happenings from the community newspaper weekend commuter rail may stop service for disabled riders could also be suspended a year by andy weekend commuter rail service and transit services for individuals with disabilities are on the menu of potential service cuts governor charlie baker's administration is considering to help close a forty two million dollars gap in the transit agencies two billion budget this is really about resetting the suspending weekend service for a year and making capital upgrades to the rail lines during that time would save the m b t a ten mi another option under consideration is suspending for one year premium trips on the ride the t s paratransit service for people with disabilities which would sa core area more than three quarters of a mile from active bus and subway service the proposed service cuts would likely encounter resistance from people who use premium trips on the ride and weekend rail service if the t decides to move forward on these cuts there would need to be additional process processes followed according to pollack who envisioned a public conversation about the budget over the next month other proposed savings could be obtained by outsourcing repair work and customer service along with expected new revenue from airheads and a key oldest commuter service plus a plan to boost revenue on the commuter rail both through promoting reawaken commuting and forcing fare collection these are the things that have been left that haven't been done yet and there's a forty two million dollar gap to fill pollock said describing a menu of options for balancing the budget we definitely need to tap at least some of these options t has also sketched in a seven million dollar increase for strategic operations hires that could be made if other savings are realized in general th plans to keep headcount flat baker has proposed one hundred eighty seven million for the t on top of other long term state subsidies through the  budget if the t closes structural budget gap those proposed additional dollars good be he poured into capital repairs or could be spent on and hence in other areas of the operating budget pollack said the control board wanted to see what a balanced budget would look like but the board could decide to devote some of the expected one hundred eighty seven billion toward existing operating expenses jonathan more than a month while waiting for signage to be installed on march twenty eighth visitors to belmont center have the opportunity use these new parking stations which will allow for thirty minutes of free parking and the ability to pay for up to an additional hour for a total of ninety minutes per day on leonard street the stations will accept cash in credit card payments patrons will be required to input their license plate number even if they intend only take advantage of the thirty minute free period the claflin street miscible parking lot located behind leonard street will still offer several free to our parking spaces as well as meter parking spaces for one dollar per hour credit card in cash payments are accepted there as well i think the meters will be good the turnover rate of cars in the center will be continuous so more customers w expressed concerns about the effect the new meters will have on encouraging shopping in belmont center parking program initiatives by town management continued to move in the wrong direction for an improving or even sustaining healthy retail sector financial revenues from these programs are senseless when overall it is very early jeopardizing the town's ability to maintain a retail sector she said trolling said she is also concerned the town as employed and additional parking enforcement employee to monitor parking activity after five pm and forced parking time minister actions with parking tickets i not like the center hasn't been hit so severely with loss of foot traffic with simultaneous chaos of town and commercial property reconstruction projects we need programs that make sense financially and are businesses customers will be able to find parking more easily although he said it is unclear at this point how much revenue will be generated from the new parking meters the town will use that revenue as as well as the revenue generat belmont has a rich history as a farming community but what's lesser known today is that it was once also a thriving commercial flower growing center in the twentieth century belmont had numerous commercial greenhouses with well over a hundred thousand square feet of growing space providing flowers for customers throughout the region most notable among these flower growers was walter lenk whose business belmont gardens at its peak ship at its peak shipped out over eight thousand flowers daily to places in new england and beyond links legacy also includes having developed the belmont gardenia so named after his home and the first flower to ever receive a u s patent though no longer a flower growing center belmont still includes a remaining greenhouse traced back to the underwood family and a popular community garden at rock meadow that both speaks to the town's past with such an important floral and gardening history it seems only fitting that the belmont gallery would partner with the belmont garden club and the belmont public library to present art blooms in belmont a new exhibit that celebrates all things floral and botanical the original idea for the show was first proposed by several members of the belmont garden club who reached out to peter street zero director of the public library to discuss their idea for a floral themed exhibit they hope to have at the belmont gallery of art once informed of community interest in the show the b g a quickly agreed to collaborate with the garden club and the library to have of the art blooms in belmont exhibit become a reality flowers plants in nature have long been favorite subjects for artists so the belmont gallery of art was not surprised when it received over a hadn't hundred fifty submissions once it exhibit exhibit entries was announced the one hundred pieces ultimately chosen for the show represent a variety of traditional and nontraditional art making approaches to the theme including mosaics printmaking painting textiles sculpture and photography resulting in the collective celebration of all things floral and but tenneco in addition to the garden blooms and belmont exhibit ga also said it would help produce a weekend of free special events for the community on site at the b j including a creative self publishing talk a flower arranging demonstration and dinner or origami flower workshop in addition the library offered to host another blooms in belmont books at plants craft making event the library is proud to partner with the belmont garden club and the belmont gallery of art for art blooms in belmont said peter stres aereo director of the belmont public library we are excited to be a part of the creative programming that is part of this special exhibit a major highlight of art blooms in belmont inc exhibit will be the companion live floral arrangements inspired by select pieces of exhibit art and designed by belmont garden club members visitors will get to see how each of eighteen floral artists interpreted art on display through flowers and other plant material club's floral arrangements will be on display during blooms and belmont special weekend march thirtieth to april second martha what  company over thirty years ago but with every few show of patients still is in the thick of things practicing and performing this week say out nova dance company s in d c celebrated its thirtieth anniversary with a gala in boston and a follow up anniversary performance  the company which takes its name from a famous eighteenth century armenian poet and musician say out nova got its start in january one thousand nine hundred eighty six over the years who lives in belmont with his family has traveled back and forth between massachusetts and armenia studying with various dance both building his craft born in syria and raised in lebanon ashjian immigrated to the united states in one thousand nine hundred seventy after graduating from the cambridge public school system he majored in fish go education at northeastern university in boston according to asian the purpose of the company is to enrich the lives of the younger generation to keep them in touch with their  heritage roots traditions and culture currently say up nova dance company has fifty six dancers and the numbers vary from year to year the company's thirtieth anniversary  performances called the journey continues and is dedicated to s in d c s hometown of boston besides us dancers rehearsing for hours to make the show a success our directors and our executive and costume committees work tirelessly to ensure that everything runs smoothly for us both and watertown thanks to their mission of keeping armenian culture of alive i mean eons have been living in this community and contributing to its overall success for decades  said we are so proud consist dance company exists and is able to be a tool for us to share our vibrant armenian culture with community we are extremely thankful for this communities unwavering support for three decades ashley and said say out nova feels like one big family with its members always looking out for each other in this sense this community is part of our family too he said this year especially he said members of the company feel like they have a lot to be proud of we have practiced for countless hours in order to perform on the two we tour in armenia in which we danced for the armenian military and they tour hosted our own show at the prestigious opera house he said in addition the company performed at the macy's thanksgiving day parade last november jonathan guiding principles are driving force and community partnerships by joy ann assume a less community involvement as one of belmont savings bank seven guiding principles the standards its employees are committed to upholding the which has branches in belmont watertown cambridge waltham and newton participates in more than fifty events in the communities it serves each year voluntarily approximately six hundred hours how tovan vice president and chief operating officer officer said the bank which has been an institution in dominant since eight hundred eighty five looks for chartable opportunities with organizations that can partner with and projects which keep giving back to the community for years to come such as the underwood pool joeys park and future press box at belmont high school stadium it has helped fund belmont savings maggie is also a big supporter of the bell of the foundation for belmont education programs such as the annual outstanding teacher ords which recognizes a teacher from every school in the district each year hundreds of nominations are collected each year the bank helps fund the community wide reception and awards ceremony to honor their exceptional educators selected each year with a generous financial support of belmont savings bank foundation the f b e it has funded curriculum enrichment programs professional development for teachers textbooks and education technology and all of the elements public schools said elizabeth dust and president of the f b when a bank gets too big it loses touch with its communities it becomes a network bank and can operate at a community level that's what differentiates us is tovan for the past three years during the holiday season belmont savings bank branches collected gifts through their giving tree program to benefit the home for little wanderers kayla murphy assistant vice president and marketing officer came up with the idea for the program the most rewarding piece is seeing a lot of your effort to come to life on the fact that it makes people happy and gives them some sort of resource this is very important to me and i am lucky to get to see that quite a bit said murphy charitable giving program which b s b holds to benefit towns beyond alma where they have branches including watertown waltham and newton donated thirty thousand dollars to organizations nominated by the public five chartable programs are selected each year to receive ten thousand eight thousand six thousand four thousand and two thousand dollars at an awards ceremony organized by the belmont savings bank belmont savings bank is also a partnership with the watertown education foundation w f donating fifty dollars for every water town education rewards checking account opened to the the w a f also gets paid interest based on the branches in the account the donation is rewarded every year at the annual f t w e f spelling bee the belmont savings foundation when b s b went from a private bank mutual savings bank to a public back in two thousand and eleven the belmont savings bank foundation was established since then it has grown from two million dollars to five million dollars according to t widespread misunderstanding about islam cited by colony a young sixteen mosque across massachusetts will open their doors for an open mosque day in april to provide an opportunity for people to meet their muslim neighbors and learn more about islam sponsored by the massachusetts chapter of the council for american islamic relations the april two event will include a mosque tour and a brief introduction of islam and attendees will be invited to witness a muslim prayer service in this time of widespread misunderstanding about islam we hope to show our communities that their muslim neighbors live pray and dream just like anyone else wafa wahabi of the american islamic center in everett stated we're proud to open our doors on this day and every day the many local mosques will participate in the april to open mosque day events from three to six pm the islam x is side of boston cambridge at two o four prospect street cambridge is among them to other mosques the worst center and al hoda society of chelsea will hold separate open mosque days in may according to care care is america's largest muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization with a mission to enhance the understanding of islam encourage dialogue protect civil liberties of all people and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding martha get support have you lost a loved one recently are in past few years are you looking for quiet space i'm too yourself and consider attending a six week retirement program at the beach street center beginning a problem levon from three to four forty five pm this program is a low key gathering designed to explore ways to express and channel your grief the instructor will use doris pictures if you use a video clips and casual sharing as to its for finding your new normal after the death of your loved one purchase a prince interacted only in ways that are comfortable for them the space is welcoming and the sessions are both thoughtful and enjoyable you will discover sympathetic listeners and understanding hearts in the group is it time for you to move out of the darkness  and into the light of your future the sessions are facilitated by anne marie mahoney who as a pastoral associate has developed this program based on her work in dying death grief and trauma she weaves her interests in the creative arts into the activities she offers and the movie clips poetry music and stories shares past participants have found this program a welcome oasis in their sadness jonathan mark back to host backup p c family fun run belmont savings bank announced it will be sponsoring belmont second annual back up p z family fun run at seven thirty a wonderful motivating member of the belmont community said bob mahoney president and c e o of belmont savings bank bucker is a role model in the town of belmont demonstrating the importance of hard work dedication and good health we are proud to support her and her mission the family fun run is a five k race in celebration of p z and her accomplishment as being the first american female runner to complete the world marathon challenge the race includes a one mile kids as for kids as well i can't wait to see the members of my hometown and the running community come together for a second year in a r part of the family fun run said p c i'm especially thankful to the belmont savings bank for its continued support in making this event possible the race will begin and end at the belmont high school track registration seven thirty am the five k begins at nine thirty am and the one mile kids run starts at nine am all proceeds from the race will benefit the b scholarship fund and the belmont boosters we are thrilled to be a part of the second annual back a busy run along with belmont savings by said curtis cole vice president of the belmont boosters beckons an incredible athlete drew our community as part of the proceeds will go to the scholarships for belmont high school athletes we are excited to see the turnout this year and we're looking forward to another success marian mess out upon to host animal inspired art exhibit seabirds and waiters barnyard animals and wild critters who will be on display april one to thirty at of bon habitat wildlife sanctuary ten juniper road the mixed media work side by diana morris and emily morse who will host an artist's reception one thirty to three thirty pm april twenty third emily morse among he going island painter studied classical drawing in florence italy and went on to the fine arts program at boston university with a concentration in painting  her work focuses on imaginary landscapes and abstracted subject matter for this show she portrayed just just durable drawings and paintings of sea birds and waiting birds as  other creatures in the wild her work is mainly done on paper including acrylic paintings mondo prints charcoal drawings and watercolor inspired by emily's cow looking out of  barn stall sisters diana morris and emily orse decided on presenting a variety of birds and animals doing their thing sometimes in playful situations or other times in rustic settings depicted in different types of media for this episode of talking news please join us next week