Heads Up, 2016: The Year to Come in Belmont

By 2 Comments

Photo: Belmont High School, Town Meeting and Cushing Village are topics coming up in 2016.

What will 2016 bring to Belmont? While, as the 1981-tour T-shirt by the band “The Clash” proclaimed, “The future is unwritten,” there are some events that we can anticipate happening. As Donald Rumsfeld said, there are known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns, those things “we don’t know we don’t know.” Certainly a known known is the annual Town Election, the known unknown is just how residents will vote at a special Town Meeting on the Minuteman High School and the unknown unknown is, of course, Cushing Village. 

Cushing Village: 2016 will be the start of construction on the long-troubled, infinitely delayed three-building development. But, then again, everyone thought 2015 would be that year. The latest update on the three-building development with 115 housing units, 38,000 sq.-ft. of stores and 200-plus parking spaces will be early in the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 5 before the Planning Board. Two-and-a-half years (YEARS) since winning approval to build the 168,000 sq.-ft. project, all there have been being promised to commence building the development from Chris Starr, head of Smith Legacy Partners. With the latest “rock solid” deadline missed last month, it will come to no one’s surprise if Well Fargo, the project’s lead lender, steps into the abyss to kick-start what should have been a Belmont landmark (and business magnet) but has been a missed opportunity.

Early February Town Meeting for Minuteman: What? Wait a minute! Town Meeting? In about 45 days? Yup, that’s right. Belmont’s 300 Town Meeting members will be braving winter conditions to assemble to debate and vote on a single article: approving a new agreement for towns to participate in the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District. In a roundabout way (the whole story will take a separate story to explain), the reason is to approve the construction a new $144 million school building but what has evolved to change the partnership between the 16 member towns and the Lexington-based voke school including proportional votes to the number of kids each town sends (Belmont has the third largest population with about 30 students) and requiring non-member students – from places such as Watertown, Medford and Waltham that make up about 40 percent of all students – to help play for the school. As a Belmont representative explained to the Warrant Committee and Selectmen: “It’s a bad deal but it’s better than the alternative.” Oh, by the way, the vote could be meaningless if other towns or the state objects, then all residents will be asked to vote on the deal, likely on a Saturday in June. Yes, it’s nuts. 

Foodies arrival: Belmont gets an anchor with the opening of Foodies Urban Market, the upscale South End supermarket in the former location of Macy’s/Filene’s. But it’s unlikely that residents will be purchasing prepared dinners and a Russo’s-type selection of fruits and vegetables until the fall of 2016 as construction on the site is taking longer than expected. One point of concern: Some Belmont Center businesses are a bit worried that a food-based business will not attract walk-about shoppers the way Macy’s did. The site will also be the home to a major national business which the Belmontonian will report on this week.

“New” High School: Wednesday, Jan. 27 is D-Day for the future of Belmont High School. The School District’s statement of interest to renovate the 45-year-old building and construct a modern science wing for $100 million will be voted on by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which will finance about a third of the total cost. If it gets the MSBA’s OK, 2016 will be a year when the town creates a building committee, design and construction details are hammered out with the state and possibly the hiring of an architectural firm. A vote on an anticipated $67 million debt exclusion is likely in 2017.

Town Election: You can expect the unexpected at Belmont Town Election: Last year was Jim Williams’ stunning swamping of incumbent Andy Rojas and the ease the $3.5 million override passed muster. This years’ edition will include three open seats for School Committee with neither of the two incumbents so far declaring their intentions. And will there be a challenge to Selectman incumbent Mark Paolillo as he attempts a third (and final) three-year term? So far, the only contested town-wide race is for a seat on the Health Board. A big question around town: will someone from Williams’ political sphere launch a challenge for the schools or be audacious enough to see if lightning strikes twice in as many years for a place on Selectmen?

School: 2016 will likely be a continuation of the students piling into the six overcrowded schools. September will see modular classrooms coming to a few schools – (whisper: it’s reported that the Chenery Middle School have already designated its tennis courts as the location for the temporary classrooms.) It will also be a year that a growing number of students who enter the system need greater help to speak and read in English as well as navigate a highly competitive system. The challenges continue.

Belmont Uplands: The land has been cleared so where are the buildings? Expect 2016 to be when the first steps take place in the construction of the 299 apartments in an area that has seen an explosion of residential complexes, the latest a proposed 219 unit Chapter 40B complex just over the line in Arlington off Route 2 just a stone’s throw from the Uplands. 

OPEB: Speaking of Williams, the long-anticipated meeting on the town’s pension and OPEB (Other Postemployment Benefits Obligations such as health insurance for retirees) as well as a discussion of Pension Obligation Bonds which the selectman obtained at the 2015 Town Meeting was held and it was determined that everyone was going to take a second look at how the town handles these benefits which the town doesn’t have funds to cover currently. Expect push comes to shove in 2016 as those supporting Williams to put a proposal on funding those obligations on the table either at Town Meeting or at a special TM in the fall.

Housing: Is Belmont in a housing bubble? That will depend on macroeconomic national trends but there is ample evidence since July that homes are selling for well above assessed values. What will be interesting is if the median assessed housing value in this “Town of Homes” tops the $1 million mark; it currently stands at $928,003.

Selecting a Community Path: We can only give our thanks to the members of the Community Path Implementation Committee for the truly thankless work they conducted. (There was so much walking on and off road around town that the members could be excused if they were climbing Dante’s Purgatorio.) The committee in 2016 will provide the Board of Selectmen with its preferred path that will require landowners and the town to compromise to make it work. But no one shouldn’t be surprised that town politics will rear its head to trump the reality on the ground.

Town Meeting: Another year without a budget crisis doesn’t mean Town Meeting will be boring; expect a few citizen petitions to bring at least one 11 p.m. session as residents line up to “speak their minds.”

Residential Zoning: Will 2016 be the year the town’s residential neighborhoods see a bylaw restricting the bulk and height of new construction that is representative of the existing housing stock? It all depends on the Planning Board making this a priority in 2016. If not, expect more soul-destroying mega mansions popping up on your street. 

Road/Parking projects: Who would have thought both major roadway projects in Belmont would not be finished on time? (Likely, everyone in town.) It will now be spring/early summer of 2016 for final infrastructure work and paving to be completed on the state-run Trapelo/Belmont Corridor project while the triangle adjacent to the Belmont Savings Bank will be dedicated in late spring as well. This year will also see a new parking system coming to Belmont Center including automated meters on Leonard Street.

Sports: My predictions!

Both Basketball teams go deep in the 2016 tournament especially the girls’ who have ten players who could start on any team in the league. (Watertown comes to town on Tuesday, Jan. 26.)

Baseball will take the Middlesex League Liberty Division and make a run in the sectionals behind the strongest and deepest pitching staff this side of the Chicago Cubs. That’s right, the Cubs!

Girls’ Track (in and outdoors) continues to run away from opponents with underclassmen leading the way including sophomore Anoush Krafian. 

Girls’ Swimming: The team will see Jessie Blake-West, one of the program’s greatest swimmers, breaking records at Brown in 2016 and will miss a slew of great seniors from the 2015 squad, but its foundation is set on the shoulders of three-time state champion sophomore Nicoletta Kalavantis.

Football will have a winning record, make and win a game in the playoffs and place a whopping on Watertown on Thanksgiving in Belmont.

Girls’ Soccer will be scary good with a mature, stronger team – a young defense with a year under their belts – that is aiming to score goals, lots of them. 

Field Hockey, which recorded a program’s best 16-3 2015 record and was Belmont High’s “2015 Team of the Year” will meet some surging squads next year – Winchester, Wilmington, and Lexington – and ponder who will take over for midfield star Serena Nally. But don’t bet against the team from reaching the sectional finals as they lost only five seniors, return a half-dozen exciting underclassmen, have a solid back four and are led by Division 1-bound AnnMarie Habelow. Although it would be nice if the team could welcome a few transfer students from the Netherlands next season.

This Week: Winter Break Movie Tuesday, New Year’s Mixer at the Beech

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Minnons on Tuesday.

On the government side of this week:

  • The Belmont Board of Selectmen will be meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28 in Town Hall to renew the Belmont Media Center’s agreement and review its annual report, the presentation of an RFP for the town’s Verizon contract and the appointment of a new member of the Planning Board.

• 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 Flett Room on Monday, Dec. 28.  There will be two sessions: 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

• Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer-run library, at 10:30 a.m on Tuesday, Dec. 29. 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 the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.

• Back from visiting relatives and wondering what you can do with those kids out on the holiday recess? How about taking in a Winter Break Movie at the Belmont Public Library? Beginning at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29, the library will be screening “MINIONS” in the Assembly Room. The movie is rated PG and has a running time of 1 hour 31 minutes. Snacks will be provided!

• Musician David Polansky returns to the Beech Street Center for its annual New Year’s Mixer on Tuesday, Dec. 29, beginning at 3 p.m. One of the most popular musicians to entertain at the Center, David Polansky will regale us with seasonal and holiday music, including original tunes.

• Celebrate New Year’s Eve a few hours early with a Family Dance Party on Thursday, Dec. 31 with Jeff Jam who plays upbeat kids’ classics for little ones from newborns to six-year-olds and their families. The show starts at 10:30 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.

Pool Memberships Stable for Residents, Increases for Out-of-Towers

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Underwood Pool, Belmont. 

Preparing for the first full season of the still “new” Underwood Pool in the summer of 2016, members of the Recreation Commission told the Board of Selectmen Monday night, Dec. 15, that visitor season and daily passes will see significant increases as the town prepares for a deluge of swimmers beginning in June.

“Last year was a like a shakeout cruise,” said Recreation Commission Chair David Kane of the one month the pools were open in August. “We were just trying to understand what we need to do to be enjoyable.” 

This coming year will be “more holistic,” said Kane, which includes the new price tag on using the facility.

While nearly all Belmont residents will not see an increase in tag prices for the 2016 swimming season, Kane said non-residents will feel the “bite” of a big increase for the pleasure of frolicking in Belmont’s new pools.

According to Kane, prices for Belmont residents will be:

  • Family season pass (two adults, up to four children): $225 before June 30/$250 after July 1.
  • Adult season pass: $150
  • Child season pass: $110
  • Day pass/adult: $10
  • Day pass/child: $5

For non-Belmont residents, prices will be:

  • Family season pass (two adults, up to four children): $375
  • Adult season pass: $225
  • Child season pass: $175
  • Day pass/adult: $20

In comparison, two years ago the non-resident family pass was $225 and a year ago $265. 

“It is high,” said Kane of the new costs, but noting the commission had received “some complaints of overcrowding on certain days” and there is some hope that the new price structure will deter some non-residents swimmers from coming.

Staff members will ask for identification to determine residency. 

In addition, there will be a 25 percent military discount while seniors will no longer have the option of a lifetime charge of $50 a year. 

When asked if Belmont should place a hard cap limit on the number of non-residents, commission member Ann Bere – who conducted a review of pricing patterns in neighboring communities – said the group will review the membership data in late May so “we’d know if non-resident passes is at a level where we’d be at a level that we would need to set a limit.” 

Bere said she believes the new costs will self-limit the number of out-of-towners coming to the Underwood. 

This Christmas Week: Madrigal Singers at the Beech, Basketball’s First Time on the New Court

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High Madrigal Singers.

On the government side of “This Week”

  • It’s a holiday edition of the Belmont Board of Selectmen on Monday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. After a few administrative duties, the board will hear a two-hour presentation of Pension Obligation Bonds and an actuarial report on the town’s OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits). Oh boy!
  • The Cable TV Advisory Committee is meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. at Town Hall to discuss Verizon’s contract renewal. 

• 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 Assembly Room on Monday, Dec. 21. There will be two sessions: 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

• The Belmont Public Library is holding a Teen Holiday Party on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Bake and decorate Christmas cookies, make tree ornaments, eat pizza and snacks, and sing karaoke. For teens 5th grade and up. Free, no sign-up necessary. If you have any questions, please ask Kylie at ksparks@minlib.net

• The “new” court in the Wenner Field House will see its first varsity basketball games as the Belmont High School Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball teams will face the Wildcats of Wilmington High on Monday, Dec. 21. The Boys’ game will start at 5 p.m. and the Girls’ at 7 p.m.

• Pre-School Story Time at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer-run library, at 10:30 a.m on Tuesday, Dec. 22. 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 the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.

• The Belmont High School Madrigal Singers will perform seasonal music at the Beech Street Center on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. 

• Come see the Belmont High Girls’ Ice Hockey team – no longer a cooperative with Watertown – play on home ice as they host the Wilmington High Wildcats at the “Skip” (the skating rink on Concord Avenue) at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23. 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day office hours around Belmont:

  • Town Hall and all Town Offices will close at noon on Thursday, Dec. 24 and remain closed on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25.
  • The Belmont Public Library will have limited hours on Thursday, Dec. 24 from 9 a.m. until noon and will be closed on Christmas day, Friday, Dec. 25 and Boxing Day, Saturday, Dec. 26. 
  • Beech Street Center will close at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, Christmas eve, and Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25 for the Holiday.

Belmont High Performing Arts Coffeehouse Friday: For the Spotlights

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Poster for Friday’s PAC Coffeehouse.

Belmont High School Performing Arts Company performers will be in the spotlight Friday, Dec. 17 putting on a coffeehouse fundraiser FOR the spotlights: all of the night’s proceeds will support the purchase of new lighting equipment for the main theater space in the auditorium and the Little Theater.

There will be live student music acts, including a mix of acoustic, rock, jazz and pop. It will be a fun evening with a festive party atmosphere. 

There’s dinner and desserts sold, and all for the inexpensive price of $10 for adults, $5 for students.

Belmont’s Youngest Jedis, Vaders, Princess Leias Prepare for ‘Star Wars’

By Leave a Comment

Photo: An entire empire of characters of the Star War films at the Belmont Public Library.

They came to the Belmont Public Library on Sunday, Dec. 12 with their lightsabers, Jedi robes, and Princess Leia hairdo; miniature versions of the characters from Star Wars that they and many of their parents know, getting ready to attend the latest edition of the film franchise, “The Force Awakens” that opens on Thursday, Dec. 17.

And just as excited for the new movie to come out is Belmont Public Library’s director, Peter Struzziero, who calls himself one of the biggest Star Wars fans ever. In fact, it was Struzziero who brought the kids and parents to the library. No, he didn’t use Jedi mind games, rather, Struzziero hosted the “Stars Wars Symposium,” a workshop program that he created (along with a school teacher) that encourages kids to dress up in their favorite costumes from the Star Wars films to play educational games and trivia about the series.

For the past five years, he has been going to library branches across the state to learn about the science behind Star Wars, discuss the characters from the films, learn trivia, play with toys and watch videos about the films.

 

This Week: Winter Crafts, Pols’ Office Hours, Legos and What’s Up with the Path

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Solstice Sackbuts.

On the government side of “This Week”:

  • The Belmont Board of Selectmen is meeting twice on Monday, Dec. 14: at 8 a.m., the board will approve a boat load of Common Vic licenses as well as approve next year’s property tax rate. At 7 p.m., the board will hear from the Community Path Implementation Committee on what they’ve been doing and more licenses and stuff. Both meetings at Town Hall.
  • The Belmont School Committee meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Chenery Middle School where it will discuss the district’s accountability status and vote on the PARCC testing system.
  • The Belmont Vision 21 Implementation Committee meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Town Hall.
  • The Belmont Planning Board is meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Town Hall where it will discuss monitoring the Cushing Village project and discuss cases both new and continued.
• Author Dorothy Stephens will discuss and read from her novel, A Door Just Opened, on Monday, Dec.14 at 11 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Set in 1910 in rural New Jersey, this novel is filled with luminous prose, period detail, and vivid imagery. Stephens is a freelance writer and former teacher whose work has appeared for the past thirty years in numerous national magazines and newspapers. Books will be available for purchase and signing.  Refreshments will be provided.  The Assembly Room is handicapped accessible.
 
• The Belmont Storm Water Working Group is holding its monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
 
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 attend with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library located at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.
  • Pre-School Storytime at the Belmont Public Library beginning at 9:30 a.m. We’ll read longer books, sing, and dance, and make simple crafts. For 3-5-year-olds with a longer attention span.

• Staff from US Rep. Katherine Clark’s office will be available for walk-in office hours at the Beech Street Center, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1. p.m. noon to 2 p.m. 

• The Belmont Public Library is holding a “Crafternoon: Winter Crafts” for kindergartners to fourth graders who would like to have some fun making winter-themed crafts on Tuesday, Dec. 15 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 
• Belmont High School’s winter athletic season gets under way this week, on Tuesday, Dec. 15 as Boys’ Swimming opens its season vs Needham at the Higginbottom Pool while at Melrose High School Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball gets their seasons underway.
 
• The brass trio Solstice Sackbuts will be performing a concert of medieval and Renaissance music, as well as traditional holiday music from around the world and secular pop favorites, on Tuesday, Dec. 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.
• Everyone is invited to Chinese Storytime which takes place in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 0n Wednesday, Dec. 9.
• The International Fiction Book Club will discuss Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong on Wednesday, Dec. 16 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library. The monthly event was created for fun conversation along with 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.
 
• It’s one of the biggest and best musical events of the year: The Belmont High School Winter Concert takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 in the Belmont High School Auditorium.
 
• If you love building with Legos, this program is for you! Kids in grades Kindergarten to Second Grade will build with the library’s Legos and we’ll put all the creations on display in the Children’s Room. The Lego event takes place at Thursday, Dec.  17, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room.
• Literacy Playgroup is a parent and child group that supports child’s language and literacy development on Friday, Dec. 18, 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.
 
• On Friday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. at the Beech Street Center, staff from State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office will be available for walk-in office hours.
 
• Attention teens, grades 9 and up!  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, Dec. 18, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 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.
• The Belmont High School Performing Arts Company will be holding a Holiday Coffeehouse Fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 18 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. It is an evening of entertainment sponsored by PAC students and Patrons (Parents of Performing Arts). Enjoy an evening of musical acts by students, dinner and dessert, including Anna’s Taqueria, Foodies, Vicki Lee’s, Moozy’s Ice Cream and more. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. Get a full dinner plate for $5 and desserts for $1-2. Proceeds from the Coffeehouse will help fund new Lighting Equipment for the Little Theater and Auditorium.

Stroll Cushing Square for Discounts, Sales During 2nd Holiday Celebration

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Poster of the Cushing Square Holiday Stoll.

The Cushing Square Merchants Association is holding the Second Annual Holiday Stroll on Thursday, Dec. 10.

Running for the entire day starting at 10 a.m., stores in and around the square – located at the intersection of Common Street and Trapelo Road – will stay open late and will be offering discounts, prizes and refreshments.

The Belmont High School Madrigal Singers will be performing from 6:30 to 7:30 around the Square.

Bag Those Leaves: Final Week of Yard Waste Collection

By Leave a Comment

Photo: Bagged leaves at the curbside.

If you have been delaying your leaf collecting and garden cleanup, you’re just about out of time as this week, Dec. 7 to Dec. 11, is the final week for yard collection in Belmont.

Place all bagged leaves, sticks and garden waste curbside on the day of your scheduled trash collection.

If you have any questions concerning the policy, contact the Belmont Public Works Department at 617-993-2680. 

Yard collection returns in April. 

This Week: Band-a-rama! on Tuesday, Star Wars Prep, Cushing Square Holiday Stroll

By Leave a Comment

On the government side of “This Week”

  • The Zoning Board of Appeals is meeting on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Gallery of Art on the third floor of the Homer Building, located in the Town Hall complex.
  • Community Path Implementation Advisory Committee will hold a meeting updating the committee’s work and discuss RFP for certain sections from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Town Hall.
  • Other Post-Employment Benefits Funding Advisory Group will hold a meeting with reports and public contributions beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Town Hall.
  • Community Preservation Committee is reviewing a lot of former grant recipients to see where they are in the process. At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at Town Hall.
  • Economic Development Advisory Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10 at Town Hall to discuss Belmont Center and the effect of paving on businesses in Cushing Square.

• ESL Conversation Circle for beginners takes place on Monday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Girl Scouts from the Butler Elementary School will lead a December caroling sing-along at the Beech Street Center on Monday, Dec. 7 at 3:15 p.m. The girls will provide song sheets so everyone can sing winter/holiday songs together.

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 attend with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library located at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.
  • Pre-School Storytime at the Belmont Public Library beginning at 9:30 a.m.We’ll read longer books, sing, and dance, and make simple crafts. For 3-5-year-olds with a longer attention span.

• The staff from State Rep. Dave Rogers’ office will be available for walk-in office hours at the Beech Street Center on Tuesday, Dec. 8, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

• The Beech Street Center presents The Ambassadors – Joseph Vincent and Joseph Andrea – who will bring the music of the Big Band-era to the Center on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 1:15 p.m. Vincent was a finalist in a world piano-accordion competition. Joseph Andrea is a multi-instrumentalist and World War II veteran who, at the end of the war, was asked to form a seven-piece dance band to entertain wounded G.I.s, enlisted men, and officers. He played in various symphonies including the Boston Civic Symphony and the New England Symphony.

• Tween Tuesday at the Belmont Public Library is preparing for the new Star Wars movie by talking about the Jedi Academy series by Jeff Brown from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8, in the Flett Room. Copies of the first book available for checkout in the Children’s Room. Register by calling the Children’s Room at 617-993-2880.

• It fills up every corner of Belmont High School’s Wenner Field House and also the stands: it’s the annual Belmont School’s Band-a-Rama! at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Every band in the district; from the youngsters in fourth grade all the way to the High School’s jazz ensemble will be in performance. And all the bands come together for a rendition of some Christmas song I’ve forgotten. But it’s fun!

• Wednesday, Dec. 9, is early release for Chenery Middle School students.

• Storytime for 1’s is for walkers and toddlers under 24 months will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 10:30 a.m. in the library’s Flett Room. They will share simple stories, songs, and nursery rhymes, and end with time to play.

• Belmont’s Veterans Service Officer Bob Upton will be answering veterans quires on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at noon at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.

• Chenery Middle School students are invited to enjoy some hot chocolate the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room on Wednesday. Dec. 9 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., to do your homework. 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.

• Everyone is invited to Chinese Storytime which will take place in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 0n Wednesday, Dec. 9.

• The Belmont Public Library’s 2nd and 3rd Grade Book Club meets on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 3:30 p.m. Please register by calling the Children’s Department at 617-993-2880. After you’ve signed up, stop by the Children’s Room Desk to pick up a copy of the December book, Three Ring Rascals: The Show Must Go On.  Hurry!  Space is limited!

• The Cushing Square Merchant’s Association presents its annual Holiday Stroll shopping event on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. featuring food tastings, discounts, raffles, and the vintage carnival wheel will spin for prizes all day at Westcott Mercantile. The Belmont High School Madrigal Singers will stroll from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

• Literacy Playgroup is a parent and child group that supports child’s language and literacy development on Friday, Dec. 11, 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 Chenery Middle School’s Fifth Grade Concert will be performed in the school’s auditorium on Friday, Dec. 11 at 9 a.m.

• The Senior Book Discussion group will meet on Friday, Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Beech Street Center to discuss Doctor Zhivago (Part Two) by Boris Pasternak.

• Boston mezzo-soprano Heather Gallagher, the 2015 first-prize winner of Powers’ renowned Peter Elvins Vocal Competition, returns to the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., on Friday, Dec. 11, to perform joyous holiday music with a dash of classic American “champagne” styling. The show begins at 1:15 p.m.

• The Belmont Public Library’s OTAKUrabu program offers students (7th to 12th grades) the chance to watch anime, do a craft/activity, plan for future events and nibble on some Japanese snacks (while they last – they’ll go fast) on Thursday, Dec. 10, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Assembly Room. Provided to you for free, thanks to the Friends of the Belmont Public Library. Just drop in, no registration required.

• Belmont’s three Cub Scout Packs: Pack 377 of Winn Brook/Burbank, Pack 384 of Wellington/Butler, and Pack 96 of the LDS Church, is holding an All Cub Scouts of Belmont Skating Night on Friday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Skip Viglirolo skating rink on Concord Avenue. There will be a short opening ceremony with skating with hot chocolate courtesy of Dunkin’ Donuts. This is the first joint Cub Scout activity organized in years.