Belmont Holding 9/11 Memorial Commemoration On Quarter-Century Anniversary Of Terror Attack

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Photo: Poster of Belmont’s Memorial Event

While one of the most seminal moments in US history, for many members of the Gen Z generation – those born after 1997 – the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 are only hazy memories, if they remember them at all. It’s why many who do remember 9/11 believe the shock, pain, bravery and consequences of that day is essential to recall and commemorate.

Belmont will hold a 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Ceremony to honor the approximate 3,000 victims killed in New York City, Washington DC and Pennsylvania and also remember the first responders of Sept. 11.

The commermoration will take place on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. in the Select Board Meeting Room, Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave. All members of the community are welcome to attend this time of remembrance.

Three Belmont residents were on American Airlines Flight 11 during the 2001 attacks.

  • Paul Friedman, 45, a management consultant.
  • Edward (Ted) R. Hennessy Jr., 35, a business partner and father of two.
  • Carlos Alberto Montoya, 36

For grief support, wellness, and community support resources, visit the Belmont Health Department Resources page at belmont-ma.gov/2072/Health-Department-Resources.

For questions, contact the Belmont Select Board at selectboard@belmont-ma.gov

What’s Open, Close On Labor Day; Trash Pick Up Delayed A Day

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Photo: USPS Labor Day stamps circa 1956

Goodbye, summer. Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, ends the last big getaway weekend of the warm weather season.

Trash and recycling collection is delayed ONE DAY due to the holiday: If your pickup day is Monday, this week it will be collected on Tuesday, etc.

The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. 

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day in 1887. During that year, Massachusetts joined four other states passing laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

Boston will be holding its Labor Day Parade in downtown Boston at 10 a.m.

Labor Day is one of ten holidays recognized by the federal government, although the feds don’t require employers to pay workers for this holiday. Businesses traditionally provide their employees with a paid holiday as part of a benefits package because most others do the same.

Closed:

Belmont Town offices, Boston Public Schools, Belmont Public Library and Belmont Light are closed.

• US Postal Service offices and regular deliveries.

• Banks; although some branches will be open in some supermarkets.

• MBTA: Operating on a Sunday schedule. See www.mbta.com for details.

What’s Opened:

• Retail stores

• Coffee shops; Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are open.

• Supermarkets

• Convenience stores and,

• Establishments that sell beer and wine are also allowed to be open.

School District Holding Info Forum Monday, Aug. 3 To Answer Residents Questions After Staffer’s Arrest

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Photo: Belmont Middle School

Belmont Public Schools is hosting a hybrid community forum on Monday, August 3, at 4 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium, a week after the arrest of a long-time educator for the possession of images of child sexual exploitation.

At the Aug. 3 forum, district leadership and members of the Belmont Police Department will answer questions and provide any additional information on the incident.

Leon Dyer, who had been an educator at Belmont Middle School for approximatley 19 years, pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material on Monday, July 27 in Cambridge District Court. Dyer posted bail and was released on Monday.

Residents who want to participate remotely can attend the forum via ZOOM at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89006941103
WEBINAR ID: 890 06941103

“The safety and well-being of our students will always remain our highest priority,” said Belmont Superintendent of Schools Jill Geiser, “Although we do not yet have a complete understanding of this matter, we will continue to share what information we have when we can.”

Town Changes July 4th Cooling Center From Beech Street Center To Public Library

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Photo:

The Morrissey Hall Community Room of the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave., will be open to provide air-conditioned relief on Saturday, July 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The

The library location replaces the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St., as the cooling location in town. In addition, the Underwood Pool, adjacent to the library on Concord Avenue will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch because of a prolonged period of dangerous heat and humidity. Dangerous heat continues into the Saturday holiday with heat indexes reaching 98F to 115F.

Persistent exposure to high heat and humidity may cause illness. All residents are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned buildings, avoid direct sunlight, and check on relatives and neighbors. 

What’s Open/Closed On July 3 And Independence Day

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Photo: John Trumbull’s painting, Declaration of Independence, depicting the five-man drafting committee of the Declaration of Independence presenting their work to the Congress.

Saturday, July 4, the country observes the 250th anniversary (that would be the semiquincentennial) commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 (The document was signed on July 2nd). 

Massachusetts’ own John Adams, who signed the Declaration and was the nation’s second president, said the Fourth should be celebrated the day with “Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” 

Saturday also marks the 200th anniversary of Adams died on July 4th, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the document’s adoption. It also marks the bicentennial of the death of the declaration’s chief author, Thomas Jefferson, the third president.

Here is what’s closed and open on the 4th of July.

Open on July 3rd

  • Massachusetts state government offices and the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Unlike federal employees, the state does not observe Saturday holidays on the preceding Friday, so normal weekday state operations proceed.

Closed on July 3rd

  • Belmont Town Hall, the public library, Benton Library, and town offices.
  • Federal government offices.
  • US Postal Service: Both Belmont post offices are open.

Open on the the 4th of July

  • Underwood Pool: Open to members and those purchasing day passes.
  • Retail stores: Open at owner’s discretion
  • Supermarkets: Star Market on Trapelo Road in Waverley Square is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but the pharmacy will be closed.
  • Coffee shops: Starbucks and Dunkin’s on Trapelo Road will operate regular hours. The Dunks on Pleasant and Church will also be open.
  • CVS: 89 Leonard St. (Belmont Center) Store 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Pharmacy 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • CVS: 264 Trapelo St. Store 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Pharmacy 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed on the 4th of July

  • USPS offices in Belmont.

For those who will be traveling using public transportation, the MBTA is running on the following schedule on the 3rd and the 4th

  • Subway will run on a modified Saturday schedule until 3 p.m. After 3 p.m., the subway will run on a weekday schedule.
  • Bus and the RIDE will run on a Sunday schedule.
  • Commuter Rail will run on a weekend schedule. After 8:30 p.m., bikes will not be allowed on board on trains. The last train from Boston’s North Station on the Fitchburg line, which serves Belmont and Waverley commuter stops, will depart at 11:40 p.m.
  • There is no fare after 8:30 p.m. on all lines.

Where to see fireworks celebrations near-ish to Belmont:

Belmont Farmers Market Reduces Hours Thursday, Closing At 4 PM

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Photo: The Farmers Market will close easly this Thursday due to the expected high heat temperatures.

The extreme heat wave blanketing Belmont and most of the US east of the Mississippi River will force the Belmont Farmers Market to cut its Thursday operating hours in half for the safety of vendors, volunteers and patrons.

The market will open at its usual 2 p.m. time and run until 4 p.m., closing two-and-a-half hours early.

Temperatures are expected to hit highs in the 100s F and high 90s F on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Due to the heat, there will be no activities at the Events Tent.

The Farmers Market takes place every Thursday at the Belmont Center parking lot, 10 Claflin St.

Belmont Farmers Market Opens For Its 21st Season

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Photo: Select Board’s Carol Berberian cutting the ribbon to open the 21st season of the Belmont Farmers Market

With the official opening of the Belmont Farmers Market on Thursday, June 4, Town Moderator Adam Dash declared, “It’s now officially summer in Belmont.” No truer words could have been spoken.

The day saw 90 degree temperatures under a cloudless sky that had vendors dousing themselves with water and some patrons placing their overheated smart phones on ice as the heat played havoc with humans and machines.

But the conditions did not thwart patrons from flocking to Belmont Center on the first market day of the season. While produce stalls are still weeks away from trucking in the first harvest of vegetables and fruits, vendors did a brisk business selling baked and cooked goods, meat, fish, and beer. The day included music, kids story time with the Belmont Public Library, and information on food security.

“After five months of planning, it’s great to finally be doing,” said Hal Shubin, chairman of the market, at the opening ceremony. The Farmers Market is part of the Belmont Food Collaborative, a nonprofit umbrella organization that includes Belmont Composts, Belmont Helps, Belmont Food Pantry, and Community Gardening. A large component of the Collaborative’s mission is in support of food security.

“A recent report shows that 40 percent of the households in Massachusetts doesn’t always have enough food. Think about what that means for your family,” said Shubin, who pointed out the market started its food assistance program in 2011, raising more than a quarter million dollars in extra money for individuals to buy healthy local food and to support area food banks.

The market also promotes children being involved in the market with its POP Club which allows members $3 a week to purchase produce of their choice.

Among the speakers at the opening was Liza Bemis, a fifth-generation farmer and co-owner of Hutchins Farm, a historic 112-acre organic farm located in Concord that has been a vendor since 2008. She spoke of the importance of the state’s Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) in which SNAP/EBT users are provided extra funds – depends on their household size – to purchase fresh, local fruits and vegetables from participating Massachusetts farmers markets.

“The immediacy of the impact from the HIP program really surprised me,” said Bemis after her operation was certified by the state.

“I had no idea there was such a need in the greater Belmont community, and how many folks wanted to be customers, but hadn’t been able to access our produce. As other farmers became HIP certified, and the program grew in recognition, it was amazing to see how this program could impact both customers and farmers. It was a textbook win-win program, how to get more fresh food into customers’ diets, and how to strengthen the economic stability of local farms by expanding our customer base and increasing our current customers’ purchasing power.”

At 2 p.m., Select Board member Carol Berberian was given the honor of cutting the tomato red ribbon and the opening bell was rung for the first time this season.

With Critical Call For Donors, Belmont Holds Town Wide Blood Drive Monday, June 8 At Library

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Photo: Blood drive in Belmont Monday, June 8.

With the American Red Cross making an urgent call for blood and platelet donors just as the high demand summer months begin, the Town of Belmont is holding a Blood Drive on Monday, June 8, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Morrissey Room of the Belmont Public Library.

Sign up to register: https:/ /www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=belmonthspl

Donors of all blood types are essential in keeping the blood supply strong enough to withstand summer challenges, according to the Red Cross. Scheduled donations, which account for 90 percent of all blood donations, have dropped sharply nationwide in recent weeks craising concerns that the decline could worsen as the country and New England enter trauma season.

This period between Memorial Day and Labor Day brings an increase in severe injuries from car accidents, ATV crashes, sports-related injuries and other summer activities. A single person injured in a serious car accident can require up to 100 units of blood.

“Every minute matters. For each minute that passes without blood transfusion, the risk of death increases by 11 percent for patients suffering from hemorrhagic shock. That’s why having a readily available blood supply is critical.” said Dr. Emily Coberly, medical director for the Red Cross.

Sixth Pride Parade On Sunday, May 31, Celebrates Belmont LGBTQ+ Alliances’ 25th Anniversary

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Photo: Belmont’s Pride Parade is Sunday, May 31, at 1 p.m.

The sixth annual Pride Parade, to be held on Sunday, May 31, will be extra special as it will also commemorate an important milestone.

“It’s a particularly special year, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Belmont LGBTQ+ Alliance, which was founded in 2001,” said Belmont’s LGBTQ Alliance founder Fran Yuan. “We’ve seen many positive changes over the years in making Belmont more open and welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Co-sponsored by the Alliance, Belmont Human Rights Commission, Belmont Against Racism, Belmont Wellness Coalition, the First Church in Belmont, Plymouth Congregational Church, and Beth El Temple Center, the parade will start at 1 p.m. at the Belmont Town Green across from First Church Belmont at 404 Concord Ave.

The day will begin at 12:45 p.m. with opening remarks as residents gather before the parade. The march will include a short walk along Concord Avenue up to Belmont High School before returning through Belmont Center back to the Green. The route is relatively flat and accommodating for everyone.

There will be live music, kids’ activities, representatives of community organizations, and cake and ice cream.

Memorial Day: Ceremony On, Parade Cancelled; Trash Collection Pushed Back One Day

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Photo: Belmont High School athletes who participated in planting American flags at Grove Street Cemetery before Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony.

Spring showers didn’t cancel Town Day this year as the it did the previous three, but a rainy Monday put the clamps on the traditonal Memorial Day parade, set for the holiday on May 25.

The parade – that travels from the Grove Street Cemetery to the Veterans Memorial at Clay Pit Pond – was cancelled due to safety concerns on the wet roads, according to a release from the town. The Memorial Day ceremony which precedes the parade will continue as scheduled beginning at 11 a.m. at the cemetery, rain or shine.

Town offices and departments, the public schools, the Beech Street Center, and the Belmont Public Library will be closed on the Monday holiday.

Trash and Recycling pushed back a day: Trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day. Monday’s collection will occur on Tuesday, Tuesday’s collection will occur on Wednesday, etc.