Harvard Square Stacation
Spending Memorial Day Weekend at home, in and near Harvard Square. Good start yesterday: Breakfast at Henrietta’s, lunch at Mexican, afternoon perusing books on Web design. More later!
–Anita M. Harris
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, a public relations and digital marketing firm located in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA.
Boston Pedicab–operating in Boston for about six weeks–expanded to Cambridge, yesterday, as I learned while walking in Harvard Square. Driver? Cyclist? Operator? Bryce Read said it was his first day, first hour, working in Cambridge–so had not yet had any customers. But he’ll take you wherever you’d like to go, give a tour, get you across campus–and you can pay what you think the service is worth. He said that a trip to Porter Square–maybe half a mile?–might be worth $10. Or $15. Or $25. I said that seemed like a lot when you can get the bus for $1.75–but he said you’re paying for a novel, fun experience. I’m sure he’ll get a lot of business on Harvard Graduation Day–shlepping students’ elderly relatives around the campus. Perhaps he sensed I was feeling tired when he asked if he could take me somewhere….I was tempted…but had to admit I was just on the way to my car. The Cambridge service is called Charles River Pedicab; to reserve call Bryce at 978, 473-1508, 617-266-2005 or visit www.Bostonpedicab.com–which bills “tours, weddings and Fenway shuttles.”
—Anita M Harris
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, an award-winning public relations and digital marketing firm based in Cambridge, MA.
Cambridge Mayfair 5-05-13 1
Had just left the Hair Cuttery in Harvard Square ( Clarissa did a great job–I was her first client at 9 am on Sunday!); called my friend E who, it turned out was also in the Square, to do a quick run through Mayfair before it got too crowded. As long-time denizens of Harvard Square, we started out a bit jaded . “Same vendors, same food ,Octoberfest, year after year,” E had remarked the previous day. But this time seemed different–many new nonprofits–J Street for Israeli Arab peace, the Cambridge Art Association, “Chalk on the sidewalk” opportunities with a number of Chamber of Commerce members sponsoring space, a few excellent street musicians…many international food vendors, and even a train to take kids around for $3.00. E and I were a bit taken aback by the number of police bomb squad vehicles on Brattle Street–and by flocks of Cambridge police–highly visible in bright chartreuse vests–on patrol. Had not thought about possible danger but E pointed out that there could be copycat bombings, especially since the accused Marathon bombers three weeks ago had lived in Cambridge. The police presence made me feel more anxious than secure…Still, E bought some beautiful scarves for $5 apiece and won $24 worth of Zip car miles in a carnival-like game. I scored at the Commonwealth’s booth, where I found my name on a list of people who had unclaimed funds….Evidently, I’d left $400 in the old Coolidge bank when I moved to New York–and by the time I moved back to Cambridge, the bank had closed. So–all in all, we had a great time. See you there next year?
Anita M. Harris
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, an award-winning public relations and digital marketing agency located in Cambridge, MA.
Breakthrough Greater Boston, the nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing under-resourced students to attend four-year colleges and to training the next generation of urban teachers, reports that it raised $215, 000 in its annual Springfest event on April 24th.
According to a recent press release:
Springfest supports Breakthrough Greater Boston’s (BTGB) college access and teacher training programs, with this year’s event held at the Moakley Courthouse in Boston to celebrate the program’s site expansion to Dorchester. . Commencing this summer, the organization will bring its successful Students Teaching Students model to Boston, marking the first time BTGB will run multiple sites in the Greater Boston area. The program’s inauguration at TechBoston Academy in Dorchester will double the number of traditionally underserved middle and high school students and aspiring young teachers benefiting from its services.
“Springfest represents a fantastic opportunity for the Cambridge and Boston communities to come together and support equal access to quality education,” said Executive Director of Breakthrough Greater Boston, Elissa Spelman. “Over the past 20 years, Breakthrough has proudly served the Cambridge community, helping students bridge the achievement gap. We are thrilled to now bring our services to the Boston community to guide twice as many students in achieving their dream of graduating from a four-year college.”
The event, attended by 300 participants, provided a fun and inspiring evening for the BTGB community to support the organization’s goals and to help fund the intensive out-of-school time academic and teacher training programming. Held in the landmark Moakley Courthouse in Boston, guests were treated to a reception with live music, student and teacher testimonials, and remarks from the organization. The event also featured a live auction and raffle with donated contributions from more than a dozen local businesses and individuals.
For more information on Breakthrough Greater Boston, please visit www.breakthroughgreaterboston.org
About Breakthrough Greater Boston
Breakthrough Greater Boston (BTGB) transforms urban education for students and teachers in Boston and Cambridge. Through six years of intensive, out of school time programming, Breakthrough changes students’ academic trajectories and supports them along the path to four-year college. Simultaneously, Breakthrough builds careers in education through an unparalleled teacher training program for college-aged students that features competitive national recruitment, research-based training, and daily coaching from master teachers. Breakthrough’s unique Students Teaching Students model inspires college students to become the next generation of urban educators and students to become college graduates. Visit http://breakthroughgreaterboston.org to learn more.
–ANita M. Harris
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, an award-winning public relations and digital marketing firm located in Kendall Square, Cambridge.
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Our friend Robert Gracey sends the following:
Massachusetts acupuncturists in affiliation with the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA), Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Society of Massachusetts (AOMSM) and Acupuncture Without Borders (AWB) are joining together through Boston Acupuncture Trauma Relief (BATR) to provide treatment and healing for those affected by the tragic Boston Marathon bombings and related events. Participating acupuncturists are offering free acupuncture treatments to those in need.
The development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a possible result of both man-made and natural disasters. Acupuncture has been used by AWB in tragic situations like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and most recently in Newtown, Connecticut. The Department of Defense has also been working with acupuncture to help veterans returning from foreign wars alleviate trauma symptoms that may linger after deployment.
It is common for those who have undergone trauma to experience “triggers” that will set off a response, like a car backfire, the sounds of heavy equipment, or news updates as the case unfolds. It is also common for sufferers to experience physical symptoms like sweating, labored breathing, increased heart rate, and nausea. The most important thing to know is everyone reacts to traumatic exposure differently and there is no right or wrong way to feel or act. It is perfectly normal to have a reaction; it’s a natural part of the healing process.
Common Symptoms Following Exposure to Trauma:
While acupuncturists are not first responders, we understand, because we feel it ourselves, the feelings of angst and confusion that simmer in the aftermath. The use of acupuncture for trauma is a vital bridge between first intervention and the healing process that allows those affected to move through the experience and heal. In addition, acupuncture can also help those recover from their physical injuries.
As one of many acupuncturists offering free trauma relief, Gracey and others are offering free services to those in need. For more information please contact Robert Gracy 617-549-1196 or rgracey@graceyhealth.com ( Gracey Holistic Health), the New England School of Acupuncture clinic at 617-558-6372, or chose from a list of acupuncturists via the following NESA landing page: http://traumarelief.nesa.edu/.
-Anita M. Harris
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, an award-winning PR and marketing firm in Cambridge, MA.
Kendall Square 4-17-13
Despite a historically strong anti-development bias in Cambridge, the City Council last week approved a new zoning law that will allow further transformation of the already growing Kendall Square. The new law, passed on April 8, approves plans for a new gateway to MIT facing the Kendall Square MBTA Station, the construction of some 1.1M square feet of new commercial space around the T stop, and hundreds of new housing units. (More details at HarrisCom Blog: http://wp.me/p1Hocg-Wy ).
According to Tim Rowe, president of the Kendall Square Association and a founder of the Cambridge Innovation Center, while, at last week’s meeting, many Cantabridgians questioned the desirability of new buildings that could create traffic noise, “construction hassle and the like”, others emphasized the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship
“They spoke about how these endeavors are critical to our prosperity in these days of intense competition with other regions, how they bring jobs to residents all across the state, and how the fruits of the labors of our innovators and entrepreneurs are solutions to important problems facing the planet,” Rowe said. “What is super exciting to me is that our political leaders, by their vote, accepted these arguments. This is a major win for innovation.”
In a blog posted to clients of the Cambridge Innovation Center–including me–Rowe emphasized that the Kendall Square community concerned about sustainability–as evidenced that “despite millions of square feet of new buildings being built here” during the past decade, traffic in Kendall Square has actually dropped.
Rowe emphasized the need for additional state funding to ensure that the Red Line can keep up with demand in Kendall Square and urged his readers to tell their state senators and representatives to support Governor Deval Patrick’s proposal to invest heavily in updating the Commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure.
Having worked in the Cambridge Innovation Center for nearly three years, I can attest to the vibrancy and vitality of this growing area.
–Anita M. Harris
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, an award-winning public relations and digital marketing agency located in Kendall Square.
Photos by Anita M. Harris; kindly request permission and link before re-posting.
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, an award-winning public relations and content marketing firm located in Cambridge, MA.
Cambridge-based Latitude News is a global Website with a mission is to make what’s going on in the world relevant to what’s happening in the US. It’s a sort of “local global mashup” in which writers and editors produce stories that are ” fresh, relevant and crying out to be told,” says founder and veteran BBC journalist Maria Balinska.
Recent examples include :
Balinska points out that Latitude News stories have been featured in the Christian Science Monitor, the Week, Mental Floss, Marketplace, Hoy and the BBC. And PRX (the Public Radio Exchange, another Cambridge-based outfit) commissioned a series of monthly podcasts last summer.
Latitude News recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund production of a weekly audio program, The Local Global Mashup Show, that, Balinska says, “will give you the inside edge on the stories that connect Americans with the world.” It’s an ambitious project, Balinksa adds, in part because it proposes to use a subscription model in order to become a sustainable business.
For more info or to donate and receive a reward, go to the Latitude News Kickstarter page before February 15.
–Anita M. Harris
New Cambridge Observer is a publication of the Harris Communications Group, a collaborative team of experts in public relations, content marketing and new media services.