The Week in Review: Town Wins $7.5M Grant for New Library

The Belmont Board of Library Trustees was awarded a $7.5 million grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for the construction of a new $18 million library that will be built across Concord Avenue from the current library location. The Trustees are beginning an aggressive fundraising effort before coming before Town Meeting in April for the approval to issue bonds for the remainder of the cost.

Just about a year after being closed down, good news on the future of the two playgrounds: the Butler Elementary School Playground is just about 30 days away from when the public will be asked to volunteer a weekend to set up the playground equipment while residents are gearing up for the Joey's Park Walk-a-thon, a 2-mile fundraiser to help with the costs for a newly designed part adjacent to the Winn Brook Elementary.

The Belmont Food Pantry is in the process of moving from its location at the former Municipal Light Department headquarters on Concord Avenue across from Town Hall to its former home in a modular building behind Belmont High School, where there is more room and heat.

Hundreds of Belmont students and parents (and pets) left the SUV and car in the driveway and joined thousands of participants around the world for International Walk to School Day.

Fire Department crews discovered a man grilling on his second-floor balcony. When told to stop, the man told the firefighters to "beat it."

What was thought at the time to be a suspicious adult lurking near the Chenery Middle School which triggered a 'Stranger Danger Alert' turned out to be a parent who just wanted to come by to see his children during recess.

The utility National Grid repaired a large gas leak on Ridley Road which initially brought so much fire equipment to the scene from Belmont that mutual aid came from Cambridge and Waltham.

Belmont Boys' Soccer took it on the chin to Wilmington, 2-1, before beating Melrose, 1-0, to see their mid-season record climb to 5-2-3 with a great chance of making the post-season and winning 10 games this year.