Cambridge Morning Brief, Oct. 31: Harvard Square's Lot 2 garage closing for repairs

From Cambridge News

• Open Data board weighs privacy and fiscal access The Cambridge Open Data Review Board spent its September 22 meeting weighing how far to expand privacy protections and fiscal transparency, after a resident pressed for better access to contracts and expenditures.Cambridge News
• Library trustees take up new strategic framework The Cambridge Library Board of Trustees considered an updated strategic framework that condenses five core values from the library's previous six-year plan, as trustees also reviewed record summer reading turnout and new staff hires.Cambridge News
• CLC program builds job skills for students The City of Cambridge highlighted the Community Learning Center's Career Connections Program, which helps students build communication and workplace skills, with the next session starting in January.Cambridge News
• City urges residents to shop local this season The City of Cambridge is encouraging residents to support local shops and restaurants this holiday season, noting Small Business Saturday falls on Nov. 28, 2026.Cambridge News
• Special Olympics basketball tryouts set for November The Cambridge Program for Individuals with Special Needs is holding Special Olympics basketball tryouts Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 at the Russell Youth and Community Center, open to Cambridge residents of all ages and skill levels.Cambridge News
• Family Literacy Fun Day set for Nov. 7 Cambridge will host a free Family Literacy Fun Day on Nov. 7 at City Hall for families with children from birth through 3rd grade, featuring activities, free books and a magic show.Cambridge News

Happening Sat, Oct 31

• 10:30 a.m.: Intermediate English conversation practice at Central Square A drop-in intermediate English grammar and conversation group meets at the Central Square Branch literacy center.Cambridge Public Library
• 1:00 p.m.: Boys varsity soccer plays at Roxbury Latin BB&N's boys varsity soccer team travels to Roxbury Latin.BB&N
• 3:00 p.m.: Girls varsity soccer hosts St. George's BB&N's girls varsity soccer team hosts St. George's at the Nicholas Athletic Center.BB&N
• 3:00 p.m.: Varsity field hockey hosts St. George's BB&N's varsity field hockey team hosts St. George's at the Nicholas Athletic Center.BB&N
• 6:00 p.m.: Pulso Halloween Tango Night at First Church First Church in Cambridge hosts a Halloween-themed tango night open to the community.First Church in Cambridge
• 9:00 p.m.: Dub Apocalypse plays Halloween show at Lizard Lounge Lizard Lounge hosts a Halloween show with Dub Apocalypse.Lizard Lounge
• Halloween closing party at Cambridge Boat Club The Cambridge Boat Club holds its Halloween and boathouse closing party marking the end of the season.Cambridge Boat Club
• Tai Chi session in Harvard Square A Tai Chi session is held in Harvard Square as part of Halloween weekend activities, per Cambridge Patch's calendar.Cambridge Patch
• Debo Ray Rock & Soul Halloween show Debo Ray performs a Rock & Soul Halloween show in Cambridge, per Cambridge Patch's calendar.Cambridge Patch

Yesterday in Cambridge (Fri, Oct 30)

• Harvard Square's Lot 2 garage closing for repairs Lot 2 in Harvard Square will close fully for construction from Nov. 2, 2026 through Jan. 30, 2027 while Harvard University repairs the garage; the adjacent Harvard Square Hotel will also close until February.City of Cambridge
• Road closures set for Cambridge 5K, half marathon Cambridge will see road closures and traffic impacts Saturday, Oct. 31 and Sunday, Nov. 1 as the city hosts its 3rd Annual 5K and 8th Annual Half Marathon.City of Cambridge
• Ahern Field to close in sections for soil testing The city will collect soil samples at Ahern Field and playground on Monday, Nov. 2, temporarily closing sections of the field as the work progresses.City of Cambridge
• Preschool program applications open for 2027-28 Cambridge families can now apply to the Cambridge Preschool Program for the 2027-2028 school year; children turning 3 or 4 by Aug. 31, 2027 are eligible for the free, publicly funded placement.City of Cambridge
• Housing dashboard launches to track Cambridge projects Cambridge launched a new interactive dashboard that lets residents track nearly 250 housing projects as the city pursues its 2030 housing goal, The Cooldown reports.The Cooldown
• Towing business apologizes after driver's racist language A Cambridge towing company apologized after an employee used racist language, and the employee has since been fired, Cambridge Patch reports.Cambridge Patch
• At the Garment District, Halloween is like Christmas The Garment District costume shop in The Port does nearly a fifth of its annual sales in October, Cambridge Day reports.Cambridge Day
• Winter warming drive aims to help Cambridge homeless A 13th annual winter warming drive hopes to raise $20,000 to buy sleeping bags for homeless Cambridge residents, Cambridge Day reports.Cambridge Day
• Fact-check targets claims on cannabis Question 8 A review found some health and legal claims made by supporters of ballot Question 8 on recreational cannabis are backed by evidence while others omit context, Cambridge Day reports.Cambridge Day
• Voters to decide fate of 2024 gun law A Massachusetts ballot question asks voters to weigh in on the state's 2024 gun law, a case Cambridge Day frames through an Air Force veteran charged after moving firearms from Arizona.Cambridge Day
• Cambridge resident creates ballot question website Neheet Trivedi built a website breaking down the nine Nov. 3 ballot questions, pairing explanations with advocate interviews for several of them, Cambridge Day reports.Cambridge Day
• Record fair draws crowd of physical media fans Vinyl collectors and DJs packed a Cambridge hall for the biannual Recordville fair over the weekend, browsing crates and listening stations, Csindie reports.Csindie

Coming up

• Sun, Nov 1, 10:00 a.m.: Fall foliage walking tour at Mount Auburn Mount Auburn Cemetery offers a guided fall foliage walking tour, Awash in Color, starting at Bigelow Chapel.Mount Auburn Cemetery
• Sun, Nov 1, 1:00 p.m.: Community Science Fair at Mount Auburn Mount Auburn Cemetery hosts a Community Science Fair at Bigelow Chapel.Mount Auburn Cemetery
• Sun, Nov 1, 3:00 p.m.: Talk on multispecies warfare in Palestine-Israel SUNY professor Irus Braverman discusses animals and warfare in Palestine-Israel at a Main Library talk drawing on her research and upbringing there.Cambridge Public Library
• Mon, Nov 2, 5:30 p.m.: City Council holds regular meeting The Cambridge City Council meets for its regular session at City Hall's Sullivan Chamber.City of Cambridge
• Tue, Nov 3, 6:30 p.m.: American Freedmen Commission subcommittee meets The American Freedmen Commission's Community Outreach Subcommittee holds a public meeting.City of Cambridge
• Wed, Nov 4, 9:00 a.m.: Energy bill office hours at Multi-Service Center Residents can get help with energy bills during November Energy Bill Office Hours at the Multi-Service Center, 362 Green St.City of Cambridge
• Wed, Nov 4, 10:00 a.m.: Board of Assessors holds monthly meeting The Cambridge Board of Assessors meets to review property assessment matters.City of Cambridge
• Wed, Nov 4, 3:00 p.m.: CNA training info session for English learners The Community Learning Center holds an information session on its Certified Nursing Assistant training program for English language learners.City of Cambridge
• Wed, Nov 4, 5:30 p.m.: Bicycle Committee holds November meeting The Cambridge Bicycle Committee meets at the City Hall Annex to discuss cycling infrastructure issues.City of Cambridge
• Wed, Nov 4, 6:00 p.m.: Homeownership program information session offered The city holds an information session on its homeownership assistance program for prospective buyers.City of Cambridge
• Wed, Nov 4, 6:00 p.m.: Jacob Weisberg discusses Profiles in Cowardice at library Author Jacob Weisberg presents his book Profiles in Cowardice at the Main Library.Cambridge Public Library
• Thu, Nov 5, 5:30 p.m.: Public meeting on 359 Broadway play space renovation The city holds a public meeting on renovating play spaces at 359 Broadway, the Old Longfellow School building.City of Cambridge
• Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 p.m.: Historical Commission holds regular meeting The Cambridge Historical Commission meets online to review preservation matters.City of Cambridge
• Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 p.m.: Virtual small business tax workshop offered The city holds a virtual tax workshop for small business owners via Zoom.City of Cambridge

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