Brighton Street Closed at MBTA Rail Crossing From Saturday Until Monday AM

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Photo: The MBTA track crossing at Brighton Street.

The reconstruct of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority commuter rail grade crossing at Brighton Street will require a small but important segment of the road to be closed for more than 48 hours, requiring traffic to be detoured through Belmont Center, according to a press release from the T.

In addition to the temporary road closure, the release said work to the rail line will require the MBTA to suspend weekend service on the Fitchburg line until Nov. 22.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this work and may cause. It is critical that these major construction efforts be undertaken over weekends and some nights when the track is taken out of service. These improvements are essential to the rehabilitation of the Fitchburg Line,” said the release.

At approximately 1 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, Keolis Construction will begin the reconstruction work, closing the roadway to vehicular traffic until 5 a.m., Monday, Oct. 19, with the completion of the paving of the roadway.

Police details will be in place to mitigate any traffic issues, according to the MBTA. Access to the nearby neighborhood be residents and businesses will be maintained throughout construction by the detour.

More information on the weekend service suspension can be found at www.MBTA.com

Questions concerning the project, please contact us via email at MBTA Fitchburg Project email –FitchburgProject@MBTA.com or via telephone at MBTA Fitchburg Project Hotline 617-721-7506.

Belmont Serves Brings Volunteers Out for A Day of Service

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Photo: Everyone pitched in at Monday’s Belmont Serves.

Wearing gloves and carrying a clipboard, Mary Lewis was spending a beautiful Columbus Day morning getting dirty. 

As one of two coordinators at the Burbank Elementary School, Lewis had a long list of projects that needed to be done during the sixth annual Belmont Serves day of community service.

“We’ve been clearing a lot of brush from the back of the hill, picking weeds and planting pretty bulbs for the spring,” she said, as three friends from the Chenery Middle School – Anthony Casale, Zach Moss and Harry Brennan – prepare to load branches and leaves into yard waste bags. 

“We’ve done a lot, just this morning,” said Brennan. 

For more than 300 parents, children, teens and other residents who started and ended the day at St. Joseph Parish Hall, the Columbus Day holiday was not of laying around until noon, but an effort to give back to the community where they live. 

Sponsored by the Belmont Religious Council, Belmont Serves “is about providing just a little help to people or a project that needs our attention,” said Rev. Joseph Zarro of Plymouth Congregational Church, this year’s BRC vice president. 

The largest group event each year is retrieving grocery bags of food that residents left on their stoops the night before for pick-up on Monday. SUVs and cars toured specific neighborhoods around Belmont collecting the food stuffs and sundries, bringing them back to the Belmont Food Pantry located behind Belmont High School. 

By early afternoon, 1,700 bags of food was delivered to the Pantry, restocking the empty shelves – there are no food drives in the summer – which will last through the holidays in December.

“This is a tremendous response from the Belmont community to support and help their neighbors. I know that the recipients of the pantry appreciate and are most grateful to the Belmont residents,” said Patty Mihelich, the pantry manager.

She said at least 50 volunteers helping both outside and inside the building, sorting and stocking, “and everyone had a great time.”

Special thanks go to the following businesses who supplied the paper bags: Iggys, Belmont Cambridge and Waltham Star, Whole Foods Cambridge, Arlington and Cambridge Trader Joes.

 

Be Well Belmont Holding Health and Activity Dialogue Sunday

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Photo: Be Well Belmont logo.

Residents and families are invited on Sunday, Oct. 18, to attend a community-wide dialogue on healthy eating and staying active sponsored by Be Well Belmont.

The free event, which is open to everyone in town, will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Beech Street Center.

The event will provide the public an opportunity to share their thoughts on making Belmont a healthier community.

Be Well Belmont’s overriding goal – which is a project of the Belmont Food Collaborative – is to promote healthy eating and being active in Belmont through education, programming and improving access to opportunities for the whole community. The group collaborates with town government, schools and community groups.

Early successes include:

  • A screening of the documentary “Fed Up” in March.
  • Funding the crossing flag pilot program started by Safe Routes to Schools.
  • A successful series of cooking classes are focusing on healthy recipes with locally produced food.
  • Collaborating on a National Food Day initiative.

A community needs survey is underway:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bewellbelmont

For more information about Be Well Belmont, visit its website.

This (Short) Week: From Planning to the Great White Way

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Photo: Broadway Night in the Little Theater.

On the government side of “This Week”:

  • The Planning Board is meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Town Hall to discuss a myriad of topics including the demolition of 26-28 Dante Ave. to allow a two-family to be built and a new landscaping design for the new TD Bank on Trapelo Road.
  • The Belmont Housing Trust will discuss its first-time homebuyer project and a housing production plan when it meets at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Town Hall.
  • The Community Preservation Committee will discuss and vote on the preliminary applications eligible for final application at its 5 p.m. meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Town Hall. 
  • The Community Path Implementation Advisory Committee meets from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Town Hall.
  • The Warrant Committee will discuss and then vote on its pension report at its 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14 meeting held at the Chenery Middle School.
  • The Belmont Board of Health meets at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15 at Town Hall.
  • The Capital Budget Committee will get an update on capital projects and speak some on the proposed new skating rink when it meets at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Town Hall.

• 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.

• 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, Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• Attention High School students. Looking for a new community service opportunity that will look great on your college applications? Come to the Belmont Public Library Teen Advisory Board‘s first meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 2:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. in the library’s Young Adult room and help the young adult librarian decide what activities the Belmont Public Library will offer for teens.  You’ll also have input in the music, books, DVD’s, and video games that the library orders for its collection. Meetings are held monthly. Please sign up to attend by clicking on the hand icon here or stop by the library’s reference desk, or call 617-993-2873.
 
• Belmont High School in collaboration with McLean Hospital presents “The College Transition: What to Expect” with Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, PhD  and Catherine Bell, PhD as part of Belmont High School’s 2015-16 Speaker Series on Thursday, Oct. 14 starting at 7 p.m.
 
• Storytime for 1’s is for walkers and toddlers under 24 months will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, 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.
 
• Literacy Playgroup is a parent and child group that supports child’s language and literacy development on Friday, Oct. 16, 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.
 
• Meet with Barbara Miranda, State Sen. Will Brownsberger‘s chief of staff, for office hours on Friday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
 
• The Butler Fun Run PTA Fundraiser will be held outside all morning, from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 16. The run is a fundraiser to support the PTA in-school enrichment activities. Each grade runs or walks for 20 minutes on a course created by PE teacher Ted Trodden. Last year, Batman ran with the kids. 
• Belmont Gallery of Art‘s 10 Year Party will be held on Friday, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gallery on the third floor of the Homer Building, located in the Town Hall complex on Moore Street. It will be a special evening celebrating the BGA with good wine, delicious food from Bon Appetit caterers, live jazz, interesting people and lots of art. There will also be People’s Choice Art Awards and a raffle benefitting the BGA. RSVP by Tuesday, Oct. 13. Suggested donation is $10. 
 
• It’s a touch of the Great White Way in Belmont as the Belmont High School Performing Arts Company presents “Broadway Night,” its annual musical theater showcase on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. in the high school’s Little Theater. Students perform classic show tunes and contemporary work from new musical theater composers in an evening of song, dance and storytelling. This year’s production features 20 solo, duet and group numbers, including a dance number to “King of New York” from “Newsies,”staged by “Anything Goes” choreographer, Jenny Lifson. Tickets are $5 students, $12 adults and are on sale tickets at Champions in Belmont Center or online Buy Tickets.

Four Sunday Yard Sales in Belmont, Oct. 10-11

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Photo: Yard sale in Belmont.

Yard sales in the “Town of Homes.”

206 Beech St., Sunday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

48 Concord Ave., Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

85 Cross St., Sunday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

98 Elm St., Saturday and Sunday, Oct 10 and 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

262 Grove St., Saturday and Sunday, Oct 10 and 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

257 Rutledge Rd., Saturday, Oct. 10, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Come Join Belmont Serves on Monday; Help Your Community

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Photo: Ever little bit helps on Belmont Serves. 

On the Columbus Day holiday this Monday, hundreds of Belmont adults, teens and kids will get up early and clean, hack, lug, paint, sort, plant and grab countless bags of groceries waiting on front stoops.

For the seventh time, Belmont will come out to give back to the community in the most fundamental ways as residents take part in the annual Belmont Serves.

Everyone is invited to attend this day of service.

Sponsored by the Belmont Religious Council, Belmont Serves will send volunteers heading off to locations around town where maintenance,  gardening, and a quick paint job will do the world of good. 

The most popular task is driving along streets to pick up grocery pages of can food, baking goods and sundries that will help fill the shelves of the Belmont Food Pantry during a critical time before the holidays.

The event starts and finishes at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall at the corner of Common and School streets. The schedule for the day is:

8:30 a.m.: Volunteers sign-in at the Parish Hall.

9 a.m.: Service project begin.

Noon: Projects end.

12:30 p.m.: Pizza and ice cream celebration at the Parish Hall. 

This Week: A Long List of Events, Meetings This Week

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Photo: 

On the government side of “This Week”: 

  • The Belmont Board of Selectmen is holding an abbreviated “working session” for procedural action at 8 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 5 in Town Hall. 
  • The Zoning Board of Appeals will meet in the Belmont Gallery of Art on the third floor of the Homer Building in the Town Hall complex on Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. to discuss a special permit for a child care business on Sycamore Street.
  • The Belmont School Committee is meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Chenery Middle School. The evening begins a half hour earlier as the district honors educators who are granted professional status. There will also be stuff about budgets, enrollment, future plans and food services. 
  • The Recreation Commission will discuss the past shortened season and whether to raise residential fees in the 2016 Underwood Pool season, review the tennis court study and discuss the proposed skating rink at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Town Hall.
  • The Warrant Committee will take up its pension report at its meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7:30 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School.

• The Belmont Crew Club is holding its board meeting in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library on Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 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 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 will host office hours at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

• Performed by actors Richard Clark and Lynne McKenney Lydick, “Two to Tango” is a pair of theatrical scenes that takes the audience on a bittersweet tour of life, love and love lost. From the dark and stormy war of passion and will in the 12th century realm of England’s King Henry II, to a contemporary clash of bi-coastal emotional cultures, scenes from James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter and Neil Simon’s Visitor from New York, remind us of the strange and unexpected forms love can take and uplift us with the message that love, even bruised and broken, remains a splendid thing. This free performance takes place Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. Supported by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council.

• Tuesday is Wii Game Night at the Beech Street Center. This Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., enjoy sports from the comfort of your senior center, rain or shine! Wii is a motion-activated video game console with baseball, golf, archery and more games are available. You can get a workout depending on how hard and how long you play. Beginners welcome.

• The ‘Tween Tuesday Book Discussion Group is holding a Rick Riordan Party on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room on the release of Riordan’s latest book, The Sword of Summer. We’ll talk all things Percy Jackson, Greek mythology and Norse mythology.  Familiarity with the Percy Jackson books is helpful, but not necessary. Register by calling the Children’s Room at 617-993-2880.

• Chef Gerry Connolly will hold another of his cooking demonstrations on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room as he gets creative with “Fall Squash All-Stars.” Learn to create Southwestern Butternut Squash Soup, Parsnip Puree, Orange Cranberry Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash, and Chayote Squash Chow-Chow Curry, and time permitting, Spaghetti Squash and Patty Pan Squash. Space is limited, so register by calling 617-993-2870.

• The Belmont Garden Club Board meeting is being held on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Library’s Assembly Room. The club pursues a variety of projects to help beautify the Town of Belmont and support its residents. For more information, see www.belmontgardenclub.info

• 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, Oct. 7
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room.

• On Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Belmont Fire Department will host a free Open House at the Headquarters Station, 299 Trapelo Rd. Questions can be directed to the Fire Administration Office by calling (617) 993-2200. 
 
• Sustainable Belmont is holding its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room. 
• The Belmont Historical Society Board meeting will be held in the Society’s Claflin Room on the main floor of the Belmont Public Libary on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. 
• The 2nd & 3rd Grade Book Club will discuss The Best Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Flett Room, Call the Children’s Department at 617-993-2880 to register. 
• Storytime for 1’s is for walkers and toddlers under 24 months will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8, 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 High Field Hockey vs. Watertown at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 on the pitch of Harris Field. ‘Nuff said. Just be there. 
• The Belmont Housing Trust is holding a general information session on the trust’s First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program created by the town to help low- and middle-income families purchase homes in Belmont. The session takes place on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library.
• Dr. Anthony Rao will speak on the challenges of raising young boys into happy, healthy young men that he wrote about in his groundbreaking book, “The Way of Boys: Promoting the Social and Emotional Development of Young Boys,” at Belmont High School’s Little Theater on Thursday, Oct. 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sponsored by the Health and Wellness Committee of the Belmont Health Department and the Belmont Public Schools, Rao will talk on understanding how boys think, behave, learn, socialize and what works best to encourage positive behaviors. Leave with practical tips for raising strong, confident boys.
• Literacy Playgroup is a parent and child group that supports child’s language and literacy development on Friday, Oct. 9, 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 meet on Friday, Oct. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., to discuss Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy.

Road Closings for Dan Scharfman Memorial Run Sunday,

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Photo: Roads will be closed Sunday morning.

The Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE) third annual Dan Scharfman Memorial Run takes place on Sunday, October 4 at 9:30 a.m.

The Memorial Run starts at the Belmont High School Track, 221 Concord Avenue, and takes a scenic route past the town’s schools, Payson Park Reservoir and Clay Pond.

The following road closings will occur on Oct. 4 to ensure the safety of participants:

•    6 a.m. – 12 p.m. – No Parking on East/West side of Concord Avenue between Cottage Avenue and Underwood ;

•    6 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – No Parking on Goden Street between School Street and Concord Ave;

•    9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – School Street closed between Myrtle and Philip Road;

•    9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – No exit onto Oakley from Selwyn and Hurd;

•    Between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. – Drivers should be aware of runners on the 5K course (Concord Ave / Orchard Road / Stone Road / School Street / Philip / Elizabeth Road / Jacob / Payson / Oakley / Goden / Concord / Underwood); and

•    Between 10:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. – Concord Ave West bound will have young runnersDin the bike lane running against traffic between Underwood and Goden. Cones will separate runners from traffic.an

In the past two years, the Memorial Run raised more than $40,000, allowing the FBE to fund new programs across the six schools in the Belmont Public School system to give educators and students the best tools, technology and training that foster innovation and love of learning.

 

This Weekend: Scharfman Race Sunday, Organ Concert, Sing-Along

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Photo: David Owens, the newly appointed organist at Belmont’s All Saints’ Episcopal Church

First Friday Evening at the Benton

The Benton Library, Belmont’s independent, all volunteer run library, is open evenings – from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. – on the first Friday of each month. Begin your weekend by exploring the Benton: Use our Wi-Fi, borrow from our collection, buy some of our gently used sale books; all proceeds benefit the library.

Saturday Song-Along at the Library

Belmont Public Library’s Saturday Sing-Along returns with well-loved local musician Liz Buchanan performing original songs and traditional favorites on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the library’s Assembly Room.

Organ concert Saturday at All Saint’

David Owens, the newly appointed organist at Belmont’s All Saints’ Episcopal Church, will make his local performance debut with an organ recital featuring works by Bach, Rheinberger, Howells as well as his own compositions at the church on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. 

Owens will perform on All Saints’ 34-rank M.P. Möller organ, with its distinctive antiphonal organ, situated in the rear of the sanctuary. A well-known musician in the greater Boston area, Owens studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY,  and is active as a composer and pianist.  

A free-will offering at the concert will go to support Mission of Hope International  in Grand-Goâve, Haïti.  For more information go to http://www.allsaintsbelmont.org
Girls Matinee at Harris Field
 
Bring your wellies and a warm coat to Harris Field Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3 as a pair of Belmont High girls teams will be in action: Soccer meets Medford at 2 p.m. and Field Hockey takes on Reading at 4:30 p.m.
 
It’s Never Too Late to Help the Schools While Getting Healthy
 
Join the 600 residents and runners who have already registered for the third annual Dan Scharfman Memorial 5K Run on Sunday, Oct. 4. Join your friends, family members, and teammates by registering on race day. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m. at Harris Field off Concord Avenue; the race at 9 a.m.

Final Month for Farmers Market Brings Autumn Harvest

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Photo: Radishes. 

October is the final month of the Belmont Farmers Market year, and fall crops are abundant. Shoppers will find collard greens, winter squash, radishes, and a wide variety of apples. The lingering warm weather will keep summer favorites available, such as corn and summer squash.
 
Over in the events tent, Market favorite magician Ryan Lally will entertain adults and children.
 
The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays until the final week of October. The market is located in the municipal parking lot at the intersection of Cross Street and Channing Road in Belmont Center.

Schedule of Events

2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Tasting by Tony G’s Barbecue
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Magic by Ryan Lally
4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Storytime
4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Yoga for Kids by Groundwork Yoga + Wellness
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Music with Joe Zarro

Monthly and Occasional Vendors
  • Coastal Vineyards
  • Couët Farm and Fromagerie
  • Seta’s Mediterranean Food
  • Soup N’ Spoon
  • Valicenti Pasta Farm

Weekly Vendors

Boston Smoked Fish Co., C&C Lobsters and Fish, Dick’s Market Garden Farm, Flats Mentor Farm, Foxboro Cheese Co., Gaouette Farm, Goodies Homemade, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Nicewicz Family Farm, Sfolia Baking Company and Stillman Quality Meats.