Hands ’round the Pond: Belmont Stands Up for Safety and Civility

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In the spirit of being a welcoming community, while acknowledging the recent increase in hate crimes across the state and nation, residents of Belmont and surrounding communities are invited to join “Stand-Up for Safety – Hands Around the Pond” on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the Concord Avenue side of Clay Pit Pond in Belmont.

The highlight of the event will be a “hands around the pond,” a powerful visual statement of residents standing shoulder-to-shoulder and linking hands around the pond.

“We calculate that we’ll need about 1,000 people joining hands to reach around Clay Pit Pond,” said event co-chair Donna Ruvolo in a press release.

“It’s ambitious, but we have already heard from families, teachers, students, religious institutions and civic and youth organizations who are eager to be involved in this unprecedented event.”

“Our goal is to bring the community together to reaffirm our commitment to safety and civility,” said Ruvolo. 

“It is also our hope that residents who are feeling threatened or fearful know that we, as a community, will stand up to discrimination, harassment and bullying.”

In addition, residents will be able to review plans for the proposed Veterans’ Memorial at this location, and to acknowledge the service of local veterans who are currently championing the memorial project.

Due to the non-political and on-partisan nature of this event, participants are requested to refrain from carrying a sign or wearing clothing that is affiliated with an individual political candidate’s name or slogan. Participants are also encouraged to dress for the elements. 

Parking is available in the Belmont High School parking lot, and walking, biking and car-pooling are encouraged. This is a family friendly event suitable for all ages, but it is requested that all dogs except service dogs are kept at home.

This event is being coordinated by members of the Stand-Up Campaign, a non-political and non-partisan organization committed to kindness, decency and civil discourse.  The Stand-Up Campaign is a branch of Belmont Against Racism. Co-sponsors include the Belmont Human Rights Commission, The Belmont Veterans Memorial Committee and the Belmont Religious Council.

For more information, please contact belmontagainstracism@gmail.com

Town Election ’17: Carman Seeking Re-Election as Treasurer

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Photo: Floyd Carman.

Belmont Town Teasurer and long-time resident Floyd Carman told the Belmontonian this week he will be running to retain his post as the town’s manager of its financial assets and liabilities and tax collector.

Now in his 12th year in the post, Carman is known for his ahearance to conservative financial principles which he says is one reason the town has maintained the gold standard Triple A rating from Moody’s, the bond credit rating firm, for most of a decade. 

Carman was first elected treasurer in 2005, winning a close race over Danelia Boccia. He has run unopposed since.

Born in Cambridge, Carman spent four decades with John Hancock, reaching the position of vice president before retiring in August 2005. The Brighton Street resident matriculated at Bentley College and received his MBA in Finance from Western New England College.

Community Path’s ‘Hot’ Topics at Wednesday’s Meeting

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Photo: A previous public meeting of the Community Path Implementation committee.

“Hot topics” raised at three previous community meetings will return for a second go-around before residents as the Community Path Implementation Advisory Committee holds its fourth public meeting on the creation of a multi-use route through Belmont.

The meeting takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School, 90 School St.

The night will focus on discussing the major issues – such as privacy, on- and off-road path and alternative routes – with the committee’s engineering and landscaping consultants who are creating a feasibility study of the pathway.

The consultants, lead by Foxboro-based Pare Corp., will take data and information from the meeting and incorporate it into a matrix which will evaluate the various alternative routes.

“All views and comments made during the meeting will be reviewed and considered to the maximum extent possible,” said the committee in its agenda.

Historic Resources Survey Makes Public Debut on Thursday

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Photo: Redtop, the historic house located at 90 Somerset St. It was once the home of William Dean Howells and family.

After two years of compiling and sorting data and information, the summary findings of the Belmont Historic Resources Survey will be presented in the Board of Selectmen’s Meeting Room, at 7 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 8.

The town-wide survey of historic properties, conducted by Preservation Consultant Lisa Mausolf, was funded by a grant of $115,000 from the Community Preservation Committee in 2013.

“The Historic District Commission is excited that the historic survey project is nearing completion,” said Lauren Meier, co-chair of the Belmont Historic District Commission.

“It fills in a number of gaps in the documentation about Belmont’s historic resources and will be a valuable tool for the Commission going forward. We are grateful to the Community Preservation Committee and Town Meeting for making this possible,” said Meier.

The survey is an update of the 1984 book Belmont: The Architecture and Development of the Town of Homes, a comprehensive architectural and historic survey of Belmont created by the Boston University Preservation Studies Program. 

In 2013, the Belmont Historic District Commission embarked on revisiting the data, hiring Mausolf to update forms with new information and prepare new forms for resources that had been overlooked in the previous effort.   

The information collected can inform state and federal agencies when federally or state funded projects are planned that might adversely affect a significant cultural resource.  

On the local level, the new inventory can help communities identify significant resources and prioritize future preservation activities including listing properties on the National Register of Historic Places and establishing local historic districts or neighborhood conservation districts.  

The inventory also serves as a basis for the Belmont Historic District Commission to determine which of the town’s significant historic buildings should be subject to the Demolition Delay Bylaw.

Here Comes Santa Claus: Kris Kringle Takes the T to Belmont [VIDEO]

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Photo:Santa in Belmont for the second time this week.

Each year, Santa Claus makes his annual visit to the Belmont Lions Club’s Children Christmas Party via the MBTA commuter rail, always arriving at Belmont station on the 2:30 p.m. train.

Because he’s ageless, Santa only has to pay $2.75 from his trip from the North Pole.

Santa recruited Belmont’s Becca Pizzi as his special elf this year.

Sold in Belmont: A Softening in Multifamily Prices, For at Least a Week

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Photo: The only single family home to sell last week and, as always, at a premium.

A weekly recap of residential properties sold in the past seven days in the “Town of Homes.”

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• 136 White St., Condominum (1910). Sold: $360,000. Listed at $414,900. Living area: 1,244 sq.-ft. 5 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1 baths. On the market: 66 days.

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• 181 Claflin St., Colonial  (1950). Sold: $1,150,000. Listed at $1,050,000. Living area: 2,493 sq.-ft. 9 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 53 days.

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• 225 White St., Two-family (1908). Sold: $728,000. Listed at $799,000. Living area: 3,203 sq.-ft. 10 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 80 days.

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• 210-214 Waverley, Two-family (1880). Sold: $720,000. Listed at $739,900. Living area: 2,925 sq.-ft. 12 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 75 days.

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• 140 Trapelo Rd., First-floor condominum (1932). Sold: $390,000. Listed at $400,000. Living area: 830 sq.-ft. 4 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 1 baths. On the market: 78 days.

Lions Share of Christmas Tree Sales Ready for This Week

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Photo: Cathy Cresta has her tree.

It didn’t take long for Cathy Cresta to find the right Christmas tree for her house.

Wandering through the rows of evergreens from a farm in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Cresta pointed one which turned out to be “just right” and soon it was being carried to her car.

Getting the tree was as easy as knowing where she would buy it: in front of the Lions Club on Royal Road at the entrance of Belmont Center.

“I’ve been coming here my entire life,” said the life-long resident who lives currently on Beech Street. “And I tell everyone at work at McLean Hospital they can not beat the quality of these trees. They’re beautiful.”

Cresta is just one of hundreds of residents and customers from neighboring towns who come to the 52nd annual Christmas tree sale held by the Belmont Lions Club.

And beginning this weekend, the crowds will be coming to find that particular tree for the holiday season.

Kevin Vona said that many of the 50 volunteers – who make up four different teams – will look at the schedule which will be pulling duty during the first two weekends of December “because we know that some shifts we’ll be busy for the entire time we’re here,” he said.

Dan MacAuley, a Lions past president, said the tree sale is the biggest fundraiser the Lions run each year.

The sale is open from noon to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, “until the last tree is gone” which happens about a week before Christmas.

The prices for each tree is according to the height indicated on board next to the wrapping area.

  • 4 feet   $22
  • 5 feet   $30
  • 6 feet   $38
  • 7 feet   $44
  • 8 feet   $50
  • 9 feet   $55
  • Special sheared trees are priced as marked.
  • Wreaths range from $11 for a small 12-inch plain one to more than $35 for a decorated 24-inch.

While it is a fundraiser, “every penny of this goes to charity. We don’t get a cent from this,” said MacAuley.

The tree sale help supports Mass Eye Research, Lions Club International Foundation, Diabetes Awareness, scholarships for students at Belmont High School, community activities, Lions Clubhouse Historic Preservation and more activities.

And the Lions went the extra mile when they came to the rescue of the truck driver who brought the first of two loads of trees to Belmont. As he was beginning his 14 hour trip up north, the truck’s steering power line broke, said MacAuley. 

“Some good people in Belmont including Frankie French put together a repair to get him back to Canada,” he said.

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Holiday Cardboard Recycling Set for Saturday, Dec. 3

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For the first time, Belmont’s Highway Department will accept uncut cardboard packaging for recycling. 

Residents will be able to drop off cardboard – which will need to be folded at the Department of Public Works Town Yard – on Saturday, Dec. 3 between 9 a.m. and noon.

While Belmont’s trash and recycling contractor accept cardboard, it must be cut into pieces no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet and tied or taped together to make a stack no more than nine inches high.

The new pilot program will take place on three Saturdays – the other dates are Jan. 7 and Feb. 4 – during the holiday season. The DPW will evaluate the scheme in February to determine if it will become an annual service. 

Fill Some Holiday ‘Big Wishes’ at Belmont Savings’ Giving Tree Drive

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Photo: A giving tree at Belmont Savings.

To help brighten the season for local children, Belmont Savings Bank is supporting the “Big Wishes Gift Drive” in its Belmont, Watertown and Cambridge branches to benefit the Home for Little Wanderers.

From now until Dec. 15, those interested in participating can stop by Belmont Savings Bank branches in Belmont, Watertown or Cambridge and select an ornament from the giving trees on display. Each ornament indicates the gender and age of a child, as well as the type of gift needed.

All unwrapped gifts dropped off at Belmont Savings will be delivered to the Home for Little Wanderers, which serves children and youth from birth to 21, making a positive impact on more than 7,000 lives each year through a wide network of programs.

Located in Waltham, Dorchester, Roslindale, Plymouth, Walpole, Roxbury, Norwood, Brighton, Somerville and Bridgewater, The Home has an “open door structure that allows children, families, and young adults access services at any point in continuum of care, based on their needs.” Services include: adoption, foster care, clinical and family support, residential care, special education, youth aging out, case management, and program evaluation.

For additional information, please visit Belmont Savings Bank’s website.

Panos Named A ‘Super Lawyer’ by Boston Magazine

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Photo: Laura Panos

The Law Office of Laura A. Panos is proud to announce that its founder, Laura Panos, has been named one of Boston Magazine’s “Super Lawyers,” a designation given to outstanding attorneys.

“I am honored this year to be selected to join such a distinguished circle of peers,” said Panos who has been practicing law for more than 25 years and serving the Belmont community for more than a decade. 

Her office is located at 50 Leonard St. in Belmont Center.

Panos was also named one of 50 Top Women of Law in Massachusetts for 2014 by Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly.

Panos provides employment counseling to businesses and individuals at every level, including representation of a large number of locally owned businesses. The spectrum of services includes terminations, severance, leaves of absence, policy drafting and presentations and trainings on a wide range of employment topics. Individualized counseling specific to industry and position are a unique strength.

“We strive to provide practical, creative, employment solutions specific to our client’s needs. We make it a priority to serve as both client advisor and strategic counselor to optimize opportunities and mitigate risk,” she said.