The Week Ahead: School Starts Wednesday, Belmont v. Watertown in Field Hockey Friday

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• Yoga for everyone at the Beech Street Center on Tuesday, Sept. 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.: join Susan Harris, a registered yoga teacher and associate professor of Nutrition at Tufts University for this Iyengar-inspired class which practices yoga postures slowly and with attention to alignment and safety, adapted to the abilities and needs of individual students. Practice is done with bare feet; mats and props are provided. Cost: $15/class. Non-seniors, beginners and experienced are welcome. This is a non-Council on Aging class held at the Beech Street Center. For more information, call Susan at 617-407-0816.

• The Belmont School District opens for the 2014-15 academic year on Wednesday, Sept. 3 for students in 1st through 12th grade; the kindergarteners get another week off.

• Sustainable Belmont – helping the town become an environmentally responsible community – will be meeting at the Belmont Public Library on Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to discuss Belmont Light’s proposed changes to distributed generation, also known as the solar tariff. Members active on the Energy Working Group will present information on the proposed changes and discuss alternative options for the tariff.

• The fall sports season gets underway on the first day of classes as defending Middlesex League champions the Belmont High School Boys’ Golf team host Andover at Belmont Country Club at 3:30 p.m. while Volleyball heads to Waltham for a non-league start to their campaign to return to the playoffs.

• A meeting of the Friends of the Belmont Public Library will be held on Thursday, Sept. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Assembly Room. 

• Do yourself a favor and head over to Watertown’s Victory Field on Friday, Sept. 5 as Belmont High School Field Hockey visits four-consecutive Div. 2 state champions Watertown High School at 3:30 p.m. This generation of Marauders will battle toe-to-toe with the Red Raiders; expect the unexpected.

Underwood Pool’s ‘Last’ Days this Weekend

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Belmont residents – the few still in town during the Labor Day holiday – were anticipating to witness the final days of the Underwood Pool, the oldest continuously serving outdoor municipal pool in the US, as it prepares to shut down for the final time since opening its doors a few weeks after the Titanic sank in 1912.

After 102 years, the historic pool would be open for one last weekend before shutting down.

But with news earlier this week that Woburn-based Seaver Construction withdrew its low bid to build a new Underwood Pool complex – the only one of five bidders who was within the $4.9 million construction budget – the future of the existing oval-shaped pool has grown a bit murky as town officials scramble to determine their next move on the already designed new two pool complex scheduled to open on the first day of summer 2015.

Town departments, officials and the new pool’s building committee will meet at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3 to discuss any next steps that can be taken.

For those residents who wish to take a “final” plunge into the historic facility, the pool’s Labor Day weekend schedule is:

  • Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29 and 30: 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 31: 1 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
  • Monday, Sept. 1 (the “final” day): noon to 4 p.m.

 

We’re Closed: Belmont Shuts Down for Labor Day Weekend

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The Labor Day holiday the last big get away weekend of the summer and Belmont is shutting down early.

All Belmont Town offices and Belmont Light will close their doors at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29; the last early-close of the summer. Beginning Sept. 5, offices will close at 4 p.m.

The Belmont Public Library will close at 5 p.m. Friday and stay shut until Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 9 a.m. So check out DVDs, CDs and beach reads today.

Labor Day is one of ten holidays recognized by the federal government, although the feds don’t require employers to pay workers for this holiday. Businesses traditionally provide their employees with a paid holiday as part of a benefits package because most other employers do the same.

What else will be closed on Monday, Sept. 1?

• US Postal Service offices and regular deliveries.

• Banks; although some branches will be open in some supermarkets.

• MBTA: Operating on a Sunday schedule. See www.mbta.com for details.

Open:

• Retail stores

• Coffee shops; Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are open

• Supermarkets

• Convenience stores and,

• Establishments that sell beer and wine are also allowed to be open. Bars and taverns are also open but Belmont doesn’t have any so …

Rev. Zarro Sings on Market Day in Belmont

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The summer harvest continues to come in at the Belmont Farmers Market today. Basil, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, chard, cilantro, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, kale, mint, nectarines, onions, parsley, peaches, peppers, pumpkin greens, radishes, scallions, squash blossoms, summer squash, tomatoes, turnips, yu choi and zucchini are in season.

The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Belmont Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Channing Road and Cross Street behind the Belmont Center shopping district.

This week, guest vendors are Coastal Vineyards, Matt’s Amazing Smokehouse, Sugar + Grain, Soluna Garden Farm and Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm. For a list of weekly vendors, visit the market’s Web site.

This Week’s Food Truck: Jamaica Mi Hungry, starting at 4 p.m. Try the jerk chicken this week.

In the Events Tent

• The ABC program “The Middle” has a character named Rev. Timothy “Tim-Tom” Thomas, a guitar-playing youth minister who can solve the problems of a teenager with a song. And Belmont has its own singing pastor as Rev. Joe Zarro, pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church on Pleasant Street, will perform under the red events tent from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• The Belmont Public Library sponsors storytime for preschool and older children from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Tastings: Arlington Mexican restaurant La Posada at 2 p.m. and Belmont’s Spirited Gourmet at 4:30 p.m.

Belmont Food Pantry
Bring non-perishable items each week to the Market tent. The Market has supported the Pantry with nonperishable food collection over the years, along with donations of fresh produce from the Market’s community garden project.

SNAP Payments

The market accepts and doubles SNAP benefits (formerly called Food Stamps) up to an extra $25 per Market day while matching funds last. Your donations to our parent organization, the Belmont Food Collaborative (belmontfood.org), help with programs like this. You can donate securely on the web site, or mail a check to PO Box 387, Belmont, MA 02478. We appreciate your support!

Belmont Meets Everyone at Annual Event

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Residents turned out in force Tuesday evening, Aug. 27, as the 12th annual Meet Belmont took place in the Chenery Middle School lunch room as it seemingly does, on one of the warmest days of the season.

What is becoming a traditional “end of summer” event on the calendar (school begins in eight days) more than 100 exhibitors – the first time Meet Belmont had reached that landmark figure – representing town departments, organizations and groups were part of a large “meet and greet” with several hundred longtime and new residents.

“It’s an opportunity to get our message across,” said Florence Lefebvre of Belmont Against Racism.

Around the room, groups like the PTOs of the six public schools sought members as town departments provided a glimpse of what they do around the “Town of Homes.” Groups – such as the recently established Mother Out Front that hopes to facilitate climate change controls – and those a century old like the Belmont Dramatic Club, which pressed the flesh through the scheduled two-and-a-half hours.

In addition, approximately 40 new voters were registered by the town, according to Town Clerk Ellen Cushman.

“We are very pleased,” said Sara Oaklander, who along with Jennifer Page, has run the event since its inception in 2002.

“The turnout was great, the guests seemed to appreciate it and the exhibitors were very enthusiastic about the turnout and about their own exposure,” said Oaklander.

Both women said they were already planning for next year’s event the moment they finish packing away this year’s material.

“We have been receiving feedback from both exhibitors and guests, and we will try to incorporate some of those suggestions next year,” she noted.

Meet Belmont is sponsored by the Vision 21 Implementation Committee and co-sponsored by the Belmont Public Schools with support from Belmont Car Wash and Belmont Light.

 

A Sunny Muddy Day at the Underwood Pool

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Sunday was the perfect summer weekend day; sunny, warm and dry.

Dry, that is, until you mix water and dirt together and then send wave after wave of children racing on an obstacles course around the Underwood Pool on Sunday, Aug. 24 as the Belmont Recreation Department held its inaugural “Kid’s Mud Run” to give kids a chance to say goodbye to the century-old municipal pool. 

Belmont Recreation Department’s Program Supervisor June Howell and her staff spent the morning creating a course that included a downhill water slide, a tour of the Underwood Playground, sack races and two mud-filled children pools at the beginning and end of the “Tour de Underwood.”

At high noon, the children from 4 to 12 where sent along the route circling the pool – after 102 years, the facility will be replaced with a modern $5.2 million two pool complex approved by the spring Town Meeting in April – to the thrill of parents, friends and siblings.

“It was really nice,” said Grace McDonald, the winner of the girls’ 4 to 6 year old group. All winners received a Summer 2015 Family Membership and a trophy.

The winners are:

Girls’ 4-6: Grace MacDonald

Boys’ 4-6: Aaron White

Girls’ 7-8: Candace Burger

Boys’ 7-8: Adam Bower

Girls’ 9-10: Sylvia Davidson

Boys’ 9-10: Colin Fergason

Girls’ 11+ : Oliva Zarzycki

Boys’ 11+ : Sean Palmer

Finally, several Rec Dept. councilors and lifeguards took their lives into their hands in their own special race.

After the event, the pool was open to all for free with music, hot dogs and games for the remainder 0f the day.
The Underwood Pool’s final day will be Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.

More than 100 Exhibits At 2014 Meet Belmont

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The 2014 edition of Meet Belmont – taking place tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 26 – will be breaking the century mark; for the first time, there will be more than 100 exhibitors at the yearly community “meet and greet.”

The 12th annual event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Chenery Middle School, at the corner of Washington Street and Oakley Road.

Meet Belmont is an opportunity for all residents – from newcomers to those who have lived in town for their entire lives – to come together to discover what the town offers:

• Learn about town departments, local government and the schoolsŸ,

• Get information about recreation and arts programsŸ,

• Find community organizations and activities that may interest youŸ, and

• Register to vote.

Meet Belmont is sponsored by the Vision 21 Implementation Committee and co-sponsored by the Belmont Public Schools with support from Belmont Car Wash and Belmont Light.

For more information, email: meetbelmont@gmail.com

Belmont Yard Sales on August 23

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Here are this weekend’s yard/moving/garage sales (and a free item giveaway event) happening in the 02478 zip code:

• 31 Harding Ave. Saturday, August 23, 8 a.m.

• 52 Lawndale St. Saturday, August 23, 9 a.m. to noon.

• 51 Lexington St., Saturday, August 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 22 Vernon Rd. Saturday, August 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• 26 Warwick Rd. Saturday, August 23, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 41 Waverley St., Saturday, August 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 267 Waverley St., Saturday, August 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Summer Harvest at Belmont’s Farmers Market

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While the next week around Belmont will feel like early fall, the calendar says it’s still summer for one more month. And on this market day, the summer crop harvest will be on display at the Belmont Farmers Market today, Thursday, Aug. 21.

What’s ripe? Basil, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, chard, cilantro, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, kale, mint, nectarines, onions, parsley, peaches, peppers, pumpkin greens, radishes, scallions, squash blossoms, summer squash, tomatoes, turnips, yu choi and zucchini.

The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Belmont Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Channing Road and Cross Street behind the Belmont Center shopping district.

This week, guest vendors are Sugar + Grain and Westport Rivers Winery. For a list of weekly vendors, visit the market’s Web site.

This Week’s Food Truck: Jamaica Mi Hungry, starting at 3 p.m. Do yourself a favor and get the curry goat. Someone asked why the bones haven’t been taken out of the meat; the reason is that you’re suppose to suck out the marrow from the bones.

In the Events Tent
• The original music of Coco and Lafe from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Critically acclaimed, award-winning songwriters Coco and Lafe have been touring cross country for seven years, performing more than 500 gigs in 34 states. Their last CD, “Big Band,” was in the top ten for four months last year on the national Roots Music Report. We are lucky to have them back in Belmont once again.

• The Belmont Public Library sponsors storytime for preschool and older children. Deborah Borsuk reads from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Belmont Food Pantry
Bring non-perishable items each week to the Market tent. The Market has supported the Pantry with nonperishable food collection over the years, along with donations of fresh produce from the Market’s community garden project.

SNAP Payments

The market accepts and doubles SNAP benefits (formerly called Food Stamps) up to an extra $25 per Market day while matching funds last. Your donations to our parent organization, the Belmont Food Collaborative (belmontfood.org), help with programs like this. You can donate securely on the web site, or mail a check to PO Box 387, Belmont, MA 02478. We appreciate your support!

James Brown and The Blues Dogs at Payson Park

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James Brown Jr. will be joining The Blues Dogs at the penultimate concert of the 2014 Payson Park Music Festival tonight, Wednesday, Aug. 20 beginning around 6:30 p.m.

The Blues Dogs, which is a perennial visitor to the Festival, “is a collection of Boston mutts that all love to play the blues,” according to its website.

“That stuff that gets you to tapping your foot, nodding your head, and then just to shaking all over. Feeling good music.”

The quarter-century Payson Park Music Festival is held at Payson Park Playground at the corner of Payson Road and Elm Street.

The concert is sponsored by the Alper Family.