Selectmen, Task Force Hosting Pair of Precinct Meetings on Budget, Override

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The Belmont Board of Selectmen in conjunction with the Financial Task Force will host a pair of informational precinct meetings for Town Meeting Members and interested residents on the fiscal 2016 budget, the Financial Task Force report and the Proposition 2 1/2 override ballot question.

The sessions will be held at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on the following dates and times:

  • Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
  • Monday, March 30 at 7 p.m.

Budget documents and the Financial Task Force Report are available in the Projects, Reports, and Presentations section of the Town website .

Anyone with questions about the precinct meetings should contact the Office of the Board of Selectmen/Town Administrator at 617-993-2610 or e-mail selectmen@belmont-ma.gov

This Week: Spring Concert at the High School, Child Safety, Coffeehouse and Robots

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On the government side of “This Week”:

  • The Belmont Board of Selectmen is meeting on Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall to initially convene as the Board of Survey to spend a half hour talking about 863 Concord Ave. then as the board to hear an update from the Logan Community Advisory Committee about noisy airplanes taking off over Belmont.
  • The Zoning Board of Appeals will hear an application for a construction parking plan at the Belmont Uplands and several special permits on Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Art Gallery of the Homer Building located in the Town Hall complex.
  • The Belmont Human Rights Commission is meeting on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. On the agenda, the commission will hear from Athena Edmonds on public accommodation and transgender individuals in Belmont.

• The Seventh and Eighth Grade Book Group will meet Monday, March 2 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Young Adult Room of the Belmont Public Library to discuss this month’s two books: Ripper by Stefan Petrucha and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe by Douglas Adams. Snacks included!

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 attend with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is located at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex. 
• The Belmont Public Library on Concord Avenue will be holding two sessions of Story Time for 2’s and 3’s, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. 

• State Rep. Dave Rogers will hold office hours at the Beech Street Center on Tuesday, March 3, at 9:30 a.m.

• Learn how a geriatric medical evaluation differs from that of a non-senior at a talk on Geriatric Primary Care on Tuesday, March 3, at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. Offered by Belmontian and Mount Auburn Hospital staff member Dr. Mab Butterfield.

• There will be a Parent Workshop on Child Safety on Tuesday, March 3, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• The Powers Music School will be holding a panel discussion on “Affordable Music Education” in the Betsy Washburn Cabot Room at the school, 380 Concord Ave., on Tuesday, March 3, from 6:30 p.m. The free discussion will discuss how the high cost of music programs is keeping kids from a quality arts education. There will be school representatives who will answer questions and discuss financial aid scholarships.

• The monthly meeting of the Belmont Woman’s Club will take place on Wednesday, March 4, from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Belmont Historical Society’s Claflin Room in the Belmont Public Library. 

• The Belmont High School’s Department of Fine & Performing Arts presents its Spring Chorus and Orchestra Concert on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in the BHS auditorium. This concert will feature the first of our annual Solo Competition Winners, sophomore Haig Hovsepian, who will be performing the third movement from the Aram Khachaturian Violin Concerto. Also performing will be the Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus and Chamber Singers , the BHS Concert Orchestra and the Combined Choruses and Orchestra performing several movements of Vivaldi’s Gloria in D.

• Sustainable Belmont will be holding a presentation and Q&A on “Gardens & Recycling” on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• The Belmont of League of Women Voters will hold an education meeting on Thursday, March 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• The LEGO Club for kindergarteners through second graders is back on Thursday, March 5 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library. Drop in anytime. All LEGOs will be provided. Just bring your imagination.

• The Working to Help the Homeless Club will be hosting a WTHH Coffeehouse on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the High School’s Cafe. Here is your chance to see Belmont High students showcase their talents. There will also be ice cream and baked goods. Tickets are $5 at the door or at Champions.

• Belmont Police Lt. Kristin Daley and Communications Manager Dan MacAuley (“The Voice of Belmont”) will be giving a presentation on Smart 911 on Friday, March 6, at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. Smart 911 is a new system that helps emergency dispatchers make faster decision and shorten response times for getting you the help you need.

• Robots will be invading the Belmont on Friday, March 6, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. as the good people from iRobot will talk about their robots, what they do, and the amazing technology that makes them work in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library. This is geared for all students curious about the the future of robots and how they will take over the world and enslave humans. (just kidding). 

 

On the Market: A New Manse, a Ranch and a Trip Back to the ’20s

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 Photo: The newest manse in Belmont.

Examples of homes “on the market” in Belmont ranging from the affordable, the average and the very expensive.

529 Concord Ave. New construction, blown-out Colonial (2014). 4,954 sq.-ft. of livable space: 12 rooms, 5 bedrooms, 4 full and two partial baths. Two-car garage. Half-an-acre lot size. What’s special: Just about everything (it’s just been built) from the view – yup, that’s Boston out your window – to the custom mill work, red oak hardwood floors, high ceilings (calling all Boston Celtics seeking a cool place to live) and a granite backsplash in the kitchen. This place has six separate heating zones and is full of “smart home” technology. Although one person pointed out recently the owners will like catch the lights from cars traveling west as they ascend the twisting hilly section of Concord Avenue. Price: $2.25 million. 

The first sentence of the sale’s pitch: “Perched atop Belmont Hill and sited in an exclusive enclave with other significant properties, this newly constructed Colonial-style residence features views of Boston and beyond.” 

 

103 Shaw Road. The typical 50’s style ranch (1955). 1,562 sq.-ft. of livable space: 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1 full and two partial baths. A garage for a very small car. Just less than a fifth-of-an-acre lot size. What’s special: It’s got a new roof! If you like ranch homes – not on most people’s list of favorite styles – it doesn’t appear to need much renovation work to bring out the charm and a return to the era of Laura and Rob Petrie. But it does seem a bit pricey although it’s in a nice location. Price: $809,900.

The first sentence of the sale’s pitch: “Custom crafted single owner 3 bedroom Ranch in prime Burbank location offers fireplaced living room, formal dining room with chair rail, eat-in kitchen with Italian tile flooring, a full finished lower level with fireplaced family room, storage and utility rooms, 1 full and 2 half baths, walk-up attic with expansion potential plus a three season porch and direct entry garage.” 

39 Bartlett Ave. Colonial-ish (1927). 1,400 sq.-ft. of livable space: 6 rooms, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. One-car garage. A small lot of about 3,000 square-feet. What’s special: You may have a tiny backyard but who cares when you a stone’s throw from a town playing field? PQ is next door which is great for the kids. The exterior is tired but the inside has some nice features including an enclosed porch for that bit of Southern livin’, wooden floors, good architectural details from the 1920s including the brick fire place and up-to-date Home Depot-ish cabinets and drawers in the kitchen. A real bargain in Belmont. Price: $525,000  

The first sentence of the sale’s pitch:”Charming two bedroom two bath colonial with enclosed front porch and level backyard in MOVE IN CONDITION!”

Watertown/Belmont Girls’ Hockey Slides By Andover, 2-1; Austin Prep Next on Wednesday

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Photo: Watertown/Belmont’s Erin McLaughlin redirects the puck past Andover goalie Meaghan Johnson for the Mauraiders’ first goal.

Goals by senior captain Erin McLaughlin and sophomore Aurora Fidler provided the margin of victory as the Watertown/Belmont combined high schools girls’ ice hockey team skated by a resilient Andover High School (19-3-1) squad in a first round match in the Division 1 state championship tournament at Watertown’s Ryan Rink Saturday, Feb. 28.

“It was a very exciting game. Maybe too exciting. But we got one under our belts,” said Watertown/Belmont Head Coach Steve Russo to the Belmontonian as his 4th-ranked team advances to the quarterfinals where it will meet fifth-seed Austin Prep of Reading.

The game is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. in Woburn. 

In a match which Watertown/Belmont (19-3-1) dominated large portions of the first and second periods, it was Andover’s defense – led by senior goaltender Meaghan Johnson and standout junior defender Jillian Hughes – which kept Watertown/Belmont’s top line, which includes all-star senior forward Emily Loprete, in check.

“We were inches away several times, hitting a post once, but we just couldn’t score that early goal,” said Russo.

While the Maraiders were in control for long stretches, the Golden Eagles found gaps in the Watertown/Belmont back line which resulted in a number of odd man rushes at veteran freshman goaltender Jonna Kennedy – she started last year as an eighth grader. But nearly all the partial breaks were broken down before reaching the net by the speedy defenders, led by senior co-captain Suzanne Noone and junior Serena Nally. 

“We have people that work hard to get back when a mistake is made and as you saw, they had several opportunities to score when our defense and forwards made the play to deny,” said Russo. 

It took a pair of penalties early in the second and third periods to open space on the ice for the Maraiders to take advantage.

After an interference penalty on Andover, a shot from the point by junior defender Kelly McCusker-Brown found McLaughlin in slot where the senior redirected the puck just past Johnson’s left pad into the net second minute into the middle stanza.

Watertown/Belmont’s second goal was a moment of being in the right place for Fidler who knocked in a loose puck in the crease to double the lead also two minutes into the final period, assisted by McLaughlin and Nally. 

Soon after the second goal, Andover began to exploit a tiring Watertown/Belmont squad.

“That happens in playoff games,” said Russo. “You get the jitters, the adrenaline wears off, it happens.” 

Soon, Andover drew a penalty just before midway through the period and scored on a wrist shot in close from senior captain Jessica Leone with assists from fellow senior captain Caroline Hughes and Jillian Hughes. 

“Andover kept coming. They played with some desperation and they’re a really good team,” said Russo. 

The Golden Eagles nearly knotted up the contest with five-and-a-half minutes left with a shot from a swarm in the slot hit Kennedy at the last second. While a penalty against Watertown/Belmont with 30 seconds remaining allowed Andover to pull their goalie and have six skaters against the Maraiders’ four, two final shots from the point didn’t reach Kennedy as they were blocked out front. 

For Russo, Saturday’s victory belonged to the team rather than a couple of individual players who performed well. 

“All three [offensive] lines did their job today. Everybody did what was asked of them,” said Russo. 

 

Belmont Will Be Under Yet Another Snow Emergency Parking Ban at 10 PM Sunday

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One last time? Please?

The Belmont Police Department is issuing a Snow Emergency Parking Ban in effect from 10 p.m. Sunday, March 1, through 7 a.m., on Monday, March 2.

Despite the arrival of six inches of additional snow – the totals for Boston and surrounding towns will reach nearly 100 inches by the end of Monday – trash and recycling collection will be operating on its normal weekday schedule.

Please visit the Town website; www.belmont-ma.gov/snow and social media accounts for further updates.  If you have any further questions please call 617-993-2698

Novelist Sarah Payne Stuart Stops to Talk ‘Guilt, God and Real Estate’ at BPL Sunday

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The Friends of Belmont Public Library’s Author’s Series presents novelist Sarah Payne Stuart who will speak on her book “Perfectly Miserable: Guilt, God and Real Estate in a Small Town,” today, Sunday, March 1, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The book is a wryly comic memoir that examines the pillars of New England WASP culture – class, history, family, money, and, of course, real estate – through the lens of mothers and daughters.

Stuart – who was raised and later lived in Concord – has written for The New Yorker and The New York Times Book Review. She divides her time between Maine and New York.

All are welcome to attend this free program. Books will be available for purchase and signing. The Assembly Room is handicapped accessible.

Positive Energy, BHS Musicians Present a Belmont Musical Collaboration Saturday Night

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The cold and snow got you down? Need a much needed lift to your spirits?

Then head over to the Cultural Hall of the LDS Meetinghouse at 15 Ledgewood Place tonight Saturday night, Feb. 28 between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. for a concert and dance party dubbed My Generation: A Belmont Musical Collaboration.

Sponsored by the Parents of Music Students (POMS), the night will feature critically-acclaimed band, Positive Energy, renowned for its eclectic mix of popular music, jazz, and folk styles while talented brass and wind players from Belmont High School are preparing to blow you away.

The BHS performers are Rowan Wolf and Yilei Bai are on saxophone; Jack Stone, trombone; Riley Grant, trumpet; and Gillian Tahajian and Hannah Read, flute.

These musicians will perform together, promising entertainment and synergy that is rarely witnessed and will long be admired.  It’s an event for all ages.

Tickets for “My Generation” are available through the POMS website: www.belmontpoms.weebly.com, with a small fee; and at Champions Sporting Goods in Belmont Center, with no fee. Donations will be accepted at the door.

Adult ticket prices are only $12, while student and senior prices are $10. POMS (Parents of Music Students) will use all proceeds to support music programs in the Belmont schools, K-12.

Watertown/Belmont Hockey Begins Playoffs Saturday Vs Andover

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On Saturday, Feb. 28 at 12:30 p.m., the 4th-seed Watertown/Belmont combined high school Girls’ Ice Hockey team (18-3-1) will face off against the 13th-ranked Andover High (11-6-2) in the first-round playoff game of the MIAA Div. 1 state championships. 

The game will be held at the Ryan Skating Rink in Watertown.

Despite No Snow in Forecast, Belmont’s Limited Parking Ban Still in Effect

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While the next few days will see highs in the 30s and sunny skies, the impact of more than 90 inches of snow continues as most Belmont side streets continue to be single-lane roads.

For that reason, the Belmont Police advises residents that the Limited Parking Ban will remain in effect until further notice.

Under the ban, parking is only allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street unless the street has been listed as exempt.

The ban is necessary for public safety. The roads are not wide enough for public safety vehicles and school busses to get down when vehicles are parked on both sides. To avoid being ticketed and towed do not park on the even numbered side of the street.

Please refer to the town’s web site for a complete list of exempt streets.

What to Know About Voting in the Belmont Town Election

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The annual town election is fast coming upon residents, only five weeks on Tuesday, March 3. Here are some of the basic facts for Belmontians to know on voting on April 7 from Ellen Cushman, the Belmont Town Clerk.

Who can vote in Town Elections?

Any Belmont resident who is 18 years or older and a citizen of the United States can register to vote.  In order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming Annual Town Election the voter registration must be received or postmarked by the twentieth day preceding the election, Wednesday, March 18.  The Town Clerk’s office will be open until 8 p.m.to receive voter registrations on March 18.

Were you Registered To Vote in Another Town?

If you were a registered to vote in another town or state, you’ll need to register as a voter in Belmont in order to vote here.

Voter Changes to Party, Name or Address in Belmont

The deadline for registered Belmont voters who need to make changes to party affiliation, name or address within Belmont is also March 18.

Voter Registration Documents available at the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall, 455 Concord Avenue or online at the Town Clerk’s web pages.

The following Voter Registration Forms can be found here.

• Change of Belmont Address forms for registered Belmont voters

• Change of Party Affiliation forms for registered Belmont voters

• Absentee Ballot Application

Forms for individuals who qualify to receive an absentee ballot due to absence from Belmont on Election Day or physical disability preventing the voter from going to the polling place or religious belief. In lieu of using this form, a voter may simply submit a request for a ballot in writing but the request must include the voter’s signature.

Applications for absentee voting must be received by the Town Clerk’s office by Noon Monday, April 6, 2015; voted absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m., the close of polls Tuesday, April 7. Check the Town Clerk website for dates of in-office absentee voting or phone 617-993-2600.