Early Voting Has Begun In Belmont; Final Day Friday, Nov. 2 [VIDEO]

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Photo: Early voting has begun.

Thanks to the 2016 changes to the Massachusetts General Laws, any registered voter of Massachusetts may choose to cast a ballot for the State Election (candidates and four questions) before Election Day on Nov. 6. The law permits registered voters to cast ballots during the designated period of Early Voting, for 2018  between Oct. 22 and Friday, Nov. 2.  

“We are excited to offer this opportunity to all registered voters of Belmont, an expanded, accessible schedule of hours at one central location, Belmont Town Hall, for this “no excuse” vote-ahead option,” said Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman.

Early voting is available to every registered voter. Unlike absentee voting that is available in every election for only those voters who will be absent from Belmont, or have a physical disability preventing the voter from going to the polls or with a religious belief preventing the voter from going to the polls on Election Day.

No advance application is necessary to Vote Early in person; you can decide the date and time to cast your ballot at Town Hall during designated Early Voting hours. Once the voter has cast an Early Voting Ballot, that voter may not vote at the polls on Election Day or receive an Absentee Ballot. 

Only Belmont residents who are registered to vote by the Oct. 17 deadline are eligible to vote in this year’s State Election.  To register to vote, find out whether and where you are already registered, where to vote, visit the Secretary of State’s website.

To find out more about Absentee and Early Voting, visit the Belmont Town Clerk’s pages on the Town website.

Early Voting for Belmont Voters will be available ONLY at Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave., during the following schedule of dates and hours, no advance notice is required: 

  • Monday, Oct. 22; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 23; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 24;  8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 25;  8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 26; 8 a.m. to Noon
  • Saturday, Oct. 27; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 28; No Early Voting Hours
  • Monday, Oct. 29; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 30;  8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 31; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 1; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 2; 8 a.m. to Noon

“Pick the most convenient date and time for you and give Early Voting a try.  It’s always advisable to have your ID with you when you go to vote either on Election Day or for Early Voting,” said Cushman.

Written, signed Absentee Applications and Early Voting Applications that request us to mail you a ballot are also available, online at the Town Clerk’s webpage or at the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall.  If you have questions or need additional information, email the Town Clerk’s office at townclerk@belmont-ma.gov or phone 617-993-2600   

Opening Reception For Belmont Gallery of Art’s The Emotion Of Color Friday, Oct. 19

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Photo: “Oceanlife” Nedret Andre

THE EMOTION OF COLOR; ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY opens Friday, Oct. 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a reception for the public at the Belmont Gallery of Art, third floor of the Homer Building, 19 Moore St. in the Town Hall complex.

The show runs from Oct. 19 to Nov. 30.

This latest Belmont Gallery of Art show features contemporary abstract art by four well-known artists; Susie White, Jeanne Arthur, Kirsten Reynolds and Nedret Andre. The show centers around the theme of emotional connection to color and venue in contemporary art. These four abstract artists together in one gallery will be a visual delight, with powerful images filled with color and light viscerally connecting us to our collective emotions. They are linked through their shared inspiration from the natural world, their innovation, their boldness, their immense talents and the emotional core of their work.                                                                                                                                                                            

The show is curated by Chris Arthur. Please join the artists and the gallery in seeing this remarkable show.

For more information, please contact the Belmont Gallery of Art via its Facebook page.

Beech Street Center’s Annual Holiday Craft Fair Saturday, Nov. 17

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Photo: Annual Craft Fair set for Nov. 17.

Mark your calendars for the 2018 Beech Street Craft Fair which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech Street.

Forty-seven artisans will display and sell their crafts, including a wide variety of handcrafted jewelry, greeting cards, knit items, quilts, photography, pottery, soaps and candles, holiday decorations, and other handmade items. The Craft Fair is open to the public. Donation at the door is $1.00; children under 12 are free. Parking is free.

This is a fun time for those of all ages in the Belmont community and other local communities to do some early holiday shopping and support local craftspeople. Please tell your friends and plan to attend.

For more info, please contact Graystreet@aol.com.

Marsh Street Mess: Road Reconstruction To Last Several Weeks

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Photo: Marsh Street in the fall.

Beginning last Friday, Oct. 12, Belmont’s General contractor, E.H. Perkins has begun road construction on Marsh Street specifically at 178 Marsh St. This work will include, saw-cutting, grading and paving the roadway.

Road closures and delays are expected during construction hours between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Work is expected to continue for several weeks.

Residents and Commuters are advised to seek alternate routes. “We apologize for any inconveniences this construction work might cause,” said Arthur O’Brien, resident engineer in the Office of Community Development.

For any questions or concerns about the project, residents can contact O’Brien at 617-993-2665

Friends’ Annual Fall Book Sale At The Library This Weekend, Oct. 13-14

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Photo: Lots of books on sale this weekend at the Belmont Public Library.

If you love books but not looking to pay an arm and a leg, this is your weekend to stock up on fiction, non-fiction, children’s and every other sort of book as the Friends of the Belmont Public Library holds its annual Fall Book Sale this weekend.

The sale takes place on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Assembly and Flett rooms at the library, 336 Concord Ave. And don’t forget that Sunday is the Bag o’ Books sale. 

A preview party for Friends members takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on a new night, Thursday, Oct. 11. In addition, Belmont teachers will spend Friday picking out books for their classrooms, thanks to the Friends.

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.

Performance Arts Season Begins With ‘Broadway Night 2018’ On Friday, Saturday

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Photo: This year’s poster for Broadway Night 2018.

The Great White Way finds its way to the Town of Homes as Belmont High School Performing Arts Company presents its annual musical theater showcase Broadway Night 2018 at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13 in the Little Theater at Belmont High School.

Students will perform classic show tunes and contemporary works in an evening of song, dance, and storytelling featuring solos duets, and group songs, with a mix of humor, heart, romance and high-energy fun.

Broadway Night represents the core mission of the PAC, with an emphasis on showcasing student work. The performers have selected, staged and rehearsed the songs almost entirely on their own. Also, the lighting design is done entirely by students, and the show traditionally ends with a student-directed number featuring the whole company.

Tickets are $5 for students, $12 for adults and can be purchased online at bhs-pac.org or at Champions Sporting Goods on Leonard Street in Belmont Center. Performances ALWAYS sell out, so be sure to get tickets in advance!

A Decade Of Helping: Belmont Serves Turns 10 This Monday; Come And Volunteer

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Photo: Belmont Serves has something for everyone.

The Belmont Religious Council is proud to announce the 10th annual Belmont Serves, a day of service for and by the Belmont community, will take place on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 8.

The family-friendly event is when Belmont comes out on one morning a year to make the town a better place for all.

This year’s headquarters for Belmont Serves is First Church Unitarian Universalist, 404 Concord Ave. Sign up on belmontserves.org or at the door; there is a great number of meaningful work to go around.

“You can help make a real difference in our town, have some fun, and meet others who share a willingness to serve the community,” said Jen Hoyda, vice president of the Belmont Religious Council.

Schedule of Events

  • 8:30 am: Breakfast for all at First Church Unitarian and sign in/project assignment
  • 9:00 a.m. to noon: Service projects
  • Noon to 12:30 p.m.: Pizza and ice cream and wrap up at the Unitarian church

Each volunteer/group will be able to sign up for a project then join a team which will work together for the morning – bonding and making our town a better place to be.

Projects will include but aren’t limited to the following:

  • Door-to-door collection of items for the Belmont Food Pantry — ideal for families with young children as well as other groups
  • Trails and conservation areas: Clearing trails at Lone Tree Hill
  • An assortment of clean up and landscaping projects

Door-to-door collection for the Belmont Food Pantry— Teams of volunteers will be assigned to specific routes, collecting bags of groceries left at doorsteps for delivery to the Belmont Food Pantry. These grocery bags are distributed door-to-door throughout the town during the week before Belmont Serves day. This service touches 8,000 homes and supplies food and much needed toiletry items for countless individuals in need.

Conservation projects at Lone Tree Hill — You can help with pruning, parking lot maintenance and invasive vegetation removal at Lone Tree Hill (former McLean Property) conservation lands. Wear long sleeves and long pants to avoid poison ivy. We will supply the tools, or bring clippers or loppers. This is a wonderful activity for families and individuals to spend time beautifying nature in our lovely fall weather.

Clay Pit Pond clean-up: Volunteers will work on pruning existing shrubs, cutting/removing invasives, and picking up trash and debris. “Last year, over the course of a couple of hours, walking the full perimeter of Clay Pit pond, I had the pleasure to get to know a fellow member of the community and bond over travel stories. This is someone I might have never otherwise met and it made me feel more connected to my town.” a volunteer said.

Learn more at belmontserves.org and sign up to volunteer!

About Belmont Religious Council:

The Belmont Religious Council was founded in April, 1954 as an organization of the various faith communities that serve Belmont. Its purpose is “to enhance the spirit of unity through fellowship, to develop understanding and appreciation for the various religious faiths represented and to exert a positive influence in the social and moral life of the Belmont community.”

By promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation, the Council can also help enable Belmont’s faith communities to pursue important goals generally not attainable by a single congregation.

Rock The Canvas: Del Fuegos Alum Presents Musical Artist Talk Thursday at 7 PM

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Photo: Poster for the show.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Rocker and artist Woody Giessman will give an artist’s perspective with words and music during his Gallery Talk associated with “Rhythm & Hues,” the current show at the Belmont Gallary of Art.

Guests can expect a lively evening of stories and music performance with the BGA’s special featured artist. Giessman, former drummer for the Boston-based 80’s rock band, the Del Fuegos, founder of Right Turn recovery and survivor of a near-fatal brain aneurysm, will discuss his unusual life, art-inspirations and influences and the importance of art and music in all our lives.

The talk will take place at the gallery on the third floor of the Homer Building, on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Belmont Field Hockey Hosts Watertown In Battle Of Top Ten Undefeated Teams Thursday 6 PM

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Photo: Belmont team captains, (left) Mia Kaldenbough, Morgan Chase and Jordan Lettiere (that’s one of the Smith kids in front) prepare for Thursday night’s clash with Watertown.

It’s a match of the unbeaten – if not unblemished – records. A pair of Top Ten squads meeting on the field hockey pitch.

It’s Belmont vs Watertown tonight, Thursday, Oct. 4; cross-town archrivals clashing at the mid-point of the season. The game takes place at 6 p.m. at Harris Field. Admission is free. 

It is the first time the teams – which has faced the other for decades – are undefeated during a regular season game. It has been a while since the Marauders have gotten the better of the Raiders as Belmont has not defeated Watertown since the 1990s.

It is a game between two pedigree programs; Watertown dominating the Division 2 state championships winning ten consecutive titles and Belmont a perennial playoff team. This season Watertown (6-0-1) is ranked 5th in the Boston Globe’s Top 20 with Belmont (7-0-0) at number 9.  MAX Field Hockey, a website that follows the sport nationally, ranks Belmont 20th in New England and Watertown at 6th.

Coming into the game, Watertown needed a late goal from Olivia Lampasona to salvage a 1-1 home tie against a strong Lexington squad Tuesday. After falling behind early, Belmont defeated hosts Melrose, 6-2, Tuesday with senior co-captain Jordan Lettiere scoring four times.

It could be a high scoring affair with Belmont scoring 44 goals and Watertown putting in 32 balls over their first seven games. And it will be a family affair Thursday as Watertown’s longtime head coach Eileen Donahue will be facing her niece, junior Emma, who anchors Belmont’s backline.

Wellington Walk: Celebrate International Walk To School Day This Wednesday

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Photo: International Walk to School Day.

Wednesday, Oct. 3 marks the 22nd International Walk to School Day, which has become an annual event of pedestrian fun for students, parents and staff of Wellington Elementary.

For nearly a decade, the Wellington has celebrated the day with “celebrity walkers” – teachers, staff, town officials, and a few celebs – who lead groups parents and students from designated locations east and west of Common Street down to the Wellington. 

Beginning in 1997, Walk to School Day is a global event that involves 4,800 schools in more than 40 countries who are all walking and biking to school on the same day with the goal of beginning a worldwide movement for year-round safe routes to schools for walkers and bike riders. The event is sponsored by The National Center for Safe Routes to School which is committed to empowering communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe, appealing, preferred choice for families.

Want to join? Here are the locations; you can walk from as far away as Grove Street and Unity Avenue (that’s a hike!) to as short as School and Goden streets. Come join the fun.

WHO WHEN WHERE

Ms. Becca Pizzi

World Challenge Marathon Women’s Champion

Ms. Colleen McBride

2nd Grade Teacher

7:30 a.m.

Grove St. and Unity Ave. triangle

Fire Chief David Frizzell

Belmont Fire Department

Mrs. Susan Tudisco

Retired SPED Professional Aide

Mr. Craig McMahan

Music Teacher

7:45 a.m.

Elm St. and Lewis Rd.

Mr. John Phelan

Belmont Schools Superintendent

Mr. Steven Tenhor

4th Grade Teacher

Mrs. JoAnn Papalia

Retired Main Office Clerical Aide

8:00 a.m.

Payson Rd. and Common St.

Ms. Aimee Doherty

Physical Education Teacher

Mrs. Melissa Hart

Belmont Soccer Assoc. Board Member & Coach

8:00 a.m.

Oakley Rd. and Payson Rd. triangle

Ms. Mina Vahedi & Ms. Lindsay DeBello Kindergarten Teachers

Mr. Ray Johnson

PTO Co-President

8:05 a.m.

Horace Rd. and Brettwood Rd.

Mr. Stephen Lambert

Wellington Interim Principal

Ms. Annemarie Stewart

Wellington Assistant Principal

Ms. Sheila Walsh

Wellington Guidance Counselor

8:15 a.m.

Hillcrest Rd. and Common St.

Ms. Joanna Kaselis-Tzouvelis

Mrs. Ali Skelly

Pre-K Teacher

Mr. Jason Greenwood

Speech Therapy

8:15 a.m.

Orchard St. and Amelia St. triangle

Mrs. Kristen (Mrs. B.) Bell

1st Grade Teacher

Ms. Ellen Fink

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Christina Cammarata

Art Teacher

8:15 a.m.

Hillcrest Rd. and Goden St.

Ms. Meghan Clow

3rd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Meryl Junik

PTO Co-President

8:15 a.m.

Clark St. and Thomas St.

Ms. Rachel Overbeck

Children’s Librarian, Belmont Public Library

Officer Kristine Pugliese

Belmont Police Department

8:20 a.m.

School St. and Goden St.

The Moozy Cow

Moozy’s Ice Cream and Yogurt Emporium

“Joey” Launch Mascot

Launch Watertown

8:20 a.m. Waving to greet everyone

Entrance to Wellington School