Belmont High’ Smarties Battling Saturday for Semi-Finals in Channel 2’s ‘High School Quiz Show’

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Photo: Belmont High’s High School Quiz Show team.

A quartet of smart kids from Belmont High School will take on their peers from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High for the final place in the semi-finals of WGBH 2’s High School Quiz Show today, Saturday, April 30 at 6 p.m.

Lexington High School, Newton North High School and the Advanced Math and Science Academy have all advanced to the semi-finals.

High School Quiz Show is a 16-team tournament-style academic game show hosted by local TV and radio personality Billy Costa. The weekly show features four rounds of competition, with the question and answer sections varying by stage. Each high school chosen sends a team of four into the intellectual fracas, a single-elimination bracket that culminates in the state finals May 21.

Yard Sales Have Returned; Don’t Forget To File For Free Permit

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Photo: Yard sales in Belmont.

With the return of yard sale season, the Belmont Town Clerk’s office reminds residents to file for on of your free yard sale permits by visiting the Town Clerk’s web page, before the start of your sale.

Click here to file for a private sale permit for free.

In order to hold a private sale – also known as garage sales, yard sales, tag sales, – in Belmont, you must first register for a free Private Sale Permit per new Belmont General Bylaw 60-900. To apply for your free Private Sale Permit you will need to fill out the online form and have the following information available: 

  • Your last name, first name, phone number and e-mail address.
  • The address in Belmont where the private sale will be held.
  • The starting and ending dates of the sale. Note that these dates must be on a Saturday and/or Sunday 
  • The starting and ending times for the sale

Please note that for Neighborhood Sales, each address must file for its own Private Sale Permit.*

You will receive the permit via email as soon as you submit the request for the specified date, time, and address. If you do not see an email from townclerk@belmont-ma.gov, check your Spam or Junk Mail folder.

If you do not have access to the internet or email, contact the Town Clerk’s office at (617) 993-2600 or visit us in person at Town Hall for assistance.

Private sales are limited to three per address per calendar year. If you have applied for a permit and the sale is canceled due to rain, contact the Town Clerk to have that permit restored to your annual allowance.

If the database indicates that three such sales have already occurred at the address, no additional permits will be issued for the current calendar year.

Not only do you fulfill the bylaw requirement and receive a bit of free advertising in exchange. Yard Sale hunters can easily search for Belmont sales as a list or on a map. Please visit www.Belmont-ma.gov, Enter Yard Sale in the search bar at the top of the website. 

Patriots Are Back For Boosters Fundraiser, May 16

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Photo:
The champs are back!
 
Members of the New England Patriots are returning to Belmont High School on Monday, May 16 as the Belmont Boosters Club will host the third annual New England Patriots Basketball Game, which pits members of the Belmont community against members of the 2014 Super Bowl winning football team.
Residents, school faculty members, students, business owners and other community members will “square off” against members of the 2014 Super Bowl winning football team at Belmont High School’s Wenner Field House. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
 
Attendees will have autograph opportunities, as well as a chance to win a Pats autographed football.
 
Proceeds will benefit the Belmont Boosters, a 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission is to encourage participation in and provide financial support to the Belmont High School athletics programs.
 
For information on tickets and how you can play in the game, call 617-904-7542.

Stand-Up Campaign Hosting ‘Kindness, Decency and Civil Discourse’ Sunday, May 1st

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Photo: The poster for The Stand-up Campaign event.

The Stand-up Campaign, a non-partisan, non-political initiative formed to promote civil discourse and community engagement, is hosting an interactive community conversation titled “Kindness, Decency and Civil Discourse” on Sunday, May 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Assembly Room at the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave. A social time will run from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Adults, teens, educators and school officials, town administrators and elected officials, coaches and sports administrators, public health and safety officers from Belmont and surrounding communities are encouraged to attend and to share experiences and best practices.

“There is increasing polarity in our country, and we have heard from many in the community who are committed to bringing people of differing opinions together to find common ground,” said Donna Ruvolo, the Stand-Up Campaign’s spokesperson and co-founder. 

“This event will be an upbeat, ‘hands-on’ conversation on ideas and plans for future programming and events.”

The Stand-up Campaign has partnered with Belmont Against Racism and the Unitarian Universalist Social Action Committee for this event.

 For more information, please contact Donna Ruvolo at 617-489-5446.  

Celebrate Plymouth Nursery’s 70th Birthday This Saturday

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Photo: The Plymouth Nursery’s playground.
The Plymouth Nursery School is celebrating its 70th year. And all former PNS students and parents are invited to a birthday party celebration on Saturday, April 30, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the school, located at 582 Pleasant St. 
If you would like to attend please RSVP by email at pnsadmissions@plymouthnurseryschool.com

Since 1946, Plymouth has fostered the intellectual, creative, and social development of thousands of children in the Belmont area. Plymouth’s teachers provide a warm, nurturing environment that is responsive to the developmental needs of each child.

As a co-operative nursery school, parent and teachers are partners in the education and growth of the children and stewards of the school and its mission. Our longevity as an institution would not have been possible without the dedication and generosity of generations of families.

‘The Boston Girls’ Author Anita Diamant Caps One Book One Belmont With Talk

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Photo: Anita Diamant

Best-selling author Anita Diamant, author of “The Red Tent” and “Day After Night,” will read from and talk about her most recent novel, “The Boston Girl,” tonight, Tuesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.

Diamant’s talk is the capstone of a month-long series of events associated with One Book One Belmont, which picked Diamant’s novel as its 2016 selection.

Author Stephen McCauley (“The Object of My Affection,” “Insignificant Others”) will introduce her and her work.

After a question and answer session, books will be available for purchase and signing.

One Book One Belmont 2016 marks the sixth time that the Belmont Public Library has joined with a broad range of co-sponsoring organizations to offer a community-wide reading program.

This year, the programs include an art exhibit, walking tour, programs on women’s suffrage and immigration, an oral history project, book discussion groups and children’s and teen programs

The goal of One Book One Belmont is to build a spirit of community by bringing together individuals and groups through a series of book-related events and discussions and to promote reading as an enjoyable and mind-opening activity. It is patterned after community reads held in hundreds of cities and towns across the country.

Belmont Drug Take-Back Set For Saturday, April 30

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Photo: The Belmont Police will have a collection point Saturday, April 30.

The Belmont Police Department in conjunction with the Belmont Auxiliary Police and the Drug Enforcement Agency will be hosting a Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative to prevent the abuse and theft of old, unused and expired prescription drugs.

The Belmont Police will have a collection point set up at the DPW yard, 37C St., on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Unfortunately, these drugs are highly susceptible to misuse by family and friends. Also, they can be improperly disposed of and end up in our environment, posing a potential health hazard.

Old or unused prescription drugs – no liquids – may be dropped off for free with no questions asked. You won’t even have to get out of your car.

Please take some time to check your medicine cabinet and visit us on Saturday. Unfortunately, these drugs are highly susceptible to misuse by family and friends. Also, they can be improperly disposed of and end up in our environment, posing a potential health hazard.

For more information on the Rx Drug Take Back Initiative or a list of additional collection sites visit the DEA’s website. You may also contact Lt. Daley at kdaley@belmontpd.org. We also have a permanent Rx drug collection kiosk located in the lobby of the police station that is accessible 24/7.

Belmont Recognized as Purple Heart Community

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Photo: Members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart saluting the flag during the National Anthem.

Speaking before Purple Heart recipients and residents on Friday, Belmont Asst. Police Chief  James MacIsaac told the story of three young Belmont residents who died in defense of their country. 

James Paul White (whom the White Field House is named after) killed in 1944 and friends Teddy Lee and Donny Ray who died in Vietnam were just three of hundreds of Belmont residents from the Civil War to Afghanistan whose “stories needed to be told to ensure that the residents of Belmont never forget the young people from Belmont who have answered the call to war time and time again,” said MacIsaac.

It was on that theme of sacrifice for the country that on Friday, April 22, in front of Belmont Public Library with the Belmont Hill School’s a capella group The B-flats singing the National Anthem; Belmont was formally recognized as a Purple Heart Community by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Belmont’s Veteran Services Agent, Bob Upton received a plaque from officers of the Order before veterans, town officials, residents and the handful of Belmontians who were honored with the medal in defense of the country. Belmont is now one of 86 municipalities which “shows our appreciation to our combat wounded, Purple Heart recipients.”

The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members. 

In his keynote speech, MacIsaac told the story of a message that was reportedly found in an old sentry box in Gibraltar.

“God and the soldier all men adore, in a time of trouble and no more. For when war is over and all things righted, God is neglected, and the old soldier is slighted.” 

“It’s a timeless quote that I think we can all agree has some truth to it,” said MacIsaac.

“That’s why I think it is important for the cities and towns that make up this nation to make an effort to remember and recognize those that served and those that were wounded or killed in action in the service of their country,” he said.

“I’m very happy that Belmont has made a step, by being designated a Purple Heart Community, that will help ensure that our old soldiers are not slighted but remembered for their service to our town and country, and I’m honored to partaking in this morning’s ceremony,” said MacIsaac. 

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Trash/Recycling Delayed A Day by Patriots’ Day Holiday

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Photo: Collection delayed a day.

The scheduled curb-side pickup of trash and recycling in Belmont will be pushed back a day due to the Patriots’ Day holiday, Monday, April 18.

As a result, those households, apartments and businesses who have their garbage cans and recycling bins emptied on Monday of this week will need to wait until tomorrow, Tuesday, to drag it to the street.