Kimberley Connors is sitting in a far corner of the Chenery Middle School playing field with a class of sixth graders preparing for a history lesson that involves gloves, digging and potentially getting dirty. "Think of it as if it's a big three-layer cake," Connors told the students, preparing them for an hour of carefully removing soil. Acton-resident Connors runs Archaeology Outreach, a six-year-old company that brings the classroom experience outdoors in an hands-on approach to learning about archaeology. There will be diggers, screeners and scribes," said Connors, who with her assistant …

A first-game 25-22 victory coming back from a deficit for Arlington High School was not enough to fend off the Belmont Marauders.The second game started off even, the score tied at 1, 2 and 3. A few minutes later — the score 21-15 in Arlington's favor — a second victory seemed certain. However, Belmont came from behind and won the game 25-23.Game 3, a crucial turning point in momentum for both teams, resulted in a 25-20 Belmont victory, and it was over from then on. Belmont led by as many as 9 points in game 4 before winning by 10 with a score of 25-15.

Mother Nature needs to cooperate for beautiful gardens to flourish. What constitutes perfect conditions, however, depends on the circumstances. Even though it was cool and cloudy on Sunday, June 11, it turned out to be perfect weather for the annual Belmont Garden Club’s house garden tour -- providing the chance to walk comfortably and view vibrant colors without the glare of intense sunlight. This year’s tour, titled “Small Garden Sampler,” featured six private ones and the Woodland Garden on the grounds of the Belmont Public Library. Each space has been deemed by members of the club and the…

They began shooting at 5 :30 p.m., Tuesday, June 7, in the gym at the Butler Elementary School. Twenty-five tries to see how many free throws they could make. Volunteers helped sign in the students, kids, teens and adults who made pledges for every attempt or made basket. The money donated by the participants – which has so far totaled $20,000 – will be going to the construction of "Courageous Court," the rebuilding of the basketball court at the Butler School. The project is being spearheaded by Marc and Libby Firenze, the parents of MJ Firenze, Jr., a Butler student who passed away in …

As the newest member of a club she never wanted to join, Gold Star mother Pamela Curtis laid the wreath in Belmont Cemetery on Monday morning, Memorial Day, to honor all who gave their lives in defense of the country. Several hundred residents watched in silence as they remembered and prayed for her son, Spc. Jonathan Curtis, who was killed in Afghanistan Nov. 1, 2010, the same day Belmont lost another of its veterans, Brian Mahoney who served in the Vietnam War. The day's observations began with the annual parade from Cushing Square to the cemetery on Grove Street, as veterans – both walking…

Every year, according to the US Department of Justice, hundreds of thousands of children are reported missing across the country. Some run away, many more are taken by parents in custody disputes and a small number are abducted. Many of those have never been located. Today is national Missing Children's Day. Here is a partial list of children in Massachusetts who have gone missing in recent years, including Maximillian Olegovich Soloviev, age 9, of Belmont, missing since June 8, 2006. Check the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for full lists by state as well as age progression…

They looked so grown up.  On Friday afternoon, 440 Belmont High School students and dates did away with their everyday casual attire and, in a pre-prom tradition, paraded before cheering parents, siblings and friends in tuxedos and beautiful gowns and dresses in a wide variety of designs – including a few made by their wearers – and colors that were accessorized with corsages, family heirlooms and graduation presents.  And before getting on buses to take them to Boston's Park Plaza for their prom, the students and dates walked one last time through a phalanx of cameras and well-wishers at the…

The clouds parted for the first time in five days as sunny warm weather greeted thousands of residents and visitors to Belmont's annual Town Day.

Jonathan Eldridge has brought back the Stephen Schwartz musical 'Working' to the Chenery Middle School's Theatre Arts Company after seven years since he first directed the show not just because he likes it ... which he does. "It is a favorite of mine but it also a show that has no plot but a series of solo singing and monologues that allows many students the chance to be in the spotlight," said Eldridge.  See the video interview of Eldridge and actors from the Theatre Arts Company's production of 'Working' on this website. The revival performances of 'Working' will take place Thursday through…

Although Jack Lowrie will be graduating from Belmont High School in a few weeks, he still cares deeply about the town’s schools. That’s why he joined hundreds of residents, students, teachers and administrators in the field house on Wednesday, May 4, for the second Community Dialogue on Belmont Schools. Hosted by the Belmont Public Schools, the two-hour conversation was an opportunity for the entire community to help guide the planning efforts for the future of Belmont education. “I attended the first dialogue (held in October 2009) and it was fantastic to hear a lot of people who have strong…

A little rain couldn't stop more than 2oo kids from taking part in the 11th annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Chenery Middle School play grounds Saturday, April 23. Belmont's yearly day-before-Easter event, sponsored by Belmont Savings Bank, had youngsters descending on the field filled with brightly colored eggs. Inside the eggs where candy and in some cases, slips of paper redeemable for a new dollar coin and a starter bank account.  More photos - care of Belmont Savings Bank - at this Facebook link

A few years ago, a teacher of Jane Hanenberg's told her she was very good with her use of color but couldn't draw or paint. The teacher told her to paint 200 lemons before coming back to the class. And Hanenberg did just that. And from that lesson came the kernel of the idea for her first show at the Belmont Gallery of Art that highlights the vibrant hues she favors in her works. "There's something enlivening when using bright colors," she said. A psychologist, Hanenberg is largely a self-taught painter who gravitates towards domestic subjects – "it reminds you of home" – and landscapes …

Students lined up at the cafeteria in February to attend the fifth annual Hunger Banquet, hosted by Belmont High School’s Working to Help the Homeless Club. As the guests entered the cafeteria, where the event took place, each reached into a “Bag of Fate” to be given a card that determined their status, as high, middle, or low income. They also reached into a bag labeled “Who am I?” to get a “character card” which gave the guest an identity, which would be the role he or she would be playing during the banquet. These cards were given to the guests to provide them with a new perspective, …

Paul Green and Josh Teopaco stood at the corner of Choate and Dalton roads, clipboard in hand and slickly-made pamphlets at the ready, preparing to spend the next three hours of their Saturday delivering a simple message to homeowners and residents.  Here are the facts.  "Hello, my name is Josh and this is my associate, Paul," said Teopaco at the first person who responded to their ringing the bell. The Belmont High School juniors were one of dozens of volunteers who crisscrossed Belmont on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon, March 19 and 20, knocking on doors and leaving flyers at …

The Performing Arts Company of Belmont High School will be performing the classic Broadway musical "West Side Story" this Friday and Saturday at the Belmont High School auditorium.  For more information and times, go to the PAC website. 

They left their entire season on the ice at Salem State University ice Wednesday, March 2. And while the 2010-2011 Belmont High School Boys Ice Hockey team could not find a way to extend their year by at least one more game, the young men who played for him left an impression on head coach Dante Muzzioli. "They left their heart and soul on the ice today," said the clearly emotional Muzzioli after spending 10 minutes in the visiting locker room with his team after losing to Wakefield, 4-1, in the first round of the Division I North state championships. "They did everything I asked them, they …

"It's going to get very, very dark," said Belmont High School teacher Erik Berg to a collection of sixth graders inside the portable planetarium situated in the gym of the Chenery Middle School.  And it was indeed pitch black, to the giggles of the 11- and 12-year-olds.  Then the heavens slowly emerged above them; a universe of stars, planets and wonders inside the inflated bubble. Berg, who teaches astronomy to juniors and seniors at the high school began explaining the folklore and locations in the sky; finding Orion's Belt and noting that the North Star is not a particularly special or …

If you or your children learned the game of hockey at "Skip" Viglirolo Rink in Belmont, chances are very good that you came across Jack Normile. Since the rink opened in the early 70s, Normile could be found on the ice, volunteering whatever time he could spare from working and helping to raise 11 of his own children, coaching every age group and skill level there was. If an instructor or mentor was needed for a team, Jack was there willing to take over the reins.  Jack's dedication to Belmont kids – whether they played hockey or not – is still fondly remembered by people who recall Jack from…

If you ask Advance Placement in Studio Art Teacher Mark Milowsky which student has a grasp on artistic talent from the 15 students in his class whose works are currently hanging on the gallery walls of the Mass Audubon's Habitat in Belmont, he would say each one is posses artistic talent. “These are the best of the best. This is probably one of the best classes of the past 10 years,” the Belmont High School teacher said. At Saturday’s reception opening the exhibit that runs until Feb. 26, any admirer can see why would speak so highly of all of his students. The pieces mostly past assignments …

Prominent authors and supporters of library services mingled last Friday at The Friends of Belmont Public Library's "Books in Bloom" fundraiser. Music, snacks and wine created the atmosphere the Friends were looking for: a successful event. For more photos, go to the Belmont Library's photo stream on Flickr. See a video slideshow of "Books in Bloom" on this page.