 20 percent  of the number of “package store” licenses we have issued; currently that calculation would result in up to two licenses. This vote would also prohibit businesses that cultivate, manufacture or test marijuana from being licensed to open in Belmont.

A No vote allows retail marijuana establishments to be licensed in Belmont but there would be no limit on the number of licenses that could be issued. In addition, businesses that cultivate, manufacture or test marijuana could be licensed; likewise, there would be no limit on the number of these licenses that could be issued.

Both Yes and No votes allow the Town of Belmont to create time, place and manner Zoning Bylaws regulating where and how marijuana businesses may operate in Town, but only a Yes vote would let the Zoning Bylaw limit, directly or indirectly, the total number of retail stores allowed in Belmont. The proposed Zoning Bylaw regulating marijuana businesses is expected to be voted at the Special Town Meeting scheduled November 13th.

The Belmont Board of Health has already adopted recreational-use marijuana regulations. Marijuana licenses are issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; they not issued locally.

Polling places will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

  • Precinct 1 – Library, Assembly Room
  • Precinct 2 – Town Hall, Selectmen’s room
  • Precinct 3 – Beech Street Center, Multipurpose room
  • Precinct 4 – Butler School, Gymnasium
  • Precinct 5 – Beech Street Center, Multipurpose room
  • Precinct 6 – Fire Headquarters, 299 Trapelo Road
  • Precinct 7 – Burbank School, Gymnasium
  • Precinct 8 – Winn Brook School, Gymnasium (enter on Cross Street)

To find out whether you are registered to vote and where you vote, visit the web page: www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/

[VIDEO] Smoky Fire In Belmont Center Damages Stores, Studio, Residence

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Photo: Firefighters battling a two-alarm fire in Belmont Center.

A two-alarm fire damaged a number of businesses, a yoga studio and a residence in the heart of Belmont Center just after 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24.

According to Belmont Fire Chief David Frizzell the smoky blaze started in a nail salon in the basement of the building occupied by Leon and Co. hair salon on Leonard Street. The fire quickly moved up the walls of the building which was renovated a number of times over the years. The fire reached the top floor of the bodytrio studio at the corner of Alexander Avenue. Fire crews from Belmont and Cambridge fought the stubborn smoke and fire inside the walls.

Most of the damage to the structure was limited to water and smoke, said Frizzell.

In Match Of Unbeatens, Belmont High Field Hockey Sprints Past Winchester, 3-0

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Photo: Puppy pile for Belmont’s second goal with sophomore Emma O’Donovan taking the prize.

In an early season matchup of the creme of the Middlesex League Liberty crop, Belmont High Field Hockey provided Friday afternoon that team speed is dangerous for opponents as the Marauders ran past defending league champions Winchester High, 3-0.

“It’s all the 400s [meter] runs I make them do,” said Belmont Head Coach Jess Smith as her team, ranked 15th in the Boston Globe Top 20 poll, remains undefeated at 4-0-0 while Winchester, ranked 6th in the Globe poll, drops to 2-1-0.

“We knew we were good but to beat someone like [Winchester, which last year made the Division 1 North finals] makes it’s not just talking. The win makes it ‘legit,'” said Smith.

Senior co-captain and wing Morgan Chase, junior midfield Katie Guden and sophomore forward Emma O’Donovan scored in the first half as the Marauders kept the majority of possession for most of the first 30 minutes.

For Smith, the victory was a combination of her player’s quickness and their commitment to ball movement.

“I think our speed is killer,” she said. “We have athletic kids, we are super aggressive all over the field, and our passing is extremely good,” said Smith. “No one can run faster than a ball so if we can keep passing it up the field that quickly, we’re gonna get into the [scoring] circle faster than their backs.”

The Marauders’ team up-tempo pace showed as it took away passing lanes in the middle of the field. Belmont also took the majority of 50/50 balls as well as stealing the ball on man-to-man clashes with Belmont’s senior forward and co-captain Jordan Lettiere, the prime suspect in many of those heists. 

Along the back line, junior Meaghan Noone effectively shut down Winchester’s right side attacks. Junior Emma Donahue was once again a significant presence in the middle as sophomore Hayley Koenigsberg kept Winchester’s outstanding senior forward Claire Moloney-Kolenberg in check off the left wing in the battle of the great German/Dutch surnames.

“You just have to get psyched up, getting really low to stop their good girl. And I’m thinking about trying to get it back up to the midfielders,” said Noone. 

Quarterbacking the midfield, three-year varsity starter Guden’s stellar stick handling skills allowed Belmont to keep the pressure on Winchester’s midfield and backs.

“My game plan just get it in the [scoring] circle early, play as aggressive as I want to play, and look to pass it because it’s not a one-person game,” said Guden.

Junior Molly Calkins earned the solo shut out in her first varsity start as the Marauders’ goalkeeper.

“I was so nervous when [Smith] said I was going to start, I said ‘Oh no!’ But once we got onto the field, we all just worked together and communicated really well,” said Calkins who stopped four shots.

Smith and the team face a crowded week of games, four in five days, with an away game Tuesday at an excellent Lexington team the highlight. But for now, Smith is reluctant to change anything about the squad.

“We have this great lineup, the players work really well together, they’re confident and their speedy. That’s how we are going to approach every game, with confidence and speed,” she said.

A Bit Of Oktoberfest At Cushing Square Annual Fall Festival

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Photo: On tap at the Fall Festival

Today is the first day of Oktoberfest in Munich and Belmont’s Cushing Square is joining into the swing of things with the opening of a beer garden at the Cushing Square 2nd Annual Fall Festival which will be held on  to 

7th Wave Brewery of Medfield, known for its taproom that will fill growlers like popular breweries on the West Coast, will be filling glasses with samples from its stock for a $10 admission to the garden which will be separated from the rest of the festival, which remains a very family-friendly event with rides, animal events and booths from local stores.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

  • 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Amusement rides
  • Noon – 4 p.m.:  7th Wave Brewery Beer Garden at CLC Cafe
  • 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Rain Forest Reptile live show
  • 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Cambridge Open Air Circus stilt walking classes.
  • 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Animal Craze petting zoo 
  • Noon: Dog Costume Show sponsored by Belmont Savings Bank 
  • 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Cash Cube sponsored by Belmont Savings Bank

Yard Sales In Belmont; Sept. 22-23 Kendall Garden Neighborhood Sale

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Photo: Yard sales in Belmont.

Yard sales in the Town of Homes on the first weekend of summer.

127 WASHINGTON ST Saturday, Sept. 22 9 a.m. noon
12 STANLEY RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
18 LORIMER RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
59 LORIMER RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
11 VERNON RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 11 a.m. 3 p.m.
12 HURD RD Saturday, Sept. 22 8:30 a.m. 3 p.m.
88 LORIMER RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 9 a.m. noon
10 VERNON RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
11 LORIMER RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
11 LORIMER RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
112 BROOKSIDE AVE Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 8:30am 3 p.m.
137 CLAFLIN ST Saturday, Sept. 22 8:30 a.m. noon
154 MILL ST Saturday, Sept. 22 8:30 a.m. 4 p.m.
4 VERNON RD Saturday, Sept. 22 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
4 VERNON RD Saturday, Sept. 22 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
4 VERNON RD Saturday, Sept. 22 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
149 WASHINGTON ST Saturday, Sept. 22 9 a.m. noon
60 SELWYN RD Saturday, Sept. 22 9 a.m. 1 p.m.
53 SELWYN RD Saturday, Sept. 22 9 a.m. 3 p.m.
11 BROOKSIDE AVE Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 9 a.m. 2 p.m.
20 JACKSON RD Saturday, Sept. 22 9 a.m. 2 p.m.
16 VERNON RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
18 HURD RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 9 a.m. 3 p.m.
85 BROOKSIDE AVE Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 9 a.m. 3 p.m.
41 HURD RD Saturday, Sept. 22 9 a.m. noon
624 PLEASANT ST Saturday, Sept. 22 10 a.m. 5 p.m.
82 LORIMER RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 9 a.m. 4 p.m.
18 LORIMER RD Saturday and Sunday,

Sept. 22,23.

 10 a.m. 3 p.m.

 

Driver Charged in Fatal Pedestrian/Vehicle Crash In Belmont

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Photo: Sachi Thanawala.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin announced today, Friday, Sept. 21, that Raymond O’Brien, 45, of Medford has been charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in connection with an August 28, fatal collision in Belmont that took the life of Belmont resident Sachi Thanawala.

Based on the preliminary investigation it was determined that the defendant was not in possession of a valid driver’s license and subsequently not permitted to operate a motor vehicle. The defendant had previously been licensed to operate in Massachusetts; however, that license had expired in 2004.

This charge is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, according to the DA’s office.

On Aug. 28, at approximately 8:25 a.m., Belmont Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Lexington and Sycamore streets. Upon arrival, authorities located Thanawala, 39, of Sycamore Street, who had sustained serious injuries. Thanawala was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where she died on Aug. 30. O’Brien, who was operating the vehicle, a 2015 Ford Transit Van, remained on scene.

Through their investigation authorities learned that the decedent was crossing the street at the intersection when the defendant allegedly turned left striking her.

This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Belmont Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Taylor Makson. 

Letter To The Editor: Belmont Should Not Place Fear-Based Regs On Burgeoning Industry

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Photo: Sample jars at an existing retail operation.

To the editor:

The debate surrounding retail marijuana arises fears of the “undesirable people” that would be brought into town, fear of kids having access to marijuana, and scares about kids seeing marijuana in the window of a store (despite the fact that retailers are not allowed to display any product in the window, or have any signage that indicates that marijuana is sold there). Parents understandably do not want their kids to smoke pot. Thankfully, marijuana will not be any more present in your life, or any kids’ life if you vote ‘no’ to the Special Election Question on Tuesday, Sept. 25. 

Marijuana already exists in Belmont. The contents of the marijuana that kids currently have access to are not regulated whatsoever. Furthermore, the existence of retail marijuana has the chance to dry up the black market for a substance that is generally easier for American children to get than alcohol, which is regularly exposed to children in restaurants, stores, and advertising. 

Much of the conversation regarding this bylaw focuses on the number of retail establishments that would be allowed. I definitely don’t think that there is a market for more than two retail stores in Belmont at the moment. There should be as many establishments as the market demands, and therefore no premature limitation on what is allowed. If a no vote passes, it is highly unlikely that there will be more than two establishments in the foreseeable future.

My primary concern is that there is no logical reason to block cultivators, product manufacturers, or testing facilities. These facilities create jobs, many of which require advanced education and training and pay well. We should allow a burgeoning industry that will create quality employment opportunities in town. 

Good policymaking is evidence based. We should reject regulation that stifles economic development and doesn’t have any foreseeable social or environmental externalities. I would challenge that there is no benefit to voting for these regulations other than to appease personal biases, unfounded fears, and blatant misunderstandings of the implications of this policy. Voting no will allow for increased tax revenue in town, more quality employment opportunities for residents, potentially reduce the market for marijuana on the street, and allow adults to consume marijuana in the safest possible way if they choose to do so.

Jeremy Romanul

Trowbridge Street