This Week: Primary Voting, Basketball Playoffs, and a Leap Day

February 29, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Go vote Tuesday.

On the government side of “This Week”

The Planning Board will hold an early morning meeting beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, March 2 at Town Hall. It will discuss the proposed zoning amendments for single residence C zoning and a number of issues regarding GR districts.

• Today, Feb. 29, is Leap Day, which is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure, because the Earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days. It is also Sadie Hawkins Day, and if you know what that is, you are at least 50 years old and remember newspaper comic strips. (It’s when a woman proposes marriage to a man.) Also, it is a tradition in Ireland and Britain that women may propose marriage only in leap years.

• Music & Movement with Rubi, a movement and music program recommended for ages 3 to 5 (but 2-year-olds are welcome) will be held in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room on Monday, Feb. 29. There will be two sessions: 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

• ESL Conversation Circle for beginners takes place on Monday, Feb. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Girls Who Code will meet on Monday, Feb. 29 from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• The Belmont Food Collaborative Board meeting will occur at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29 in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Tuesday, March 1 is the Massachusetts Presidential Primary Election. Go out and vote.

• Tuesday is story time at both of Belmont libraries.

Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer-run library, at 10:30 a.m. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may visit with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.
The Belmont Public Library on Concord Avenue will have preschool story time at 9:30 a.m.
Story Time for 2’s and 3’s is at 10:30 a.m.

• The Council on Aging holds Living Alone Social Group on Tuesdays at 2:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. It’s an exciting opportunity for seniors who live alone to increase their social supports and connections. Each week begins with an activity or presentation, and concludes with snacks and socializing. If you live alone and are looking for a chance to meet others, please contact facilitator Blake Benton, Social Work Intern, to join: bentonh@simmons.edu, or in-person at the Beech Street Center.

• The Belmont Public Library’s Teen Book Club is meeting in the Young Adult Room from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 to discuss An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet.

• Belmont High Boys’ Basketball host Brighton High in the first round of the MIAA Division 2 North Sectional Playoffs. Tipoff is 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 at the Wenner.

• It’s early release Wednesday (March 2) for Belmont’s four elementary schools and at Belmont High School.

• Infant Storytime, for infants up to 12 months and pre-walkers, includes a short program of songs and rhymes followed by time to play and socialize. The fun takes place on Wednesday, March 2, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Chenery Middle School students are invited on early release Wednesday to head over to the library’s Assembly Room on Wednesday. March 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., to do your homework while enjoying some hot chocolate. This is for middle schoolers only so high schoolers are on their own. This event is provided for free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.

• What is becoming an annual event, the Belmont Public Library is proving room for the assembling of Peeps dioramas this Wednesday, March 2 at 2 p.m. in the Flett Room.

• The Belmont Boosters welcomes New York Giant Mark Herzlich to the Beech Street Center at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 who will talk about being a cancer survivor and read from his book “What it Takes – Fighting For My Life and My Love of the Game”

• Sustainable Belmont meets on Wednesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• Parents of Music Students (POMS) will be holding its monthly meeting Wednesday, March 2, 7 p.m. in the Belmont High School’s Conference Room.

• The Belmont High School Band Concert will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 in the school’s auditorium. The Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Jazz Collective will perform under the direction of director Paul Ketchen.

• Belmont Historical Society Board meeting Wednesday, March 2 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Claflin Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• Storytime for 1’s for walkers and toddlers under 24 months will take place Thursday, March 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room, sharing simple stories, songs, and nursery rhymes and end with time to play.

• If you love building with LEGOs, this program is for you. The LEGOs Club lets kids from Kindergarten through 2nd-grade build with supplied LEGOs and the Belmont Public Library put all the creations on display in the Children’s Room. The fun begins Thursday, Oct. 1, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the library’s Assembly Room.

• The Belmont High Girls’ Basketball squad is heading to Marblehead High to take on the Magicians in a first round match in the MIAA Division 2 North Sectional Playoffs. on Thursday, March 3. 7 p.m. start.

• The 7th- and 8th-grade Chorus and Orchestra Concert for the Chenery Middle School will be in performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 3 in the school’s auditorium.

• Healthy Living for Your Brain & Your Body is a free workshop by the Alzheimer’s Association. will be held Friday, Mar. 4 at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. Join us to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging. This one-time workshop is open to all ages.

‘The Heist!’: Chenery Artist Presents One-Night Only Show Wednesday

February 23, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: What was lost and yet to be found nearly 26 years ago.

On March 18, 1990, two men wearing Boston Police uniforms overpowered a pair of night guards and stole some of the world’s great works of art that belonged to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood.

That now iconic art theft is the impetus for a unique and exciting arts show presented by student artists from the Chenery Middle School.

“The Heist!” a one-night only art performance, on Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., explores and interprets the historic event as student tour guides will lead groups through the art show in which students present their interpretations of the works lost in the robbery more than a quarter of a century ago.

Imagined, created and hosted by the eigth grade art elective classes (Printmaking, Sculpture, and Drawing & Painting) at the Chenery, the show will include special guests from the Gardner Museum, according to Kristen Ripley of the Chenery art department.

Eat Out Wednesday and Help Belmontian Club Get Warm PJs to Kids in Need

February 23, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: PJ Day at the High School.

Go out to eat this Wednesday and help Belmont High School’s Belmontian Club provide warm PJs for kids in need.

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, head to Bertucci’s at the Alewife MBTA station for snacking or dinner and the restaurant will donate 15 percent of their sales that day, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. to Cradles to Crayons, through the Belmont High School Belmontian Community Service Club.

It extends to all dine-in, takeout, or delivery orders. You will need this coupon—either a printed copy or on a smartphone.

Screen Shot 2016-02-23 at 5.39.36 PM

Sponsored by the Belmontian Club, this Bertucci’s promotion is part of the ongoing campaign to raise money and warm pj’s for Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization in Brighton, which provides gently-used clothes and gear for needy Massachusetts children from infancy through middle school.

The Burbank, Butler, and Wellington elementary schools joined Belmont High School in sponsoring “PJ Days at School,” the club collected funds on a recent Saturday at the Belmont Star Market, and the Belmont Car Wash on Trapelo Road will support Cradles to Crayons on Saturday, March 26. Club members will dry cars from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will receive a donation of $1 per car and all of the tips.

So far, the Belmontian Club has raised over $2,600 and 108 pairs of new pajamas from these activities, with Bertucci’s and the car wash still to go.

This Week: Special Town Meeting Monday, Screening ‘Selma’ Wednesday

February 22, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Town Meeting.

On the government side of “This Week”:

Special Town Meeting convenes at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 22 at the Chenery Middle School auditorium.
The Belmont Board of Selectmen will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, in the teacher’s cafe in the Chenery Middle School. They’ll meet in executive session to discuss Cushing Village and hear a fiscal 2017 budget update.
The Belmont School Committee is meeting at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22 at the Chenery Middle School to discuss what’s happening at the Special Town Meeting.
The Planning Board is meeting at Town Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. On the agenda will be an update on Cushing Village, changes to a subcommittee to review possible Airbnb regulations and proposed Zoning amendments for single residency C zoning.
The Belmont School Committee is meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23 at the Chenery Middle School to discuss the fiscal 2017 budget and an update on the fine arts department.
The Warrant Committee is meeting in joint session with the School Committee and Board of Selectmen at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24 at the Chenery to hear the news on the fiscal 2017 budget for both town and schools.

• Music & Movement with Rubi, a movement and music program recommended for ages 3 to 5 (but 2-year-olds are welcome) will be held in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room on Monday, Feb. 22. There will be two sessions: 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

• ESL Conversation Circle for beginners takes place on Monday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Girls Who Code will meet on Monday, Feb. 22 from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

• Belmont Storm Water Working Group is holding its monthly meeting on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• Tuesday is story time at both of Belmont libraries.

Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer-run library, at 10:30 a.m. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may visit with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.
The Belmont Public Library on Concord Avenue will have preschool story time at 9:30 a.m.
Story Time for 2’s and 3’s is at 10:30 a.m.

• The Parent/Teacher Band will hold its first rehearsal in the Chenery Middle School auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

• Students in Belmont’ four elementary school have an early release Wednesday, Feb. 24.

• The Belmont Public Library is holding a Crafternoon in which kids can make a Pinecone Critter on Wednesday, Feb 24 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Kids in grades K-4 can have fun turning pinecones into all kinds of animals!

• In honor of African American History Month, and in conjunction with the Council on Aging’s African American History Month Film Series, the Belmont Public Library invites the public to its premiere showing of the film, Selma, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb 24. The biopic follows Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legendary march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama during the height of the civil rights movement. Enjoy popcorn and refreshments on the library while you watch.

• The Chenery Middle School Art Department is holding its “Elective Collective” on Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the school’s auditorium.

• Storytime for 1’s – for walkers and toddlers under 24 months – will be held Thursday, Feb. 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room. We’ll share simple stories, songs, and nursery rhymes, and end with time to play.

• It’s senior night for Belmont High Girls’ Basketball as the playoff-bound Marauders host 17th ranked Lexington (15-5) at the Wenner at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25.

• The Chenery Middle School Grade 6 Band, Chorus and Orchestra Concert will take place at the school’s auditorium from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25.

• Jon Mattleman will present a talk, “50 Shades of Parenting” on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Belmont High School auditorium. A licensed social worker, Mattleman will teach parents the tools and strategies to immediately improve the emotional and mental health of your teen and your relationship with them. Join Mattlema as he presents approaches which have proven to be critical to building healthy relationships.

• The Friends of the Belmont Public Library present author David Updike as part of its Library Friends Author Series on Thursday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Updike will speak about his father John Updike’s early life in a talk entitled Family Archeology: Pictures, Objects, Words . David Updike combines family photographs with prose from John Updike’s stories and memoirs (in addition to excerpts from short stories written by John’s mother), to reveal important aspects of John Updike’s life.

• Literacy Playgroup is a parent and child group that supports child’s language and literacy development on Friday, Jan. 29, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library. You’ll play, read, sing and take home new ideas. Presented by educators from the CFCE grant program; for children age 4 and under.

• The Belmont League of Women Voters Brown Bag Lunch program will discuss sexual harassment and sexual abuse in the schools, particularly in the high school. The free talk takes place Friday, Feb. 26, noon to 2 p.m. in the Flett Room.

• Sgt. Daniel M. Clark, known as “The Singing Trooper” will be performing at the Beech Street Center on Friday, Feb. 26 at 1:15 p.m. During his 20-year tenure with the State Police, Clark performed at more than 2,500 Federal, State, Local, and Military functions. Clark is a Massachusetts icon and has performed with the Boston Pops as well as sung the National Anthem for the New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Celtics. All are welcome to his long-awaited return performance at the Beech Street Center. This event is offered free of charge thanks to a partnership between Hammond Real Estate and the Beech Street Center.

• It’s OTAKUrabu at the Belmont Public Library. Watch anime, do a craft/activity, plan for future events and nibble on some Japanese snacks (while they last – they’ll go fast) on Friday, Feb. 26 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Provided free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Just drop in, no registration required.

This (Short) Week: Historical Society Talks Subways, Mad Science, Just Dance Party

February 16, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Mad Science: Up, Up and Away.

On the government side of This Week:

The Vision 21 Implementation Committee meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at Town Hall.

• Due to the holiday, garbage and recycling pickup is delayed by a day. So if your pickup date is Tuesday, you’ll need to wait ’til Wednesday to drag you trash out to the curb.

• Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer-run library, on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 10:30 a.m. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may attend with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is located at 75 Oakley Rd. at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.

• The staff from US Rep. Katherine Clark’s office will be available for walk-in office hours at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

• If you have a bored middle and high school student at home on this rainy day, head over to the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library on Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. where the staff will have board games for your children and you to play. The library has lots of games, but you can also bring your own board or video games. For teens 5th grade and up.

• The International Fiction Book Club will discuss Life and Death are Wearing Me Out by Mo Yan on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room. Join the club for fun conversation, tea, and snacks. Everybody is welcome. If you have questions or need help finding a copy of the book, contact Kylie at ksparks@minlib.net.

• The Belmont Historical Society is hosting author Doug Most who will discuss his book The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry that Built America’s First Subway on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. All are welcome to attend this free program.

• Here is a winter recess activity that fun and educational: Mad Science: Up, Up and Away is a spellbinding science show illustrates the principles of air pressure. Children will be amazed as a soda bottle is crushed by the atmosphere, see a hot air balloon made out of a dry cleaning bag, and get the chance to watch a hovercraft in action. The fun takes place on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

It’s Senior Night as the Belmont High School Boys Basketball team honors a great group of players before its game with Lexington at 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 18 in the Wenner Field House.

• Staff from State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office will be holding office hours at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Friday, Feb. 19 beginning at 10 a.m.

• Teens, is vacation getting boring? Come and have fun with a Just Dance Party at the Belmont Public Library on Friday, Feb. 19 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Teens 5th grade and up welcome to attend. No sign up necessary; just drop in.

Town Election Update: Where are Precinct 7’s Candidates? Election Workers Needed

February 11, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker 2 Comments

Photo: Election workers at Precinct 5.

Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman told the Belmontonian Wednesday that she anticipates by next Tuesday’s deadline there will be at least a dozen candidates seeking the 12 three-year Town Meeting Member seats up for grabs in each precinct at April’s Town Election.

Well, all the precincts except Precinct 7, Belmont’s perennial laggard when it comes to residents running for Town Meeting. And this year the numbers are disappointing by even 7’s minimum standards.

With 15 seats (12 three-year members and three one-year members) up for grabs in Precinct 7 – located in western Belmont abutting the Cambridge city limits – so far only five incumbents are seeking re-election and three residents have been out nomination paper, leaving nearly half the seats wanting of a candidate.

The lack of people running could result in almost a majority of seats being won by just a handful of write-in votes.

That’s not the case in neighboring Precinct 8 where nine incumbents are running while eight residents have taken out nomination papers so voters will have 17 residents to vote for 12 seats.

The same volume of candidates is being seen in Precinct 1 where nine residents want to keep their Town Meeting seats as nine registered voters have taken out papers.

So if anyone in Precinct 7 would like to make a quick decision to run for one of those open seats, here is what you have to do:

To be considered a new candidate for Town Meeting Member, you must be at least 18 years old and a registered Belmont voter. If you are currently serving as a Town Meeting Member, who was elected at a caucus, not by Town ballot, you will need to submit nomination papers as a new candidate.

Signatures of at least 25 registered voters of your precinct are required on the nomination papers. The Town Clerk must certify these signatures, so we always suggest obtaining about 20 percent more just to be safe. Deadline is 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Election Workers Still Needed

The town continues to seek residents who would like to serve as election workers who will properly staff the town’s eight polling locations.

Applicants must be registered to vote in Belmont. Training is provided in advance of every election: You’ll learn how elections work.

Poll workers earn $10 per hour. Typically there are two shifts on Election Day: 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1 p.m. to approximately 9 p.m. Workers are not required to work every election – you let us know which dates & shifts you are available. It’s a great way to meet new people and learn about elections from the inside.

The elections this year are:

Tuesday, March 1: Presidential Primary Election
Tuesday, April 5: Annual Town Election
Thursday, Sept. 8: State Primary Election
Tuesday, Nov. 8: Presidential General Election.

If you are interested, visit the town’s web page, select Town Clerk, Elections: Information for Residents and Media or go directly to:

http://www.belmont-ma.gov/town-clerk/pages/election-workers

or email to townclerk@belmont-ma.gov for more information.

Wednesday, Feb. 10 Deadline to Register, Change Parties for Mar. 1 Presidential Primary

February 9, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Register to vote.

The Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman reminds residents that tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb 10 is the deadline to register to vote if they wish to participate in the Massachusetts Presidential Primary on March 1.

Feb. 10 is also the deadline for registered voters who wish to change party enrollment either to another party or to “unenrolled,” which is commonly referred to as “independent.” This should not be confused with the United Independent Party (UIP); a party that will have ballots available but with no candidates printed on them. Voters registered in UIP will NOT be eligible to take a Democratic, Republican, or Green-Rainbow ballot, according to Cushman.

“With spirited contests in both parties, pervasive advertising and intense coverage in early primary states, some voters may want to vote for a candidate in a different party from the one they are registered in now,” said Cushman.

To do that, however, the voter must switch to the other party or to “unenrolled” status by 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Unenrolled voters or voters enrolled in political designations can ask for any party ballot on Primary Day, but someone registered in a party can only vote on that party’s ballot. A Democrat cannot take a Republican ballot, and a Republican cannot take a Democratic one.

The Belmont Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10 for voters who wish to change their party registration status or for persons wishing to register for the first time.

Persons who are United States Citizens, residents of Massachusetts, and who will be at least 18 years old on or before March 1st are eligible to register to vote. Those meeting these qualifications who have a Massachusetts Driver’s License can submit their registration online. Those registering by mail should have their form hand-canceled by the Post Office to ensure it is postmarked before the deadline.

For more information, feel free to contact the Belmont Town Clerk’s Office at townclerk@belmont-ma.gov or 617-993-2600.

This Week: Special Town Meeting (Maybe) Monday, A Cappella Night Rescheduled

February 8, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo:

The government side of “This Week”:

Special Town Meeting will convene at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8 at the Chenery Middle School concerning a vote to approve or reject a new regional agreement for Minuteman Tech.
The Board of Selectmen will be meeting briefly in public at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8 at the Chenery Middle School to vote the warrant for the Presidential Primary and the amendment to the creation of the Belmont High School Building Committee before going into executive session to discuss Trapelo Road and Cushing Village.
The Energy Committee is meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 8 a.m. in Town Hall to discuss its priority projects including a discussion of whether to use dryer heat waste in the home as one of those priorities.
The Community Preservation Committee will be preparing for the annual Town Meeting and will hear an update on the PQ Playground application on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. in Town Hall.
The Board of Health will host a meet and greet with Belmont Public School’s Director of Nursing Service Mary Conant Cantor at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. in Town Hall.

• This month’s Books and Bites event will feature Belmont Public Library librarian Miriam MacNair who will discuss the life and work of poet Denise Levertov. The talk will take place on Monday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. in the library’s Assembly Room. Levertov was acclaimed by Kenneth Rexroth in The New York Times as “the most subtly skillful poet of her generation.”

• ESL Conversation Circle for beginners takes place on Monday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Girls Who Code will meet on Monday, Feb. 8 from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library.

Not attending Special Town Meeting? Bummer! Here is a pair of outstanding counter-programming you can attend instead:

The Belmont After School Enrichment Collaborative‘s Parent Lecture Series continues with “Social Success for Tweens and Teens; Understanding and Supporting Social Development in the Middle School Year” with Peter Rosenmeier, LICSW, clinical director of The Gifford School, will be held on Monday, Feb. 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Burbank Elementary School Cafeteria (new location). Drawing on current research into the developing adolescent brain, best practices in social work and psychology, and more than 30 years’ experiences working with adolescents and their families, Rosenmeier will help unravel some of the mysteries of middle schoolers’ emerging social selves. We will be sure to make time for discussion about practical solutions to real-life dilemmas.
Another special night of singing at Belmont High School as the school is holding its annual A Cappella Night on Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium. (snow date, Tuesday, Feb. 9)

• Tuesday is story time at both of Belmont libraries.

Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer-run library, at 10:30 a.m. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may visit with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.
The Belmont Public Library on Concord Avenue will have preschool story time at 9:30 a.m.
Story Time for 2’s and 3’s is at 10:30 a.m.

• State Rep. Dave Rogers‘ staff will be available for walk-in office hours on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 9 a.m.

• Experience El Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in Galicia, Spain, with Nancy Nee Hanifin, founder and co-chair of the Boston Chapter of the American Pilgrims of the Camino, at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9. Snow date will be Feb. 16.

• Elementary students now have their own book club so come join other 2nd and 3rd graders to talk about this month’s book, The World According to Humphrey, by Betty G. Birney on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Flett Room. Register online or by calling the Children’s Department at 617-993-2880.

• The developers of Belmont Uplands will be holding an information session concerning the affordable housing lottery for Acorn Park (that’s the name being used) on Wednesday, Feb. 10
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

• The Chenery Middle School Symphonies Concerts will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11 in the Chenery Auditorium.

• The monthly meeting of Belmont Against Racism will be held in the Flett Room on
Thursday, Feb. 11, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Literacy Playgroup is a parent and child group that supports child’s language and literacy development on Friday, Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Flett Room. You’ll play, read, sing and take home new ideas. Presented by educators from the CFCE grant program; for children age 4 and under.

• The Senior Book Discussion Group will discuss Deephaven by Sarah Orne Jewett on Friday, Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to noon in Classroom A at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. Published in 1877, Deephaven is a nuanced work of fiction that explores life in a town in Maine. The Senior book discussion group is co-sponsored by the Belmont Public Library and the Belmont Council on Aging. All are welcome to attend.

• Attention teens at Belmont High School: Looking for a new community service opportunity that will look great on your college applications? Come to the Belmont Public Library Teen Advisory Board meeting on Friday, Feb. 12, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the library’s Young Adult Room. Sign up to attend by stop by the library’s reference desk, or call 617-993-2873.

Snow Day! Belmont Public Schools Closed Monday

February 7, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Snow day.

To the 4,100 students in Belmont: Sleep in, have pancakes for breakfast, take the inner tube to the hills and watch Netflix.

Unlike Friday’s snow event in which Belmont was one of a few school systems that remained open, there was no waiting around on whether the central office would keep the doors of Belmont’s six public schools closed due to Monday’s pending snow storm.

Word came at 8:37 p.m. that Belmont Public Schools will be closed for a snow day on Monday, Feb. 8.

The announcement means Monday’s A Cappella Concert at Belmont High School and all other after-school events are postponed. The concert will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Pizzi Proud: Belmont Celebrates Marathon Champion’s Return Home

February 5, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Becca Pizzi and her daughter, Taylor.

Becca Pizzi came home to Belmont on top of a fire truck fueled by a wave of communal love.

Pizzi, both the first American woman to finish and win the World Marathon Challenge – in which participants run a marathon (26.2 miles) on seven consecutive days in a different continuant each day – arrived back to her hometown on Thursday, Feb. 4, to be the centerpiece of a parade from Belmont High School to Belmont Center.

Lead by town officials and the BHS Marching Band, Pizzi rode on a siren-blaring Belmont Fire engine with her daughter, Taylor, her family and boyfriend, followed by hundreds of residents – and a small army of television crews – celebrating the marathon champion and her accomplishment, destroying the previous record while running an average three hours and fifty-five minutes per race and finishing third overall all in one week’s time while traveling 25,000 miles.

“Just flying seven continents in seven days is extraordinary, and they stopped to run a little bit,” said Bob Mahoney, CEO and president of Belmont Savings Bank which sponsored the parade and reception.

Noting that Pizzi had seven “red letter days” in winning each race during the Challenge, “it’s important that you are sharing your fabulous red letter day with 20,000 people in your hometown and we really appreciate that very much,” said Mahoney, adding that young children will be able to look at her accomplishment “and face challenges and now will honestly be able to say, ‘I can do it’.”

After receiving proclamations from the town, the Massachusetts House and Senate as well as from Gov. Charlie Baker, Pizzi – who was wearing the winning medals from each continent she raced – kept her remarks short and sweet.

After thanking her daughter – the race had been the longest period they had been separated in their lives – family and friends, Pizzi the response from everyone before and during the races “makes me fortunate that I am a Belmontian, and I could never have done this without your support.”

Pizzi would then head inside the Belmont Savings Bank main branch to sign countless autographs, be interviewed by all of Boston’s television stations and bask in the spotlight reserved for local heroes.