Mastering the Blank Page: Blacker Awards Honor Three Seniors Who Filled the Bill

Mastering the blank page starts with Belmont’s youngest writers, said Lindsey Rinder, director of English, ELL and Reading.

Speaking before an audience of students, parents, educators and the trio of Belmont High School’s outstanding seniors writers at the annual Lillian Blacker Awards, Rinder recalled a first grader coming to her before writing her very first story.

“I’ve never been an author before and I’m nervous,” she told Rinder.

And while Belmont students’ writing journey begins with stories of buried treasurer, the capstone is the Senior Thesis, a 10-to-15 page critical analysis of literature that each 12th grade student must submit to complete their English requirement for graduation.

The year-long task involves reading multiple primary sources, studying at three libraries and online, creating countless note cards and revising, reappraising and sometimes tearing up papers during the depths of the winter quarter. Many students, even those recognized for their outstanding scholarship, cringe remembering the seemingly endless hours spent in a myriad of tasks in constructing a laudable result.

And it is a monumental undertaking, said Rinder, that immerses students in the complexity and profundity of their subject and theme as a way of knowing ones self. 

“[T]he study of literature helps us understand who we are …  as it encapsulates and dissects our most human qualities; our passions, our frustrations, our capacity of great deception as well as brutal honesty, our dignity as well as our most grieves fails,” she said.

“I believe Belmont High School’s dedication to the senior thesis and to writing education singles it out from most secondary schools,” said Rinder.

And the three honorees; Aldis Elfarsdottir, Hannah Pierce-Hoffman and Samuel Korn, succeeded in impressing their teachers and the department with their work’s depth and insight.

For their accomplishments, the seniors were presented with the Lillian Blacker Awards this past May 16. A long-time Belmont resident, active in education and politics and editor at the Harvard Medical School and the Belmont Citizen newspaper, Blacker’s family created the awards in 1991 to honor her commitment to the art of writing.

Elfarsdottir, who will matriculate at Harvard, said first and foremost she wanted to thank her subject, the modernist novelist Virginia Woolf, of her first-place paper – “In Each of Us Two Powers Preside, One Male, One Female”: Virginia Woolf’s Exploration of Mental Androgyny – “because without her I would not be here to be recognized for my writing.”

She thanked the Blacker family for their recognition of the “hard work and long hours composing our thesis have paid off, literally.”

“I will say that whether we are rewarded or not should not dent our pride in our accomplishment of having planned out, styled, drafted, redrafted, revised, edited and finalized our senior theses. No matter what profession we choose, we know that writing will be an integral to our success,” said Elfarsdottir.

Pierce-Hoffman told the audience that she as ready to present her thesis on “that ‘Blade Runner’ author,” the science fiction author Philip Kindred Dick. She read his work over the summer of her junior/senior year and “discovered I wasn’t a fan …”

When asked by her teacher if she would consider Margaret Atwood, Pierce-Hoffman responded “who is she?”

But reading four novels by the Canadian writer convinced Pierce-Hoffman that “I was a fan of her.” She noticed in the works how language and the words used to express oneself also reflect inner thoughts and by subtle changes in those words, “you can change how one thinks.”

Pierce-Hoffman, who is attending Barnard in the fall, wrote her thesis – Tongue-Untied: Rebellion Through Linguistic Manipulation in Margaret Atwood’s Works – on the cautionary message that “if we don’t watch how we speak today, we are going to end up with a nightmare vision that I see in [Atwood’s] works.”

Korn, who will enter the University of Pennsylvania in September, was inspired by a performance of Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Thing,” not by the acting – Korn has been active with the Performing Arts Company – but its language.

“Every line reflects troubling truths about grasping realities in our own lives,” said Korn. He added the works of absurdist writer Paul Auster to focus on stories within other stories in his second prize paper, The Pervasive Narrative of Authorial Identity: Metafiction in the Works of Paul Auster & Tom Stoppard.

Yet he admitted that he was like many of his classmates, staying up into the early morning to complete assignments.

“The thesis process is ably named. It is a process,” said Korn, speaking of sorting through hundreds of note cards and article after article, book after book.

“It really is a monument to all sweat, tears and cups of coffee I put into this process,” said Korn. “The thesis process also completely changed me as a writer and a consumer of literature and, for that, I am extremely grateful.”

Aldis Elfarsdóttir Blacker 1st Place 2014-3

Sam Korn Blacker 3rd Place 2014-2

Hannah Pierce-Hoffman Blacker 2nd Place 2014-2

The Weekend In Belmont: Town Day, Graduation, Concert at First Church, Yard Sale For Fire Victims

Belmont Town Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Belmont Center on Saturday, May 31. There will be food, music and rides and entertainment for the kids while businesses and community groups will have tables out in the middle of Leonard Street. Don’t be scared off by the small threat of rain.

Belmont High School Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2014 will take place at 2 p.m. in the high school’s Wenner Field House on Sunday, June 1. Later, the newly-minted alumni will participate in the All-Night Party in the High School’s cafeteria.

• The Belmont Police is holding a Gun Buyback event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the town’s DPW Yard at 37 C St. on Saturday, May 31. It is a “no questions asked” service provided by the Belmont Police and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office; gift cards will be provided to those who participate courtesy of the Belmont Religious Council.

• A Neighborhood/Marketplace Yard Sale for the nine victims of the fire on Marlboro Street will take place on Marlboro Street between Unity and Fairview from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. 

• A Chamber Music Concert to benefit the SPARK Pediatric Division of Boston Medical Center will take place at The First Church Belmont, Unitarian Universalist, 404 Concord Ave. at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 31. Music of Bach, Handel, Purcell, Dowland and Gilbert & Sullivan is on the playbill.

Belmont High School Girls Tennis will likely host a quarterfinals match this weekend in the Div. 2 North sectionals but there has been no indication when that would occur as of Friday morning.

Before Cold and Rain, One Entrepreneur Makes Lemonade Pay

Memorial Day Monday was an outlier this year; a warm and a bit humid day sandwiched between cool and at time rainy weather.

It was the perfect opportunity for Evelynn of Fairview Avenue to show her entrepreneurial chops.

With attendees from the Memorial Day ceremony heading back home, the five-year-old made a batch of nicely-tart lemonade, found a table, straws, the required red cups, and a garnish of real sliced lemons. IMG_8831

“She made a list of everything she needed. She was very organized and I’m impressed,” said her dad.

To bring the point home that she was so pen for business, Evelynn created her own sign on large poster paper: Lemonade 50 cents spelled out in crayon.

Soon the customers came calling from strangers to neighbor kids. Evelynn proved an adept business person, pouring just enough lemonade to satisfy buyers so that she would not have to make another supply of the drink. In just a few minutes, Evelynn made a few dollars that her dad placed in her wallet.

“It think she’s doing a fantastic job,” her dad said.

So, could the lemonade stand foretell a future in business?

Watch out, Shark Tank.

“We’ll find out,” said her mom.

Au Revoir: After Four Decades in Town, Romneys Sell Belmont Townhouse

For the first time since 1971 when they moved into the pretty house on Winn Street, Mitt and Ann Romney are no longer Belmont residents, selling their South Cottage Street townhouse on May 6 for $1.2 million, according to records at the South Middlesex Registry of Deeds.

The Romneys purchased the townhouse in the Woodlands at Belmont Hill development on the McLean Hospital property in June 2010 for $895,000 after selling the family manse on Marsh Street in April 2009 for $3.5 million.

The townhouse, appraised in 2014 by the town for $973,000, was sold to Valmarc Corp. CFO Gordon and Laurie Low; he, like the Romneys, an alumnus of Brigham Young University.

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Sold In Belmont: 1950s Split-Level Goes for $1.25 Million

A weekly recap of residential properties bought in the past seven days in the “Town of Homes.”

30 Howells Road. “Country home” Colonial (1898), Sold for: $1,173,000. Listed at $1,100,000. Living area: 2,091 sq.-ft. 7 rooms; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 33 days.

37 Thayer Road. Condominium, Sold for: $234,000. Listed at $233,900. Living area: 615 sq.-ft. 4 rooms; 1 bedrooms, 1 bath. On the market: 63 days.

32 Amherst Road. Split-level ranch (1951), Sold for: $1,250,000. Listed at $1,195,000. Living area: 2,592 sq.-ft. 8 rooms; 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 57 days.

256 School St. Tudor-style colonial (1935), Sold for: $844,000. Listed at $829,000. Living area: 2,284 sq.-ft. 8 rooms; 4 bedrooms, 3 baths. On the market: 57 days.

2 Crescent Road. Condominium, Sold for: $702,000. Listed at $687,000. Living area: 2,668 sq.-ft. 7 rooms; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath. On the market: 42 days.

Take A Walk On the Little River Side

Come on a spring nature walk and imagine the time of the ice industry and other historical adventures along the Little River in Cambridge and Belmont during the Little River History Nature Walk led by Anne-Marie Lambert of the Belmont Citizens Forum. Walkers will pass cattail marshes, tributaries and maples to an idyllic view of Little Pond in Belmont.

The walk will take place on Sunday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to noon starting at the public parking lot at 15 Acorn Park Drive in Cambridge.

Bring high boots for the mud, and, optionally, a walking stick. The walk is one mile to Little Pond and the same one mile back.

Walkers will learn about geologic, Native American history, farming, industry and railroad histories of the area. The trip will travel along the river, meadow, and forest habitat which is home to wildlife such as deer, red fox, coyote, river otter, mink, cottontail rabbit, voles, mice and many residential birds including wild turkey, blue heron, red-tailed hawks, ducks, swans, robins and woodpeckers.

Walking Directions from Alewife T station, take a right, cross the bridge over Little River, a left onto DCR’s “Alewife Park Greenway,” stop at the end (10 minutes from Alewife)

Driving directions from Belmont: take a right at the end of Cross Street onto Lake Street, first right onto the Route 2 access road, first right onto Acorn Park Drive (before Route 2 on ramp at left), stop at the end.

This walk is co-sponsored by the Belmont Citizens ForumFriends of Alewife Reservation, the Mystic River Watershed Association and the Coalition to Preserve the Belmont Uplands.

What to Do Today: How Cambridge Built Their Library, Playoff Tennis, 6th Grade Concert

• Never say die. “A New Library: An Impossible Dream Realized” is a talk by Susan Flannery, director of libraries for Cambridge, about the dream of a new public library realized in Cambridge; how it impacts the functions the library serves and what it means to the community. The talk, hosted by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• The post-season comes to Belmont as the 12-4 Belmont High School Girls’ Tennis team hosts Tewksbury High in a first-round match of the Div. 2 North sectionals at the High School tennis courts beginning at 3:30 p.m.

• The Chenery Middle School 6th Grade Band, Chorus and Orchestra Concert is taking place at 7 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School auditorium.

Belmont’s Gun Buyback Event This Saturday, May 31

In the wake of increasing incidents, nationally and locally, of accidental injuries and deaths from guns, the Belmont Religious Council, faith communities in town, the Belmont Police Department and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office have joined for a community Gun Buyback event on Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Belmont DPW Yard, 37 C St.

The Belmont event is modeled on recent successful gun buyback events held in other towns across Massachusetts and in other parts of the country, including one held in Arlington in September 2013.

Belmont Police officers and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to accept any and all hand guns, rifles, shotguns, assault weapons, BB guns and air guns, working or non-working, antique or modern, registered or not, and ammunition for safe storage, followed by disposal in accordance with state law.

A key aspect of the event is the “No questions asked! No identification required!” policy. Amnesty will be extended for gun law violations by residents traveling to the event. Firearms must be brought to the event with empty chambers, clips or magazines unattached, safeties on and in a carrying case, box or other container.

Those who bring in firearms will receive gift cards to local grocery stores, in the following amounts:

  • $25 for BB or pellet gun or inoperable firearm
  • $50 for a revolver, semi-automatic, shotgun, or rifle.
  • $100 for an assault weapon.

The Belmont Police Department has set up a special phone line to receive questions and requests for assistance in transporting firearms to the event: 617-993-2529.

Aided by the Religious Council, seven faith communities – All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Belmont, Belmont- Watertown United Methodist Church, Beth-El Temple, First Baptist Church of Belmont, The First Church in Belmont, UU, Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC, and the St. Joseph and St. Luke Collaborative parishes – banded together to push for the program, which is supported by Belmont’s state legislators, State Sen. Will Brownsberger and State Rep. Dave Rogers.

“In addition to removing unwanted firearms from homes, another benefit of the gun buyback is the dialogue that has developed among community members on how we can all work together to reduce gun violence in Belmont and beyond,” said Jean Dickinson, a member of the First Church in Belmont UU, who led the initiative.

Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin said, “Personally, I feel that it is a very worthwhile voluntary program and an opportunity for our residents to dispose of unwanted firearms and ammunition, especially in light of some of the tragic situations we have seen throughout Massachusetts, the country and the world.”

“On average, more than 34,000 people are accidentally shot or commit suicide using a firearm each year. I believe that providing residents with a safe way to dispose of firearms they no longer want can help reduce these numbers,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian.

“These buybacks also encourage dialogue among those involved about ways to make our communities safer.”

Several Belmont businesses have already stepped forward to make donations in support of the event. The Belmont Gun Buyback Committee invites other businesses and individuals to do the same. The Committee hopes to raise $5,000 to purchase grocery gift cards to be provided in exchange for firearms. Any leftover grocery gift cards will be donated to the Belmont Food Pantry.

Donations may be made by sending a check or money order payable to: Belmont UMC/Gun Buyback Program and mailed to: Belmont United Methodist Church, 421 Common Street, Belmont, MA 02478, or via pay pal on www.belmontgunbuyback.org 

Post Season Schedule Set for Sprinters, Belmont Baseball, Tennis Teams

Three Belmont High School teams will be playing in the post season as Baseball and the Boys and Girls Tennis teams along with two exceptional sprinters on the track team received their tournament draws yesterday, May 27, from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Freshman Julia Cella is the favorite in the 200 meters – having run a season leading 26.07 – and a top contender in the 100 meters in the Div. 3 East track and field meeting taking place on Saturday, May 31 at Pembroke High School. She will also be anchoring the 4×100 meter relay ranked fourth in D3.  Joining her will be fellow freshman Rachel Berets in the 100 meter hurdles, the top 9th grader in the event. Junior Kayla Magno is a top eight threat in the 400 meters hurdles. Joining his teammates is junior Max Jones who has broken 23 seconds in the 200 meters and is rated 4th coming into the meet. Fellow junior Ari Silverfine dipped under 2 minutes in the 800 meters for a top 10 ranking this year.

Belmont High Baseball – which came out of the weekend’s Brendan Grant Tournament with a win and a loss – with a record of 11-9 has been seeded 9th in the Div. 2 North sections and will meet number 8 Beverly High School under the lights at Endicott College in Beverly on Friday, May 30 at 7 p.m. A win will see the Marauders head over to Gloucester on Saturday, May 31 to take on number 1 seed Gloucester High School.

The 8-8 Boys’ Tennis will be traveling to Topsfield to challenge the number 5 seed Masconomet Regional High School on Thursday, May 29 at 5:30 p.m. while Girls’ Tennis, with a record of 11-5 and co-champions of the Middlesex League’s Liberty Division, will host Tewksbury High School on Thursday, May 29 at 3:30 p.m. A Marauders victory will likely see a match between league co-champion Reading High School.

Things to Do Today: Schools Art Show Reception, Community Path Meets, Quintuplets Birthday

• The reception for the first K-12 Art Show featuring student work from the six Belmont public schools will take place at 6 p.m. Please join the artists and their families for this Opening Reception in the Belmont Gallery of Art, third floor of the Homer Building in the Town Hall complex.

• The Community Path Advisory Committee will be meeting at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Gallery of Art on the third floor of the Homer Building which is located in the Town Hall complex. They will be discussing releasing the committee’s final report on June 6 and the June 18 public forum.

Graduating seniors are going on their annual cruise this afternoon. A three-hour cruise!

• Eighty years ago today,  the Dionne quintuplets – Yvonne, Annette, Cécile, Émilie and Marie – were born in Quebec, the first quintuplets to survive infancy. In the 1930s, their popularity rivaled the biggest movie stars. Annette and Cécile are celebrating their 80th birthday today.