Time’s Running Short to Register in State Elections

By Leave a Comment

Here is information that will confirm that summer is nearly over: the biennial State Elections are just around the corner as Massachusetts voters this year will select several important statewide political officials including a new Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and Treasurer along with members of Congress and the state legislature.

If you want to be part of the process, Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman is ready to register residents to vote in the Sept. 9 State Party Primary and the Nov. 4 General State elections.

Any Belmont resident who is 18 years or older and a citizen of the United States can register to vote.  In order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections, voter registration must be received or postmarked by the following dates:

  • Wednesday, Aug. 20 for the Sept. 9, for State Party Primaries.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 15 for the Nov. 4, for State General Election.

The Belmont Town Clerk’s office will be open until 8 p.m. on the deadline days.

Registered To Vote in Another Town

If you were a registered to vote in another town or state, you’ll need to register as a voter in Belmont in order to vote here.

Voter registration and changes to party affiliation, name or address (within Belmont) documents are available at the Town Clerk’s office in Belmont Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. or online at the Town Clerk’s web pages.

Absentee Ballot Application

Forms for individuals who qualify to receive an absentee ballot due to absence from Belmont on Election Day or physical disability preventing the voter from going to the polling place or religious belief. A voter may request a ballot in writing to the Town Clerk but the request must include the voter’s signature.

Coffee Talk with Belmont’s New Schools Super This Monday

By Leave a Comment

A tip of the hat to Belmont resident and author of the Blogging Belmont website Paul Roberts for this information. Newly-installed Belmont School District Superintendent John Phelan has been holding coffees with residents through the summer with the next date on Monday, Aug. 18 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Conference Room in the School Administration building located in the Town Hall complex in Belmont Center.

Phelan, who has a quarter century of experience as a teacher, principal and an assistant superintendent in the Boston and Milton Public Schools, has been organizing the forums to hear from parents and community members to help get up to speed on the issues of concern to community members while formulating a plan for the district going forward.

If you can’t attend Monday’s coffee, more are expected to be scheduled in September. In addition, residents can make an appointment to meet with Phelan individually by calling Cathy Grant at 617-993-5401.

Day Late, 4 Guys in Tuxes to Perform Thursday Evening at Payson Park

By Leave a Comment

More a rain delay than a rainout, the concert by 4 Guys in Tuxes at the Payson Park Music Festival only had to be held back 24 hours wait as the lads will hold their performance this evening, Thursday, Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

The concert will take place at the Payson Park Playground at the corner of Payson Road and Elm Street.

Residents should know that dressing in their own tuxedos is strictly optional.

 

Solomon and Salmon Highlight Market Day in Belmont

By Leave a Comment

A Belmont musician from Zimbabwe and a new vendor are in the spotlight this week on Market Day in Belmont on Thursday, Aug. 14.

Belmont Farmers Market is held each Thursday, 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through October. It’s located in the Belmont Center municipal parking lot at the corner of Channing Road and Cross Street.

Belmont’s own Solomon Murungu (Babawapepukai) will bring to life the culture, folklore and wisdom of the Shona people of Zimbabwe using the mbira, a musical instrument from southern Africa made of wood with staggered metal keys. Visitors are encouraged to join in and try the various mbira instruments on display.

On the shopping front, Farmers Market shoppers will get a chance to meet new vendor; Matt’s Amazing Smokehouse from Sudbury. Mike Baumann started his company last year in which he smokes fish “with a touch of class” using only local ingredients to offer a fresher, healthier, and tastier smoked fish. There is plenty of salmon (cajun, teriyaki, lemon dill and even salmon bacon!)  on his menu as well as smoked bluefish pate.

In season today is basil, beets, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, chard, cilantro, collards, cucumbers, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, mint, mizuna, parsley, peaches, peppers, scallions, summer squash, tomatoes, turnips, yu choi and zucchini.

Along with the regular vendors and Matt, occasional vendors this week are Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm, Sara Ran Away with the Spoon, Soluna Garden Farm and Turtle Creek Winery

The food truck will be Benny’s Crepe Cafe. Expect them around 3 p.m.

In the events tent:

  • 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Classical music by violinists Jocelyn Milton and Coleen Bennett.
  • 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Storytime with Denise Shaver of the Belmont Public Library.
  • 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Solomon Murungu.
  • 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Mystic String Quartet which consists of four local musicians; Karen Allendoerfer and Marianne Brown, violins; Ben Miller, viola; and Sandy Reismann, cello.

Stormy Wednesday for Belmont; Flash Flood Warning Issued

By Leave a Comment

It will be a stormy Wednesday for Belmont as heavy rain and thunderstorms cascade over eastern Massachusetts for the majority of the day, according to the National Weather Service.

A flash flood warning has already been issue from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Wednesday, Aug. 13 as there a good chance the region will see upwards of two inches of rain before the system clears after midnight on Thursday. Residents who live in low-lying areas should take care of the pending weather event.

The heaviest rain will arrive in the afternoon accompanied by thunderstorms after a period of fog in the morning.

Showers and thunderstorms will continue until midnight, then there will a chance of showers until it clears out for a sunny Thursday.

Learn More About the Town at Meet Belmont

By Leave a Comment

The 12th edition of the annual Meet Belmont is just around the corner.  This year’s event will be held in two weeks, on Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Chenery Middle School, at the corner of Washington Street and Oakley Road.

Meet Belmont is an opportunity for all residents – newcomers to those who have lived here for decades – to come together to discover what the town has to offer:

• Learn about town departments, local government, schoolsŸ

• Get information about recreation and arts programsŸ

• Find community organizations and activities that interest youŸ

• Register to vote.

Meet Belmont is sponsored by the Vision 21 Implementation Committee and co-sponsored by the Belmont Public Schools with support from Belmont Car Wash and Belmont Light.

For more information, email: meetbelmont@gmail.com

Belmont Fire Log: ‘Friendly’ Fire and How to Cut a Gas Line

By Leave a Comment

Under a “friendly” fire
Aug. 3: A minute before 3 p.m., Engine 1 was sent to the corner of Beech Street and Wilson Avenue for a report of smoke in the area. The fire crew found a “friendly” fire – BBQ – in rear of a Beech Street house. The homeowner was told if excessive smoke not controlled then it needs to be extinguish.

Cut gas line 
Aug. 4: Engine 1 was sent to the corner of Hawthorne Street and Trapelo Road just four minutes before 4 p.m. to investigate the gas leak. Once at the location, the firefighters staged up-wind across from Sycamore Street where they met a road construction crew which admitted that they “accidentally” severed a gas line. The fire crew could see the cut gas line and could see the gas venting into the air. They soon went door-to-door to check building for any build-up of gas inside the structures. The fire command requested Belmont Police to re-direct traffic flow away from the hazard. The gas company, National Grid, arrived on scene and soon controlled the flow of gas. While they were at the scene, the crew pointed out to a Trapelo Road landlord the old cigarette butts in back hallway and the excess storage in his basement.
The wall came tumbling down
Aug. 6: A quarter past 7 a.m., a fire crew took off to the corner of Brighton and Cross streets for a possible gas leak coming from a Belmont Water Department trench which had a 16-inch gas line and an abandoned 6-inch gas line they dug to fix a water leak. Department workers noted that a part of the trench wall had collapse since they last worked on it exposing an opening in the 6-inch gas line. But once the department workers removed one of the two plates covering the trench, the gas could not be detected. National Grid responded and their representative informed of the on-scene condition by the Fire and Water departments.
Oops, we did it again
Aug. 7: At 9:23 a.m., Engine 2 was sent to a location on Concord Avenue due to an outside odor of gas. On arrival, the crew talked to Feeney Construction personnel that were on site and they said they accidentally ruptured a 3-inch gas line. National Grid was on the scene and and shut down the gas supply prior.
Smoke-like flavor
Aug. 8: About a quarter past 3 p.m., all companies and a Watertown Fire Department engine were dispatched to Eastern Lamejun Bakers on Belmont Street for smoke in the basement. The Engine 1 crew entered the building where they discovered an overheated conveyor motor located in the basement. The bakery’s staff used a chemical extinguisher to put out the fire prior to the department’s arrival. The motorized unit was shut down by Engine 1 and the residual smoke was vented by natural means. The conveyor was red tagged and the property representative was informed not to operate the unit until it has been serviced by a licensed technician.

Get Rid of Your Household Hazardous Waste This Saturday

By Leave a Comment

Half-used paint, mothballs, antifreeze and insecticides are just a few of the common household products that are hazardous waste that most residents have in their homes or garages.

Belmont residents looking to clear their homes of these harmful chemicals will have an opportunity this Saturday, Aug. 16 as the Belmont Health Department is registering households that will allow them to haul the material to Lexington’s Minuteman Hazardous Products Facility site at no cost. 

Once you sign up by calling the Health Department at 617-993-2720, the department will mail the required “free ticket” to residents to enter the Minuteman facility. Because the next pickup date is this Saturday, the department is requesting anyone interested in utilizing the service to call them “ASAP.”

Here is a list of acceptable and unacceptable materials as well as a video.

Beech Lot Closed: Parking Area Resurfaced This Week

By Leave a Comment

Most people know the Beech Street Center as the home of the Council of Aging, where events and concerts take place and, for one day, a center of attention on election day 2012.

It is also known for a number of the neighbors as a place to stash their cars overnight.

But beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 13 and running through Sunday, Aug. 17, the lot will be closed so the parking area can be resurfaced for the upcoming winter season.

Belmont Police wants to public to know that any vehicles left on the site after 11 p.m, on Wednesday will be towed.

What’s Up this Week: Cryogenics for Kids, Dragons & Dreams

By Leave a Comment

Less than a month before the beginning of the school year but it still feels like summer as there is a limited amount of activities around Belmont this week. But next week will see the beginning of fall sports practice.

• Join the Belmont Public Library for the following movies for children on Tuesday, August 12 at noon Assembly Room

  •    Rosie’s Walk
  •    The Little Red Hen
  •    Petunia
  •    The Pigs’ Wedding
  •    Trouble in the Barkers’ Class
  •    Beverly Billingsly Borrows a Book

• Belmont resident Arnie Rosen has played guitar for more than 50 years and isn’t bad on several other instruments as well. The wonderful song leader is back to the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., by popular demand for a sing-along on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 1:15 p.m. The concert is free.

• Can you freeze a balloon? What does liquid nitrogen look like? How cold is “cold”? Learn which items freeze or defrost fastest and why cryogenics is such a hot field at the Einstein’s Workshop program for Young Adults about Cryogenics on Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Registration is required either online or by calling 617-993-2870. For ages 10 and up.

• The Belmont Public Library is providing one-on-one Digital Library Help on Wednesday, August 6, from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the Reference Room. Learn how to download eBooks from the library and set up a device. Get started with Zinio to read free digital magazines. E-mail and Internet basics, social media, or basic computer skills. Registration is required; register online or call 617-993-2870 to register by phone. Some services require downloading an app. Please come prepared with your Apple ID, Adobe ID, Amazon Account information, or other password and log in information for your device.

• Duplicate Bridge Club meets from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Beech Street Center at 266 Beech St. The club holds American Contact Bridge League-sanctioned games. All are welcome to play. Cost is $7. Phone: 339-223-6484 for more information.

• The group Sciencetellers presents Dragons & Dreams, stories and science come to life through visually exciting experiments, will occur on Wednesday, Aug. 13 starting at 2 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. If you’re in the room, you’re part of the story.

• Move, dance and sing along with acclaimed Brazilian musician Sulinha Boucher on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the library’s Assembly Room

• State Sen. Will Brownsberger will be holding office hours on Friday, Aug. 15, at 10 a.m. at the Beech Street Center.