BoMag listed Cambridge Public Schools as one of the top school systems in the state. Philip Greenspun breaks down the numbers on his blog. According to Greenspun:

Cambridge is #1 in cost, having spent $24,467 per year per student. That’s up from $20,637 in 2005. SAT scores, meanwhile, have fallen from 481 verbal/500 math to 465/468, well below the nationwide average for 2007 of 502/515. Cambridge has the lowest student-teacher ratio of any school in the state and the most non-teacher staff (100 administrators for the 1541 students).

Brookline is right across the river and has a similar proximity to Boston and density of housing. They spent $15,098 per student and the average SAT scores were 571/587.

Harvard scientists transform mouse pancreas cells into insulin-producing cells, clearing the way for a potential breakthrough in the search for a cure for diabetes, the Globe reports.

Toni “Bee” Brooks offers a personal account of Monday’s shootout in the city’s Area 4 neighborhood.

Harvard’s looking closely at its own police force after several black students and professors complained campus cops are unfairly stopping them, the Globe’s reporting. Harvard’s president, Drew Faust, said in an e-mail to students she’s created a six-member task force that would review the police force’s diversity training.

“All of us share an interest in sustaining constructive relations between our campus police and the broader Harvard community, in order to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all faculty, students, staff, and visitors….” Faust wrote in her email. “I am confident that this group’s efforts will help the University address this important set of issues in a constructive spirit and forthright manner.”

Last week, we printed a list of salaries for city workers. Just for clarification: we did not look at school department salaries or earnings. We included data from Fiscal Year 2008, which covers everything from July 2007-June 2008. The gross earnings that we listed included the value of a T pass, cash payment in lieu of health insurance, overtime and paid details. The earnings also included a pay increase that went into effect on Dec. 30, 2007.

So I was trekking through Nova Scotia this past weekend, but — of course — I can’t get away without a bit of Cambridge somehow poking its head through. In Grand Pre, a small town near the Bay of Fundy, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the world famous Cambridge poet, is like a god. His poem, “Evangeline,” reignited interest in Acadian culture. I found a bust of the poet nearby:

Even the cat who lives in the nearby church is named Evangeline.

It’s because there was a drive-by shootout on Pine Street  that ended on Main Street.

An alert was sent at 12:51 p.m. that the Red Line is experiencing 20-25 min delays due to police action. Was anyone lucky enough to experience this hold up?

UPDATE: Red Line is being diverted due to police action at Savin Hill. A bus shuttle will run in both directions between Ashmont and JFK Station.

The Cambridge Birth Center welcomed its 1000th baby on Aug. 13. Cormac James Camlin, who was delivered at 11:10 p.m., is pictured with parents Jennifer and Alex Camlin. The Birth Center, which opened its doors in December 1997, is one of the many women’s health services of Cambridge Health Alliance.

Apparently it’s hard to come by, according to Mass High Tech.

Experts expect demand to rise now that state officials are poised to dole out $1 billion in tax incentives, grants and loans to attract life sciences companies.

You remember what happened the last two times they did that.

The “dance showcase” with performances by JAM’NASTICS, INTENCITY Entertainment, EnMotion and MetaMovements is Friday, Aug. 22 at the 7 Temple St. building. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show.

This time, YWCA Executive Director Eva Martin Blythe sent an e-mail announcing the event to city officials and Cambridge Police. A goodwill gesture perhaps?

U.S. News and World Report has rated Harvard University as the number one unversity in the nation.

It’s the first time the university has held the top spot on the annual list since 1996.

(MIT tied for the number 4 spot with Stanford University.)

What happens when Cambridge’s first Poet Populist Peter Payack and Boston’s first Poet Laureate Sam Cornish get together?

Family Day at Longfellow National Historic Site!

On Sunday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m., the pair will read selections of their work followed by a reading from about 20 student prize-winners on the front lawn of the Longfellow Historic Site at 105 Brattle St.

I wonder if there will be any sort of rivalry between the two top poets from Cambridge and Boston…

As it does at the end of the summer season each year, the Department of  Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has begun staggered pool closings, ensuring that at least some DCR pools will remain open as long as possible in various regions of the Commonwealth.

Veterans Memorial Pool in Cambridge close on Aug. 17. The McCrehan Memorial Swimming and Wading Pool is slated to close this Sunday, Aug. 24.  Many surrounding pools will be open until labor day.

According to a press release, MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas announced today that future Amber Alerts will be displayed on all of the T’s electronic message boards throughout eastern and central Massachusetts.  In addition, Amber Alert announcements will be broadcast over the public address system in all 66 of the T’s subway stations.

In addition to being displayed at the T’s 66 subway stations, Amber Alerts from the Massachusetts State Police will also be posted on electronic message boards at 134 Commuter Rail Stations and 16 Silver Line Stations.

Cambridge-based Senior Whole Health is tops, Inc. magazine says.

So much so that the magazine named 44 Cambridge area businesses among 335 winners in its 35th annual “Best of Boston” issue. According to our calculations, that’s a good percentage of all winners.

The list is after the jump.

The following Cambridge restaurants were named Best of Boston in 2008; Bukowski Tavern for Affordable Bar Menu; Mr. Bartley’s for Burgers; Mary Chung for Chinese; Hungry Mother for Comeback; Emma’s for White Pizza; Greek Corner for Greek; Christina’s for Ice Cream; Tamarind Bay for Indian; Dante for Italian; Whole Foods for Best Chain; Oleana for Middle Eastern; Harvest for Private Dining; Craigie Street Bistrot for Chef; T.W Food for Up-and-Coming Chef; Verna’s for Doughnuts; B-Side Lounge for Calamari; Upstairs on the Square for Romantic; Hot Off the Press Cafe for Sandwiches; Coast Café for Soul Food; Green Street for Cocktail Menu; and Cambridge 1 for Thin Crust Pizza.

The following Cambridge individuals were named Best of Boston in 2008; Maura Kilpatrick from Oleana for Pastry Chef and Tim Wiechmann from T. W. Food for Up-and-Coming Chef.

The following Cambridge businesses were named Best of Boston in 2008; Dr. Detail Car Wash for Auto Dealer; Fast Phil’s for Barbershop; Le Couturier House of Alterations for Tailor; Redemption for Tattoo Parlor; Bird by Bird for Baby Clothing; Newbury Comics for Kids’ Music and Videos; Stellabella for Toys; Curious George and Friends for Kids’ Books; The Courtside for Karaoke Bar; The Druid for Trivia Night; T.T the Bear’s Place for Small Live-Music Club; The Cantab Lounge for Open Mic; Enormous Lounge for Best Lounge; Broadway Bicycle School for Bikes; Harvard Square Eye Care for Eyewear; Drinkwater’s for Men’s Accessories; Marathon Sports for Running Shoes; Twisted Village for Specialty Music; City Sports for Sports Gear; Micro Center for Electronics; Yayla Tribal Rugs for Rugs; and Gregory Lombardi Design for Landscape Architect.

Man arrested for drugs has 23 different aliases.

Apparently the Central Square library branch was vandalized last night and there was a larceny.

Why do you think someone would steal from the library? (I wonder if the crooks know they can borrow what they want for free)