Burbank Crossing Guard Back To Support Walk to School Day

Photo: Crossing Guard Jim Marcantonio with parent Heather Barr.

Today was a great day for Jim Marcantonio. The Belmont resident was working as a crossing guard in front of the Burbank Elementary School when he was clipped by a vehicle on Jan. 11, sending him to the hospital.

The accident prompted a protest the next day and added a greater sense of safety for students walking to the school along School Street. 

This morning, Wednesday, Feb. 1, Marcantonio was back at his post, this time as a visitor, to participate in a Winter Walk to School Day. Marcantonio, who had been a guard for the past three years, greeted students as parents, town leaders (Selectman candidate Adam Dash) and state officials (Massachusetts Department of Transportation Representative Keith Doty) learn more about ongoing efforts to make Belmont’s streets safer.

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Jim Marcantonio with 1st Grader Reece Bundy.

“We are working with the town planning department on various measures to make the crosswalk safer, which will need to be supported through the town’s budgeting process,” said Reed Bundy, a School Street homeowner who lives across from the Burbank who with his wife, Kelly Fanning, has been a leader in the safety efforts. 
“By gathering on Wednesday morning we can show that we value walking to school and care about making our routes to school safer,” he said.

Police Release Drawing of One Suspect in Sunday’s Armed Robbery

Photo: Belmont Police drawing of one of two suspects in the armed robbery of a Waverley Square gas station on Sunday, Jan. 29.

The Belmont Police Department released a drawing of one of two suspects in an armed robbery that occurred Sunday night Jan. 29 at the Gulf Waverley Square Service Station located at 27 Lexington St. 

According to a Wednesday, Feb. 1 press release from the Belmont Police, the first suspect who enter the gas station was a black male approximately 5-feet, 9-inches tall, medium build and in his mid-twenties.  He was wearing a gray sweatshirt, black winter cap, and a black ski mask.  This suspect was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun.   

The second suspect – who is pictured in the drawing – entered the gas station after the first.  He was a black male, about 5-feet, 9-inches tall, medium build and in his mid-twenties.  He was wearing a black sweatshirt, jeans and has medium length black hair.

The first suspect pointed the handgun at the clerk and demanded money. He threatened to shoot the clerk if he did not comply. Both suspects ordered the clerk to the ground prior to exiting the station.  

If you have any additional information that will help aid the police in this investigation, please contact the Belmont Police at: 617-993-2501 or leave a message on our tip line: 617-993-2569 or email to crimetip@belmontpd.org

Waverley Square Service Station Robbed at Gun Point Sunday PM

Photo: The location of the robbery in Waverley Square in Belmont.

A person with a gun robbed Waverley Square Service Sunday evening, Jan. 29, according to the Belmont Police Department

The Gulf-branded service station at the corner of Lexington Street and Thayer in the heart of Waverley Square was robbed at 7:35 p.m. The police has not released a description or photo of the suspect or how much money was taken.

Belmont Police is asking anyone “who witnessed anything unusual in [the] area around that time” to call them at 617-993-2501.

20 Year Old ID’d as Victim Of Deadly Trapelo Road Fire

Photo: House destroyed by fire on Monday.

A 20-year-old man has been identified as the person killed in an early morning fire on Trapelo Road Monday, Jan. 23.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s office said Kevin Rossell was the person found by firefighters on the third floor of the two-family house at 606-608 Trapelo Rd. after a 4 a.m. three-alarm blaze destroyed the structure. 

No one else was hurt in the fire that halted traffic for a short time on the busy roadway running through town. 

Burbank Community Protest Dangerous Roadway After Guard Hurt [VIDEO]

Photo: Concern on School Street.

When Kelly Fanning heard Wednesday, Jan. 11 well-liked crossing guard James Marcantonio was hit and then hospitalized by a vehicle on School Street in front of the Burbank Elementary School, the mother of two who lives steps from the crosswalk knew it was time for the community to take action.

“[James] is a friend to everyone, he knows all the children and really looks after them,” said Fanning.

(A press release from the Belmont Police said Marcantonio suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the accident that occurred at 8:11 a.m. The driver was cited for not yielding for a person in a crosswalk.)

“If this could happen to him, it shows how dangerous the road is now,” said the mom of Reece Bundy and Mabel Fanning. “There recently have been three accidents before [Marcantonio] including another pedestrian, all happening in front of the school.”

Parents have pointed to the increase in pass-through traffic along School Street, how the crosswalk is just beyond a blind corner as traffic travels from Washington Street and the lack of traffic-calming devices leading to the crosswalk.

“I know that the town knows the yellow [warning] lights don’t work. It’s just another thing that lets drivers not pay attention to the crosswalk,” said Jimmy Busa, who was standing in for his fellow crossing guard.

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Later Wednesday, Fanning and her husband, Red Bundy, began mobilizing their social media contacts to bring together parents, students and residents to demonstrate Thursday morning before school in support of better safety leading in both directions to the crosswalk.

“There are several things the town can do including put a curb along [the south side of] School Street up to the crosswalk and raise the crosswalk,” said Randolph Street’s Peter Dizikes, a parent, and a Precinct 1 Town Meeting member.

On a cloudy, chilly Thursday morning, Fanning brought colored poster board and Sharpies for students and parents to write out signs.

“Ten parents sent back messages that they would attend,” said Fanning. “That would be a good start.”

Soon, parents walking students to school came by and joined the growing numbers who carried signs – “Stay Alert and Slow Down” and “Kids Crossing” – and brought their voices and even cowbells (“More cowbells” advised one parent to the students ringing away).

By the beginning of the school day, more than 60 students and residents were loudly proclaiming their support to make the roadway and crosswalk safer.

“I hope that the [town] will see that there is a lot of people who want something to happen here. This is a serious safety issue that needs to be addressed,” said Fanning.

Belmont Under Winter Storm Warning; Phone Number to Have Close at Hand

Photo: At least it’s taking place on Saturday.

Belmont will see anywhere between six inches to a foot of snow by midnight, Sunday, Jan. 8, according to the National Weather Service.

At 11:40 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 7, the NSA issued a Winter Storm Warning that will remain in effect until 1 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8. Snow will fall moderately to heavy at times into the early evening hours before tapering off around midnight with gusty winds that could reach 35 mph.

Here are the phone numbers and information that you should keep close during the storm:

Belmont’s SNOW EMERGENCY HOTLINE: 617-993-2698.

Belmont Light’s Outage Line617-993-2800.

See winter storm information from the Department of Public WorksWinter Weather Brochure

Snow Removal Bylaw:

Snow Emergency Parking Ban Starts 9PM Saturday

Photo: It’ll get snowy soon.

The Belmont Police has issued a Snow Emergency Parking Ban in Belmont on all roadways and municipal parking lots and schools effective at 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7 until 9 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 8. 

Vehicles parked in violation of the ban will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Residents who have any questions call the snow emergency hotline at 617-993-2698.

Belmont Under Wind Advisory Through Friday AM; Increased Chance of Outages

Photo: Trees could come falling down.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Belmont and Eastern Massachusetts from 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29 to 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, with near gale force winds buffeting the region and creating conditions that could lead to electrical outages.

The NWS is forecasting sustained winds out of the West between 10 to 20 mph with gusts reaching 50 mph with the strongest winds coming between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m.

Gusts have the potential of downing trees and large limbs possibly causing isolated power outages.

While a major winter storm is expected to dump up to a foot of snow in the western part of Massachusetts into Friday morning, Belmont and the Boston region should only see a few inches of the white stuff before precipitation ends late Thursday night.

Below are telephone numbers to keep at the ready during the storm:

Belmont Light (to report outages): 617-993-2800.

The Town of Belmont SNOW EMERGENCY HOTLINE: (617) 993-2698.

Unless it is an emergency, do not call 911.

 

Traffic Factor in Commuter Train/SUV Accident That Left Woman Seriously Hurt

Photo: (credit: Anna Meiler/CBSBoston)

Belmont’s increasingly congested streets appear to have played a factor leading to an early morning collision between an SUV and an MBTA commuter train at the intersection of Brighton Street and Blanchard Road that left a women critically injured at 8 a.m., Friday, Dec. 9.

While MBTA Transit Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan said at a press conference “we don’t want anyone to jump to conclusions” why the black late model SUV was partially on the tracks, eyewitnesses reported in several media outlets the vehicle was stuck in heavy traffic and could not move when the crossing horns and lights were activated as the inbound train from Fitchburg to Boston’s North Station approached.

Despite the claims of witnesses, Sullivan said “preliminary investigation says that it was not a traffic jam” at the time of the collision. 

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(Anna Meiler/CBSBoston)

Sullivan said a 58-year-old female was operating the vehicle with her 10-year-old son and two brothers, 11 and 6, as passengers.

Unable to move off the tracks, the woman opened the car doors and removed her son and the 10-year-old from the car when the vehicle was struck in the right rear section. The car was violently spun around hitting the woman who sustained her serious injuries.

The six-year-old who was still in the SUV when it was struck was uninjured as were the 11 and 10-year-olds.

Sullivan said the woman was rushed to emergency care to Beth Israel Hospital. The three boys were also taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Belmont Police and Fire reached the accident scene minutes after the incident. Brighton and Blanchard were closed for approximately three hours after the crash.

Morning and afternoon traffic through Belmont has become increasingly congested as commuters bypass the Fresh Pond/Route 2 interchange and elect to cut through Belmont heading to and from the western suburbs.

Belmont Police Seek Help In Belmont Street Hit and Run Tuesday

Photo: Location of the hit and run incident on Tuesday, Nov. 29. (Google map)

The Belmont Police Department is seeking the help of the public to identify the operator of a motor vehicle that struck a pedestrian on Belmont Street near the intersection of Belmont and Worcester streets.

The pedestrian was struck at 4:45 p.m. while crossing Belmont Street near Linda’s Donuts. After striking the individual, the suspect vehicle did not stop and continued heading eastbound towards Cambridge.

“The pedestrian was transported to the hospital and is expected to recover,” said Belmont Asst. Chief James MacIsaac.

If you have any information pertaining to the vehicle in question or its operator, please contact the Belmont Police at 617-993-2501 or leave a message on our tip line: 617-993-2569 or email:  crimetip@belmontpd.org

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