Belmont High Named As One of Nation’s Best

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As the saying goes, you don’t come to Belmont for the roads; you come for the schools.

And in the latest issue of US News & World Report, Belmont High School is honored as one of the top-rated high schools in the country, earning the magazine’s “Gold” medal. The Concord Avenue school is ranked 151st nationally out of 19,400 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia examined that includes charter and examination-entry schools from across the US.

Using the USN&WR ranking criteria, Belmont High is rated higher than 99.2 percent of all high schools in the country.

The top-ranked high school in the country is the School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas, Texas.

In Massachusetts, Belmont is the top-ranked open-enrollment high school, rated just below the state’s top school, Boston Latin, an exam school, and the Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School in Marlborough. Wellesley High and The Bromfield School, the town of Harvard’s public high school, round out the top five schools.

In 2013, the school was ranked 193rd nationally.

U.S. News teamed up with the Washington, D.C.-based American Institutes for Research, one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world, on creating the ranking methodology that is based on, as the magazine stated, “the key principles that a great high school must serve all of its students well, not just those who are college bound, and that it must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes to show the school is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators.”

According to the magazine, Belmont High scored high on college preparedness, with nearly three-quarters of high school seniors taking and passing at least one AP advanced course.

The school also rated very high, 63rd in the country, in students taking and passing AP exams in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses.

Fast Times For Belmont’s BAA Marathoners

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Your neighbors are a quick lot!

Belmont runners produced some outstanding results at Monday’s 118th Boston Athletic Association Marathon, the historic annual 26.2 mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square to celebrate Patriots’ Day, April 21.

Of the 42 who finished the race, 40 percent, 17, ran under four hours, a great accomplishment for any runner.

And just like the men’s race, where American Meb Keflezighi won the race by 11 seconds, it was a close contest for the first Belmont resident across the line as Roger Donaghy finished nine seconds ahead of fellow BAA member Ryan McCalmon, 2 hours, 36 minutes and 17 seconds vs 2:36:26, placing 213th while Ryan finished 217th.

Rachel Reardon was the female Belmont runner, finishing in 3:25:15, or 7,490th overall, ahead of 25,000 fellow runners, and 1,225th among all women.

But it was in the veteran’s categories that Belmont runners made their mark. Fifty-six-year-old Wolfgang Ketterle finished third in the 55-59 age group in 2:44:06, less than three minutes from the winning time. He placed 528th overall.

Hammond Road’s Robert Cipriano ran a possible personal best in the marathon in 2 hour, 40 minutes and 48 seconds to finish 4th in the 50-54 age group, placing 364th.

Here are all the results from the race:

  1. Scott Abrams, 3:37:45
  2. Anne Antonellis, 4:40:28
  3. Cara Brickley, 4:31:55
  4. John Carey, 3:13:14
  5. Sarkis Chekijian, 3:42:11
  6. Robert Cipriano, 2:40:47
  7. Kelly Coates, 6:14:43
  8. Charlie Conroy, 3:05:03
  9. Virginia Cox, 3:53:19
  10. David DeMarco, 4:06:28
  11. Roger Donaghy, 2:36:17
  12. Paul Feloney, 4:22:19
  13. Paul Firth, 4:38:32
  14. Jonathan Haines, 3:59:19
  15. Bill Hees, 5:22:45
  16. Christopher Heuisler, 3:32:29
  17. Richard Horgan, 5:27:31
  18. James Kelleher, 4:58:31
  19. Wolfgang Ketterle, 2:44:06
  20. Peter Lamb, 4:45:28
  21. Russell Leino, 3:06:15
  22. Mark Lewis, 6:35:29
  23. David MacDonald, 5:03:49
  24. Eric Marro, 4:54:57
  25. Leslie Mauriello, 4:43:14
  26. Ryan McCalmon, 2:36:25
  27. Carolyn Mehaffey, 3:58:36
  28. Karyn Miller-Medzon, 4:26:36
  29. Joseph Mullaney, 4:53:48
  30. Stephen Najarian, 5:34:58
  31. Carrie Palmer, 5:08:19
  32. Oswald Paredes, 5:24:42
  33. John Pilkington-Sperry, 4:40:10
  34. Becca Pizzi, 3:40:15
  35. Rachel Reardon, 3:25:15
  36. Kristen Ruane, 5:27:20
  37. Alissa Schreiner, 3:56:39
  38. Andrew Schreiner, 3:59:03
  39. Emily Seaver, 4:41:41
  40. Hannah Swartz, 5:00:05
  41. Kimberly Usseglio, 4:27:45
  42. James Winter, 5:15:02

Belmont’s Combined Water, Sewer Rate to Increase 4.6 Percent

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The typical Belmont resident will need to dig a bit deeper into their pockets to pay the quarterly water and sewer charges as the combined rate for both services will increase by 4.6 percent in the coming fiscal year that starts July 1.

The average Belmont homeowner who uses 20 HCF (hundred cubic feet) of water every three months will see their expenses jump by a little more than $17 – from the current $372.48 to $389.77 in fiscal 2015 – in their quarterly bill from the town, topping $1,500 for the fiscal year, according to Peter Castanino, director of the town’s Department of Public Works.

Speaking before the Belmont Board of Selectmen on Monday morning, April 22, Castanino told the members the department was successful in keeping the rate hike under the five percent benchmark on all future increases set by the 2010 Water and Sewer Rate Study, this year using retained earnings from the water and sewer accounts above a set minimum amount to run the systems operations and maintenance for 75 days.

Castanino said the rates are greatly influenced by the fixed rates imposed by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority which supplies the town with water and takes its sewage. That rate is just north of 50 percent of the average bill Belmont residents receive.

He also noted the rate from the MWRA will spike upwards (specifically in 2017 and 2020) due to increases in debt services it took on from the state when it was created.

In addition, the rate increases come as Belmont residents have steadily reduced their consumption of water usage over the past two decades.

But Castanino said with households being more efficient, “when we sell less, water will cost more.”

“Those fixed costs must be covered,” said Castanino.

 

Castanino said it is likely the department can continue to maintain its five percent limit on annual increases by decreasing the town’s capital reinvestment into the water and sewer infrastructure.

But a temporary decrease in the pace of the town’s effort to replace the 91-miles of water mains and sewer pumping stations crisscrossing town can be accomplished without doing long-term harm to the upgrade, said Castanino.

He said in 1995 the town began replacing every main installed before 1928 or about 38 miles of pipes and the work is now 59 percent complete. In addition, a pair of sewage stations have been replaced and upgrades to the sewage system has been ongoing. Castanino said many towns and cities have yet to establish as program to replace aging mains.

Selectman Sami Baghdady asked Castanino if there could be someway for the town to reward residents for the drastic decrease in water consumption by further dampening rate increases.

Castanino said the one way to do flatten the rate jumps is for the MWRA – which only uses 2/3 of the water it has on hand – to increase the number of communities within its membership so that debt can be spread around a greater number of cities and towns.

Things to Do Today: Earth Day at Paprika Kids, Jef Czekaj’s In Town, Trash Collection Delayed a Day

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How do you know it’s spring in Belmont? It’s the start of allergy season. Ah-choo!

• It’s Earth Day. Over at Paprika Kids at 404 Trapelo Rd., they are holding an Earth Day Recycling Open Workshop from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. where they are making a fun project out of a recycle materials. Bring a toilet paper roll and Paprika Kids will provide the rest of the materials.

• Curb-side garbage collection and recycling (it’s blue bins this week) is delayed a day due to the Patriots’ Day holiday. So today, Tuesday, April 22, is “Monday” in the trash removal universe.

• If you are a parent of elementary and middle school students, you have in all likelihood seen and read the books of children author and illustrator Jef Czekaj. Today from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room, you and your child can meet Czekaj for a wonderful children’s program. Not a bad way to spend some time with the kids who are on spring recess.

• The Belmont Board of Selectmen will be approving next year’s water and sewer rates at their early-morning meeting, 8 a.m. at Town Hall. Bring coffee.

Nice Day for a Belmont Egg Hunt

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As the appointed time grew near, the anticipation on the hunters’ faces stood out: the widening eyes, the tightening grip, the impatient moving of their feet.

“Is it time?” one said to a friend, eager for the start.

Then, a few minutes after 10 a.m., the momentum to chase was just too much to bear and with a silent “Tally Ho!” the mob broke and the prize was afoot.

Before them, hundreds of colorful plastic eggs with candy and prizes inside. And they would not be content until they had secured their 10 egg limit.

For the 14th year, the Belmont Activities Committee held its annual Belmont Egg Hunt in the Chenery Middle School field on the Saturday before Easter. This year saw slightly less participants then years past but that didn’t mean that most of the hundreds of eggs spread over the field were placed into baskets and bags within the first 10 minutes.

The smallest hunters had their own hunt in the playground of the school where many took advantage of the slides and climbing stairs. Others got their photos taken with the Easter Bunny, had their face painted by Cultural Care Au Pair, parents ate donuts and drank coffee while everyone danced and sang with Marcie of Kids Music by Marcie

This year’s main sponsor was Belmont Savings Bank which gave away “gold” coins for those who found some of the special eggs left on the field.

Other sponsors of the Egg Hunt include: Champions Sporting Goods, Cultural Care Au Pair, Dunkin Donuts, Gregory’s House of Pizza, Hammond Residential, Kendall Confectionary, Lawndale Realty, Moozy’s Ice Cream and Yogurt Emporium, Paprika Kids, Patrick Murphy, Coldwell Banker, Tokyo Joe’s, Toy Shop of Belmont and Wheelworks.

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The Week to Come: Liquor Licenses, Kid-Friendly Library Events and Drug Drop Off

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It’s a quiet week in Belmont with schools on recess and many families going away for spring vacation.

• The Belmont Board of Selectmen is holding an early morning meeting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, to fix next fiscal year’s water and sewer rates along with reviewing the application for four all alcohol licenses. One of the applicant’s most people already know, Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont Center. The other three include a new store called D&L Wine & Spirits (there are three D&L Liquors in Waltham and Woburn) which will be located on Pleasant Street, the Loading Dock on Brighton Street and LC Variety on Trapelo Road.

• Thank goodness that the Belmont Public Library has scheduled kid-friendly events during the school recess week!:

  • Meet kid’s author and illustrator Jef Czekaj for a wonderful children’s program on Tuesday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Screen Shot 2014-04-21 at 8.23.39 AM
  • The British are coming to Belmont! Members of His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot (OK, the library doesn’t have a time machine; the soldiers are Revolutionary War re-creators) are coming to the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 to tell the British perspective on the American Revolution and try an 18th century military drill under the guidance of their commander, Rob Lee. The group is dedicated to portraying the life of the British troops garrisoned in the Boston area during the War for Independence. For ages 10 and up. Sign up online or call 617-993-2870.
  • The library is sponsoring a children’s event associated with One Book One Belmont with a tour of the Jason Russell House in Arlington on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Russell was killed at the doorstep of his Arlington home by British troops ransacking and burning homes on their retreat from Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.  Daniel Leclerc, former Belmont selectman and history teacher, will lead a tour of the house and tell more about that fateful day.  Recommended for families with children ages 8 and up. Space is limited so registration is required; sign up at 617-993-2880.
  • More on the musical end of the schedule, come hear the music from the country that is holding the World Cup in June: Sounds of Brazil with Sulinha Boucher is Brazilian music for the whole family. The show will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 26 in the library’s Assembly Room.

Belmont World Film 2014 will be screening “An Afghan Love Story” the story of an Afghan father who weighs his family’s honor against his allegiance to his daughter after she is seduced and impregnated by a handsome waiter. The movie, which was nominated for an Academy Award, will be shown at 7:30 p.m. at Belmont’s own Studio Cinema at 376 Trapelo Rd. on Monday, April 21. 

• One Book One Belmont events continue this week as John Stauffer, Professor of English, American Studies and African American Studies at Harvard University, tells the story of Phillis Wheatley, a Boston slave born in Gambia, became one of the foremost poets in early America known for the revolutionary nature of her works. Co-sponsored by Belmont Against Racism, the Belmont Historical Society, and the Human Rights Commission, the talk will take place on Wednesday, April 23, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• Belmont joins communities across the country participating in the Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative on Saturday April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Belmont Auxiliary Police will have a collection point set up at the DPW yard, 37C St. You can contact Belmont Police Lt. Daley at kdaley@belmontpd.org for more information.

Murder Suspect from Belmont Surrenders to Law Enforcement

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Olmsted Drive’s Domingo Mendes, who faces a murder charge for killing a popular Waltham High School student on March 20, surrendered to Waltham Police on Thursday, April 17, according to a press release from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson.

Mendes, 22, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in on an outstanding warrant for murder, possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to violate the drug laws.

He is expected to be arraigned Friday, April 18, in Waltham District Court.

Authorities had previously arrested Taylor Poulin, 21, of Newton, in connection with the shooting.

According to court papers, Mendes is charged with killing Tyler Zanco, a Waltham High senior and wrestling captain, was shot shortly after 10 p.m. in the Gardencrest Apartments parking lot on Middlesex Circle in Waltham during a confrontation in the midst of a drug exchange.

On the Run: Belmont Residents Taking Part in the Boston Marathon

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There will be 36,000 runners in the 2014 BAA Marathon and nearly 50 are your neighbors from Belmont.

Monday’s race, the 118th edition of the world’s oldest marathon, will have special meaning for the runners, spectators and the nation as it will be the first since the terrorist attack on April 15, 2013 that killed three and wounded more than 250 who came to watch the race along Boston’s Boylston Street near the finishing line.

Belmont is well represented by those running for charities or a fast time. The three top men to follow are Ryan McCalmon (who is a regular runner of Belmont’s Brendan’s Home Run 5K in June) who finished 43rd in last year’s race with a time of 2:25:13, Roger Donaghy who ran the 2011 Boston in 2:28:56 and Robert Cipriano who will challenge for the 50-54 year old title. Among the top women are Rachel Reardon and Karen Encarnacion.

This year, you can follow the race with a first-ever mobile app with the ability to follow your favorite runner on an interactive map.

  1. Scott Abrams  28628
  2. Anne Antonellis  29322
  3. Cara Brickley  27869
  4. John Carey  6973
  5. Sarkis Chekijian  26012
  6. Robert Cipriano  1224
  7. Kelly Coates  26054
  8. Charlie Conroy  4417
  9. Virginia Cox  27800
  10. Micheal Cragg  28688
  11. David DeMarco  30705
  12. Roger Donaghy  234
  13. Karen Encarnacion  9061
  14. Paul Feloney  31987
  15. Paul Firth  31013
  16. Jonathan Haines  15543
  17. Bill Hees  32677
  18. Christopher Heuisler  25629
  19. Richard Horgan  26739
  20. James Kelleher  31032
  21. Wolfgang Ketterle  1298
  22. Peter Lamb  30096
  23. Russell Leino  2544
  24. Mark Lewis  29145
  25. David MacDonald  26308
  26. Eric Marro  26567
  27. Leslie Mauriello  28526
  28. Ryan McCalmon  123
  29. Carolyn Mehaffey  31044
  30. Karyn Miller-Medzon  24043
  31. Joseph Mullaney  26174
  32. Stephen Najarian  25537
  33. Jodie O’Malley  34131
  34. Carrie Palmer  27035
  35. Oswald Paredes  34479
  36. John Pilkington-Sperry  25692
  37. Becca Pizzi  17013
  38. Rachel Reardon  8355
  39. Kristen Ruane  30976
  40. Jennifer Salucci  34093
  41. Alissa Schreiner  31859
  42. Andrew Schreiner  31860
  43. Emily Seaver  26990
  44. Hannah Swartz  30987
  45. Kimberly Usseglio  27498
  46. James Winter  35585

 

Things to Do Today: Early Release, Brownsberger at Beech Street , Story Time

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Today is Good Friday and the beginning of the week-long April recess for the town’s students.

• It’s early release at the six Belmont public schools today: The High School at 10:30 a.m.; Chenery Middle School at 11 p.m. and the elementary school’s at 11:40 p.m. with the exception of the Winn Brook which will release at 11:50 p.m.

• State Sen. Will Brownsberger will be at the Beech Street Center at 10 a.m. to meet with residents and hear their concerns.

• Come to the Friday pre-school Story Time taking place at the Benton Library (at the corner of Oakley and Old Middlesex) beginning at 10:30 a.m. and led by Denise Patnod. There will be stories and crafts for children 3 to 5. Siblings may attend with adults. Parents or caregivers must be present. Registration is not required.

• Well-loved local musician Liz Buchanan performs original songs and traditional favorites at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room at 10:30 a.m.

• While Monday is Patriots’ Day, it is today in 1775 when Paul Revere and William Dawes began their rides warning the Massachusetts countryside that “the regulars” were on the march.

Goose Busters Program Coming Back to Belmont

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When your fields and playgrounds are fouled by fowls, who are you going to call?

Goose busters!

In an effort to control the waste left on Belmont’s fields and common areas by Canada geese, the most common waterfowl species in North America, the Belmont Health Department will be establishing a new, more formalized “off-leash” registration program for residents and their pet pooches, according to members of the Belmont Board of Health at an informational meeting held last week and in subsequent interviews.

A past attempt to register dogs to run on the tows playing fields was less organized or controlled, resulting in an ineffective scheme. The existing “Off-Leash Program for Dogs on Belmont Athletic Fields” run by the Recreation Department is $40 per resident dog for 2014.

“[O]ver the recent years we have found residents made  little or no attempts to actually have their dogs involved in chasing geese,” Belmont’s Health Director Stefan Russakow told the Belmontonian Thursday, April 17.

Under this new initiative, the town’s Recreation Department in conjunction with Belmont’s Animal Control Officer John Maguranis, will create a registration program that will allow dogs to be “off leash” outside their owner’s property.

Under the proposed guidelines (Article 8) for animals that will be voted on by Town Meeting in May, no dogs will be allowed “to run free” without permission from the Board of Health.

One important part of the new program will be determining if those dogs “are good citizens,” said Board Vice Chair Dr. David Alper, that they can be controlled by their owners while on the fields and playgrounds.

According to Russakow, his department will not be issuing ‘licenses’ for off-leash activities on the fields, but creating a laminated card similar to the former “goose buster” card of the past indicating the owner has paid the fee and their pet was evaluated by Maguranis.

The new program “will be looking at activities for dog owners and their animals to increase animal and human health through exercise in the future,” said Russakow.

In fact, Russakow said as a result of the expanded nature of the initiative, his department will not be using the term “goose busters.”

“Any secondary benefit like keeping geese off the fields is a plus,” he said.