Belmont Football Just Short In First Playoff Game, 50-35; Burlington At Home Friday

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Photo: Belmont senior RB Rhaki Joseph on the run.

When Danvers’ Matt McCarthy intercepted Belmont’s Avery Arno’s pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown (McCarthy’s fourth time into the end zone) early in the third quarter to make the score 43-6 in favor of the host Falcons in the first round of the Division 3 North football playoffs, it could have easily been the time for the Marauders to pack it in for the night. 

“Ninety-nine out of 100 teams would have walked off the field and thrown in the towel. Ninety-nine out of 100 defenses would have checked out,” said Belmont Head Coach Yann Kumin after the game.

But for Belmont, the night would not end after a half.

“I want to play more football and so do you,” said Kumin as Belmont would score four touchdowns against Danvers’ at times porous defense while the Marauders defense allowed a single sustained scoring drive by the Falcons to erase a blowout and make it a game Falcons had to earn, 50-35. 

“We have never been here before,” said Kumin as Friday’s game was Belmont first-ever playoff game under the MIAA postseason system established four years ago. Every journey is a long road “and this game takes us one step closer to our goal. This [playoff trip] was no small accomplishment and we know in our hearts that we were just two possessions away from winning this game.”

“Be proud of how we got here and we have three more weeks of football left,” he said. 

Belmont (3-5) will now host Middlesex League rival Burlington High (5-3) on Friday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. at Harris Field. Burlington was upset by visiting Wayland on Friday in the first round of the Division 4 North sectionals. The Devils (5-3) is led by senior running back Jake Doherty who ran for 346 rushing yards and four touchdowns against Wilmington earlier in October.

It was a classic game of two half with Danvers which raced off to a 5-0 start to the season before losing its star quarterback Brendan Treacy for a pair of games – both losses – to a reported violation of a school policy. The hosts dominated the game with Treacy particularly successful through the air (252 yards, a pair of touchdowns) as the Marauders defensive line held its own against the Falcon’s ground attack. 

Treacy scored from two yards out after a three-minute opening drive. Belmont picked up a first down on an Arno to senior receiver Jared Edwards completion to Belmont’s 40 but the drive stalled on the next set of downs. McCarthy scored his first TD of the night on a 43-yard scamper with two minutes remaining in the first. The Falcon’s third score of the quarter came with some controversy as Danvers receiver Ezra Lombardi shoved Edwards who was in coverage along the right sideline to grab a bomb from Treacy for a 90 yard TD.

Belmont got on the scoreboard on a nifty drive that included one of several unsportsmanlike penalties on Danvers with senior RB Rhaki Joseph taking it 18 yards up the gut with 8:59 remaining in the second quarter. 

But Danvers’ McCarthy would end the Falcons’ final two drives in the first half, the first a 15-yard rushing TD followed by an outstanding 16-yard catch between two Belmont defenders in the corner of the right end zone with 58 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 35-6 at the half. 

“We must be faster in making our adjustments [to what Danvers is doing],” said Kumin. “We went into the half knowing what we had to do and it was successful. We just have to do our [changes] on the fly,” he said.

The overhaul of Belmont’s play calling to an in-your-face attacking offense showed immediate results in the third as Joseph scored his second touchdown (and the two-point conversion) soon to be followed by a 32-yard scamper by senior running back Kilian O’Connell, both assisted by a myriad of penalties.

A failed onside kick late in the third allowed Danvers to work with a short field and they capitalized when running back Jack Strangie scored on a 10-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Despite being down by 29, Belmont’s offense continued to take the game to the Falcons as Joseph powered in from three yards out for his third TD of the night with 7:23 remaining.
Belmont’s defense stopped Danvers on a third and 4 with 2:40 left and the offense steamrolled its way into the end zone as Arno found senior wide receiver Mike Delhome on a 31-yard pass and catch with just less than a minute to play in the game. But offsides on an attempted onside kick ended the night and the playoff run for the Marauders. 
But for Kunin, the game is part of the progress he has seen in the program over the past few years, coming from losing seasons up to where Belmont was four minutes away in its game against Arlington last week from hosting a playoff game. 

“I’m proud of this team. These guys didn’t quit and they wouldn’t let me quit,” he said.

Masquerade Concert, Haunted House At Belmont High This Wednesday, Oct. 24

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Photo: The poster for the Masquerade Concert

Preview your costume and get scared as Belmont High School turns into a House of Horrors on Wednesday, Oct. 24, as students get ready to do some pre-Halloween spooookiness.

Need a night of fright this Halloween season? Then come down to the fifth annual Belmont High School Haunted House! This event includes a walk-through spook show and a Halloween activity center for younger guests. The house, constructed and inhabited by the sophomore class, will be open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. There is a $5 admission fee: this year the class is donating all funds to Samaritans, the suicide prevention hotline. 

Right after the Haunted House, the Belmont High School Music Ensembles will hold its yearly Masquerade Benefit Concert which this year will assist the Belmont Food Pantry. The musical groups will be outfitted in their ghoulish best as they present a variety of magical and scary music. 

The concert starts at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. Join in on the fun and wear your own costumes.

While admission is free, a suggested donation of $10 to $25 or nonperishable food items would be appreciated.

Early Voting Has Begun In Belmont; Final Day Friday, Nov. 2 [VIDEO]

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Photo: Early voting has begun.

Thanks to the 2016 changes to the Massachusetts General Laws, any registered voter of Massachusetts may choose to cast a ballot for the State Election (candidates and four questions) before Election Day on Nov. 6. The law permits registered voters to cast ballots during the designated period of Early Voting, for 2018  between Oct. 22 and Friday, Nov. 2.  

“We are excited to offer this opportunity to all registered voters of Belmont, an expanded, accessible schedule of hours at one central location, Belmont Town Hall, for this “no excuse” vote-ahead option,” said Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman.

Early voting is available to every registered voter. Unlike absentee voting that is available in every election for only those voters who will be absent from Belmont, or have a physical disability preventing the voter from going to the polls or with a religious belief preventing the voter from going to the polls on Election Day.

No advance application is necessary to Vote Early in person; you can decide the date and time to cast your ballot at Town Hall during designated Early Voting hours. Once the voter has cast an Early Voting Ballot, that voter may not vote at the polls on Election Day or receive an Absentee Ballot. 

Only Belmont residents who are registered to vote by the Oct. 17 deadline are eligible to vote in this year’s State Election.  To register to vote, find out whether and where you are already registered, where to vote, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

To find out more about Absentee and Early Voting, visit the Belmont Town Clerk’s pages on the Town website.

Early Voting for Belmont Voters will be available ONLY at Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave., during the following schedule of dates and hours, no advance notice is required: 

  • Monday, Oct. 22; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 23; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 24;  8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 25;  8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 26; 8 a.m. to Noon
  • Saturday, Oct. 27; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 28; No Early Voting Hours
  • Monday, Oct. 29; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 30;  8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 31; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 1; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 2; 8 a.m. to Noon

“Pick the most convenient date and time for you and give Early Voting a try.  It’s always advisable to have your ID with you when you go to vote either on Election Day or for Early Voting,” said Cushman.

Written, signed Absentee Applications and Early Voting Applications that request us to mail you a ballot are also available, online at the Town Clerk’s webpage or at the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall.  If you have questions or need additional information, email the Town Clerk’s office at townclerk@belmont-ma.gov or phone 617-993-2600   

‘Override’ Class Of Belmont Educators Earn Professional Status

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Photo: The ‘Override” Class of newly minted professional educators.

A quiz of teachers gathered at the Chenery Middle School on Tuesday, Oct. 9 to celebrate a milestone in their career; earning their professional teaching status in the Belmont public schools. Each in the group had successfully completed three years teaching or working with educators and had started their fourth school year last month.

And it’s a whopper of a class: 33 teachers and administrators by far the largest number of educators to earn professional status in the collective institutional memory of administrators attending the ceremony hosted by the Belmont School Committee. Mary Pederson, the schools director of human resources, said the number reflects both retirements and “that this year marks the first group of staff that was hired with the funds from the (2015) override we successfully passed.” 

“And I know the students and parents in the district … are grateful we have all of you out in the schools teaching classes and helping to keep our class sizes aren’t so big,” said Pederson. Superintendent John Phelan and School Committee Chair Susan Burgess-Cox greeted and presented each attending educator with a small gift

The educators are:

  • Elizabeth Baker, Belmont High, Director of Science
  • David Beebe, Chenery, Technology Engineering
  • Maria Bonfiglio, Burbank, Special Education
  • Jane Brandt, Chenery, ESL
  • Lauren Chancey, Winn Brook, Grade 2
  • Robyn Cohen, Chenery, Guidance Counselor
  • Abbie Dufault, Butler, Grade 1
  • Kate Ebdon, Wellington, Grade 2
  • Laura Fink, Burbank, Grade 2
  • Ezra Flam, Belmont High, Theater Arts
  • Caeli Fraher, Winn Brook, Grade 1
  • Timothy Glick, Chenery, Math, Grade 8
  • Jonathan Golden, Chenery, Math, Grade 7
  • David Gonzales, Chenery, Health+Physical Education
  • Anna Guastella, Belmont High, English
  • Jenna Judge, Wellington, Grade 1
  • Catrina Knapp, Chenery, Grade 5, Math/Science
  • Megan Marincic, Winn Brook, ESL
  • Kimberly Masterson, Belmont High, English
  • Kathryn McLeod, Belmont High, Technology Engineering
  • Stephanie Messing, Butler, Grade 2
  • Aaron Ogilvie, Wellington, Grade 4
  • Mark Olowinski, Belmont High, Math
  • Jessica Pulido, Belmont High, Math
  • Jennifer Scranton, Elementary, Science Facilitator
  • Erin Severy, Wellington, Grade 4
  • Jamie Shea, Belmont High, Social Studies
  • Cynthia St. Clair, Wellington, Grade 3
  • Leslie Sullivan, Belmont High, French and Spanish
  • Crystal Waters, Chenery, Math, Grade 6
  • Grace Yegen, Chenery, ESL

Opening Reception For Belmont Gallery of Art’s The Emotion Of Color Friday, Oct. 19

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Photo: “Oceanlife” Nedret Andre

THE EMOTION OF COLOR; ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY opens Friday, Oct. 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a reception for the public at the Belmont Gallery of Art, third floor of the Homer Building, 19 Moore St. in the Town Hall complex.

The show runs from Oct. 19 to Nov. 30.

This latest Belmont Gallery of Art show features contemporary abstract art by four well-known artists; Susie White, Jeanne Arthur, Kirsten Reynolds and Nedret Andre. The show centers around the theme of emotional connection to color and venue in contemporary art. These four abstract artists together in one gallery will be a visual delight, with powerful images filled with color and light viscerally connecting us to our collective emotions. They are linked through their shared inspiration from the natural world, their innovation, their boldness, their immense talents and the emotional core of their work.                                                                                                                                                                            

The show is curated by Chris Arthur. Please join the artists and the gallery in seeing this remarkable show.

For more information, please contact the Belmont Gallery of Art via its Facebook page.

Belmont Boosters Plus Belmont Savings Brings In $27K (So Far) On ‘B’ Drive

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Photo: “B” Drive: Boosters annual fundraiser.

Going out in teams and pairs, Belmont High athletes took the town for the annual Belmont Booster’s “B” Drive on Sunday, Oct. 14.

And according to Larry Christofori, Boosters president, this year’s fundraiser generated approximately $19,500, which compares favorably to last year’s total of about $17,500. The amount reached allowed the group to achieve a full $7,500 “match-fund” from the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation, making the total for the one day event to $27,000. 

Also, Christofori said the historically the Boosters can expect to generate another $4,000-5,000 in mail-in donations, putting the total somewhere in the neighborhood of $32,000.

“Thanks so much to all of you for your help and  who ran an incredibly efficient and tight ship in leading this effort for the Boosters,” said Christofori.

Letter To The Editor: Until There Is Accountability, A ‘No’ Vote On New High School

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Photo: A No until accountability

To The Editor:

I am not going to argue whether we need a new school. I am concerned about the people on the committee and our past debacles.

Wellington Elementary School
1. full before it was finished being built.
2. Neighbor Noise issues (as a side the building committee rolled there eyes even thought the residents were correct and the town eventually after finally listening did something about it).
3. Sound proofing – the school was finally fixed this year for the noise between classrooms and it actually caused a new sound issue in the principals office that has to be corrected.
4. It’s made of wood and is already in need of repair.

Trash Dumpsters
For some reason the committees never take this into account. There was an issue at the Burbank. At the Chenery the solution was to line up barrels in the hallways until the fire chief said it was a safety issue

This is the third high school in 75 years I believe. And the in-all-seriousness Bill Lovallo, the chair of the building committee made a comment that this school should last 50 years. Now I am sure it was said with the best of intentions but with proper maintenance and upkeep, shouldn’t a building last more than 50 years?

Speaking of upkeep, what is the maintenance plan for this building? Are estimated costs for the future? For example, what is the boilers life span? Will there be money in replace [them] when the time comes and not let them be fixed with band aids?

Did you know the building committee decided to take down the [White] Field House in front of the hockey rink? The one where just a few years ago people donated to have new lockers put in with name plates? Not to mention the decision was made without consulting the Recreation Department who uses an office there (and to my knowledge had not been told of their new location) or that that building is also use for IT equipment for wiring around the field and rink (sorry I don’t know the technical terms).

Now I completely appreciate the time and effort that the people on these committees make but its the same people committee after committee. Who picks them? The Town Moderator. I am curious if anyone has been turned down from a committee or if truly no one else has asked to be on it. What we need is an actual plumber, HVAC and general contractor on the committee as they know the codes and can pick things up when reviewing plans. To me not having those on the board is irresponsible.

Finally, one of major concerns is the fiscal responsibility of the committee. Once the money is received from the Massachusetts School Building Authority and from the town, the committee has oversight. The committee does have have to answer to anyone else, not the town administrator or the town selectmen. How long has the Wellington been done and the board is still in existence and still spending money (granted it is to correct problems but really, should it have taken this long).

Until I can get assurances that we are not going down the same road we always do, whether we need it or not, I will vote no.

Lisa Boyajian

Committee OKs Design For Renovation of DPW Building; Bids Out In 2019

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Photo:Belmont DPW building which will be renovated and undergo construction in 2019.

During the winter of 2019-20, there will be one big difference when the first storm blows through Belmont; the crews plowing the snow will finally have a place they WANT to come to take their break.

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, the Department of Public Works/Belmont Police Department Building Committee approved a final design plan for the renovation of the DPW building at the Town Yard off C Street.

“We are very happy, ecstatic really,” said Marcotte, director of the town’s DPW, who had been pushing the renovation/construction along with Committee Chair Anne Marie Mahoney who has been the champion of improving the deteriorating infrastructure at the DPW and Police Headquarters at the corner of Pleasant Street and Concord Avenue.

Mahoney has for years advanced the cause of these “orphan” projects – as they had no natural supporters among residents – with the idea of making repairs to the structures so “to create a humane conditions for our employees.”

Bids on the $1,189,000 project – paid out of the town’s operating budget so it did not require a debt exclusion which was approved by the Town Meeting in May – will be going out in February and awarding the contract in March. The work would not start until April after the winter weather has finished, said Michael Santoro, manager of the DPW’s Highway Division.

It will take about six months to renovate and add to the interior of the 70-year-old building with the construction of locker rooms, showers and laundry space, room for training and quiet rest and a small amount of office space. Renovations to the existing area will provide a more suitable kitchen and break room space and additional restrooms. 

The committee selected the third of three design schemes presented by The Galante Architecture Studio of Cambridge. See design plans below; an overall view of the work on top with a more detailed view below.

Design plans continue for the police station that will under go construction of a large addition and significant interior renovation.

While the makeover is nearly a year away from completion, the head of the DPW said his team is eagerly awaiting the “new” building.

“The crews are especially appreciative,” said Marcotte

Final Day To Register To Vote In State Election On Wednesday, Oct 17

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Photo: The last day to register is Oct. 17.

It’s down to the wire for those residents who want to register to vote in the coming State Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6 – which will include the debt exclusion for the new 7-12 Belmont High School – as the final day is Wednesday, Oct. 17.

The Belmont Town Clerk’s Office will accomindate those residents who work by staying open until 8 p.m. on Wednesday to handle the procastinators. 

Residents can also submit their online voter registration form to the Massachusetts Secretary of State for the State Election by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday.

Special Town Meeting Warrant Opens Tuesday, Closes Wednesday

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Photo: A Brookline town meeting warrant from the time of Belmont incorporation in the late 1850s.

The Belmont Board of Selectmen voted at their Monday, Oct. 15 meeting on the dates in which the warrant for the Special Town Meeting beginning Nov. 13 will be open and closed.

The Special warrant will open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 16 and close a day later on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m.

The most prominent of the eight article coming before “the special” is the authorization to borrow $213 million to construct a new 7-12 High School. The overlay district maps for adult retail marijuana sales and South Pleasant Street will be on the warrant along with changing the tax deferral for seniors from 8 to 4.5 percent, a Community Preservation Act off-cycle request for $400,000 for design work on the Alexander Avenue underpass, an extension of the DPW/Belmont Police Committee and a pair of financial issues.

The warrant is a document issued by the Board of Selectmen to call a town meeting. Warrants are essentially a list of items to be voted on by the approximately 300 Town Meeting Members which represents the residents in Belmont’s eight precincts.

The selectmen and town committees, boards and staff can place an article in the warrant. Residents can also insert an article on the warrant through the citizen’s petitions process. In a special town meeting, the citizen petitioner must gather 200 signatures to be accepted. Once received by the town clerk, the selectmen have 45 days to call a special town meeting or place it in the warrant of an existing town meeting. 

After the warrant is closed on Wednesday, the selectmen will meet with Town Moderator Micheal Widmer this coming Monday to determine the order the articles will be taken up and if there are any issues pertaining to conflicts with any of the articles.