Belmont’s Lunar New Year Celebration Rolls Into the Center, Sunday, March 15

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Celebrate the Lunar New Year in Belmont Center on Sunday, March 15.

The Belmont Pan-Asian Coalition is hosting it’s annual multicultural Lunar New Year celebration taking place in Belmont Center on Sunday, March 15, with a rain date of March 22. The event will take place on Moore and Leonard streets from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. celebrating the culture, community, and the start of the New Year.

“The idea of the celebration is to integrate the API communities, with the the general fabric of Belmont,” said Julie Wu, BPAC president and a co-founder, who spoke to the Select Board via Zoom.

Hundreds of people attend every year we we showcase and honor the police and fire departments, as well as the Select Board members, as well as our Senator William brownsburger and Dave Rogers, and this year

Performancers include Tiger Crane Kung Fu, which is the sister organization of Belmont’s Wu’s Martial Arts, the Boston Korean Traditional Dance Group, while BPAC members and other local organizations will perform a dragon dance, as they did on Belmont Town Day.

This year the celebration welcomes a rolling Lunar New Year Parade which will make a special stop in Belmont. Beginning in Boston’s Chinatown and traveling through communities across Greater Boston, the multi-city motorcade is co-organized by the Chinese-American Heritage Foundation alongside partner community organizations. This year’s parade marshal is Middlesex District Attorney (and Belmont resident) Marion Ryan.

“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback about this event, including from our own membership, who express a lot of joy and pride at having their cultures represented in our town center,” said Wu.

The Belmont Pan-Asian Coalition is a multicultural group with a mission to amplify the voices and visibility of Asians in Belmont, said Wu. The members countries of origin is from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands, including Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Tibet, and France, while Coalition directors hail from Taiwan, Korea, India, China and the Philippines.

“We’re first and second generation immigrants, and we have a variety of political views, and we all work together for a common cause,” said Wu.

“It’s been a great event, and we’re hoping we’ll be as lucky with the weather, so it will also be similarly wonderful event this year,” she said.

“It’s a great event. Brings people to Belmont Center, brings people together. It’s a wonderful celebration and a lot of fun with amazing performances,” said Select Board Chair Matt Taylor.

Belmont High Teams Start Tournament Run With A Pair At Home

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Senior captain Sophia McClendon, here celebrating her reaching the 1,000 point milestone, leads the Marauders against Needham in the first round of the MIAA Div. 1 playoffs

The playoffs have begun, and Belmont Hoops and Hockey are in the mix.

Boys’ Basketball: at home vs Chelmsford, Tuesday, Feb. 24

The Marauders (12-8) had spent the entire season below the playoff line in the MIAA Power Rankings – teams have to be ranked 32nd or higher to get the automatic in. 

But Belmont demonstrated a tournament-like toughness in its final regular season game – a blowout of Reading – and winning the two games in the Spartan Classic at St. Mary’s saw them crossing the 32-ranking barrier to close the season 31st.

Belmont, under first-year head coach Dan Burns, will host a play-in game with Chelmsford (11-9, 34th ranked) with the tipoff at 6 p.m. Belmont will rely on being physical under the basket with big man junior center Braiden Dargon, while the offense will be steered through seniors Charles Tingos and Andre Chavushian.

The winners will meet second-ranked Andover.

Girls’ Ice Hockey: at home vs. Shrewsbury, Wednesday, Feb. 25

The Marauders (11-6-3) have been a dependable team this season, taking care of the teams they should be defeating while playing tough against their betters (an exciting 2-2 tie against Hingham). But the season has been one where the team has, at times, struggled to find a go-to scoring option, especially after losing forward Alexcia Fici to an injury. 

Rising as high as 13 in the power rankings just a few weeks ago, Belmont’s lack of offense showed up in the final two games, a 3-1 loss to Winchester and a disappointing 3-0 shutout by Waltham. The season’s final power ranking saw the Marauders ‘barely holding on to the 16th seed, the final spot for a first-round home game.

Belmont hosts a good Shrewsbury squad (10-7-3) on Wednesday, Feb. 25, with the faceoff at 7 p.m. The Marauders will rely on their first “O” line made up of the two Mackenzies (senior Clarke and first-year Tierney) and sophomore Mia Smith, while Belmont’s impressive group of defenders – Elsie Lakin-Schultz, Martha Dimas, Kate Townsend, and Ava Keefe – will front rookie goalie Elinor Dorn to keep the Marauders in the game.

Boys’ Ice Hockey: away vs Pope Francis High (Springfield), Wednesday, Feb. 25.

It’s been a season for Belmont Hockey (5-15-2) that can only be considered a rough one, starting with a 6-0 shutout to Catholic Memorial, the top-ranked team this season. After losing nine seniors and three standout players moving to private programs, it’s been an extensive rebuilding season for a team that last season was the top public school team in the state. 

Belmont will travel nearly across the state to take on 7th-seed Pope Francis (14-5-3) in Springfield. There will be a familiar opponent as the Marauders meet the Cardinals twice in February: a 5-2 defeat on the 11th and an 8-1 loss in a postseason tournament. 

Girls’ Basketball: away vs Needham High, Friday, Feb. 27. 

A young team led by three seniors, the 24th-ranked Marauders had a successful season as the players learned first-year head coach Antonia Macklin’s system based on an in-your-face defense and patient offense. 

The Marauders (13-7) travel to Needham to meet the 9th-ranked Rockets (14-6) with tip-off at 5 p.m. on Friday. Senior captain Sophia McClendon (who reached the 1,000-point plateau this season) and sophomore guard Sarah Geller – with a pair of 20-point games – will lead the offense, with rebounding magnet junior Rebecca Christensen and twins, senior captains Leah and Erin Attridge, bolstering the defense.

Emergency Parking Ban Ends Tuesday, 7 AM; Trash Pickup Delayed A Day

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Clearin’ Belmont Street

The Emergency Parking Ban put in place due to Monday’s snowstorm will be lifted at 7 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, according to town officials.

Snowstorm Update

As of Monday afternoon, the Belmont Department of Public Works (DPW) continues around-the-clock snow plowing and removal operations as this winter storm has deposited more than 15 inches of snow across Belmont.

“We are continuing to experience blizzard-like conditions with heavy snow and strong winds of up to 50 mph,” read the message on the town’s website. “This is a serious and ongoing weather event. We urge all residents to take the proper steps to remain safe.”

Trash and Recycling Collection

Since curbside collection was cancelled 0n Monday, trash and recycling pick-up will be delayed by a day for the remainder of the week beginning Tuesday. So if your collection day is Tuesday, it will be pushed up to Wednesday.

Town Operations on Tuesday, Feb. 24

Sidewalk Clearing

The town’s residential snow removal bylaw requires sidewalks along residential property to be cleared of snow and ice by 8 p.m. the day after the storm ends. Snow and ice must be cleared or treated to a minimum width of 36 inches.

How You Can Help!

DPW crews and contractors are working to keep Belmont safe and passable. Residents can make a big difference by helping with a few simple steps:

  • Avoid pushing snow into the street. Snow placed back into roadways slows plowing operations and can create hazardous driving conditions. If you hire someone to plow your driveway, we kindly ask that you remind them as well.
  • Keep Vents ClearBe sure to clear snow away from exhaust vents for direct vent gas furnace systems to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Please also check that your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly — carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, but extremely dangerous.
  • Help Clear Hydrants & Storm Drains If it’s safe to do so, clearing snow from nearby fire hydrants and storm drains greatly supports emergency access and helps prevent flooding as temperatures fluctuate. Our firefighters and DPW crews truly appreciate your help.

Town To Residents: Clear The Sidewalk A Day After The Blizzard Is Done

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Sidewalks are to be cleared a day after a storm has passed.

When the snow ends, the important work begins.

After the storm has ended and if you are able to do so, lend a hand to the Department of Public Works and your fellow residents by clearing snow from the sidewalks and spaces near your home or business.

Under Belmont’s residential snow removal bylaw, sidewalks along residential property are to be cleared of snow and ice by 8 p.m. the day after a storm ends. Snow and Ice should be cleared or treated from sidewalks to a width of at least 36 inches. Please refer to the Town’s web site www.belmont-ma.gov/emergency for further information regarding winter weather and the Town’s snow removal bylaw.

And when clearing sidewalks and driveways, don’t be tempted place snow into the street as that will create a safety issue and increases the workload on the DPW.

The town appreciate any help you can provide as the town works around the clock to clear roadways and schools as quickly as possible, according to a town press release sent on Sunday, Feb. 22.

Belmont Declares Snow Emergency, Parking Ban On Sunday, In Effect ’til Tuesday, Feb 24

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Blizzard of ’26

In an attempt to stay one step ahead of a potentially hazardous snowstorm, Belmont has declared a Snow Emergency in effect from Sunday afternoon, Feb. 22 through Tuesday, Feb 24.

The National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Warning Sunday afternoon for most of eastern Massachusetts with heavy snow and strong winds. Forecasts calls for snowfall reaching two feet when the storm passes on Monday night.

Visit www.belmont-ma.gov/EMERGENCY for live updates.

The impact on Belmont

● Parking Ban: Starting Sunday Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. and continuing until further notice, Belmont is under a SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING BAN on all roadways, municipal parking lots, and Belmont Public School parking lots. Vehicles parked in violation of the ban will be towed at the owner’s expense.

● Trash and Recycling Collection Delay: There will be NO curbside collection on Monday, Feb. 23. Just like a Monday holiday, trash and recycling collections will be delayed by one day.

● Town Building Closures: All non-emergency Town buildings and offices will be CLOSED on Monday, Feb. 23.

Belmont Public School: All Belmont Public Schools, including school offices and school buildings, will be CLOSED on Monday, Feb. 23. This includes after-school activities and athletics. Read more at
www.belmont.k12.ma.us/page/school-closing-and-delayed-opening-process

● Select Board Meeting: The meeting will take place virtually on Monday, Feb. 23 at 6:00 PM. View the meeting information on our Town website:
www.belmont-ma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=1802

● Important phone numbers
Eversource: 800-592-2000
Emergencies (including downed electrical wires): Call 911
For non-emergencies, please contact Belmont Police Department: (617) 484-1212
Belmont Light: To report a power outage, call (617) 993-2800 

Important Things To Do During The Storm

  • Stay off the roads: Conditions will create hazards for travel; stay home and keep all vehicles off the road. Crews will be out before, during, and after the storm, and we need all roadways clear. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.
  • Charge Devices and Flashlights: Make sure mobile devices, flashlights, and all other necessary equipment are charged ahead of the storm in case of power loss.
  • Clear Hydrants and Storm Drains: After the storm has ended and if it is safe to do so, help clear nearby storm drains and hydrants of snow and ice. This is critical for flood prevention and firefighter access during an emergency.
  • Dryer/Exhaust Vents: Remember to keep all heat exhaust pipes clear of snow for safe circulation.
  • Check on your neighbors: Reach out to your neighbors, friends, and family who may need additional assistance, live alone, or may be nervous to make sure they are safe, prepared, and have what they need.

Breaking: Belmont Selects Salem, NH Shane Smith As Next Police Chief

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Salem, NH Deputy Chief Shane Smith

The Belmont Select Board will begin contract negotiations with Salem, NH Deputy Chief Shane Smith to be Belmont’s next Police Chief.

The board voted unanimously at a special meeting at Town Hall on Friday, Feb. 20, where the board interviewed the three finalists provided by the Police Chief Screening Committee. The other two candidates were Daniel S. Unsworth of Southbridge and Shane D. Woodson from Watertown.

More to come

Only One Competitive Town-Wide Race at Belmont’s ’26 Election; Just Three Precincts Are A Horse Race

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Town Election will be held on April 7, 2026.

With a handful of minutes remaining before the Feb. 18 deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers for the 2026 Town Election, Carole Berberian was in the Town Clerk’s office anxiously waiting for the 5 p.m. cutoff to arrive.

Berberian wasn’t in the office submitting papers to run for the soon-to-be vacant seat on the Select Board; she had done that a while back. Her concern was whether someone else would be an 11th-hour challenger to her run for the office.

The rumor – that someone heard from someone else around town – was that some residents were “unhappy” Berberian was about to waltz into the post being vacated by Elizabeth Dionne. The scuttlebutt was that a “new face” would be introduced onto the ballot as a “dramatic gesture,” hiding their intentions from Berberian by obtaining nomination papers from the Secretary of State’s office, rather than going to the Belmont Town Clerk. 

But any last-second drama fizzled out when no one walked through the doors. After the Belmont Town Hall front doors were closed, long-time Town Moderator Mike Widmer turned to Berberian and offered his “congratulations” to the Herbert Road resident on being Belmont’s next Select Board member. 

In a lackluster year for Belmont politics, Berberian will not be the only candidate to find an unencumbered path to public office. For better or worse for Belmont’s body politic, voters will have just a single town-wide race to decide in the upcoming election on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Incumbent Mike Crowley and former Select Board member Adam Dash will battle it out for the influential Town Moderator position. 

BELMONT ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION BALLOT

Town Moderator Vote for not more than one for 1 Year

  • Michael F. Crowley, Farnham Street, Candidate for re-election
  • Adam Dash, Goden Street

Select Board Vote for not more than one for 3 Years

  • Carol Ann Kennedy Berberian, Herbert Road

Board of Cemetery Commissioners Vote for not more than one for 3 Years

  • Alexander E. Corbett, III, Alexander Avenue, candidate for re-election

Board of Health Vote for not more than one for 3 Years

  • Stephen M. Fiore, Van Ness Road, candidate for re-election

Members of the Housing Authority Vote for not more than one for 5 Years

  • Anne B. Mahon, Livermore Road, Candidate for re-election

Trustees of the Public Library Vote for not more than two for 3 Years

  • Martha Saillant Brown, Horne Road
  • Sally M. Martin, Oak Street

Municipal Light Board Vote for not more than one for 3 Years

  • Andrew Machado, Waverley Street, Candidate for re-election

School Committee Vote for not more than two for 3 Years

  • Jung Yueh, Waverley Street, candidate for re-election
  • Amy A. Zuccarello, Elizabeth Road, Candidate for re-election

The lack of interest of residents to run for town-wide office is seen in seeking to be a representative on Belmont Town Meeting: only three of the eight precincts will have competitive contests. The most competitive race will be in Precinct 2, where seven candidates are running for four open seats and one write-in for a one-year term. 

  • Precinct 1: 10 candidates for 12 seats 
  • Precinct 2: 15 candidates for 12 seats and two write-ins for two one-year terms 
  • Precinct 3: 9 candidates for 12 seats, two write-ins for two one-year terms; 
  • Precinct 4: 12 candidates for 12 seats. 
  • Precinct 5: 12 candidates for 12 seats. One write-in for a one-year term. 
  • Precinct 6: 14 candidates for 12 seats. 
  • Precinct 7: 9 candidates for 12 seats, one write-in for a one-year term. 
  • Precinct 8: 13 candidates for 12 seats.

Getting The Job Done: Belmont Boys’ BBball Reach Tourament And Takes Home Post-Season Silverware

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High’s 25-26 seniors (from left) Charles Tingos, Eli Pierre, Andre Chavushian, Eli Akins, Weston Zalewski, and Tyler Raubenheimer

When push came to shove, the Belmont High Boys’ Basketball propped open the door just wide enough to squeeze into the MIAA Division 1 tourney. The Marauders left it late, winning the final game of the regular season, a beat down of Reading, 66-35, to reach the 10-win mark that secured an away play-in game.

“I knew when I took the job, that they had some good players,” said Dan Burns, the Marauders’ first year coach. “I also was aware that it was going to take some time for us to get where need to be. So the goal for us was to get 10 wins, and we got it. It feels great. I’m really happy for the kids.”

Then as if the burden of making the post-season was a weight the team couldn’t wait to remove, Belmont went out and brought home post-season silverware, capturing the Division 2 winner’s trophy from the Spartan Classic at St. Mary’s in Lynn. The Marauders defeated Lowell Catholic, 68-51, on Sunday and then took down 15-4 Lincoln/Sudbury, 57-53, via a late three-point dagger-to-the-heart from senior captain Andre Chavugian (17 points) with a clutch 3-pointer down the stretch.

“It was a great overall team win. Everybody played,” said Burns. “I thought the seniors really came out and carried us right from the start we haven’t had a really good start in a long time.”

Nearly ever game this season has been a struggle for the Marauders as the team learned Burn’s new system throughout the season. Sporting a power ranking of 37, five spaces from an automatic placement, Belmont walked onto the court on Seniors Night needing a victory to move on. As fortune would have it, the Rockets have had an uncharacteristic poor season sporting a 3-16 record.

One issue the team was battling all season was falling behind early in games.

“We haven’t had a really good start in a long time, and we’re usually six or seven down going into the second. Tonight we actually went up seven (9-2) early. That’s a credit to the seniors and their leadership,” said Burns.

Belmont got out in front early and just kept scoring. With a solid defense, the Marauders raced through the first quarter up 18-8, led by senior Charles Tingos with a pair of threes and a run away lay up. Belmont’s second quarter resembled Secretariat at Belmont, throwing down 21 while holding the Rockets to six to blow the doors off of the game to lead 38-14, by the half. Junior co-captain Braiden Dargon scored 12 of his 15 points. in the quarter dominating the post on both ends of the court.

With a good lead on hand, Burns was allowed to look down his bench and give those players time on the floor. Senior guard Eli Akins provided the night’s highlight when after initially blowing a dunk, stole the ball and completed the slam to the delight of the students section. The Maruaders didn’t let up in the fourth scoring 18 to take their 10th of the season.

“It was a great team win. [It] gets us to the tournament that was our goal all year. So great to accomplish that,” said Burns.

For Burns, the last three wins gives a boost to the team’s belief that it can do some damage in the tournament.

I think we have a lot of size, and we’re pretty physical, and, we tend to beat up teams inside with our rebounding and just our physicality is a problem for most teams.”

“We’ve had a couple heartbreaking losses, and we’ve had some great wins, too. And part of that is just learning how to win,” said Burns.

Town Names Three Finalists For Police Chief Post, No Internal Belmont PD Candidates On List

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Police Department

Three finalists – one from the next town over, there’s the current president of state’s Police Chiefs organization, and a deputy chief from (barely) across the state line – to fill the post of Belmont’s police chief will be presented at a Friday afternoon meeting, Feb. 20, of the Belmont Select Board.

Who wasn’t selected for a final interview was an internal Belmont Police Department candidate, a request from the patrol officers and sargents unions as well as many residents.

The finalists coming before the Select Board on Friday are:

  • 2:30 p.m.: Shane C. Smith
  • 3:30 p.m.: Daniel S. Unsworth
  • 4:30 p.m.: Shane D. Woodson

Shane Smith is the deputy chief in Salem, NH. He has spent his entire law enforcement career on the Salem Police Dept., spanning 24 years. Smith attended the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA in 2024. He graduated from University of Massachusetts Lowell with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology.

Shane Smith

Daniel Unsworth has spend the past 19 years on the Watertown Police Department, most recently as Captain of the department’s Administrative Services Bureau which includes the Detective Division, budget management and facilities management, and managing community policing. Unsworth has his master’s in Criminal Justice from Western New England University.

Daniel Unsworth

Shane Woodson is the chief of the Southbridge Police Department where he has served for the past three decades. This past December, Woodson was installed as the 2026 President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.

Shane Woodson

Select Board All In On Overlay, Gateway Articles, Seek ‘Favorable’ Action At Special Town Meeting

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Special Town Meeting on the Belmont Center Overlay District

The Belmont Select Board has crossed the Rubicon on the controversial Belmont Center Overlay and Gateway district articles to be presented at the Special Town Meeting on March 4, at its Monday, Feb. 9 to advise “favorable action” on the proposed zoning changes.

On Monday, the die was officially cast by the town’s executive arm as the three members voted to support the overlay plan, created by Chris Ryan, the town’s Director of Planning & Building, with the assistance of consultant RKG and the Planning Board. 

The board’s action came as no surprise, as the Select Board has been actively promoting the adoption of Article 2, the “form-based” revisioning of the town’s principal commercial district along Leonard Street, and Article 3, a Gateway section on Concord Avenue where a hotel is envisioned. While first proposed to come before Town Meeting at the annual get together in June 2025, it was delayed twice before settling on a spring Special Town Meeting.

See what Article 2 and Article 3 will be before the town meeting.

Just as with their vote, the motivation to support the articles has been consistent since the first architectural charrette to review the consultant’s initial concepts held in January 2025. 

“[It’s] to replace the town’s Frankenstein zoning bylaws, internally incoherent, section piled upon section whose purpose is to downzone and stop any kind of economic progress in town,” said board member Elizabeth Dionne. 

“The town repeatedly told us [the pro-development overlay] is what they want,” she said, reiterating her past statements that each of the board members was primarily elected to promote commercial/retail growth to lessen the property tax burden on residential homeowners.

Board Chair Matt Taylor noted the significance of new revenue that optimistically can come due to overlay: The Multi-Year Budget Advisory Committee noted that just an additional $200,000 in new growth in Belmont Center can reduce the anticipated Prop. 2 1/2 override request by $2 million. 

“That’s what we’re talking about,” said Taylor. 

Residents opposing the overlay plan question the assumptions provided by the Planning Board and the town’s consultants, RKG, which developed a modified Fiscal Impact Analysis of several buildout scenarios, as well as parking and traffic analyses by DESMAN Inc. and BSC Corp., respectively. In addition, several “copy editing” amendments have been attached to the articles challenging the validity of the bylaw changes.

But while supporters and critics have quibbled over the data the studies propose, and what the board describes as “scrivener’s error” within the existing bylaws, the overriding feeling among the board members is that after 13 months of crafting the proposal, pulling it back for another round of revisions will not improve the document on the existing warrant.

For the board, the time has come to move the measure forward. “We will never have a perfect solution that pleases everybody. We just won’t,” said Dionne. “If we get enough people who are happy, then it makes sense to move forward.”