Mini Market Makers Adds To Selection At Belmont Farmers Market

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Some of the participants in the inaugural Mini Market Makers event at the Belmont Farmers Market

There will be more than the standard fare being sold at this week’s Belmont Farmers Market.

On this coming Market Day, Thursday, Oct. 9, besides the cornucopia of fall produce, baked goods, meats and prepared foods, patrons will have the opportunity to purchase hand soap, paper airplanes and … slime from vendors between 8 to 12 years old participating in the Farmers Market’s inaugural Mini Market Makers Day.

Mini Market Makers Day
Thursday, Oct. 9, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Farmers Market will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Mini Market concept began when Market volunteer Merri Suzuki said her 9-year-old daughter was inspired to raise money for her school, the Carroll School, by selling a rather unique product. “She loves slime,” said Suzuki of the mixture of household items that acts like both a solid and a liquid.

And with the help from her best friend, Suzuki’s daughter asked if they could sell her home made goo at the Farmers Market.

“I had them work on a business plan together to present to the Market Committee, and the committee loved the idea,” said Suzuki.

And that initiative proved to be the impetus that led to five additional young entrepreneurs asking to sell their own crafts at the market, including handmade jewelry, 3-D printed items, crayons, Pride-themed crafts, hand soaps, and paper airplanes. [See the complete list of Mini Market Makers here] Just like Suzuki’s daughter, most of the kids are donating the proceeds to a cause of their choice “which is exciting,” she said.

Using a similar program run by the Lexington Farmers Market as a template, Suzuki said each participant were asked to present a formal business plan once they were accepted, answering questions such as what was the product, why were they doing it, and what was the price point of their product.

As for the Market, “they said ‘let’s give it a try for this one year, and see how it goes,” said Suzuki.

Suzuki emphasizes the goal of this venture is to empower the kids and give them a taste of running a real business.

“When my daughter and her friend were doing their plan for slime, they were like, ‘this is hard!’ We really made it a very short, cut and dry, process, but they still had to answer hard questions, like calculating the profit from their sales.”

On Thursday, the kids will be located at three tables under a vendors tent. Suzuki helped prepare the kids for the big day by answering their questions and will be there to support them during the event. At the end of the day, “we’re going to do lessons learned, like what went well, what didn’t go well, and what would you do differently going forward,” she said.

And the future business leaders were eager to get started, said Suzuki. “The ones that I’ve spoken to so far are very excited.”

Work To Start On Revamping Playing Fields West Of Harris Field, Softball Diamond

By Leave a Comment

Photo: The West of Harris Field play grounds and the former varsity softball diamond

Six years after ground breaking on the Belmont Middle and High School, the town has approved a plan to reconstruct the playing ground known as West of Harris Field, which is the final work required to complete the School’s campus.

On Monday, Sept. 30, the Select Board award the West of Harris Fields renovations contract to MJ Cataldo Inc. of Littleton for $765,000. The project will renovate the fields and softball diamond West of Harris Field, create a shot put circle and sector as well as putting up new fencing.

According to Belmont DPW Director Jay Marcotte, work on the project will begin in November.

The project started as a Community Preservation Committee request simply to redo the long-time softball field. In May, Belmont Town Administrator Patrice Garvin and Belmont Schools Superintendent Dr. Jill Geiser presented an CPC application seeking $429,000 to redevelop the former varsity softball field at the far end of the BMHS campus adjacent to the new Belmont Sports Complex and the MBTA commuter rail tracks.

While the softball renovation was being considered, the Municipal Skating Rink Building Committee in charge of building the rink was using the JV soccer field, located next to the softball field, as lay down area for steel and material for the rink’s construction. Using the lay down area was on condition that when the project was completed at the end of 2025, “the construction manager would put the field back as it found it,” Garvin told the board.

“So when we started looking at the softball field, we realized there was some economies of scale that we could potentially capitalize on in regards to taking two projects and making it one to be bid out,” said Garvin. “So we really wanted to take what was approved at Town Meeting and elevated to another level.”

Working with Mark Haley, the chair of the Building Committee, the DPW, and the landscaping firm Activitas Inc., the town created construction bid documents for a single project, “hoping for a better price.”

“So this is really an effort between what we were able to appropriate from CPC, the Rink Building project through the construction manager, and the DPW to make the best projects we can,” said Garvin.

The funding sources for the project are CPC and the Rink Building Committee, along with some Revolving Field Funds, said Marcotte.

Twelve construction firms bid on the project with Cataldo coming in a low bidder, said DPW’s Marcotte.

Belmont High Field Hockey Takes Top Ten Duel Vs Winchester, 3-1

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Kendall Regan (18) redirects a centering pass from Gigi Mastrangelo (8) for the game-winning goal as Belmont defeats Winchester, 3-1, in a top-ten match on Sept. 29 at Harris Field.

In its second meeting with a high-ranked opponent this month, Belmont High School Field Hockey came off Harris Field Monday, Sept. 29, with a scrappy 3-1 victory over one-loss Winchester to solidify its number 4 post in the Boston Globe poll.

Junior forward Gigi Mastrangelo – who earned one of the “Players of the Week” honors by the Boston Globe – scored the brace between sophomore Kendell Regan’s game-winning strike, her second in consecutive games. Sophomore goalie Zoe Bruce made a half-dozen important saves while the defensive wall of senior Niamh Lensky, junior Elsie Lakin-Schultz, and first-year Katie Townsend hampered Winchester’s quick forwards from taking clear shots at Bruce.

Belmont (7-1-0) is currently ranked 6th in the MIAA Division 1 power rankings.

With opponents focusing their attention on stopping senior midfield star MacKenzie Clarke [who set the Belmont career scoring record early this season], Smith has been relying on everyone on the field to contribute.

“[Goals] are coming off different sticks. Gigi had two, and Kendell got the other one, but [Lensky] got an assist and Mackenzie was involved in all three. In the scoring book, it’s not straight across just one person with all the points. Mackenzie didn’t need to score three goals for us to win, and that’s what we need. We needed other people to show up, and they did.”

Belmont had to play from behind for only the second time this year – the other being against Watertown – when Winchester’s senior forward Sloane McCarthy scored off a bouncing pass from sophomore Eliana Drake in the game’s first two and a half minutes. But that was a short-lived advantage for the Red and Black as five minutes later, Mastrangelo won a goal-line scramble that four teammates – the last being Lensky – passed around the scoring circle off a penalty corner to knot the game at one.

“I’d rather the first goal come two minutes into the game than the third quarter,” said Smith. “I knew we had a ton of time. I believe in the team. I know some of the older players can step up and make it happen.”

As one would expect from teams close in talent, the game was a contest to hold an advantage in the midfield to launch attacks. Belmont’s tactic to dull Winchester’s speed upfront was to challenge closely every time they held the ball, and do as much to disrupt passes or dribbling.

Belmont would take the lead with four minutes left in the third quarter off a penalty corner as Clarke returned the ball to the inserter Mastrangelo, who sent the ball through the goalie box to Regan’s waiting stick.

Belmont’s insurance goal came as the third quarter was winding down. Lakin-Schultz started play at midfield and found Clarke, who weaved past two Red and Black defenders and launched one of her patented reverse rockets from 15 meters out. This time, it was Mastrangelo at the far left post where, using her softball skills to great effect, deflected the rising shot into the top netting with 18 seconds remaining.

For the final 15 minutes, Belmont relied on the back three with senior Caroline French inserted as a sweeper to hold the fort. Belmont’s midfield of Mia Smith, seniors Nina Sheth-Voss and Avery Ranold, and Brooke Mahoney, were blocking passing lanes and helped clear out errant balls. Smith pointed out “the amazing job” Townsend did as she was assigned to shadow Drake. “I’m not sure that 14 got one strong shot on the net tonight.”

Bruce was “totally phenomenal,” said Smith, making several critical saves, including challenging Winchester’s Drake one-on-one as the midfielder attempted to get by the sophomore.

“You know, the three defenders are outstanding athletes. They’re multi-sport athletes who are strong and know where to be on the field. They understand space. They’re fighters. They’re just athletes through and through, and they make it happen,” said Smith.

Belmont begins an unprecedented number of road games, playing eight of their remaining 10 regular season matches away from Harris Field, including against Reading (which they defeated 2-1), Lexington (4-2), Winchester, and at non-league powerhouses Dover-Sherborne and Newburyport. They will be home on Thursday, Oct. 9, against Wilmington, and the final game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 25, for a Seniors Night contest vs Arlington.

Health Board, Pharmacies Holding Belmont Fall Vaccine Clinics

By Leave a Comment

Photo: COVID and flu shots will be avaliable

The Belmont Health Department is partnering with Osco and Union pharmacies to provide vaccines primarily for COVID-19 and the annual flu to Belmont residents. The vaccines will be given at the Beth El Temple Center and the Beech Street Center.

Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your vaccine eligibility and current recommendations. And bring your insurance card to the clinic.

For questions or more information, contact the Belmont Health Department at 617-993-2720.

To register, click on the link for the day and time that best works for you.

Beth El Temple Center (2 Concord Ave.) Vaccine Clinics:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 22 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, Nov. 19 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Wednesday, Dec. 3 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Beech Street Center (266 Beech St.) Vaccine Clinics:

  • Thursday Oct. 9 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • Monday Nov. 3 – 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  • Monday Dec. 8 – 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Belmont Seeks Members For Police Chief Screening Committee As Search Begins In Earnest

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Police patches and shield.

With the Select Board preparing to choose a consulting firm to conduct the search for Belmont’s next police chief, the town has begun seeking applicants for the 2025 Police Chief Screening Committee.

To be considered, select the “Police Chief Screening Committee – 2025” on the town’s Volunteer Opportunities web page to express interest in serving on this committee.

Patrice Garvin, Belmont Town Administrator, told the Select Board at its Monday, Sept. 29 meeting, that two firms – John Parow, Consulting & Assoc. and Municipal Resources, Incorp. – responded to the town’s Request for Proposal for consulting services to recruit the replacement for recently retired Police Chief Jamie MacIssac.

Garvin believes the growing complexity of the position requires the town to seek the assistance of an outside firm to lead the process.

“Policing has changed in 30 years,” said Garvin. No longer simply an administrative position, “a chief encompasses a lot more skill set than of the past, including budgetary issues, personnel issues, union issues, ranking. It runs across the board, and you’re looking to encompass all of those skill sets.”

“The consultant really helps us guide through the process, to not only to do assessments [of potential candidates] but to help with the screening committee, but also with the recruitment. Sometimes these firms have people in mind,” said Garvin, noting MacIssac was hired using a consultant.

“None of us were on the Select Board the last time we did a police chief search,” said Select Board Chair Matt Taylor. “And these firms often specialize in these kinds of positions, they go through it a lot, and have a much more updated, fresh vision of what this process is like, what the market is like, and what kinds of things to look for.”

The two firm candidates will be interviewed by the board at its Oct. 6 meeting, after which a winning bid will be selected hopefully that evening, said Garvin.

The screening committee, will be appointed sometime around Oct. 20. which Garvin said was “good timing, as it will come after the close of Special Town Meeting when the town can “really focusing on the police chief.”

Belmont High Football Salutes Retiring Police Chief In Season Opener

By Leave a Comment

Photo: James MacIsaac, Belmont Police Chief and Head Coach of the Belmont Junior Marauders

Belmont High School football will honor retiring Belmont Police Chief James MacIsaac before the Middlesex League season opener on Thursday, according to Belmont High School Athletic Director Adam Pritchard.

While mostly known for this more than quarter century career in public safety, the life-long Belmont resident is instrumental in promoting football by establishing the Belmont Junior Marauders football club, recuiting Belmont Middle School students – both boys and girls – to learn and play games against opponants throughout eastern Massachusetts.

The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Harris Field. The Belmont High football team will get its season underway at 7 p.m. against Waltham High School.

What’s Open, Close On Labor Day; Trash Pick Up Delayed A Day

By Leave a Comment

Photo: In 1999, the US Postal Service issued a stamp of Rosie the Riveter, the labor icon (credit: USPS)

With Belmont and regional schools set to open their doors this week, Labor Day, held this year on Monday, Sept. 1, ends the last big getaway weekend of the summer.

Trash and recycling collection is delayed ONE DAY due to the holiday: If your pickup day is Monday, this week it will be collected on Tuesday, etc.

The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. 

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day in 1887. During that year, Massachusetts joined four other states passing laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

Boston will be holding its first Labor Day Parade in downtown Boston on Monday, Sept. 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Labor Day is one of ten holidays recognized by the federal government, although the feds don’t require employers to pay workers for this holiday. Businesses traditionally provide their employees with a paid holiday as part of a benefits package because most others do the same.

Closed:

Belmont Town offices, Belmont Public Library at both the Beech Street Center and the Benton Library, and Belmont Light are closed.

• US Postal Service offices and regular deliveries.

• Banks; although some branches will be open in some supermarkets.

• MBTA: Operating on a Sunday schedule. See www.mbta.com for details.

What’s Opened:

• Retail stores

• Coffee shops; Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are open.

• Supermarkets

• Convenience stores and,

• Establishments that sell beer and wine are also allowed to be open.

Select Board Names Hurley As Interim Belmont Police Chief As Job Search For MacIsaac’s Replacement Begins

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Mark Hurley, Belmont’s interim Police Chief

Assistant Belmont Police Chief Mark Hurley was named the department’s interim head by the Belmont Select Board on Thursday, Aug. 21.

After meeting with Hurley in exective session in Town Hall, the board voted unanimously to elevate the life-long Belmont resident to the department’s top spot as the town begins the search to replace current Chief James MacIsaac who announced his retirement in July.

Acknowledging that Hurley is undertaking two jobs moving forward and will be a critical piece of the transition to a new chief, “we’re really grateful for [Hurley] to step up and help our community, both at this time and going forward,” said Board Chair Matt Taylor.

The board approved an interim annual salary of $205,000 for Hurley’s tenure as chief. Board member Elizabeth Dionne said “there’s always a lot of public attention” when it comes to paying top line salaries.

Besides the market realities for an experienced public safety leader, “I believe … Hurley has some unique skills at a time when it is difficult to hire qualified chiefs,” said Dionne. “We have a lot of issues on the town’s right now, and we are very grateful that he is going to step forward in this transition time.”

A 1989 graduate of Belmont High School, Hurley holds a Bachelor of Arts from UMass/Boston and Master’s Degree from Western New England College.

Hurley began his career with the Belmont Police Department in 1998. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and Lieutenant in 2014. MacIsaac appointed Hurley to second in charge of the department in May 2020.

After his appointment, Hurley said he will continue the current direction of the department.

“I think we do a good job of being up the community. I think that the vast majority of people are very satisfied and happy with us,” said Hurley.

“I wanted to have a very professional police department that treats people with dignity, and with respect, and that does its job. [Public Safety] is a tricky job nowadays: some people want severe enforcement done, and other people don’t want so much. So we kind of walk a tightrope. But I think [Belmont] does a very good job of trying to treat people fairly. And that’s the name of the game.”

If I Were A Bell: Belmont Rings In National Farmers Market Week [Video]

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Mini bells to ring in National Farmers Market Week in Belmont

Around 2 p.m. on Thursdays from late spring to the end of October, a bell rings in the weekly farmers market to open the day’s activities. For 20 years, the market – which brings a slew of vendors selling produce, baked goods, prepared foods, and sundries – has been a staple of the community, bringing approximately 1,000 patrons to the back of the Claflin Street parking lot in Belmont Center.

This past week, on Aug. 7, the market commences not the ringing of one bell buy with the sound of dozens as nearly 100 mini-replicas were given out to celebrate National Farmers Market Week.

The day’s big event was the dedication of the new storage shed, partly paid through a grant from Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources, and the sponsorship of Belmont’s Hillside Garden Ace Hardware. Hal Shubin, chair of the market committee, invited Gary and Troy DiGiovanni from Ace and Mary Jordan of the MDAR to cut the red ribbon as the clammering of tiny bells could be heard.

But the farmers market, one of the more successful in the state, is more than just a place to buy corn, tomatoes, fish and loafs of bread, said Shubin.

“It’s a place to congregate,” said Shubin. “There’s music, there’s community information, folks have office hours from Town Hall and Beacon Hill. They say that you’re more likely to run into people you know at a farmers market than a supermarket. It’s just a fun place to be.”

Heat Advisory Through Wednesday Evening

By Leave a Comment

Photo: It’s HOT through Wednesday

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for our area until Wednesday, July 30, at 8 p.m. Heat index values may reach 103 degrees by Tuesday afternoon, July 29. The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is the temperature that the human body perceives when relative humidity is combined with air temperature. 

The Beech Street Center, located at 266 Beech St., will be open to provide an air-conditioned respite from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Prolonged exposure to high heat and humidity may cause illness. All residents are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned buildings, avoid direct sunlight, and check on relatives and neighbors.

Relief is on the way: the high temperature on Friday is expected to barely reach 70 degrees.