Soccer Night In Belmont Kicks Off Saturday, Sept. 23 With Doubleheader

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It will be an afternoon and evening of top notch soccer the Belmont High School Boys and Girls varsity soccer teams  headline the second annual Soccer Night in Belmont on Saturday, Sept. 23, 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 on Concord Avenue.

  • It is a game of the undefeated as Belmont High Girls at 4-0-0 take on 8th-ranked (by the Boston Globe) and 5-0-0 Winchester game at 4:30 p.m.
  • Two top 20 teams battle it out at 6:30 p.m. when 13th-ranked Belmont Boys (3-1-1) meet 7th-ranked Winchester (4-1-1). 

2nd Soccer and BSA 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.

“This event showcases our successful 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 had a big crowd of 600+ in 2016 despite the rain, and we’re really hoping to exceed that this year.  It’s 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.”

“We had a big crowd of 600-plus in 2016 despite the rain, and we’re really hoping to exceed that this year.  It’s 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.”

Admission to Soccer Night in Belmont is free, and the first 100 kids wearing their team uniform will receive a commemorative soccer gift. 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, Puma, The Rising, Phoenix Landing, with special thanks to Friends of Belmont Soccer  and Belmont High School Athletic Director Jim Davis.

Protect Your Financial Info From Cyber Attack At Library Talk Saturday

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Photo: Protect yourself from cyber attacks and data breaches. 
You may know Town Meeting Member Paul Roberts as a community gadfly, but he is also one of the leading voices in the world of cyber security as editor in chief of The Security Ledger. (If you run a business, manage an office or just worried that your personal financial information is being passed around internet cafes in the Ukraine, check out his website.)
 
After this month’s data breach of Equifax, which supplies credit information and other information services, could potentially affect 143 million consumers in the United States, what better person to talk about protecting yourself from online fraud and scams which Roberts will be doing on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Belmont Public Library.
 
In the two-hour workshop dubbed “Learn How to Protect Your Information Online,” Roberts, the chairman of the town’s Information Technology Advisory Committee, will discuss some common concerns of residents, including:
  • Are you concerned about online fraud such as identity theft or online banking scams?
  • Do you hear terms like “phishing attacks” but not know what people are talking about?
  • Are you interested in taking steps to protect yourself and your sensitive data online?
This class will give you the information and the tools you need to combat primary forms of cyber crime. Paul will then work with attendees on ways to improve their online security including the use of two-factor authentication and password managers.

Belmont Community Chorus Welcome All Singers For Fall Season

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Photo: The Belmont Community Chorus performing at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast in 2015. (Photo Jirair Hovsepian (c))

The Belmont Community Chorus welcomes all singers, ages 12 and up, who love to sing! 

The Fall session begins Monday, Oct. 2, and runs through mid-December. Rehearsals are Monday evenings, 7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Belmont High School Chorus Room, 221 Concord Ave.

For beginner to experienced singers alike, it seeks to provide an opportunity to gather regularly to sing with an ensemble, to improve their vocal skills – no matter the starting point – and to perform at local venues. 

No auditions required. The chorus sings a variety of exciting vocal music from yesterday to today. For more information, contact belmontcommmunitychorus@gmail.com, or visit www.belmontcommunitychorus.org.

Shanah Tovah: Rosh Hashanah Begins At Sunset Wednesday

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Photo: Happy New Year.

It will be a blustery start to the Jewish New Year as Rosh Hashanah 5778 begins at sunset, Wednesday, Sept. 20 and lasts until Friday evening.

Rosh Hashanah – which in Hebrew translates to “head of the year” – is a time of inner renewal and divine atonement. It begins the period of the High Holidays culminating with Yom Kippur on Friday evening, Sept. 29. It is a time for observant people to acknowledge their sins of the previous year and are judged for their transgressions by God.

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 and throw in pieces of bread, which signifies the washing away of sin.

The holiday will effect after school activity and athletic events at Belmont 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. 

Belmont Yard Sales: Sept. 2-3; The Annual Shop Around The Block

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Photo: Garage sales in Belmont.

Here are this weekend’s yard/moving/garage sales happening in the 02478 zip code:

This weekend is the annual Belmont neighborhood “Shop Around The Block” on the streets around the Chenery Middle School at Hurd Road and Oakley Road.

36 JACKSON RD 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 5:00pm (none)
21 SPRINGFIELD ST 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 4:00pm (none)
285 WAVERLEY ST 09/16 (Sat) 8:30am 5:30pm (none)
75 FLETCHER RD 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 12:00pm (none)
12 HURD RD 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 3:00pm neighborhood
53 HURD RD 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 12:00pm (none)
53 SELWYN RD 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 2:00pm (none)
175 WASHINGTON ST 09/16 (Sat) 8:30am 2:00pm (none)
60 SELWYN RD 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 1:00pm (none)
29 SELWYN RD 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 4:00pm (none)
201 OAKLEY RD 09/16 (Sat)
& 09/17 (Sun)		 9:00am 3:00pm (none)
18 HURD RD 09/16 (Sat)
& 09/17 (Sun)		 8:30am 4:00pm (none)
49 TROWBRIDGE ST 09/16 (Sat) 8:30am 2:00pm (none)
169 WASHINGTON ST 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 1:00pm (none)
67 HURD RD 09/16 (Sat) 9:00am 12:00pm (none)
22 IVY RD 09/16 (Sat) 8:30am 3:00pm (none)

Rain, Thunder To Greet Students On First Day Of School in Belmont

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Photo: Off to school.

In addition to the new backpack, pencils and lunch boxes, parents should add umbrellas, slickers and rain boots to the list of item students will bring to the first day of the 2017-18 school year in Belmont that commences today, Wednesday, Sept. 6. 

The need for added weather protection is due to the National Weather Service issuing a flash flood watch at 10:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Periods of showers and embedded thunderstorms are expected to begin in the late morning and lasting into the night with pockets of localized torrential rainfall. Hourly rainfall rates of one to two inches per hour will be possible with the strongest storms, which may lead to localized flooding of streets and low lying areas. 

Day one: 
  • It is a full day for students grades 1-12.
  • There will be no bus service available for Kindergarten students on Sept. 7, 8, and 9. Busing for Kindergarten students will begin on Monday, Sept. 12.
  • It is a Wednesday schedule for all students, meaning an earlier than usual dismissal time.

Purchase meals and plans online here.

Belmont High School

Wednesday is Opening Day for Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12: All grades will report to school at 7:35 a.m. for homeroom. After homeroom, students will attend each class on their Wednesday schedule and meet with teachers.

A Quick Reference Guide, including a list of items for Opening Day and the first week of school, has been uploaded to each ParentPlus and StudentPlus accounts. 

Dismissal times this year are:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 2:25 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 1:25 p.m.
  • Wednesday Early Release will be at 10:30 a.m.

Chenery Middle School

Start Time: 7:55 a.m.

Dismissal Times:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 2:25 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 1:15 p.m.
  • Wednesday Early Release will be at 11 a.m.

Burbank, Butler, Wellington Schools:

Start Time: 8:40 a.m.

Dismissal Times:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 2:50 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 1:40 p.m.
  • Wednesday Early Release will be at 11:40 a.m.

(1/2 Day Kindergarten: 8:40 a.m. to 11:55 a.m.)

Winn Brook School

Start Time: 8:50 a.m.

Dismissal Times:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 3 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 1:50 p.m.
  • Wednesday Early Release will be at 11:50 a.m.

Belmont Yard Sales: Sept. 2-3; Helping Houston on Rutledge Road

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Photo: Garage sales in Belmont.

Here are this weekend’s yard/moving/garage sales happening in the 02478 zip code:

• At the corner of Blanchard Road at Mannix Circle (across from Fresh Pond golf course), Saturday, Sept. 2, 8:30 a.m. to noon. 

• 257 Rutledge Rd., Saturday, Sept. 2, 8:30 p.m. to 10 a.m. All proceeds go to support hurricane relief efforts in Houston.

Boisterous Gathering Highlights 15th Meet Belmont

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Photo: William Lovallo, chair of the Belmont High School Building Committee discuss the process of building a new/renovated high school.

The 15th edition of Meet Belmont was a combination of loud and crowded as a wide swath of town residents came to the Chenery Middle School on Tuesday, Aug. 29 to discover what makes the community run. 

With government, education, local nonprofit and faith groups at tables in the school’s cafeteria, the public had the chance to learn about the vast array of resources, services, and opportunities offered in and around our town.

“I think it went very well and I know that because I’m exhausted.  said Natalie Leino, who as the chair of the Belmont Vision 21 Implementation Committee took over the management of the late summer get together a year ago from Sara Oaklander and Jennifer Paige who held the event at the Belmont Public Library in the early years.

This year saw a greater proportion of racial and ethnic diversity at the event, said Leino.

“I think this year we had a high proportion of first time, just new to Belmont people. We had a nusome groups this year including a South Asian theater group and a Chinese American community group. It feels that as we get more diverse exhibitors it helps makes for a greater variety of people,” she said.

The event was also an opportunity for newbies and, old timers to (re)introduce themselves to local government – a number of folks registered to vote Tuesday while other discussed the latest scheduled blackouts with reps from Belmont Light – and community groups representing everything from residents raising money for PQ Park, intergenerational nature programs, morris dancing, and Belmont history. One of the most visited exhibits was a relief map of the vicinity around Belmont High School which will be the location of a renovated/new school. 

Carrying table placards and answering a myriad of questions from other volunteers, Leino said a small group of volunteers put in a lot of work “but it’s worth it because clearly people love this event,” she said noting the cafeteria was packed for most of the two hours of the exhibit. 

“There aren’t many towns that have something like this to learn about everything in town all in one place,” said Leino.

Last Of The Summer Harvest At The Belmont Farmers Market

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Photo: Belmont Farmers Market.
Apples are king at the Belmont Farmers Market; two months into its harvest and the variety continues to grow, while blueberries and peaches are just about done for the year. But if you need a little bit of summer for your kitchen, tomatoes, cucumbers, and corn continues to be available. 
This is the last week of summer hours – 2 p.m. to 6;30 p.m. – at the market. Starting in September, market days will close at 6 p.m. each Thursday to account for the earlier sunsets.
The Belmont Farmer Market is located in the Claflin Street municipal parking lot at the corner of Cross and Channing behind Belmont Center. 
 
Weekly Vendors
Red’s Best, Stillman Quality Meats, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Dick’s Market Garden, Del Sur Empanadas, Goodies Homemade, Bread Obsession, Hutchins Farm, Freedom Food Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co., Flats Mentor Farm, Nicewicz Family Farm, Brookford Farm
Monthly and Occasional Vendors
Bittersweet Herb Farm, Minuteman Kettle Corn, Pet Wants, Recreo Coffee and Roaster, swissbäkers, Valicenti Pasta Farm. Learn more about our vendors on our website.
Community Table
Green Team: sharing tips for reducing food waste in cafeterias.
Schedule of Events
2 p.m.: Music by Joe Zarro, the coolest pastor in Belmont.
4 p.m.: Story time with the children librarians from the Belmont Public Library. 
4:30 p.m.: Music Together is an internationally recognized program “for children from birth through age seven-and the grownups who love them.” Lenka Zbruz, who directs the Belmont group, says she loves “making music more than anything else.”

7th Annual Green Belmont Garden Tour Sunday, Sept 10

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Photo: Gardening green in Belmont.

Sustainable Belmont is hosting the 7th annual Green Belmont Garden Tour on  Sunday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. come rain or shine.

The free, self-guided garden tour highlights a variety of safe and healthy organic garden practices.

See how:

  • gardeners in Belmont have changed practices after last year’s drought.
  • Learn about hearty perennial fruits, annual vegetables, and landscaping plants.
  • See different composting methods firsthand. Talk with the gardeners about all their growing habits.

This year participants can enter a chance to win a rain barrel or composter at each garden you visit. The more gardens you visit the better chances of winning! The raffle is an effort to help reach out to the Belmont community on issues of sustainability and to encourage healthy yards care in Belmont. Those garden viewers already on Sustainable’s mailing list may still enter the raffle and residency is not a requirement.

Garden tour maps can be picked up from the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. on Sept. 10, from 11 to 3 pm. Those attending can download or follow using Google Maps on the morning of the tour at http://www.sustainablebelmont.net/ But note; the page will not be available until then as a courtesy to our participating gardeners)