Second Town Gun Buy Back Event Result in Less Gun, More Food

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Photo: (from left) Patty Mihelich of the Belmont Food Pantry receiving a check for nearly $2,500 from Amy Starzec and Belmont Police Chief Rich McLaughlin.

Belmont’s second annual Gun Buy Back resulted in making the community a bit safer and the Belmont Food Pantry a little richer.

Belmont Police Chief Richard J. McLaughlin reported that the

Held this past June at the town’s DPW yard, residents were able to discard in a safe way unwanted firearms and ammunition, said Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin.

Working in partnership with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, Belmont Religious Council, individual Belmont houses of worship and our regional police partners Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown and Somerville, the Belmont Police collected a variety of firearms during the day-long event including rifles, shotguns, and pistols.

All firearms turned in at the Gun Buyback will be turned over to the Massachusetts State Police for destruction following the law. 

And $2,469.97 in leftover grocery gift cards and cash, which were purchased by individuals, local businesses and houses of worship and given in exchange for the firearms, was donated to the Belmont Food Pantry to help the 60 local families that require assistance in purchasing food each month.

If residents have questions regarding the Gun Buy Back Program or would like information on what to do with unwanted and unused firearms and ammunition, contact Belmont Police Lt. Kristin Daley at 617-993-2554 or via email kdaley@belmontpd.org 

Chenery’s Modulars Have Arrived, Flat Tires and All [Video]

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Photo: The new look at the Chenery: modular units on the tennis court.

When Branchaud Road’s Milo Pikcilingis heard the trucks in the Chenery Middle School parking lot around 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, he had to see what was happening.

As he peered outside, he saw big flatbeds carrying what looked like buildings coming towards his house. Milo’s day was set! 

In fact, what Milo saw were modular classrooms – bathrooms included – ready to be placed on what  was once the school’s tennis courts. 

“So far so good,” said site manager Rich Russo from Littleton-based Triumph Modular overseeing the construction.

The six classrooms – equipt with their own bathrooms and powered with underground electrical wiring – will hold up to 25 students, making a dent in the rapid increase in student enrollment in Belmont schools. The district bought the units for $1.4 million, funded from the town’s “free” cash account. 

“A new modular has a lifespan of between 10 to 15 years, and even longer if maintained,” said Russo.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

For the rest of the day, Russo’s crew would gently back the large units so they would slide in-between units and then moved sideways into place. 

Constructed in the mid-west, the units were shipped to Triumph’s Littleton office before making its final journey to Belmont. On the way here, the crew lost nearly 400 tires due to the pressure of transporting the heavy structure.

Russo said it will take five weeks to make the units ready for students.

As for Milo, his attention to everything going on caught the attention of the workers who made him a “manager,” providing him a hard hat and neon yellow safety vest.

“I’m amazed how fast they built it,” said Milo’s dad, Aaron Pikcilingis as his mom, Laura Burnes, and older sister, Eloise, came by to also watch the excitement.

“Yesterday it was a tennis court and today, classrooms. Amazing.”

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Belmont Yard Sales: September 24

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Photo: Yard sales in Belmont.

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

Permitted yard sales by the Belmont Town Clerk are in bold:

• 92 Bartlett Ave., Saturday, Sept. 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 25 Carleton Rd., Saturday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 48 Concord Ave., Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• 104 Cross St., Saturday, Sept. 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 56 Dartmouth St., Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24 and 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 41 Waverley St., Saturday, Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• 285 Waverley St., Saturday, Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stroll The ‘New’ Belmont Center Saturday Afternoon

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Photo: Poster for the Stroll.

Just a little grass at the newly constructed “triangle” is all that’s needed to finally finish the Belmont Center Reconstruction Project.

So why not commemorate the completion of the $2.8 million project with a walk around the place?

On Saturday, Sept. 24, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Belmont Savings Bank is sponsoring a “Fall Stroll” to celebrate Belmont Center’s Grand Re-opening and rediscover the shops and restaurants in the “Center” while enjoying sales, outdoor dining, live music and promotions.

“We welcome town residents and families to Belmont Center this Saturday as part of our sponsorship for this year’s Fall Stroll,” said Bob Mahoney, CEO and president of Belmont Savings Bank. 

“In particular, we are thrilled to support an event that will drive traffic to the Center’s many vibrant businesses, especially through Belmont Savings’ ‘Stroll the Center’ game where attendees can earn a free area merchant gift card,” Mahoney said.

The “Stroll the Center” game will allow attendees earn a free merchant gift card, plus be entered to win an additional $100 gift card. 

People can pick up a game card from the BSB tent:  

  • As they visit merchants they should ask for a sticker to be placed on their card.
  • When they come back to the Bank’s tent, they can RANDOMLY pull a gift card out of a basket. These cards were donated by the merchants and range in value from $5-$20.
  • In addition, their card enters them to win 1 of 10 $100 gift cards from the stores on the game card. Winners will get to pick which store they would like a gift card.

Opening Reception for ‘Three Artists: Voices Surface’ Friday at Gallery of Art

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Photo: “OUT ON THE TOWN” by Anne Johnstone.
The opening reception for THREE ARTISTS: VOICES SURFACE, the new show and exhibit at the Belmont Gallery of Art takes place Friday night, Sept. 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gallery in the Homer Building in the Town Hall complex.
The exhibit of mixed media collage art features the distinct styles from three unique women artists: Anne Johnstone and Belmont Art Association members Helen Canetta and Carol Wintle.
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“SECRET SPACES” by CAROL WINTLE

Live acoustic jazz by Charlotte Dumont and Daniel Shapiro will be featured on an evening of vibrant art, interesting people and live music.
A gallery talk about the show will be held on Sunday, Oct. 23, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
The show will run ’til Nov. 20.
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“APRIL” by HELEN CANETTA.

Find Out What the Future Holds For A New Belmont Library Wednesday

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Photo: Belmont Public Library Director Peter Struzziero.

What does the future hold for the Belmont Public Library?
Find out tonight, Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the library’s Assembly Room as the Library Feasibility Committee and the Belmont Board of Library Trustees presents the initial findings of a feasibility study underway focusing on the library’s building and grounds.
Architect J. Stewart Roberts will be there to answer questions on what is being done to the current library and the possibilities of renovating or new construction on the site. Roberts will take input insight, and feedback from those in attendance.
Light refreshments will be served. 
Contact Library Director Peter Struzziero at 617-993-2851 for more information.
 

Bright Road’s Milo Substitutes Lemonade For Cookies

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Photo: Service with a smile.

Now, you would think that on a hot summer Friday, Sept. 9 that the best service a young entrepreneur could provide the public is to set up a lemonade stand and rake in the quarters.

But in a tasty counterintuitive marketing strategy, young Milo of Bright Road thought, “Who doesn’t like freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies?” 

So with a little help, Milo made a batch and sold them for two-bits to eager editors and people stepping off the MBTA bus stop near his house. 

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Kids Yoga, Face Painting, Zucchini At Belmont’s Farmers Market

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Photo: What’s in the Belmont Farmers Market this week.

It’s yoga for youngsters, making faces and recently-harvested produce highlighting Market Day in Belmont today, Thursday, Sept. 8, in the municipal parking lot in Belmont Center. 

This week is the start of shorter hours for the Farmers Market, but only by a half hour, as it will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Vendors will have a wide variety of ciders, wines, syrups, fish, eggs, meat, cheese, crackers, bread, produce, flowers, snacks, fish & more. And this week includes kale, peppers, zucchini and other ground produce in abundance. 

PERFORMERS IN THE EVENTS TENT
• 2 p.m.: Bob Leger returns to sing and perform on guitar with classic, pop, rock, country folk and blues songs.
• 4:30 p.m.: Yoga for Kids with Belmont’s own Groundwork Yoga & Wellness – Belmont
• 4:30 p.m.: Face painting with Amber, a resident who loves transforming faces.

The municipal parking lot in Belmont Center, at the intersection of Cross Street and Channing Road behind the former Macy’s store on Leonard Street.

Labor Day Washout: Rain/Wind on Final Day of Underwood Pool Season

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Photo: Underwood Pool

It’s looking like it will be a wet end of what had been a gloriously hot and sunny swimming season at the Underwood Pool as the remnants of a hurricane that struck Florida on Thursday wanders its way to the region. 

The National Weather Service has already issued a hazardous weather outlook for Belmont and most of lower New England beginning Sunday night and lasting into Tuesday. While the track and intensity of the now Tropical Storm Hermine remain a question mark for the area, expect rain and gusty winds for Monday and into Tuesday. 

The pool is scheduled to be open this holiday weekend from 10 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and on its final day, Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

No word from staff at the pool or the Recreation Department whether the pool will open for a final, rainy day. But stay tuned to the Belmontonian for updates.