Belmont Citizens Forum

Cambridge Residents Support Climate Safety Petition

Construction and Housing, Environment, July-Aug 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

Jul 172018

Cambridge Residents Support Climate Safety Petition

By Ann Stewart In “Preparing for Climate Change,” BCF Newsletter, May-June 2018, state Senator Will Brownsberger focused on the potential flooding risk to Belmont, Arlington, and Cambridge neighborhoods surrounding Alewife Reservation. Another climate change threat besides flooding is rising temperatures. Last year the Cambridge Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment predicted, “By 2070, Cambridge may experience nearly three months [per year] over 90°F, compared with less than two weeks in present day.” Heat has been responsible for most US weather-related fatalities over the last 30 years, according to the National Weather Service. Heat, flooding, and sea level rise are all concerns for [READ MORE]

Great Blue Heron Chicks a Welcome Addition to Alewife Reservation

Environment, July-Aug 2018, Newsletter, Open Space, Water Quality Comments Off

Jul 172018

Great Blue Heron Chicks a Welcome Addition to Alewife Reservation

By Sara McCabe Birders and conservationists have been overjoyed by the discovery this spring of a great blue heron rookery in the Alewife Brook Reservation. Many believe this to be the only great blue heron roost for at least 20 miles. The herons’ selection of Jerry’s Pond in North Cambridge as the site for their two nests is especial cause for excitement. This artificial pond was created in 1870 from an old clay pit, used as a public swimming hole from 1913 to 1961, then closed for suspected contamination. It has been fenced off for nearly 60 years despite its [READ MORE]

BCF Director Anne-Marie Lambert Celebrated as a Massachusetts “Unsung Heroine”

July-Aug 2018, Staycation, Stormwater, Volunteer, Water Quality Comments Off

Jul 172018

BCF Director Anne-Marie Lambert Celebrated as a Massachusetts “Unsung Heroine”

Congratulations to Belmont Citizens Forum board member Anne-Marie Lambert, who was chosen by state Representative Dave Rogers as the 2018 “Unsung Heroine” for his district and received the award in the Great Hall of Flags at the Massachusetts State House on June 20. Each year the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women partners with state legislators to identify one woman from each of their constituencies who “doesn’t always make the news, but truly makes the difference.” “Anne-Marie Lambert is an environmentalist with deep knowledge of the land and water of Belmont,” Rogers wrote in the biographical sketch he submitted. [READ MORE]

13th Season of the Belmont Farmers’ Market in Full Swing

July-Aug 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

Jul 172018

13th Season of the Belmont Farmers’ Market in Full Swing

It’s July, and the Belmont Farmers’ Market is bursting with blueberries, raspberries, corn, arugula, beans, beets, broccoli, chard, cucumber, eggplant, lettuces, peas, peppers… and more! You’ll also find fish, meat, poultry, cheese, baked goods, pasta, prepared foods, and plants. Besides the food vendors, the Belmont Public Library and the Belmont Light Department also participate in the market. New vendors this year include: Dulce D Leche Cakes, Framingham: chocolates, savory pies, gelato Farmer Tim’s Vegetables: Farmer Tim lives in Belmont and farms in Dudley herd nerd SPICE, Arlington: smoky spice for meat, fish, vegetables Koshari Mama, Winchester: Egyptian street food—lentils, rice, [READ MORE]

Letters to the Editor, July-August 2018

Bicycles and bike paths, Bike Paths, July-Aug 2018 Comments Off

Jul 172018

Readers respond to “Part One” of author Vincent Stanton, Jr.’s two-part article on the benefits of the proposed Belmont Community Path from the May-June issue. To the Editor, Nice article about the Belmont section of the Mass Central Rail Trail, and I’m happy to hear of progress on that project. Mini-platforms at commuter-rail stations, mentioned in the article, are not only useful for people with disabilities! People in wheelchairs, but also with bicycles, baby strollers, shopping carts, wheeled luggage, etc., use and appreciate mini-platforms. One comment though: mini-platforms at the east end of Waverley station were mentioned, to avoid problems [READ MORE]

Environmental Events, July-August 2018

Environment, July-Aug 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

Jul 172018

Native Lawn Alternatives for Urban Spaces Saturday, July 28, 10:30 AM–Noon Did you know that lawns cover more surface area of the US than any other single irrigated crop, according to NASA? Lawns are resource-heavy, requiring irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides to thrive in our climate. Instructor Mark Richardson will share some of the best, environmentally friendly lawn alternatives for urban gardens. Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge. Underground parking garage. A Night At the Pond Tuesday, August 14, 6:15–8:15 PM Explore the ponds to see what wildlife awaits us. We’ll bring our ponding gear and nets to see what you can [READ MORE]

Belmont Community Path Update, Part One

Bicycles and bike paths, Bike Paths, Construction and Housing, May-June 2018, Newsletter, Open Space, Parking, Traffic Comments Off

May 152018

Feasibility Study Plan would Renew Transportation Infrastructure and Create New Public Spaces By Vincent Stanton, Jr. A bicycle and pedestrian path stretching from the Charles River in East Cambridge to the town of Berlin, beyond Interstate 495, is in various states of design or construction. The path is complete from Brighton Street in Belmont to Lowell Street in Somerville (via Alewife station and Davis Square.) From the Belmont/Waltham border west to Route 128, a path is being designed. Construction is likely to start in early 2019. That leaves a 2.1-mile gap in Belmont. Filling the gap is difficult because [READ MORE]

Another Way to Preserve Belmont’s Neighborhoods

Historic Preservation, May-June 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

May 152018

Another Way to Preserve Belmont’s Neighborhoods

Should Belmont residents consider a ‘neighborhood conservation district’ model? By Sharon Vanderslice Belmont’s cohesive and walkable neighborhoods, high-quality schools, extensive green space, and proximity to public transportation have made it one of the most desirable places to live in the Greater Boston area. And yet, skyrocketing real estate values and the overdevelopment that tends to accompany them currently threaten the very neighborhoods that have made this “town of homes” so appealing in the first place. One tool that cities and towns around the country have used to preserve local neighborhoods from inappropriate development is the “neighborhood conservation district” designation. Cities [READ MORE]

Preparing for Climate Change

Environment, May-June 2018, Newsletter, Stormwater Comments Off

May 152018

By Will Brownsberger This winter’s storms have dramatized flooding in Boston and many other coastal areas. Is Belmont at risk? Despite climate change and rising sea levels, Belmont has minimal risk of direct seawater flooding in the next 50 years. The greatest threat to Belmont residents is the fragility of our regional infrastructure. In the next five decades, scientists and planners predict a rise in sea level of as much as three feet. Stronger sustained winds in storms are also likely to produce greater storm surge. We will also see heavier rains. A detailed model of how water may move [READ MORE]

Belmont Announces First Annual Porchfest

Arts & Culture, May-June 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

May 152018

Belmont Announces First Annual Porchfest

By Mary Bradley Porchfest is coming to Belmont! The first annual Belmont Porchfest will be on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Porchfest is a celebration of community through music and arts performed by your friends and neighbors (and maybe even you) on porches throughout Belmont. Walk to a neighbor’s house to hear a klezmer band or host a circus show on your front lawn. You can sign up to play some music, host a band, or both. You can also support this event through a donation or sponsorship. However you choose to participate, please save the date for a fun day [READ MORE]

Another Successful Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day

BCF Events, Environment, Lone Tree Hill, May-June 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

May 152018

Another Successful Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day

More than 50 Volunteers Donate Time to Annual Cleanup and Planting By Radha Iyengar On Saturday, April 28, the Belmont Citizens Forum (BCF), in conjunction with the Judy Record Conservation Fund, held its sixth annual Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day. More than 50 volunteers of all ages, including students from Chenery Middle School and Belmont High School, donated their time on this picture-perfect sunny day. At the Pine Allee, in just two hours, the efficient volunteers planted more than 60 white pine saplings (of which 30 were transplants from Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary). At the other end of [READ MORE]

Poetry In Nature

BCF Events, Environment, May-June 2018, Newsletter, Open Space Comments Off

May 152018

In early April, Belmont poet Stephanie Burt (far right) and Belmont Citizens Forum director Anne-Marie Lambert (far left) led a group of local residents on a poetry walk through Rock Meadow. The group explored the landscape and history of the area, including a pair of chickadees that inspired the reading of Marianne Moore’s “Smooth Gnarled Crape Myrtle” and a discussion of the ice trade that inspired a reading of Burt’s “Ice for the Ice Trade.” Burt is a Harvard professor and author of several books of poetry, including Belmont (2014) and Advice From the Lights (2017). The group enjoyed a [READ MORE]

Environmental Events, May-June 2018

Environment, May-June 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

May 152018

Grow Native: Massachusetts Annual Native Plant Sale Saturday, May 19, 9 AM–3 PM Select from over 100 species and ask on-hand experts for advice. Rain or shine. grownativemass.org/programs/plantsale. UMass Field Station, 240 Beaver Street, Waltham. Rock Meadow Stakeholder & Community Workshop, Meeting #2 Saturday, May 29, 2018, 7:00–9:00 pm With generous support from the Judy Record Conservation Fund, The Belmont Conservation Commission is working with the Conway School to develop a Master Plan for the Rock Meadow Conservation Area. This is the second community stakeholder meeting, part of a master plan process that will allow the Town of Belmont to assess, [READ MORE]

Finding Sewer Leaks Means Detective Work

Environment, March-April 2018, Newsletter, Stormwater, Water Quality Comments Off

Mar 212018

Finding Sewer Leaks Means Detective Work

Hidden Leaks in Pipes from Street to House Pollute Waterways By Anne-Marie Lambert Belmont has greatly accelerated investigating underground sources of water pollution in the last six months. This good news is tempered by the knowledge that we have 77 miles of sewer pipes and 56 miles of stormwater drains, all old. The average sewer pipe in Belmont is now 83 years old. The average storm drain is 64 years old. Our accountants assume a 60-year useful life for underground pipes. Figure 1 shows how we got here. Until 1900, Belmont was a farming community served by about 30 miles [READ MORE]

Selectman Candidate Answers BCF Questions

Board of Selectmen, March-April 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

Mar 212018

Selectman Candidate Answers BCF Questions

Belmont Annual Town Election to be Held Tuesday, April 3 Each year the Belmont Citizens Forum asks candidates for selectman about issues the town will likely face in the next three years. This year Tom Caputo is running uncontested for the seat currently occupied by Jim Williams, who is retiring after one term. Below are Caputo’s unedited replies to our questions about the environment, traffic, funding, and planning. 1. How would you address the amount of cut-through traffic in Belmont? Cut-through traffic in Belmont has always been bad, but it has significantly worsened with the development of GPS apps [READ MORE]

Hello. Goodbye. And Thank You.

March-April 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

Mar 212018

Welcome to Sara McCabe. The Belmont Citizens Forum Newsletter is pleased to welcome our new editor, Sara McCabe. Sara has more than 15 years of experience in publications management, and has produced magazines, books, web content, and other communications for a variety of clients nationwide, including Hilton Hotels and several state tourism departments. Sara is also a successful grant writer and has served on many nonprofit boards and advisory and event committees. She holds a bachelor’s in marketing from Santa Clara University and a master’s in organizational leadership and ethics from St. Edward’s University. Sara lives in East Arlington but [READ MORE]

Historical Society Calls for Award Nominations

Historic Preservation, March-April 2018, Newsletter Comments Off

Mar 212018

Historical Society Calls for Award Nominations

The Belmont Historical Society invites you to nominate projects that have furthered preservation efforts in Belmont for the David R. Johnson Preservation Award. Properties throughout the town, not just in the historic districts, are eligible. There are six categories of projects for nomination: Private residences; Commercial properties; Publicly owned properties; Properties owned by nonprofit institutions; Landscape projects; and Preservation of open space and land conservation. Individuals, companies, or institutions that have made significant contributions to historic preservation in Belmont will also be considered. Awards will be presented at the society’s annual meeting on May 16. Congratulations to last year’s awardees: [READ MORE]

Symposium Explores Alewife Resilience

Environment, March-April 2018, Newsletter, Water Quality Comments Off

Mar 212018

By Sarah Howard with Patricia Loheed “When it comes to natural disasters, 2017 was one for the record books,” according to a recent Weather Channel video. With increasingly extreme weather, area residents have been expressing concerns about the Alewife Corridor. Many still remember when a section of Route 16 remained underwater for two weeks in 1997, becoming impassable to traffic and blocking an evacuation route. The recent “bombogenesis” storm in early January, which caused significant flooding and storm surges in the Boston area, has only added to the commonly voiced concerns. Most of us know the Alewife Corridor area as [READ MORE]

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