Letters to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Belmont's Need for Leadership

"Where is the leadership in this town? It is not the job of a Library Trustee alone, or the responsibility or the school committee members, to do this work."

To the editor: I am amazed and disappointed at the situation this town found itself in at the School Committee meeting last night. The members of the School Committee were in an impossible situation and had no good way out. The Library Trustees found themselves literally cutting and pasting possible alternative ideas for locations for a ball field to save the future of the new library. Where is the leadership in this town? It is not the job of a Library Trustee alone, or the responsibility or the school committee members, to do this work. The Selectmen should have stepped up with professionals to find a way to make it work. I have to believe that there is a way to both support the sports programs and move our library to a more appropriate …

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Pool Study Complicates New Belmont Library's Future

Initial public reaction favors $4.2 million pool-only option; plans with playing field that is critical to building new library met with concerns.

The agenda for last night's public meeting, March 14, was officially an update of the feasibility study on the future of Belmont's historic but worn-out Underwood Pool. But the end of hour-long presentation, it was the future of a new Belmont Public Library building that was literally thrown into the deep-end as the three dozen residents, abutters and town officials in attendance were not moved to relocate the century-old recreation site up the slope of the adjacent park and installing an artificial athletic field dedicated to high school sports at the pool's current location. Instead, the $4.2 million design to rebuild the pool with a 12-foot deep diving area and a kids-friendly wading area bisected by a dedicated area for lap swimming …

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Photo Gallery: A Night Under the Blooms in Belmont

Friends of Belmont Public Library and Belmont Garden Club join for a soiree to support library programs.

A dozen floral arrangements inspired by bestsellers highlighted a Friday night where patrons and supporters of the Belmont Public Library came together for the annual "Books in Bloom" fundraiser.  The reception featured the work of the Belmont Garden Club, music by Sinti Rhythm, a cash bar, art by local residents and dancing. "Books in Bloom" is co-sponsored by the Belmont Garden Club and the Friends of the Belmont Public Library with proceeds supporting Library programs such as free museum passes and the Author and Music series.

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Still Time To Pick Up Tickets for Friday's 'Books In Bloom'

Flowers, live music, refreshments, artwork, dancing to celebrate spring at the Library.

Flowers! Live music! Refreshments! Artwork! It must be spring. This Friday's "Books in Bloom" at the Belmont Public Library offers an antidote for dreary winter weather while providing a chance to mingle with friends and enjoying 20 stunning floral interpretations of books created by members of the Belmont Garden Club.   The reception which runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. includes a cash bar and live music by Sinti Rhythm.   Those attending can enter a free drawing for lovely arrangements donated by local florists.   Tickets are available at the Library's main Circulation desk at $15 in advance and $20 at the event March 1. This is an open community event for all ages.  Floral arrangements will be on display in the Library this coming …

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Belmont in Final Days of Library Card Challenge

Competition is very close with Arlington, Lexington and Somerville on who can sign-up

The Belmont Public Library is in the final days of its competition with three neighboring libraries and it needs your help. At the beginning of the month, the Arlington library director, Ryan Livergood, challenged Belmont’s library director, Maureen Conners, as well as neighboring libraries in Lexington and Somerville to see who can register the most new library cards during the month of February (percentage increase over February 2012).   The objective of the challenge is to reach out to citizens who do not already have a library card. And according to librarians, Belmont has a good shot to win so they are asking residents to come in and get themselves and their friends and relatives signed up by Thursday, Feb. 28. New library card …

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Maureen Conners

12:59 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Belmot has over 15,000 registered borrowers. We are actually doing very well in the challenge - as of this morning we were in the lead. I hope we can keep it up- we only have until Thursday. If you don't have a card - come on down and register!   more ›

Library Music, Last Picture Show on Belmont's Weekend Calendar

Finehouse performing the great romantic keyboard music of the 19th century and three friends come together in photography.

Don't let the pending weather keep you inside this weekend as Belmont will be home to two great artistic events. • Pianist Constantine Finehouse will be showing off the harmonically rich and flashy virtuosic techniques of 19th century romantic keyboard music as part of the Music of Saturday Concert Series at the Belmont Public Library.    See Finehouse perform on YouTube which is attached to this page. The concert, "The Keyboard Ad Extremum," is free thanks to the sponsorship of the Friends of the Belmont Public Library.  The program will be on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the library's Assembly Room. • Sunday is the final day of the New/Old Group, a photography exhibit featuring the work of artists Elaine Fisher, Eric …

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Spring Preview: Library's 'Books In Bloom' Next Friday

Have something to look forward as Belmont Garden Club and Library join forces March 1.

Three snowstorms in consecutive weekends is enough to drive anyone into a dreary state.  But Spring will be in the air next Friday, March 1, as the Friends of the Belmont Public Library and the Belmont Garden Club will once again sponsor the "Books in Bloom" at the library.  There will be 20 flower arrangements – there will be a drawing for the flowers at the end of the night – live music, refreshments and art work from Belmont artists to view as residents and library supporters can mingle and dance away the evening.  At 8:15 p.m., there will be a free drawing for floral bouquets donated by more-than-half dozen local florists.  Floral arrangements will be on display at the library throughout the weekend: Saturday, March 2nd  9 a.m. - 5 p.m…

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Powers Music's 'Puff the Magic Dragon' This Morning at the Library

Part of the School's musical storytelling program held in area libraries.

Concord Avenue's Powers Music School and Cambridge Savings Bank presents Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton’s book, Puff the Magic Dragon at the Belmont Public Library's downstair's Assembly Room beginning at 10:30 a.m., part of the school's Musical Storytelling Program. Those attending can read and listen along to this beautifully illustrated version of the popular tale. The story will be narrated by Powers' Artistic Director Helen Clapp Stevenson, with music performed by Yas Ishibashi, piano and vocals, Erica Klein, cello, and Michael Carey, flute. Families are invited to attend this free story hour that are specifically developed for children ages 3 and up, but all ages are welcome to attend. The Musical Storytelling Series' events are held …

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Just Holiday Desserts: Taste and Swap Christmas Goodies

From cookies to cakes, those passed on and new traditions.

The Frost the Snowman in the Assembly Room of the Belmont Public Library could have been renamed Frosting the Snowman. The creation of eight-year-old Lea Newport from Arlington, Frosty consisted of three round gingerbread sections, lots of white vanilla frosting with sweet decorating that became his face and accessories like his scarf. And his hat? "Those are Kit Kat candy bars," she said. "You could not bake that with the gingerbread because it would melt and you'd lose the hat," she noted. Newport joined a number of bakers at the inaugural Belmont Public Library's first ever Holiday Dessert Tasting and Recipe Swap where anyone had a chance to share their recipes and also discover new ones. And the best part was that everyone got to …

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