Tomatoes, Corn And Much More on Market Day

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Photo: In season heirloom tomatoes.
A little rain today – OK, it may even be a bit stormy –  should be gone by 2 p.m. and Market Day should be a good one. Local corn continues to come in along with more tomatoes and raspberries. 
Try out this recipe from Bon Appétit magazine using many products that you can purchase at the market: bread, tomatoes, herbs and mozzarella.
This week’s occasional vendors
Turtle Creek Winery, Warren Farm & Sugarhouse, Belmont Acres Farm, True Grounds Coffee House

The Market’s weekly vendors
Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Dick’s Market Garden, Stillman Quality Meats, Boston Smoked Fish Co., Goodies Homemade, Sfolia Baking Company, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co., Flats Mentor Farm, Couët Farm & Fromagerie.
The market is located in the Belmont Center Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Cross Street at Channing Rd. on Thursday afternoons, 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. until October.
Community Table
  • Pop-Up Library at the Market
Schedule of Events
  • 2 p.m.: Join Tom Cutrone, owner of Savinos Grill of Belmont, and sample their delicious Italian-Mediterranean options at the market. Savinos cuisine features creative seasonal pairings of fresh, local and imported foods, the perfect complement to a summer day at the farmer’s market.
  • 4 p.m.: Story Time with the Children’s Librarians from the Belmont Public Library.
  • 4:30 p.m.: Activities for kids with the Mount Auburn Cemetery include making and decorating bird’s nests and flowers using paper plates and other materials. We will also be handing out our free Kid’s Nature Guides for the summer season. 

Have All Your Sharpening Done At The Farmers Market

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Photo: Knife and tool sharpening today.
Siraco Sharpening Service, a Market Day favorite, will be at the Belmont Farmers Market today, Thursday, July 7. Siraco’s sharpening van will be parked next to the market for all of your knife and tool-sharpening needs.
Flats Mentor Farm has joined the market for the rest of the season, with an incredible variety of Asian vegetables. This week, be on the look out for strawberries, green beans and a wide range of lettuce. 
Open 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays through October, the Farmers Market is located in the municipal parking lot at the corner of Cross Street and Channing Road.
 
Community Table
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: State Rep. Dave Rogers is holding office hours. 
Events

3 p.m.: Joe Zarro Belmont resident and pastor at the Plymouth Congregational Church, Zarro will be playing a series of solo acoustic covers, ranging from classic rock to folk.

4 p.m.: Storytime Enjoy stories and songs about food and farms, an event for “children of all ages.” 

4:30 p.m.: Jeremy Doran A Belmont resident, Doran will be performing music on piano this week. A world traveler, Jeremy has lived in the Boston area for the past seven years. He plays with folk bands, classical vocal and instrumental ensembles, as a solo performer, and in local churches.

Fireworks, Kids Events Fill The Schedule Near Belmont On The 4th of July

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Photo: Fireworks in Newton.

Unfortunately, Belmont does not hold a 4th of July celebration, but many neighboring and close-by town and city do. Here are just a few events and fireworks in adjacent communities and in Boston. 

• Lexington: The annual Fourth of July Carnival takes place at Hastings Park through July 4 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Youth Games take place on July 4th at 10 a.m.

• Boston: Fireworks will fill the sky over the Charles River adjacent to the Esplanade after the Boston Pops concert just after 10 p.m. 

• Newton: Not just fireworks but also an open air market, food vendor and children’s activities beginnng at 1 p.m. at Albermarle/Halloran Field, located on Watertown Street, Route 16. The fireworks get underway at 9 p.m.

Today, from 10 a.m. to noon, is Kids Morning (for children from 3 to 12) at Newton Centre Playground at Tyler Terrace. There will be a Grande Pet Parade, a Teddy Bear Parade, Decorated Doll Carriage Promenade and Foot Races. There will also be free ice cream by Cabot’s Ice Cream

• Waltham: Concert and festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. with the fireworks beginning at 9:15 p.m. at Leary Field, 19 Athletic Field Rd.

• Arlington: At Robbins Farm Park, just over Route 2 from Belmont. Beginning at 6 p.m., there will be musical entertainment provided by thea “The Reminisants”, and of course, the Boston Pops Orchestra and fireworks on the giant screen (fireworks start at 10:30pm). The event is free and open to all.

Ready, Set … Last Minute Things To Know on July 1

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Photo: Don’t let traffic get you down this July 4th holiday.

Make no mistake about it; with the 4th of July on a Monday, today, Friday, July 1 is the beginning of a four-day holiday for a majority of Belmontians. So here are a few helpful tips before you start your holiday 

• Heading out of town on the roads today? Take time to get the latest travel advisories.

For traffic and road conditions, drivers may use new technology:

  • Travelers may dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions for more than one thousand miles of roadways in Massachusetts and for some roads in other states.
  • Visit the website, mass511.com, to find real-time traffic and incident information.
  • Access MassDOT traffic camera images of portions of Rt. 3, Rt. 6, Rt. 28, and I-90, I-91, I-93, and I-95 by visiting:  http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/TrafficInformationMap
  • Download the Ridewise app to obtain travel times for various routes including Route 3, Route 6, I-93 and portions of I-90.  The app is available on Android and iPhone.

• Stock up on best-sellers, get the books on your reading list or find that favorite film as the Belmont Public Library will be open until 5 p.m., Friday, July 1. It will be closed until Tuesday, July 5.

• If you are looking to pay that parking ticket, town offices will be closing at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 1.

• Looking to sneak out of town via the commuter rail or trolley? You’ll have to dig a bit deeper in you wallet as the MBTA is raising fees today, Friday, July 1. Also, if you are traveling by the T on the 4th, there is no fare on the subway lines after 9:30 p.m. 

• Staying in town? Not leaving ’til later? Then come to the Benton Library for a bit of quiet time  at 75 Oakley Rd. on the corner of Oakley and Old Middlesex. The Benton is open on the first Friday evening of every month.

 

Market Day in Belmont: Stock Up For The 4th

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Photo: Greens are in the market. 

Take time out before the July 4th holiday to stock up on the freshest produce and sundries on Market Day, Thursday, June 30.

The last June Market features strawberries, arugula, carrots, garlic scapes, leafy greens and lots of fresh peas.

Occasional vendors this week are Turtle Creek Winery, Warren Farm & Sugarhouse, Belmont Acres Farm and True Grounds Coffee House.

Performances in the Events Tent

  • 2 p.m.: Bob Leger returns play guitar and sing classic, pop, rock, country folk and blues songs.
  • 4 p.m.: Storytime – Stories for all ages, sponsored by the Belmont Public Library.
  • 4:30 p.m.: Music Together of Belmont: music for children from birth through age 7, and the grownups who love them.
  • 5 p.m.: Solomon Murungu returns with music showing the culture, folklore, and wisdom of the Shona people of Zimbabwe.

Traffic advisory: There will be sidewalk work under the Belmont Center railroad bridge weekdays through July 7. This has caused some delays, but the roads are open. Work stops at 4 p.m.; the market is open until 6:30 p.m.

Find out what’s at the Market each week  Sign up for the email newsletter for weekly info about vendors, performers and special events. Follow the Market on Facebook and Twitter.

SNAP payments: The market accepts and doubles SNAP benefits (formerly called Food Stamps) up to an extra $25 per Market day, while matching funds last. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Belmont Food Collaborative to support programs like this.

Road/Sidewalk Work At Center’s Tunnel To Continue for Next 2 Weeks

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Photo: Tunnel 

Beginning on Thursday, June 23 and continuing for approximately two weeks, Charles Contracting will begin curbing and sidewalk construction under the Belmont Center bridge on Concord Avenue. Construction hours are anticipated to be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Two-way traffic flow will be maintained at most times, however, residents are advised that at times, and only during off-peak traffic hours, alternating traffic flow will be required. 

Traffic impacts during the morning rush hour, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., are expected to be minimal.

For additional information, refer to the Town of Belmont website for additional information.

Belmont Yard Sales: June 25–26

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Photo: Yard sale.

Yard sales in the “Town of Homes.”

• 48 Concord Ave., Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• 28-30 Francis St., Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• 116 Gilbert Rd., Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 77 Maple St., Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to Noon.

• 6 Pine St., Saturday, June 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• 17 Ridge Rd., Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 78 Unity Ave., Saturday, June 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 60 Washington St., Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 45 Wellesley Rd., Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26, from noon to 5:30 p.m.

Summer Solstice Will Be Special Monday With A Rare Strawberry Moon

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Photo: That moon.
 
Today, June 20, is the Summer Solstice, the longest “day” of the year. Sunrise in Belmont is 5:07 a.m. with sunset at 8:24 p.m., or 15 hours and 17 minutes of sunlight.
 
But that’s not as long as London, where the sun will rise at 4.45 a.m. and sunset at 10.34 p.m.
 
Since the sun is at its highest point of the year in the northern hemisphere, check out your shadow at 1 p.m.; it’s your shortest shadow of the year.
 
Summer officially begins at 6:34 p.m. on Monday, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
 
And 2016 is a special year, as the solstice coincides with the full moon, known as the “Strawberry Moon” – or Full Rose Moon in Europe – which is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence as the two events coincide once every 70 years. The last time the solstice and the Strawberry Moon occurred at almost the same time was in 1948. 
 
The forecast for Monday is for clear skies all day until midnight, so there will be great viewing of the moon rise.
 
Around the time of the summer solstice, is the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvest. Next to Christmas, Midsummer which occurs from June 21-23, is Scandinavia’s most popular holiday. In Sweden, it’s traditional to eat your way through the entire day, which means eating a lot of potatoes and herring as well as the first strawberries of the year.