Play Ball in Belmont, Lots of Roadwork and Happy Birthday, Dorothy Parker

• While the official first day of school is still a fortnight away, Belmont High fall athletes will begin their preseason training today with tryouts and training. So watch out for flying balls and kids jogging on the streets.

• Roadway reconstruction continues on Grant Avenue while there is sewer and drain repair is being performed on Harding Avenue, George Street and Long Avenue. Work also continues on Common Street midway between Belmont Center and Cushing Square and along Channing Road

• The Bel Airs, which rehearse on Thursday, is taking the week off for the summer.

• The warm Fernald Pool in Waltham is open for Tuesday and Thursday mornings for residents to use. Contact the Beech Street Center for information. 

• On this day in 1893, the author, poet, critic and wit Dorothy Parker was born in West Bend, N.J. An original writer for "The New Yorker" and a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table, Parker never did write the great novels her friends believed she had in her – due mostly to her lack of sobriety – but she was a keen wordsmith and great wit with an eye for seeking out the urban foibles of her generation. Here are a few of her best comments and lines. 

“Living well is the best revenge.” 

“I'm not a writer with a drinking problem, I'm a drinker with a writing problem.” 

(In a critique of Katherine Hepburn's performance in a play) “She runs the gamut of emotions from A to B.” 

“Writing is the art of applying the ass to the seat.” 

“Never complain, never explain.” 

“Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.” 

“The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” 

“Heterosexuality is not normal, it's just common.”

“There's a hell of a distance between wise-cracking and wit. Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words.” 

“I don't care what is written about me so long as it isn't true.” 

“Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses.” 

“Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves.”

“Now, look, baby, 'Union' is spelled with 5 letters. It is not a four-letter word.”  

(When asked on a radio program to use the word "horticulture" in a sentence) “You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.”