Performing Arts Scholarship To Honor Scharfman

Patrons/PARTS supporters raise $6,500 at annual action/wine tasting night.

When he led the effort to form Patrons/PARTS (Parents of Theatre Students), the parents group that provides production and activity support to the Performing Arts Company students and the Department of Fine and Performing Arts of Belmont High School, Scharfman – who died a week ago at 55 – was the group's soul. "He has always been the heart of Patrons and I dare say, he always will be," said Patrons' Karyn Miller-Medzon to the 100 current members, "alumni," and other community supporters who raised close to $6,500 at Patron's annual fundraiser Saturday, Jan. 26 which was a combination silent auction, wine tasting and jazz piano evening.  "[Scharfman] started the group with a handful of people and grew the organization to a healthy quorum. …

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Remembering Dan the Runner, the Man

"It’s not the race or competition, it’s the training."

I brought my gym bag to Dan Scharfman’s funeral service on Wednesday. He would have approved. We weren’t close friends, but enjoyed a fellowship of sorts, amateur athletes, training to the best of our ability. For Dan, that talent, that capability, was considerable. He was competitive. Dan ran his last marathon well under four hours.  Still, he said little about his achievements.  So, many of us never knew he moved beyond marathons to 50-mile runs until his obituary, or that he was recently training for a 100-miler.   Once in while he and I met running, in opposite directions, since I could never keep his pace, on Concord Avenue or the Alewife Bike Path. We’d chat for minute or two, and then he’d head off to finish his run and get to one …

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[Update] Dan Scharfman, Belmont School Committee Member, Dies at 55

Services for the School Street resident will be held Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. at Beth El Temple.

Daniel Scharfman, a long-time resident who brought an analytical mindset along with a wry sense of humor to the Belmont School Committee, died on Monday, Jan. 21 at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge after suffering a serious heart attack at his home last Tuesday. He was 55. The announcement of Scharfman's death was made at the annual Martin Luther King Community Breakfast at Belmont High School Monday morning.  "Dan was a deeply committed being who made broad contributions to the town and we all feel a deep sadness with his passing," said Town Moderator Michael Widmer.  "I'm terribly saddened to hear the news about Dan," said State Rep. Dave Rogers. "He was a great leader in the community as well as a very kind and decent human being."  "…

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School Committee's Scharfman Hospitalized after Heart-Related Incident

Selectman candidate last year is seeking re-election to Committee in April's Town Election.

Dan Scharfman, Belmont School Committee member and a Board of Selectmen candidate last year, is hospitalized after suffering a heart attack early Tuesday morning, Jan 15. "Dan suffered a severe heart attack early yesterday morning," said Merle Kummer, Scharfman's wife, in a statement released by the family Wednesday, Jan. 16. "With the help of the Belmont Fire Department EMTs, who did a terrific job, and a great team of doctors, he’s being closely monitored. But he remains in critical condition, and neither his doctors nor any of us will have any idea of the prognosis before this weekend, if then." "We’ll be sure to tell his many friends any definite information we have when we have it. But for now, we’re all waiting – and grateful not …

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Letters to the Editor

Scharfman: 'Thank You, Belmont Voters'

"With support like that the future holds many possibilities."

Thank you, Belmont voters. Although I lost last week’s election for a seat on the Board of Selectman, you honored me greatly with your insights, generosity, and very close to half your votes. This week residents have asked me several questions: Why didn’t you demand a recount? First, the margin of 32 votes seems small, but our voting machines make few mistakes. Second, a recount would cost money – at least several thousand taxpayer dollars – and I thought it irresponsible to force the town to spend those dollars on a long-shot recount. Finally and most importantly, recounts are divisive and destabilizing. The winner of a recount is weakened and resented, and the loser feels cheated. Belmont really doesn’t need weakened, resented leaders or…

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Town Election, 2012

To Belmont Voters: 'I Have That Experience'

A final election statement to voters from Board of Selectman candidate Dan Scharfman.

Belmont needs Selectmen with the experience to manage our affairs and lead us through changing times without sacrificing what we value most. I have that experience. • Town-wide elected office: as a member of the School Committee, I understand what it means to be accountable to the public, to manage public money, and to oversee a strong administrator.  • Collective bargaining: I’ve helped negotiate labor agreements that are both affordable for the town and fair to our employees. • Hiring: I’ve helped hire Executive Directors, high-level personnel, and our successful interim Superintendent. • Regionalization: I’ve helped restructure and consolidate regional systems for clients, and can do the same for Belmont. • Solving problems: For 30 …

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The Candidate's Question of the Week

Question of the Week: Selectmen Candidates Discuss Town Consolidation

Dan and Andy speak on consolidations within town departments.

While regionalization has been a topic in the campaign, there are also calls for consolidation of town services. Recently, there has been talk of the Council on Aging, Recreation and Building and Grounds (which itself is undergoing a consolidation) to be joined with savings coming from cost reductions and salaries. What town departments could you see consolidated or joined? Consolidation of departments helps Belmont only when money is saved or service quality improves. It is not clear how consolidation of the Council on Aging with the Recreation Department would do either. In recent years the Selectmen have analyzed consolidation of legal services, human resources, and information technology, only to find that costs would rise and services…

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Town Election, 2012

Rojas Doubles Up Scharfman in Campaign Money

First-time candidate dominates large donations, out-of-town contributions.

In his first run for public office, Selectmen's candidate Andy Rojas used his business connections and fund-raising skills to bring in more than double the amount of campaign funds of his rival, Dan Scharfman. According to campaign finance documents filed with Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman yesterday, March 26, Rojas has raised $22,935 from Jan. 1 until the middle of March from a mix of residents and out-of-town contributions. Scharfman reported just under $11,000 from fund raising and funds carried over from the previous year. Along with out raising the current School Committee member, the vice-chairman of the Planning Board has spent more than twice what Scharfman has; $15,376 to $6,843. Just how great the disparity is between the two…

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Franklin Tucker

2:39 pm on Friday, March 30, 2012

OK, I think everyone has had their say on contributions as an incentive to or not to run for an elected position. Let's move on to other issues related to contributions.   more ›