Belmont Light Reminds Residents Summer is Outage Season

By Leave a Comment

Belmont Light wants to remind its customers that strong wind and rain events, like those that often occur throughout the summer, may lead to electric power outages.

Its reminder comes following a stormy July 4th weekend during which Light crews were busy restoring service to local residents who were left without power in the aftermath of heavy downpours and stiff winds.

According to Belmont Light Operations Manager Ed Crisafi, several outages occurred prior to and throughout the holiday weekend, beginning during the evening hours of July 3, continuing into the following day, and happening again at the end of the weekend.

Crisafi said the longest outage on both days lasted only about an hour and a half.

“We were able to quickly restore power to those affected on Thursday evening, with cleanup efforts occurring during the early morning hours of July 4th,” Crisafi reported.

He added that, “because our staff was on hand and working so effectively, we were very well prepared when Hurricane Arthur passed to our east later in the day on the 4th.”

A separate event related to an underground cable caused outages on Saturday, but all permanent repairs were resolved by Monday evening.

Belmont Light General Manager James Palmer attributed the swift resolution of the outages to the reliability and dedication of town employees.

“Once again, our crews, public safety, and public works did a great job,” he stated.

Palmer went on to say that while weather-related outages are inconvenient, they should be anticipated—especially during hurricane season. Belmont Light customers should be prepared for severe weather during summer months by taking the following precautionary steps:

Prior to an Outage

  • Make sure you have enough emergency supplies on hand in case you are without power for an extended period of time.
  • Have plenty of fresh batteries and flashlights; don’t use candles during a power outage unless absolutely necessary.
  • Use a portable, battery-powered radio and/or television to be aware of any updates.
  • Get a wind-up or battery-powered clock.
  • Stock up on nonperishable food and plenty of bottled water.
  • Keep cash on hand, ATMs may not work when the power is out.
  • Make sure that everyone knows how to manually open and close any electric security or garage doors.
  • Protect electric equipment, such as computers, FAX machines, televisions, DVD and Blu- ray players and microwaves, by installing surge suppressors or other power protection (smart strip) devices.
  • Have a battery back-up system if your smoke alarms are wired to your home’s electrical system.
  • Have an emergency plan in place if a member of your household depends on life-support or needs other medical equipment. This may include a back-up power source or transportation to another facility.
  • Know how your gas appliances operate. Appliances with electronic ignitions will not work because electricity is needed to ignite the natural gas. Appliances that require fans or other electric devices to run – such as central heating units and gas clothes dryers – won’t work.
  • If a storm is expected, make sure your cell phone, laptop computers and tablet devices are charged.

During an Outage

  • Don’t call 911 to ask about the power outage. Check the neighborhood to see if everyone is without power and then call Belmont Light at 617-993-2800 to report the outage.
  • Stay indoors, but if you do need to go out, use extreme caution, especially on roads without working traffic signals. Be cautious of any downed power lines – they may be live.
  • Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to prevent food spoilage.
  • Never use your gas grill or charcoal grill indoors for cooking.
  • Shut-off any electronic equipment that was operating when the power went off.
  • Shut-off all your major electric appliances to stabilize the electric system when power is restored.
  • If the power is still on when you go to bed, shut-off electronic equipment such as computers, televisions, DVD/VCRs, microwaves and fax machines.
  • Leave one light on so you know when power is restored.
  • Belmont Light crews will be out in force to restore power as quickly and safely as possible which may not be until the storm has passed.

When Power is Restored

  • Wait a few minutes before turning on major electric appliances. This will help eliminate problems that could occur if there’s a surge in demand immediately after power is restored.
  • If you think that electric power has been restored to your area but your home is still without power, call Belmont Light at 617-993-2800.

If You Own a Generator

  • Never plug a generator into any electric outlets. Generators can feed electricity back into the power lines, causing dangerous conditions for our repair crews. You could damage your appliances or your neighbors’ appliances.

Should you experience an outage, please call Belmont Light at 617-993-2800.

Belmont Fire Log: Humming Sound Brings Out the Crew

By Leave a Comment

Defective part spoils dinner
July 20 just before 3:30 p.m., Engine 1 was sent to Longmeadow Road where a backyard chef could not close the valve on the propane tank of his grill. Fire crews successfully disconnected the tank from the grill without creating a leak. The cook was advised to exchange the faulty tank for a new one and notify the dealer of the malfunctioning valve.

Ummmmm, it’s nothing

On July 21 at a few minutes before noon, a crew from Engine 2 arrived at a two-family on Whitcomb Street to investigate what residents called a “humming” sound in the building. Checking all the household appliances and utilities that could create a “humming” sound, the company were unable to hear any “abnormal” sounds.

And there will be … fire

On July 21 at 8:22 p.m. firefighters arrived at a Clifton Street house for a reported “smoking driveway gate.” The homeowner told the arriving company that some debris had got caught under the lens of a landscape lighting which caught fire. She removed the offending debris and put out the blaze herself.

Smoker’s butt likely culprit 

On July 25 at a quarter past 2 p.m., an employee at the Starbucks Coffee in Cushing Square noticed that a small fire had erupted in the mulch near the establishment’s front door. The crew from Engine 1 brought the smoldering brush under control. The location is a favorite haunt for smokers to puff away before entering the store.

 

Belmont Savings Reports Solid Second Quarter

By Leave a Comment

The money keeps funneling into the vault of the Belmont Savings Bank as BSB Bancorp, Inc., the bank’s holding company, reported on Thursday, July 24, net income of $1 million, or 12 cents per basic and diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, compared to net income of $361,000, or 4 cents per basic and diluted share, in the second quarter of 2013.

At June 30, the bank’s total assets topped $1.2 billion, an increase of $167.2 million or nearly 16 percent from $1.1 billion at December 31, 2013. The asset growth was funded by customer deposits and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank, according to the bank’s press release.

“The bank is benefiting from positive operating leverage as revenue growth outstrips expense growth. Credit quality remains good,” said Robert M. Mahoney, the bank’s president and CEO. The bank is headquartered on Leonard Street in Belmont Center.

The bank experienced net loan growth of $148.3 million, or 18 percent, from December 31. Commercial real estate loans, residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and indirect auto loans increased by $38.7 million, $61.2 million, $18.4 million and $16.4 million, respectively.

On June 30, deposits totaled $891.9 million, an increase of $127.1 million or 17 percent from $764.8 million at December 31, 2013 with core deposits – which include all deposits other than CD’s and brokered CD’s – increased by $92.1 million.

“Q2 was another good quarter for deposit growth. The maturing of our three InStore branches and the ongoing growth of our municipal banking program drove both checking and savings deposits. In addition, new and expanding small business banking and commercial real estate customer relationships continue to be important contributors to this strong performance,” said Hal Tovin, executive vice president and COO.

Three of the bank’s six branches are located in Shaw’s or Star supermarkets in Waltham, Newton and Cambridge.

As of Monday, July 28, the bank’s stock – which is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol BLMT – is about a dollar off its 52-week high of $18.20.

The Week Ahead: Yoga for All on Tuesday, Animals at the Library Wednesday

By Leave a Comment

• Noon movies for children on Tuesday, July 29, noon to 1 p.m., in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

  •    The Empty Pot
  •    The Mysterious Tadpole
  •    Caterpillar and the Polliwog
  •    Bats at the Library
  •    Cook-a-Doodle-Doo

• The Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol, a state-wide consumer educational organization that helps Medicare and MassHealth (Medicaid) beneficiaries to protect against, detect and report healthcare errors, fraud and abuse, will be at the Beech Street Center on Tuesday, July 29, 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. MSMP provides education, guidance and assistance to beneficiaries and their caregivers to navigate the system such as help with issues such as resolving billing and healthcare quality queries and providing referrals as needed.

• Einstein’s Workshop program for Young Adults will be exploring hydraulics on Tuesday, July 29, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Each participant will make and take home their very own hydraulics lift. To register, go online or call 617-993-2870.

• Yoga for everyone at the Beech Street Center from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28: join Susan Harris, a registered yoga teacher and associate professor of Nutrition at Tufts University for this Iyengar-inspired class which practices yoga postures slowly and with attention to alignment and safety, adapted to the abilities and needs of individual students. Practice is done with bare feet; mats and props are provided. Cost: $15/class. Non-seniors, beginners and experienced are welcome. This is a non-Council on Aging class held at the Beech Street Center. For more information, call Susan at 617-407-0816.

• Visit with wondrous animals from all over the world with the program Creature Teachers on Wednesday, July 30, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. This live animal program will educate and entertain. 

• The Belmont High School Teen Techs are back at the Belmont Public Library to help residents and patrons who are looking for help with computers, the internet, e-readers, tablets and the hows and whys of the social media world. The crew will be doing their tech wizardry from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 30 in the Young Adult Room. Register online, stop by the reference desk to register in person or call 617-993-2870 to register by phone.

• Beloved local musician Liz Buchanan performs original songs and traditional favorites on Thursday, July 31, 10:30 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

Three Nights of Construction on Trapelo Road Begins Monday, July 28

By Leave a Comment

For the next three nights, from Monday July 28 to Wednesday, July 30, Waverley Square will be “under the lights” as Trapelo Road is repaved as part of the $17.2 million Trapelo/Belmont Corridor reconstruction project.

From 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., trucks and repaving equipment will be on Trapelo Road from Mill Street to White Street as well as on Lexington and Church streets.

The construction work was approved by the Belmont Board of Selectmen a week ago to lessen the impact on approximately 30,000 daily commuters and businesses in the area, according to Glenn Clancy, director of Community Development and the town’s engineer.

“We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this operation. As you are aware this work is very much necessary and every effort will be made to minimize impacts to residents while work is occurring,” said Clancy in a press release. He stated that residents with any concerns can call he at 617-993-2659 or by e-mail at gclancy@belmont-ma.gov.

Clancy said that homeowners and residents who have questions or concerns during construction hours can contact Ryan Gleason of Newport Construction at 603-765-2173.

Belmont House of the Week: 9 Frederick St. #2

By Leave a Comment

The housing stock surrounding Pequossette “PQ” Playground just south of Central Square has a bit more of an urban feel than what some would expect in Belmont; modest two-families built in the early part of the last century, constructed so an owner occupant could rent the top floor to cover the mortgage.

But with the demand for family housing rising throughout the town, those owners are now more likely to cash in on the market trend by renovating and convert the space into a condominium. One example is at 9 Frederick St.

The one-time rental space – the building was built in 1928 – has been renovated and redesigned to crate a two-floor, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath condominium. The main floor – you’ll need to climb a set a stairs to get to the unit – features an open floor plan with a fireplace, living room with built-ins, a large-ish dining room leading to a “state-of-art” professional chef’s kitchen w with a breakfast bar, custom cabinets, granite counters, and a Jenn-Air stainless appliances. The floor also has two of the three bedrooms and a tiled bathroom.

The former attic has been turned into a master suite retreat with a bedroom that has skylights, a deck with “sunset views” and a marble bath/jacuzzi and tile shower with a pair of skylights.

The unit has hardwood floors, recessed lighting and central air. The building is located between Cushing and Waverley squares and a quick walk to PQ, the Butler School, shops, the town’s cinema, some restaurants, the 73 MBTA bus and a 10 minute stroll to the Waverley station on the commuter rail. 

Price: $699,000

Listed By: Century 21 Adams Realty, Margaret Vogel, 617-826-3022.

Belmont Yard Sales on Saturday, July 26

By Leave a Comment

Here are this weekend’s yard/moving/garage sales (and a free item giveaway event) happening in the 02478 zip code:

• 72 Cross St., Saturday, July 26, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• 65 Grove St., Saturday, July 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 51 Lexington St., Saturday, July 26, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 27 Pilgrim Rd., Saturday, July 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dig It Up: Water Main Work Begins This Monday

By Leave a Comment

On the heels of Belmont naming 11 dilapidated roads to be reconstructed this year comes another list of streets, only this one highlights roads to be dug up.

This Monday, July 28, the Water Division of the Belmont Department of Public Works will begin water main replacement work on 10 byways in town, with the work lasting until Nov. 15.

The streets include:

  • Charles Street
  • Edward Street
  • Orchard Street from Common to Beech streets
  • Winthrop Street
  • Warwick Road
  • Garden Street
  • Holt Street
  • Somerset Street from Pleasant Street to Shady Brook Lane
  • Wellington Lane
  • Richmond Road

The infrastructure work – to replace aging mains to provide “an ample volume of high quality drinking water … and improve water pressures throughout the town,” according to a DPW press release – will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As with any water main work, residents will experience service disruptions during the construction process. Homeowners and businesses will be provided with at least 24-hour notification of all planned water main shutdowns, where water service will be interrupted for a period longer than two hours.

The water system improvements will require some residences to have water supplied through a temporary above ground water main until the new main is complete.

Questions relating to the project or schedule should be directed to the Belmont Water Division at 617-993-2700, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday or by calling Water Division Construction Supervisor Dave Powers at 617-438-2079.

Project updates can be found on the Department of Public Works Water Division web site. http://belmontma.vt-s.net/dpw-water-division.

Rec Dept. Says Good-Bye to Underwood Pool With Kid’s Mud Run

By Leave a Comment

How do you say good-bye to an old friend?

How about a day of mud and fun!

That sounds just about right to Belmont Recreation Department’s Program Supervisor June Howell. After holding a successful season-opening event – the Summer Blast Off – for the town’s Underwood Pool in June, Howell began to think about holding some sort of celebration to mark the end of the life of “the “old Underwood” (this year marks the pool’s 102nd summer) and incorporating the kids seemed to be a great idea.

That’s when Howell remembered something she had been keeping in the back of her head for a number of years; a fun run around the facility with water slides, obstacles and mud.
Lots of mud. 
“Actually, my (adult) nephew told me about one he did and I researched to see how they adapted it for children. They are becoming quite popular.  So between looking at websites and using our imaginations, we came up with some obstacles and a course we think will be fun yet safe,” said Howell.
So at high noon on Sunday, Aug. 24, kids will be able to take part in the Rec Department’s first-ever Kid’s Mud Run at the Underwood Pool to recognize the last days of the century-old facility.
Kids between 4 and 12 will start off at a “mud pit” before heading up the hill to the playground above the pool where they will attack a balance beam, weave in and out between the swing set, carry wood then head back to the pool where after more challenges, they head to the sprinklers before wading across the kiddie portion of the pool to the finish line.
There will be four categories, boys and girls 4 to 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 10 and 11 to 12, with the winners receiving a Summer 2015 Family Membership and a trophy.
After the mud, the Rec Department will hold an open community day at the pool with no membership or day pass required to enter from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be music, hot dogs, swimming and games.

“I really think it’s going to be a blast for the kids,” said Howell. “And for all of us at the department too.”

You can find applications and a course map for the Kid’s Mud Run online at the Belmont Recreation Department Web site. (http://www.belmont-ma.gov/recreation-division)

West Nile Virus Found in Belmont

By Leave a Comment

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced today, Thursday, July 24, that West Nile virus has been detected in one mosquito recently collected from Belmont, according to a press release from the Belmont Health Department.

“WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection,” according to the state.

The first detection of the virus was in Clinton on July 3.

As always, there are a few precautions people can do to help to protect themselves and their families:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours: The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. Otherwise, take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing.

Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Drain Standing Water: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Make sure rain barrels are covered or screened. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or Repair Screens: Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about WNV and reports of WNV activity in Massachusetts during 2014 can be found on the MDPH website . Recorded information about WNV is also available by calling the MDPH Public Health Information Line at 1-866-MASS-WNV (1-866-627-7968).