Mary Byrne

Mary Byrne

Mary Byrne is a member of The Belmont Voice staff. Mary can be contacted at mbyrne@belmontvoice.org.

Town Streamlining Recreation, COA and Veterans Services Departments

May 20, 2024
In an effort to improve staff efficiency, programming, and services, the town is looking to reconfigure its Human Services Department by combining the Recreation Department, the Council on Aging, and Veterans Services under one streamlined organizational structure. In short, the proposed reorganization…

Increasing Number of Students Opt for Private Ed Each Year

May 18, 2024
According to a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education database, an increasing number of school-age children in Belmont are choosing to attend private or parochial schools. The number of school-age children attending private school increased from 481 to 545 between the 2017-18…
A backhoe hauls aluminum siding from the old skating rink.

Rink Committee Offers Pair of Options

May 17, 2024
The Municipal Rink Building Committee has found roughly $1.56 million in reductions in an attempt to bring the cost of the project closer to its $30 million budget. In its current form, the project is about $4 million over budget. As part…

A Chance Meeting Leads to Lifetime Commitment

May 15, 2024
When Jeffry Pike met Bill Melaragni, he wasn’t looking for a relationship. “We were introduced by a mutual friend,” Melaragni recalled. “The next time I saw Jeff, we were in one of these [Boston Strikers] club meetings, but for reasons we can’t…

Clerical Issue Briefly Clouds Assessor Apointment

May 15, 2024
A clerical error cost a past board member the opportunity to be considered for a seat on the Board of Assessors. Select Board Chair Roy Epstein issued a clarification Monday night regarding how his words were interpreted after a recent board meeting…

Waiting In Line to Make History

May 14, 2024
Twenty years ago, at midnight on May 17, Cambridge City Hall opened its doors to nearly a hundred same-sex couples eager to be among the first in the country to receive their marriage license. Among those in line were Eve Alpern and…
A Justly Married sticker on the back of a Volvo.

Landmark Marriage Ruling Marks 20-Year Anniversary

May 14, 2024
Twenty years ago, on May 17, 2004, after a protracted fight, gay and lesbian couples were granted a right that most Americans likely take for granted — the right to marry. “I was elated,” said Jeffry Pike, who participated in demonstrations at…
Belmont School Administration Building

Forecast Calls for Slow Decrease in Enrollment

May 12, 2024
School enrollment forecasts indicate that by 2028-2029, there will be almost 200 fewer students in the Belmont Public Schools than there are currently, and the decline will continue well into the next decade. In the 2023-2024 academic year, 4,424 students were enrolled…
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