watch and listen to the talking news every day at twelve noon and six hundred pm on channel ninety six comcast xfinity and channel thirty verizon files it can also be heard mondays and tuesdays at four hundred and thirty pm and wednesdays at one thousand two hundred and thirty pm on channel nine xfinity and channel twenty nine files listen any time on the bmc podcast network on soundcloud and itunes just search for the belmont media podcast network now onto the talking news preparing for the schematic design phase high school building committee starts work on module four by joanna k tzouvelis the belmont high school building committee is getting ready to begin the work on module four the schematic design phase and the eight module process with the massachusetts school building authority the msba will be reimbursing the town approximately forty of the cost for a grade seven through twelve building four hundred and fifty one thousand five hundred and seventy five sq ft to accommodate two thousand two hundred and fifteen students four hundred and fifty one thousand five hundred and seventy five sq ft to accommodate two thousand two hundred and fifteen students four hundred and fifty one thousand five hundred and seventy five sq ft to accommodate two thousand two hundred and fifteen students the cost is estimated at three thousand and seventy two million the cost is estimated at three thousand and seventy two million with belmont contribution being two thousand two hundred and seventy three million with belmont contribution being two thousand two hundred and seventy three million there will be a ballot question for a debt exclusion on the november 6th general election the amount will be determined upon completion of the project funding agreement with the msba in august on january 23rd the school committee voted unanimously in favor of a grade seven through twelve option which will change the lower school configurations to k3 for the butler burbank wellington and winn brook to k3 for the butler burbank wellington and winn brook and four to six for the chenery middle school the school committee selectmen and bhs building committee also voted on january 23rd on the major additionminor renovation design option known as the bow tie with two separate entrances for the upper and lower school students core space on the first floor of the building will be shared which will include a prefunction area for the auditorium theater and gymnasiums since january 23rd the bhs building committee completed the work they needed to do for the preferred schematic report module three in the msba process belmont high school building committee chairman bill lovallo said they expect to hear a decision from the msba board on april ten after they've reviewed the completed preferred schematic report submitted february twenty one over the next five weeks lovallo said that they will start preparing for the module four by looking at more details for the building's design such as lockers and bathrooms they will continue to discuss traffic and will meet with the traffic advisory committee and the newly hired consultant for a townwide traffic study on march eight they will also be meeting with all the stakeholders in town such as the police fire and public works departments planning board recreation commission historic district commission and school food services department the schematic design package is due to the msba by july eleven after april ten the design team will present after april ten the design team will present more detailed images drawings and models of the exterior and interior of the new building design team will then do a presentation for committee members to experience what the new building will be like wearing virtual reality goggles lovallo said that there will also be a movie of the virtual reality walkthrough which will be shown at public meetings and linked to the bhs school building committee website and linked to the bhs school building committee website where they will be seeking more community feedback and input during this phase cost estimates for the new building will also be determined after module four is completed in july module five the completion of the construction documents will begin in november if debt exclusion passes and take approximately twelve to fifteen months to complete during module six the project will go out to bid and a contractor will be hired during module seven the construction of the project will begin in two thousand and twenty and is estimated to take forty two months to complete module eight is the closing out of the project and now over to claire thank you bob homeowners appeal to be taken off the significant list by joanna k tzouvelis three homeowners have asked to have their homes removed from the list of historic buildings subject to the demolition delay bylaw subject to the demolition delay bylaw approved at last year's annual town meeting the board of selectmen has refused the appeals on two of the residential properties and a third residential appeal is pending one hundred and eighty two belmont properties are on the list of belmont significant historic building subject to the demolition delay bylaw which was approved by town meeting if someone wants to partially or completely demolish any of those properties a demolition permit must be filed which will be referred to the historic district commission for a public hearing if the historic commission determines it is preferable to preserve the property the owner would then have to wait up to one year while the commission discusses alternatives to demolition this bylaw was created to protect properties like the historic first congregational church on trapelo road which was demolished by a developer in two thousand and thirteen however a handful of homeowners are concerned it will affect their property value and have filed appeals to be removed from the list the appeal process homeowners will have to demonstrate why they think their building does not qualify historically significant based upon six criteria such as whether or not the building was associated with a historic significant event or with the life of historically significant person or with the life of historically significant person the selectmen have the authority at the appeals hearing to approve or deny the property owners appeal recently appeals for fifty two willow street and forty three village hill road were denied because the selectmen did not think the reasons the owner gave to be taken off the list were justified ben bawa owner of fifty two willow street designed by architect charles greco said his home is not historically significant and being on the list will affect its property value he was very disappointed with the selectmen's decision they made statements such as no one would want to tear down our house which might be the case but it's not relevant to the appeal he said bawa also feels there are many other historic homes in town that aren't on the list he said his home is not a tear down but he doesn't know what tomorrow's economy will bring and worries he won't get the best price for his house when the time comes to sell the selectmen didn't think that was reason enough to justify bawa's property being taken off the list it's like a communist rule in a way said bawa in her appeal letter barbara watson owner of forty three village hill road designed by architect royal barry wills stated given the number of houses that mr wales designed not all can be significant and there is no indication that forty three village hill road stands out from the rest i have found no indication that the house received any architectural artistic or other award after her denial at the february 5th hearing watson pleaded with the selectmen to approve the appeal of her nearby neighbor derek staples owner of twenty seven dorset road also designed by royal barry wills located close to route two now here's max thanks claire flu's grip on massachusetts is still strong health officials urge residents to get their flu shot by mary byrne with each passing week the flu's grip on massachusetts seems to get stronger with few exceptions the majority of the base data's reporting high levels of influenzalike illness activities according to the state department of public health weekly report the north shore in particular is in the red zone indicating the highest level of reported activity and just recently the state's dph confirmed the first influenza associated pediatric death the first influenza associated pediatric death in the commonwealth delilah loveless age six of haverhill was a first grade student at the golden hills school reported wicked news partner wcvb reported wicked news partner wcvb this is a tragic reminder of how serious the flu can be for some people said public health commissioner monica bharel md mph in a statement every flu season is different but every flu season is bad this one arrived early and continues to spread leading many people throughout the commonwealth to get sick as of february 16th the latest data available from the state dph says there have been ten thousand nine hundred and twenty nine from the state dph says there have been ten thousand nine hundred and twenty nine laboratory confirmed cases of influenza so far in the twenty million one hundred and seventy two thousand and eighteen flu season in just the last week massachusetts saw two thousand seven hundred and sixty two confirmed cases of the flu massachusetts saw two thousand seven hundred and sixty two confirmed cases of the flu indicating numbers are still on the rise the report notes that because the majority of cases aren't labtested the number of confirmed cases doesn't necessarily reflect the overall incidents of influenza still there is no doubt this flu season has been more severe than last local health officials say in danvers there have been seventy nine cases of lab confirmed flu since the season began on october 1st according to danvers public health nurse judith ryan in the last two weeks alone there were forty three reported cases that's compared to forty five confirmed cases at this point in the two thousand and fourteen flu season two cases in twenty million one hundred and fifty two thousand and sixteen and twenty four cases in twenty million one hundred and sixty two thousand and seventeen it did start a bit earlier around here in danver she said but it is continuing through right now the biggest thing we want people to understand is it's not too late to get a flu shot a more virulent flu season those who work at urgent care centers are feeling the severity of this year's flu season according to afc urgent care medical director sonia beauvais this year my overall feeling is that it's been a little more virulent beauvais said it's making people feel a little sicker she said she's seen more patients this year then at the same time last year and a lot of her patients are overflow from primary care and emergency care departments at surrounding hospitals as for why the north shore may be getting hit so hard by the flu this season health officials say they aren't certain the only thing i can point out is we do have an international airport logan that tends to bring more travelers to the region and whatnot said dr mark gendreau chief medical officer of beverly and addison gilbert hospitals he explained there are currently two strains of flu type a and type b one of which presents itself more severely than the other it basically goes after the very young and the very old he said that's why we're seeing fairly high rates of hospitalization throughout the state and particularly through the north shore that strain h3n2 tends to be more aggressive and more difficult for the seasonal flu vaccine to protect against gendreau said don't be a hero both gendreau and beauvais said this year's flu vaccine isn't as good as previous years but explained that releasing a vaccine each year isn't an exact science it's based off the flu season in the southern hemisphere and what strains dominated there the problem is that the h3n2 when it shows up that's a challenge gendreau said the seasonal flu vaccine tends to perform poorly when that particular strain turns out to be the predominant strain this might explain why there are cases in which an individual who got the vaccine still comes down with the flu but for those who are doubtful of the efficacy of this year's vaccine health officials such as dr alex walker chairman of the emergency department for melrosewakefield hospital in melrose and lawrence memorial hospital in medford say the flu shot even if it doesn't prevent the flu reduces the severity of flu symptoms people think it's all or nothing he said if you get the flu shot and you get the flu at least you're not laid up for ten days it may be five with the flu shot at least your body ache on the one to ten scale maybe not a ten out of ten maybe it's a five out of ten walker said early reports that the vaccine was only ten effective quickly caught the attention of the media and the public while he said the vaccine isn't as effective as prior years he said the efficacy is closer to forty other medical professionals agreed over to you bob thank you max resident named arlington middle school principal the arlington public schools announced in a press release on february sixteen that belmont resident brian meringer accepted the position of principal of the ottoson middle school formally the junior high west meringer will officially assume his responsibilities as principal on july 1st two thousand and eighteen ottoson middle school will benefit from a highly capable student focused and proven school leader as it transitions next year to a grade seven and eight school said superintendent kathleen bodie meringer comes with high praise from his colleagues students and community and we'll look forward to him filling this key role in the leadership team for the district bodie emphasized that the district attracted very strong candidates for the ottoson position all finalists candidates were very accomplished and they will continue to provide excellent public education leadership in their current and future positions meringer has been in his current position of assistant headmaster of the dover sherborn middle school since two thousand and thirteen previously he was a housemaster in the philip o oakley middle school in norwood in norwood he also coached varsity girls basketball and boys soccer from two thousand and two through two thousand and eight he taught both sixth and seventh grade in the wellesley middle school while teaching social studies language arts and literacy there he also completed his administrative internship he began his work as an educator teaching social studies in middle schools in the concord and rockport public schools meringer received his ba from the university of new hampshire he holds a master of arts in teaching history from boston college and a master of education in organization management from endicott college and now over to claire thank you bob a new proposal to address climate change by senator william brownsberger earlier this week the senate committee on global warming and climate change released an omnibus bill climate change bill the bill combines dozens of ideas that are currently on the table for reducing carbon emissions if the bill is brought for a vote i will certainly vote for it i support action to reduce carbon emissions and a vote for the bill will keep the conversation moving i am most enthusiastic about the provisions of the bill that would create market mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and buildings vehicles account for approximately forty of the greenhouse gases in massachusetts and buildings account for almost as much electric power generation now only admits approximately twenty of the greenhouse gas for three reasons we have tended to focus on the electric power sector in policy discussions about greenhouse gas emissions about greenhouse gas emissions for us it was once a larger slice of the pie it has shrunk over the past few years in part because our efforts to shift it towards renewables but largely because many generators have shifted from coal to cheaper natural gas which contributes less to global warming second the state has a long history of directly regulating the power sector to prevent overcharging by monopoly utilities so it was easy to start regulating it to reduce carbon emissions finally wind solar and other emerging energy industries are very active in lobbying and have effectively sought subsidies to support their growth the present legislation continues to expand subsidies for particular electric power sources while i do not oppose these subsidies i'll confess some uneasiness about them i am skeptical of our ability to make good quantitative decisions about just how much of an asset we should give to particular technologies i prefer a marketbased incentives that encourage consumers to choose the carbon reduction approach that works best for them that is why i am especially enthusiastic about the bills provisions for reducing vehicle and building emissions the bill requires the secretary of energy and environmental affairs to promulgate regulations creating marketbased mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions first from cars and light trucks then from commercial and industrial buildings then from residential buildings with the regulatory rollout to complete by two thousand and twenty two with the regulatory rollout to complete by two thousand and twenty two the bill contemplates that these mechanisms may be created in collaboration with other states andor canadian provinces especially for transportation sector by definition mobile across state lines by definition mobile across state lines a regional approach makes sense i am also pleased that the bill puts teeth into the global warming solutions act that we passed in two thousand and eight the global warming act defined a goal the global warming act defined a goal of an eighty reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by two thousand and fifty of an eighty reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by two thousand and fifty the present legislation would require the setting of intermediate goals and the definition of pathways to achieving those goals it requires that the new market mechanisms for reducing vehicle and building emissions be calibrated so as to make achievements of those goals more likely the bill also speaks to climate adaptation as much as we may lead on reducing emissions in massachusetts we can be sure that the climate will continue to change and we need to be prepared i've been especially focused on the flood risks created by rising seas and more powerful storms now to max thank you claire looking back and ahead to the future by angela toma march 4th marks the 150th anniversary of the belmont public libraries founding to celebrate the milestone belmont library director peter struzziero is planning a threeday event books in bloom kicking off this friday march 2nd the festivities will begin at seven hundred pm on march 2nd with an opening reception there will be food live music and a cash bar as part of the celebration members of the garden club will create floral interpretations of their favorite books all the attendees at the opening reception will score a peek at these exhibits on saturday march 3rd the belmont historical society will take center stage with a multimedia exhibit in the claflin room from one thousand am to four hundred pm the garden club will also host a flower arranging demonstration from one until two hundred pm the threeday celebration wraps up on march 4th with a family birthday party complete with crafts cake and a used book sale struzziero is most excited to see the floral displays he has heard the garden club is creating a visual of frankenstein his favorite book this year also marks the 200th anniversary of the writing of frankenstein books in bloom is not only a way to celebrate the library's past the event will also serve as a public introduction to the belmont library foundation the foundation exists to help raise money for the construction of a new public library for the past couple of years the foundation was dormant but it is now experiencing a period of revitalization i wanted to find an opportunity for the blf to have a coming out party and let the public know they exist said struzziero it will be a prime time for the foundation to interface with the public and to let everyone know the important work they are involved with for the library looking towards the future while the library celebrates its past it is also preparing for the future over the years its role in the community has shifted to remain relevant according to struzziero we are much more than a place to access information said struzziero we are really the living room of the community and a place where you can come and enjoy a wide spectrum of different programming for all ages we really have something for everyone here while the library's core functions have adapted and kept up with the changing times its structure has not david stievater president of the belmont library foundation has begun the process of building a public private partnership to help fund a new library building the building is at the end of its useful life said stievater it needs to be constructed and oriented in a way that meets the needs of our community today and in the future the discussion around building a new public library is not new the town commissioned a feasibility study in two thousand and sixteen to explore three options for improvements the first option was a renovation only with no additions the second option was renovations and additions finally the third option looked at new construction the architect firm johnson roberts associates inc completed the study in may two thousand and seventeen the study recommended the third option as the most efficient the proposed facility is a two story structure with thirty eight thousand nine hundred and fifty square feet the current library is approximately twenty nine thousand six hundred and fifty square feet both stievater and struzziero believe a new public library will better serve public needs stievater noted that a surprising number of residents visited the watertown or arlington library over the belmont library there are two main reasons they do not find what they're looking for in belmont and they prefer the space in watertown and arlington they feel the space is more inviting we do not want to lose those people said stievater they are belmontians we want them we would love to have them to be a of our community and our library a building committee for the new library has been appointed and has been meeting since january they are currently working on a request for bid for an owner's project manager and hope to have a schematic design for the new building by the late fall kathy keohane chairman of the board of library trustees said there will be more community meetings seeking input throughout the process over to you bob thank you max outstanding teacher award nominations now open the foundation for belmont education recently announced that nominations for the two thousand and eighteen outstanding teacher awards and the s warren farrell award for educational excellence opened on february 26th this recognition program sponsored by the belmont savings bank foundation identifies and celebrates the extraordinary contributions made by teachers and the belmont public schools belmont is fortunate to have a cadre of excellent teachers who bring enriching educational experience to students throughout the district with the fbe's outstanding teacher awards the community has a chance to honor the talented and dedicated teachers who work hard every day to make a difference for our students and for the belmont public schools community members colleagues parents and high school and middle school students can submit nominations for teachers who deserve the special recognition nominations are accepted between february 26th and march 31st by filling out an online form teachers from belmont's six public schools are chosen for this award the recipients are honored first at a surprise classroom visit and then at a district wide award ceremony on may 1st at the chenery middle school and now over to claire thank you bob beacon hill roll call there's a plan to coordinate efforts to combat alzheimer's house one hundred and fifty three to zero approved house one hundred and fifty three to zero approved and sent to the senate a bill requiring the governor's executive office of health and human service to assess all current state programs that address alzheimer's disease and create and maintain an integrated state plan to overcome the illness the plan would include accelerating the development of treatments that would prevent halt or reverse the disease helping to coordinate the health care and treatment of individuals with the disease ensuring the inclusion of ethnic and racial populations who have a higher risk or are the least to receive care for the disease and implementing a strategy to increase the diagnostic rate another provision requires doctors physician assistants and nurses to complete a onetime course of training and education on the diagnosis treatment and care of patients with alzheimer's dementia or cognitive impairments the measure also creates an advisory council on alzheimer's research and treatment to work closely with the state agencies and the legislature alzheimer's disease is a growing epidemic it's impacting hundreds of thousands of massachusetts resident said jim wessler president and ceo of the alzheimer's association massachusettsnew hampshire chapter supporter said that this disease affects more than one hundred and twenty thousand people in the bay state and according to the alzheimer's association that number is projected to increase by twenty five to one hundred and fifty thousand by two thousand and twenty five to one hundred and fifty thousand by two thousand and twenty five to one hundred and fifty thousand by two thousand and twenty five to one hundred and fifty thousand by two thousand and twenty five they argued deaths from alzheimer's have nearly doubled from two thousand to two thousand and fourteen from two thousand to two thousand and fourteen and it is time for the state to step up to the plate and lead the way in the care for people with alzheimer's and in the fight to eradicate it now to max sadly we're out of time over to you bob along with my colleagues claire and max we thank you for listening to the talking news and hope you've enjoyed the show we will returned next week for another edition of local news happenings around belmont