• On the government side of the week: The Belmont School Committee meets on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School to discuss among other things, budgets; present and future. The Belmont Water Advisory Board will talk about this year’s and next fiscal years capital projects on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. at 35 Woodland St.
• Remember that street side trash and recycling has been delayed one day due to the MLK Holiday.
• Tuesdays are 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 is located at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex. Over at the Belmont Public Library on Concord Avenue will be holding two sessions of Story Time for 2’s and 3’s, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark’s staff will be holding office hours on Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Beech Street Center.
• Join Earthwatch volunteer Mark Hopkins for a photographic visit to the savannahs of South Africa, and his hikes through scenic Thornveld landscapes accompanied by an armed Zulu ranger, counting wild rhino, giraffe, buffalo, elephant and a dozen other large mammal species. The journey takes place on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 1:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
• The Belmont Garden Club will hear from Suzanne Mahler on “Architectural Plants for the Summer Garden on Wednesday, Jan. 21 in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Light refreshments will be served at 10 a.m. with the program beginning at 10:45 a.m.
• The Belmont Book Discussion Group will discuss Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson on Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the library’s Flett Room. Everyone is welcome to attend. Copies of the book can be requested through the library catalog or call the library Reference staff at 617-993-2870.
• The Beech Street Center will be screening the film, The Hundred-Foot Journey, on Friday, Jan. 23, at 1 p.m. The Golden Globe award-winning comedy stars Helen Mirren, and produced by Stephen Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey. An Indian family opens a restaurant directly opposite Mirren’s Michelin-starred establishment in France. Culinary and cultural “wars” ensue.
• The Belmont Public Library’s OTAKUrabu program, which is meeting on Friday, Jan. 23 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the library’s Assembly Room, lets teens from 7th to 12th grade meet up to watch anime, talk manga and games, do a craft/activity, and plan for future events. Japanese snacks provided free while they last. Just drop in, no registration required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.
• The Belmont Art Association and unCommon Finds, 432 Common St., is holding an artists reception on Friday, Jan. 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in conjunction with The Spirited Gourmet, 448 Common St., wine tasting (from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.) for BAA artists, Dennis Kavanagh and Namoi Ellenberg-Dukas. A coupon for dessert (with two entrees purchased) at Savino’s Grill will be available at reception.
“• U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark’s staff will be holding office hours on Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Beech Street Center.” – the appointment time was earlier , I think from Noon to 1 PM. I went there at 1:20 PM and Kelsey, Katherine’s aid, had come and gone. The Beech Street Center also had the incorrect time in their monthly newsletter. Check for new time for February.