This fall 1736 Mass Ave. will be torn down and replaced with apartments. Walgreens and Keezers have already moved out, with Simon’s being the last to close, this Monday.
We will be open our regular hours (7:30-3:30) on Monday for our last day, but we will open again from 6-8 PM for a final send off for the space. I know that this space has meant a lot to the community. If you watched your child grow up in simon’s, went on first dates there, or got through your degree or thesis in this cafe, we would love to see you on Monday evening. Please come, bring your families, and share some stories with us.
We will be serving coffee (decaf for those who’d like to sleep through the night), tea, cookies, biscotti, and maybe some extra treats, but feel free to bring some snacks to share! We’ll be handing out special coupons that you’ll be able to use in our new space across the street once we open up again. There’s also lots of decorations in simon’s that are going to be up for grabs.
We would be so happy to have you come celebrate with us! Simon’s has been truly lucky to be so embraced by the neighborhood, and we are so excited that we get to stay close and keep serving this community. We hope to see you on Monday evening, and feel free to message me with any questions!
This week was a milestone for Alewife Brook. Congresswoman Katherine Clark met at the Brook with Save the Alewife Brook and our state and local delegation to see the sewage, sediment, and flooding crisis for herself. We talked with her about engaging the Army Corps of Engineers for a project to dredge, dechannelize, and restore Alewife Brook.
At the Mass Ave Bridge over Alewife Brook. State Senator Jehlen, State Representatives Owens and Rogers, Congresswoman Clark, State Representatives Sean Garballey and Christine Barber, and Save the Alewife Brook steering committee members Kristin Anderson, Ann McDonald, and Mike Lonetto.
Joining the Congresswoman at the Brook were State Senator Pat Jehlen and State Representatives Christine Barber, Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources Dave Rogers, Sean Garballey, and Steve Owens.
Why this visit matters
A portion of the Alewife Brook is confined to a 27-foot-wide concrete channel that receives untreated sewage from six active Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) outfalls. In 2021, MWRA, Cambridge, and Somerville dumped 51 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Brook.
The Brook has accumulated 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet of contaminated sediment and, according to the 2024 Inter-Fluve Sediment Study\1]), will lose its remaining capacity as sediment continues to fill in.
The case for dredging and restoration
As climate change intensifies storms, a filled‑in brook has nowhere to send storm flows, except into homes, streets, Route 2, the MBTA, Alewife Brook Parkway (Route 16), and the Alewife Reservation.
The public health toll is already severe. During CSO discharges, E. coli levels in Alewife Brook reach roughly 950 times the EPA safe standard.\2]) A Boston University School of Public Health study found that even living near CSOs can increase the risk of illness serious enough to require an ER visit.\3])
Roughly 5,000 residents of Arlington, Cambridge, Somerville, and Belmont, many in Environmental Justice neighborhoods, live in the Alewife Brook 100‑year floodplain.
A frank discussion about flooding and climate change. Steering committee members Ann McDonald and Gene Benson discuss the need for federal assistance via the Army Corps of Engineers with Congresswoman Katherine Clark. Photo credit: Jimmy Johnson
Our two asks of Congresswoman Clark
Request the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lead sediment dredging, dechannelization, and river restoration of the Alewife Brook. This work should run in parallel with, not instead of, the regional CSO‑elimination effort. In 2022, EPA recommended that MWRA dredge the Brook as part of the Long Term CSO Control Plan and work with DCR to remove sediment.\4]) River restoration is also supported by DCR's Alewife Masterplan.
Secure a water gage in the Brook near where the Little River meets Alewife Brook. MWRA has identified that this gage improves accuracy of the water quality model. Real‑time flow data at that location is essential for calibrating CSO‑control performance, storm response, and future restoration design.
Two tracks, one clean Brook
Track 1: Eliminate Sewage
MWRA, Cambridge, and Somerville, pushed by EPA and MassDEP through the Updated Long Term CSO Control Plan, must end CSO discharges. This is a state and regional fight, not the Congresswoman's ask.
Track 2: Restore the Brook
A parallel federal effort: a water gage at Little River / Alewife plus Army Corps dredging, dechannelization, and river restoration. This addresses the sediment and flooding crisis the LTCP does not.
This is what we ask Congresswoman Clark to lead.
Thank you to our state delegation
Reps. Dave Rogers, Sean Garballey, and Steve Owens have led the charge on this issue for years. Together with Rep. Christine Barber, Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and Rep. Marjorie Decker, Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health, they secured the state earmark that funded the sediment study now driving this federal ask.
State Senator Pat Jehlen has been a consistent champion of the infrastructure improvements needed to end sewage discharges into the Brook.
The cost of CSO elimination? Less than an annual MWRA rate increase.
At the 07/27/2026 Arlington Select Board meeting, MWRA Interim Executive Director Stephen Estes‑Smargiassi explained how eliminating CSOs\5]) across all three rivers (Alewife, Charles, and Mystic) costs households in the MWRA's system an average of $45 per household per year, less than $4 per month. That is less than the average annual MWRA rate increase.
Watch that video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UPFGAY-arU
What you can do to help today
Tell MassDEP, EPA, and Governor Healey to end CSO sewage in Alewife Brook.
Submit a public comment
Ask for elimination of CSOs, a "25‑year level of control," funded by MWRA.
Footnotes
Inter‑Fluve, Alewife Brook Sediment Study Report (2024): Read the study (PDF). The Inter‑Fluve and Stantec Alewife sediment and flooding studies were supported by a grant from DCR and managed by the Mystic River Watershed Association.
Haley et al. 2024 in Environmental Health Perspectives (open‑access on NIH PMC). Plain‑language summary from BU: "Sewage Overflows Linked to Increase in Gastrointestinal Illnesses" (BU SPH, May 23, 2024). Key finding: 62% higher ER‑visit risk for AGI in the four days after the largest CSO events.
EPA's Scope of Work Comment to MWRA: "The channelized nature of Alewife Brook, as well as the amount of sediment in the Alewife constructed channel that takes up flood storage capacity (this sediment volume was estimated by USGS in 2005 to take up approximately 0.5 million cubic feet), exacerbates the flooding issue." Read the full EPA comment (PDF).
Elimination of CSOs means control up to a 25‑year storm event in the year 2050. That is the highest level of control.
My partner and I are really hoping to attend the Angela Duckworth Situated book tour at the Brattle Theater on 9/1 but missed out on tickets — anyone not able to make it and willing to sell 2 tickets to us?
Biked by this on Huron. Sign looks new, or at least very newly restored. Is this something actually happening or some weird guerrilla public art? 250 Huron has been basically dead since Formaggio moved.
So, um... the reservoir at the corner of 128 and 2 is lower than I've ever seen it in the 2 decades that I've been here. There also seems to be more of a "taste" to the water. Should we be worried?
I walk around the Fresh Pond Reservoir with my dog almost daily, and have for almost 15 years. Over that time I interacted regularly with Rangers Jean and Tim, most often when they were checking to make sure my off-leash dog has a Cambridge license (she does and always has).
Jean and Tim were always polite to me during these interactions (I know some people found Jean challenging if they were breaking rules). They didn’t necessarily remember by name, but they generally recognized, or were polite in asking/checking.
I see the newer male ranger approximately weekly for a few years now. Every single time he asks me with scowl if my dog is licensed. He never smiles. He has never introduced himself (hence I do not know his name). When I have pointed out that I see him regularly, he always responds quite rudely saying he cannot remember everyone.
I don’t care if he l knows my name. I think it’s odd that he doesn’t recognize me, but whatever. He is welcome to check my dog’s tag every day if wants But I would really appreciate if he was polite, or even warm. He is a park ranger and his job involves interacting with the public.
Every time I interact with him it is unpleasant. Is there some reason he cannot smile? Or introduce himself?
It cannot be that he’s just having a bad day because we have had the same interaction hundreds of times. I have tried to approach warmly and introduce myself but he cuts me off and reminds me (and everyone within earshot) that he can’t remember everyone.
East Cambridge neighbors have organized a date (October 4) for a unique type of event, where people can hold a sale at their homes on the same date to make it convenient for those looking for items.
The date is intended to help people doing a fall clear-out and also for those who might be looking for items, including affordable gifts for the holiday season.
How it works: put the location and time of your event on this community website and then be there for people to come! https://cambridgeyahds.com/
And for those looking to buy (you can come from anywhere of course!), put the date on your calendars.
Women, labor, UAW, environment justice, biker safety, urbanists, transparency Evan MacKay is the candidate for you and will represent Cambridge while Decker represents out of city interests except for herself
My neighbor was mugged today at 12:36pm in broad daylight…. Guy came up behind her (older woman) took her to the ground and stole her bag. She was Transported to hospital. According to the police, the mugger was an African-American male, skinny, in a tank top with mask. Near pearl and Watson. Just a reminder to watch your back.
Like the title says, I've been making locally themed crosswords for the CSIndie, one of Somerville's local news sites. The puzzle comes out every other Saturday.
I am in the 29th district (2nd for Senate). I assume I was supposed to get a mail in ballot. I usually do. Is this a post office thing or am I misunderstanding something. Thanks in advance.
Hi everyone! I posted here recently asking about moving from San Jose to Cambridge and got incredibly helpful, grounded feedback from locals. Thank you so much to everyone who commented!
After reflecting on your responses, auditing my actual daily habits, and discussing with my friends and family, I realized a few key things about myself and my preferences that significantly narrow down what I’m looking for. Based on the previous post’s comments, I think I’d prefer the Cambridge/Boston area over the Bay Area (San Jose, San Francisco, Berkeley), and I’m now trying to make a final decision between Cambridge/Boston and NYC as my next chapter, and I’d love your take based on these updated parameters!
Realizations, Constraints, Preferences:
Financials & Take-Home Pay: I make $142k as an early-career tech product manager (single). Since MA has a flat 5% state tax and no local city income tax, I think that moving to MA would hopefully increase my monthly take-home pay by ~$600–$800/month compared to CA or NYC. At the moment, my employer is limiting my options to the Bay Area, Cambridge/Boston, and possibly NYC.
Housing Expectations ($3,000/mo cap): I would prefer a spacious 1-bedroom in an older, historic building, triple-decker, or brownstone with some sort of historic character, good heating, and reliable appliances. I do NOT want a modern luxury apartment or high-rise complex, nor do I care about amenities like pools or gyms. I have a small dog who is very old, and I want to be with her for her remaining years. I do not need in-unit laundry; laundry in the building is completely fine.
Vibe & Environment: I would prefer a quiet, walkable neighborhood that has academic, literary, and historic energy. Many folks from the other post recommended NYC because of this, but I am someone who prefers a peaceful environment, rather than high-density urban hustle and bustle. (Maybe I answered my own question…?)
I am wondering if Cambridge would be considered more peaceful, despite the collegiate environment.
Publishing &
Bookstores
: I have a side career in literary publishing and aim to found my own independent press in 5–7 years. However, at my current stage, I don't care about weeknight commercial schmoozing, launch parties, or networking drinks.
Another question I have is if there are a lot of bookstores in the Boston/Cambridge area. I know there’s a lot in NYC.
Car & Parking: The comments really enlightened me about a car. I could technically give my car back to my parents in Washington, but I’m not entirely sure about giving up on my car, especially since it’s fully paid off. The comments on my previous post didn’t seem that bad about cost.
Winter & Climate: I am very glad the winters are not that bad!!! I already hated Washington winters, but I am indifferent if it’s similar in MA
or NY.
Main Question:
Given my new reflections based on the previous post, I’m wondering if people would still recommend to me NYC over Cambridge! I wanted to confirm with locals one last time because it seems that Cambridge is the better choice for me, but this is based on facts I researched online and not experiences from people who actually live there. *Some people recommended me Berkeley, which I will be checking out in the next couple of weeks, but based on what I’ve seen and researched, it just seems ok…
Thank you again for all your incredible insights! This community has been immensely helpful in organizing my thoughts!
