This Week: Primary Voting, Basketball Playoffs, and a Leap Day

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Photo: Go vote Tuesday.

On the government side of “This Week”

  • The Planning Board will hold an early morning meeting beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 2 at Town Hall. It will discuss the proposed zoning amendments for single residence C zoning and a number of issues regarding GR districts.

• Today, Feb. 29, is Leap Day, which is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the Earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days. It is also Sadie Hawkins Day, and if you know what that is, you are at least 50 years old and remember newspaper comic strips. (It’s when a woman proposes marriage to a man.) Also, it is a tradition in Ireland and Britain that women may propose marriage only in leap years. 

 • Music & Movement with Rubi, a movement and music program recommended for ages 3 to 5 (but 2-year-olds are welcome) will be held in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room on Monday, Feb. 29. There will be two sessions: 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

• ESL Conversation Circle for beginners takes place on Monday, Feb. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Girls Who Code will meet on Monday, Feb. 29 from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• The Belmont Food Collaborative Board meeting will occur at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29 in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Tuesday, March 1 is the Massachusetts Presidential Primary Election. Go out and vote.

• Tuesday is story time at both of Belmont libraries.

  • Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer-run library, at 10:30 a.m. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may visit with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.
  • The Belmont Public Library on Concord Avenue will have preschool story time at 9:30 a.m. 
  • Story Time for 2’s and 3’s is at 10:30 a.m.

• The Council on Aging holds Living Alone Social Group on Tuesdays at 2:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. It’s an exciting opportunity for seniors who live alone to increase their social supports and connections. Each week begins with an activity or presentation, and concludes with snacks and socializing. If you live alone and are looking for a chance to meet others, please contact facilitator Blake Benton, Social Work Intern, to join: bentonh@simmons.edu, or in-person at the Beech Street Center.

• The Belmont Public Library’s Teen Book Club is meeting in the Young Adult Room from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 to discuss An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet.

• Belmont High Boys’ Basketball host Brighton High in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 North Sectional Playoffs. Tipoff is 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 at the Wenner.

• It’s early release Wednesday (March 2) for Belmont’s four elementary schools and at Belmont High School.

• Infant Storytime, for infants up to 12 months and pre-walkers, includes a short program of songs and rhymes followed by time to play and socialize. The fun takes place on Wednesday, March 2, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Chenery Middle School students are invited on early release Wednesday to head over to the library’s Assembly Room on Wednesday. March 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., to do your homework while enjoying some hot chocolate. This is for middle schoolers only so high schoolers are on their own. This event is provided for free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.

• What is becoming an annual event, the Belmont Public Library is proving room for the assembling of Peeps dioramas this Wednesday, March 2 at 2 p.m. in the Flett Room.

• The Belmont Boosters welcomes New York Giant Mark Herzlich to the Beech Street Center at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 who will talk about being a cancer survivor and read from his book “What it Takes – Fighting For My Life and My Love of the Game”

• Sustainable Belmont meets on Wednesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• Parents of Music Students (POMS) will be holding its monthly meeting Wednesday, March 2, 7 p.m. in the Belmont High School’s Conference Room. 

• The Belmont High School Band Concert will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 in the school’s auditorium. The Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Jazz Collective will perform under the direction of director Paul Ketchen. 

• Belmont Historical Society Board meeting Wednesday, March 2 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Claflin Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• Storytime for 1’s for walkers and toddlers under 24 months will take place Thursday, March 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room, sharing simple stories, songs, and nursery rhymes and end with time to play.

• If you love building with LEGOs, this program is for you. The LEGOs Club lets kids from Kindergarten through 2nd-grade build with supplied LEGOs and the Belmont Public Library put all the creations on display in the Children’s Room. The fun begins Thursday, Oct. 1, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the library’s Assembly Room.

• The Belmont High Girls’ Basketball squad is heading to Marblehead High to take on the Magicians in a first round match in the MIAA Division 2 North Sectional Playoffs. on Thursday, March 3. 7 p.m. start.

• The 7th- and 8th-grade Chorus and Orchestra Concert for the Chenery Middle School will be in performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3 in the school’s auditorium.

• Healthy Living for Your Brain & Your Body is a free workshop by the Alzheimer’s Association. will be held Friday, Mar. 4 at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. This one-time workshop is open to all ages. 

Sports: Belmont Girls’ Hoops Off to Marblehead in Playoff Opener

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Photo:

Coming off a Seniors Night loss to top-ten Division 1 Lexington High on Thursday, Feb. 25, Belmont High School Girls’ Basketball entered the MIAA Division 2 North sectional tournament at 11-9, the same record as Melrose, a fellow Middlesex League team.

Since Belmont beat the Red Raiders’ 61-54 in the season opener and recieved the higher seed, the Marauders will be taking what experience says is a trying and long (weekday) road trip to far away Marblehead to play the Magicians in a first round matchup on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m.

The 10th seeded Marauders (11-9) brings its typical hard defensive approach to the game to 7th seed Marblehead (14-6) which is coming off a pair of low-scoring losses to end the season. Middlesex League All-Star sophomore point guard Carly Christofori will generate the offense as the three senior captains – Sarah Stewart, Samari Winklaar and Irini Nickolaidis – will use their experience from last year’s deep playoff run to spark the team on both ends of the court. 

The Magicians brings a tall, physical team led by juniors Abby Settelmeyer and Nicole Freddo in the front court while point guard Colby Shea is the team’s quarterback. 

Sports: Boys’ Hoops Host Tough Brighton in Playoff Opener Tuesday

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Photo: Brighton winning the 2015 City Championship.

Belmont High School Boys’ Basketball will host a tough young Brighton High Bengals squad in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 North sectionals on Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at the Wenner.

Brighton (13-8) has been a Boston powerhouse program since head coach Hugh Coleman took charge seven years ago, winning the 2013 Massachusetts Divison 2 State Championship and was crowned the 2015 Boston City League Champions.

Brighton, the 12th seed, has been inconsistent this year, losing in the semifinals of the city championship last week against a weaker opponant, but stills features outstanding players such as Tyrone Perry, Mykel Derring, Izaiah Winston-Brooks and Jordan Galloway. Two of the squad’s losses were to a pair of high-power New Jersey teams. 

Belmont (17-5), ranked 5th in the tourney, comes in as Middlesex League Liberty champions and will ride a senior-laden team led by Middlesex MVP Matt Kerans, three-point specialist Cole Bartels and big men Joe Shaughnessy and Justin Wagner. 

BHS Julia Chase Verbally Commits to Play Field Hockey at UNH

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Photo: BHS Julia Chase.

Belmont High School’s junior defense/sweeper Julia Chase has verbally committed to play field hockey for Division 1 University of New Hampshire Wildcats, according to multiple social media postings.

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A 2015 Middlesex League All-Star, who anchored the Marauders’ defense during its record 14-2-0 regular season run (including 12 shutouts in 19 games) a league championship and a 2-1 playoff record, would join Head Coach Robin Balducci who has led the team to 20 postseason appearances including an America East regular season title in 2010.

Chase is the second Marauder to commit verbally to play top line college field hockey, joining junior teammate AnnMarie Habelow, who has committed to the University of Louisville.

High school athletes can sign official letters of intent beginning in July of what will be their senior year. 

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Belmont High School’s two junior Division 1 verbal commits: AnnMarie Habelow (left) and Julia Chase.

Belmont’s Draft Fiscal ’17 Budget Hits $105 Million, Up 4 1/2%

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Photo: David Kale (left) presenting the proposed 2017 budget.

The first draft of Belmont’s fiscal 2017 budget shows an increase in the town’s operational budget from last year of more than four-and-a-half percent and six percent for the school department, which much of the increase in expenditures from the successful $4.5 million Proposition 2 1/2 override approved by voters in April 2015.

The release of next fiscal year’s budget, which begins July 1, was presented to a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen and Warrant Committee as well as observers from the School Committee on Wednesday night, Feb. 25. 

The proposed total town-wide budget now stands at $104,941,100:

  •  School Department: $52,656,000 ($3 million or 6 percent increase)
  • “Town” budget: $34,311,018 ($1.3 million or 4 percent increase) 
  • Capital/streets budget: $1,432,186 (-$386,000 or -21.2 percent decrease)
  • Fixed costs: (includes state charges and assessments, debt service, pension, OPEB payments, etc.) $16,541,896 ($714,000 or 4.5 percent increase)

(The school and town budgets will change as the town will receive $2,529,417 as the town absorbs the district’s facility operations, the result of a Special Town Meeting vote in October 2010.)

David Kale, Belmont Town Administrator, told assembled officials the budget is just the first draft in the process as several line items will fluctuate until close to the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

Kale noted the amount of state (or local) aid of $9.3 million comes from Gov. Charlie Baker’s budget and the final number from Beacon Hill will be determined in a conference after the House and Senate submit their budgets.

If the final state aid figure falls short of the current number in the draft budget. the town is setting aside $150,000 to offset any shortfall. If the $150,000 is unused, the money will be reallocated elsewhere in the town-wide budget. 

Belmont Superintendent John Phelan to the group that this budget process is the first time in six years that the district’s central office has not required principals, department leaders and directors to freeze their annual budgets.  

Thanking the community, Phelan said the continuous infusion from the override is being spent on students and teacher, by adding 10 FTE (full time equivalent) positions to reduce overcrowding in the first and fifth grades, and providing more classroom study for high and middle school students.

But the influx of funds has not halted the belt-tightening in the district as all staff with responsibility for their budgets are required to justify “each expense and person” in a classroom, said Phelan. 

Next up in the budget process will be public meetings by the Selectmen on Department budget requests taking place on March 8 and 10 while a revised budget could be released in March just before Town Election. 

If approved by the Board of Selectmen, the budget will be submitted to the Warrant  Committee – the financial watchdog for Town Meeting – for a formal review. 

‘The Heist!’: Chenery Artist Presents One-Night Only Show Wednesday

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Photo: What was lost and yet to be found nearly 26 years ago.

On March 18, 1990, two men wearing Boston Police uniforms overpowered a pair of night guards and stole some of the world’s great works of art that belonged to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. 

That now iconic art theft is the impetus for a unique and exciting arts show presented by student artists from the Chenery Middle School.

“The Heist!” a one-night only art performance, on Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., explores and interprets the historic event as student tour guides will lead groups through the art show in which students present their interpretations of the works lost in the robbery more than a quarter of a century ago.

Imagined, created and hosted by the eigth grade art elective classes (Printmaking, Sculpture, and Drawing & Painting) at the Chenery, the show will include special guests from the Gardner Museum, according to Kristen Ripley of the Chenery art department.

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Eat Out Wednesday and Help Belmontian Club Get Warm PJs to Kids in Need

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Photo: PJ Day at the High School.

Go out to eat this Wednesday and help Belmont High School’s Belmontian Club provide warm PJs for kids in need.

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, head to Bertucci’s at the Alewife MBTA station for snacking or dinner and the restaurant will donate 15 percent of their sales that day, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. to Cradles to Crayons, through the Belmont High School Belmontian Community Service Club.

It extends to all dine-in, takeout, or delivery orders.  You will need this coupon—either a printed copy or on a smartphone.

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Sponsored by the Belmontian Club, this Bertucci’s promotion is part of the ongoing campaign to raise money and warm pj’s for Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization in Brighton, which provides gently-used clothes  and gear for needy Massachusetts children from infancy through middle school.

The Burbank, Butler, and Wellington elementary schools joined Belmont High School in sponsoring “PJ Days at School,” the club collected funds on a recent Saturday at the Belmont Star Market, and the Belmont Car Wash on Trapelo Road will support Cradles to Crayons on Saturday, March 26. Club members will dry cars from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will receive a donation of $1 per car and all of the tips.

So far, the Belmontian Club has raised over $2,600 and 108 pairs of new pajamas from these activities, with Bertucci’s and the car wash still to go.

The FYI on Voting in the ‘Super Tuesday’ Presidential Primary Next Week

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Photo: Belmont votes next Tuesday.

Ready to vote in next week’s “Super Tuesday” presidential primary? It’s a little trickier than a regular election for several reasons so Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman has released a primer on casting a ballot next Tuesday, March 1. 

WHO CAN VOTE, AND FOR WHOM

Your enrollment as a voter will determine which party ballot you may vote at that ballot box.

There are four political parties in Massachusetts. If you are enrolled in one of these four political parties, when you go to the polls to vote March 1, 2016, but you can only vote the ballot for that specific party:

  • D – Democratic Party
  • R – Republican Party
  • J – Green-Rainbow  Party
  • CC – United Independent 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.

The deadline to make any changes to voter registration effective for the March 1 election, such as new voter registration, change of party or home address was Feb. 10.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO VOTE TUESDAY, MARCH 1

The Town Clerk and Board of Registrars of Voters look forward to very high voter participation. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration status and voting precinct before they go to vote by visiting the Town Clerk’s webpage.

Voters who have not returned a census in 2015 or 2016 are classified as “inactive” voters, a status that requires the voter to present identification in order to return to the active voting rolls.  Think about carrying your ID when you go to vote to make the process simpler on election day.

SUDDENLY REALIZE YOU WON’T BE IN TOWN MARCH 1?

Voters who will not be in Belmont during voting hours; have a physical disability preventing the voter from going to the polling place; or due to religious belief are unable to vote on election day qualify for absentee ballots. 

In-office absentee voting is underway at the Town Clerk’s office daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., through noon on Monday, Feb. 29.  Applications and requests to mail an absentee ballot must contain the signature of the voter or an immediate family member and must arrive at the Town Clerk’s office by Noon on Feb. 29.

ARRIVE EARLY, CONSIDER TRAFFIC AND LIMITED PARKING

Belmont Police will designate some voter parking at each of the polling locations however with a very busy election, parking close to the polling locations 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 arrive too late will miss out.  

BELMONT VOTING LOCATIONS

  • Precinct One: Belmont Memorial 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.

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

Town Forming United Front on Cushing Village’s Future

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Photo: The proposed Cushing Village.

The meeting held Monday night, Feb. 22 in the Chenery Middle School’s teacher’s lounge took longer than expected. But what is an extra half hour when the subject under discussion is a troubled commercial project more than 900 days behind schedule?

In attendance at the executive session were the Board of Selectmen (which called the meeting), Chair Liz Allison and Barbara Fiacco of the Planning Board, Town Counsel George Hall, Treasurer Floyd Carman and Town Administrator David Kale with only one agenda item on the schedule: Cushing Village, the proposed 164,000 sq.-ft. residential/retail/parking complex at the corner of Common Street and Trapelo Road in the heart of Cushing Square.

While nothing was officially revealed at the closed doors conference, enough was evident from the people assembled, the time spent in conference as well as off-the-record comments from town officials; Belmont is preparing to move on the troubled Cushing Village project, with or without the currently designated developer, Smith Legacy Partner Series. 

This new united front will likely be unveiled tonight, Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. as the Planning Board will receive another “update” on the project from the development team, a requirement the board imposed on Smith Legacy after it failed to meet “three agreed to ‘milestones’ with the town” set the first week in December to begin the initial construction phase of the $63 million project with the purchase of the municipal parking lot adjacent to Trapelo Road. 

To keep its option to buy the municipal lot for $850,000, Smith Legacy has paid more than $600,000 in penalites to Belmont, with the knowledgment that half of that amount would be used towards the purchase of the parcel when financing is secured. 

The project, beset with endless delays and missed deadlines, has been in a development purgatory as the team – comprised of Smith Legacy and its partners Urban Space and the recently added NJ-based Micheals Development Company – has been unable to secure the myriad of financing sources required to construct the three-building complex with includes 115 residential units, 225 parking spaces and approximately 38,000 square feet of first floor retail space.

The apparent breaking point for the town came earlier this month when Starr announced respected industry leader Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers was no longer involved with the project to provide important mezzanine financing to the project. 

Yet, as one observer who is in banking said, the best case senario for Belmont is to push the developer towards giving up control of the parcel to either its lead lender, Wells Fargo, or sell the development rights to an established developer rather than simply declare the developer incapable of completing the project in a reasonable time.

“You don’t want to go through the [Planning Board] process again. You want a smooth transition,” she said. 

Live at Special Town Meeting: Minuteman Regional Agreement

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Photo: Moderator Mike Widmer.

Hello, as the Town Meeting convenes for a special meeting to discuss and vote on a new Minuteman Regional Agreement,

7:11 p.m.: Moderator Mike Widmer begins the meeting as more than 100 members have arrived to reach a quorum. While the electronic voting was being checked, one of the members shouted out: “Slow it down!”

“Tough crowd,” said Jack Weis. Pct. 1.

7:18 p.m.: A remembrance of Dick Betts and a wonderful standing ovation for Becca Pizzi, the young woman who won the World Marathon Challenge.

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7:28 p.m.: An update from School Committee Chair Laurie Slap and Superintendent John Phelan on the need for additional space for the schools.

7:34 p.m.: Slap will present Article 3 which will establish a building committee for the purpose of renovation and/or new construction of the high school.

All boards recommend favorable action.

Slap presents a brief presentation on the important dates coming forward during the beginning of the process of renovating the high school.

Marianne Scali is offering her amendment that would add a simple statement that would require the school building committee to take special attention of hazardous waste that may be in the soil where the renovation is taking place. The area was once a town dump.

The selectmen vote unfavorable action but Sami Baghdady, Selectmen chair, said the board is for doing all it can to make sure the development is safe when children attend the site.

Phelan said the state required a complete review of the soil as part of the process of renovating the site. He said the School Committee is committed to the safety of the students and staff.

Bob McLaughlin, Pct. 2, said while it is unnecessary, he voting for the amendment because he does not want to headlines that say Town Meeting is against safety issues. “It will help alleviate the enrollment problem,” said McLaughlin, with a hardy laugh.

7:52 p.m.: Baghdady said tinkering with the language at this early date could foul up the process with the state which only wants simple language establishing a building committee. The more appropriate time for this amendment is when the building committee is adequately staffed and financed.

David Kale, the town administrator, explains that the process will require testing, and if something is found to be unsafe, a more in-depth study will be required.

Members appear skeptical of just relying on the state process.

Mark Paolillo, Board of Selectmen, said have heard people concerns of possible safety issues, but there is nothing that can be done now as this measure precedes the time for environmental inspection.

Scali said she is withdrawing her amendment, having highlighted the issue and declares victory. 

Kevin Cunningham, Pct. 4, asked Widmer who will be put on the school building committee. Widmer said the committee, about 15 people, will be working for 10 years and wants people who can put the time and has some expertise in building, construction, education, neighbors and parents. 

A number of people have reached out to him and he is taking names: send those names to mike.j.widmer@gmail.com

He will have the committee completed in three weeks, have names into him by this Friday.  

The vote is taken and is adopted unanimously. 

8:12 p.m.: Now the Minuteman Regional Agreement:

“This is a close call,” said Paolillo who will speak along with McLaughlin and Weis.

Back in the 1970s, the facility was full with 1,200 students, now 650 with little more than half from the 16 member towns.

“It no longer serves the district,” said Paolillo, noting the enrollment is declining while non-member towns are sending more students.

“We’re subsidizing the non-member students especially when it comes to capital costs,” said Paolillo.

Paolillo goes over the history and the dysfunctional nature of the agreement, needing unanimous votes (16-0) to amend and leave the district. It was a shared frustration with other board of selectmen that led to the new revised regional agreement that includes a “Belmont” provision that requires out-of-district students to pay a capital “fee.” 

While a tough call, a reconstituted agreement is the best for Belmont students said, Paolillo. 

8:30 p.m.: Jack Weis talks about the major reasons for vote yes for the amended agreement. Weis is going step by step through the changes from the old agreement.  

You can see what Jack is talking about here.

9 p.m.: Bob McLaughlin, Pct. 2 so that wrote my job is to clear away the fog. “It’s bad policy” but it’s the best that they can do. 

Leaning on the lecturn as if he was talking to a jury, McLaughlin – an attorney – told the members in a 10 minute speech to rally around the revised amendment as the best of a bad situation, noting that at least approving the measure would allow the town to have a vote in June concerning the debt and it allows the school to secure $44 million in state funding.

9;26 p.m.: Vincent Stanton, Pct. 3, asks if the school district can educate inhouse the vocational students now being sent to Minuteman. That was beyond the scope of the measure.

Quickly, Don Mercier, Pct. 8, called the question. Only a single question was asked. The calling was seconded and the measure passes easily 171-8. 

See you in May for the annual Town Meeting.