Belmont Police Welcomes Citizens To Attend Community Police Academy Beginning Oct. 13

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Photo: The Belmont Police Department is beginning its Community Police Academy on October. 13.

The Belmont Police Department is opening its doors to the public with the start of its Community Police Academy starting Tuesday, Oct. 13. This immersive experience into policing will meet every Tuesday for 10 weeks to give the public a hands-on opportunity to learn about policing in Belmont.

“Come attend and see where your tax money goes,” said Belmont Police Chief Shane Smith Monday at Town Hall. 

The community police academy will offer to the community a behind-the-scenes look at the department “and the good people who work there,” said Smith. Attendees will get to meet the officers and staff, learn how the department functions, gain insight into the criminal justice system, and discover how the public can make a difference in making the community safer. 

Each week, the public will witness a different aspect of law enforcement, such as the role of dispatch, the duties of each officer, and the department’s focus on community service. Participants will also get to go on a “ride along” in which they will spend some part of a shift inside a patrol vehicle observing law enforcement operations. And you’ll meet Bingo!

“I really hope this will build stronger relationships between our people and the community we serve,” Smith said. 

To obtain registration forms, contact Lt. Paul Cowing at pcowing@belmontpd.org

Belmont Prepping To Trash Talk As New Solid Waste/Recycling Contract Going Out To Bid In 2017

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Photo: Waste Management has been the town’s solid waste and recycling hauler since 2018

It’s time for the town to talk trash.

With the solid waste and recycling contract “pretty much at its end of life,” Belmont is readying to put the contract for curbside removal out to bid by next summer, according to Town Administrator Patrice Garvin.

And with this contract that begins in 2028, Belmont will be looking for some ‘extras’ that could include the return of multi-week yard waste removal.

In 2018, Select Board signed a five-year contract with national firm Waste Management to become the town’s trash/recycling hauler beginning July 2018, taking over from Russell Disposal. A five-year contract extension with Waste Management was approved in 2023.

In the five-year WM contract extension, the price tag for curbside collection expenses—which includes trash, recycling, and yard waste collection along with Christmas trees and bulky items—increased from $2.449 million in fiscal ’23 to $2.948 million by fiscal ’28.

The town will be accepting bids in July 2017 from firms that are “able to service all three collection points, which are trash, recycling, and waste,” said Jay Marcotte, DPW director. While the new contract will not commence until July 2028, “the long lead time is to allow the successful vendor time to familiarize themselves with the town, understanding our four-day a week collection schedule and to procure the equipment required to service the town.”

But due to the nature of the waste hauling industry, it’s likely that Belmont will have a limited number of companies – between four and five – to select from when the bid is submitted next summer, according to Marcotte. Due to the tonnage of trash and recycling needed to be hauled away, only the largest firms would consider bidding. In addition, the town will be “exploring” alternatives to traditional diesel-powered trucks, including low-emission hybrid collection vehicles.

“We were having back and forth with fuel-alternate vehicles. There’s natural gas. There’s electric, and then there’s traditional diesel. The jury’s out on the electric trash trucks, but compressed natural gas has come a long way since the 2018 bid. So we’ll probably see alternatives to fuels for either diesel or natural gas,” said Marcotte. “I know Waste Management and Republic have their own filling stations for natural gas, which is a huge advantage when they’re bidding. So I’m anticipating we’re only going to get most likely two to three firms submitting a bid.”

In addition to carrying away trash and recycling, the town will be “exploring” alternatives to traditional diesel-powered trucks, including low-emission hybrid collection vehicles.

“We will also investigate curbside organics, yard waste, and Christmas tree collection programs,” said Marcotte. Another service being considered for inclusion in a contract is composting.

Belmont High Mini-Forest Dedication Set For Saturday, Oct. 3

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Photo: The Belmont High School Mini-Forest

A year after being planted, the official dedication of Belmont High School Mini-Forest will take place on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The afternoon will include tours, arts and crafts, poetry contest winners, science stories and games about the forest.

The celebration comes a year after volunteers spent two day planting approximately 1,145 trees and scrubs between two walking paths in the front of the Belmont High School campus. The forest is a dense planting of native trees and scrubs to recreate old growth forests. By planting the saplings close together in a compact area – the size of a small swimming pool – the area grows in a third of the usual time.

The mini-forest is seen as being used by educators as a living laboratory on the impact of Climate challenges on the community, while enhancing urban biodiversity, improve air quality, and providing a green space for residents.

The forest was inspired by the work of Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, known for his work in the restoration of natural forests.

The Cambridge Department of Public Works planted the first min-forest in the northeastern US in Danehy Park near Fresh Pond in Sept. 2021.

Too Big To Park: ‘Giant’ Pickups, SUVs Not Welcomed At Rink’s New ‘Jug Handle’ Lot

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Photo: The “jug handle” parking lot

Signs will be going up at the newly-renovated parking location known as the “jug handle” advising owners of many popular vehicle models to take their vehicles somewhere else. 

According to Belmont DPW Director Jay Marcotte, the recently opened parking area that is the preferred location for hockey parents bringing their kids to the Belmont Sports Complex on Concord Avenue. And while the width of the refurbished space was increased, it turned out that Americans’ love of heavy-duty workhorses made for a tight squeeze at the site.

The site was redesigned and reconstructed to increase the number of vehicles that could park there from the mid-30s to nearly 60, thus “maximizing efficiency,” said Marcotte. There is also a new parking configuration: previously vehicles would parallel park due to the narrowness of the site. Now the lot is lined for angled parking.

Anyone who has spent time traveling to hockey or skating rinks will immediately notice the parking lots will be occupied by a good number of pickup trucks and full-sized SUVs such as the Ford F-1500, the Ram 150, Chevy Tahoe, and the Ford Expedition. (Hockey bags take up a lot of room). And that’s where the problem lies. At least twice in the past month, a pair of the largest vehicles were parked either opposite or close to the other, creating a bottleneck that only allowed compact cars to pass. Midsized or larger vehicles could not wiggle their way past and needed to reverse out of the jug handle. 

Based on those observations and rink users’ feedback, Marcotte said the town will begin regulating the size and type of vehicles permitted to park in the jug handle. The DPW will soon install signs restricting pickup trucks and large SUVs from the site and other signs instructing owners to pull all the way up to the parking space berm/curb to increase the roadway. 

“Implementing these adjustments will significantly optimize the parking space and flow,” said Marcotte.

Soccer Night Success: Belmont High Girls, Boys Soccer Remain Undefeated Winning Home Town Tourney

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Photo: The Belmont High Girls’ with its silverware

Before one of the largest crowds each team will likely play before this season, both of Belmont High’s varsity soccer teams remained unbeaten as the Boys’ and Girls’ carried off the silverware as winners of the Soccer Night in Belmont tourney held Saturday, Sept. 19 on Harris Field. 

[On Wednesday, both Belmont teams remained undefeated, with the Girls’ defeating host Wakefield, while the Boys’ drew 1-1 against visitors from Wakefield]

Girls’ Power Past Strong Westford Academy Squad in 2-0 Shutout

A game-winning goal in the first three minutes of the game by junior Casaie Grinder and an insurance tally from Elsa Dubois off a header early in the second half spurred a solid, complete team effort as Belmont (4-0) shut out Westford Academy (2-2) 2-0 in the first game of the doubleheader. Both goals were assisted by sophomore Clara Sciandra, the second coming from her corner kick.

If a good baseball team is built “up the middle” with an outstanding catcher, pitcher, second and shortstop, and center fielder, Belmont has constructed a strong squad similarly with three-year starting senior goalkeeper Martha Dimas, a top notch central defender in Dubois, the veteran midfield tandem of seniors Zoe Marion and Madhavi Ramadas, and forward Sciandra at the point of the spear. 

Belmont is built from the back with a young but solid defensive corps that tracks down opponents and thaws any dangerous runs into the box, resulting in two clean sheets this year. Dubois captains the defense like a sentinel on the bulwark, calling out coverage and any strategic changes on the field. 

“My main goal was to talk to all of my teammates. Just trying to get everybody under control to stop being super stressed over the ball. Even if I was very nervous at the start, going through the game, my one goal was to make sure everybody was included in the play.”

Against Westford, that cohesive approach Dubois spoke of was demonstrated when junior defender Vianne Capitani cleared a shot from the Belmont goal line while covering a corner attempt midway through the second half. 

“We work very hard,” said the sophomore starter. “We try to stick together and communicate with each other because it’s super important to stay together to make sure none of us like break apart or go off too far. So as long as we’re in line and really kind of try to stay like in a brick formation, and one goes up, pressure cover balance.

And the goal for the remainder of the season is elementary for Dubois.

“We’re going for a strong year. We’re hoping to make it further in the playoffs this year than we did last year.” 

“You went to the semifinals last year [after defeating the top seed Needham in the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual MIAA Division 1 state champions Natick],” she was reminded.

“Yes, we want to take it all,” said Dubois.

Boys’ Continuous One Goal Win Streak with 2-1 Victory Over Newton North

It came out of nowhere.

As the tussle between Belmont and Newton North appeared to be heading towards a tie [and under the tournament’s rules the game would be decided by penalty kicks), Marauder senior Itai Golani found himself in space in the center of the field with 17 minutes remaining. But being more than 25 meters from goal, it would have been prudent for the midfielder to find a teammate in the penalty box.

But rather than be cautious, Golani let loose a rocket that took a straight line into the back of the net. Set off the celebrations.

With senior goalie David Klimasmith anchoring the defense – and stopping a one-on-one encounter in the final seconds of the game – allowed Belmont Boys’ to lift the tournament trophy. Belmont took the lead three minutes into the second half on a fortunate fumble from the Newton North goalie. While saving a cross, the keeper allowed the ball to come off his leg and onto the foot of Belmont senior Allessio Elia, who spun quickly to deposit the ball into the upper netting.

Town-Wide Garage Sale Postponed This Weekend As Fall Nor’ester Approaches; New Date Oct. 3

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Photo: A yard sale on a town-wide scale

Due to the arrival this weekend of a really early in the season Nor’ester, the Belmont Town-Wide Yard Sale has been postponed and will now take place on Saturday, October 3rd, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

View details of the sale, an interactive map, and a list of the locations of properties participating that will make up the 121 registered yard sales here.

Those interested can pick up a physical map at the Belmont Library, 336 Concord Ave., or the Beech Street Center, 266 Beach St. or, by scanning the QR code in the flyer below to view every stop on an interactive Google Maps page.

This program is brought to you by the Belmont Public Library, the Belmont Council on Aging, and Belmont Recreation Department.

Garvin Nixes Merit Pay Increase … Again After Select Board Gives Town Administrator Outstanding Performance Review

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Photo: Belmont Town Administrator Patrice Garvin

For the second year running, Belmont Town Administrator Patrice Garvin has rejected a merit pay increase voted by the Select Board after giving her an outstanding annual performance review.

“I want to thank the board for recognizing my hard work,” said Garvin of the 1.5 percent bump. “But I would like to let the board know that given the issues with the town in terms of the budgetary constraints, I’d like to waive that merit, have it stay within the salary reserve, and have it go towards police and fire negotiations.”

The increase comes out to approximately $3,300 that will placed in the salary reserve account to be used to fund new public safety contracts. Garvin’s annual salary was set in 2025 at $229,500.

This marks the third time Garvin has passed up a proposed pay hike in her nearly decade long tenure. She refused a two percent annual boost in pay in September 2025 with the funds then supporting the town’s non-union Employee Recognition Program. In June 2020, she nixed a two percent increase “in response to the significant budgetary shortfalls as a result of the unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic.” 

“I think that is incredibly generous and thoughtful of you, Patrice,” said Board Chair Taylor Yates. “So thank you always for thinking of the entire organization.”

The Select Board’s latest recap of Garvin’s annual performance review was similar to past assessments: she’s doing an outstanding job, scoring a 4.7 out of 5 getting high marks for her leadership skills and organization of the town departments.

“I think you are exceptionally organized, and you have led phenomenal drive towards professionalization of the town’s services, which is critical because that’s pretty much the most powerful tool we have to get more for less. And I see it in how you approach your work,” said Yates. He noted Garvin’s list of hires since arriving in Belmont in 2018, pointing to several department heads”[who are] all exceptional at what they do, and they are able to do it by … your excellent work building an organization to serve the residents of Belmont, and that’s a credit to your talented efforts.”

“[Garvin has] an incredible amount of institutional knowledge, the ability to work through difficult situations, and work through pretty much anything that comes up. It really shows your strength,” said Board Vice Chair Carole Berberian. “The financial management ability to restructure and work to increase efficiencies … is all really strong and contributes to the successes in the position.”

“When I did your performance review, what I used as a standard was the field of possible town administrators or town managers. You’re the best,” said Board member Matthew Taylor. “I wish all of our residents could see how much work Patrice does behind the scenes to solve problems, to get to further our relationships with our staff and our unions, [and] to improve our presentations and communications.”

Responding to the comments, Garvin said that she “loves working for the town of Belmont. I love working for the people here. I pretty much in here more than I am at home, so I just feel that my drive and my effort all go goes towards the improvement of this town. And I think over the last eight years, I’ve been able to to do that with thete staff I work with.”

“It’s a great team effort I bring to the town every day. I don’t think I would work as hard as if I didn’t enjoy it as much as I do. I love a problem I need to solve,” she said.

‘Foot Soldiers Of Democracy’: Belmont’s State Senate Recount Reaffirms Brownsberger’s Victory

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Photo: The state senate recount at Belmont Town Hall auditorium

Call it a day of direct democracy.

On Sept. 10, Belmont witnessed democracy in action in the Town Hall auditorium. For more than four hours, a roomful of volunteers, observers, town officials, and a candidate participated in the re-enumeration of the Democratic Party primary election for state senator held on Sept. 1.

In the first go-around of voting the previous week, incumbent and Belmont resident Will Brownsberger eked out a 34-vote advantage district-wide over first-time candidate Daniel Lander of Boston: 12,291 to 12,257. As the closeness of the outcome was within the right to ask for a recount, both candidates submitted signatures from the four communities – Belmont and Watertown and precincts in Boston and Cambridge – represented in the Suffolk and Middlesex District. On Election Night, Brownsberger easily won his hometown, 4,010 to 1,809, although he lost the other three communities he had been representing since 2011.

Registrars of Voters Chair Bob McGaw

Pairs of community volunteers sat at 20 card tables to re-tally each of the 5,824 ballots submitted at the town’s eight voting precincts and those that were submitted early and through the mail. Managed by Town Clerk Ellen Cushman and her staff and overseen by the Belmont’s Registrars of Voters, each candidate was allowed two “campaign agents” to oversee the recount, and note any challenges to the decision by the reader. And in the hallway outside the hall, Brownsberger waited for the results to be called. 

Each table received a stack of 50 votes, which were counted to be approved by the Registrars, chaired by Bob McGaw in his final year in the post. Kristen Gagalis, an associate with Anderson & Kreiger, kept the proceedings moving by resolving any procedural questions and reminding those assembled to keep the chitchat to a minimum. 

With a steady rhythm, carts of ballots were brought from the Town Clerk’s storage room – once the town’s lockup – and numbers were calculated and approved. And with each enumerated result, the vote advantage Brownsberger held in Belmont never varied by more than a single vote up or down. By 1:30 p.m., all the ballots were read and reaffirmed; Brownsberger would add two votes to his tally, and Landers three extra votes. The final numbers: 4,012 to 1,812, a 2,200-vote margin. 

By the end of the recount, the attorneys for both campaigns had high praise for the process and how it was conducted. 

“This really is what democracy is all about. You guys are the foot soldiers of democracy. You worked hard, and we really appreciate it, and I think everyone should,” said Brownsberger’s Dennis Newman, whose history with recounts included being the lead Democratic attorney observing the critical Palm Beach, Florida, review of votes in the historic Bush/Gore presidential recount of 2000.

“Today was part of our democracy,” said Lander’s attorney, John Gannon. “We fought 250 years ago to have that right to vote, the right to be heard in a democratic process. So this is part and parcel of that process, and I’m truly honored to be part of the process.”

On Friday, the Secretary of the Commonwealth certified the election, and Brownsberger is returning to Beacon Hill with a 35-vote advantage: Brownsberger 12,291, Lander 12,257.

The contest between the long-serving legislator and a neophyte candidate had its origins in a successful effort by Brownsberger and other legislators to deny an effort in 2024 by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to temporarily raise the commercial real estate tax rate to ease the tax burden on residential taxes. Many saw the rare primary challenges to the long-standing legislators as Wu’s atttempt – with campaign donations and use of political connections – to send a message of her disapproval.

It was Brownsberger who had the final word.

“I wanted to share the good news right away: the recount is complete, and we have prevailed with a final margin of 35 votes,” said Brownsberger in a statement released on Thursday afternoon after the completion of the recount in Cambridge. Watertown and Boston completed their review on Wednesday.

“I am so very grateful for all your work and support in this campaign. I look forward to continuing to serve all of the people in my district, and I am eager to get back to work.”

In his statement, Lander said while the race “did not end as we’d hoped, I am so deeply proud of the campaign we built. I know we have woken up the State Senate and sent a message loud and clear that the days of delay and inaction must end now. Despite the establishment’s best efforts, this campaign won three of the four communities of this district. After being outspent two to one, our grassroots coalition made clear this district is hungry for change.”

Registrars of Voters: Ellen O’Brien Cushman, Ex-Officio, Paul Minor, Kate Foster, and Bob McGaw

Belmont Field Hockey Takes Down Long-Time Nemesis Watertown, 2-1, In Season Opener

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Photo: Teammates surround Belmont High School goalie Zoe Bruce after the Marauders’ 2-1 victory over Watertown.

It was a long time coming.

A pair of goals from senior captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz and a near flawless performance (10 saves) by junior goalie Zoe Bruce (10 saves) highlighted a complete team effort from the 12th-ranked Belmont High Field Hockey in defeating the 22 time state champions and 9th-ranked Watertown High Raiders, 2-1, in the season opener for both teams on Sept. 9.

You couldn’t dream up a more satisfying start of Head Coach Jessie Smith’s third decade leading the program. Not only did she come off Watertown’s Victory Field having taken down Belmont’s arch rival for the first time in nearly 20 years, the victory was also Smith’s 250th in her stellar career.

“This is a great way to start the season as we’re playing a really hard schedule,” said Smith after the game.

Belmont High Head Coach Jessie Smith

“I think a lot of people are going to be surprised (with the result),” said Smith. “I think when you look at the preseason rankings, people were saying, ‘Belmont, they had their run and they’re kind of done.’ And while our win is great, I don’t want to say, ‘OK, we’re great now.’ That’s one win. We have a long season to go.”

And Belmont’s convincing victory was no fluke, as three days later the Raiders defeated 2nd-ranked Somerset Berkeley, 3-2.

Belmont showed its team strength on both sides of the ball, demonstrating a fluid passing game on offense.

“We have triangles all over the field, looking for each other, and that 10-yard pass is deadly in field hockey, just with changing direction and especially inside the attack area,” said Smith. 

And the Marauders’ pressing midfield defense pressured Watertown for the entire contest, disrupting the Raiders’ offensive flow. 

“We have Elsie pushing up, so she’s almost like a fourth midfielder. And then we were doubling (covering the player with the ball with two defenders) all over the field. I mean, they wanted this game,” Smith said of her team.

Smith pointed out that “at different times in the game, different players stepped up, and we literally relied on every single person on the field today, which was just so great to see.”

Belmont struck first five minutes into the match when first-year defender Lucie Lakin-Schultz fed her sister just inside the 16-meter shooting circle. Elsie Lakin-Schultz drove the ball just inside the near post to put Belmont up 1-0 at the 9:49 mark, giving the Marauders its first-ever lead in Watertown since the mid-2000s. 

It was then up to three-year starter Bruce to hold the fort against Watertown’s midfielders, who found space down the middle of the field. A big pad save two minutes after Belmont scored was followed by three saves in quick succession. Lucie Larkin-Schultz helped Bruce as a last line of stopping a partial breakaway in the final three minutes of the quarter. 

“Zoe was unbelievable today,” said Smith, pointing to a late-game save where a scrambling Bruce got a piece of the ball on the goal line that Smith categorizes as “unreal.” 

“As a third-year starting goalie, she knows to step up and take the ball instead of standing on the line and clearing a save wide and not back into the field,” said Smith. “Those things really matter, and she does it much more automatically. It’s just unbelievable.”

For the majority of the game, the action took place in the center of the field with each team’s midfielders controlling the game. 

“Playing Watertown is always just very hectic; they’re always on the ball, always yelling at each other,” said Mia Smith, Belmont’s junior mid, who was joined in the midfield by senior co-captain Nataile Merrow, sophomore Kate Townsend and first-year Reagan Moulis.

“It’s just a very stressful situation on the field, so you have to drum out the noise and just play your own team’s game. As Belmont, we work together. We don’t yell at each other, and I think that’s just what kept us sticking to our game plan,” said Smith, who celebrated her 17th birthday with the win.

Watertown would break through midway in the third on a shot from in close that beat Bruce’s outstretched stick. But Belmont would retake the lead with 90 seconds remaining in the third quarter off a penalty corner. The Marauders kept the ball in play, and a rebound found its way back to Elsie Laken-Schultz. 

“The ball just popped off off the goalie’s pads and I hit it as hard as I could into the back of the net,” said Lakin-Schultz. “There are a lot of touches from all my teammates, so I really couldn’t have done it without them.”

Elsie Lakin-Schultz (23) scoring the game winner vs. Watertown

“[Elsie] was looking for the corners with each goal, which is what we’ve been working on at practice,” said Smith. “You could see that she was very intentional with her shooting. She took a second to look and finish the job that five other players who had a touched the ball in a circle.” 

The score line would stand up for the remaining 16 minutes as Bruce would make a pair of exceptional saves in the final five minutes. When the final horn sounded, the team held a collective on-field celebration worthy of a 20+ year wait.

Postgame, Smith spotlighted the depth of her bench, where “we can take a new person out there, especially in the forward line. We have tons of strong forwards – notably seniors Avery Reinold and Kendall Regan – so we can keep them fresh. They’re also able to really help back defensively but also spring forward with the ball.” 

For co-captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz, she views the victory as “really setting the tone for the rest of the season, and if this is where we’re starting, I can only expect us to get better and better and better.”

Belmont Holding 9/11 Memorial Commemoration On Quarter-Century Anniversary Of Terror Attack

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Photo: Poster of Belmont’s Memorial Event

While one of the most seminal moments in US history, for many members of the Gen Z generation – those born after 1997 – the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 are only hazy memories, if they remember them at all. It’s why many who do remember 9/11 believe the shock, pain, bravery and consequences of that day is essential to recall and commemorate.

Belmont will hold a 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Ceremony to honor the approximate 3,000 victims killed in New York City, Washington DC and Pennsylvania and also remember the first responders of Sept. 11.

The commermoration will take place on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. in the Select Board Meeting Room, Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. All members of the community are welcome to attend this time of remembrance.

Three Belmont residents were on American Airlines Flight 11 during the 2001 attacks.

  • Paul Friedman, 45, a management consultant.
  • Edward (Ted) R. Hennessy Jr., 35, a business partner and father of two.
  • Carlos Alberto Montoya, 36

For grief support, wellness, and community support resources, visit the Belmont Health Department Resources page at belmont-ma.gov/2072/Health-Department-Resources.

For questions, contact the Belmont Select Board at selectboard@belmont-ma.gov