Library Friends Annual Book Sale Has Returned Indoors; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22-23

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Photo: The annual Belmont Library book sale is indoors once again

The Friends of the Belmont Public Library’s annual Book Sale is back indoors after last year’s alfresco event. So come check out all the great, new-to-you titles.

The sale will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Assembly and Flett rooms of the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave.

The sale’s proceeds allow the Friends to purchase museum memberships, bring authors and demonstrations to the library while adding to the technology available to all patrons.

VOTING: In-Person Early Voting Starts Saturday, Oct. 22; 5,300 Vote By Mail Ballots Have Been Sent To Residents

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Election Day, Nov. 8, Is three weeks away but way wait until then to vote: Belmont voters have two easy and early ways to case their ballots in the upcoming election.

Early In-Person Voting

Get ready to vote in person as Belmont residents will cast their ballots early beginning Saturday, Oct. 22 through Friday, Nov. 4.

Early in-person voting takes place in only one location in town: Belmont Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. No advance application is required. If you intend to vote early in-person, please do not file a Vote By Mail application.

The dates for early, in-person voting are:
• Saturdays Oct. 22 and 29, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Mondays Oct. 24 and 31, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Tuesdays October 25 and Nov. 1, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Wednesdays October 26 and Nov. 2, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Thursdays October 27 and Nov. 3, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Fridays October 28 and Nov. 4, 8 a.m. – NOON

Early voting ends at Noon, on Friday, Nov. 4.

Early Vote By Mail

Vote Early By Mail ballots have been sent to approximate 5,300 residents who requested them, according to the Town Clerk’s Office.

The application to receive a ballot can be sent to the Town Clerk by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1. Be sure to sign the application, OR write and sign a note with the following information: Name, Belmont address where you live, your mailing address (if different). Then mail the application to Belmont Town Clerk, 455 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478, or drop into the secure dropbox at Town Hall. A voter should submit only one request/application for a Vote by Mail ballot

Check the status of your application and ballot by visiting: www.VoteInMA.com and use “Track my mail in ballot” “Pending” means we have received your application.

When you receive the ballot, VOTE RIGHT AWAY! Sign the inner envelope and mail to: Town Clerk, 455 Concord Ave. Belmont, MA 02478 or drop it into the secure dropbox at Town Hall.

DPW’s First Cardboard Event On Saturday, Oct. 22

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Photo: Bring it on

The Belmont Department of Public Works is holding a special pre-holiday cardboard drop-off event this Saturday, Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the DPW Yard on 37 C St. The event will allow Belmont residents to get rid of excess cardboard materials before the holiday season. The applies to all cardboard and only cardboard.

There is a $5 fee per vehicle.

All cardboard should be flattened prior to drop off and placed in the trunk or rear of the car 

Residents can pre-register here: https://belmontma.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=30003&AdminPreview=1

Not To Be Missed: 2022 Broadway Night, Performing Art’s Cabaret, This Friday, Saturday

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Photo: The 2022 Broadway Night poster

Belmont High School Performing Arts Company presents Broadway Night on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont High School Theater.

The dance number

Broadway Night is the company’s annual Musical Theater Cabaret, which kicks off the 2022-3 season. Students perform classic show tunes and contemporary work from new musical theater composers in an evening of song, dance and storytelling. The show features solo, duet and group songs, with a mix of humor, heart, romance and high-energy fun, plus a dance number choreographed by the PAC Musical Choreographer Jenny Lifson.

Admission: $5 students/children, $12 adults

Advance Ticket Purchase encouraged: Ticket sales and more info at bhs-pac.org

One Book One Belmont Author Susan Orlean Keynote Address Wednesday, Oct 12 at 7PM

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Photo: Susan Orlean

Author Susan Orlean will give the keynote speech on her work, the New York Times bestseller, The Library Book, as part of this year’s One Book One Belmont on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The hybrid event will take place on line or live at a viewing party held at the Beech Street Center.

Registration is required for the Zoom link; register here. People can also attend the event at the viewing party held at the Beech Street Center.

Orlean’s bestseller, The Library Book, is an exploration of the history, power, and future of these endangered institutions, told through the lens of Orlean’s quest to solve a notorious cold case: who set fire to the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986, ultimately destroying 400,000 books? Writing in The Washington Post, Ron Charles urged “Everybody who loves books should check out The Library Book…. You can’t help but finish The Library Book and feel grateful that these marvelous places belong to us all.”

It was named one of both The New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2018, The Washington Post’s Best Books of 2018, and was awarded the California Book Award and Marfield Prize for Arts Writing. Orlean will adapt The Library Book for a forthcoming series with Paramount TV.

Those attending can request a copy of the book here. The audiobook can be requested here.

Thanks to the Newton Free Library, the Friends of the Belmont Public Library and community co-sponsors who make this amazing series of events possible.

Belmont Fire Holding Open House On Saturday, Oct. 1

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Photo: The open house is this Saturday

The Belmont Fire Department will be holding an Open House at its headquarters located at 299 Trapelo Rd. on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Join members of the Fire Department for demonstrations and hands on activities. Visitors of all ages will enjoy checking out various firefighter equipment, a friendly dose of fire safety education, and much more. Pizza and soda will be available. Come and join the department’s firefighters and fire department staff for this community event.

Shanah Tovah: Rosh Hashanah Begins Sunset Sunday

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Photo: Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Sunday, Sept. 25

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins at sunset (at 6:36 p.m.), Sunday, Sept. 25 and lasts until Tuesday evening, Sept. 27

Rosh Hashanah – which in Hebrew translates to “head of the year” – is a time of inner renewal and divine atonement. It begins the the High Holidays culminating with Yom Kippur on Tuesday evening, Oct. 4. It is a time for observant people to acknowledge their sins of the previous year and are judged for their transgressions by God.

The holiday will affect after-school activities and athletic events in Belmont’s public schools. Under current district rules, teachers should be aware of the holiday when assigning homework and tests as some students will be attending religious services. 

Meals include apples dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet new year and at least one brisket dinner. Other traditions include participating in tashlich, Hebrew for “casting off” in which people go to a nearby body of water – Clay Pit Pond is a popular site – and throw in pieces of bread, which signifies the washing away of sin.

A Race That Makes A Difference: 10th FBE Apple Run 5K/2K; Sunday, Oct. 2

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Photo: And they are off in the 10th FBE Apple Run

This is a run that makes a difference.

Now in its 10th year, the Foundation for Belmont Education Apple Run 5K/2K will see hundreds of runners take to the streets of Belmont to support public education and innovation in the Belmont Public Schools. Since the inaugural event in 2013, the Apple Run has raised more than $200,000 for the Foundation for Belmont Education, a 501c3 non-profit organization that awards grants to the Belmont Public Schools to enrich the education provided to Belmont students.

FBE APPLE RUN takes place on SUNDAY, OCT. 2, on Harris Field at Belmont HIgh School. The 5K will start at 9:30 a.m.; the 2K at 10:45 a.m.

The FBE Apple Run 5K follows a scenic, 5-kilometer route through Belmont. Starting and ending at the Belmont High School track at Harris Field on Concord Avenue, the course passes by four of the town’s six public schools – Burbank, Chenery, Wellington, and the High School – and the historic Payson Park Reservoir. The course ends back at the track.

Go get your sneakers, your family, friends, neighbors, classmates, and teammates, and get out and run at this great Fall community event.

REGISTER HERE TO RUN

There are many great reasons to run:

  • You get to run with your community, family, and friends!
  • The first 400 runners get a very cool 10th anniversary dri-fit T-shirt!
  • Run to win! Prizes available for the fastest per age group (10-year increments), the largest team, the fastest team, and the most festive running outfit!
  • Get motivated to run by the great tunes from FBE Apple Run DJ Paul Madden!
  • This event is for everyone, any age and any pace!
  • Run because the money raised funds grants to educators in the Belmont Public Schools to implement innovative programs and advanced technology that result in richer and deeper learning experiences for our students!
  • Belmont has been running for education for 10 years now – let’s keep running to fund our students and educators!

Please visit our website to learn more about how the FBE makes a difference in the Belmont Public Schools.

CAN’T RUN? VOLUNTEER!

Please sign-up here and donate a little of your time. Thank you for your support.

Questions?

racedirector@fbe-belmont.org

The Foundation for Belmont Education is grateful for your support!

All Ages Invited To Belmont’s First Touch-A-Truck On Oct. 8

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Photo: Touch-a-Truck is on its way

You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy Belmont’s first ever Touch-A-Truck event which is set to go on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Belmont Center Parking lot on Claflin Street.

Walk in the parking lot for an up-close view of tractors, trucks, diggers, police cars, and fire engines from Belmont DPW, Light, Fire, and Police along with several local businesses and potentially room for a couple more. Sit in the seats, honk the horns, or take your picture on the front end of the equipment.

Hosting the event is Belmont Youth Activities and D.A.R.E. Inc., with the support of the Town of Belmont as well as the Belmont Center Business Association.

Soccer Night In Belmont Welcomes Watertown HS Teams/Youth Players To Celebration Of The Game

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Photo: Soccer Night in Belmont is this Saturday!

Soccer Night in Belmont is back for its seventh edition taking place on Belmont High’s Harris Field this Saturday, Sept. 17. The annual free event traditionally “sells out” the stands with more than 2,000 showing up for an afternoon and night of soccer fun.

This year Soccer Night welcomes neighboring Watertown in the high school games and for youth soccer players from both towns to participate in the celebrations and half time games.

The high school games will be at 4:30 p.m. for the girls and 6:30 p.m. for the boys. Belmont and Watertown youth soccer players will be wearing their uniforms and parading out with players during the pre-game ceremonies. 

Activities will include:

  • Belmont and Watertown youth players are mascots processing onto the field with the teams and their coaches
  • Belmont and Watertown middle school chorus students sing the national anthem
  • Belmont and Watertown Boy Scouts will present the color guard
  • Belmont High March Band’s drumline plays before kickoff
  • Youth players from both towns swarm the field at each halftime to play their games
  • The Phoenix Cup is presented to the winning teams for a photo and will have the games’ scores etched in it
  • Belmont’s Parents of Music Students (POMS) runs the concession stand
  • The field is dressed with the international flags of the nationalities of all the player
  • The JV teams help hand out the programs as patrons enter, and also provide tattoos for each team’s fans
  • Live broadcast of the games for family members near and far to watch with full commentating
  • Patches are presented to commemorate the night, along with a detailed program of the players

Dinner food and snacks are available, so bring the whole family to eat and support our varsity teams. It is always a fantastic event and your players will really love it!