watch and listen to the talking news every day at twelve noon and six pm on channel ninety six comcast six finity and channel thirty verizon firehose it can also be heard mondays and tuesdays at four thirty pm and wednesdays at twelve thirty pm on channel nine x finity and channel twenty nine five listen any time on the b m c podcast network on sound cloud and i just search for the belmont media podcast network now on to the talking news dunkin donuts hearing continued zoning board are unable to make final decision and special permit for dunkin donuts by angel toma after three and a half hours the belmont zoning board of appeals was unable to reach a decision regarding applicant nicholas leo's request to build a don't couldn't donuts at three forty four pleasant street at the request of leo the board pas a motion of continuance leo will conduct a further study about the impact of traffic don't condone it at dunkin donuts will have at the pleasant street development after that at this time the board will reassess leo's request leo bought the pleasant street property two years ago the properties previous owner used it as a service station and car repair shop leo wants to tear down the existing structure and in its place build a three thousand five hundred sixteen square foot building the building would have three separate retail spaces consisting of one thousand five hundred one thousand one and seven hundred  forty six square feet each and share a two hundred sixty nine square foot space used for restrooms in september the planning brought approve the application for the new building now leo is seeking a special fast food permit from the zoning board so that he may open a dunkin donuts in one of the new retail spaces last january the zoning board denied his request in response leo five filed a civil complaint with middlesex county superior court against the zoning board in september both parties filed a joint motion to remain for consideration of a revised proposal leo's attorney joseph noon presented this revised proposal to the board last night the project background noone discussed the original reasons the board denied leo a permit including insufficient packing and traffic impact and the steps leo had taken to mitigate this problem first spoke about the reductions leo made to the size of the don't condone nuts leo reduce the don't condone it's by five hundred fourteen square feet or twenty six percent from his original proposal he had also decreased the number of seats housed in the don't condone it's from twenty one to fifteen a twenty nine percent reduction in his last meeting with the zoning board many community members expressed concerns that the massachusetts department of environmental protection would use many of the allotted pocking spaces for monitoring equipment under the site's prior ownership gasoline seeped into the soil the site is currently in stage for the remediation process for gasoline noons said the morning equipment will only take up one parking space the company conducting the remediation process l s p supported these claims in a letter noon included w leo's application the traffic impact new believes he addressed the board's concerns in regard to pocking and moved on to traffic impact to prepare for this meeting leo commissioned a full in depth traffic analysis the analysis looked at how much the development might increase traffic and how that might impact a budding neighbors and a budding roadways both planning board and the traffic engineer the town hired vetted this traffic analysis the report found this proposed development were not all to the level of service but the most important to section at brighton and pleasant street level of service is the w which traffic engine is assess how approach proposed development will impact surrounding roadways there is not going to be a detrimental impact to the town or to the surrounding a butter's by the development said new the analysis also assessed the number of trips generated from the proposed site compared to a gas station and compared to an automobile station which is how the prior owner he used the site under this conservative estimate per as compared to a gas station the development will result in zero net increase in trips from the site under their most conservative estimate as compared to an automobile service station the development will result in a less than two percent impact on adjacent roadways noone said that in this scenario regardless of the number of trips generated the level of service is not impacted and now over the max thanks belmont couple shares their love story by joanna cate savalas in honor of valentine's day the belmont citizen harold selected belmont c ralph and sherry jones to share their love story ralph and sherry jones lived in belmont since one thousand nine hundred one and will be married fifty two years on august twenty eighth two thousand and eighteen they got engaged in february hundred sixty six around valentine's day here's their love story how they met ralph ralph and cherie met through mutual friend when they were in college at the power university in indiana  cherie was a junior and ralph was a senior i met him in his hospital bed said sherry ralph had pneumonia and she accompanied her friend when she went to visit him after she met him she realized she had seen him her freshman year when he gave a talk student government he made a good impression then but i never connected the name with who that person was until i met him in the hospital and said oh he was that cute guy that gave that nice speech very articulate she said giggling after ralph graduated to power he moved to cambridge to attend graduate school at harvard university earning a ph d in political science in one thousand nine hundred two they had a long distance relationship and he proposed to her in february  six around valentine's day he picked out a ring from his uncle who was a jeweler he put it on a shelf in his apartment and when they were going out that night he told sherry he forgot something in the apartment and asked her to go back and look for it with him and that's how he proposed they were married that same year on august twenty eighth one thousand nine hundred sixty six they moved to a home in belmont and on farnham street the year their first daughter summit road community contributions both have been active residents and generous supporters of projects in the belmont community ralph volunteered his basketball coach for his daughter's teams he was also the official photographer for games and helped found the marauder basketball association to raise funds for equipment and support for the high school teams ralph is a long time town meeting member and was appointed to the warren commission in one nine hundred eighty eight and ran for school committee against six other candidates for two open seats and won in one thousand nine hundred five serving three terms in two thousand and eight he ran unopposed for selectman and served two terms from two thousand and eight to two thousand and fourteen sherry coached soccer and served on the school p t o s and parent parents of music students she also ran alicia support group in belmont her love of gardening led her to become a member of the belmont garden club life after retirement when ralph decided to retire from his position as a selectman in two thousand and fourteen he also decided to semi in voluntary programs indoor air and energy efficiency the company is also active in the areas of the built environment energy services and international development sherry retired from her role as a special education teacher about twelve years ago in their retirement they have enjoyed spending time doing what they love most ralph loves photography and cherie loves gardening they enjoy traveling together and exploring period places they've never been to before such as london vienna she lay and budapest ralph and cherie discovered later in life they love dancing together about seven years ago they took lessons together at fred astaire dance studio in belmont it's like big night we got very lazy about ever doing anything other than going out to dinner or the occasional movie and when we started dancing we were going out once a week routinely fifty is since the first library opened this anniversary achieved through the devoted work of all the library staff throughout these many years deserves its moment of celebration spring will bloom early in belmont this year our sesquicentennial celebration begins with books and bloom an exhibit of floral interpretations of popular books to be held the weekend of march second through the fourth at the library the weekend is packed with events for the whole family the belmont public library is proud to partner with the belmont garden club belmont library foundation the belmont historical society and the friends of the belmont public library in sponsoring this respite from winter more than twenty floral arrangements interpret in popular books will be on display at the belmont public library throughout the weekend starting march second members of the belmont garden club will lend their expertise and creativity to belmont's third books in bloom books of all varieties will as subjects from the genres of classic fiction popular fiction nonfiction in children each work chosen by the floral designer specifically for this display the junior gardeners will also be participating with their own creations join us that friday night first look at the opening party on march second from seven to nine pm at the library where the floral designers reveal creations be the first to see these original floral interpretations of books at their freshest displayed throughout the building and joy wine beer and light refreshments meet friends and listen to music as you stroll through the exhibits tickets twenty dollars in advance twenty five dollars now at the door available now at the belmont public library belmont books the beats st center and on line through event brite the events continue on saturday and sunday on all events will be open in free to the public now to bob thank you claire recycling contract attendance at this meeting was unlike the september twenty five meeting when the selectmen voted two to one with adam dash opposed before a big crowd following a three hour discussion in favor of putting out a request for a bid for automated trash collection this means every belmont household will be issued a sixty four gallon b m for trash to be picked up weekly at a ninety six gallon been the single stream recyclable materials to be picked up every other week including cardboard plastics plastic bottles containers and lids paper aluminum tin and steel cans glass jars and bottles belmont will no longer be a dual stream recycling community separating paper products in containers due to the changes in the global recycling market affecting communities nationwide everything recyclable will need to go in the ninety six gallon bins public works director j marcotte said that the automated pick up for the trash and recycling will most likely begin in late summer early fall his department will do community outreach between now and then to educate residents about the new system in his presentation on february the twelve marcotte explained how automated collection would cost the town extra money initially for the investment in the rolling bins with lids approximately fifty three dollars each but after seven years the town would be saving approximately seventy thousand for automated pick up of trash and recycling versus manual pick up s jim williams said that they were originally leaning towards continuing with a manual pickup system for recycling before seeing the cots presentation and having a discussion about it dash realized the automated bins bins will with covers would prevent recyclables from getting wet and blowing around he said he likes that everything will be able to be one been rather than several smaller containers dash also didn't like the idea of so much change that all at once for residents but said it would have to be done all at once or a different time so it may be all at once selectman mock paleo favored automated pick up saying it's cleaner contained and will encourage people to recycle more all the selectmen appreciated that the automated bins would help prevent rodents paleo did express concern for older residents and said public works should work with the council on aging to identify residents who may need smaller bins or assistance with bins marcotte said he would evaluate this need on a case by case basis makata expects the new trash and recycling collection contract will be ready for the board to sign at its february twenty sixth meeting as previously reported by the citizen harold shiner a major importer of scrap paper and plastic from around the world initiated national sword in july banning the import of certain types of used plastics by twenty eighteen and putting new restrictions on the types of scrap paper allowed into the country the chinese government told the world trade organization the new policies were intended to improve environmental conditions within the country this is forcing material recovery facilities in the united states to invest in making changes and in to increase processing fees dramatically across the country while the value of recycling plummets according to my cot selectmen voted two to one on february fifth to approve amendment to the content to the current contract with russell deposal disposal incorporated r d i requiring the town to pay fifty percent of the fees charged by ardea  until then the residents can continue to separate their recycling paper and containers and the hauler will pick it up at the curb however it will be processed as a single stream and now  running uncontested for the three year board of health seat in the upcoming town election april three board of health member dr david alper announced in february tan he will not be running for reelection to his three years seat which he has held since one thousand nine hundred eighty eight this would have been alpers eleventh time running for his seat in his first race for the board of health seat in eighteen years alper said he gave his decision not to run a lot of thought he was recently invited to become a member of the board of trustees for the american podiatric medical association which requires a lot of traveling with two  time commitments i realised i needed to pick one to make sure i could do a good job he said he said he will feel good about leaving because of what he will accomplish in his final days as a board of health member he will have the marijuana regulations written by the end of march as well as a commitment from the town to fund the belmont youth commission now that dr perry has withdrawn from the election i wish him well with his new position on the board of trustees for the american podiatric medical association he has faithfully served on the board of health for many years and i look forward to engaging in the work of the board and the town said  meet the candidates theory member and former chairman of the massachusetts bar association health law section counsel has served on boards and lectured for massachusetts and northern new england health care risk management societies he is currently the by president and a member of the board of directors for the cambridge arlington belmont bar association in email to the citizen harold  fiore said i am interested in serving the town of belmont as a member of the board of health as health and wellness priorities in my personal life and professional work i have been engaged in the health care field and its related issues my whole life growing up with a mother who is a nurse i have worked with health law and medical malpractise challenges for over fourteen years bringing my legal perspective to the board of health i believe i will provide critical perspective and legal expertise to help resolve the diverse issues that we face to make belmont a safer healthier and more enjoyable and sustainable place to visit and raise a family fieri believes the board of health will continue to face challenges dealing with the opioid crisis that hits belmont at home and across the country further we are entering a new territory we'll laws in guidelines need to be established and fine tuned in order to regulate the use and retail of cannabis he said in an email he said he is ready to face the important responsibilities of a member of the board of health which include mental and environmental wellbeing the ability to coordinate with other town offices as well as the public and business communities and ability to keep up with relevant and changing policy regulations and legislation now he is max thank you clare looking back at thirty years on the board of health a letter from dr david helper it is with a true mixture of emotions that after submitting my nomination papers for another term as a member of the belmont board of health i have withdrawn my name from the ballot last week i was offered an opportunity to serve on the board of trustees of my profession's governing organization the imette american party at trick medical association it is truly an honor and a chance to work at the highest level of podiatry virtually across the country but with the price of a very large time commitment including out of state travel multiple times over the year a three year term that can lead to a ten to thirteen year course of service a very exciting opportunity but one that made me look at all obligations in my life including my family the second factor in this is that starting in september my wife and i are empty nesters and the thought of spending time with her as our children go forward with their lives is also an exciting and a happy prospect looking at these factors plus still having a full time podiatry practice and the thirty years i have behind me it became clear that this was the time to move on to bring a wonderful personally fulfilling and i hope successful term of service to a close and begin new life's adventures it is impossible for me discreetly sum up an experience that has been part of virtually half my life but i leave with nothing but positive thoughts my gratitude for the decades of trust you all have placed in me by allowing me to serve you my appreciation and love for all the wonderful people i've had the good fortune to serve with both in the health department and the town offices at large and memories of the many accomplishments i was part of as we expanded and solidified the public health we provided to our town i know that delmon is a safe place to live play eat and interact because of the work my fellow board members and the staff have put forth is there more to do always but i have complete faith in the amazing staff of the of the health department as well as the two so special and dedicated people i have shared the desk with donna david and julie le may we have the town are in very good hands indeed and truth be told i am not planning to go anywhere soon with my home and office planted firmly here and a few other commitments that i hold dear thirty one years at town meeting and still going strong i do hope to still have a small involvement in what is around us need me to assist in something i hope you will just ask old habits die hard including the habit of involvement in a community one has grown to love it has been one heck of a ride and i cannot begin to thank you all for allowing me to go on it my best wishes and good health to all david helper is a podiatrist with a private practice in belmont he was first elected to the belmont board of health in one thousand nine hundred eight and has won ten elections he ran for the seat he lives in belmont with his wife pam and their three children adam megan and brian over to you bob athletes of the month december and january when it is the january twenty eighth and boosters belmont high school athletes of the month or is follows for january the winners were carly perkins of the boys track and field team and now over to clare thank you bob dr kevin hero to host presentation on marijuana dr kevin hill the director of addictions psychiatry beth israel deaconess medical center in assistant professor of psychiatry at harvard medical school will hold a presentation marijuana the unbiased truth at seven p fourteenth at beth temple center auditorium to concord out in belmont at the presentation hill will discuss the risks and benefits of the use of marijuana hill treats patients with substance  use disorders in a variety of settings his research interest include the development of medications to treat cannabis do use disorder as well as cannabis policy and he has published widely on these topics in such journals as j a m a and lancet psychiatry he provides a balanced evidence based approach to cannabis and his book marijuana the unbiased truth about the world's most popular weed is a resource for many he consults on cannabis related issues to policy makers in prominent sports organizations nationwide this event is free and open to the public this event is sponsored by belmont health department and board of health through grant funding from mount auburn hospital for information call six one seven nine nine three seven two zero and now he has max thank you claire belmont gallery of art six artist submissions for spring exhibit the belmont gallery of art is looking for artists to submit work the creatively interpret very tales folk tales and fables both well known and lesser known stories from cultures around the world or create their own tale to interpret for the spring exhibit from march twenty third to may fourth the deadlines for submission is march ninth submitted works are accepted in two and three d media including sculptures ceramics textiles paintings collage mixed media assemblage prints and photography to you bob thank you max tufts university the school of dental medicine and teaching clinics is offering a free dental screening this will be held on wednesday february the twenty eighth twenty eighteen between one pm and four pm haven't been to the dentist in a while well everyone gets a free gift you can become a regular patient we're on the orange red and green lines and registration is required and space is limited full ok ssion and further questions please dial six one seven nine eight one six eight three or we can be reached at dental dot toughs dot edu slash screening along with my colleagues claire and max we thank you for listening to the talking news and hope have enjoyed the show we will return next week for another edition of local news happenings around belmont