Insurance agents say climate change is having little impact on local policies – at least for now
Climate change is affecting Cambridge and Somerville with increased risk of flooding, adding risk for insurers too – but agents say rates aren’t surging because of it, nor coverage policies changing.
With weekend wind chills down to negative 30, officials urge and offer safety and shelter for all
Cambridge and Somerville are bracing for a snap of extreme cold Thursday, Friday and Saturday in which the National Weather Service warns of wind chills down to negative 30 degrees. That could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as a half-hour.
Cities’ sewage overflow prevention plan is slowed to make up for a lack of state and federal guidance
As global warming brings more intense rainstorms and increased threat of flooding and sewage overflows into the Alewife Brook and Charles and Mystic rivers, Cambridge, Somerville and the MWRA have asked for a three-year extension on an overflow-prevention plan.
Restaurants’ patios must be removed by Nov. 30, returning space to cars and easing snow-plowing
Restaurants citywide will soon have to pack up their makeshift street patios – some of which began to look as permanent as the restaurants themselves – as Cambridge’s city manager has turned down an appeal to keep outdoor dining throughout the winter.
Cambridge Half Marathon ran short of water, straining runners during unusually hot event
Organizers of Sunday’s half-marathon road race in Cambridge are investigating how the event ran out of cups at some water stops and water bottles at the finish line on a day temperatures climbed into the high 70s. The problems temporarily left some runners without much-needed water.
Attend meetings on rats, dogs, snow spending, CharlieCards for students, Café Batifol and more
Public meetings this week look at stemming rat infestations, free dog licensing for seniors and an accounting for snow season; Café Batifol’s arrival in Kendall and Vitality Bowls in Central; ending off-street parking requirements; free CharlieCards for students; converting the Sacred Heart rectory into affordable rentals; and more.
Great blue herons are certainly a sight to behold, and we’ve got a dozen to behold near Alewife T
Who has not been dazzled as they walk along some shallow watery shore by the sight of a 4-foot-tall great blue heron standing almost motionless? We have many that make their home here in Cambridge, and they are fascinating to observe.
Up to 10 inches of snow is expected Friday
The city is expecting between 5 and 10 inches of snow starting at about 3 a.m. Friday and continuing throughout the day – hardly comparing with the 23.8 inches that hit Cambridge over the final weekend of January. The city isn’t even declaring a parking emergency, though neighboring Somerville is.
Though a harbinger of spring, American robins can use amazing insulating power to winter here
Everyone knows robins – the most abundant bird in North America. (There are 370 million of these guys!) But there’s a lot to know about them that may surprise you.
Cambridge snow parking ban ends at 6 p.m.; Emergency remains in effect in Somerville
After getting an estimated 17 to 18 inches of snow Saturday, Cambridge said it is lifting its snow emergency parking ban as of 6 p.m. Sunday and asks property owners to remove snow from sidewalks. A Somerville snow emergency stays in effect for parking, but snow removal requests are similar.
