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A Cambridge man in his 40s, who had reportedly pulled a weapon on his health care worker and then barricaded himself inside his large, multi-unit Massachusetts Avenue residential building apartment, was safely taken into custody by officers and transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation earlier this afternoon.

Homeowners Rehab Inc. (HRI) renovated 35 Harvey Street, an existing affordable housing development located just off of Massachusetts Avenue near Alewife Linear Park and the Minuteman multi-use path. The work involved converting 16 single-room-occupancy (SRO) units with shared facilities into 12 enhanced SRO housing units with private baths and kitchens. Ten out of the twelve units are deeply affordable by serving households under 30% AMI while the remaining two serve households under 50% AMI. All units have project-based vouchers. Other work includes improvements to the exterior, the addition of a site manager’s office, common area upgrades, and an updated resident meeting space. The project was being designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities (EGC) certification.

This month's book: Big Chief by Jon Hickey Reading Interests: The group concentrates on fiction and narrative nonfiction. Some past selections include: Colored Television by Danzy Senna, Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters, and Beautiful Country: A Memoir by Qian Julie Wang. How to get the print book: Copies of the print book are set aside at the Main Library. Visit the Main Library Q&A Desk at 449 Broadway during service hours and a staff member can help you check out a copy. How to get the e-book or digital audiobook: This month’s book is available as an e-book through OverDrive or the Libby app. Registration is not required. For more information, contact Susannah (sbtkacz@cambridgema.gov).

This month's book: Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah Reading Interests: The group concentrates on fiction and narrative nonfiction. Some past selections include: Colored Television by Danzy Senna, Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters, and Beautiful Country: A Memoir by Qian Julie Wang. How to get the print book: Copies of the print book are set aside at the Main Library. Visit the Main Library Q&A Desk at 449 Broadway during service hours and a staff member can help you check out a copy. How to get the e-book or digital audiobook: This month’s book is available as an e-book through OverDrive or the Libby app. Registration is not required. For more information, contact Brita (bzitin@cambridgema.gov).

In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll learn the basics of sewing machine operation and safety. This session will cover machine setup, basic functions, threading the machine, reloading the bobbin, sewing straight stitches, and recognizing when stitch tension has gone awry. We’ll also cover some safety best practices when operating a sewing machine. As we learn together, we’ll work on a simple sewing project—a drawstring bag—which most students will be able to complete by the end of the class. Registration is prioritized for patrons who will directly benefit from interpretation in American Sign Language. Please email thehive@cambridgema.gov to register. You must complete Hive Safety Training before registering for this workshop.

Most sexual violence is done by people we know. What can parents, teens, and community members do about it? Meg Stone, author of The Cost of Fear, will offer practical, gender-inclusive strategies for learning safety skills important for resisting coercion, intimidation, and violence. Avoiding violence is about developing skills, not following rules. Women receive advice like "don't wear a ponytail" or "don't shop alone." These tips lack evidence and come from male authorities who avoid questions. We will cover: Demonstration: Learn practical safety gender-inclusive skills. Resist Coercion: Skills to resist friends, those we know, or authority. Empowerment: Feel powerful in stressful situations. Community impact: Personal safety leads to social change. Registration is required.

Join the Collins Branch Library in collaboration with the Cambridge Climate Leaders Initiative for a monthly discussion of a climate-related topic. Each month the group will discuss a book on the topic at hand then hear about a related local program or initiative and how you can take action. Topic: Decarbonizing the Future Book: Electrify: an optimist's playbook for our clean energy future by Saul Griffith This group will meet virtually and in person at the Collins Branch. Please register below if you would like to attend via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants one hour before the event. For more information contact Jo at jpercell@cambridgema.gov.

Experience the joy of Hip Hop Xpression with Jarell Howard Rochelle in this fun, high-energy program for kids and teens. Participants will learn simple choreography, explore freestyle movement, and be introduced to authentic hip hop terminology and culture. This interactive class emphasizes connection, creativity, and self-expression, while celebrating the spirit of hip-hop. No prior dance experience is needed — just come ready to move, laugh, and have fun together. Families and youth of all ages are welcome. Funding for Vacation Week Programming: Live at the Library has been generously provided by the Cambridge Public Library Foundation. Live at the Library: Hip Hop Xpression will be this week's Wednesdays of Wonder offering.

Learn how to visually capture your own memoir or fictional creation in a short graphic novel through story planning, character development, and techniques for capturing emotions, motion, and time. Materials provided and no prior art or author experience needed! Registration is required, and registering for this session includes the following two Tuesdays 1/20, and 1/27. This program is for ages 10-18. The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information contact us at library@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4032 (voice), or via relay at 711.

Create your very own one-page tabletop role playing game. In this two-session class, you will learn how to design your own game from scratch. We will cover themes, mechanics, and get started on making your idea a reality. No prior experience needed, all materials provided. Ages 10-14, registration required! (Registering for the first session includes the second session.) The City of Cambridge does not discriminate, including on the basis of disability. We may provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to people with disabilities. For more information contact us at library@cambridgema.gov, 617-349-4032 (voice), or via relay at 711.