What to Do Today: Clay Pit Pond Walkabout, HS Jazz Collective at the Beech

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• The Belmont Conservation Commission is hosting a site visit at Clay Pit Pond at 6 p.m. with a design Charrette (held in Room 113 at the Belmont High School) to immediately follow the site walk. The Charrette is an opportunity for interested shareholders from the public, the schools and high school cross-country enthusiasts to meet and work with The BETA Group, the landscape architects that have been selected to create the phased Master Plan for an Intergenerational Walking Path Project. The site walk and meeting are open to the public. This is a great opportunity to work with a professional design team and create a community park at Clay Pit Pond park.

• The Belmont Historic District Commission will discuss the status of a proposal to clean the railroad bridge leading into/out of Belmont Center at 7:20 p.m. in Town Hall.

• Learn to protect your home and other assets for your spouse or family by planning ahead as attorney John Hope presents “Protecting Your Assets from the Cost of Nursing Home or Other Care” at the annual presentation by the Massachusetts Bar Association at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. at 1:15 p.m. Legal documents can be prepared in the event you need state assistance to pay for Long Term Care services either at home or in a nursing home. Presented by Attorney John Hope.

• Retiring teachers and staff from Belmont Schools will be feted by the Belmont School Committee at 7 p.m. in the Large Community Room at the Chenery Middle School.

• The Belmont High School Jazz Collective, an 18-piece big band that performs a wide range of jazz repertoire from the classics of the Swing Era to contemporary selections by current jazz artists – will be performing at the Beech Street Center at 4:30 p.m. This free concert is open to everyone in the community.

• Belmont High School finals study hall will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

Jones Races in Finals in All-State 200 meters

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Belmont High School junior Max Jones raced home to a seventh place finish in the finals of the 200 meters in 22.57 seconds in the MIAA All State Outdoor Track and Field Championships held on Saturday, June 7 at Bridgewater State University. His time was a personal best this year, beating his 23.05 which was ranked 20th before the meet.

Jones gained the finals by placing 7th in 22.72 in the qualifying rounds earlier in the day.

Jones’ placement gave Belmont its only two points of the day.

Fellow junior Ari Silverfine finished in 21 in 2:01.14 in the 800 meters.

Freshman Julia Cella finished in 10th in the 100 meters in 12.62 – a season’s best – and 15th in the 200 meters in 26.08 in her two individual events.  Belmont’s 4×100 meter relay squad finished in a best time 50.53 which placed the team in 15th.

Obituary: Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka Houthakker

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Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka Houthakker, the Polish-born American philosopher who was an important follower and teacher of  phenomenology – the philosophical study of the structures of experience and consciousness – who lived for many years with her husband, the Harvard economist Hendrik Houthakker, in Belmont died last week at her home in Pomfret, NH. 

Tymieniecka Houthakker was 91 years old.

Tymieniecka Houthakker was the founder and president of The World Phenomenology Institute in 1969 which was based in Belmont for more than 30 years. She was also the editor of the book series “Analecta Husserliana: The Yearbook of Phenomenological Research” develop and disseminate the phenomenological approach which was published in Belmont.

Anna-Teresa was married to Houthakker, the Henry Lee professor of economics at Harvard, who serve on the Council of Economic Advisers for both Democrat President Lyndon B. Johnson and Republican President Richard Nixon. He died in 2008.

She and her husband were long-time friends of Karol Wojtyla before the Polish cardinal became Pope John Paul II.

She is survived by her three children; Louis, Jan and Isabelle.

The funeral will be held Wednesday, June 11, 2014, at St. Denis in Hanover, NH. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Woodstock Vt. next to her husband of 52 years.

Selectmen Chair: 2 1/2 Override ‘Possible’ on November Ballot

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Belmont Board of Selectmen Chair Andy Rojas said he is receptive to a Proposition 2 1/2 override to secure long-term funding for town and school needs being placed on the November election ballot.

“I’m going to be pushing the Financial Task Force to move their work a little faster so we can hopefully see an override vote in November,” Rojas told the Belmontonian on Wednesday, June 4 before the final night of the annual Town Meeting.

Election day for state races in Massachusetts is Tuesday, Nov. 4, less than five months away.

“Now is the time to act,” he said.

But an early date for an override, which many advocates believe is critical to secure its passage, ultimately depends on how quickly the nearly year-old task force can complete its mission of producing a comprehensive report, said Rojas.

“We need the facts before us,” he said, adding that the task force’s report should be presented before the Selectmen and the public “at least a month” before any date is selected for the override vote.

Rojas response came after comments last week by several Town Meeting members and from outgoing “interim” Belmont Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Kingston expressing concerns that both schools and town services need an infusion of funding to support needed academic courses and increased teaching levels to match anticipated enrollment growth that currently exceeds the available revenue from the town’s annual 2 1/2 percent increase in tax revenue, new growth and state aid.

” … [I]t’s time for us in the community to turn to our neighbors and say ‘This isn’t right.’ We need to fully fund our schools,” said Christine Kotchem at last week’s Town Meeting.

While the fiscal 2015 School budget, now $46.2 million, saw a four percent increase in available revenue from the previous year, the “wish” list created by the school department of teachers, courses and material needed to keep the schools within a top-tier Level 3 district, according to Kingston who made the statement at Town Meeting.

Rojas said Kingston’s statement concerning the need for an operational override “was the first actual request the board has had in the past four year.”

“I think we need to take it very seriously and I do,” said Rojas.

It has been a dozen years since Belmont voters approved an override, for $2.4 million in June 2002, with the last three attempts, in 2006, 2008 and 2010, defeated by close margins.

While flexible to override advocates in placing the measure in November when voters will also be casting ballots for state-wide offices including a contest governor’s race, Rojas said the board and the public should first review the recommendations from the Task Force, the 13-member “mega” committee created last year charged with creating a comprehensive review of the town’s finances, discover possible new revenue streams and develop a long-range financial and capital improvement plan.

“The preferred course of action is for the Financial Task Force to do its work, create a report and that would inform the decision of the board (of selectmen),” said Rojas.

“If they can do it quicker, great. It all depends on that,” said Rojas.

Yet Rojas also acknowledged that the task force will be required to do a great deal of work during the summer months when meetings and report schedules are impacted by vacations and travel plans of the 13 members.

“Summers are always tough on committees,” said Rojas.

This Week in Belmont: Farmers Market Returns, Brendan’s Home Run Sunday,

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• The award-winning Belmont Farmers Market begins a new season with State Rep. Dave Rogers cutting the tomato ribbon on Thursday, June 12 at 2 p.m. in the Claflin Street Parking Lot in Belmont Center.

• The 13th annual Brendan’s Home Run 5K race & walk is being held on Fathers’ Day, Sunday, June 15 with the 5K Charity Walk beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the road race commencing at 10 a.m. There will also be a 400 meter/800 meter youth races for kids 6 to 12. On-site entry fee on Father’s Day morning is $25. There is no charge for the 400/800m youth races.

• Belmont High School finals study hall will be held on Monday and Tuesday, June 9 and 10 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library. 

• The Belmont Conservation Commission is hosting a site visit at Clay Pit Pond on Tuesday, June 10, at 6 p.m. with a design Charrette (held in Room 113 at the Belmont High School) to immediately follow the site walk. The Charrette is an opportunity for interested shareholders to meet and work with The BETA Group, the landscape architects that have been selected to create the phased Master Plan for an Intergenerational Walking Path Project. The site walk and meeting are open to the public. This is a great opportunity to work with a professional design team and create a community park at Clay Pit Pond park.

• The final “updated” report on a proposed Community Path through Belmont will be presented to the Belmont Board of Selectmen on Monday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Selectmen’s Room in Belmont Town Hall.

• The Community Path Advisory Committee will hold its final meeting to present its recommendations for and future action on a community path running through Belmont on Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Gallery of Art on the third floor of the Homer Building located in the Town Hall Complex in Belmont Center.

• Retiring teachers and staff from Belmont Schools will be feted by the Belmont School Committee on Tuesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. in the Large Community Room at the Chenery Middle School.

• Learn to protect your home and other assets for your spouse or family by planning ahead as attorney John Hope presents “Protecting Your Assets from the Cost of Nursing Home or Other Care” at the annual presentation by the Massachusetts Bar Association at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. on Tuesday, June 10 at 1:15 p.m. Legal documents can be prepared in the event you need state assistance to pay for Long Term Care services either at home or in a nursing home. Presented by Attorney John Hope.

• The Belmont High School Jazz Collective, an 18-piece big band that performs a wide range of jazz repertoire from the classics of the Swing Era to contemporary selections by current jazz artists – will be performing at the Beech Street Center on Tuesday, June 10 at 4:30 p.m. This free concert is open to everyone in the community.

• The Butler Elementary School 4th Grade Chorus will sing a variety of choral works written especially for children on Thursday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This 42-member chorus has been rehearsing once a week since September! They will sing a variety of choral works for you written especially for children. Their conductor, Rosanne Mili, has been a teacher at the Butler for 31 years. Their accompanist, Craig McMahon who is a recent graduate of Boston University, is the music teacher at the Wellington School and assists Mili with both the 3rd and 4th grade choruses at Butler.

Yard Sales in Belmont, June 7 & 8

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Here’s a quick list of yard sales going on in Belmont this weekend.

• 239 Beech St., Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• 12 Brentwood Rd., Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to noon. 

• 236 Brighton St., Saturday and Sunday, June 7 & 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

• 43 and 49 Old Middlesex road, Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• 65 Payson Rd., Saturday, June 7, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 562 Trapelo Rd., Saturday, June 7, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

• 4 Vincent Ave., Saturday, June 7, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

• 12-14 Walnut St., Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• 54 Waverley St., Saturday, June 7, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Belmont High Runners Heading to Saturday’s All-State Meet

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After coming off impressive placements and times at the Eastern Massachusetts Division 3 championships this past weekend, four Belmont High School runners and a girls’ relay team will be heading to Bridgewater on Saturday, June 7, to compete in the MIAA All-State Championships.

After finishing second in both events, Marauder freshman Julia Cella is ranked 14th in the 100 meters in 12.74 seconds and 17th in the 200 meters in 26.09 going into the meet in which the top athletes in all division levels will compete at Bridgewater State University.

She will also lead Belmont’s 4 x 100 meter relay team, made up almost exclusively by fellow freshmen and sophomores, which is ranked 15th.

Junior Max Jones, who also placed second in “the duce” in the divisional meet, is ranked 20th in the 200 meters in a time of 23.05 while fellow junior Ari Silverfine is pegged at 21 in the 800 meters having run the two lapper under two minutes with a best of 1:59.20.

Belmont’s Jennifer Page Honored as a State Unsung Heroine

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There are many women around the state who you would call unsung heroines; those who, while not in the news, have made a difference in their communities

Every spring, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and both bodies of the Massachusetts state legislature come together to celebrate “Unsung Heroines” from across the Commonwealth. This year, State Rep. Dave Rogers nominate Jennifer Page for the honor.

Belmont first got to know the Stanley Road resident through her work with the Belmont Committee for a Nuclear Weapons Freeze. Long active in local politics, she is a long-serving and widely respected Town Meeting member. As a member of the Vision 21 Committee and as chair of the Vision 21 Implementation Committee, Page helped preside over a wide-ranging conversation about Belmont’s future and take steps to bring changes to Belmont that were consistent with the Vision’s philosophy. As part of this effort, she was instrumental in establishing Sustainable Belmont.

Also as part of her work with the Town’s Vision, she helped to found Meet Belmont, one of Belmont’s best-attended and most informative events for new and long-time residents. Page also encourages organizations she touches to embrace open dialogue and to value a multitude of perspectives, qualities from which Belmont continues to benefit. Residents can see first-hand Page’s influence on Belmont by attending Meet Belmont which will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26 in the Chenery Middle School cafeteria from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Weekend in Belmont: Learn About Organic Gardening Saturday, Benton’s Late Friday

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• Join Belmont Food Collaborative, the parent organization of the Belmont Farmers’ Market, and Sustainable Belmont for Organic Gardening Coffee Hour ‘Beyond the Privet: How to Safely Grow & Thrive in Your Belmont Yard!’ on Saturday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library. Hear short presentations from experienced Belmont gardeners, then share questions and best practices on the topics of the morning:

  •       Common weeds and how to safely remove them
  •       Companion plants for vegetable/fruit gardens
  •       Integrated edibles with typical decorative plantings
  •       Basics of home composting or worm composting

This is a free talk and open to the public; all experience levels are welcome!

• Stop by the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer library at the corner of Old Middlesex and Oakley, on your way home or after dinner as the library will be open from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, June 6. Use their wi-fi connection, browse the collection including the New York Times best sellers and purchase some of the reasonably priced sale books; all proceeds benefit the library. The Benton is open on the first Friday evening of every month.

• Sustainable Belmont in conjunction with Boston Metrowest Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Control will be holding a talk at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room on Saturday, June 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help Belmont residents learn about creating a stable climate.

Sold In Belmont: Shaw Road Colonial Sells $116,000 Above List

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

70-72 Trowbridge St. Two-family (1920), Sold for: $705,000. Listed at $699,000. Living area: 2,340 sq.-ft. 11 rooms; 4 bedrooms, 2 baths. On the market: 61 days.

29 Myrtle St. Victorian (1893), Sold for: $1,455,000. Listed at $1,239,000. Living area: 2,570 sq.-ft. 8 rooms; 5 bedrooms, 3 bath. On the market: 39 days.

7-9 Carleton Rd. Two-family (1920), Sold for: $901,000. Listed at $849,000. Living area: 2,845 sq.-ft. 14 rooms; 5 bedrooms, 2 bath. On the market: 88 days.

22 Adams St. Central-entry Colonial  (1893), Sold for: $1,352,500. Listed at $1,395,000. Living area: 3,821 sq.-ft. 10 rooms; 5 bedrooms, 3 bath. On the market: 39 days.

85 Shaw Rd. Colonial (1957), Sold for: $815,000. Listed at $699,000. Living area: 1,846 sq.-ft. 7 rooms; 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath. On the market: 50 days.

39 Oxford Ave. Townhouse condominium, Sold for: $785,000. Listed at $795,000. Living area: 2,152 sq.-ft. 8 rooms; 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath. On the market: 49 days.

36-38 Loring St. Two-family/up and down (1961), Sold for: $526,000. Listed at $529,000. Living area: 1,788 sq.-ft. 10 rooms; 4 bedrooms, 3 bath. On the market: 85 days.

311 Brighton St. Antique Colonial (1828), Sold for: $770,000. Listed at $749,000. Living area: 2,074 sq.-ft. 7 rooms; 3 bedrooms, 2 bath. On the market: 84 days.

71 Bartlett Ave. Condominium, Sold for: $400,000. Listed at $375,000. Living area: 1,073 sq.-ft. 5 rooms; 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. On the market: 65 days.

74 Goden St. Farmhouse design (1910), Sold for: $807,000. Listed at $749,000. Living area: 1,984 sq.-ft. 8 rooms; 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bath. On the market: 62 days.