Maile Blume, Author at The Belmont Voice

Mark Paolillo Brings Decades of Experience to Moderator Campaign

February 22, 2025

Over the past few decades, Mark Paolillo has served as a Town Meeting member, chair of the Traffic Advisory Committee, member of the Warrant Committee, and, most recently, Select Board member. That passion for public service, he said, is fueling his run…

News

Belmont Public Schools Refine FY2026 Budget

February 21, 2025

At a recent Budget Summit, Belmont Public Schools proposed a budget that fits the town’s multi-year model developed for the 2024 override: totaling $70,629,379 and representing a 5.6% increase from fiscal year 2024. According to a presentation by Superintendent Jill Geiser, the…

News

Belmont Educators Association, School Committee Open Contract Negotiations

February 13, 2025

The School Committee started focused contract negotiations on Monday with Belmont Educators Association (BEA), Belmont’s teacher’s union. School Committee Chair Meg Moriarty updated Belmont families on Feb. 6, telling them the contract negotiations are starting positively and collaboratively. According to Moriarty, the…

Arts·News

Belmont Resident Follows Dream, Becomes Renowned Calligrapher

February 11, 2025

At age 59, Rona Conti sold her car, rented an apartment in Japan, and moved abroad in search of a calligraphy instructor — all without knowing a word of Japanese. “I said, ‘Ok, it’s my time,’” Conti recalled. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland,…

News

Belmont High Community Expresses Support for Cell Phone Policy

February 8, 2025

This past fall, Belmont High School piloted a policy requiring students to place their phones in cell phone holders at the start of every class period. According to surveys conducted by the school’s administration following the fall rollout, 80% of the 87…

News

Belmont Interviewing DEI Director Finalists

February 6, 2025

Amid President Donald Trump’s executive orders to cut federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Belmont Public Schools is continuing to develop its DEI efforts, hiring a new director to lead the charge. “We will continue moving the work forward as we…

News

Community Presses for School Needs in the Face of Budget Challenges

January 26, 2025

Teachers, school staff, and residents cited staff shortages, transportation costs, and equipment needs as key focal points for the Belmont school district budget. The School Committee held a public forum on Dec. 11 to gather input on the district’s budget draft. That…

News

Belmont High School Students Invited to Perform at Regional Music Festival

January 25, 2025

This year, 43 musicians from Belmont High School were selected to perform in the orchestra, concert band, jazz band, and choral ensembles at the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association Northeast Senior District Festival. “There are very few towns in the state that will…

Lifestyle·News

Belmont Resident Uses Engineering Background to Craft Kinetic Sculptures

January 15, 2025

Towering steel sculptures spin in the wind outside the home of a seasoned engineer, beekeeper, winemaker, and videographer — all by the name of Ottavio Forte. Forte’s creative spirit keeps him busy, from welding kinetic sculptures to repairing his neighbors’ electronic devices…

News

Belmont Families Navigate Special Education Landscape

December 31, 2024

After learning there weren’t any options in Belmont that would meet her son’s needs, Belmont resident Rachel Watson started sending him to a special education collaborative in Maynard to receive services. Parents don’t have much choice in that situation, according to Watson,…