ConCom Approves Parking on Rock Meadow for Major Golf Tournament

By 1 Comment

Photo: The location on Rock Meadow where parking will be located for a golf tournament in June.

The Belmont Conservation Commission narrowly approved a conditional agreement to allow the Professional Golf Association Tour (PGA) to use approximately 11 acres of Rock Meadow Conservation Land off upper Concord Avenue for up to 1,000 parking spaces to support a major golf tournament taking place at Belmont Country Club during the second week of June.

The 3-2 vote came after an hour in which the commission members and Conservation Agent Mary Trudeau debated whether the land – never used for such an activity – would be damaged by vehicular pollution or whether a “yes” vote would set a bad precedence versus the commission’s real need for outside funding to continue the upkeep of the land and the nearby Victory Gardens.

“I am literally begging to find grants and money as the [Town Meeting] doesn’t give [the Conservation Commission] a penny,” said Trudeau, in an impassioned plea to the board to pass the proposal.

The approval came with the proviso that all fees for using the meadow will be placed in the Conservation Commission’s Victory Garden Revolving Account to provide money to mow the meadow.

With the Commission’s approval, the PGA and the town – through its Town Administration Office – will begin negotiations on a contract that will include both fees for parking and for other town services. In addition, the PGA has made considerable charitable contributions to municipalities and

The PGA is scheduled to meet with the Belmont Police Department on Thursday, April 16, to discuss required traffic control and details.

Rock Meadow is 70 acres of public conservation land that includes a meadow, wetlands, streams and woods. It is a part of the Western Greenway, a corridor of undeveloped green spaces that connects the towns of Belmont, Waltham and Lexington. It is a favorite place for hiking, birding, biking, picnicking, cross-country skiing, and community gardening.

The meeting began with a presentation from the PGA’s Joe Rotellini and Geoff Hill to give a highlights of the Constellation Senior Players Championship, one of the five “major” tournaments for older (those on the PGA’s Champions Tour for players over 50 years old) but still very popular golfers such as Bernhard Langer, Tom Watson, Fred Couples and Vijay Singh.

Rotellini, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the tournament, told the commissioners that people will come out to see the marque players and it’s critical to have parking in the area. He stated that the PGA was also in negotiations with other nearby communities for parking.

As part of its extensive management plan, the PGA will require parking from Tuesday, June 9 to Sunday, June 14 with the number of vehicles “ramps up” during the four days of the actual tournament, starting on Thursday, June 11, said Rotellini.

The temporary parking lot will begin to accept cars at approximately 7:30 a.m. with most vehicles departing by sunset. During the week, Winter Street from Concord Avenue to Route 2 will be one-way towards Lexington.

IMG_1160

The parking plan will be laid out by a professional management firm hired by the PGA. Under the plan envisioned by the Tour, a pair of temporary curb cuts will be placed along Concord Avenue near the intersection of Winter Street (see image) that will allow a one-way circular loop where a shuttle bus will pick up attendees and deliver them to the country club. The cut will require moving large rocks that occupy the spaces.

“It is a temporary roadway that may require stones if it rains,” said Trudeau.

That portion of the North Meadow will be the location of the largest of three parking areas, used by 700 vehicle spaces from June 9 to 14. The activity will likely require moving a proposed sheep grazing site. (see image)

IMG_1159

The second lot, expected to be used from June 12 to June 14, is what most residents recognize as Rock Meadow adjacent to the Mill Street entrance and the Victory Gardens. Up to 250 vehicles can use this location.

A final, and smallest, parking area will be located to the south of the first two sites, accompanying 150 spaces. Rotellini said if it does rain during the event, it’s unlikely to use the second and third areas as crowd numbers will be dampened.

In addition to setting up and roping off the parking areas, the PGA is insured up to $10 million, is set to acquire all permits, will bring in public restrooms and trash containers which will be cleaned at the end of each day, and have the necessary number of shuttle buses available to allow for 10 minutes between trips.

Rotellini said he and Trudeau have had discussions on repairing and restoring the meadow for any damage beyond the normal wear and tear expected from the activity that week. He said the property will be video recorded before the land is used to resolve any problems.

“We are the PGA tour. We do things the right way,” said Rotellini, saying the PGA hopes to create a working relationship with Belmont so when the tour hopefully returns – the Senior Players Championship will be in other locations in 2016 and 2017 – “we can rekindle those partnerships.”

Trudeau said she had discussed the proposal with Belmont Town Counsel George Hall, who judged that there didn’t appear to be a conflict using conservation land, granted to the town via state charter, for this activity.

Commissioner Margaret Velie asked if it wouldn’t be prudent to request a review with the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs “because it is conservation land.”

In addition, she expressed concern for restoring the land and the possible release of pollution by the vehicles while on the meadow for up to six days.

Following on Velie’s line, David Webster said Rock Meadow was created “for passive recreation uses,” and by approving the plan, “how do tell our neighbors they can’t use the meadow for another uses?”

“This will set a bad precedence. What’s next? Soccer fields? Dog parks?” he said.

But Commission Chair James Roth said he didn’t see any long-term problems from having the vehicles on the site as the “hard and firm” soil is similar to farmland “just that we’re growing grass.”

For Trudeau, the concerns of conservation and possibly opening the area for other activity were trumped by the desperate financial state the commission finds itself. She noted that Belmont is an outlier from surrounding communities as it does not fund the Conservation Commission – what she called “our zero budget” – to pay for the necessary upkeep of the land.

“We’re in a tight spot, and there is no willingness by Town Meeting to fund us,” said Trudeau.

The PGA’s Rotellini reiterated that through the Tour’s “charitable side” that gives to locales where events take place, a donation to fund two years of necessary mowing – approximately $2,000 – could be forthcoming.

“That’s what interests us,” he said.

When it appeared that the commissioners were evenly split 2-2 on the measure – with Miriam Weil joining Roth willing to vote to approve the plan – Commissioner Charles Chiang arrived and immediately voted “yes” to move the plan forward.

The plan now goes to the town where a contract is expected by April 28.

Nicholas Kristof To Speak Tonight on Transforming Lives

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Nicholas Kristof.

Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnist, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and author will speak tonight, Wednesday, April 15, at Belmont High School on the best-selling book co-written with his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, “A Path Appears; Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunities.”

The 7:30 p.m. speech has sold out. The event will be broadcast by the Belmont Media Center.

“A Path Appears” describes how ordinary people can make extraordinary differences in the lives of others both globally and locally. The issues addressed include; human sex trafficking, domestic violence, poverty, hunger and many others, all closer to home then we may think.

The book inspired members of the Belmont community to gather together and initiate a local campaign, A Path Appears in Belmont: A Campaign to Make A Difference which has received wide spread support across the community from both community non-profits, to public and private entities.  

The ultimate goal is to identify the top concerns and to bring people together to find ways we as a community can Make A Difference in the Lives of Others.

Current community supporters include:

  • Belmont Against Racism,
  • Belmont Chapter of Amnesty International,
  • Belmont Health Collaborative, 
  • Belmont Human Rights Commission,
  • Belmont Media Center,
  • Belmont Public Library,
  • Belmont Public Schools,
  • Belmont Religious Council,
  • Founding Member: First Church in Belmont Unitarian Universalist. 

A Path Appears; Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunities provides a roadmap of sorts for how to navigate through all the different organizations and information in order to make the best choices for use of resources. It also highlights how giving not only benefits the receiver but also the giver. 

Several events were held to share ideas and concerns. There were community film screenings and discussions of the three PBS films based on the book.  Then for the first-time ever over 25 non-profits seeking volunteers all with links to Belmont were showcased, followed by a talk given by Rick Weissbourd, senior lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-director of the Making Caring Common Project, who spoke about “Raising Caring, Ethical, and Happy Children.”

Donors who have supported these series of events and made “A Path Appears in Belmont: A Campaign to Make A Difference “ possible are:

  • Lawndale Realty,
  • First Church in Belmont Unitarian Universalist,
  • Belmont Against Racisim,
  • Jackie and Tom Neel,
  • Carl Brauer and Nancy Sheifflin,
  • Anne Stuart and Paul Santos,
  • Electric Rushe,
  • Hamill Builders, and
  • Donna Perry 

Belmont Baseball Comes from Behind to Take Opener vs. Stoneham

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Junior pitcher Joe Shaughnessy vs. Stoneham High, April 13. 

A three run, two-out sixth inning and a great relief pitching stint by junior Joe Shaughnessy saw Belmont High School Baseball reel in a tough Stoneham High team for a 8-6 victory in the team’s home opener at Grant Field on Monday, April 13.

The win raises Belmont’s record to 2-0 overall and in the Middlesex League. 

A 3-2 triple by third baseman Nick Call drove in junior right fielder Matt Kerans and sophomore catcher Cal Christofori to give Belmont a 7-6 lead before scoring on a wild pitch for the final run.

Starter pitcher junior Cole Bartels (7 strikeouts) got through the fourth before giving up a three-run, bases loaded double to Stoneham’s center fielder Justin Oliphant for the Spartans to go ahead 6-5. 

Shaughnessy then came in for the final 2 2/3 innings of shut out pitching including striking out three Spartan in the top of the 7th. 

Caucuses to Fill Vacant Belmont Town Meeting Seats

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Town Meeting.

If you live in three Belmont precincts, you still have a chance to become a Town Meeting Member as the town will hold caucuses to fill vacant seats for this year’s meeting.

Town Clerk Ellen Cushman, on behalf of the Board of Registrars of Voters, will hold caucuses in Precincts 3, 5 and 7 on April 28 at 7 p.m. at the Beech Street Center Multi-purpose Room. 

The Precinct 3 Caucus will elect two new Town Meeting Members: one to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Lucia Sullivan and one to fill the vacancy created by the death of long-term Town Meeting Member Anne Allen. 

The Precinct 5 Caucus will elect two new Town Meeting Members for one year seats: one to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Laurie Graham who moved and was elected in a different precinct and one to fill the vacancy created by a failure to elect – a tie in write-in votes – at the Annual Town Election, April 7.

The Precinct 7 Caucus will elect three new Town Meeting Members to fill the vacancies created by a failure to elect on April 7.

Each vacancy will be filled by majority vote of the elected Town Meeting Members present at the caucus.  Since the individuals will be elected at caucus, each will serve as Town Meeting Member only until the Annual Town Election, Tuesday, April 5, 2016.

These vacancies may be filled by any registered voter of the specific precinct.  Any person interested in running for this seat is encouraged to attend the caucus, but is not required to be present to be nominated. Please feel free to contact voters you believe will serve the precinct and Town well. 

Candidates interested in being nominated should contact their Precinct Town Meeting Members; a list is shown on the Town Clerk’s website to arrange for nomination at the caucus.

At least eighteen elected Town Meeting Members must be present at the caucus to have a quorum.  Those Town Meeting Members unable to attend are asked to call the Town Clerk’s office at 617-993-2600 or email  

“I strongly encourage the members of the precinct to be on time and make all efforts to secure a quorum,” said Cushman.

Trio Leads Belmont Girls’ Track By Reading in Spring Opener

By Leave a Comment

Photo: 100 meters.

A pair of personal bests in the throws, two wins on the infield and a double in the sprints allowed Belmont High School Girls’ Spring Track to rocket by Reading High in the home opening meet on a warm and sunny Monday, April 13 at Harris Field.

With three events remaining, the Reading coaches came over to congratulate Belmont’s Head Coach Melissa Glotzbecker as the Marauders held a 72-45 point lead.

“This is a really great opportunity just to start off the season since we didn’t finish our first meet [due to a sudden snow storm],” said Glotzbecker.

“It’s a great measure to see how people are performing and how all their hard work is paying off. So we’re actually excited where people are at and for the rest of the season,” she said.

The top performance came from junior Katrina Rokosz who make significant personal records in both the javelin and shot.

“It was a pretty good day,” said Rokosz, who won the javelin by nearly 40 feet with a throw of 107.3 feet and finished first in the shot with a throw of 26 feet, 8  1/2 inches.

“I’ve been working a lot with javelin with a teammate and that has helped a lot because we trade tips which is great,” said Rokosz. In the shot, she’s got some sage advice from someone close to home.

“My dad use to throw the shot and his tips were great,” she said.

Rokosz was joined by Anoush Krafian and Julia Cella as duel winners on the day. Krafian – the best freshman high jumpers in the state and a national finalist – took home her speciality clearing 5 feet, 1 inch as well as coming in first in the long jump with a 16 foot, 10 inch effort.

On the track, sophomore Cella, coming off a second place in the 200 meter state Div. 2 outdoor championships last year, took the sprint double, winning the 100 meter in 12.8 seconds (with Krafian in second in 13.4) and the 200 in 26.9 seconds.

Other strong performances included a dominating run by Meggie MacAulay to win the 400 meters wire to wire in 1 minute, 3.9 seconds, Kayla Magno took the 400 meter hurdles in 1:09.7 and Rachel Berets finished top in the 100 meter hurdles in 16.9 seconds.

Less is More Appeals to Many at Grove Playground Public Meeting

By Leave a Comment

Photo: The Activitas team, Jonathan Charwick (left) and Patrick Maguire, at the public meeting at the Beech Street Center.

Paths, trees, reconfigured ball fields, soccer field, exercise stations, new parking and tennis courts.

For Dalton Road’s Deborah Lockett, the question isn’t that these activities and features are “good things” (most are, she said) to be included in master plan for a renovated Grove Street Playground in East Belmont that was presented before 60 residents at a public meeting held Monday, April 13, at the Beech Street Center.

But for Lockett, what needs to be asked by the town, community, and the firm designing the new plan is if it is all too much for one park to incorporate.

“Any report that is written must identify when [the playground] reaches maximum usage,” said Lockett, a Precinct 7 Town Meeting Member.

The question and others were presented to the town’s consultants from the landscaping and planning firm Activitas as the Dedham-based company prepares to present a nearly finalized landscaping design as well as an estimated cost for revitalizing Grove Street, which has been the long-time home to Belmont Youth Baseball (with three diamonds) and Belmont Youth Soccer.

“I can be back here in about a month with an updated plan,” Jonathan Charwick, the Activitas associate who creating the landscape blueprint and design for the playground, told the Belmontonian after the meeting.

And from what he and Patrick Maguire, Activitas’ president, heard, the less, the better according to the audience.

For many of the abutters in attendance, even small improvements such as walking paths taking residents from one section of the park and formal parking, would take away the “rural” nature of the playground.

But for Maguire, “there are no issues that can not be overcome” as he presented two conceptional plans to the audience. In both, the designs were there to improve this “great” park that had become “rough around the edges.”

The first, dubbed Option 1, was the clear favorite of those in attendance. In the design (see the plan here and below):

  • the baseball fields would stay in their current location but with temporary fencing that will allow for multiple uses in the baseball off-season,
  • a removable double batting cage that is placed into the park’s prominent slope,
  • a new small hill that will create a slightly larger sledding hill during winter,
  • a reorganized playground along Grove Street.

In addition, Maguire pointed out there will be paved walking paths to be used by parents using strollers, children on bikes and older residents to transverse the playground; specified parking spaces on Dalton Road, Grosvenor Street and Foster Road; four exercise/fitness stations along the paths; and entry “plazas” that will provide seating.

The second option, which suggested more significant changes to the parkland – a 43 space parking lot at Dalton and Grosvenor, a new playground that would take two tennis courts and the ballparks would be cramped onto land that has two fields – was universally rejected by the residents attending the meeting.

Residents questioned ranged from where to store the removable fences (that will be determined in the future, according to Belmont Department of Public Works Director Jay Marcotte), how will the improvements will be paid (nothing set aside as of now, said Town Administrator David Kale, but likely it will come from a combination of funding from the Community Preservation Committee, the Capital Budget Committee and from public/private contributions) and if there could be a dedicated source of money for upkeep and maintenance.

There was also a request that the design does not have barriers such as bushes or seating as it attracts “sex and drinking” in the past.

“We will attempt to make sure there is no congregating or conjugating,” said Maguire.

A few abutters felt that adding walking paths, permanent parking, and exercise areas would bring the park “have an urban feel” that takes away from the “rural-ness” they had hoped to see.

For Charwick, a path would prevent the field from reverting to a “muddy” area.

Others suggested a stronger police presence in the area would serve as a better parking control rather than creating actual spaces.

After the meeting, Charwick said taking the residents’ suggestions (“keeping it as green as possible”) while attempting to enhance the park’s “programs” – be it youth sports or for just the casual visitor – “will take a balance of what we know works.”

Whatever the outcome, Lockett wants to see any master plan have specific language on how the town will determine when the park “hits its max” of the number of activities in Grove Street.
“And unless it’s in black and white, on paper, we will be back with the same concerns that began this,” said Lockett, referring to Youth Baseball’s initial attempt to place the batting cage on the site.

“Unless it’s written down, then there’s room for something else being brought into the playground,” said Lockett.

Screen Shot 2015-04-14 at 2.17.58 PM

Freshmen Lead Belmont Softball to Home Opener Win Over Stoneham

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont pitcher Christine MacLeod against Stoneham. 

Powered by the pitching and hitting from the team’s two freshmen, Belmont High School Softball cruised to a home opening win, defeating Stoneham High School, 13-1, in a shortened five-inning game on Monday, April 13. 

“This is a great group of girls who can pitch and play defense,” said Bob Magarian, the rookie head coach whose team record is above .500 at 2-1. 

“That’s from the old school, but you also need to score runs so you have to get the offense clicking which we did today,” he said.

Freshman starting pitcher Christine MacLeod threw her second consecutive one-run game – the first was an 18-1 beat down of hosts Watertown High School April 7 – giving up a pair of singles and two doubles while putting up five strikeouts. 

Up by a single run going into the bottom of the 4th, the Marauders scored seven times with two outs as junior third base Lia Muckjian and junior catcher and co-captain Meghan Ferraro stroking RBI  singles during the rally.

Belmont wrapped up the game in the fifth with 9th grade left fielder Kate Lester bombing a triple – one of two extra base hits for the Marauders – to score senior first base and co-captain Lauren Noonan with the first of five runs in the inning resulting in the game being called early due to the mercy rule. 

“I wasn’t really thinking. I just swung the bat and ran,” Lester said about her hit, which goes along with her double against Watertown.

“She got the big hit, hasn’t made any mistakes out in the field in three games and we like her a lot,” Magarian said of Lester. 

Housing Trust’s First-Time Homebuyer Program Now Taking Application

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s first-time homebuyers assistance program.

Belmont’s Housing Trust has created a First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP) to help low- and moderate-income families purchase homes in town. The HAP program will help participants purchase a condominium, single-family or two-family home. 

Three eligible households, picked by lottery, will receive financial assistance using Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding to purchase homes with a maximum sales price of:

  • $289,300 for a one-bedroom,
  • $341,000 for a two-bedroom, or
  • $362,600 for a three-bedroom unit.

There are income limits: for example:

  • a two-person household can have income up to $55,800.
  • a four-person household can have income up to $69,700.

And buyers must agree to a long-term deed restriction on the property purchased, to keep it affordable for future purchasers. 

Applications are available now by contacting Jennifer at Metro West Collaborative Development, Inc. at 617-923-3505 x 4 or jvc@metrowestcd.org or visit its website.  

There will be informational meetings on Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m. at the Belmont Public Library, Flett Room. 

Applications are due by June 15, and lottery will be held on June 23.

Wicked Smaht! Belmont High into Semifinals of “High School Quiz Show”

By Leave a Comment

Photo: A big win for Belmont High students Lucas Jenkins, Rahul Ramakrishnan, Thomas Zembowicz and Clair Lai in the quarterfinals of WGBH’s “High School Quiz Show.”

When it came to answering questions on the European Enlightenment, attempting to outsmart the  Belmont High School team on WGBH’s “High School Quiz Show” just “Kant” be done.

The team – made up of Thomas Zembowicz, Rahul Ramakrishnan, Clare Lai and Lucas Jenkins – not only knew the who’s who of 17th century philosophy but just about any other topic thrown at them as it went on to outscore Framingham High School to make it to the semifinals of the single-elimination tournament.

The competition – which took place on Saturday, April 11 at 6 p.m. – demonstrated Belmont’s wide-range of knowledge such as when Ramakrishnan answered three consecutive questions as diverse as “The Big Bang Theory,” Bishkek (that’s the capital of Kyrgyzstan) and Antoine Lavoisier. Even when they apparently guessed on a question – as when Zembowicz said “Cuba” as where the rumba originated – they got a question correct.

See how you would do by watching the latest show.

Next up for the Belmont students is Marlborough-based Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School.

This Week: Pulitzer Prize Winner Kristof on Wednesday, Let’s Talk Books on Tuesday

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Ken Gloss, owner of the Brattle Street Book Shop.

On the government side of “This Week”:

  • Community Meeting on Grove Street Playground will be held on Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. A first look at some draft proposals that would be part of a new Master Plan for the playground.
  • The Belmont School Committee is meeting on Tuesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School to discuss the fiscal 2016 budget now that the Proposition 2 1/2 override was approved by voters. It will also discuss school choice and vote on the final day of school.
  • A full agenda at the Belmont Conservation Commission being held on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. It will discuss a proposal to allow parking on Rock Meadow for a week in June (9-14) to accommodate the PGA’s Senior Players Tournament being played at Belmont Country Club.

• Nichole Bernier will speak on her debut bestselling novel “The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.” at the Belmont Public Library’s Books and Bites event today, Monday, April 13 at 11 a.m. in the Assembly Room. 
A New England Independent Booksellers Association award finalist that spent eight weeks on The Boston Globe bestseller list, the novel is a portrait of two women and two families through the lens of one mother’s posthumous journals is a thoughtful exploration of the struggle for identity that women face.
Bernier is a writer for magazines, including Psychology Today and Boston Magazine and a 14-year contributing editor with Conde Nast Traveler.
All are welcome to attend this free program. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Refreshments will be provided. The Assembly Room is handicapped accessible.

• Dr. Tara Grimm of Bennett Family Eye Care in Belmont will give a talk on low vision – when a loss of eyesight makes everyday tasks difficult – on Monday, April 13, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• On Monday, April 13, at 7 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School, Breaking Winds – yes, that’s its name – a quartet of bassoonists will be performing a free concert after giving a master class at the school. They will be doing a Lady Gaga melody. This concert is all made possible by POMS (Parents of Music Students).

• Tuesday is story time at both of Belmont libraries. 
• Pre-School Story Time 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. 
• The Belmont Public Library on Concord Avenue will be holding two sessions of Story Time for 2’s and 3’s, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. 

• State Rep. Dave Rogers holds office hours on Tuesday, April 14 at 9:30 a.m.

• Ken Gloss, owner of the Brattle Street Book Shop, brings his expert opinion on appraising books, book collecting and selling to the Belmont Public Library on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m.   Ken is often featured talking about books and their values on local and national television and radio programs. Major universities such as Harvard, Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern, Simmons, Suffolk, Tufts, and Babson have consulted with him on the value of their collections. The Brattle Street Book Shop, founded in the Cornhill section of Boston in 1825, has been in the hands of the Gloss Family since 1949. The program is open and free to all thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.

• The International Fiction Book Club will discuss How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid, in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room on Wednesday, April 15, from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Everybody is welcome. If you have questions, or need help finding a copy of either book, contact Kylie at ksparks@minlib.net
• The Parent/Teacher Band Concert will be held in the Chenery Middle School’s auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. 

• The Belmont Historical Society presents actor Gerry Wright who will present his one-man play honoring the life and work of Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture who designed the grounds of McLean Hospital and Boston’s Emerald Necklace among many other famous parks, on Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• New York Times columnist, author and Pulitzer prize winner Nicholas Kristof will speak on his book, “A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity,” on Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Belmont High School’s auditorium.

• Well-loved local musician Liz Buchanan performs original songs and traditional favorites on Friday, April 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• State Sen. Will Brownsberger will be holding office hours on Friday, April 17, 10 a.m. at the Beech Street Center.