Belmont Light Asks To Ease Up On Electrical Use During Heat Wave

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Photo: Sunny hot days ahead.

Belmont Light and its partner, Woburn-based energy efficiency firm Sagewell, are informing customers that today, Thursday, Aug. 11, and Friday, Aug. 12, are expected to be high electricity use days due to continued high temperatures across New England. 

And the town’s electrical utility is asking residents and customers to help it save energy and money by reducing electricity consumption between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Because Belmont Light is municipally-owned, all savings are passed onto ratepayers. 

Belmont Light is asking consumers to employ at least two of six actions to reduce the town’s peak electricity consumption including:

  1. Adjust the air conditioner a few degrees warmer and turn off the AC in rooms that are not in use. Adjusting the thermostat by two or three degrees makes a big difference.
  2. Don’t cook with an electric stove or oven.
  3. Shift laundry and dishwasher use until after 6 p.m.
  4. If you have an electric hot water heater, wait to bathe or use hot water until after 6 p.m.
  5. Run pool pumps or use hot tubs before 2 p.m. or after 6 p.m.
  6. Shift other electricity use to before 2 p.m. or after 6 p.m.

Every bit of electricity reduced during peak times will help Belmont mitigate rising electricity costs. If you have any questions or would like advice on how to decrease peak energy consumption, contact Sagewell’s Belmont Light Peak Reduction Program at:
support@sagewell.com or 617-963-8141.

Expect Possible Severe Weather For Most Of Monday Afternoon

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Photo: Boomers are heading this way. 

The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a “Special Weather Statement” this morning that most of New England, including Belmont, could see severe thunderstorms arriving sometime this afternoon.

The report released at 3:35 a.m., Monday, July 18, stated a line of thunderstorms is expected to cross southern New England between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. that “may bring damaging winds, hail, torrential rainfall and frequent lightning.”

The one saving grace for the Boston region is that the greatest risk for the stormy weather is western and north central Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. 

The NWS advises anyone with outdoor plans to “keep an eye to the sky and get indoors when you first hear thunder.”

“Wait at least 30 minutes until the storm passes to resume outdoor activities.” 

Belmont To Hold Vigil For Peace And Community Tuesday, July 12

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Photo: Candlelight vigil in Belmont.

Belmont’s social justice and faith communities will come together on Tuesday for an observance of reflection after weeks of violence in the US and around the world.

Co-sponsored by Belmont Against Racism, the interfaith Belmont Religious Council, and other local community groups, the Belmont Vigil for Peace and Community will occur on Tuesday, July 12 at 8 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church courtyard facing Common Street. Parking is available in the St. Joseph parking lot off School Street.

“In the face of so many recent tragedies across our country and the world, it is important for local communities to come together and reflect on peace and understanding,” wrote Belmont Religious Council’s John Robotham announcing the vigil.

“From Turkey to Dallas, to Orlando, St. Paul and beyond, there has never been a greater need to respect our differences, affirm the value of every life, and seek common ground,” he said.

The brief candlelight service will include members of many different faith communities in town, local community organizations and representatives from the Belmont Police Department. The service will conclude after sunset at 8:30 p.m.

Ideas Needed: Belmont ‘Staycation’ Needs Your Help

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Photo: A walk through Habitat.

It’s summer and that means vacation season. But going away for a week or two could mean putting a strain on the environment and your pocketbook. 

Traditional vacations can cost hundreds to possibly even thousands of dollars, with air travel resulting in the usage of massive amounts of fuel. For example, a Boeing 747 burns around one gallon of fuel every second, meaning a 10-hour flight will use 36,000 gallons.

In order to reduce carbon footprint, the Belmont Citizens Forum is creating a Belmont “Staycation”, a vacation in our own town which will be safer for the environment and your wallet. The forum’s summer intern, Shodai Inose, is collecting ideas to create family-friendly and fun experiences, and he needs your help.

  • Do you know of any locations (preferably in Belmont) that you think people would enjoy?
  • Are there any local businesses you would like to share with the rest of the community?
  • How does a family like yours spend time in town?

We are looking for anything enjoyable to do here without breaking your wallet or the environment. Any input would be very beneficial to the project, and we hope you will be a part of this adventure!

The Belmont Citizens Forum is an organization aiming to preserve Belmont’s small-town atmosphere by creating public awareness and interest in Belmont’s historical, architectural, environmental, and general cultural heritage.

Help us reduce the carbon footprint of Belmont residents for years to come by contacting us. Please send your “Staycation” ideas to belmontstaycation@gmail.com by July 20. For more information, see http://www.belmontcitizensforum.org/

As Underwood Opens, Advice From The Manager: Apply Lotion Before Diving In

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Photo: Underwood pool manager Lorraine Benoit.

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, the bike rack outside the Underwood Pool was filled, there was a line at the facility’s front desk and SUVs, and sports vehicles were dropping off folks on Concord Avenue.

It was opening day of the first full-season of the Underwood, constructed and opened in August of last year. And if the first afternoon of operations is any indication, this is going to be one very popular place to Belmont. 

The crowds of kids and adults frolicked in the water as temperatures and sunny skies brought out a steady stream of visitors to get a jump start on summer. Toddlers were happy just getting their feet wet in the shallow pool while older kids took advantage of the diving board’s springiness. A line of youngster prepares to take the “deep end” test as adults camped out around the parameter, staking out their little homestead. 

While a bit crowded, the atmosphere around the pool is relaxed and upbeat, as is the long-time manager.

“It’s going great,” said Lorraine Benoit, who manages the staff, lifeguards and the running of the new facility.

“The best part is that every member of the family can have fun down here. And from the looks of it, they’re all here,” said Benoit. 

This season, the pool has new large umbrellas along with the “Underwood trees” which is providing shade on the south side of the pool. “I don’t see people wanting for anything,” she said.

Asked what if the one thing she would tell the public about coming to the pool, Benoit didn’t hesitate to point out what will be her prime pet peeve this season.

“Before you come to the pool, put on your sunscreen at home!” said Benoit, using the referee’s voice – she is a noted field hockey, and lacrosse umpire. Saying that lotion takes a half-hour to be absorbed into the skin, Benoit said if a person enters the pool before then, “the oil is going to end up in the water, and you’re not going to get the protection.” 

Last summer, during the abbreviated season, the pool was closed for some days due to water contaminated by lotion. 

And when it is time to reapply the sunscreen, “just wait a bit before entering the pool. And we have so many things that you can do while you hold on, whether it’s playing volleyball in the depression (the area just outside the structure) or have lunch on the grass,” she said.

The Underwood Pool will be open daily (except for July 4) until Sunday, Sept. 5. For complete information on hours, programs and fees, go to the Belmont Recreation Department’s web page. 

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Farewell: Belmont’s Wandering Moose Meets End In Weston

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Photo:

The sad news came way of Twitter – as most news does today – from out in the western suburbs Monday evening. There was an accident between a car and a moose near Route 128:

While the driver was not hurt, the same was not the fate of the moose, who had to be put down by Massachusetts Environmental Police.

It was soon determined that the animal hit by the car was, likely, the Belmont Moose, the female cow that took an early morning stroll on June 2 through Watertown and many locations in the Town of Home that caught the attention of thousands on social media and television from greater Boston to as far as Japan. 

The news spread fast, reaching the moose’s official Twitter account with its 319 followers who added “RIP” to the account’s name.

And the reaction among her fans was immediate:

Look What Was Dragged Out Of Clay Pit Pond

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Photo: The Clay Pit Pond Largemouth Bass.

On Sunday morning, May 22, Belmont High sophomore Brian Alper caught himself a damn good lookin’ largemouth bass coming in at an impressive eight-plus pounds. 

But it was where Alper reel in his catch that is just as jaw-dropping. No, he wasn’t on some crystal clear Berkshire County lake or in the wilds of Maine. Brian caught his bass in Clay Pit Pond.

CLAY PIT POND!

Yes, the man-made body of water – created in the late 1920s when the Wellington Brook was redirected into a pit where the New England Brick Company excavated clay for bricks – is unlikely to be on anyone’s list of fishin’ holes to find bass or much less anything living. For four decades, the land next to the pond was the town’s dump until the town opened the incinerator site near the Lexington town line in 1959.

In 1995, Belmont’s Conservation Commission asked the state to test the fish in Clay Pit Pond. Results showed unacceptably high levels of chlordane, a pesticide is associated with a variety of cancers. After the results were made public, the Massachusetts Public Health Department issued a public warning that is found on signs on the bank of the pond: “Do not eat fish caught in this pond. They may be poisoned with chemicals.”

For most residents, the creature most likely seen swimming in Clay Pit Pond is a rat or Blinky, the three-eyed orange fish found in the lake outside the nuclear power plant in “The Simpsons.” 

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But for Brian – who has been fishing Clay Pit for the past two years – and other hearty locals, the allure of casting a lure into a body of water outweighs most of the concerns they may face. And if Boston Harbor and the Charles River can be reclaimed to be “swimmable” after centuries of pollution, whose to say Belmont’s own “Pond” will one day … ummm, no. 

As for the bass – he was not named by Brian – he will continue to swim (it’s likely he has spent the past decade in the pond) contently in his watery home for now.

“Of course, it got thrown back. No one should EVER eat fish out of there,” said Brian’s father, David, the long-time chair of the town’s Board of Health. 

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Pats Give a Boost To High School Sports Supporters Group

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Photo:
 
The stands along the court’s edge at Belmont High School’s Wenner Field House Monday, May 16 – was filled with boisterous kids and rambunctious adults to cheer on a half dozen member of the New England Patriots that took on a team of high school athletes and residents. At half time, the lines to have the players sign autographs stretched across the length of the basketball court. 
 
While the final score was not that important, the outcome of ticket sales and sponsor donations will help the Belmont Boosters in supporting its mission of assisting sports in the public schools. In the past six years, the Boosters have donated close to $170,000 to the athletic programs at Belmont High School including renovating the fitness room, placing a new floor on the basketball court in the field house and remaking the White Field House.
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According to Booster’s Vice President Larry Christofori, the game with Patriot players such as running back LeGarrette Blount and Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler generated between $15,000 to $20,000.
 
“It is not the biggest fundraiser for the Boosters, but without a doubt it is truly important because each of our three historically ‘big’ fundraisers – the basketball game, the annual fall Booster Drive and the yearly Golf Tournament – are comparable in terms of net proceeds to the Boosters,” said Christofori.
 
And while the Patriots usually has a three-game maximum series at each town, “we are negotiating now for future games as so many enjoy the game,” said Booster’s President Jim Reynolds.

Unanimous: Selectmen Recommend No on $144 Million Minuteman Building

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Photo: A rendering of the new Minuteman School.

In a surprise vote of unity, the Belmont Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to recommend a “no” vote by the annual Town Meeting on a request to finance a new $144 million building for the Minuteman 

“I was not expecting a 3-0 vote from the board,” said John McLaughlin, who has been advocating that the town rejects the proposal.

“That said, I am delighted with the vote,” said McLaughlin, who was part of the town’s task force that spent two years atttempting to construct a new district plan and attempt to build and finance a new school.

McLaughlin noted that nearly all the remaining nine community town meetings have or are likely to approve the measure, saying the Selectmen were showing the same courage to act on principal as is the theme of the play “Twelve Angry Men.”

“It shows leadership to vote and not be influenced or motivated what others are doing,” he said.

For Jack Weis, Belmont’s representative on the Minuteman School Committee, the negative vote was not unexpected.

“I not surprised by the vote because [the Middlesex school authorities] had a high bar to clear” which it could not do because “the project had major flaws,” said Weis. 

“This is a really tough call,” said Mark Paolillo, chair of the board, as the selectmen reviewed and voted on each of the articles that will be before Town Meeting in the May session which includes all non-budgetary items as well as the scheduled Special Town Meeting.

“As a group, we are not ready to move forward” on the measure since the building selected is “too big” for the students committed to attend, said Paolillo.

Saying that while the board is not saying a new school building – the current structure dates from the early 1970s and was nearly shut down by the Lexington Fire Department four years ago for safety concerns – “it’s just that we could have a white elephant” on the town’s financial books, said Paolillo.

In the end, the selectmen could not justify building a new school for roughly 630 students when the now reconstituted ten community Minuteman school district is sending little more than half – 330 pupils –of that number.

“It really is froth with uncertainity,” said Selectman Jim Williams.  

In addition, the Selectmen were concerned that many assumptions being made by the Minuteman administration – of increasing enrollment, the hope the state would approve placing a $8,400 tuition surcharge on the nearly 45 percent of the school’s population that come from “out of district” communities (such as Watertown and Waltham) to help pay for the new school – were too risky to undertake considering that Belmont would be saddled with between an annual charge of $372,000 to $500,000 in capital expenses for the next 20 years. 

“That’s a lot of money to spend when [Belmont] sends 26 students there a year,” said McLaughlin, 

The selectmen’s vote came two days before the Warrant Committee, the Town Meeting’s financial watchdog also votes on the Minuteman measure. In previous meetings, a majority of Warrant Committee members voiced similar concerns with the proposal.

If Belmont rejects the Minuteman school, the new building scheme – which the Massachusetts School Building Authority has pledged nearly $45 million to its construction – would be set aside while several options are considered by the state and Minuteman administration. 

One alternative would be a district-wide vote in the remaining 10 communities in which a simple majority of the 10 communities would ratify the deal or if the district ejects the town from the school district. 

The vote came after the town in February voted to overwhelmingly approve joining an newly structured Minuteman School District.

But McLaughlin said Town Meeting Members should not confuse that approval of a new district structure should automatically lead to approving a new building,

“For towns like Belmont and Arlington that rely on their residential tax base, it would really hurt if something that is overbuilt and over priced is crammed down their throats,” he said. 

Unfinished Business: Caucus Set In Precinct 7 To Fill Still Empty Town Meeting Seats

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Photo: Caucus to be held to fill remaining Town Meeting seats.

There is some unfinished business to complete in Precinct 7 as voting in the Town Election failed to select a pair of one-year Town Meeting seats in the district located in the southeastern section of Belmont which will result in a caucus being called to fill them, according to Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman.

First the good news. Despite only nine residents electing to run for 12 three-year slots to represent the neighborhood at Town Meeting, three residents received write-in votes that secured their places in the town’s legislative body.

They are: 

Kathleen Lowrey Bonnin, Sarah Jackson and Paul Nelson who received 26,25 and 22 votes. 

But only one of the three single-year seats was filled as write-in candidate Claire Crawford received four votes to win. (Crawford was not the Town Meeting member with the least number of votes to be elected; Elaine Alligood was elected to a one-year term in Precinct 5 with just three write-in votes cast.)

Since the two seats are known as “failure to elect,” a caucus for Town Meeting Members will be held on Tuesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, Room 2.

Any voter of precinct 7 is eligible to run.