Cambridge Morning Brief, Oct. 28: Council, schools open FY28 budget talks

From Cambridge News

• Council, schools open FY28 budget talks Cambridge City Council and the School Committee opened budget talks for fiscal 2028 at a joint roundtable, with finance officials warning of a third straight year of economic headwinds squeezing city revenue.Cambridge News
• Youth hockey sets winter practice schedule Cambridge Youth Hockey, home of the Falcons, released its first winter practice block for the 2026-2027 season, with placement registration still open at Simoni Skating Rink. The club also flagged a statewide requirement that players wear neck guards.Cambridge News
• Cambridge wins statewide energy efficiency award The City of Cambridge announced Oct. 26 that it received a 2026 Mass Save Impact Award recognizing energy efficiency work across municipal buildings, including the new Tobin Montessori and Darby Vassall Upper Schools complex.Cambridge News
• Ahern Field to close Nov. 2 for testing Cambridge says Ahern Field and its playground will close in sections on Nov. 2 while consultant CDM Smith collects soil samples for an ongoing construction project; access for emergency vehicles will be maintained.Cambridge News
• Harvard Square's Lot 2 closes Nov. 2 Lot 2, the parking garage beneath the Harvard Square Hotel, will close entirely starting Nov. 2 while Harvard University finishes structural repairs, with work expected to wrap by Jan. 30, 2027.Cambridge News

Happening Wed, Oct 28

• 9:00 a.m.: Domestic & Sexual Violence 101 Training: Wednesday at 9:00 a.m Domestic & Sexual Violence 101 Training is listed on the town calendar for Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 9:00 a.m. at 689 Mass. Ave. 2nd Floor Conference Room.Town of Cambridge
• 10:00 a.m.: Board of Assessors meets Wednesday Cambridge's Board of Assessors holds its regular public meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.Town of Cambridge
• 11:30 a.m.: From Records to Results: Turn Numbers into Growth: Wednesday at 11:30 a.m From Records to Results: Turn Numbers into Growth is listed on the town calendar for Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 11:30 a.m. at Hybrid: 344 Broadway (In-Person) and Zoom (Virtual).Town of Cambridge
• 1:30 p.m.: SNAP and MassHealth Assistance at Community Charter School of Cambridge School Market: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m SNAP and MassHealth Assistance at Community Charter School of Cambridge School Market is listed on the town calendar for Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. at Community Charter School of Cambridge School Market 245 Bent St., 1st Fl. Cafeteria.Town of Cambridge
• 3:00 p.m.: City Council holds special meeting Wednesday The Cambridge City Council holds a special meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Sullivan Chamber at City Hall.Town of Cambridge
• 3:00 p.m.: Election Commission holds regular meeting Cambridge's Election Commission holds its regular meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday, ahead of the Nov. 3 state election.Town of Cambridge
• 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Board of Election Commissioners meets Wednesday at 3:00 p.m The Board of Election Commissioners meets Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Town of Cambridge
• 4:00 p.m.: Final pop-up recycling event of 2026 The city's tenth and final pop-up recycling event of 2026 runs from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at 25 Corporal McTernan Street, next to Dana Park.Town of Cambridge
• 4:00 p.m.: SNAP and MassHealth Assistance at CPHD Flu Clinic: Wednesday at 4:00 p.m SNAP and MassHealth Assistance at CPHD Flu Clinic is listed on the town calendar for Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 4:00 p.m. at Community Art Center 119 Windsor St.Town of Cambridge
• 5:00 p.m.: Radical Collage Collective: Wednesday at 5:00 p.m Radical Collage Collective is listed on the town calendar for Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 5:00 p.m. at Cambridge KiOSK, 0 Harvard Square.Town of Cambridge
• 5:30 p.m.: Putnam Avenue Upper School - School Council meets Wednesday at 5:30 p.m The Putnam Avenue Upper School - School Council Meeting meets Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at VIRTUAL.Town of Cambridge
• 6:00 p.m.: Public hearing set on sewer overflow plan Cambridge, Somerville and the MWRA host a public hearing on the draft updated Combined Sewer Overflow Control Plan at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Somerville City Hall, covering projects to reduce overflows into the Alewife Brook, Mystic and Charles rivers.Town of Cambridge
• 6:00 p.m.: Police Review Board meets via Zoom Cambridge's Police Review and Advisory Board holds its regular meeting via Zoom at 6 p.m. Wednesday.Town of Cambridge
• 6:00 p.m.: Freedmen Commission holds public meeting The American Freedmen Commission holds a public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday.Town of Cambridge
• 6:00 p.m.: Vampire-O orienteering event at Danehy Park Cambridge Recreation hosts a Halloween-themed 'Vampire-O' orienteering event at Danehy Park starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, entering at 166 New St.Town of Cambridge

Yesterday in Cambridge (Tue, Oct 27)

• Council weighs divesting from Gaza-tied companies Cambridge city councillors are considering orders to pull municipal investments from, and limit business with, companies linked to Israel's military actions in Gaza, Cambridge Day and Cambridge Somerville Independent reported. Police unions have objected in formal letters.Cambridge Day
• Fiscal outlook points to higher taxes, possible cuts Cambridge Day reports the fiscal 2028 outlook could bring a 10 percent residential tax rate increase alongside further service cuts. Cambridge Somerville Independent separately reported the city is shifting more tax burden onto homeowners.Cambridge Day
• Civic assembly debates ShotSpotter, camera use Forty Cambridge residents began deliberating Saturday on ShotSpotter gunshot sensors and surveillance cameras after hearing competing testimony from police and civil liberties advocates, Cambridge Day reported.Cambridge Day
• Report tracks local impact of zoning law A multi-newsroom review found Cambridge among five communities, along with Lexington, Arlington, Belmont and Waltham, examined five years into the state's MBTA Communities Act multifamily zoning law, Cambridge Day reported.Cambridge Day
• CRLS soccer tops rankings, football rallies Cambridge Rindge and Latin's boys' soccer team tops the latest rankings and football rallied from behind, Cambridge Day reported. The roundup also noted crew medals, a playoff push for girls' soccer, a split for volleyball and cross country wins.Cambridge Day
• Honeycomb Creamery opens bakery pop-up Honeycomb Creamery is opening a next-door bakery called Crisscross Bakehouse, starting with pop-ups selling pastries like pain de mie bread, dinner rolls, cornbread, scones and cinnamon rolls, Cambridge Somerville Independent reported.Cambridge Somerville Independent

Coming up

• Thu, Oct 29, 3:00 p.m.: Trick or Treat with City Hall set for Thursday The mayor's office and city staff host a family-friendly Halloween trick-or-treat celebration on the City Hall lawn at 3 p.m. Thursday.Town of Cambridge
• Thu, Oct 29, 5:00 p.m.: Transit Advisory Committee meets Thursday Cambridge's Transit Advisory Committee holds a public meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday in front of the Central Square post office.Town of Cambridge
• Thu, Oct 29, 5:00 p.m.: Central Square rezoning open house set The city hosts an open house on Central Square rezoning at 5 p.m. Thursday for residents to review proposed changes.Town of Cambridge
• Thu, Oct 29, 6:00 p.m.: Family STEAM night planned at Cambridge Street school Cambridge Street Upper School hosts a K-8 family STEAM night at 6 p.m. Thursday, open to families across the district.Town of Cambridge
• Thu, Oct 29, 6:00 p.m.: Halloween scavenger hunt at Russell Youth Center The Russell Youth and Community Center hosts a Halloween scavenger hunt at 6 p.m. Thursday at 680 Huron Ave.Town of Cambridge
• Thu, Oct 29, 6:00 p.m.: Library talk on 250 years of governance The Cambridge Public Library presents 'America Unfinished: 250 Years of Law and Governance' at the Main Library at 6 p.m. Thursday.Cambridge Public Library
• Thu, Oct 29: Lamplighter Sessions return to Club Passim Singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey's Lamplighter Sessions return to Club Passim for a 15th year with six shows over five nights, Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, Cambridge Patch reported.Cambridge Patch
• Fri, Oct 30: Early voting ends Friday for Nov. 3 election Cambridge residents can vote early in person through Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of the Nov. 3 state election, the city says.Town of Cambridge
• Fri, Oct 30: Poetry night returns to Little Crepe Café Little Crepe Café's weekly Friday poetry night, City Night Readings, hosted by poet Jean-Dany Joachim, continues Oct. 30, Cambridge Somerville Independent reported.Cambridge Somerville Independent
• Mon, Nov 2, 5:30 p.m.: City Council returns for regular meeting Nov. 2 The Cambridge City Council holds its next regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, in the Sullivan Chamber at City Hall.Town of Cambridge

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Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.