Photo:Santa in Belmont for the second time this week.
Each year, Santa Claus makes his annual visit to the Belmont Lions Club’s Children Christmas Party via the MBTA commuter rail, always arriving at Belmont station on the 2:30 p.m. train.
Because he’s ageless, Santa only has to pay $2.75 from his trip from the North Pole.
Santa recruited Belmont’s Becca Pizzi as his special elf this year.
Photo: Cathy Cresta has her tree.
It didn’t take long for Cathy Cresta to find the right Christmas tree for her house.
Wandering through the rows of evergreens from a farm in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Cresta pointed one which turned out to be “just right” and soon it was being carried to her car.
Getting the tree was as easy as knowing where she would buy it: in front of the Lions Club on Royal Road at the entrance of Belmont Center.
“I’ve been coming here my entire life,” said the life-long resident who lives currently on Beech Street. “And I tell everyone at work at McLean Hospital they can not beat the quality of these trees. They’re beautiful.”
Cresta is just one of hundreds of residents and customers from neighboring towns who come to the 52nd annual Christmas tree sale held by the Belmont Lions Club.
And beginning this weekend, the crowds will be coming to find that particular tree for the holiday season.
Kevin Vona said that many of the 50 volunteers – who make up four different teams – will look at the schedule which will be pulling duty during the first two weekends of December “because we know that some shifts we’ll be busy for the entire time we’re here,” he said.
Dan MacAuley, a Lions past president, said the tree sale is the biggest fundraiser the Lions run each year.
The sale is open from noon to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, “until the last tree is gone” which happens about a week before Christmas.
The prices for each tree is according to the height indicated on board next to the wrapping area.
While it is a fundraiser, “every penny of this goes to charity. We don’t get a cent from this,” said MacAuley.
The tree sale help supports Mass Eye Research, Lions Club International Foundation, Diabetes Awareness, scholarships for students at Belmont High School, community activities, Lions Clubhouse Historic Preservation and more activities.
And the Lions went the extra mile when they came to the rescue of the truck driver who brought the first of two loads of trees to Belmont. As he was beginning his 14 hour trip up north, the truck’s steering power line broke, said MacAuley.
“Some good people in Belmont including Frankie French put together a repair to get him back to Canada,” he said.
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For the first time, Belmont’s Highway Department will accept uncut cardboard packaging for recycling.
Residents will be able to drop off cardboard – which will need to be folded at the Department of Public Works Town Yard – on Saturday, Dec. 3 between 9 a.m. and noon.
While Belmont’s trash and recycling contractor accept cardboard, it must be cut into pieces no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet and tied or taped together to make a stack no more than nine inches high.
The new pilot program will take place on three Saturdays – the other dates are Jan. 7 and Feb. 4 – during the holiday season. The DPW will evaluate the scheme in February to determine if it will become an annual service.
Photo: A giving tree at Belmont Savings.
To help brighten the season for local children, Belmont Savings Bank is supporting the “Big Wishes Gift Drive” in its Belmont, Watertown and Cambridge branches to benefit the Home for Little Wanderers.
From now until Dec. 15, those interested in participating can stop by Belmont Savings Bank branches in Belmont, Watertown or Cambridge and select an ornament from the giving trees on display. Each ornament indicates the gender and age of a child, as well as the type of gift needed.
All unwrapped gifts dropped off at Belmont Savings will be delivered to the Home for Little Wanderers, which serves children and youth from birth to 21, making a positive impact on more than 7,000 lives each year through a wide network of programs.
Located in Waltham, Dorchester, Roslindale, Plymouth, Walpole, Roxbury, Norwood, Brighton, Somerville and Bridgewater, The Home has an “open door structure that allows children, families, and young adults access services at any point in continuum of care, based on their needs.” Services include: adoption, foster care, clinical and family support, residential care, special education, youth aging out, case management, and program evaluation.
For additional information, please visit Belmont Savings Bank’s website.
Photo: Santa and a tentative fan.
Belmont Savings Bank and the Belmont Center Business Association are hosting the 26th annual ‘Turn on the Town” holiday tree lighting on Thursday evening, Dec. 1.
The night’s events – including the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus on a Belmont Fire truck at 6:20 p.m., food, singing and a petting zoo – will take place on Leonard Street between Channing Road and Alexander Avenue from 5:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
After turning on the lights on the holiday tree located next to the Bellmont Cafe, the Claus’ will head over to the Belmont Savings Bank – the event’s main sponsor – headquarters at 2 Leonard St. where children (and adults and a few pets) can have free photos taken with Jolly Ol’ St. Nick.
In this season of giving, RE/MAX Leading Edge is sponsoring the annual Belmont Food Pantry Drive where it will match any cash/check donations that they collect for the Belmont Food Pantry with a matching gift to the Foundation for Belmont Education. RE/MAX will be collecting donations in front of Il Casale at the former fire stationaa
Photo: (from left) Belmont Savings’ Hal Tovin, COO; Sam Murphy, executive customer support; Katie Conachy, branch manager; and Bob Mahoney, president and CEO.
On Tuesday, Nov. 22, Belmont Savings Bank President and CEO Bob Mahoney under the guise of Plymouth Pilgrim took his annual Thanksgiving tour of the bank’s branches in Belmont, Waltham, Watertown, Cambridge and Newton as he and his “Turkey Brigade” delivered turkeys to employees for the holiday.
The turkeys were fresh from Bob’s Turkey Farm in Lancaster, Mass. Turkeys that colleagues opted to donate went to the Waltham YMCA.
Photo: Musicians from Belmont.
After recent outstanding performances, Belmont High School music students were selected to appear in senior district festivals, recommended for state-wide ensembles and accepted to a national regional chorus, according to Arto Asadoorian, director of visual & performing arts for the Belmont Public Schools.
“Congratulations to all of the students listed above for the hours of practice that led to this honor, to the teachers whose dedication and expertise helped to guide them, and to their families for their continual support and encouragement over the years,” said Asadoorian.
“It is rare for a school district to have so many music students achieve at such a high level,” said Asadoorian.
“This level of student recognition is a testament to the commitment our school district and community have made to music education over several decades, and should serve as a source of pride for the entire town,” he said.
Photo: Arrangement for the holidays.
This Saturday, Dec. 3, the Belmont Garden Club is hosting a Holiday House Tour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m..
Five Belmont homes will be beautifully decorated for the season with greens, floral and craft designs by club members. Come and enjoy a self-guided tour filled with creative and inspiring ideas.
Advance tickets are on sale for $35 at Champion Sporting Goods or by calling 617-484-4889. On the day of the tour, tickets may be purchased for $40 at the Belmont Public Library from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. where all ticket holders can pick up tour maps.
The Holiday House Tour is Belmont Garden Club’s biggest fundraiser for the year with proceeds supporting civic programs such as community plantings, hospital therapy with the residents of Belmont Manor, college scholarships and the Woodland Garden at the Belmont Public Library.
For more information please visit the club’s website.
Photo: Belmont veterans.
The Belmont Public Schools will be holding its annual Veterans’ Day exercises on Thursday, Nov. 10 with visits by Belmont and area residents who have served their country to town schools.
Thursday’s schedule: