End of an eyesore
Good afternoon! It’s reporter Nathan Metcalf behind the keyboard for today’s newsletter.
After nearly three years of construction, Central Square’s Carl Barron Plaza is finally set to reopen Oct. 2, with the city planning a medley of activities in the coming months, including live music, pop-up markets and food vendors, to make the most of the revamped space. As part of our ongoing partnership with Boston University’s New England Newsroom, reporter Samantha Genzer has the details on the long-awaited reopening and residents’ reactions to the plaza’s new look.
In breaking news, a third man has been charged in connection with the July 4 killing of Cambridge Public Works employee Xavier Bautista, following the arraignment of a second suspect last week. Reporter Jane Petersen has the latest.
Also this week, new MCAS results saw Cambridge buck the trend of continuing declines across Massachusetts. But as reporter Julia Carpi explains, racial achievement gaps have widened, while a vast gulf in performance persists from school to school.
And, a November ballot question that would end recreational marijuana sales in Massachusetts has local dispensary owners feeling a little paranoid that years of effort could all go up in smoke. Most of the business owners I talked with in Cambridge and Somerville are fighting to save a system they see as deeply flawed. But at least one wants to see it all burned down.
Top stories
Central Square’s Carl Barron Plaza will reopen
It’s been three years of unsightly construction. Look for buskers, DJs, markets, and small food vendors to be regulars at the new space.
Third man charged in killing of Xavier Bautista
Moises Pimentel of Boston has been accused of murder, carrying a weapon without a license.
Cambridge’s MCAS data improves, but gaps widen
Scores outperform the state average, which trended downward. Baldwin, Rindge Avenue Upper School and Amigos were the top performes.
Question 8 “a doomsday scenario,” say cannabis business owners
The November ballot measure would end recreational marijuana sales statewide in 2028.
More news
Customer starts fundraiser for Simon’s staff
The coffee shop’s future is still uncertain, so the effort is meant to help support its workers.
Timmins hits 55 (years) teaching drivers ed in Cambridge
It’s a long time to ride shotgun, but he’s still going strong
Culture news
Football team dominates again
The Cambridge Rindge and Latin football team (2-0) turned in another dominating performance on Friday. Plus, sports roundup.
Armyworms besiege Cambridge
What do armyworms and Vincent van Gogh have in common?
Classical music poetry, Meowfest and Lift Every Voice Play Festival
Highlights from our searchable calendar of events.
A little something for everyone
Learning to write software isn’t usually a thing we highlight in our things to do in Cambridge and Somerville. But for the last two years Monday night has seen a free coding meetup at the Cambridge Public Library’s main branch. Now it’s becoming a plucky nonprofit, the Cambridge Dev Lab. I spoke with founder Maria Dolgareva and members of the group about how it got started and her hopes for the future.
With a massive storm on the way, this weekend might be best spent indoors. Luckily there’s plenty to see on the big screen. Tomorrow is 9/25, and the Somerville Theater is marking the date with a screening of “9 to 5,” the hit 1980 comedy that spawned Dolly Parton’s iconic song and starring the beloved singer, who died last month. Tickets are a fitting $9.25. If you’re in the mood for a rainy-day movie marathon, Oscar Goff has the rundown on this week’s screenings at the Brattle Theater, Harvard Film Archive and beyond. Or you could read a book, like “The Award,” which is set in Cambridge.
There are scores of other events in our interactive calendar.
If you go to something, submit a photo to Community View.
Thanks for reading and we’ll see you next week.
Nathan Metcalf
nmetcalf@cambridgeday.com
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