Celebrate National Farmers Market Week In Belmont Thursday

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Photo: A special week at the Farmers Market.

It’s National Farmers’ Market Week, August 4-10.

Farmers’ markets stimulate local economies, increase access to fresh, healthy food, and promote sustainable farming practices. They reconnect residents to the bounty of their region, sharing knowledge about seasonality and the variety of local goods. 

Stop by to celebrate and support the local farmers and food entrepreneurs that are helping to make our community a better place. There will be fun activities for the family – a scavenger hunt, photo booth, prizes and more.

Expected vendors this week:

Produce: Dick’s Market Garden, Common Acre Farm, Hutchins Farm, C&M Farm, Flats Mentor Farm, Nicewicz Family Farm

Meat, fish and dairy: Hooked – Red’s Best & Boston Smoked Fish Co., Foxboro Cheese Co., Lilac Hedge Farm, The Little White Goat Dairy

Bread, pastry and sweets: Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery

Prepared foods: Del Sur Empanadas, Valicenti Pasta Farm, Keegan Kreations, This Haiti

And more: When Life Gives You Lemons, Recreo Coffee & Roasterie, Beverly Bees, Merton’s Maple Syrup

At the Events Tent

2 p.m.: Lindsay Straw
Traditional ballads have been a source of inspiration for guitarist, singer and Irish bouzouki player Lindsay Straw since her childhood in Montana. But she truly grew into the art when she became immersed in Boston’s Irish and folk music scenes. Once here, she began to tie together the threads of the traditions she was most passionate about: English, Scottish, Irish and American folk songs from the 60’s, 70’s and beyond.

2 p.m.: Face Painting with Nina White
Nina is a rising senior at Belmont High School. She is applying to art schools and hopes to be a professional artist in the future. She is very popular with kids and adults alike.

4 p.m.: Storytime
Belmont Public Library staff read to young kids at the Market each week.

4:30 p.m.: Ruth Rappaport and Friends
Ruth will return to the market this Thursday to play mountain ballads, blues, honky-tonk hits and old folk tunes. Ruth will be joined by Alan Kaufman on the fiddle and Gian Criscitiello on bass.

At the Community Table

2 p.m.: Pop Up Library
The Belmont Public Library will be ready to lend you some books, answer questions, and give recommendations.

Shoppers are reminded that the Market matches SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) dollars up to $20 per person per Market day and most produce vendors support the HIP program which provides free produce to SNAP recipients.

Purple Heart Ceremony Set For Wed., Aug. 7 Come Rain Or Shine

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Photo: There could a change of location of the ceremony due to the weather

The Town of Belmont will honor and observe National Purple Heart Day on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 10 a.m.

Just where will depend on the weather. If the rain expected to arrive around noon stays away, the ceremony will take place at the main entrance of the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave.

If the waterworks starts early, the celebration will take place at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.

Residents of Belmont, veterans and their family members and in particular all of those who are Purple Heart recipients are invited to attend this special event. 

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the United States armed forces who are wounded by an enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action.

Opening Reception For Jones’ Solo Show Thursday At Belmont Library

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Photo: “Commuting” (detail) by S B Jones.

Nope, Mussorgsky isn’t on the bill this Thursday, Aug. 8 at the Belmont Public Library.

The Belmont Gallery of Art at the Belmont Library is holding an opening reception for artist Susan Jones’ Solo Show: Pictures at an Exhibition.

The reception will take place between 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the library’s Assembly Room. Jones will discuss her art: paintings, window pieces and woven multimedia pieces. There will be a vintage stereoscope demonstration and an art project to do yourself. 

There will be light snacks and art-making. The exhibit continues through the summer.

Changes Coming to Online Payments for Belmont Light Customers

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Photo: Belmont Light will soon turn to a new online payment processor.

Starting Monday, Sept. 9, Belmont Light will be switching its online payment processor from InvoiceCloud to NISC’s SmartHub. 

SmartHub can be accessed by following the link on the front page of www.BelmontLight.com or by visiting BelmontLight.SmartHub.coop  To start, customers will need only their account number and the name on the account, which can be found on all Belmont Light and Town DPW Water bills.

Customers wishing to continue or begin paying online for their electric or water accounts after September 9 will need to log in to SmartHub to submit new payment information, including any autopayment information.  Payments will no longer be accepted through InvoiceCloud after that date.

“Having two customer portals – one to view their account and one to pay their bill – has proven cumbersome and difficult for many customers,” said Jim Zocco, Belmont Light’s customer care and enterprise resources manager.  “We heard the feedback from these customers and have worked over the last few years to provide a simpler and more efficient experience.”

Zocco said that he hopes the new system will erase many of the headaches customers have faced since the two-portal system launched. 

Belmont Light will be holding training session this fall for customers who want to learn how to get the most out of SmartHub. Information about these events will be posted on the Town website and the Belmont Light website, as well as other Town media outlets.

More information and a tutorial on how to use SmartHub for payments will be available on Belmont Light’s website shortly.  For any other questions, customers can reach out to Belmont Light’s Customer Service at (617) 993-2800 or email customerservice@belmontlight.com. 

FBE’s Inaugural Apple Run Set For Sunday,​ October 6

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Photo: Let’s run for education.

The Foundation for Belmont Education is excited to announce the FBE Apple Run!

For six years, Belmont residents have honored the late resident and School Committee member Dan Scharfman by participating in a special fall event, the Dan Scharfman Memorial Run. However, as the seventh year of the run approaches, the Scharfman family has asked for this event to focus solely on education in Belmont.

In keeping with the family’s request, the Foundation for Belmont Education is announcing the FBE Apple Run, which will take place on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019.

“We have been honored to celebrate Dan’s legacy,” said Christa Bauge, FBE president. “In six years, we have raised more than $150,000 to help Belmont’s Public Schools invest in professional development for teachers and school technology, two of Dan’s passions as a School Committee member. Going forward, and with the blessing of the Scharfman family, we are going to take these goals and run with them,” said Bauge.

“We’re thrilled with the success our annual, fall run has enjoyed in the last six years. The FBE Apple Run will continue as an amazing opportunity for Belmont and the larger running community to challenge themselves and celebrate public education,” said Paul Roberts, race director of the FBE Apple Run.

In addition to the name change, the FBE has made modifications to the routes of both the 5K race and the new 1-mile race to accommodate construction of the new Belmont Middle and High School. The new route will maintain a scenic route through Belmont, followed by music, fun, and festivities at Harris Field.

Registration for the inaugral FBE Apple Run is now open at fbeapplerun.racewire.com and registration for the FBE Apple Run Couch to 5K Program is also open for sign up when you register for the race.

For additional information about the FBE Apple Run, the Apple Run Couch to 5K Program, and the Foundation for Belmont Education, please visit www.fbe-belmont.org.

Thank you for your continued support of the Foundation for Belmont Education. Together, we are making a difference in the Belmont Public Schools.

The Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE) is a non-profit, independent, charitable organization run by volunteers dedicated to improving educational opportunities for Belmont’s children and teachers. The FBE awards grants for a diverse array of projects—from small grants that benefit a single classroom to large programs sponsored by multiple teachers designed to benefit students in an entire grade or school. Thanks to donations from thousands of Belmont residents and businesses, the FBE donates an average of $250,000 annually to the Belmont Public Schools, granting close to $4.0 million to date.

Belmont Police Relocates to Temporary HQ at 40 Woodland

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Photo: Getting to the temporary location of the Belmont Police HQ. (Belmont Police)

The Belmont Police Department relocated to its stopgap headquarters at 40 Woodland St. on Sunday, Aug. 4.

The temporary station is located at the bottom of Woodland Street just past the Belmont Water Department building.

The entrance to Woodland Street is approximately 800 feet west of the intersection of Thomas Street and Waverley Street and is roughly a quarter-mile east of the intersection of Trapelo Road and Waverley Street.

The relocation is necessary while renovations and additions to the existing building are set to be underway on Aug. 12. The BPD anticipates that it will spend 18 months at the temporary location.

All phone numbers and email addresses remain the same. The building at 460 Concord Ave will have NO police personnel present. If you need to visit us, please proceed to 40 Woodland St.