Five Editors, 20 Years

By Evanthia Malliris

At the end of 1999, when the Belmont Citizens Forum was taking shape in response to the McLean land development, Sharon Vanderslice said to the board of directors, “What this group needs is a newsletter.” Those words launched 20 years of a bimonthly newsletter—121 issues to date—that examines in-depth topics critical to BCF’s mission. Transforming words into action, Sharon became newsletter editor, establishing the newsletter’s standards and substance that continue today.

Volume 1, number 1, published in January 2000, included an analysis of legal action seeking to overturn the McLean property rezoning; a review of plans to redevelop Belmont Center; and discussion of a building moratorium on Alewife land. Sharon worked with Ann Coit Sifneos, whose soulful illustrations of Belmont’s environs graced the newsletter’s pages for many years, and began the “People Are Asking” column and “Environmental Events” calendar.

Meg Muckenhoupt assumed the editorship in January 2004. With her breadth and depth of knowledge about all things environmental (and much more) and her dogged research and reporting skills, Meg wrangled authors and shaped articles to meet her and the newsletter’s exacting standards. During her 12-year tenure, the newsletter reported on Belmont’s continuously evolving stormwater, sewer, and water pollution problems and extensively covered the Uplands development, the nascent Belmont community path, and the progress of pedestrian/bike paths in neighboring towns, with detailed maps and photographs to help tell the story.

When John DiCocco assumed the reins in 2016, he took Cushing Square development as his beat, from the demolition through environmental remediation issues and building redesign. Other key newsletter topics were Belmont’s push for electric vehicles, local and regional bike path news, and of course, stormwater and pollution.

Sara McCabe came on in 2018 and dove right in, embracing the newsletter’s mission to “preserve Belmont’s small-town atmosphere.” She expanded that mission, tracing Belmont’s extensive musical history, which has contributed to that small-town feeling, through to today’s Porchfest. And through Porchfest, Sara brought us Mary Bradley, whose knowledge of—and enthusiasm for—our community is truly extraordinary. Mary became co-editor, keeping us all on track with story ideas and becoming the ultimate “writer whisperer.” Meg returned with a new “Belmont Roots” column, sharing her good wisdom about the seasons.

When Sara decided to step down after two wonderful years, we were at a loss. But we also got lucky.

A new season of the newsletter has begun with familiar faces. Meg is now our executive editor, and Mary has taken the post of managing editor. We look forward to our next 20 years, working with these dedicated, creative, and knowledgeable women who make our newsletter possible.

Evanthia Malliris is a director of the Belmont Citizens Forum and former Town Meeting member.