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

 

Third Soccer Night In Belmont Set for Harris Field, Saturday, Sept 29

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Photo: The procession to the field

The Belmont High School Boys and Girls Varsity soccer teams will headline the third annual Soccer Night in Belmont on Saturday, September 29, joined at the event by hundreds of younger players from Belmont 2nd Soccer and the Belmont Soccer Association, their coaches, and other members of the Belmont soccer community.

Soccer Night in Belmont will feature a doubleheader under the lights at Harris Field against Middlesex League rivals Arlington: a Boys’ game at 4:30 p.m. followed by a Girls’ game at 6:30 p.m. 

Belmont youth soccer players will participate by parading out with players during the pre-game ceremonies, acting as ball-boys and ball-girls, and competing in mini-games on Harris Field during halftime of both games. Arlington Soccer Club youth soccer players will also participate in the pre-game ceremonies and other activities.

“This event showcases our varsity teams and recognizes the role of Belmont 2nd Soccer and BSA in nurturing the talent that makes up these teams year in and year out,” said event organizer John Carson. 

“We hope to exceed last year’s crowd of more than 1,500, and it will be a really fun night that builds bonds between our ‘little kid’ players and ‘big kid’ high school players, virtually all of whom came up through the Belmont youth program.  In fact, one great highlight is always that our high school players wear wristbands during the game that match the color of their Belmont 2nd Soccer team,” said Carson.

Admission to Soccer Night in Belmont is free. Concessions including pizza, hot dogs, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, provided by Parents of Music Students (POMS) so families can come for the games and feed the kids at the same time.

Soccer Night in Belmont is sponsored by Belmont 2nd Soccer, Belmont Soccer Association, Belmont Savings Bank, The Rising, Phoenix Landing, with special thanks to Friends of Belmont Soccer (FOBS) and Belmont Athletic Director Jim Davis.

Cardboard, Old Trash Barrel Drop-Off At Town Yard This Saturday, Sept. 29

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Photo: Yes, bring it all in for recycling – but you’ll have to keep the truck.

Still have that large package for your 54-inch screen laying about the basement? Do you have an ever growing pile of Amazon Prime boxes in the side room? And what about the large barrels made redundant with the town’s new garbage and recycling carts? 

Well, the solution to both of your problems is coming this Saturday, Sept. 29 when the town conducts a Cardboard and Container Drop-Off from 9 a.m. to noon at the Department of Public Works Town Yard located at the end of C Street off Waverley Street. 

Have lots of corrugated cardboard? If it is flattened and kept dry, it can be dropped off.

Old trash barrels and recycling bins that you won’t reuse for yard waste – those containers must be 32-gallons or smaller – or storage will also be collected.

And you can take barrels home as those in like-new condition will be available for reuse!

Belmont Road Closures During Scharfman 5K On Sunday, Sept. 30

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Photo: I Ran the Dan on Sunday.

As part of the sixth annual running of the Dan Scharfman 5K taking place at 9:30 a.m., Sunday morning, Sept. 30, the following road closings to ensure the safety of the runners and other participants:

  • 6 a.m. – noon: No Parking on East/West side of Concord Avenue between Cottage and Underwood;
  • 6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: No Parking on Goden Street between School Street and Concord Avenue;
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: School Street closed between Myrtle Street and Philip Road;
  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: No exit onto Oakley from Selwyn and Hurd;
  • Between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.: Drivers should be aware of runners on the 5K course (Concord Ave / Orchard Road / Stone Road / School Street / Philip / Elizabeth Road / Jacob / Payson / Oakley / Goden / Concord / Underwood); and
  • Between 10:45 am and 11 a.m.: Concord Ave Westbound will have young runners in the bike lane running against traffic between Underwood and Goden. Cones will separate runners from traffic.

The Foundation for Belmont Education thanks the residents of Belmont and the Belmont Police Department for their support of the Dan Scharfman Memorial Run and appreciates the community’s understanding of the disruption in normal traffic patterns.  

The Scharfman Run takes place from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Belmont High School Track, 221 Concord Ave., and takes a scenic route past the town’s schools, Payson Park Reservoir and Clay Pond. Interested participants can register the day of the race at the Belmont High School Track. 

Proceeds from the Run enable the FBE to fund new programs in the Belmont Public School system and give educators and students the best tools, technology, and training to foster innovation and love of learning. 

Bradford Show And Tell: Material ‘Mock Up’ At Cushing Square Site Saturday, Noon to 2 PM

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Photo: Residents view samples at the Sept. 6 Planning Board meeting.

The developer of the multifaceted complex in the heart of Cushing Square is inviting neighbors and the public on Saturday, Sept. 29 for a bit of show and tell.

Representatives of Toll Brother Apartment Living, owner/developer of The Bradford, the retail/housing/parking development under construction on three blocks along Common Street and Trapelo Road, is opening its doors just a tad to allow residents to view a “mock-up” of the materials to be used on the exterior of the three buildings occupying the approximately 170,000 square foot site.

From noon to 2 p.m., employees from Toll and Nauset Construction, the primary contractor, will escort groups from the “Winslow” building (the structure being constructed on the former municipal parking lot) along Williston Road to the area set aside for the demonstration. Citizens will then get to see the material – concrete, tiles, granite, and frames for the windows – and examine how they look in the daylight where they will be used. The developer stressed that the viewing is not a tour of the future landmark in Cushing Square.

Early this month, the Planning Board was provided a preview of the samples that will be on display.