Belmont-story-project

Interview by Alison Smith of Aviva Brescher at BMC.

Dr. Lai first volunteered abroad in the aftermath of the South Asian Tsunami, in 2005, and has since been a part of nearly 30 global humanitarian relief efforts. In this interview, she discusses the South Asian Tsunami; her work in Liberia and Sierre Leone during the 2014 Ebola outbreak; her time in Bangladesh in 2018, helping Rohinga refugees fleeing religious persecution in Myanmar; and her most recent volunteering stint in Yemen, in 2019, where a cholera outbreak has occurred due to the ongoing civil war.

Veteran Hal Learson speaks with librarian Nancy McMenemy McColm about growing up in Portland, ME during the Great Depression and WWII, and his 30+ years of service in the U.S. Navy.

Belmont resident, Sharisse Zeroonian reads from 2 of her short stories, "Rock of Gibraltar", and "Drowsy".

Local artist Ottavio Forte discusses his time working as an electrical engineer on the Apollo 11 program, and his hobbies - beekeeping, wine making, and sculpting. He is interviewed by librarian Nancy McMenemy McColm.

Chemist and teacher Jim Roth discusses his work on the Apollo program and his volunteer work with the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, and Belmont's Conservation Commission.

Sandra Rosenblum shares what it was like to see Thai villagers "in full holiday mode" over the 1969 lunar landing. She also talks about how the "space race" influenced her daughter's education and career. She is interviewed by Librarian Nancy McMenemy McColm

Sharisse Zeroonian shares her memories of growing up in Belmont and discusses her career as a filmmaker and writer. Recorded on August 31, 2019.

Listen to friends Fran Yuan and Jean Gauthier talk about Fran's work on social justice causes, and Jean's highs and lows living in Belmont, as part of the LGBTQ community.

Belmont Assistant Chief of Police James "Jamie" MacIsaac speaks with Joanna Tzouvelis about growing up in Belmont and his 20+ years in public safety.

Dr. Kwan Kew Lai shares how she was surprised to find that mankind had landed on the moon when visited her local information center/library

Dr. Brecher shares her memories of being a NASA Principal Investigator and having the opportunity to experiment on moon rocks brought back from the Apollo missions. She also discusses what it was like to be a women working in a science field, back in the 1960's and 1970s.

Kim Archer describes a road trip he and some college friends took from PA to FL, to see the Saturn 5 rocket launch on July 16, 1969.

Jack Ananian shares a few lunar landing memories, one of which involves working for a local company, Bolt, Berenek, and Newman, on a project that he was told would help the Apollo astronauts.

David Ching discusses his work for RCA from 1959-1961. During that time he lived and worked on a remote volcanic island collecting test data on missiles launched from Florida. This work, which was done in preparation for early Apollo missions, was at the time top secret.

U.S. Navy Veteran Bill Magsum describes his memories of the first lunar landing, and the tumultuous summer of 1969.

Catherine Robinson remembers being awestruck listening to a crackling radio station, when it was announced that we had successfully landed a man on the moon.

Stephen Shestakofsky describes watching the lunar landing with his grandmother, torn by wanting to see history and pass the NY bar exam, which he was due to take the very next morning. He also remembers the significance of the landing with regard to the United States being in a "space race," with the Soviet Union.

Ron Sacca speaks with Joanna Tzouvelis about his family's six generations in Belmont (and counting), his own fond memories of living here for more than 65 years, and his hopes for the future.

Listen to life-long Belmont resident Athena McInnis discuss her historic home, the Thadeus Frost House, and life in Belmont, then and now.