Big Ideas Brewing at Kendall Square’s Venture Cafe

2 May
The scene inside today's Venture Cafe.

The scene inside today’s Venture Cafe.

If you’re an entrepreneur with an idea, but you don’t know how to make it happen, consider dropping by the Cambridge Innovation Center‘s Venture Cafe. For more than a decade, the CIC has been the incubator within the incubator, giving start-ups not only the room to grow but also an ecosystem in which they can collaborate.

That sounds like a lot of buzzwords…but it’s all true. The CIC is really a big sandbox in which entrepreneurs can play with like-minded entrepreneurs; ideas get a chance to grow, mix with other ideas, and then take off. Smart people gather together in one building, help each other solve problems, meet in the kitchen for coffee, chat about what they’re working on, and, through a mix of perspiration and inspiration, find the breakthroughs that drive the Commonwealth’s economy forward.

Venture Cafe is the same idea in a much less formal setting, and anyone can attend. Every Thursday at 3pm, the fourth floor of the CIC hosts an informal meet-and-greet with angel investors, programmers, doers, and dreamers gathering to chat, trade ideas, and enjoy a drink or two. Kendall Square is now recognized as a model for how businesses, neighbors, and cities can grow together, and the Venture Cafe should be recognized as an important part of that equation. You can find a full calendar of Venture Cafe events here, and even if you’re not interested in starting a business, I’d encourage you to attend at least one event: one of the conversations around you might be the start of the Next Big Thing.

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The 15th Annual Somerville Open Studios Begin This Friday and Saturday

1 May

While the rest of the country was naming Somerville “the hippest city in America,” our local artists were preparing for an annual tradition. The Somerville Open Studios is one of the largest events of its kind in the nation, and this Saturday, artists from across the ‘Ville will open their doors to the public. The list of artists participating this year is staggering, and they work in all sorts of media, from paints to glass to video and more.

While the main event starts on Saturday, some artists are participating in a sneak preview this Friday night. Every part of the city is represented in this year’s Open Studios, and with the trees and flowers in full spring bloom, I can’t think of a better way to enjoy the weekend. Come out and see what Somerville’s artists have been up to!

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Primary Elections Today – Go Vote!

30 Apr
There's only one way to earn one of these. Image via PolicyMic.

There’s only one way to earn one of these. Image via PolicyMic.

The polls are open, and the primary elections for the race to succeed Senator John Kerry are underway. You can find your polling place here, and a list of the candidates here.

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin is predicting a relatively light turnout for today’s election, so make sure your voice is heard! If you’re a registered Democrat or a registered Republican, you can only vote in your party’s primary, but if you’re an unenrolled voter, you can cast your vote in either primary (more than two million Bay Staters are unenrolled).

Somerville and Cambridge have always boasted strong turnout numbers, and I’m sure this election will be no different. I hope to see lots of “I VOTED” stickers around town today.

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Grounding McGrath Public Meeting May 15

29 Apr
Sen. Jehlen and I at the McCarthy Overpass in May 2011.

Sen. Jehlen and I at the McCarthy Overpass in May 2011.

The Department of Transportation will present its draft recommendations for the Route 28 Corridor on May 15, from 6-8pm at the Argenziano School (290 Washington St., Somerville). Better known as “Grounding McGrath,” the project seeks to modernize both McGrath Highway and its surrounding traffic patterns.

Right now, McGrath Highway travels over Washington St. in Somerville via the McCarthy Overpass, which is in a poor state of repair. Beyond the usability and public safety concerns related to the McCarthy Overpass, McGrath Highway also represents an older way of thinking about how we get around. Route 28 is a big, urban highway (technically classified as an “other freeway”), and the City of Somerville has asked that the grounding of McGrath include its transformation to a more bike-and-pedestrian-friendly boulevard.

The neighbors surrounding McGrath have been actively involved in this process, and I encourage everyone who lives near or commutes via McGrath Highway to attend the meeting on Wednesday, May 15. You can read more about the process up to this point here.

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Memorial for MIT Officer Sean Collier Tomorrow

23 Apr

The MIT and law enforcement communities will gather tomorrow at noon on MIT’s Briggs Field to mourn the loss of Officer Sean Collier, a dedicated peace officer who lost his life in the line of duty early last Friday. MIT classes will be cancelled, and several major thoroughfares will be closed to accommodate Officer Collier’s memorial service. Public safety officials have asked anyone planning to use the following roads and bridges to seek alternate routes:

  • Vassar St.: closed between Audrey St.  and Mass. Ave. beginning at 6am
  • Massachusetts Ave.: closed between Albany St. and the Charles River beginning at 7am
  • Memorial Dr.: closed between Mass. Ave. and the B.U. Bridge beginning at 12 noon
  • Mass. Ave. Bridge: closed to Cambridge-bound traffic beginning at 7am

The Cambridge Police Department expects traffic to return to normal around 6pm, but they’re asking residents and commuters to check their website or follow them on Twitter (@CambridgePolice).

The memorial is closed to the general public: only law enforcement personnel and members of the MIT community with MIT IDs may attend. The loss of Officer Collier affects not only MIT and Cambridge but also our neighbors in Somerville, where Officer Collier was on track to join the Somerville Police Department. I would ask that you keep Officer Collier’s family in your thoughts and prayers, and to plan your day with the traffic changes in mind.

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MIT Police Officer Shot

19 Apr

Tonight, a member of the MIT campus police force was shot on Vassar St. A short time ago, Middlesex Acting District Attorney Michael Pelgro and Cambridge Police Chief Robert Haas announced that the officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and despite the efforts of emergency responders, the officer was pronounced deceased at a local hospital.

On a day that began with our community coming together to mourn the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, it’s deeply saddening to learn of another senseless act of violence. The thoughts and prayers of the MIT and Cambridge communities are with the fallen officer and the officer’s family and friends.

An investigation is underway, and I implore anyone with information on the shooting to contact the Cambridge Police Department at 617-349-3300. You can also send anonymous tips to the CPD by phone at 617-349-3359 or by text at 847411 (for text tips, be sure to begin your message with “Tip650″). You can find the Department’s anonymous e-mail form here.

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Union Square Senior Citizen Foodie Crawl April 24

17 Apr
Sweet temptation. Image via Dying For Chocolate.

Sweet temptation. Image via Dying For Chocolate.

The Somerville Council on Aging is hosting a walking “Foodie Tour” in Union Square on Wednesday, April 24. I have it on good authority that the tour will include a stop at Taza Chocolate, so if you’re on a diet, you may want to make this your “cheat day.” But since this is a walking tour, I think we can actually call these calories guilt-free…or at least that’s what I’d tell myself if it were me standing in line at Taza.

The Union Square Foodie Tour is open to seniors age 55 and over and will run rain or shine. Please contact the Somervill Council on Aging at 617-725-6600 ext. 2300 for more information. You can find a full listing of the Council’s upcoming events here.

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Tonight’s Meeting Regarding Transportation of Ethanol will be Shortened, Rescheduled

16 Apr

Due to the tragic and disturbing nature of the events that occurred at yesterday’s Boston Marathon, the Cambridge state legislative delegation has chosen to abbreviate a meeting regarding the transportation of ethanol that was originally planned for 6pm this evening at the King Open School. The delegation has decided that it will go forward with the meeting in a shortened format, and will postpone the presentation of a Massachusetts Department of Transportation safety study by Department officials. Residents who still wish to attend will have an opportunity to discuss their questions and comments with their elected representatives. Residents who attend the meeting will also be able to obtain copies of MassDOT’s safety study presentation.

The Cambridge delegation plans to reschedule a full meeting with Department of Transportation officials and will announce the rescheduled meeting’s date, time, and location in the coming days.

MassDOT’s ethanol safety study and related documents can be found at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/planning/Main/CurrentStudies/EthanolSafetyStudy.aspx

Join the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program

16 Apr

Today marks the official first day of spring, and while I love blooming flowers and the return of green grass, I’ve already started setting my sights on summer. For some of us, summer means a chance to kick back and sharpen our whiffle ball skills, but for some Cambridge teenagers, this summer also brings the promise of a job and the exhilirating feeling of cashing your first paycheck.

The City of Cambridge is once again proud to offer the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which connects Cambridge teenagers with local non-profits and government agencies for summer jobs. Applications for both job seekers and for job providers are available on April 23, but you’ll want to start filling out application forms well ahead of the May 10 deadline. The City is also partnering with Just A Start, Rindge School of Technical Arts, the Chamber of Commerce and others to help place teens in private sector summer jobs.

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Recycle Your E-Waste Tomorrow

12 Apr
Don't let your e-waste pile up. Dispose of it properly this Saturday. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Don’t let your e-waste pile up. Dispose of it properly this Saturday. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Just in time for spring cleaning, the City of Somerville is hosting an e-waste recycling event this Saturday, April 13, from 9am-noon at the Department of Public Works facility (1 Franey Rd.). The event is open to all Somerville residents and businesses, and while residents can simply show up, businesses are asked to fill out this form to help the City estimate the volume of e-waste.

The goal of the event is to keep toxic chemicals and heavy metals from finding their way into landfills. E-waste recycling programs have come under fire in recent years (60 Minutes did an excellent report on the subject a few years ago), but the City of Somerville has contracted with a company called ProTek, which will recycle the materials in an environmentally friendly way.

Bring your old laptops, routers, coffee makers, vacuum cleaners, microwaves, TVs and more to the event. If you have questions about whether your e-waste can be recycled, please call the Somerville DPW at 617-625-6600, extension 5070.

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