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

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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

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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

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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

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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’

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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. 

Light the Menorah! Hanukkah Begins At Sunset Sunday

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Photo: A menorah. 

Hanukkah, the Jewish observance celebrating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt, begins on sunset on Sunday, Dec. 6, with the lighting of the first candle on the menorah. 

The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of the nine-branched menorah, one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night which takes place on Dec. 14.