The New Community Band Premiers at Payson Park Thursday

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The first-ever concert by Belmont’s new town band will take place at a special free event at the Payson Park Music Festival beginning at 6 p.m. tonight, Thursday, July 31.

Led by Arto Asadoorian, the Belmont Community Summer Band consists of wind and percussion players ages 14 to “too old to ask,” said Asadoorian. The band members – which has a good number of current high school musicians performing – have had three rehearses held over the past week to sharpen their skills. Expect the unexpected!

Opening for the band will be di bostoner klezmer, a trio of talented musicians who are adept at performing authentic, dynamic European and American klezmer music from 19th century European to 1950s “club dates.” Belmontonians will likely know one of the band’s members, Dobe (Dena) Ressler, who works as a Program Coordinator at the Beech Street Center. 

Payson Park is located at the corner of Payson Road and Elm Street.

Art Sprouts at This Week’s Belmont Farmers Market

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Market day in Belmont on Thursday, July 31 will feature Art at the Market, which includes a lot of fun art activities for the whole family from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The event, run by local artist Anne Katzeff and volunteer Jeanne Mooney, will take place in the events tent in the center of the market.

Belmont Farmers Market, open on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., is located in Belmont Center’s municipal parking lot at the corner of Cross Street and Channing Road.

The summer harvest is coming in with corn and tomatoes leading the way. Think about making a cooling rustic gazpacho from the fresh produce at the market this week.

This week’s guest vendors are Still River Winery, Soluna Garden Farm and Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm, joining the market’s weekly vendors.

The food truck this week is Jamaica Mi Hungry, from 3 p.m. until the market’s closing. (Love the curry goat.)

In the Events Tent

Tastings: My Other Kitchen, a new Belmont restaurant that’s gotten great reviews, brings samples from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Storytime: The Belmont Public Library sponsors storytime for preschool and older children. Deborah Borsuk from the Children’s Department will read from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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. Donations help sustain this program.

It Sounds Like the Beatles in Payson Park this Evening

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You will think that you’re at Suffolk Downs 48 years ago at tonight’s concert at the Payson Park Music Festival as the “best New England” Beatles tribute band, 4EverFab (shouldn’t that be “4EVAFab”?) comes to play in Belmont beginning just after 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 30.

“Featuring brilliant lead vocals, precise three-part harmonies and outstanding musicianship, 4EverFab plays The Beatles…From The Cavern Club to Abbey Road” reads their website, the group is currently on a 19-date tour of communities that selected them to perform at summer events. (The Beatles also had 19 dates on their 1966 US tour including at Suffolk Downs in Eastie.)

Here’s a Youtube video of the group.

Celebrating a quarter century, the Payson Park Music Festival takes place at Payson Park at the intersection of Payson Road and Elm Street. The concert is free. 

The Week Ahead: Yoga for All on Tuesday, Animals at the Library Wednesday

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• Noon movies for children on Tuesday, July 29, noon to 1 p.m., in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

  •    The Empty Pot
  •    The Mysterious Tadpole
  •    Caterpillar and the Polliwog
  •    Bats at the Library
  •    Cook-a-Doodle-Doo

• The Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol, a state-wide consumer educational organization that helps Medicare and MassHealth (Medicaid) beneficiaries to protect against, detect and report healthcare errors, fraud and abuse, will be at the Beech Street Center on Tuesday, July 29, 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. MSMP provides education, guidance and assistance to beneficiaries and their caregivers to navigate the system such as help with issues such as resolving billing and healthcare quality queries and providing referrals as needed.

• Einstein’s Workshop program for Young Adults will be exploring hydraulics on Tuesday, July 29, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Each participant will make and take home their very own hydraulics lift. To register, go online or call 617-993-2870.

• Yoga for everyone at the Beech Street Center from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28: 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.

• Visit with wondrous animals from all over the world with the program Creature Teachers on Wednesday, July 30, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. This live animal program will educate and entertain. 

• The Belmont High School Teen Techs are back at the Belmont Public Library to help residents and patrons who are looking for help with computers, the internet, e-readers, tablets and the hows and whys of the social media world. The crew will be doing their tech wizardry from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 30 in the Young Adult Room. Register online, stop by the reference desk to register in person or call 617-993-2870 to register by phone.

• Beloved local musician Liz Buchanan performs original songs and traditional favorites on Thursday, July 31, 10:30 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

Belmont Yard Sales on Saturday, July 26

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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:

• 72 Cross St., Saturday, July 26, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• 65 Grove St., Saturday, July 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 51 Lexington St., Saturday, July 26, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 27 Pilgrim Rd., Saturday, July 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rec Dept. Says Good-Bye to Underwood Pool With Kid’s Mud Run

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How do you say good-bye to an old friend?

How about a day of mud and fun!

That sounds just about right to Belmont Recreation Department’s Program Supervisor June Howell. After holding a successful season-opening event – the Summer Blast Off – for the town’s Underwood Pool in June, Howell began to think about holding some sort of celebration to mark the end of the life of “the “old Underwood” (this year marks the pool’s 102nd summer) and incorporating the kids seemed to be a great idea.

That’s when Howell remembered something she had been keeping in the back of her head for a number of years; a fun run around the facility with water slides, obstacles and mud.
Lots of mud. 
“Actually, my (adult) nephew told me about one he did and I researched to see how they adapted it for children. They are becoming quite popular.  So between looking at websites and using our imaginations, we came up with some obstacles and a course we think will be fun yet safe,” said Howell.
So at high noon on Sunday, Aug. 24, kids will be able to take part in the Rec Department’s first-ever Kid’s Mud Run at the Underwood Pool to recognize the last days of the century-old facility.
Kids between 4 and 12 will start off at a “mud pit” before heading up the hill to the playground above the pool where they will attack a balance beam, weave in and out between the swing set, carry wood then head back to the pool where after more challenges, they head to the sprinklers before wading across the kiddie portion of the pool to the finish line.
There will be four categories, boys and girls 4 to 6, 7 to 8, 9 to 10 and 11 to 12, with the winners receiving a Summer 2015 Family Membership and a trophy.
After the mud, the Rec Department will hold an open community day at the pool with no membership or day pass required to enter from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be music, hot dogs, swimming and games.

“I really think it’s going to be a blast for the kids,” said Howell. “And for all of us at the department too.”

You can find applications and a course map for the Kid’s Mud Run online at the Belmont Recreation Department Web site. (http://www.belmont-ma.gov/recreation-division)

Summer Produce and Magic at Belmont Farmers Market

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These beautiful summer afternoons make for a perfect market day at the Belmont Farmers Market, located in the Belmont Center municipal parking lot at the corner of Channing Road and Cross Street, today, Thursday, July 24 from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
In season this week are apples, basil, beets, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, chard, cherries, cilantro, collards, cucumbers, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, mint, mizuna, parsley, peppers, radishes, raspberries, scallions, summer squash, turnips, yu choi and zucchini.
Occasional vendors Coastal Vineyards, Seasoned and Spiced, Sugar + Grain and Wild Acre Inns joins the market’s regulars.
The food truck this week is Jamaica Mi Hungry. Try the curry goat.

In the Events Tent:
• 2 p.m. Music on the Hill Chambers Players: Students from the Powers Music School will be playing a variety of classical, pop, and Irish fiddle tunes on the violin, viola, and cello.  This year, Powers celebrates its 50th anniversary of teaching music to Belmont and the surrounding area.
• 3 p.m. Magic with Ryan Lally: Come see one of the best young magicians in Boston entertain kids and adults alike with his slight of hand.
• 4 p.m. Storytime with Denise Shaver: From the Children’s Department at the Belmont Public Library, Shaver  will lead Storytime with stories and songs about farms and food for children of all ages.
• 4:30 p.m. Music by Nick Zaino: Zaino is a Boston-based singer/songwriter with a deep appreciation for the roots of American music.

What to Do Today: Help Sylvie Find Her Underpants the Squirrel Stole

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• Here is a silly puppet adventure for families: Sylvie will discover a whole magical world while searching for her stolen underpants taken by a squirrel (!) at the Belmont Public Library from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Assembly Room. A great show by the troupe They Gotta Be Secret Agents. 

• With so much going on around the world, this might be the week to join Hot Topics, the Beech Street Center’s current events group, taking place at 10 a.m. at 266 Beech St. 

• Heads up: Here is a great evening event for kids 10 and up: Einstein’s Workshop program for Young Adults will be exploring hydraulics on Tuesday, July 29, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Each participant will make and take home their very own hydraulics lift. To register, go online or call 617-993-2870.

U2 Tribute Band at Payson Park Music Festival

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Joshua Tree, one of the premier U2 tribute band, makes their annual trek to play Belmont’s Payson Park Music Festival tonight, Wednesday, July 23 at approximately 6:45 p.m. 

Joshua Tree “has gone to great lengths to reproduce the distinct sound of one of the world’s most popular rock bands,” and are dedicated to the entire U2 songbook, including early fan favorites from the 1980-1987 period such as Boy, October, War, The Unforgettable Fire, and The Joshua Tree.

Celebrating a quarter century, the Payson Park Music Festival takes place at Payson Park at the intersection of Payson Road and Elm Street. The concert is free. 

What to Do Today: A Circus in a Suitcase, Teen Techies at the Library

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• Circus Minimus is an entire circus that emerges from a single suitcase including a tent, a family of acrobats and much more. Come see this circus “unfold” from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. 

• The Belmont High School Teen Techs are back at the Belmont Public Library to help residents and patrons who are looking for help with computers, the internet, e-readers, tablets and the hows and whys of the social media world. The crew will be doing their tech wizardry from 11 a.m. to noon in the Young Adult Room. Register online, stop by the reference desk to register in person or call 617-993-2870 to register by phone.

• In 2001, Belmont adopted a vision statement entitled “A Working Vision for Belmont’s Future,” which included several goals for the town. Today, the Vision 21 Implementation Committee is seeking to update the input from residents with a new survey that will highlight which of the Vision’s goals currently are most important to them and which they believe the town should focus its efforts on.  Take the survey here.