Things to Do Today: Lincoln at the Beech, Noon Movies for the Kids, Happy Birthday, Olivia

• Summer Pre-School Story Time will be held at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer run library, at 10:30 a.m. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may attend with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is located at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.

• It’s the return of Belmont Public Library’s Summer Noon Movies for Children. Join the staff of the Children’s Room for the following short films at noon (that’s why they are called “Noon Movies”) in the library’s Assembly Room:

  •    Is Your Mama a Llama?
  •    Changes, Changes
  •    Happy Birthday Moon
  •    Cat & Canary
  •    Chrysanthemum
  •    Monty

• What better way to usher in Independence Day by reflecting on one of the most famous speeches in American history with Belmont’s Al Smith who is an expert on the war, a valued speaker in venues around the country and has founded or been a charter member of many Civil War roundtables in Massachusetts. The special talk, Abraham Lincoln: New Reflections on the Gettysburg Address,” will take place at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. This free event is open to everyone in the community.

• The Belmont Public Library is providing one-on-one Digital Library Help session today from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Reference Room. Learn how to download eBooks from the library and set up a device. Get started with Zinio to read free digital magazines. E-mail and Internet basics, social media, or basic computer skills. Registration is required; register online or call 617-993-2870 to register by phone. Some services require downloading an app.  Please come prepared with your Apple ID, Adobe ID, Amazon Account information, or other password and log in information for your device.

• Gentle Yoga, a great way to end the work day, begins today and runs on continuous Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. through Sept. 2. at the Beech Street Center. This is a non-Council on Aging evening class that is open to all ages in Belmont. The cost is $15 per session or $130 for 10 sessions.

• Today is the birthday of actress Olivia de Havilland who turns 98. Her younger sister (by a year) actress Joan Fontaine, died last year. She is one of the last living actors/actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Harris Field ‘On Schedule’ for Mid-August Return

Belmont High School Athletic Director Jim Davis’ list of things to do this summer has one item that is underlined with a series of stars next to it.

Harris Field Renovation!! ★

In the past two weeks since work began on Belmont High’s field and track adjacent to the Skip Viglirolo Skating Rink and the White Field House on Concord Avenue, Davis’ summer project is going to plan. An excavator has been parked on the barren field having removed the turf to the foundation as huge white bags of plastic pellets and sand are stationed next to the pitch.IMG_1407

“They are on scsedule,” Davis said of the work by Quirk Construction of Georgetown, Mass. which submitted the win bid of $815,300 in March. 

“They have removed all the old turf and trucked it away and now they are drilling the anchors for the fence,” said Davis, who meets each week with the school’s consultant, Activitas, on all aspects of replacing the original synthetic field installed in 2001.

“It’s being helped with all the good weather we’ve had so far,” said Davis, who is confident the turf field and track will be refurbished by Aug. 18, just before training for the fall sports season begins.

Next up for the crew is to clean the drainage around the field and placing a cushioning padding on which the artificial “grass” will rest, with the hope that serious tumbles on the surface will be softened and prevents injuries. In addition, the drainage around the track has been checked and cleaned.

The job in which the synthetic turf “carpet” will be replaced, fencing and walkways repaired and the track resurfaced and relined was authorized by the special Town Meeting in November 2013 for $960,000 with funding from an extension of bonding that purchased the uni-vents at the High School. 

The work so far succeeded in uncovering the electrical conduit on the field once thought lost, said Davis.

Obituary: Andrew MacAulay Jr.

Andrew C. MacAulay Jr., a former chemist and teacher who bought his house on Chandler Street in September 1959 and lived there with Mary, his wife of 58 years, where they raised five children, died on Friday, June 27, 2013.

MacAulay was 83.

After serving in the US Army during the Korean Conflict, MacAulay graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 1953 and a Master’s in Chemistry in 1955. He spent most his life working as a chemist and as an educator. 

MacAulay is survived by his wife Mary L. MacAulay (Sferrazza) and his children: Andrea and husband Jimmy O’Neil of Mattapoisett, Diane and husband Joe Nash of Bridgewater, Lisa and husband Richard Crowell of Belmont, Andrew C MacAulay IV and wife Karen of Belmont, and Mary Ellen and husband Chris O’Neill of Florida. He was the cherished grandfather of Patrick and Jennifer O’Neil, Scott, Jeffrey and David Crowell, Hallie and Meggie MacAulay and Allison and Emmali O’Neill. He was also the brother of Donald MacAulay and wife Ann of Maine and Florida, and the late Robert F. MacAulay. 

Visiting hours will be held at Brown & Hickey Funeral Home, 36 Trapelo Rd. on Monday June 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A funeral home service will be held on Tuesday, July 1 at 10 a.m. with relatives and friends invited.

Burial will be at Highland Meadow Cemetery, Belmont.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Scots’ Charitable Society, c/o Doug Kilgore 584 Merrimack St Manchester NH 03103.

The Week to Come: The Beech Welcomes Lincoln, Kids Movies at Noon Oldies at Payson Park

• It’s the return of Belmont Public Library’s Summer Noon Movies for Children. Join the staff of the Children’s Room for the following short films on Tuesday, July 1 at noon (that’s why they are called “Noon Movies”) in the library’s Assembly Room :

  •    Is Your Mama a Llama?
  •    Changes, Changes
  •    Happy Birthday Moon
  •    Cat & Canary
  •    Chrysanthemum
  •    Monty

• What better way to usher in Independence Day by reflecting on one of the most famous speeches in American history with Belmont’s Al Smith who is an expert on the war, a valued speaker in venues around the country and has founded or been a charter member of many Civil War roundtables in Massachusetts. The special talk, Abraham Lincoln: New Reflections on the Gettysburg Address,” will take place on Tuesday, July 1, at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. This free event is open to everyone in the community.

• The Belmont Public Library is providing two one-on-one Digital Library Help session this week; on Tuesday, July 1 from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 2 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Reference Room. Learn how to download eBooks from the library and set up a device. Get started with Zinio to read free digital magazines. E-mail and Internet basics, social media, or basic computer skills. Registration is required; register online or call 617-993-2870 to register by phone. Some services require downloading an app.  Please come prepared with your Apple ID, Adobe ID, Amazon Account information, or other password and log in information for your device.

• Duplicate Bridge Club meets from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, at the Beech Street Center at 266 Beech St. Every Wednesday the club holds American Contact Bridge League-sanctioned games. All are welcome to play. Cost is $7. Phone: 339-223-6484 for more information.

• The Belmont Public Library will be holding a “Drop-in Crafts for Children” on Wednesday, July 2, from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Assembly Room. The library provides the supplies, you’ll have all the fun!

The Reminisants are back at the Payson Park Music Festival on Wednesday, July 2 at 6:45 p.m. at Payson Park playground. The group has been entertaining audiences of all ages throughout New England since 1973. The band specializes in music from the 1950’s through the 90’s, playing a collection of great music for all kinds of musical tastes and generations.

• This Thursday’s Story Time at the Belmont Public Library will have a 4th of July theme: “Red, White, and Blue Storytime.” Celebrate America’s birthday with stories and a craft inspired by the colors of our flag on Thursday, July 3, in the Assembly Room from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Don’t Be Left Out: ‘The Leftovers’ Premiers Sunday Night on HBO

Belmont author Tom Perrotta’s 2011 novel “The Leftovers” about the aftermath on a small suburban New York town three years after a Rapture-like event in which two percent of the world’s population randomly vanishes premiers tonight, Sunday, June 29, at 10 p.m. on HBO cable.

View the series trailer here.

The book, which was the 2013 One Book One Belmont selection, is being brought to the wide-screen TV by producers Perrotta and Damon Lindelof, best known for his work creating the ABC series “Lost” which dealt with many similar themes of coping within mysterious unsolved circumstances.

So far, media criticism has been widely mixed – see a sample of the reviews here – for what many are calling a bleak but interesting television.

Belmont House of the Week: 90 Somerset St.

30 Somerset St.

Not nearly as famous as its neighbor at 90 Somerset, the literary destination “Red Top,” the Albert Higgins house is a wonderful example of New England antebellum-style architecture. While the listing agent believes the house’s design is Greek Revival, it’s more a mashup of Greek Revival (more prominent on the Boston-facing east side of the house) and the tried-and-true Federalist style with the centered main entry, twin brick chimneys and a distinct cornice. 

First off, the house, built in 1850, is not named after a previous owner but for the “house wright” who constructed it; one of the numerous carpenter builders who put up homes in that era, according to Belmont Town Historian Richard Betts.

The home’s superior interior woodwork and craftsmanship with high ceilings, a graceful Bullfinch staircase, three fireplaces, long front windows with projecting cornices over the windows and doors. All three floors have stunning views of Boston.

Entering into a grand foyer, the main floor contains a formal living room, library,unique oval dining room, a gracious sunny family room and open eat-in kitchen looking out on the property’s professionally landscaped gardens, fruit trees, patio and stone walls. A private office is off the family room.

The second floor has a master bedroom with en-suite bath plus four additional bedrooms and a family bath. The finished area in the basement has a home spa complete with a sauna and shower. The home has a new Bulderus boiler heating system. Also on the property is a newly-renovated Carriage House which has an apartment.

  • Rooms: 10
  • Bedrooms: 5
  • Full Baths: 2
  • Partial Baths: 2
  • Square Footage: 3,648
  • Lot Size: .51 acres.

Listed at: $2,325,000

Listed By: AG McEvoy Realty, Anne McEvoy Kilzer.

Yard Sales in Belmont, June 28-29

Here are this weekend’s yard/moving/garage sales happening in the 02478 zip code:

• 64 Creeley Rd. Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, June 29, 10 a.m. to noon.

111 Fairview Ave., Sunday, June 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 76 Foster Rd., Saturday, June 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 68 Gilbert Rd.Saturday, June 28, 8 a.m. to noon.

105 Lexington St., Saturday, June 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 65 Oak Ave.Saturday, June 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Helping Repair A Place in Belmont History

Nineteen-year-old Army Private James Paul White – known by his friends as “Whitey” – had seen his share of war in just the month he spent on the front lines in 1944.

White – a member of Co. G, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, “The Big Red One,” – had fought as part of the US Army’s advance into the Huertgen Forest, “a miserable and treacherous affair” that lasted until the first week of December, recalled White’s unit commander, 1st Lt. August T. ‘Mac’ McColgan, in 2004.

It must have been a hard time for the replacement to a battle-hardened company

“All of the battles in the past were just rehearsals for what was yet to come” on Dec. 16, said McColgan, when some 24 German divisions, 10 of them armored, launched a massive counterattack in the Ardennes region of Belgium that began what was to be called the Battle of the Bulge. The 26th, known as the “Blue Spaders,” would fight on the northern edge of the enemy’s advance, near the small Belgium hamlet of Don Bütgenbach.

“The Battalion Commander finished his attack order with the statement, ‘Gentlemen we fight and die here.’ Many did die there, friend and foe alike,” wrote McColgan in 2000.

We established our defensive position astride the Bütgenbach/Büllingen Road. We, G Co., 26th Infantry established the “Hot Corner,” said McColgan in his war memoir, “The Battle of the Bulge – Part III – Hell at Bütgenbach.”

On Dec. 20, White – who was a veteran member of the outstanding 1942 baseball team of Belmont High School where he graduated in 1943 – would face with his fellow soldiers the might of the German Wehrmacht. Enemy tanks launched an attack on their position on “a dark, damp and foreboding morning,” many which succeeding in penetrating parts of the US line. Only through close-range combat was the attack propelled back.

Following a night and early morning which White and his comrades were subjected to an artillery barrage that was “by far the worse the defenders of Dom Bütgenbach had experience in the whole war,” a final all-out push with an ever greater armored force began at dawn on a foggy Thursday, Dec. 21.

Once again, the 26th successfully beat back the enemy’s attack in which infantry drove back the Germans. For his actions during that battle, the 26th’s Cpl. Henry Warner would be awarded the Medal of Honor posthumous.  

And in the snow and bitter cold of a field in Belgium on the day before winter, White laid dead, one of 19,000 Americans killed in the 10-day battle.

In May 1948, a year after White’s body was sent from Europe for burial in the US, Belmont honored White by naming the athletic field house on Concord Avenue for him.

A bronze plaque reads that White was “[a]n athlete trained on the Belmont playgrounds” who was “representative of the youth of Belmont who served their country in World War II.”

“Freedom lives and through it he lives.”

The memorial, which hangs just inside the front door of the 82-year-old structure, is more than simply an aging tablet to the long dead. It became one of the reasons inspiring Woodfall Road resident Frederick Jones to move towards “refurbishing” the interior of Belmont High School’s athletic facility used by numerous teams which play on Harris Field or the Viglirolo Skating Rink during the school year.

“The plaque is quite moving,” Jones told the Belmontonian before attending the Belmont School Committee’s meeting on Tuesday, June 24. “It’s well worth reading by every resident.”

Jones said the structure is a state-recognized historic building – that is owned by the School District – that “we all drive by every day on Concord Avenue which also has an interesting architectural history.”

“But it’s also a historic memorial for a town figure. It makes you feel that there should be something better to continue this memorial to this hero and to all veterans,” said Jones, whose son plays football and was a finalist in the 200 meter dash in the All-State meet earlier this month.

Yet for anyone who has entered the field house can observe, the interior – which has four locker rooms – hasn’t changed much since the day it was renamed more than 65 years ago. The lockers are circa 1940s, “old, battered and far too small and narrow for modern equipment,” said Jones, forcing hockey and football players to leave large bags and personal items on the floor or on top of the lockers. The paint is old, the emergency lights don’t work and the communal showers harken back to the YMCAs of a bygone age.

“It is quite remarkable the conditions inside the field house,” Jones lamented.

“We know how hard the athletes work … and it seems right to give them a better facility,” said Jones.

Yet years of delayed maintenance has taken its toll on the structure as capital spending is limited and greater priorities for the Capital Budget Committee arise on an annual basis.

Knowing the challenges facing any facility needing long-term funding in Belmont, “our idea was to step in and do some simple things that will refresh it,” said Jones.

The result of many brainstorming sessions by Jones and a core committee he set up resulted in raising nearly $40,000 in outside pledges of the $50,000 they are seeking to raise along with contacting contractors who can do the job.

The project is divided into several “discrete modules” that were ranked in order of importance with the lockers being the most pressing need. Next will be replacing the electrical system and updating the lighting fixtures and emergency lighting system, performing a top-to-bottom cleaning, repaint the inside and then place partitions in the showers for privacy.

And work is currently underway inside the field house with material begin stacked up in the ground floor entry way.

Jones and his group will be working with the town’s Facilities Manager, Gerry Boyle, and the school’s Athletic Director James Davis as well as the Brendan Grant Foundation which will allow anyone donating to the effort to receive a tax deduction for their contribution.

“The support we have receive has been very encouraging and has helped our fundraising,” said Jones.

Yet what this one group of parents and supporters has done is expose the inability of the town to sufficiently fund what is required from either the school or capital budgets, said the School Committee’s Kevin Cunningham.

“I’m not sure what the moral of that is except that an additional amount of effort is not coming from the core fund but from volunteers and donations,” said Cunningham.

 

Things to Do Today: Story Time at the Benton, Town Offices Closing at 1 PM

• The Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer run library at the corner of Old Middlesex and Oakley, will be holding Summer Pre-School Story Time at 10:30 a.m. with stories and crafts for children 3 to 5. Younger siblings may attend with adults. Parents or caregivers must be present. Registration is not required. Pre-School Story Time meets at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday throughout the summer.

• The Belmont Public Library is closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a staff development day. It will reopen at 1 p.m. until closing at 5 p.m.

• Belmont town offices will be closing Fridays during the summer at 1 p.m. Just about the same time most residents are on the road to their favorite summer haunts. They will be back on schedule in September.

• On this day in 1859, American composer, organist and pianist Mildred Hill is born. With lyrics by her younger sister, Patty Smith Hill, the pair wrote the most popular song in world history: Happy Birthday to You.

Sold in Belmont: Ponzi Schemer’s French Country Manor Sells For Big Bucks

A weekly recap of residential properties bought in the past seven days in the “Town of Homes.”

42 Spring Valley Road. Standard Ranch-style (1956), Sold for: $1,150,000. Listed at $959,000. Living area: 1,558 sq.-ft. 6 rooms; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 53 days.

885 Concord Ave. French Country Manor House (village?) with an indoor pool (1999), Sold for: $2,500,000. Listed at $3,250,000. Living area: 14,425 sq.-ft. 25 rooms; 6 bedrooms, 6 full and 4 partial baths. On the market: 242 days.

68 South Cottage Road. Newly-constructed Townhouse condo, Sold for: $1,225,000. Listed at $1,200,000. Living area: 2,196 sq.-ft. 6 rooms; 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 432 days.

58 White St. (Waverley Crossing) Newly-constructed featureless attached townhouse, Sold for: $749,900. Listed at $749,900. Living area: 2,957 sq.-ft. 9 rooms; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. On the market: 277 days.

15 Warwick Rd, #1, Condo in two-family (1920), Sold for: $360,000. Listed at $375,000. Living area: 1,309 sq.-ft. 5 rooms; 2 bedrooms, 1 baths. On the market: 57 days.

15 Warwick Rd, #2, Condo in two-family (1920), Sold for: $540,000. Listed at $575,000. Living area: 1,711 sq.-ft. 7 rooms; 4 bedrooms, 1 baths. On the market: 57 days.