This Week: Spooky Things at the High School; Is That a Spelling Bee?

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“The Journey to College” featuring Belmont Savings President and CEO Bob Mahoney will be held on Monday, Oct. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Chenery Middle School. Joining Mahoney will be Dr. Laurie Nash, an Independent Educational Consultant, to discuss the college admissions process, including choosing a school and how to increase a child’s chances of getting accepted. The talk is part of a series of lectures between the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation and the Belmont After School Enrichment Collaborative (BASEC) that will offer parents information on topics such as college, conflicts and anxiety.

Geoffrey Brahmer, an accomplished researcher and popular lecturer, will present “The Diary of Herman Kruk: A Librarian in the Vilna Ghetto” at the Beech Street Center on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 1:15 p.m. In 1944, while detained in Vilna in now Lithuania, Kruk, a socialist librarian , was asked by fellow prisoners, “Why write a diary? We are all going to be killed anyway.” Kruk responded, “Drunk on the pen trembling in my hand, I record everything for future generations.”

Belmont resident Gerry Connolly – a graduate of the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts Professional Chef Program – will be conjuring up some great easy-to-make “tailgate” delicacies such as Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Vegetable Chili, Hummus, Tabouli and Mock Boursin on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Library’s Assembly Room. Connolly’s events are always well attended and space is limited, so please sign up online or by phone by calling 617-993-2870.

Justin Martin will speak on his book Rebel Souls: Walt Whitman and America’s First Bohemians at the Friends of the Belmont Public Library’s Author Series on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Library’s Assembly Room. Martin shows how this first bohemian culture – imported from Paris to a dingy Broadway saloon – nurtured an American tradition of rebel art that thrives to this day. All are welcome to attend this free program. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Teens in 7th to 12th grade can start their Halloween early by attending Fright Feston Thursday, Oct. 30 from 
1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Come enjoy games, snacks and festivities.

Two big events at Belmont High School this Thursday, Oct. 30 to get the family into a Halloween state of mind.

The fourth annual “Masquerade Concert” with the Belmont High Wind Ensemble and Concert Orchestra will begin at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. The two ensembles will perform a family-friendly variety of seasonal selections, including creepy classics like the Tocatta and Fugue in D minor by Bach, selections from The Dark Knight Rises and FROZEN! Audience members should arrive in costume to maximize the fun. As always, the concert is free.

There will be a Halloween Haunted House at Belmont High School from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. All profits made from this event will go to the Make a Wish Foundation. There will be a range of spooky activities for people of all ages. For younger guests there will a face painting station and a pumpkin painting station.

Get the little ones ready for the Halloween festivities with a Musical Spooktacular with Philip Alexander on Friday, Oct. 31 at 10:30 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Philip promises not to be too scary.

The Cushing Square Business Association will be holding its annual Cushing Square Halloween on Friday, Oct. 31 with the trick or treating begins at 3 p.m.

After filling up on sugar and chocolate the previous night, more than 500 Belmont students from kindergarten to 6th grade will participate in the 14th annual Foundation for Belmont Education Youth Spelling Bee on Saturday, Nov. 1. beginning at 3 p.m. The six-hour long event, which takes place in the Belmont High School auditorium, will see the students – many in team costumes – show off their spelling skills with words such as “frog” for the kindergarteners to “escargot” which won the bee in 2012.

The Beech Street Center is holding its annual Diwali Festival on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Center, 266 Beech St. Sponsored by the Belmont Council on Aging and Friends of the Indian Senior Citizens’ Organization, enjoy a fun-filled evening of cultural programming and three course vegetarian dinner.

Cost in advance: $7 per person, non FISCO members: $10, Children ages 6-12 $5 each. Cost at the door: FISCO members  and immediate family, $14 per person. Nonmembers $20 per person, Children ages 6-12, $10 each

To purchase tickets in advance call Nava at 617-993-2975.

Belmont Girls Swimming in League of Their Own Winning Middlesex Title

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Ev Crosscup isn’t known for showing much emotion poolside when his Belmont High School Girls’ Swimming squad is competing. He’s usually sitting placidly with his assistant coaches, reviewing times and quietly watching as the action swirls around him.

But after reviewing the score with one event remaining in the biggest duel meet this season, the long-time Marauders’ leader briefly pumped his fist as a little smile come to his face as he headed for the rear of the pool at Minuteman Tech.

“We got it,” Crosscup said while passing to meet the girls.

For the past two seasons, host Lexington High came to the 400 yard freestyle relay to prevent Belmont from securing outright the coveted Middlesex League title.

Not this time.

In a maelstrom of screaming teenagers (and parents), suffocating humidity and over-the-top drama, Belmont revamped its event lineup and received important contributions from the deep and talented squad to pile up just enough points to make the final event irrelevant as the Marauders defeated the Minutemen, 84-82, to win sole possession of the Middlesex League title on Friday evening, Oct. 24 in Lexington.

“What a meet and what a win for the league championship,” said Crosscup. “We knew it was going to be a close on and it came down to the end so you have to credit all the kids and coaches,” he said.

The win left team veterans, who twice felt the sting of an only defeat of the year to the Minutemen, speechless.

“Knowing that we just won, I really have no words to explain how I feel right now,” said senior Kaitlin Feloney, who was first in line to congratulate the Minutemen after the win was announced.

“We knew we were strong this year and that it would come down to Lexington. It’s incredible that I was able to lead the team with the three other captains” said Feloney, who shares the team’s captaincy with fellow seniors Eunice Lee, Klaudia Nagrabska and Maya Nagishima.

“We kept a positive attitude throughout the year, and it all paid off tonight,” she said.

The meet was as much a chess match as a contest of straight-line swimming speed when Crosscup dropped his two best swimmers, juniors Jessica Blake-West (the defending Div. 2 state champion in the 100 butterfly and second at states in the 200 individual medley) and Emily Quinn (a state finalist in the 100 breaststroke) into freestyle events which have been Belmont’s weakest stroke for the past few years.

In the meet’s biggest showdown, the pair would battle it out in the 100 freestyle with the Minutemen’s free specialist Jayne Vogelzang, who finished second in the same event at last year’s Div. 1 state championships with a 54.27.

But on this night, Blake-West showed why she, along with Bishop Feehan’s senior Mari Reidemeister (who will attempt next month to qualify and represent Costa Rica in the 2015 World Swimming Championships) are two of the best all-around swimmers in the state by powering away from Vogelzang to win by a second-and-a-half in 54.69 seconds.

Quinn took the vital third place (1:00.27) points with the ever-improving freshman Ophelie Loblack – who was an impressive youth swimmer in Maryland – stormed home in fourth (1:01.15). The event gave Belmont 11 points to Lexington’s 5 to build a 52-42 lead midway through the meet.

“It was a good move,” said Crosscup. “In this particular incident, it took a first place away from their best swimmer with our best swimmer. That matched up perfect. You worry about it working out, but this time it did so wonderfully.”

Belmont was building on a lead after the opening event, the 200 yard medley relay – in which the four relay members swims a different stroke – when Belmont’s top team (Blake-West, Quinn, Nagishima and Alison Sawyer) won going away in 1:56.12 with Belmont’s second squad, made up of Nagrabska, Molly Thomas, Julia Bozkurtian and Solvay Metelmann, took a strong second (by a third of a second over Lexington’s ‘A’ team) as the Marauders’ third relay – Sarah Osborn, Sarah Stewart, Stephanie Zhang and Julia Cunningham – came in fourth, giving the Marauders a 12-2 advantage off the bat.

Crosscup’s tactical move meant the team would need to rely on many underclassmen and role athletes scoring well against an experienced Lexington team. And in nearly every race, a Marauder challenged for placements from their host to cut the points the Minutemen could accumulate.

“I know for a fact whether you swam first heat or second or you came in first or sixth, we won that meet because of our emotion and depth. They may have been a better team, but we relied on that emotion,” said Feloney.

In the 200 freestyle, Sara Noorouzi took 4th (2:11.35) by just over a tenth of a second, Dervla Moore-Frederick finished 5th in individual medley (won by Blake-West) to win the event 9 to 7, Loblack and Sawyer took second and third in the 50 free (27.15 to 27.16) that would not have been anticipated in September while Nagashima and Thomas broke up the top two Lexington backstroke specialists by bringing home a second and third.

“I couldn’t be prouder and pleased with what they contributed,” he said.

“The one I was most pleased with was [co-captain Eunice] Lee. Because of her times and the situation we found ourselves in, I had her go in the 100 [butter]fly (finishing second after a false start moved her up a spot in 1:08.03), rest an event and then go the 500 free (taking 4th in 5:52.15). That was an ironman type of job. And despite the lack of rest, she did beautifully,” said Crosscup.

“I could have used another swimmer who would have been good, but that swimmer could not make up the seconds Lee has in the 500,” he said.

With Lexington just four points back coming into the penultimate event, Crosscup pulled out three aces there were up his sleeve; a trio of the best breaststroke swimmers in Eastern Massachusetts. At last year’s state championship, Quinn (3rd), Nagrabska (4th) and Osborn (10th) were three of the four Belmont swimmers in the top 10. And the experience of swimming in big meets paid off as the three swept the event, Quinn (1:11.53) first, Osborn (1:13.60) second and Nagrabska (1:15.87) third.

The wins pushed Belmont’s lead to 14, 85-71, with the 400 free relay to come. With only 12 points available to the Minutemen, the long-awaited league victory was secured. While the crowd and swimmers could only guess at the score – no announcement is given and the score is not put up on a scoreboard – they knew something was up when Blake-West and the other top swimmers did not line up for the final event.

All that was left was an exchange of hugs and high fives, congratulate Lexington and for the team to scream in unison as it traveled through Belmont Center and by the football field.

“We’re Middlesex League champions. That’s a nice sound,” said Crosscup.

 

Belmont Yard Sales on Oct. 25-26

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Here are this weekend’s yard/moving/garage sales happening in the 02478 zip code:

Permitted yard sales by the Town Clerk

• 81 Hammond Rd., Saturday, Oct. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 60 Horne Rd., Sunday, Oct. 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Not (yet) permitted sales

• 354 Payson Rd., Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 350 Prospect St., Saturday, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Giant Rummage Sale at Belmont Hill School’s Jordan Athletic Center.

Remember, Belmont requires (free) permitting for yard sales. Apply here. 

Belmont Savings Records Quarterly Earning Record Despite Down Industry News

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Don’t tell Belmont Savings Bank you can’t make money taking in deposits and selling loans

Bucking a downward trend affecting the US financial sector where many banks are struggling with sluggish loan growth, BSB Bancorp, the holding company of Belmont Savings Bank, announced record quarterly earnings yesterday, Thursday, Oct. 23, as the Belmont-based state chartered savings bank doubled its net income compared to the same three-month period last year.

The bank, headquartered on Leonard Street in Belmont Center, saw net income in the third quarter of 2014 – in July, August and September – reach $1.2 million with an emphasis on commercial real estate lending and municipal banking. In the first nine months of 2014, the bank reported net income of $2.9 million as compared with $1.3 million in the first three quarters of 2013. 

Since the beginning of the year, the bank’s assets have grown by $281 million to total $1.3 billion on Sept. 30, nearly doubling the size of the bank from $688 million in June 2011 when Belmont Savings went public.

“I am so proud of the work of each of our colleagues. Few teams could accomplish this level of growth while maintaining credit quality and expense control,” said Robert Mahoney, the bank’s CEO and president, in a press release.

Belmont Savings’ stock price (BMLT), $18.40 a share at Friday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m., is just off its 52 week high of $18.71.

Deposits totaled $931 million, an increase of $168 million or 22 percent from $764.8 million at Dec. 31, 2013. The 33 percent annual growth in deposits in the second quarter of the year, is nearly triple the growth rate of the other 58 Massachusetts banks and double the 17 percent growth among its peers with assets between $925 million to $1.4 billion.

 “We are very pleased that core deposit growth has remained strong. Customer counts and relationship expansion continue to increase in our retail and small business franchises,” said Hal Tovin, the bank’s executive vice president and COO.

But it’s in lending where the bank continues to take big strides. Since the beginning of the year, net loan growth increased by $255 million, up 30 percent. Residential one-to-four family loans, commercial real estate loans, home equity lines of credit, and indirect auto loans increased by $120 million, $63 million, $32 million and $23 million, respectively.

While the bank continues to churn out commercial and business loans – one example being a $18 million loan for Fresh Pond Circle, a 40 unit modular apartment complex in Cambridge – its portfolio is ranked first in lending safety with less than a quarter of one percent (.23 percent) of loans are non-performing. Statewide, the rate is 1.01 percent.

The bank’s lending activity was honored by winning the Best Commercial Real Estate Lending category in Banker & Tradesman’s Best of 2014 issue.

The bank is also increasing its community outreach. Since its creation as a result of the IPO (when it was initially infused with $2 million), the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation has given more than $400,000 to approximately 40 non-profits and educational institutions in Belmont, Watertown, Waltham, Newton and Cambridge. Last month, the foundation  provided a $200,000 matching grant that helped secure the contraction of the new Underwood Pool in Belmont.

This Weekend: Powers Music Tells Babar’s Story Saturday, Recycling Day Saturday

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The Powers Music School is teaming up with the Belmont Public Library in presenting “The Story of Babar”, part of the school’s Musical Storytelling Series taking place on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. There will be two showing’s of the popular story at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. But be advised to come early as space is limited. The show is free and sponsored by Cambridge Savings Bank.

The Belmont Department of Public Works is holding its Belmont Recycling Day on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the town’s “transfer station” – the site of the former incinerator – at 1130 Concord Ave. near the Lexington town line. This is the day when residents can bring all those big ridged plastic items, textiles (Are you really going to keep those old drapes in the basement for another year?), paper that needs shredding, Styrofoam and electronics (you may have to pay a small charge). Belmont Savings is bringing its Universal Shredding machine and will be raffling off a $100 Target gift card. For more information, call 617-993-2689 or go online to.

Saturday afternoon, Oct. 25 will see a rare weekend sports doubleheader at Harris Field with Belmont High School Field Hockey taking on arch rival Lexington High at 2 p.m. – rescheduled from Wednesday due to the rainstorm – while Belmont High School Girls’ Soccer hosts Winchester High under the lights at 6 p.m. Come early for the soccer match as it’s Belmont’s Senior Night.

The Belmont Historical Society presents ‘The Belmont Uplands: A History of the Changing Use of Land and Water” by Belmont resident Anne-Marie Lambert on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. The presentation is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Contact the Belmont Historical Society for more information at 617-993-2878.

Sports: Belmont Volleyball Has Minutemen in Its Sight for Friday

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The Belmont High School Volleyball team is seemingly on cruise control heading into the Div. 2 North sectional tournament with a school record 14 win season (14-4), playing some of its best games in the past few weeks with the squad currently on an 8-1 streak.

But the girls’ have circled Friday, Oct. 24 on their team’s calendar.

“Lexington, home, 4 p.m.”

“This is The game before the playoffs,” said Belmont Head Coach Jen Couture after her squad defeated visiting Winchester High in straight sets; 25-16, 25-9, 25-7, on Seniors Night, Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Wenner Field House.

Led by junior outside hitter Kabita Das, senior middle forward Rosy Fitzgerald and senior libero Sam Nelson, Belmont had its way with the Sachems, running off points multiple times with set spikes, block winners and strong serving. 

So it’s on to Lexington this Friday, one of only three teams to best Belmont this season – powerhouse Melrose and Bedford twice are the others. The Marauders lost in four sets at Lexington on Sept. 30 with Belmont always close to winning but could never complete the comebacks.

A win at Wenner would result in Belmont and Lexington being co-league champions and the Marauders securing a good seed in the sectionals, possibly as high as sixth.

“It’s a big game,” Couture said.

But she said the team will first have to play the game before start thinking of their position in the playoffs.

“We have to prepare to dig a lot harder hits than today because [the Minutemen] are the hardest hitting team we are going to see before the tournament,” said Couture.

“If we dig better than last time, we have become much better with our placement shots and we could give them a lot more competition this time around,” she said.

Rinse, Repeat: Search Committee Rejects All Finalists for Library Director

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The search committee created to find Belmont Public Library’s next Library Director will be getting an “overdue” notice after the group rejected what is now the first round of finalist candidates.

“I will stay on until the end of December,” said Maureen Conners, the current Library Director, despite that her retirement party is set. (Nov. 13, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

Conners statement came days after the committee put in place by the Belmont Board of Library Trustees voted on a second round of balloting that none of the finalist were qualified for the position. The vote occurred after the unknown number of candidates were interviewed by the committee in October.

The board had announced in August when Conners announced her retirement that a new director would likely be installed by mid-November. Now the earliest the town’s next “head librarian” will be selected is after the New Year.

The director’s salary range is $76,859 to $109,140 commensurate with experience and includes a full benefits package, according to the job notice released in the summer.

Bridging Cultures at Belmont Gallery’s ‘Continental Drift’ Exhibit Opening Friday

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The print above is a detail of Iréne Jensen, Troðnar slóðir l /The Paved Way 1, Etching

The Belmont Gallery of Art invites the public to the opening of its latest show: “Continental Drift: Printmakers Converge,” an exhibit of work by members of the Boston Printmakers and the Icelandic Printmakers Association.

The reception takes place this Friday, Oct. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibit will run from Oct. 24 to Dec. 5.

The Gallery is located on the third floor of the Homer Building in the Town Hall Complex, 19 Moore St., right off Leonard Street in Belmont Center behind the Belmont Savings Bank building.

The 60-plus prints showcase a variety of ancient and modern printmaking techniques including etching, Chine-colle, silkscreens, monoprints, woodcuts, intaglio, lithography and digital and electro-photo processes.

 

This cross-cultural show was inspired by the Boston printmakers’ August 2014 trip to Iceland and the resulting collaboration between the two groups of artists.

“Continental Drift” showcases the similarities as well as the differences that exist between the two printmaking groups, but ultimately forges a bridge between the two cultures. “Continental Drift” showcases the art that was created during that process — first exhibited in Reykjavik two months ago and now displayed in Belmont and Newton.

The Scandinavian Cultural Center’s Nordic Hall in West Newton hosts a “Continental Drift” companion exhibit through November with a collection of recent prints by Icelandic artists “inspired by landscapes and human nature.”

The Belmont Gallery of Art will host an Artists Print Talk with American and Icelandic printmakers on Nov. 23, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Scandinavian Center’s Nordic Hall will host its Artists Reception and Talk, Thursday., Nov. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Society has long embraced the printed image: from the earliest depiction of saints in medieval woodcuts through Andy Warhol’s Pop Art silkscreens of modern day symbols. Printmaking as an art form is practiced around the globe—with the images as varied as the regions and cultures that practice the craft.  “Continental Drift: Printmakers Collide” gives art lovers the opportunity to celebrate printmaking traditions—new and old–from two unique–yet connected–world cultures: the US and Iceland.

Please visit the BGA’s website for gallery hours and directions and for more information. Nordic Hall Icelandic Prints exhibit/Artists Talk information can be found at www.scandicenter.org

Sold in Belmont: Inexpensive on Belmont Hill, But to What End?

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

• 44 Scott Rd. Brick English Cottage (1930), Sold for: $860,000. Listed at $929,000. Living area: 2,368 sq.-ft. 8 rooms; 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 104 days.

• 667 Belmont St. Up-and-down two family (1923), Sold for: $678,000. Listed at $699,000. Living area: 2,667 sq.-ft. 12 rooms; 5 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 59 days.

• 20 Wilson Ave. #2 First-floor Condominium, Sold for: $402,850. Listed at $392,500. Living area: 1,060 sq.-ft. 5 rooms; 2 bedrooms, 1 baths. On the market: 48 days.

• 56 Davis Rd. #1 First-floor Condominium, Sold for: $440,000. Listed at $469,000. Living area: 1,600 sq.-ft. 7 rooms; 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 83 days.

• 27 Dorset Rd. Historic Royal Barry Wills designed Cottage Cape (1937), Sold for: $742,000. Listed at $859,000. Living area: 1,805 sq.-ft. 8 rooms; 5 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 208 days.

It’s a beautiful Belmont house once the pentacle of residential design when it was built in 1937; a Cape Cod-style cottage lying in the then out-of-the-way section of “the Hill.”

The house at 27 Dorset Rd. was designed by one of the most influential modern residential architects, Royal Barry Wills – whose firm continues today – famous for building the quintessential New England home: solid, classic, refined.

The style was so popular that the year after the Dorset Road house was built, a Wills Cape was selected by winners in a national contest over a modern design by Frank Lloyd Wright! (In retrospect, not the correct choice.)

The Belmont Hill house is modernized with a new chef’s kitchen with maple cabinets and granite (ugh!) counter tops, a new gas furnace, central air and the garage has been heated.

But many of Wills’ quality remains; the square rooms, the bay in the living room, the well-proportioned “wing” which houses two bedrooms and a full bath, the small dormers (so they don’t look “clumsy”), a low roof line, narrow hallways to allow for great space for the rooms.

But the sale of this historic house gives me a bad feeling. I truly hope the buyers – who got the house on “the cheap” for $100,000 below the list – have fallen in love with the beauty of fine architecture and will care for it.

But the house, with a “mere” 1,805 sq.-ft. of livable space – less room than the million dollar condos on Boston’s Waterfront – sits on a third of an acre on the top of sought after Belmont Hill. I fear the sale might be for the land rather than the pretty Cape that sits on it.

Belmont Selectmen Ponder Cellar’s Request for Earlier Sunday Opening

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When is it too early to sell beer on a Sunday in the “Town of Homes”?

That’s the question before the Belmont Board of Selectmen after hearing a request from the owners of the Craft Beer Cellar to allow the wildly-successful Belmont Center store to swing open its doors at 10 a.m. on Sundays at its meeting Monday, Oct. 20 at the Beech Street Center .

Suzanne Schalow, Cellar’s co-owner (with Kate Baker), said the business, located at 51 Leonard St., is seeking a “Change in Hours” to its business license, from its current noon opening. The CBC operates from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Schalow said the change would be in keeping with modifications to the so-called state “Blue Laws” approved by the legislature and signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in July allowing retail businesses catering to alcohol and beer sales to seek an earlier opening. Nearby towns, such as Burlington, have approved such changes, according to news reports.

In addition, the new opening time will make the 10 a.m. opening consistent with the other six days.

“Customers are rattling the door” at 10 a.m., wondering why the business isn’t open, said Schalow. She said many customers this time of year are seeking to purchase beer for pro football viewing parties.

Since opening four years ago next month, CBC’s support of the rapidly growing US microbrewery industry with passionate and knowledgeable employees and managers has been a hit with customers, resulting in the Belmont-based business becoming a national retail trendsetter with 12 CBC stores in Massachusetts, Missouri, Florida, Maine and Vermont with another nine – including proposed locations in the Bay State, Colorado, Mississippi and California – in the planning stages.

For at least one Selectmen, the idea of an early opening is a bit off-putting. While praising the store as a great example of a small business doing good for the town, Selectman Mark Paolillo was hesitant to approve the application out-of-hand.

“I’m not so sure that is the right time for us,” said Paolillo.

While the full board delayed making a decision on the application, it wasn’t due to one town officials personal preference but rather if the board has any jurisdiction on the matter.

“I don’t know if we have the right to turn this application down,” said Selectmen Chair Andy Rojas as the new law could have legal sway over local authorities. Rather than a simple up-or-down vote, the board referred the matter to Belmont Town Counsel George Hall for review.

Football and other sports fans will have to wait until noon before stocking up for at least a few more weeks before a decision is known.