Second Annual Scharfman Memorial Road Race this Saturday, Oct. 5

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Belmont and area runners who are looking for a great race to participate this fall need only look as far as their nearest town street as the second annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Road Race will take place this Sunday, Oct. 5.

The 5 kilometer (3.1 mile) race will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Harris Field track adjacent to Belmont High School. A one-mile run/walk for kids and slower adults will take place at 10:30 a.m.

Race route can be found here.  Screen Shot 2014-09-29 at 1.39.40 PM

“What’s great about this race is this is becoming a new tradition in Belmont; our fall race to go along with Brendan’s Home Run in the spring,” said Paul Roberts, who is the race co-chair.

“Our community support is amazing from the sponsors (CitySide Subaru, Belmont Orthodontics, Lightwire and Belmont Savings Bank are the main backers) to the police and all the volunteers we have,” said Roberts.

Last year, more than 700 runners and walkers registered and the event raised $30,000 to help the Foundation for Belmont Education with its Innovative Teaching Initiative. 

Roberts, a friend and sometimes running partner with Scharfman, said Dan, an IT professional for most of his working life, was passionate on bringing teachers and technology together to help better implement educational subjects.

“While most people think that the money buys technology (the funds helped provide iPads to all ninth grade students last year) for the classroom, that’s just part of it. Actually a big part of it is giving teachers the professional development to learn how to implement and use technology,” said Roberts.

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The Week to Come: Selectmen on Increasing Parking Fees, Football at Home Finally

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• On the government side of the week, the Belmont Board of Selectmen will be meeting on Monday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall will be discussing a recommendation on increasing parking meter (I’m guessing that includes the cost to be in the municipal parking lot as the town has not parking meters) and commuter parking fees along with a discussion concerning the Underwood Pool and a public meeting on storm water and erosion control. The Warrant Committee is meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chenery Middle School with a preview of warrant articles on the Special Town Meeting agenda in November.

• Join Belmont Public Librarian Joanna Breen in the Flett Room on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for an overview of the authoritative Value Line and Morningstar investment research centers. Whether you’re building your first portfolio, or are a long-time investor, Value Line and Morningstar produce trusted independent market research that is available, free, and online, to Belmont Public Library cardholders.
• True Story Theater will perform a magical and inspiring form of improvisational storytelling on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. Volunteers from the audience share important moments from their lives; the actors bring these instantly to life in word, movement and song. The Arlington Council on Aging gave them rave reviews. See for yourself!

• Receive a free hearing screening test at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mass Audiology offers this service – along with changing hearing aid batteries – free of charge to Center participants. Sign up by stopping by the front desk or by calling 617-993-2970.

• You know summer’s over when the Belmont Public School invites middleschoolers on early release Wednesday to do their homework with hot chocolate and not lemonade. Stop by the library’s Assembly Room on Wednesday. Oct. 1 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., to do your homework and enjoy some hot chocolate.  This is for middleschoolers only! Provided for free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Just drop in, no registration required.
• Sustainable Belmont is holding its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room
• LEGO Club is back! On Thursday, Oct 2 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room, boys and girls in kindergarten through second grade will be creating their own unique LEGO structures. All LEGOs  will be provided. Just bring your imagination.
• Belmont High School Football will have its first home game of the season on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. vs. Arlington. It’s Winchester week on the athletic fields as Field Hockey (Monday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m.), Boys’ Soccer (Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m.) and Volleyball (Thursday, Oct. 2 at 4 p.m.) all host the Sachems. Cross Country says hello to Arlington on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 3:30 p.m., Lexington visits Belmont golf also on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and Belmont Girls’ Soccer has a big match with powerhouse Wilmington on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.
• The Benton Library, Belmont’s independent library, is open the first Friday evening of every month, this month it’s this Friday, Oct. 3, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Make the Benton a stop on your way home or after dinner. See the latest New York Times Best sellers. Browse the collection. Buy some of our reasonably priced sale books with all proceeds going to the Benton. Use our Wi-Fi.
• Yom Kippur begins at sunset on Friday, Oct. 3.

Belmont Yard Sales on Sept. 27-28

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

• 54 Elm St., Saturday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• 8 Jeanette Ave., Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Lexington Street at Ripley Road, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 354 Payson Rd., Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 176 Washington St., Saturday, Sept. 27 and Sunday, Sept. 28, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• 285 Waverley St., Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

This Weekend in Belmont: Rolie Polie Guacamole Saturday, Afternoon Football

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• Rolie Polie Guacamole, Brooklyn’s hippest “kindie” band, brings their high-energy show to Belmont to kick off the Public Library’s Children’s Room Saturday Sing-Along Series beginning on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10:30 a.m. The band will rock original songs and unique covers of classic songs. Check out the band’s big hit: “Red Light Green Light (Time For Hummus).”

• Due to the Rosh Hashanah holiday, this week’s Belmont High School Football game will return to its traditional Saturday afternoon game time as the Marauders travel to neighboring Lexington High School on Sept. 27 for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. In addition, Belmont Boys’ Soccer will host Somerville at 10 a.m. at Harris Field while Field Hockey also travels to Lexington to meet the Minutemen at 11 a.m.

• The Belmont Auxiliary Police and the US Drug Enforcement Agency will host a prescription drug Take-Back Initiative at the town’s DPW yard, 37 C St., on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• It’s a good weekend to get that long-delayed flu shot.

Belmont Police Collecting Unwanted Prescription Drugs Saturday, Sept. 27

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The Belmont Auxiliary Police and the US Drug Enforcement Agency will host a prescription drug Take-Back Initiative to prevent the abuse and theft of old, unused and expired prescription drugs.

The Auxiliary Police will have a collection point set up at the town’s DPW yard, 37 C St., on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Old or unused prescription drugs (no liquids) may be dropped off for free with no questions asked. You won’t even have to get out of your car. Please take some time to check your medicine cabinet and visit us on the 26th. Unfortunately, these drugs are highly susceptible to misuse by family and friends. In addition they can be improperly disposed of and end up in our environment, posing a potential health hazard.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic, according to the White House. While there has been a marked decrease in the use of some illegal drugs like cocaine, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically.

For more information on the Rx Drug Take Back Initiative or a list of additional collection sites visit www.dea.gov . You may also contact Lt. Kristen Daley at kdaley@belmontpd.org  The Belmont Police also has a permanent Rx drug collection kiosk located in the lobby of Belmont Police Headquarters that is accessible at any time, day or night.

 

A Noisy Weekend Along Commuter Rail as MBTA Performs Overnight Repairs

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Belmont homeowner living close to the MBTA commuter rail tracks expecting to leave their windows open this summer-like weekend, Sept. 27 and 28, may need to reconsider as the T will be performing what it calls “noisy” construction on the Fitchburg Line.

In its effort to make “once-in-a-generation improvements” on the tracks running from Belmont Station and Belmont High School, “substantial construction activity is scheduled between Pearson Road and Brighton Street” that “will be noisy at times and may be disruptive at its peak for neighbors in the area of Pearson Road to Channing Road.”

In addition, some of the work will be occurring during the night and the early morning hours, according to the T.

“This weekend, Sept. 27 and 28 , while most work will begin at approximately 6 a.m. and continue to approximately 10 p.m., it is anticipated that some work at this location will require overnight operations in order to complete track improvements during this weekend’s service outage,” reads a MBTA advisory.

“The night work will begin approximately 2 am Saturday Morning and continue through Sunday evening,” according to the advisory.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this work and may cause. It is critical that these major construction efforts be undertaken over weekends and some nights when the track is taken out of service,” said the message.

Residents with questions about the project can contact the MBTA by email at the MBTA Fitchburg Project FitchburgProject@MBTA.com or by phone at the MBTA Fitchburg Project Hotline at 617-721-7506.

Belmont residents can cross off the MBTA commuter rail line for their weekend transportation options as the T is temporarily suspending Fitchburg Line weekend service through Nov. 16.

Remembering a Belmont Brother: Kevin’s Memorial Ride Begins in Hometown Oct. 4

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If you lived in Belmont from the 1960s to the 1980s in Belmont, you likely knew one of Muriel and Jack Normile’s kids. There were 11 brothers and sisters in total, so running into any one of them in the halls of Belmont schools or around town as they were growing up was simply unavoidable.And one of the brothers was Kevin, who played football and ice hockey for his family’s hometown high school – he and 31 members of his extended family are Belmont High graduates. But he was much more than simply an athlete or a member of the class of 1979.”Kevin was the type of guy who lit up a room, he had a very outgoing personality and had a lot of friends,” said his brother, Patrick Normile.

Eventually, Kevin left Belmont for Dedham, living there with his wife, Stacey, their sons; Kevin Jr. and Jake, and his dog, Chance, while working at National Grid for 17 years. He also had a passion for riding his Harley Davidson that stayed with him even after being diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer.

Last year in August, Kevin, a person his brother Patrick said had “a very big heart, and would do anything for anyone,” lost his battle with cancer.

Next week, Kevin’s loved ones and friends will remember the man who always had “a smile on his face and made people laugh” with an early autumn motorcycle ride beginning in his old hometown.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, “Kevin’s Memorial Ride” will start at “Skip” Viglirolo Skating Rink on Concord Avenue before riding through several communities. The ride will finish at Arlington’s Sons of Italy, 19 Prentiss Rd. just off Mass. Ave. where a celebration of Kevin’s life will be held beginning at 3 p.m.

Registration for the ride will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lot next to the Skating Rink.

Donations may be made payable to “Kevin’s Memorial Ride” and can be sent to 53 Trowbridge Street, Belmont, MA 02478

Proceeds from the Ride will be used to establish a scholarship in Kevin’s name at his alma mater Belmont High School.

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Sharpen Your Knives at Belmont Farmers Market

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Siraco Sharpening returns to the Belmont Farmers Market this week. Drop off your knives, scissors and gardening tools for sharpening while shopping.

The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Claflin Street municipal parking lot off Cross Street in Belmont Center.

Guest vendors:  D.C. Farms pure maple syrup, Coastal Vineyards, The Amazing Smokehouse, Soluna Garden Farm, Benny’s Crepe Cafe, and Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm.. They join all of the usual weekly vendors.

Food truck: Benny’s Crepe Cafe.

In the Events Tent

  • Patou Thai, Belmont Center own Thai restaurant (and a big Market supporter) at 2 p.m.
  • The Belmont Public Library hosts stories for preschool and older children from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • A Belmont business, Damnation Alley Distillery, will have a demo – but not a tasting – at 4:30 p.m.

 

The Week Ahead: YA Author Julie Berry on Wednesday, OTAKUrabu Friday

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• On the government calendar, the Belmont School Committee is meeting at the Chenery Middle School on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m. to discuss what’s happening at the White Field House and committee assignments. Also on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., the Joint Municipal Light Board/Municipal Light Advisory Board will be meeting at the Beech Street Center to catch up on the new Substation and the Transmission Project.

• Musician, performer and educator Michael Wingfield will be giving a concert at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on the “Rhythm and Song of the African and Song, New World” which highlights African-Caribbean percussion arts and culture  on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Concert at 4 p.m., but come at 1:15 p.m. for a free interactive workshop. The concert is open to the public. You don’t have to have any musical experience at all to participate and everyone is welcome.

• Chenery Middle School students are invited to stop by the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. to do your homework and enjoy some lemonade and cookies. This is for middleschoolers only!  Provided to you for free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.  Just drop in, no registration required.

• Readers are invited to the book release party for popular children’s author Julie Berry – she wrote “The Amaranth Enchantment,” “Secondhand Charm” and the Young Adult novel “All the Truth That’s In Me” – as she introduces her new murder mystery/farce for middle grade readers, “The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place,” on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 3:15 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Julie will read from her new book, answer questions from her fans, and sign copies of her books. • Come join the Belmont Public Library for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Playgroup from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Flett Room. 

• The Belmont Public Library has begun its OTAKUrabu program. Watch anime, do a craft/activity, plan for future events and nibble on some Japanese snacks (while they last – they’ll go fast) on Friday, Sept. 26 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Provided to you for free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Just drop in, no registration required.

• SHINE counselor Ed Siegfried will give a presentation on Friday, Sept. 26 beginning at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Medicare options available to seniors. The Medicare annual Open Enrollment Period—which runs from October 15 to December 7— is when those on Medicare can change their supplementary insurance for 2015. Each year the pricing and coverage of Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Part D drug plans change. Very often you can save money by reviewing your coverage.