Belmont High Field Hockey Firing On All Cylinders At Wilmington In Season Opener

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Photo: Belmont’s Jordan Lettiere scoring the first goal of the season in Belmont’s 8-0 win over Wilmington.

Belmont High Head Coach Jess Smith was nervous before the season-opening game at Wilmington on Saturday, Sept. 7.

“Are we really ready for this game?” worried Smith, remembering Belmont’s close 1-0 home victory against the Wildcats a year earlier. 

While Smith fretted as coaches will, her players spent the final moments during stick inspection discussing … llamas. “They’re sooo cute! But really nasty in person,” commented a player who got to see the South American pack animal up close during a recent school trip to Machu Picchu. 

“Do you believe them?” said Smith of her charges as they headed out onto the pitch. But being anxious is just Smith’s natural state before a match, be it against tough foes like Watertown or a weaker opponent during the season.

A little over an hour later, Smith was able to set her worries aside (at least until the next game) as her Marauders came out and dominated the host Wildcats, 8-0, to open the team’s 2018 account with a victory.

“I’ll take it,” said a pleased Smith, now in her 13th year coaching the team. “The team was an offensive machine today,” she said.

And why wouldn’t Smith be pleased? Her Marauders controlled all aspects of the game. On defense, Belmont shut down the Wildcat attack by clogging the passing lanes and using their collective speed – Smith credits three weeks of running 400-meter laps on the Harris Field track – to limit to just a handful of the times Wilmington crossed the midfield line. Led by juniors Katie Guden at center mid and Emma Donahue, center back, Belmont was able to quickly transition to offense.

“I was impressed how the defense and the midfield worked together to bring the ball into the [striking circle],” said Smith.

Offensively, Belmont used a combination of solid passing and slick, quick solo runs – by speedster Marissa Cecca, Guden and senior forward and co-captain Morgan Chase – to counter Wilmington packing 11 players between the ball and their goal. It took all of four minutes for the team to get on the scoreboard when senior forward and co-captain Jordan Lettiere beat the Wildcat goalie by her left pad to give Belmont the lead they’d keep.

Belmont would score three more in the first and four in the final 30 minutes with Guden bagging the hat trick, with Chase and Donahue putting in a pair, each scored in close and from just inside the striking circle (Chase’s long-distance goal came from a penalty corner passed to her by defender Meaghan Noone which can be seen on the video). Morgan Moroney and Molly Calkins each played a half in net and shared the shutout. 

Next up for Belmont is the home opener at Harris Field against Stoneham on Wednesday at 4 p.m. then the Marauders host Woburn at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. 

Planning Board Expands South Pleasant District With Eye On Waverley Square

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Photo: Andy Rojas at the July Planning Board meeting with the proposed plans for an assisted living center.

With an eye on the future of a “new” Waverley Square that will be unrecognizable “in 10 years,” the Belmont Planning Board has expanded the overlay district along South Pleasant Street it approved in July at its meeting on Sept. 6.

Originally running from 1010 Pleasant St. to Citywide Subaru at 790 Pleasant St., the new district will be enlarged to include the land along Pleasant Street to Trapelo Road including the Getty service station, Star Market to the Belmont Car Wash. 

“It makes perfect sense to include Shaws and the Car Wash,” said Charles Clark, chair of the board, as potential development could come to the doorstep of Waverley Square, the least active of Belmont’s three business centers. He said action by the board could result in major changes in the next decade at the transportation hub of west Belmont. 

Clark said he has been receiving positive feedback from the developer of a proposed assisted living center at 1010 Pleasant, the Belmont Housing Trust and from those who have promoted mixed commercial/residential development along the stretch of land.

Zoned as a Local Business District 2 (LB2), the Planning Board is advocating overlaying more lenient LB1 zoning regulations which will allow developers somewhat greater leeway on what is constructed without the need to enter the at times laborious “special permit” process when they exceed the zoning restrictions. 

Andy Rojas, the architect for Belmont Manor which presented preliminary plans to develop the assisted living center in July, pointed out that as currently designed meets all but one of the dimensional zoning regulations – such as maximum lot coverage, minimum open space and building height – under the LB1 regulations, while missing the mark on most of the restriction in an LB2 district. 

If the board makes the change, “we’re in compliance” which will allow for the facility – a first in Belmont – to be built in a timely manner, said Rojas. It will also allow similar establishments such as independent living, nursing and full-care facilities to be proposed. 

“Yes, I can see that work,” said Clark. 

Advocates for greater construction of affordable housing are speaking up for the overlay district. Rachel Heller for the Housing Trust noted that in an LB1 district, multi-family, assisted living, and mixed-use housing would be allowed. It could also result in developers being offered increased density and height to developers in exchange for additional affordable housing units and/or affordability levels. 

The Trust also hopes the Board should consider creating a 40R district which provides financial incentives for communities that create zoning overlay districts that encourage smart growth housing development.

The Planning Board will next meet on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at Town Hall. 

Belmont High Volleyball Two For Two In Season Openers [VIDEO]

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Photo: Belmont’s Leah Babroudi at the net against Burlington.

Last year Belmont High volleyball’s young team squeaked into the playoffs with a .500 record than losing in the first round.

Now, with a year’s worth of experience under their belt and a familiarity playing as a team, Belmont’s Head Coach Jen Couture has high hopes for a strong run in the league race and for a post-season run.

And so far the team has not disappointed, winning its first two contests in the 2018 season; 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22) in the home opener over Burlington on Wednesday and a 3-0 (25-16, 25-9, 25-15) whitewashing of Wilmington Friday.

In its game with Burlington – a semifinalist in last year’s Division 2 North sectionals – Belmont never allowed the Devils to run off long service games while countering with a complete game plan.

“We started off the match playing with confidence,” said Couture. “Burlington took a little while to warm up and really started getting into a groove in the third set which they inevitably took. In the fourth set we just focused on minimizing unforced errors, keeping everything in play and hitting smart shots. [Belmont] didn’t get shaken or down on themselves after dropping the [previous] set and bounced back to finish the match.”

Junior captain setter Mindee Lai set a new record for assists in a single match with 35.

“Mindee always gives 100 percent effort every match and does an excellent job setting up our offense. Burlington’s middle blockers really challenge our hitters to hit to smart spots and Mindee adjusts the sets to give hitters more time to hit around the block,” said Couture.

Senior Captain Jane Mahon led the offense with 11 kills (17 total in two games) and 6 aces. Mahon, who plays as the opposite hitter and middle blocker, also led the team in blocks with 6. She’s followed by junior Nena Babroudi with 10 kills and 5 services aces.

Leading from the back was junior Libero Sophia Estok who came up big serving in the fourth set along with her solid defense. In the two games, Estok has 36 defensive digs and 38 services received while senior Leah Babroudi has 14 digs and 24 services. 

Shanah Tovah: Rosh Hashanah Begins Sunset Sunday

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Photo: Shanah Tovah!

Is it already 5779? How time has flown! The Jewish New Year known as Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset (a few minutes after 7 p.m.), Sunday, Sept. 9 and lasts until Tuesday evening.

Rosh Hashanah – which in Hebrew translates to “head of the year” – is a time of inner renewal and divine atonement. It begins the period of the High Holidays culminating with Yom Kippur on Tuesday evening, Sept. 18. It is a time for observant people to acknowledge their sins of the previous year and are judged for their transgressions by God.

The holiday will affect after-school activities and athletic events in Belmont’s public schools. Under current district rules, teachers should be aware of the holiday when assigning homework and tests as some students will be attending religious services. 

Meals include apples dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet new year and at least one brisket dinner. Other traditions include participating in tashlich, Hebrew for “casting off” in which people go to a nearby body of water and throw in pieces of bread, which signifies the washing away of sin.

Belmont Girls’ Soccer Leaves It Late In 2-1 Home Opener Win As Frosh Goalie Shines

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Photo: Ella Gagnon (21) scoring the equalizer vs. Wilmington.

It wasn’t the way freshman goalie Bridgette Martin wanted to start her first varsity game against Wilmington.

On the first ball that came her way, Martin – who admitted being nervous when the game got underway – hesitated for a second and saw it go behind her and tapped in by Jocelyn Palmer less than 30 seconds into the home opener on Saturday night, Sept. 8.

But that “oops” moment didn’t get the 9th grader down, just mad. 

“I got pretty angry after the goal and that anger fueled my adrenaline. It kicked in and it got me going to the ball hard,” she said. 

While her mistake put Belmont (2-0-0) behind the Wildcats (0-2-0) for nearly 70 minutes, Martin was superb the remaining 79 minutes, stopping three breakaway and a looping shot heading goalward to keep the match within one. That allowed the usual goal happy Marauder offense (it won its opener 11-0 over Burlington) to find a way by a disciplined Wilmington defense to score twice in the final 12 minutes to eek out a 2-1 victory at Harris Field.

“I really have to say Martin showed a heck of a lot of class,” said longtime Marauder Head Coach Paul Graham. And that effort was crucial, said Graham, “because despite dominating the game especially in the first half, we couldn’t find any way to score.” 

Not that the Marauders didn’t come close, including hitting the crossbar and seeing two through balls miss everyone in the six-yard box. At the other end of the pitch, Martin heroics was highlighted in the 23rd minute when she made a reflex save off freshman Alyssa Granara from 10 meters out then hurried back to the goal line to snag the rebound that was floating just under the crossbar.

The second 40 minutes saw Wilmington play a much tighter game and began controlling the ball with better success. One area that Belmont continues to take advantage was its physical play, continuing to knock Wildcats off the ball or winning possession with their speed. Senior center forward Ella Gagnon was a constant threat but Wilmington’s goalie Alyssa Morrison, in only her second varsity start, made her share of reaction stops. 

Just eight minutes into the second half saw Martin make the game-changing save as Wilmington’s Annie Wingate received a perfect pass to face the Belmont goalie alone eight meters from a wide-open goal. Closing the distance, Martin left arm got just enough of Wingate’s rocket shot to see it dribble pass the right post. 

“We practice these shots in practice a lot. Normally I close the girl down and see what I can do,” said Martin.

With the margin still at one, Belmont finally broke through with less than 12 minutes to go when senior left wing Morgan Krauss stayed wide and squared a perfect centering pass that Gagnon tapped in from five meters out. And just after the nine-minute to go mark, sophomore Jenna Thomas looped a shot that beat Morrison who was well off her line. Gagnon had a hand in preserving the win. With seconds remaining in the match, she jumped as part of the defensive wall and deflected a shot by senior Thea Alberti that was heading into the upper right corner of the goal. 

“Wilmington is a team that is always good and these are the teams that you have to beat if you want to go deep in the playoffs,” said Graham. “This win puts us on the map,” he said. 

 

Yard Sales In Belmont; Sept. 8 – Cleaning Out Agassiz

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Photo: Yard sales in Belmont.

After Labor Day yard sales in the Town of Homes.

60 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8  8:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
64 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8   8:30 a.m. 1 p.m.
52 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8 8:30 a.m. 1 p.m.
95 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8 8:30 a.m. 2 p.m.
67 AGASSIZ Ave. Saturday, Sept. 8 8:30 a.m. 1 p.m.

Extended Opening For Belmont Gallery’s ‘Rhythm and Hues’

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Photo: “New Orleans Band by Woody Giessman

The Belmont Gallery of Art’s latest exhibition, “Rhythm and Hues: Art Inspired by Music” opens today, Friday, Sept. 7 with special extended hours, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Nearly 42 artists are taking part in this show that celebrates art inspired by music. 
The opening reception takes places on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring a talk and singing by artist Woody Giessman, the original drummer of the 80’s Boston pop group, the Del Fuegos. Wine and light refreshments will be served.
A special gallery pop-up show featuring African crafts will show on Sunday, Sept. 10.
The Belmont Gallery of Art is located in the Homer Building, 19 Moore St., in the Town Hall complex. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. 
Questions? Contact Rebecca Richards at admin@belmontgallery.org

Preview: 2018 Belmont High Field Hockey [Video]

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Photo: The 2018 Belmont High Field Hockey senior captains: (from left) Mia Kaldenbaugh, Morgan Chase, Jordan Lettiere.

Coming off a 12-2-2 regular season, Belmont High’s 2018 Field Hockey has high expectations for the coming season, as noted by the Boston Globe ranking the 2017 Middlesex Liberty runners-up 19th in its preseason poll.

Repeating as league champions in 2015 and 2016, the Marauders are looking to make the Division 1 North sectional playoffs for the 12th time in 13 years. Top competitors will include last year’s Liberty champs and North sectional finalists Winchester, Lexington and improving teams such as Arlington and Wilmington. And there will be the annual tussle with next-door neighbors and perennial Division 2 state champions, Watertown.

Belmont Police Seek Witnesses to Fatal Pedestrian Crash 

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Photo: Investigators at the scene of the accident Aug. 28.

The Belmont Police Department is asking the public for information about a fatal pedestrian crash at the intersection of Sycamore and Lexington streets in Belmont, according to a press release.

Officers responded to the intersection at approximately 8:25 a.m. on Tuesday Aug. 28. A white 2015 Ford van had struck and killed 39-year-old Sachi Thanawala of Sycamore Street.

We are asking for any persons who witnessed the crash to please come forward. Anyone with information should contact Sgt. Ben Mailhot of the Belmont Police Department at 617-993-2501 or 617-993-2538.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Belmont Police Department, with the assistance of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit.

State OKs $80.6M Grant To Build New 7-12 School; Critical Debt Vote In November

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Photo: The design of the new Belmont 7-12 High School.

The future of the new 7-12 High School is now in the hands of Belmont voters.

Last Wednesday, Aug. 29, the Massachusetts School Building Authority approved a $80.6 million grant towards the $295.2 million Belmont High School Building Project, endorsing more than two years of collaboration by the authority, the Belmont High School Building Committee, the Belmont School Department, citizens, town committees and boards, and various town departments, according to the head of the Building Committee.

“We are incredibly pleased that the MSBA has voted to approve funding for the Belmont High School Building Project,” said William Lovallo, Building Committee chair.

The next step in the project process is the all-important town-wide vote on Election Day, Nov. 6, where voters will decide to approve a debt exclusion of $214.6 million to fund the balance of the project, an amount for which Belmont’s taxpayers will be responsible.

If the town votes in favor of the debt exclusion, the project will move forward with the first evidence of construction occurring in the Spring of 2019. The current project timeline is to complete installation and open the 9-12 High School portion of the school in September 2021 and to open the 7-8 grade portion of the school in September 2023.

“We are especially grateful for the support of State Sen. Will Brownsberger and State Rep. Dave Rogers, who attended multiple MSBA board meetings and were strong advocates for the Belmont High School Project. The project has reached this stage thanks to the collective efforts of so many throughout the town, and it is a testament to how invested Belmont’s citizens are in the continued success of our schools,” said Lovallo.

The BHSBC was formed to explore solutions to the Belmont High School building deficits, including an aging infrastructure and space constraints due to overcrowding. In January 2018, after more than 50 public meetings, forums, and workshops, the Belmont School Committee voted for a 7-12 grade configuration for the school. Also, at that time, the BHSBC determined that a school design with a significant addition and minor renovation would most appropriately and effectively address the educational and facility-related needs of Belmont’s students, and would support continued enrollment growth and evolving teaching models, according to a press release from the Building Committee.

Go to belmonthighschoolproject.org for additional information on the Belmont High School Building Project and to view interior and site designs, and to follow the project journey.