Belmont Road Closures During Scharfman 5K On Sunday, Sept. 30

By Leave a Comment

Photo: I Ran the Dan on Sunday.

As part of the sixth annual running of the Dan Scharfman 5K taking place at 9:30 a.m., Sunday morning, Sept. 30, the following road closings to ensure the safety of the runners and other participants:

  • 6 a.m. – noon: No Parking on East/West side of Concord Avenue between Cottage and Underwood;
  • 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: No Parking on Goden Street between School Street and Concord Avenue;
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: School Street closed between Myrtle Street and Philip Road;
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: No exit onto Oakley from Selwyn and Hurd;
  • Between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.: Drivers should be aware of runners on the 5K course (Concord Ave / Orchard Road / Stone Road / School Street / Philip / Elizabeth Road / Jacob / Payson / Oakley / Goden / Concord / Underwood); and
  • Between 10:45 am and 11 a.m.: Concord Ave Westbound will have young runners in the bike lane running against traffic between Underwood and Goden. Cones will separate runners from traffic.

The Foundation for Belmont Education thanks the residents of Belmont and the Belmont Police Department for their support of the Dan Scharfman Memorial Run and appreciates the community’s understanding of the disruption in normal traffic patterns.  

The Scharfman Run takes place from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Belmont High School Track, 221 Concord Ave., and takes a scenic route past the town’s schools, Payson Park Reservoir and Clay Pond. Interested participants can register the day of the race at the Belmont High School Track. 

Proceeds from the Run enable the FBE to fund new programs in the Belmont Public School system and give educators and students the best tools, technology, and training to foster innovation and love of learning. 

You Can Say ‘I Ran The Dan’: Sign Up For Scharfman Memorial Run Sunday, Sept. 30

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Poster for the sixth annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run.

The Foundation for Belmont Education, which is celebrating a quarter century of providing funds to improve educational opportunities for Belmont’s children and teachers, invites runner and all others to participate in the sixth annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run being held on Sunday, Sept. 30.

The Run takes place from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Both the 5K (3.1 mile) and 2K race options begin at the Belmont High School Track, 221 Concord Ave., and take runners on a scenic route through Belmont.

To register for the race, volunteer on race day, or donate to the FBE, visit www.fbe-belmont.org/run.

The annual race is held in memory of the late Dan Scharfman, a dedicated advocate of technology and innovation in education. More than 850 runners from towns throughout Massachusetts participated in last year’s Run, raising more than $25,000 for the Belmont public schools. 

“In six, short years the Dan Scharfman Memorial Run has grown from an idea to becoming a Belmont ‘fall classic’ and a must-do event on the town’s crowded calendar. Thanks to the support of the community and amazing sponsors like CitySide Subaru and many others, the Run has become a vital source of funding for the Foundation for Belmont Education and our public schools. In total, the Scharfman Run raised more than $125,000 in its first five years,” said race co-director and FBE Board Member Paul Roberts.

“Most importantly, the Dan Scharfman Memorial Run has become an occasion for the community to celebrate the life of an amazing man. As a friend and running partner of Dan’s, I know this aspect of the race–the coming together and celebrating community—is what Dan would take the most pride in. We’re looking forward to a great turnout this year, with proceeds from the event supporting the adoption of innovative teaching tools and methodologies. So, on Sept. 30, lace up those running shoes, come out, and earn the right to say, ‘I ran the Dan!’” said Roberts.

This year, the FBE is celebrating its 25th year of making a difference in the Belmont Public Schools. The FBE funds a wide array of projects—from small grants that benefit a single classroom to large programs designed to benefit students in an entire grade or school. Grants are awarded in all curriculum areas and include professional development for teachers and educational technology.

Thanks to community volunteers and donations from Belmont residents and businesses, the FBE gives an average of $225,000 to the Belmont Public Schools each year, awarding more than $3.6 million to date. 

Nearly 800 Runners Set Record For Scharfman Race

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Elsa Kimberly winning the 2K race at the Dan Scharfman Memorial Run.

A bright cool fall Sunday morning; just the right combination for a road race in New England.

And 784 runners took the opportunity to help Belmont school to best use technol0gy as a record number of entries took part in the fifth annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run 5K/2K Road Races held Sunday, Oct. 1. 

While the amount was still coming in mid-week, between $25,000 to $30,000 will be raised to fund the Dan Scharfman Education Innovative Fund which supports professional development for teachers and supply technology to all students.

“We were so excited that the 5th annual race had the most pre-registered runners for the 5K,” said Jamie Shea, the chair of The Foundation for Belmont Education which hosted the race that started and finished at Harris Field.

“This was a very very good day for runners and the [foundation],” she said.

Merle Kummer, Dan Scharfman’s wife, spoke to the runners before the race how her husband lived by the phrase; “If not me, who? If not now, when.”

“After Dan died [as a member of the School Committee], it was overwhelming to think about filling his size 13 running shoes. Today, we’ve matched him and raising him thirteen hundred running shoes!” she said.

Race sponsors included Cityside Subaru which also sponsored a pace car for the race, Belmont Savings Bank, Belmont Orthodontics, and Didriks and Local Root, which will be opening stores in Belmont Center in the next few months.

Belmont High senior Zack Tseng powered home to an impressive 16:43 to win the race with Joe Shaw second and Tseng’s teammate James Kitch in third. On the women’s side, Cambridge’s Rachel Henke – who is married to Jonathan Henke, the owner of Didriks and Local Root – won the 5K in 19:34 followed by Heidi Kimberly and Becca Pizzi. Chenery 5th grader Elsa Kimberly won the 2K for women in 8:57 while 15-year-old HaiYaing Peng won the men’s division in 7:30. 

Run For Innovation Education at the Scharfman 5K Sunday, Oct. 3

By Leave a Comment

Photo: This year’s poster.

The Foundation for Belmont Education, a non-profit group that supports educational excellence and enrichment in the Belmont Public Schools, is pleased to host the fourth annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. 

The Scharfman Run takes place from 9:30 a.m. to noon, beginning at the Belmont High School Harris Field track and takes a scenic route past the town’s schools, Payson Park Reservoir and Clay Pit Pond.

Runners and walkers can register the day of the race at the Belmont High School track. 

Proceeds from the run enable the FBE to fund new programs in the Belmont Public School system and give educators and students the best tools, technology, and training to foster innovation and love of learning. 

The following road closings will occur on October 2nd to ensure the safety of participants:

  • 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.: No Parking on East/West side of Concord Ave between Cottage Ave and Underwood;
  • 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: No Parking on Goden Street between School Street and Concord Ave;
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: School Street closed between Myrtle and Philip Road;
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: No exit onto Oakley from Selwyn and Hurd;
  • Between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.: Drivers should be aware of runners on the 5K course (Concord Ave / Orchard Road / Stone Road / School Street / Philip / Elizabeth Road / Jacob / Payson / Oakley / Goden / Concord / Underwood); and
  • Between 10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m.: Concord Ave Westbound will have young runners in the bike lane running against traffic between Underwood and Goden. Cones will separate runners from traffic.

The Foundation thanks the residents of Belmont and the Belmont Police Department for their support of the Dan Scharfman Memorial Run and appreciates the community’s understanding of the disruption in normal traffic patterns.  

The Foundation for Belmont Education is a community-sponsored, non-profit, charitable organization run by volunteers. The FBE was founded in 1993 to support educational excellence and enrichment in the Belmont Public Schools and is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to making a difference in the Belmont Public Schools.

Scharfman Race Sets New Record for Runners, Donations

By 1 Comment

Photo:

Charlie Conroy stationed himself at the final corner of the two-kilometer portion of the Dan Scharfman Memorial Run with a promise. 

“Keep going! Home is just around the corner! You can make it!” the race co-director encouraged racers as they ran the final meters on the track surrounding Harris Field.

And with that, scores of runners – from those barely four years old and three feet tall to election town officials – began sprinting to the line.

On a brilliant and brisk autumn morning, Sunday, Oct. 4, Belmont came out to run in memory of School Committee member Dan Scharfman and to support the Foundation for Belmont Education’s funding initiative that promotes two of Scharfman’s interests when he was on the committee: introducing technology to Belmont’s public school classrooms and provide professional development for teachers and staff.

The third edition of the Scharfman races proved a joyful exercise for those managing the race and those benefiting from the donations.

“We had over 620 pre-register, which is more than last year. If we get 10 percent walk ups, we are looking at more than 700 runners from both races,” said race co-director Paul Roberts. 

“I think by having the shorter race that younger kids do get entire families involved,” said Roberts.

The top prizes went to Scot Dedeo who won the men’s 5K with a time of 17 minutes and 34.1 seconds followed by a pair of 15-year-olds; James Kitch and Zack Tseng. The women’s race was won by Heidi Kimberly in 20:48 followed by 13-year old Madeline Celicitch and Christy Lawrence.

In the 2K, Chris Burge won the race in 7:30 followed so close by 12-year-old Shea Brams (she was leading the race until the final straightaway). Following Brams in the women’s race was Violet Whitmer , 11, and Charlotte Conroy, 12.

For Jamie Shea, FBE co-president, the day was all she could have wished.

“After days of cold and rain, the weather was an awesome surprise,” she said.

“Last year we raised about $22,000, and we have more runners this year so I would expect that dollar number will go up,” said Shea.

The donations from participants and sponsors will allow teachers to introduce “cutting edge methods in the classroom and to bring engaging material to our students.”

Funding in the past has been used to help bring iPads into the classroom “while a huge amount of money is used to help teachers understand innovative methods that are not technology related,” said Shea.

Road Closings for Dan Scharfman Memorial Run Sunday,

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Roads will be closed Sunday morning.

The Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE) third annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run takes place on Sunday, October 4 at 9:30 a.m.

The Memorial Run starts at the Belmont High School Track, 221 Concord Avenue, and takes a scenic route past the town’s schools, Payson Park Reservoir and Clay Pond.

The following road closings will occur on Oct. 4 to ensure the safety of participants:

•    6 a.m. – 12 p.m. – No Parking on East/West side of Concord Avenue between Cottage Avenue and Underwood ;

•    6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – No Parking on Goden Street between School Street and Concord Ave;

•    9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – School Street closed between Myrtle and Philip Road;

•    9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – No exit onto Oakley from Selwyn and Hurd;

•    Between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Drivers should be aware of runners on the 5K course (Concord Ave / Orchard Road / Stone Road / School Street / Philip / Elizabeth Road / Jacob / Payson / Oakley / Goden / Concord / Underwood); and

•    Between 10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. – Concord Ave West bound will have young runnersDin the bike lane running against traffic between Underwood and Goden. Cones will separate runners from traffic.an

In the past two years, the Memorial Run raised more than $40,000, allowing the FBE to fund new programs across the six schools in the Belmont Public School system to give educators and students the best tools, technology and training that foster innovation and love of learning.

 

This Weekend: Scharfman Race Sunday, Organ Concert, Sing-Along

By Leave a Comment

Photo: David Owens, the newly appointed organist at Belmont’s All Saints’ Episcopal Church

First Friday Evening at the Benton

The Benton Library, Belmont’s independent, all volunteer run library, is open evenings – from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. – on the first Friday of each month. Begin your weekend by exploring the Benton: Use our Wi-Fi, borrow from our collection, buy some of our gently used sale books; all proceeds benefit the library.

Saturday Song-Along at the Library

Belmont Public Library’s Saturday Sing-Along returns with well-loved local musician Liz Buchanan performing original songs and traditional favorites on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the library’s Assembly Room.

Organ concert Saturday at All Saint’

David Owens, the newly appointed organist at Belmont’s All Saints’ Episcopal Church, will make his local performance debut with an organ recital featuring works by Bach, Rheinberger, Howells as well as his own compositions at the church on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. 

Owens will perform on All Saints’ 34-rank M.P. Möller organ, with its distinctive antiphonal organ, situated in the rear of the sanctuary. A well-known musician in the greater Boston area, Owens studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY,  and is active as a composer and pianist.  

A free-will offering at the concert will go to support Mission of Hope International  in Grand-Goâve, Haïti.  For more information go to http://www.allsaintsbelmont.org
Girls Matinee at Harris Field
 
Bring your wellies and a warm coat to Harris Field Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3 as a pair of Belmont High girls teams will be in action: Soccer meets Medford at 2 p.m. and Field Hockey takes on Reading at 4:30 p.m.
 
It’s Never Too Late to Help the Schools While Getting Healthy
 
Join the 600 residents and runners who have already registered for the third annual Dan Scharfman Memorial 5K Run on Sunday, Oct. 4. Join your friends, family members, and teammates by registering on race day. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m. at Harris Field off Concord Avenue; the race at 9 a.m.

Register for Dan Scharfman Memorial 5K Run on Sunday, Oct. 4

By Leave a Comment

Photo: A scene from last year’s Dan Scharfman road race.

Runners and residents can now register for the Foundation for Belmont Education‘s third annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run being held on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at Belmont High School’s Harris Field, 221 Concord Ave.

What is now a fall staple on the road running calendar, this family-friendly event offers a 5k and a 2k course that takes runners through a scenic route past many of the town’s schools as well as the Payson Park Reservoir and Clay Pit Pond. Awards follow each race’s end, including prizes for children of all ages.

The race is held in memorial of Dan Scharfman, a Belmont School Committee member, long-time runner and a dedicated advocate of technology and innovation in education. Last year, more than 500 runners raised $25,000 for the Dan Scharfman Education Innovation Fund in support of the FBE’s Innovative Teaching Initiative, a multi-year, $450,000 program providing teachers with the training resources that support math, science and reading instruction.

Registration for the USATF-certified and sanctioned event is available through the FBE website: www.fbe-belmont.org/race.

Contact: Amanda Theodoropulos, Foundation for Belmont Education, amanda.maria.mccarthy@gmail.com or call 617-947-4633.

Registration Now Open for Scharfman Memorial Run

By Leave a Comment

Photo: A scene from last year’s Dan Scharfman road race.

Runners and residents can now register for the Foundation for Belmont Education‘s third annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run being held on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at Belmont High School’s Harris Field, 221 Concord Ave.

What is now a fall staple on the road running calendar, this family-friendly event offers a 5k and a 2k course that takes runners through a scenic route past many of the town’s schools as well as the Payson Park Reservoir and Clay Pit Pond. Awards follow each race’s end, including prizes for children of all ages.

The race is held in memorial of Dan Scharfman, a Belmont School Committee member, long-time runner and a dedicated advocate of technology and innovation in education. Last year, more than 500 runners raised $25,000 for the Dan Scharfman Education Innovation Fund in support of the FBE’s Innovative Teaching Initiative, a multi-year, $450,000 program providing teachers with the training resources that support math, science and reading instruction.

Registration for the USATF-certified and sanctioned event is available through the FBE website: www.fbe-belmont.org/race.

Contact: Amanda Theodoropulos, Foundation for Belmont Education, amanda.maria.mccarthy@gmail.com or call 617-947-4633.

 

‘I Ran the Dan’: Second Scharfman Memorial Run Tops First

By Leave a Comment

There were parents who could run very fast and teachers who are strictly middle of the pack, youngsters who could out race most adults and a pair of superheroes – those would be The Mighty Thor (Ed Chen) and Captain America (Mike Worthington) – all who came to Belmont High School’s Harris Field on Sunday to race either over five kilometers and a flat mile.

The racers also brought a great deal of heart as more than 700 runners – both fast and not so fast – participated in the second annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run 5K on a brilliant autumn morning, Oct. 5.

“We even had more people come out than last year that is fantastic and the day is gorgeous, so it was perfect running weather. We’re thrilled,” said Jamie Shea, president of the Foundation for Belmont Education.

The race is held to raise money – with the hope to top $20,000 from this year’s race – for the foundation’s education innovation fund, the goal of the man for which the race is named.

Dan Scharfman was a school committee member and a long-time supporter of education and the performing arts who sought to bring technology into the classrooms by teaching Belmont educators “the tools and the practices that they need in order to bring innovative techniques into the classroom,” said Shea.

After his untimely death from a heart attack in Jan. 2013, the FBE decided to hold a road race in Scharfman’s memory – Dan was a dedicated ultra-distance runner – with the aim to assist in the foundation’s four-year, $450,000 Innovation Teaching Initiative campaign. This spring, the foundation funded $50,000 for professional development in all grades and curriculum.

For Iris Ponte, leading the four-member Henry Frost Children’s Program team, the race was to remember “Dan, who was an awesome guy.” She can recall when she was a lifeguard at the Underwood Pool, “we would keep the pool open for him so at the end of his big runs he would come flying into the deep end almost every evening.”

“The town has not been the same without him,” said Ponte.

It’s that sort of memory that Rachel Scharfman hopes the annual race will rekindle each year it’s run. Rachel – who with her brother, Jacob (who also sang the National Anthem), aunt and mother, Muriel Kummer, participated in the race – recalls her father being a community leader, runner, friend and, now, an inspiration.

“His biggest passions are combined today in this one event,” she said.

“I know once a year, this town will gather to support the Dan Scharfman Education Innovation Fund. We’ll come together not to mourn but to carry forward Dan’s great loves; running and education.”

Moved up from November to October, this year’s race would be competing with nearly 30 established road races in the crowded fall running calendar. In addition, several long-standing charity events were taking place in Boston and surrounding communities. But came they did, in greater numbers than the first race.

With the help from the Belmont High School Volleyball team – which was spread around the course as marshals and timekeepers – and a hoard of volunteers, the race was successfully completed under a bright warm sun on the cool fall morning.

Racers climbed from Harris Field to the Payson Park Res before starting back down Goden Street before taking a lap around Clay Pit Pond and returning to Harris. The one-milers sped around the “Pit” before sprinting home.

Along the route, the runners passed four of Belmont’s six public schools in another tribute to Scharfman.

As for the winners, Chris Leitz of Watertown (in 17:26.1) took first followed by Belmontian’s Joe Shaw and Belmont High senior cross country captain Ari Silverfine. Rachel Henke of Cambridge (20:15.9) was the top woman with Belmont teacher Sara Saba-Sher second and Christy Lawrence third. In the one mile, Chris Burge broke six minutes by a hair in 5:59.4 followed by Shea Brams in 6:10.4.

“It feels great to finish in the top three,” said Silverfine, just as the race announcer urged all the runners to tell their friends “I ran the Dan!”

“But this is real special because I know the Scharfman family and Dan was a great man.”