Things to Do Today: One Book One Belmont Talk, Rugby in the Afternoon, Calling Precinct 3

• One Book One Belmont presents John Stauffer, Professor of English, American Studies and African American Studies at Harvard University, who will talk about Phillis Wheatley, a Boston slave born in Gambia, became one of the foremost poets in early America from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. The talk is co-sponsored by Belmont Against Racism, the Belmont Historical Society and the Human Rights Commission.

• There is a meeting of Precinct 3 Town Meeting members from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Fleet Room (across from the Children’s Room) at the Belmont Public Library.

• The defending state Div. 1 rugby champions, the Belmont High School’s Rugby Club, will take on Arlington Catholic at Harris Field (adjacent to the skating rink on Concord Avenue) at 3 p.m. If you haven’t had the chance to see the team in action, here is your chance to see why this team is so special.

Nice Day for a Belmont Egg Hunt

As the appointed time grew near, the anticipation on the hunters’ faces stood out: the widening eyes, the tightening grip, the impatient moving of their feet.

“Is it time?” one said to a friend, eager for the start.

Then, a few minutes after 10 a.m., the momentum to chase was just too much to bear and with a silent “Tally Ho!” the mob broke and the prize was afoot.

Before them, hundreds of colorful plastic eggs with candy and prizes inside. And they would not be content until they had secured their 10 egg limit.

For the 14th year, the Belmont Activities Committee held its annual Belmont Egg Hunt in the Chenery Middle School field on the Saturday before Easter. This year saw slightly less participants then years past but that didn’t mean that most of the hundreds of eggs spread over the field were placed into baskets and bags within the first 10 minutes.

The smallest hunters had their own hunt in the playground of the school where many took advantage of the slides and climbing stairs. Others got their photos taken with the Easter Bunny, had their face painted by Cultural Care Au Pair, parents ate donuts and drank coffee while everyone danced and sang with Marcie of Kids Music by Marcie

This year’s main sponsor was Belmont Savings Bank which gave away “gold” coins for those who found some of the special eggs left on the field.

Other sponsors of the Egg Hunt include: Champions Sporting Goods, Cultural Care Au Pair, Dunkin Donuts, Gregory’s House of Pizza, Hammond Residential, Kendall Confectionary, Lawndale Realty, Moozy’s Ice Cream and Yogurt Emporium, Paprika Kids, Patrick Murphy, Coldwell Banker, Tokyo Joe’s, Toy Shop of Belmont and Wheelworks.

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Things to Do Today: Early Release, Brownsberger at Beech Street , Story Time

Today is Good Friday and the beginning of the week-long April recess for the town’s students.

• It’s early release at the six Belmont public schools today: The High School at 10:30 a.m.; Chenery Middle School at 11 p.m. and the elementary school’s at 11:40 p.m. with the exception of the Winn Brook which will release at 11:50 p.m.

State Sen. Will Brownsberger will be at the Beech Street Center at 10 a.m. to meet with residents and hear their concerns.

Come to the Friday pre-school Story Time taking place at the Benton Library (at the corner of Oakley and Old Middlesex) beginning at 10:30 a.m. and led by Denise Patnod. There will be stories and crafts for children 3 to 5. Siblings may attend with adults. Parents or caregivers must be present. Registration is not required.

• Well-loved local musician Liz Buchanan performs original songs and traditional favorites at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room at 10:30 a.m.

• While Monday is Patriots’ Day, it is today in 1775 when Paul Revere and William Dawes began their rides warning the Massachusetts countryside that “the regulars” were on the march.

Easter Services in Belmont

All Saints’ Church (Episcopal)
17 Clark St. (on Common Street)
617-484-2228

Thursday, April 17
6:30 p.m. – Agape Meal

Friday, April 18
Noon – Stations of the Cross
7 p.m. – Good Friday Liturgy which will include a dramatic reading of the Passion according to St. John.

Saturday, April 19

8:30 a.m. – Holy Saturday Liturgy

Sunday, April 20
10 a.m.: Festival Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Childcare for children up to age three.)

After the service: coffee hour.

Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church
421 Common St. (Cushing Square)
617-489- 0730

Thursday, April 17

7:30 p.m.: Maundy Service

Friday, April 18

7 p.m.: Tenebrae Service for Good Friday.

Sunday, April 20

10:30 a.m.: Easter Sunday.

Christ Lutheran Church
597 Belmont Street (on Common Street)
617-484-4352
Cornerstone Baptist Church
54 Brighton St.
617-489-2498

Sunday, April 20
6:30 a.m.: Sunrise Service.

7:30 a.m.: Full Breakfast

9:30 a.m.: Sunday School

10:45 a.m.: Morning Service

6:30 p.m.: Evening Service

Crossroads Evangelical Church
51 Lexington St.
617-489-4959

Sunday morning worship begins at 11 a.m.

First Armenian Church
380 Concord Ave.
617-484-4779

Sunday, April 20

10:30 a.m. Easter services

First Baptist Church of Belmont
129 Lexington Street
(617) 484-1310

Thursday, April 17

6 p.m.: Maundy Thursday Service

Sunday, April 20

10 a.m.: Easter services

First Church in Belmont, Unitarian-Universalist
404 Concord Ave.
617 484-1054

Sunday, April 20

6 a.m.: Easter Sunrise Service at Habitat at 10 Juniper St.

9 a.m. – 10 a.m.: Sunday Service

11 am – 12 pm.: Sunday Service

Payson Park Congregational Church
365 Belmont St.
617-484-1542

Thursday, April 17

6 p.m.: Maundy Thursday Service

Friday, April 18

7 p.m.: Good Friday Service

Sunday, April 20

10:30 a.m.: The Reverend Lael Atkinson preaching and the Cherub Choir and Alleluia & Youth Choirs singing.

Plymouth Congregational Church
582 Pleasant St.
617-484-5257

Thursday, April 17

6:15 p.m.: Maundy Thursday meal

7:30 p.m.: Maundy Thursday service

Sunday, April 20

10:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Service

St. Joseph’s Parish
130 Common St.
617-484-0279

Thursday, April 17

7 p.m.: Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper.

Good Friday, April 18

3 p.m.: Living Stations of the Cross
7 p.m.: Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at St. Luke

Holy Saturday, April 19

8 p.m.: Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, April 20

Masses: 8 a.m. in the church and 10 a.m. in both the church and hall.

Saint Luke’s, Belmont
132 Lexington St.
617-484-1996

Good Friday, April 18

3 p.m.: Living Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday, April 19

Easter Sunday, April 20

Things to Do Today: Book Club for Chenery Kids, Caregivers’ Group, Canterbury Tales

The town is gearing down for the Easter holiday, Patriots’ Day and the spring recess for the town’s schools.

Book Club for 5th and 6th graders will held from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Children’s Work Room of the Belmont Public Library.

Caregivers’ Groups led by Senior Center Director Nava Niv-Vogel is being held at 2 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.

 Today is the final full day of school until the April recess: Belmont District Schools get out early tomorrow.

On this day in 1397, Geoffrey Chaucer tells the Canterbury Tales for the first time at the court of Richard II.  Chaucer scholars have also identified this date a decade earlier, in 1387, as the start of the book’s pilgrimage to Canterbury.

 

Things to Do Today: A ‘Peeps’ Show at the Library, World Book Night, Boys’ Sports

• They are holding a “Peeps” show at the library. But nothing more risqué than placing the lovable marshmallow yellow chicks into scenes as the Belmont Public Library hosts its annual Peeps Diorama Party from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Peeps shows and contests are gaining in popularity across the country; the esteem Washington Post has held a contest for the past five years with great readers interest.

• Yesterday was the last day to file a federal income tax return but the Massachusetts Department of Revenue has given state filers an extension until midnight this Friday, April 18, because of delays with its electronic filing system.

World Book Night, which will occur on April 23, is an international effort in which members of the public apply to personally hand out 20 copies of a particular book (of 35 titles selected each year by a panel of librarians and booksellers) in their community to teens and adults who are light- or non-readers. Meet other World Book Night book givers and enjoy tea and cookies in the Young Adult Room of the Belmont Public Library from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Interested in being a WBN giver? Stop by & chat with this year’s givers. RSVP 617-993-2877.

• The boys are back: Boys’ Tennis will host Woburn on the High School’s courts at 3:30 p.m. and Boys’ Lacrosse will take on Wilmington on Harris Field at 4:30 p.m.

Get Ready Kids: Belmont’s Egg Hunt This Saturday

Hundreds of basket holding kids from toddlers to nine-year-olds will descend on the Chenery Middle School field  this Saturday to participate in the Belmont Activities Committee’s 14th annual Belmont Egg Hunt.

The dash for eggs will begin at 10 a.m. sharp – do not be late! – on Saturday, April 19, rain or shine.

This year there will be a special area for toddlers to hunt for eggs in the playground.

In addition to being the presenting sponsor this year, Belmont Savings will also be giving away 200 “gold” coins at the event. Eggs with special gold coin slips can be redeemed at the tent during the hunt. There will also be a chance to win a bike.

Entertainment will be provided by Marcie of Kids Music by Marcie. The Easter Bunny will be on hand to pose for pictures and free refreshments and live music will also be offered.  Face painting will be provided by Cultural Care Au Pair.

Other sponsors of the Egg Hunt include: Champions Sporting Goods, Cultural Care Au Pair, Dunkin Donuts, Gregory’s House of Pizza, Hammond Residential, Kendall Confectionary, Lawndale Realty, Moozy’s Ice Cream and Yogurt Emporium, Paprika Kids, Patrick Murphy, Coldwell Banker, Tokyo Joe’s, Toy Shop of Belmont and Wheelworks.

For additional information on the branch egg hunt, please visit the Belmont Savings Bank’s website. 

Things to Do Today: Jazz Tonight, Story Time at the Benton, Planning Board in the AM

• Today is the final day to file your federal and state taxes. Remember? You can always ask for an extension.

• It’s Jazz Night at Belmont High School as several great ensembles will be performing in the school’s auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. This is a “don’t miss” opportunity to hear the musical talent there is at the High School.

• The Planning Board will be meeting at 8 a.m. (yes, in the morning) in Conference Room 2 of Town Hall where they will discussing among other matters Town Meeting Article 8 and 9, an amendment to the zoning code effecting dog kennels, doggie day care and canine-related activities as a result of the rewriting on the Board of Health’s regulation on all things relating to handling and keeping of pets.

• Pre-School Story Time will be held at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer run library, at 10:30 a.m. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may attend with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is located at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.

• The defending state champions Belmont High School Rugby Club takes on Needham High School at Harris Field tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Belmont High School Girls’ Track will be hosting the Spy Ponders of Arlington High at Harris Field beginning at 3:30 p.m.

The Week to Come: Passover, Good Friday, Easter and Spring Recess

Passover, פֶּסַח, in which Jews commemorate their liberation from slavery in Egypt by the Pharaohs as told in the Book of Exodus, begins Monday night, April 14, at sunset. A bit of seder trivia: The Maxwell House Haggadah was first distributed with cans of coffee in 1932?

• Music lovers will converge on Belmont High School’s auditorium Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. for Jazz Night at the High School. This is a “don’t miss” opportunity to hear great ensambles performing.

• The Powers Music School’s Faculty Concerts series continues on Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the School’s Cabot Room with “The French-American Connection,” featuring clarinetist Todd Brunel and pianist Kathryn Rosenbach presenting the work of Camille Saint-Saens, Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein. Brunel and Rosenbach will premiere their own original compositions.

• The Planning Board will be meeting on Tuesday, April 15 at 8:15 a.m. (yes, in the morning) in Conference Room 2 where they will discussing among other matters Town Meeting Article 9, an amendment to the zoning code effecting dog kennels, doggie daycare and canine-related activities as a result of the rewriting on the Board of Health’s regulation on all things relating to handling and keeping of pets.

Spring recess begins on Good Friday, April 18 as there will be early release at all Belmont schools: High School 10:30 a.m., Middle School 11 a.m. and the elementary schools at 11:40 a.m. with the exception of the Winn Brook whose students will need to wait an extra 10 minutes before they are sprung free.

Easter is this Sunday, April 20, with Christian houses of worship holding extended services.

Get Your Hands Dirty Cleaning Up Lone Tree Hill

Known for its trails, bike paths and open spaces, Lone Tree Hill – Belmont’s newest open space managed by the Town for conservation and passive recreation – is needing a little love after a long winter.

On Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents and students seeking community service credits can come to the entrance to the land on South Pleasant Street for Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day sponsored by the Belmont Citizens Forum. And there will be a lot to do to spruce up this section of the Western Greenway: there is trash pick up, trail maintenance and spreading woodchips. Volunteers are asked to bring gloves, water, big garden clippers, loppers and apply bug spray before coming.

Volunteers can park in the Star Market parking lot near South Pleasant Street; you’ll see the entry to Lone Tree Hill at the green and blue BCF tent.