Come and Meet Belmont

I've lived in Belmont for more than 15 years and find I still learn new things and meet new people (some new to Belmont, some just new to me) at the Meet Belmont event, which will be held this Tuesday, Aug. 30, 6 p.m. at the Chenery Middle School. 

I've been to these both as an attendee and staffing the table as a School Committee member, and it's always been a pleasure. (Thanks to the sponsors, the Vision 21 Implementation Committee and Belmont Public Schools).

The thing that strikes me most is the diversity of interesting things going on in Belmont, whether town departments, official local committees, community groups, religious organizations, schools, scouts, arts, local media (Patch, Globe, Citizen-Herald), etc. (Of course, since I like to schmooze, it's a good venue for that too.)

In the current national anti-government political environment, it's great be able to see the face of town officials. They are constantly hammered by budget constraints, and it's good to see, first-hand, what services they are still able to provide.

It's hard to pick what I found more interesting with the departments; DPW (roads, trash and recycling), Belmont Municipal Light Department (lots of energy saving tips, and free CFL light bulbs in past years), Health Department (more areas of responsibility than I had thought), and Police (more pro-active than many people think when it comes to youth).

Of course you can meet the new Superintendent of Schools, Tom Kingston. And there will surely be buzz about the new, very-soon-to-open, Wellington Elementary School.

So, some on down!