Kudos to State Senator Will Brownsberger. Your emotional speech in praise of the courage of our first responders ascending the Towers on 9/11 was appreciated by this grandson of a Cambridge Firefighter.
Kudos to Vinnie Stanton and the BCF for the latest newsletter not just acknowledging the Town needs extensive commercial development but also making suggestions as to where to start.
Rumors… CVS Leonard Street building is on the block for $3.5m or as my Belmont Blog friend would equate foregoing a daily Venti Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso for the next 2,257 years.
The Bank of America building hits the Street in a week or two. (Note: Belmont should proactively work with the property owners/new owners to expand these buildings to 3 floors. This should be an immediate priority.) Unfortunately, I have spent through all my first communion savings so the dream of opening ‘Looney’s Pub” will not be realized unless there is a second communion. Comella’s location in the Center is under contract. Stay tuned for details.
Conley’s Pub the adopted Pub of many Townies officially closed on Saturday. After 21 years, Steve Conley sold the Pub/Restaurant. It should open under new management in a week assuming Watertown gets the permits issued. So many late nights and great memories at Conley’s.
Yes, that was Matt Damon and wife at the Belmont Center CVS Saturday night. Must have come home to visit his Cambridge family.
Bad news… the US is in a recession and it’s starting to get ugly.
Some really bad news… the 30yr Mortgage rate crossed 6%
Oh, crap news… 46% of existing Belmont homes on Realtor.com showed price cuts. Another 14 homes just went on the market. As Robert Plant of the incredible Led Zeppelin sang… “When the Levee breaks”.
Belmont had 4,633 students enrolled in the Belmont Public Schools in 2019. We were told to expect 5,002 in 2023. We prepared and built a new $295 million dollar school on those projections. We dropped to 4,378 in 2020 and again to 4,358 in 2021 but were told those were temporary and only because of Covid and the numbers would surge right back especially with the opening of a brand-new High School.
The latest 2022 numbers show 4,367 enrolled students. It’s going to be very hard to justify the school budget based on this debacle. I expect more students to leave the BPS as equity programs kick in.
Did you hear about the recent bike on car collision at the intersection of Concord Ave and Myrtle? I can’t help but think the new design made the cyclists a little too comfortable and less aware of the car turning in front of them. I expect more to follow. My understanding is no major injuries this time.
Did you hear… Multiple kidnappings were reported this week in Belmont. The children in general were reported well rested after the naps.
How many of those “All are welcome here” homes are taking in the Venezuelans fleeing Socialism that landed on Martha’s Vineyard. Seems it might be awkward taking in unvaccinated people who don’t share your views on Socialism.
How much absolution does putting a $15 BLM sign in your yard get you? Wondering in an emergency do they call 911 or the sign holders in Waverley Sq? I would like to see 1/6 signs next. Not for the Jan 6 th protesters but rather for the 1 in 6 American households behind on their utility bills as the Winter of Death approaches.
Is he Gay or European? If you haven’t seen the musical presentation of Legally Blonde, then you are missing out. It’s worth the price of admission and reminds me of Ogunquit, Maine. Sometimes referred to as Gaygunquit, it attracts a fair amount of French Canadiens. It has one of the nicest beaches in the Northeast but has more than its fair share of dudes in sling shot speedo’s (zero seems like a fair share to me).
How is this relevant to Belmont? Recently, the “Norm” of Dunk’s (everyone knows her name and a seat is reserved for her), posted a comment about the hyper-sexualization of pre-teen and teen girls today. She specifically was referring to the clothing or rather lack of she witnessed at the BHS Football game. It was quickly met with the expected feminist attack of freedom of expression, it’s the current style, etc. For those interested the following link goes to an informative article on the hyper-sexualization of teens. The dangers of the hypersexualisation of young girls: a stolen childhood – Grow Think Tank. I am thinking of petitioning the Recreation department to allow topless sunbathing at Underwood. It would be worth it just to see the comments pro and con.
The murder of Henry Tapia left a deep stain on Belmont. I was recently asked “What do you tell a Black person considering moving to Belmont concerned about the murder”. I am still pondering that question and the best answer to it. The best I can come up with is no one is ever safe but statistically regardless of color this is one of the safest Town’s in the Country.
Next up… The class of 1986, NDA’s, and Executive session, and whatever the week brings.
Cheers