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.

The Past Week in Belmont: 21+ to Purchase Tobacco, Super’s Summer

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A review of what happened in Belmont over the past week:

 

 

Belmont Yard Sales on Sept. 20-21

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

• An entire section of Dalton Road, from 106 to 124, will take part in a huge garage sale starting at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. Included will be linens, herend, and swarovski figurines

• 179 Beech St., Sunday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• 69  Carleton Rd., Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Gorham Road at Palfrey, Saturday, Sept. 20, 8 a.m. to noon.

• Grant Ave. at B Street, urday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 49 Sandrick Rd., Saturday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to noon. Toys galore.

Animals in the Belmont Gallery’s Opening Reception

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DaVinci’s horses, Rousseau’s primitive wildlife, Picasso’s bulls and even Dogs Playing Poker, animals have been a presence in the works of artists since the first cave paintings.

This afternoon, a menagerie of pets and animals will be present for art lovers and animal lovers to see when the Belmont Gallery of Art holds an opening reception for its latest exhibit “Animal Art” today, Friday, Sept. 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Gallery located in the Homer Building in the Town Hall Complex in Belmont Center.

Prizes for ‘Best in Show’ and ‘Best in Breed’ will be awarded by jurors and veterinarians, Dr. Suzanne Kay and Dr. Dawn Binder, from Belmont’s Cushing Square Veterinary Clinic.

The exhibit features animal artworks in a variety of media — painting, sculpture, photography collage, fabric art — by more than 50 local and regional artists.

And visitors can help homeless and abused pets at the same time as ten percent of all sales of artwork will be donated to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell to support its mission to find loving families for abandoned and mistreated pets.

Light refreshments – maybe animal crackers – will be served. 

Photo: Timothy Wilson, Three Bills.

Town Clerk Holding ‘Late’ Night Voter Registration Sept. 23

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To celebrate National Voter Registration Day, the Belmont Town Clerk’s office will remain open until 8 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Residents of Belmont who are citizens of the United States and will be age 18 or older on the day of the State election, Nov. 4, may register to vote at the Town Clerk’s office in Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. Registrants should be certain to have identification that complies with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

A voter registration day will be held for Belmont High School students and staff on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 10:40 a.m., to 12:40 p.m. outside the cafeteria at the high school. Staff and students who are U.S. citizens and will turn 18 on or before Nov. 4 can register to vote.

Just remember, the final day to register to vote or make any changes to your party, address or name, to qualify for the State Election is Oct. 15.

The Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall, 455 Concord Avenue will remain open until 8 p.m. on Oct. 15  to accept voter registrations and changes that evening; mailed registration form .

To learn more about registering to vote, HAVA, and upcoming elections, or to print registration forms, please visit the Town Clerk’s website or telephone the Town Clerk’s office at 617-993-2600.

In Bloom: A Sample of Belmont’s Green Garden Tour

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On Sunday, Sept. 7, 10 locations around Belmont – from community plots at Rock Meadow to small backyard spaces – participated in the 4th annual Belmont Green Garden Tour, highlighting organic and sustainable gardens that use their available spaces, whether big or small, with great efficiency and imagination.

Here are just a sample of the gardens presented this year:

Peggy Kornegger, Gilbert Road

Unlike many of the gardeners, Kornegger rents her home on Gilbert Road. But despite not owning her plot, Kornegger wanted to create a space where she could plant and grow an organic garden. She asked her landlord if she could have the run of a long neglected shade-filled backyard.

After seven years, Kornegger has repaired the building’s back wall, planted shade-friendly annuals and strategically placed a row of hostas to stop a mud slide down the driveway that occurred every time it rained. Her garden is filled with a wide variety of Indigenous New England plants, such as a native honeysuckle that attracts hummingbirds, as well as small statues of spiritual icons of  Buddha and St. Francis.

“I’m very spiritual and eclectic and my garden shows that,” said Kornegger. “Gradually, a mini-habitat is growing, and the yard is filled with life of all kinds.”

Karsten Kueppenbender and Siobhan O’Neill, Pine Street.

Located across busy Trapelo Road from a popular ice cream spot is Belmont’s newest bee habitat. The yellow and black beehive – is there any other colors to use? – that is new home to more than 1,000 bees is situated near the garage of the two-family Pine Street home of Karsten Kueppenbender and Siobhan O’Neill.

“My son wanted to have bees and we thought once he got old enough, then why not?” said Kueppenbender who has been slowly building his green garden beginning six years ago. They will not be harvesting any honey this year as the current crop will be used to allow the bees to use over the winter.

But the Pine Street location is more than just a honeycomb; there are raised garden beds where vegetables such as tomatoes (protected with wire as squirrels have taken to them), kale, swiss chard, along with earthier produce such as carrots and potatoes. There is even a small critter living just below one the beds.

The location is also where two praying mantises couples have come to dine, eats bumble bees but leaves the honey-variety alone, said Kueppenbender.

“That’s good for us,” he said. “Not so for the bumble bees.”

Joan Teebagy, Washington Street

There’s a large rabbit in a cage out front of Joan Teebagy’s house – a wonderful fertilizer, she notes – next to raised beds filled with a variety of cheery tomatoes, broccoli, squash and other produce. For the past nine years, Teebagy has been adding a little bit more each season to her front yard garden.

Out back is a brand new sunny backyard, made possible when a five-foot ash came down, where this year she grew native “painted” corn, the first time she ever grew it.

“My own ‘Field of Dreams,’ Teebagy proclaimed, said she will attempt to grind the kernels into flowers.

Teebagy has a virtual farm outback: there are a raft of ducks for the eggs – the sign at the gate warns all to close the gates less the they flee – a few chickens (“just visiting for dinner,” said Teebagy, with a knowing wink) a couple more bunnies along with Belmont’s only “barn” cat, Michu, which happily lives in the garage.

“The Animal Rescue League said she was un-adoptable and unfriendly,” said Teebagy as Michu saunters up to every visitor for a pet and a scratch. “I think they were wrong.”

The Week to Come: Solar Power Pricing Debated Thursday, Clifford at the Library Wednesday

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• The Belmont Municipal Light Board (which is made up of the Belmont Board of Selectmen) and the Board’s Advisory Board will be holding a joint public meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium to discuss the new net metering policy which will impact resident who have existing solar power units.

• The 7th-8th Grade Book Club is meeting for the first time this school year on Monday, Sept. 15 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Young Adults Room of the Belmont Public Library to discuss Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan. Let’s discuss, eat snacks and pick next month’s book. Sponsored by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.

• Meet one-on-one with the staff of US Rep. Katherine Clark (representing the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts) as they hold office hours at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

• Enjoy a free concert of music spanning three centuries with clarinetist and Belmont resident Marguerite Levin and pianist Sayuri  Miyamoto at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Tuesday, Sept. 16 beginning at 5 p.m. The concert is open to the public.

• The Belmont Book Discussion Group will discuss the masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room. Everyone is welcome to attend. Copies of the book can be requested through the library catalog or call the library’s Reference staff at 617-993-2870.

• The Belmont Historical Society is presenting an illustrated lecture by author Chaim M. Rosenberg on the book, “Francis Cabot Lowell: The Man Who Launched America’s Industrial Revolution” in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. 

• There will be a community blood drive at St. Joseph Parish, at the corner of School and Common streets, on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Call 1-800-RED CROSS for more information.

• If you have a child who’s just beginning to read, it’s likely that his second favorite pet is that big, red dog Clifford. And the book character is visiting the Belmont Public Library’s Children’s Room on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 10:30 a.m in the Assembly Room. Enjoy stories, activities, and surprises galore. Bring your camera so you can have your child’s picture taken with Clifford. Sponsored by the UFund college investing plan as part of the MEFA U.Fund Start U. Reading Series. For more information, please contact the Children’s Room at 617-993-2880.

• On the government front, the School Committee is returning from summer vacation and will meet for the first time this school year in the Chenery Middle School on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall to discuss two new two-families (318 Trapelo and 13 Birch) seeking permission to build while the Board of Health is setting up shop on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss increasing to 21 the age to purchase tobacco in Belmont as well as holding a “dog hearing” with “Diamond.”

• Al Natale and his Swing Orchestra will be performing a fundraising concert to benefit the Belmont Council on Aging for the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Thursday, Sept. 18 beginning at 7 p.m. This performance includes vocalists Sandi Bedrosian and Jim Bramante, crowd-pleasers at last year’s concert. The concert is open to the public, so bring family and friends. A suggested donation of $10