Cambridge

The Globe reports on Harvard's sorry-not-sorry explanation for scanning headers on e-mail from deans. The Crimson reports university President Drew Faust says she had no idea.

Greg Hum shows off his two-wheeled drumming during the Friday snowstorm.

Protest outside Longy School of Music this morning.

The venerable Longy School of Music, which merged with Bard College in New York last year, told parents this week that programs for children - and adults not seeking degrees - no longer fit its new mission of becoming a world-class "institution for advanced musical study." So, school President Karen Zorn wrote parents, they'll have to find new places to send their kids for the sort of programs the school has long offered.

In a letter to parents, Zorn said the school would work with them to find alternate programs.

Parents, who say the decision came as a complete surprise to them, protested outside the Harvard Square conservatory this morning. One Jamaica Plain mother tells UHub:

What they offer simply can't be replicated by private instruction or at other local institutions - otherwise we might be studying elsewhere. For example we live in JP but take our 12 year old daughter there for a chorus ensemble every weekend, because the hassle is worth the great experience she is having.

The T worker in question walks through smokey car. Photo by Christopher J. Ternus.

An inbound Red Line train that left Harvard at 11:54 this morning finally made it to Central at 12:37 p.m. - pushed there by another train - the MBTA reports.

Christian J. Ternus tweets:

Just got off Red Line train that caught fire. Train filled with smoke.

MBTA operator lost her keys and couldn't get into cab to call for help. Operator told passengers not to ride Red Line in bad weather. "MBTA doesn't spend enough to make it safe." Passengers were having asthma & panic attacks. MBTA op described this as "passengers complaining." Train was *On Fire.*

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo says there was no fire on the train, adds:

The train operator did not lose her keys nor make any safety-related announcements on the intercom. The tweet was in reference to another MBTA employee who had boarded the train to investigate the cause of the power problem. The employee attempted to open a door at the end of a Red Line car, but was unable because she did not have a key. This employee made some comments to another employee that were picked up by one or more customers (one of whom then tweeted). Both employees have been identified and both have submitted statements to supervisors. The head of the Red Line is investigating.

Cambridge Police report neighboring businesses were evacuated as a precaution but that there were no injuries.

As in the MBTA is announcing significant delays due to signal problems at Harvard.

UPDATE: The E Line is being a tad extreme today, as well, thanks to a little fire at Symphony that's shut service on the line.

Time-lapse animation from MassDOT. With bonus new-agey guitar track that fortunately you can just turn off when it gets really annoying. And don't worry - they'll be putting the shakers back on.

Need a break from the stress of work, the economy, and everyday life? Looking for something to do that is fun, free, and progressive? Join us for Games for Justice at Andala Cafe! Arrive by yourself or bring a friend.

RSVP at http://www.sojust.org Newcomers always welcomed!
Fee $2 per person + $10 for food

Scrabble, Boggle, Apples to Apples, Scattegories - what's your favorite board game? Bring it!

Look no further if you're seeking like-minded folks to game with, want to cross-promote your events and campaigns while you Boggle, or are new to the area and looking for groups to join. If you want to build a strong cross-issue social justice movement, SoJust is for you!

HEY ORGANIZERS! If you're involved with a group or project and want to spread the word bring flyers - there will be lots of opportunity to schmooze and network!

Haven't been to Andala Cafe? The food is delicious! Check out their menu filled with vegetarian and vegan options.

Each attendee is asked to purchase a minimum of $10 in yummy food - or SoJust will have to pay the difference to the venue.

Andala Cafe is located in Central Square - here's a map.

Wicked Local Cambridge reports on a March 2 incident in front of the Alewife T station.

Polaris asks:

Can anyone recommend a Cambridge-area tattoo place that can do Hebrew lettering? Having no luck searching.

Join Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders at our annual Summer Party held outside in the heart of Provincetown, MA on Saturday, July 27 from 4:00-7:00PM. Enjoy the view of the harbor, mingle with other GLAD supporters and learn more about our ground-breaking cases.

Tickets are $75 online | $85 on site | $30 student
Purchase at www.glad.org/events.

Don't miss our amazing auction and celebrity auctioneer Kate Clinton. You don't have to be present to win. Travel packages, restaurants, massages, and much more - something for everyone!

Children are welcome to attend (at no charge) and will enjoy a range of fun activities.

Delicious summer fare and refreshing cocktails provided.

More information, tickets and sponsorships are available at www.glad.org/events.

Sarah Bourne captured sailboats on a reduced-ice Charles yesterday afternoon.

Copyright Sarah Bourne.

An MIT official today provided more details on the gun hoax that shut some MIT buildings and Massachusetts Avenue on Saturday.

In a letter to the Tech, Executive VP and Treasurer Israel Ruiz writes:

One minute into the communication, the caller reported someone with a "really big gun," and "armor" who was "getting out of control." The CPD dispatcher immediately sent CPD units and State Police to the site, and notified MIT Police.

Ruiz also writes that while police responded very well to the perceived threat, they should have alerted the MIT community earlier than 90 minutes into the incident that something might be happening.

Cambridge Police report the communications about an alleged rifleman in body armor at MIT on Saturday came via an "an internet relay" usually used to let people with hearing or speech impairments communicate:

The relay service used in this instance was a Sprint relay service, and a Sprint employee notified the police department of the conversation with the reporting party.

During this conversation, a possible suspect was mentioned and police immediately identified and interviewed him. After questioning, police determined that this individual had no knowledge of the incident and do not believe he was involved in making this false report at this time.

On trip to West Coast.

Wonder no more (and note the CueCat on the dash). Spotted around Camberville.

Via Boston Reddit.

UPDATE: The Globe reports it was a hoax "electronic message." WBZ reports the FBI and the Secret Service have joined the investigation, while campus police try to explain why it took them more than an hour to issue an alert.

At 8:47 a.m., MIT Police issued an alert:

This morning information was received from Cambridge Police that there was a person with a long rifle and body armor in the Main Group Building of MIT. Multiple law enforcement agencies have responded, stay indoors and shelter in place and report suspicious activity to the campus police dispatch dial 100.

Mass. Ave. was shut near the building and Route 1 buses were diverted.

At 9:33, Cambridge Police tweeted:

Police responded to report of man w/ gun inside building on Mass Ave. Police searched building w/ negative results.

By 9:50, police were taking off their bullet-proof vests.

At 10:19, Cambridge Police tweeted:

Scene is clear. Call unfounded. No threat to public safety.

Limeduck tries out the new bricks-and-mortar version of Bon Me in Kendall Square (same building as the Friendly Toast):

The BBQ pork was zesty, the bread crusty, the carrots crunchy, the pate livery, the mayo spicy, the cilantro uppity, everything in its place and as it should be, dare I say it maybe a tiny bit better than at the truck. This is a $6 sandwich, $8 if you somehow think you need "extra meat," and really, I love this stuff, but I'm pretty sure you do not need extra meat. Same price as at the truck, and you get a roof over your head and music, too.

The Crimson reports on some petitions for improving student life submitted to the university, including one for a "a designated nap room in the Yard." Some students who favored the proposal said, however, they would be concerned about cleanliness - could they trust beanbag chairs some other student had just snoozed on?

Cambridge Police has started an automated tweeting system to broadcast crime reports as they come in. Take, for example, this tweet today:

02/19/13 08:57 REPORT OF POSSIBLE ASSAULT IN PROGRESS ON BLAKE ST IN #CAMBMA

In a statement, police say:

At least this time the track problems were at Harvard instead of Central. Meanwhile, shortly after 9 a.m., Meghan M tweeted:

Green line inbound passengers. My train is so 100% stuck between kenmore & hynes. Expect delays. Also send breakfast.

And to top it all off, the electronic signboard at Park Street continues to show White Sox ads.

Harvard University Police report an undergraduate student walking in the Quincy House courtyard around 1:35 a.m. was attacked by two men:

The victim stated that while walking through the courtyard she was grabbed by two males who attempted to pull her back towards the building. The suspects did not say anything to the victim. She fought with them and was able to flee the courtyard and entered a nearby residence for safety. The victim was not injured during the incident and officers searching the area could not locate the suspects.

Early this morning, John Hawkinson tweeted:

Just saw a rabbit in Mid-Cambridge 20' off Mass Ave. When did this start?

Quite awhile ago, according to our go-to guy for matters Cantabrigian, Robert Winters:

There were rabbits sighted this past year off Harvard Street between Trowbridge & Ellery Sts. They're around.

Nat Tarbox adds:

Walk around the river path near Harvard, there is a rabbit every ten feet.

Kathy C reports:

last summer, cute bunnies in weedy parking lot at Mass Ave and Albany.

Siobhan Gallagher cautions:

Look closely at them. Don't think they're our cottontails but, rather, an invasive breed.

The Harvard Crimson reports hesitancy on the part of city public-health officials to go along with a proposal by some city councilors to limit the size of sugared drinks sold in restaurants in the city:

"Does limiting soda size make sense, if people can still buy large size beverages in retail establishments, such as supermarkets and corner stores?" asked Claude-Alix Jacob, Cambridge's chief public health officer. He added that consumers could also order more servings of soda at restaurants.

Neal Doyle reports somebody in East Cambridge apparently had a spare plasma TV to use as a space saver this morning.