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This week's selection: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature, "The American Scholar," "The Divinity School Address" Reading Interests: We concentrate on Great Books in the following areas: a long novel over the summer, two sections of poetry and short stories, a book of the Bible, a Shakespeare play, an ancient and modern drama, a work of science, a smaller work of fiction, an even smaller work of fiction, and a rotating mix of politics, philosophy, and religion. Authors read in the past five years include Dickens, Keats and Yeats, O'Connor and Munro, Ecclesiastes, Sophocles and August Wilson, Darwin, Austen, Duras, The Federalist Papers, and Arendt. How to get the print book: Copies of the reading are set aside at the Main Library. Visit the Main Library at 449 Broadway during current service hours and a staff member can help you get a copy. How to register: Registration is required. Click the registration link below to register. This is a hybrid event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. For more information, contact Drew Griffin (dgriffin@cambridgema.gov)

This week's selection: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, selected poems Reading Interests: We concentrate on Great Books in the following areas: a long novel over the summer, two sections of poetry and short stories, a book of the Bible, a Shakespeare play, an ancient and modern drama, a work of science, a smaller work of fiction, an even smaller work of fiction, and a rotating mix of politics, philosophy, and religion. Authors read in the past five years include Dickens, Keats and Yeats, O'Connor and Munro, Ecclesiastes, Sophocles and August Wilson, Darwin, Austen, Duras, The Federalist Papers, and Arendt. How to get the print book: Copies of the reading are set aside at the Main Library. Visit the Main Library at 449 Broadway during current service hours and a staff member can help you get a copy. How to register: Registration is required. Click the registration link below to register. This is a hybrid event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. For more information, contact Drew Griffin (dgriffin@cambridgema.gov)

Ready to Level Up Your Business? Join Our 4-Week Workshop! Whether you're just starting out or already running a business, this workshop is for you! Over four weeks, we'll give you the practical skills to make your business run even better. We'll focus on what you need to learn to succeed. This isn't just theory – it's the stuff you need to know to build a strong business. Think of this as your essential business toolkit. If you're new to the business world, we'll give you the confidence and know-how to get started and grow. Workshop 1: Foundation and Idea Validation - Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Key Principles of Entrepreneurship: Discussing business ownership, risk, and mindset Developing and Validating Your Idea: Identifying problems, solutions, and testing the market Understanding the Fundamentals of Customer Service: Core concepts for enhancing customer experiences Introductory Ideas in Marketing and E-commerce: Brief overview of digital presence and sales channels. Please register here. If you have any questions or issues with registration, contact Tyrone Fells at 617-349-7223 or tfells@cambridgema.gov.

This week's selection: Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Reading Interests: We concentrate on Great Books in the following areas: a long novel over the summer, two sections of poetry and short stories, a book of the Bible, a Shakespeare play, an ancient and modern drama, a work of science, a smaller work of fiction, an even smaller work of fiction, and a rotating mix of politics, philosophy, and religion. Authors read in the past five years include Dickens, Keats and Yeats, O'Connor and Munro, Ecclesiastes, Sophocles and August Wilson, Darwin, Austen, Duras, The Federalist Papers, and Arendt. How to get the print book: Copies of the reading are set aside at the Main Library. Visit the Main Library at 449 Broadway during current service hours and a staff member can help you get a copy. How to register: Registration is required. Click the registration link below to register. This is a hybrid event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. For more information, contact Drew Griffin (dgriffin@cambridgema.gov)

Join Chef Gaitskell Cleghorn Jr. as he prepares Jerk Chicken and Mango Salsa in celebration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Gaitskell Cleghorn Jr., professionally known as Chef Gates, is an entrepreneur and culinary educator based in Boston. He specializes in culinary education, catering, and community outreach, partnering with organizations such as the Codman Square Farmers Market and BOLD Teens. Throughout his career, he has taught at prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, as well as local schools such as Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and Boston Day & Evening Academy. His work has been featured in publications including Channel 7, Edible Boston, Boston Herald, and the Boston Globe. Additionally, he collaborated with a Master Sushi Chef to produce over 3,000 sushi plates at the New England Seafood Expo. His work on food and culture is currently featured in an Exhibit at the Boston Children’s Museum. Although he lived globally due to his father’s military service, he has spent most of his professional life in Boston, where he continues to grow as a culinary professional.

This week's selection: Raymond Carver, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love," "A Small, Good Thing," and " Cathedral." Reading Interests: We concentrate on Great Books in the following areas: a long novel over the summer, two sections of poetry and short stories, a book of the Bible, a Shakespeare play, an ancient and modern drama, a work of science, a smaller work of fiction, an even smaller work of fiction, and a rotating mix of politics, philosophy, and religion. Authors read in the past five years include Dickens, Keats and Yeats, O'Connor and Munro, Ecclesiastes, Sophocles and August Wilson, Darwin, Austen, Duras, The Federalist Papers, and Arendt. How to get the print book: Copies of the reading are set aside at the Main Library. Visit the Main Library at 449 Broadway during current service hours and a staff member can help you get a copy. How to register: Registration is required. Click the registration link below to register. This is a hybrid event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. For more information, contact Drew Griffin (dgriffin@cambridgema.gov)

This week's selection: Arthur Rimbaud, "The Drunken Boat," "Vowels," "Eternity," "Memory," "To a Reason," and "Dawn." Reading Interests: We concentrate on Great Books in the following areas: a long novel over the summer, two sections of poetry and short stories, a book of the Bible, a Shakespeare play, an ancient and modern drama, a work of science, a smaller work of fiction, an even smaller work of fiction, and a rotating mix of politics, philosophy, and religion. Authors read in the past five years include Dickens, Keats and Yeats, O'Connor and Munro, Ecclesiastes, Sophocles and August Wilson, Darwin, Austen, Duras, The Federalist Papers, and Arendt. How to get the print book: Copies of the reading are set aside at the Main Library. Visit the Main Library at 449 Broadway during current service hours and a staff member can help you get a copy. How to register: Registration is required. Click the registration link below to register. This is a hybrid event. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants 1 hour before the event. For more information, contact Drew Griffin (dgriffin@cambridgema.gov)

CALEA, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, awarded the Cambridge Police Department Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation in 2025. The department is now committed to the ongoing, multi-year process required to maintain this accreditation, which is considered the gold standard in law enforcement and aligns with our mission of procedurally just policing. CALEA’s primary focus is on improving how public safety services are provided, with a goal of strengthening crime prevention, maintaining fair and non-discriminatory hiring practices, and increasing interagency cooperation -- all to serve in increasing community and staff confidence in the department. As part of the process, Cambridge Police invites the public to comment directly to CALEA.The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence. Click Here to Read More or Access the Comment Portal.

The application period for Homeowners Rehab Inc. (HRI)’s 29-unit affordable development at 4 Mellen Street in Cambridge is now open. Click here to fill out the application online. Physical applications are available at the following locations: 810 Memorial Drive, #200, Cambridge, MA 02139 City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139 Multi-Service Center, 362 Green St, Cambridge, MA 02139 Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139 Completed applications can be returned to HRI as follows: Online: https://waitlistcheck.com/MA3398 By Email: FourMellen@Wingatecompanies.com By Mail: 810 Memorial Drive, #200, Cambridge, MA 02139 Applications are available from June 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026 at 5 p.m. with a lottery to be held August 13th, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. via Teams. Applicants are not required to attend the lottery. To learn more about the application and lottery process, please attend one of the upcoming information sessions: Online via Teams: Tuesday, July 7, 2026 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Teams Meeting link: https://shorturl.at/BxHwS For more information about this project, please visit https://linktr.ee/FourMellen. For information about eligibility or the application process, please contact HRI at (617) 693-0981or email FourMellen@wingatecompanies.com.

The application period for Homeowners Rehab Inc. (HRI)’s 29-unit affordable development at 4 Mellen Street in Cambridge is now open. Click here to fill out the application online. Physical applications are available at the following locations: 810 Memorial Drive, #200, Cambridge, MA 02139 City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139 Multi-Service Center, 362 Green St, Cambridge, MA 02139 Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139 Completed applications can be returned to HRI as follows: Online: https://waitlistcheck.com/MA3398 By Email: FourMellen@Wingatecompanies.com By Mail: 810 Memorial Drive, #200, Cambridge, MA 02139 Applications are available from June 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026 at 5 p.m. with a lottery to be held August 13th, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. via Teams. Applicants are not required to attend the lottery. To learn more about the application and lottery process, please attend one of the upcoming information sessions: In person: Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at 810 Memorial Drive, 3rd Floor, Cambridge MA 02139 Online via Teams: Tuesday, July 7, 2026 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. Teams Meeting link: https://shorturl.at/BxHwS For more information about this project, please visit https://linktr.ee/FourMellen. For information about eligibility or the application process, please contact HRI at (617) 693-0981or email FourMellen@wingatecompanies.com.