Belmont Board Of Health To Hold Marijuana Talk, Q&A March 14

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Photo: Marijuana will be discussed on March 14.
The Belmont Board of Health and Health Department invites the public to attend a talk by as one of the world’s experts in marijuana on the risks and benefits of this controversial plant titled “The Unbiased Truth; a One Hour Presentation and Q&A” on Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. at Beth El Temple Center auditorium, 2 Concord Ave.
 
With the likelihood a store selling marijuana in or close to Belmont will be up and running by the summer of 2018, a great deal of what’s been discussed concerning marijuana is either incomplete or untrue. To learn the truth about the subject, the Board of Health invited Dr. Kevin Hill, director of Addiction Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and assistant professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, to Belmont.
Hill treats patients with substance use disorders in a variety of settings. His research interests include the development of medications to treat cannabis use disorder as well as cannabis policy, and he has published widely on these topics in such journals as JAMA and Lancet Psychiatry. He provides a balanced factual approach to cannabis and his book “Marijuana: The Unbiased Truth about the World’s Most Popular Weed” is a valuable resource for many. He consults on cannabis-related issues to policymakers and prominent sports organizations nationwide.
 
The meeting is free and open to the public through a grant from Mount Auburn Hospital. For more information, call 617-993-2720.

新 年 快 乐!: Happy Chinese New Year 2018 “Woof!”

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Photo: Jim Williams celebrating the Year of the Dog.

The Lunar New Year, the most important holiday in the Chinese’s community calendar, begins on Friday, Feb. 16 as people around the world including in Belmont celebrate the Year of the Dog, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese astrological chart.

Every year, the Chinese New Year starts on the new moon occurring between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. The celebration lasts 15 days. It is tradition to set off fireworks and firecrackers, hoping to keep away bad luck. Families also clean their house to sweep away any ill-fortune and make way for incoming good luck. Windows and doors are decorated with red paper strips and couplets about good fortune, wealth and longevity. Red symbolizes good fortune in Chinese tradition; children are given red envelopes of money called “hongbao.”

This past Sunday, the Belmont Chinese American Association held its annual Spring Festival Gala at the Chenery Middle School. At the celebration were a number of town and elected officials in attendance, including Board of Selectmen Chair Jim Williams who provided these remarks:

“It’s my privilege and pleasure to be here with you today to help celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Dog, the 11th animal in the Chinese zodiac and the symbol of loyalty and honesty.

“People born in the year of the dog are said to possess the best traits of human nature: they are honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, straightforward, venerable and have a strong sense of responsibility. Since I was myself born in 1946, I leave it to each of you research what can their negatives as I prefer to only announce our best traits this evening.

“These traits are especially important in the coming year given the tough times we are facing in the current global circumstances. The year ahead of us promises to bring many challenges, but a new year also brings with it the opportunity to work hard, smarter, and to be problem solvers and opportunity takers.

“The Belmont and greater Boston Chinese community have also enriched the lives of all Bostonians and Belmontians through the celebration of Chinese arts, cuisine, and traditions as well as contributing to our local economy. Welcome and thank you. I especially embrace the teaching of Lao Tzu, as a principled way to do business and for governments to behave.

“Chinese celebrations like the one we have gathered together for this evening have become an important part of Belmont’s and Boston’s cultural calendar.” 

Allard, Deese Make Their Athletic Futures Official On Signing Day

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Photos: Cary Allard (left) and Adam Deese.

The signing of a National Letter of Intent – also known as Signing Day – is one of the highlights of a high school athletes career, as those students officially commit themselves to a college or university where they will continue their athletic careers.

Last week, Belmont High School seniors Carey Allard and Adam Deese signed their National Letters of Intent to play at the highest level of college sports at Division 1 programs.

Allard will attend and play soccer at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington while Deese will heading for UMass Amherst to continue his football career as a fullback with the Minuteman.

Bare Minimum Of Resident Show Interest In Running For Town Offices, Meeting

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Photo:

With a little more than 24 hours remaining to submit nomination papers for the 2018 Town Election, the overriding question would appear to be: anyone out there?

With the deadline of Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. fast approaching, Belmont voters could be rubber stamps on April 3 when eligible voters head for the polls as for the first time in more than a decade, the town could lack a competitive race not just for town-wide offices but also Town Meeting in each of Belmont’s eight precincts.

While a number of residents have taken out nomination papers, many have yet to be submitted for certification as of Monday morning.

According to Town Clerk Ellen Cushman, as of Feb. 12, the potential ballot for the 2018 Town Election sets up to look as below:

  • Town Moderator Michael J. Widmer 
  • Board of Selectmen (three-year term) Thomas Caputo
  • Board of Assessors (three-year term) Martin B. Millane, Jr.
  • Board of Cemetery Commissioners (three-year termEllen O’Brien Cushman
  • Board of Health (three-year term) Stephen Fiore
  • Housing Authority (three-year term) Gloria Leipzig
  • Trustees of the Public Library (two three-year terms) Elaine C. Alligood and Corinne McCue Olmsted
  • School Committee (two three-year terms), Susan Burgess-Cox and Tara Donner
  • School Committee (one single year term) Lisa B. Fiore

Unless stragglers come in with their papers, there will be open seats without a declared candidate in each of Belmont’s precincts. The current ballot looks as below:

  • Precinct 1: 11 candidates for 12 three-year seats; no candidates for two two-year term.  
  • Precinct 2: 10 candidates for 12 three-year seats. one candidate for a single year term.
  • Precinct 3: 7 candidates for 12 three-year seats;
  • Precinct 4: 10 candidates for 12 three-year seats;
  • Precinct 5: 11 candidates for 12 three-year seats; no candidates for two two-year term.  
  • Precinct 6: 11 candidates for 12 three-year seats;
  • Precinct 7: 11 candidates for 12 three-year seats; and 
  • Precinct 8: 11 candidates for 12 three-year seats.

Belmont Community Chorus Welcomes All Singers To Join Spring Session

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Photo: Belmont Community Chorus, Spring 2016 (Photo courtesy of Bob Schecter)
 
The Belmont Community Chorus welcomes all who love to sing!
 
For beginner to experienced singers alike, we seek to provide an opportunity to gather regularly to sing with an ensemble, to improve our vocal skills – no matter the starting point – and to perform at local venues. No auditions required. We sing a variety of exciting vocal music from yesterday to today.
 
The spring session begins Monday, Feb. 26 and runs through May 7, with our spring concert scheduled for May 8. Rehearsals are Monday evenings, 7:30 p.m. to  9 p.m., in Chorus Room #141, at the Chenery Middle School, 95 Washington St..

 For more information, contact belmontcommmunitychorus@gmail.com, or visit www.belmontcommunitychorus.org.

Brownsberger Hosting Belmont ‘Town Hall’ Saturday, Feb. 10

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Photo: State Sen. Brownsberger is holding a town hall in Belmont.

State Sen. Will Brownsberger will host a series of town hall meetings throughout his district in February. All are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on current events and legislative priorities.

Belmont: Saturday, Feb. 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.

Get Your ‘Jeopardy’ On At The BHS PAC Annual Trivia Night Friday, Feb. 9

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Photo: Homer will be there.

The Belmont High School Performing Arts Company’s second annual Trivia Night will take place on Friday, Feb. 9, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. This event will be a great opportunity for the Belmont residents, friends and colleagues to participate in an entertaining evening of friendly competition and community building to the support the BHS Performing Arts Company.

Eventgoers can form a team of 6 to 8 people prior to the event, or join a team upon arrival. The event includes free wine, beer and food from local vendors, with plenty of time to socialize between trivia rounds. Participating vendors include Foodie’s (lead donor), Craft Beer Cellar, Il Casale, The Loading Dock, Trader Joe’s, Theo’s Pizza, Iggy’s Bread and more.

Attendees will have the chance to meet and mingle with the staff who work on the PAC shows, including producer/director Ezra Flam and choreographer Jenny Lifson. Funds raised will go towards the purchase of new technical equipment for the PAC and the Dan Scharfman College Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to two graduating PAC students each year.

Tickets are on sale for $40. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit bhs-pac.org/trivia-night.html or email Marcia Haines, chairperson of Patrons, the PAC parent group, at patronsmarcia@gmail.com.

Twice The Fun: Two Improv Shows On Tap Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3

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Photo: Improv this week.
The Full Winter Improv Show is back with twice the laugh over twice the shows.

After selling out Belmont High’s Little Theater for both the Winter and Spring shows last year, the Belmont High School Performing Arts Company has added a second date to its winter show with performances on Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3. Come once or come both nights: each show is guaranteed to be it’s own unique event, featuring games and scenes all made up on the spot based on audience suggestions.

The shows will feature the 35 member Improv Troupe performing plots with names such as “I can do better”, “Road trip”, and my favorite, “Hey, waiter!”
The two performances are Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 3 with the curtain going up at 7 p.m. in the Belmont High Little Theater. Tickets are $5 for adults ($7 for both shows) with free admission to students.

Belmont Republicans To Select State Convention Delegates Feb. 6

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Photo: MassGOP logo.

On Tuesday, Feb. 6 (snow date Tuesday, Feb. 13) the Belmont Republican Town Committee will Caucus to select 18 delegates to the Massachusetts Republican Convention which will take place on Saturday, April 28 at the DCU Center in Worcester. 
At the convention Republican candidates for federal and state positions, will be selected. The list of candidates include:
  • United States Senator in Congress (Class I)
  • Governor of the Commonwealth
  • Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth
  • Treasurer and Receiver-General
  • Auditor of the Commonwealth
  • Attorney General
  • Secretary of the Commonwealth
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Art Gallery (third floor) in the Homer Building in the Town Hall complex. 
Any Republican who was registered by Dec. 31, 2017, is eligible for selection as a delegate. All Republicans are invited to come to this very important caucus. 

Belmont Democrats to Elect Delegates to State Convention on Feb. 11

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Photo: Democratic Convention, old school.
                   
The Belmont Democratic Town Committee will hold a party caucus at Town Hall to elect 18 delegates and 4 alternates for the 2018 Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Those wishing to vote in the caucus must be in line by 1:30 p.m. The caucus begins at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 11.

This year’s state convention will be held on June 1 and 2, at the DCU Center in Worcester, where thousands of Democrats from across the Commonwealth will come together to endorse Democratic candidates for statewide office, including Constitutional Officers and gubernatorial candidates.

The Caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Belmont, and the Democratic Committee welcomes all eligible participants. Any person who is not 18 years of age at the time of the caucus but will be 18 by the 2018 Primary date on Sept. 11 may pre-register to vote with their City or Town Clerk. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret.

In the spirit of inclusion, youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be add-on delegates, either at their caucus or online at www.massdems.org
                                       
The Belmont Democratic Town Committee typically meets on the first Thursday of the month in Town Hall. For more information on the caucus or the committee please contact the Secretary, Mary Bradley, at madagaluna@gmail.com or check us out on Facebook.