A video on the new, accessible community garden near Neville Place at Fresh Pond. Produced by the July 2008 Zipdocs Class: Amar Mehta, Dana Bensimon, Kethia Beausejour, and Ukwori Onuma.

The Central Square Theater is now open! Check out this video produced by CCTV"s Documentary Production: Zip Docs 021XX class to learn all about the new theater, its history and design. The producers/students were: Haeree Chang, Nishima Chudasama, KC Forcier, Pelle Lowe, Jill Sheppard-Davenport, Vadim Timoshpolsky. Matt Landry was the instructor.

I’m angry. I’m very angry.

While googling the Amigos School to try to post a link to an Aaron Sorkin play being performed in both English and Spanish, I got a link to a post by Fred Baker on the Cambridge Republican City Committee’s blog suggesting that my daughter’s school be blown up. I’m not only angry, I’m stunned. How am I supposed to react to that? Is proposing a terrorist act of such magnitude even legal? I suspect it is given the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, but I’m appalled, disgusted and even scared.

Which of our children does he think should be murdered? Which of our teachers, friends, and city employees does he think should die for his racist fantasy? read more...

Link to Boston Globe article published July 15, 2008

I met with David Rabkin at the museum of Science on Wednesday 7/9/2008 to learn about the wind energy project that they want to start within the next year. It would involve installing an array of small wind turbines made by several manufacturers on the roof of the museum and monitoring them for a year or more. It seems that there is a major lack of hard data on the performance of small scale wind energy equipment. They would like to help change that. Right now the main source of information is from the manufactures themselves. read more...

Everyone knows that there is a lot of development going on in East Cambridge, but just how much is a lot? 80 acres is a lot. That’s my estimate of the area being built up recently, currently and imminently east of the tracks and north of Broadway. In fact, it is about 2% of the land area of Cambridge. 2% doesn’t sound like a lot does it? If It were the country we were talking about, it would take up all six New England states and most of West Virginia. That’s big. So big that it might even catch the attention of the public and the government might even have to get involved in the planning process to insure that some public benefit comes out of it. ( OK not the Bush administration except to maximize their policy of corporate socialism, but they’re short timers.) read more...

A friend who lives on the Cambridge Riviera sent me an e-mail on Monday June 16 saying that there was another oil slick on the Charles River this morning. It extended from the Charles River Yacht Club opposite 100 Memorial Drive to some point down river from the Mirant Kendall electric plant. The Broad Canal was completely covered. This has been happening since April.

Both Cambridge Fire Department and the State Police were on the scene investigating. Mass DEP also sent a crew. I called the CFD and was told that the Mirant plant manager reported the spill at 9:28 A.M., and that they had eliminated the barges working on the Longfellow Bridge as a source. The gentleman also mentioned run-off as a possible source. This seems unlikely since the rain did not come until Monday night. read more...

To see the location of this parcel of land and pictures click on this link. East Cambridge Hot Spots Map

To see the pics, click on the image in the bubble that pops up. Double click on the map to zoom in.

After eight years of waiting, construction is starting at the corner of Charles St. and Lopez Ave. in East Cambridge. Back around 2000, activists in the neighborhood With the help of the East Cambridge Planning Team, were able to persuade a developer to donate a small plot of land to the city for open space as mitigation for their project. It is located across Lopez Ave. from Costa Lopez Taylor park. (Who was Costa Lopez Taylor anyway?)

In typical form, the city jumped on the opportunity and immediately built the most wonderful public space in the country... Oh, wait, that was in Narnia. This is Cambridge. let me start this paragraph over. read more...

To see an interactive map with pictures of locations mentioned in this post click this. 2008 Herring run map

If you go down to the south coast of Cambridge these says you can see this year's herring run in progress. It looks the best run in several years. There aren't nearly as many fish as I used to see in the 1990's, and orders of magnitude below numbers seen before the river was dammed and polluted.

If you go to the dam just upstream from Watertown Square, you can see them trying to jump the dam and swimming up the fish ladder. It is a pretty cool sight. There are hundreds of fish below the dam trying to get over. You can see them trying to swim up Laundry Brook from the footbridge on the south bank. Also present are dozens of herring gulls and cormorants taking advantage of the traffic jam. read more...

I attended the Green Line extension meeting sponsored by ECPT and STEP last night. The meeting was quite informative. Let me be quite clear in stating that I am a strong supporter of the extension project. What really irks me however is the "evolution" of plans for moving Lechmere Station across Route 28.

When this idea was first presented to residents of East Cambridge around the year 2000, there was an agreement between MBTA and Northpoint that in exchange for being given the land where Lechmere Station now stands, Northpoint would build a new state of the art station where the MBTA parking lot is on the far side of the highway. One of the requirements was that a covered, lit, heated, indoor pedestrian concourse would be built to get passengers across the seven lanes of frustrated commuters safely. This amenity is what quieted most local opposition to the move. read more...

Location
Central Square Theater
http://www.centralsquaretheater.org/

What is the angle?

Inclusive by design
http://www.vsamass.org/inclusivebydesign.htm

Issue with Inclusion by design
-time constraint of three week course
-the event isn't going to happen until July
-maybe not access to any previous performance

Collaboration

Nora Theater company
Underground Railway Theater

What's available?

The site
Narrative tour

Let's think about making the piece inclusive by design...what does that mean?

Let's get different perspectives in interview.
Administration
Artist
Client

Working Title: Thank God It's a Theater!

broadly about the vision...
story emerges from the tour guides.

Guest commentary: Should the Charles be a private cooling pond for power plant?
By Mark Jaquith
Wed May 07, 2008, 07:51 AM EDT
Cambridge -

Cambridge - There are some nice changes on the horizon for the Broad Canal. That is the name of the inlet, which branches off the Charles River just downstream of the salt and pepper (Longfellow) bridge. For decades, it has been a rarely visited remnant of East Cambridge’s industrial past. It only extends about 600 or so feet from the river now, but in the 1800s it went all the way to where the train tracks now lie. For a time it connected with the North Canal, which ran to the Millers River, making East Cambridge an island. In its day, it was the delivery route for industries located on its banks. It has been filled to its present terminus east of Third Street. read more...

Angel 'Naphtalie' Aiguier would like to extend special thanks to CCTV for the 'Producers Award' she received at the 'BiG Awards and Elections Day for CCTV Annual Meeting' April 16th, 2008. read more...

AngelNaphtalie, the 'Angel of the Airwaves' says: 'Check out two Radio shows back to back on WCCR/CCTV.
If you love Reggae, or like to learn about the history of artists in the industry check out the first show with AngelNaphtalie 'Angels Musical Point of View-Reviews' where music is critqued and history of artists is given on the subject matter. This first show is aired for (1 month) at a time (pre-recorded). You may hear interviews with artists hear too.
More fun continues on the second show: 'RAW Reggae-I-Vibes, Aboard the Zion Train' as AngelNaphalie continues the flow and ride to the Caribbean Islands with Local and Abroad Reggae Music, Live Interviews, and special features, including Shows and events happening. If you are a local artist or visiting the Boston/Cambridge area and want to be on board, and you are a Reggae Artist, contact the Angel at: angel.productions@yahoo.com and set up an interview.
or Call in Live on Fridays begining at 12:30PM-2PM - 617-876-0055 (Air Number).
Keep it Clean. No Prophanity or Unprofessional conduct is allowed on this show. Postive Vibez are encouraged. read more...

May 1, 2008 is the last day to submit public comment regarding Mirant Corporation's application to EPA to renew their permit to pollute the Charles. It is called a NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit. Here is what I wrote. There's not much tine left, but please write.

Mr. George Papadopoulos
EPA New England, Region 1
1 Congress Street, Suite 1100
Boston MA 02114-2023
April 30, 2008
Dear Mr. Papadopoulos

I share the goal of continuing the improvement of the water quality and wildlife habitat in the Charles River Basin. I live within a half mile of the river and walk along parts of it daily. I enjoy boating, bird watching, bicycling, and photography in and around the Charles whenever possible. I have been an advocate of improvements in access and habitat for decades.

As I'm sure you know, the abutters to the Broad Canal are required to construct certain improvements in the canal as part of their state and local permit requirements. These include a boardwalk and public park along the north bank and a canoe and kayak launch and dock at the terminus. read more...

ZIPDOCS: Fresh Pond, A reservation of many uses for many people is a short documentary on the history and current importance of this Cambridge landmark. Produced by members of the Cambridge Community Television ZIPDOCS class: Mark Jaquith, Doug Pouliot, Steve Schnapp and John Roberts.

ZIPDOCS: Cambridge Cohousing 02140 is a short video on Cambridge CoHousing, a community designed and developed housing project in Cambridge, MA. Produced by members of the ZIPDOCS class at CCTV: Lauren McFalls, Melissa Tomey, Brian Axelrod and Surafeal Wolday.

Odd Fellows Hall and Dance Complex: a video on the history and use of a historic old building in Central Square, Cambridge. A production by members of the ZIPDOCS class at CCTV: Inéz Eizmendi, Liza Zvereva, Irina Danilova and Laureano Batista. Music by Brazilian Touch.

ZIPDOCS: Cambridge Cohousing 02140 is a short video on Cambridge Cohousing , a community designed and developed housing project in Cambridge, MA. Produced by members of the ZIPDOCS class at CCTV: Lauren McFalls, Melissa Tomey, Brian Axelrod and Surafeal Wolday.

Odd Fellows Hall and Dance Complex: a video on this historic old building in Central Square, Cambridge which is now the home of the thriving Dance Complex . A production by members of the ZIPDOCS class at CCTV: Inéz Eizmendi, Liza Zvereva, Irina Danilova and Laureano Batista. Music by Brazilian Touch.

On March 10, 2008, The Cambridge Chronicle posted another entry in it's "The Right View" series. It was published in the March 10 edition. In it Mr.Henry Irving of Bigelow Street writes first about respecting ones elders and national figures, fiscal responsibility, and that the government should be allowed to break the law with impunity.

Congratulations Mr. Irving on your election as chairman of the Cambridge Republican City Committee.

Well, I agree and disagree. Read the column and then see my response below. I Got a call from editor David Harris today saying that my letter would appear in the next edition.March 20 I believe. Here it is:

Two out of three is good. Maybe even two and a half. I'm referring to Henry Irving's The Right View column. read more...

The newest installment of ZipDocs got off to the great start tonight. The largest and most ambitious class yet, we will be working on not one, not two, but three (count 'em THREE) projects!

Students choose to work on three Cambridge locations including:

The Dance Complex
Fresh Pond
Cambridge Co-Housing

Stay tuned for more as our work progresses over the next three weeks!

If you haven't read The Right View in the Feb. 14 edition of the Camb. Chronicle, look it up right now. Once again, the right echoes the left in Cambridge. It's a great example of life in the reality based community. People from seemingly opposing points of view coming to the same conclusion after examining the evidence. What an unusual city this is!

The day before that column was posted, I wrote the following op-ed piece to submit to the Chron. for publication. read more...

Well, I haven't blogged to the group for sometime now, and also notice that I haven't any subscribers to this group I created sometime last year called: "African & Native American History Group." I would like to reach out this year, as this is January 2008, for some ideas you would like to see me cover either by video or on my radio shows. read more...

If you haven't check out the Audio feed from John Donovan's 'Why Community Media Still Matter's' What are you waiting for. How you use the media, and tools that your local Community Television and radio station has for you, is very important. If you are someone who hasn't learned how to, or hasn't got the tools at home like some people, or need an avenue to put your message out there, and see real people, then you haven't experienced the positive vibes of Cambridge Community Television. I encourage you to take a look at what we do here, and become a member, or visit to see what we are all about. Come to the next orientation and learn all you can about CCTV. It's like a family of members who work together to make our community come alive, and keep it as real as possible. Sure you can go on line and do it behind the scenes, and nobody knows who you really are, and you feel safe that way, but when it all comes down to the end, who you gonna call on?...That's right the CCTV Crew. They have the know how, the experience, and the togetherness that matter's. Let's not lose the family values, and community togetherness, keep CCTV alive, and get involved. read more...

The Zip Docs class produced this documentary about the tenants at 55 Magazine St. who have been left in limbo by the new owners of their apartment building. The Zip Docs crew for this production were: Jessica Durrum, Jeffry Pike, Roz Springer, Margot Welch & Amanda Witbeck. Instructors: Matt Landry & Ethan Goldhammer.

CCTV's Zip Docs class produced this short documentary about the family of White Geese that live along the shores of the Charles River in Cambridge, MA.

A look at the Maria L. Baldwin School at the intersection of Oxford and Sacramento streets; with the stained glass windows that reflect the history of a remarkable educator and her school and community. This short documentary was procuced by the CCTV's ZipDocs class.

- B roll of 56 brattle and 54 brattle.
- set up interview with Jim Tuesday night @ 7 @ 42 brattle
- set up interview Anita Israel Wednesday @ 9AM
- Wednesday for class we will review footage, write any narration and start logging and capturing

ccae contact:
Jim Smith, Director - jsmith@ccae.org - x212
Will McMillan, PR - will@ccae.org

-Email text-
Jim and Will,
Greetings, I'm teaching a class at Cambridge Community Television (zipdocs - cctvcambridge.org/zipdocs) that, over the next three weeks, will create a 3-5 min. documentary on the blacksmith house. We were hoping that you might be interested in helping us by being interviewed (we only need one interview) about how the blacksmith house is currently being used and/or providing some information or pictures related to the history of the building.

Please let me know if someone from CCAE might be interested in being interviewed next Mon or Wed around 7pm (or another time that is more convenient). We are happy to travel, or you could join us at the CCTV studio in central sq.

best,
Matt Landry

we are doing the blacksmith house

http://www.ccae.org/events/blacksmith.html

what do you all think?

Click To Play

A film about the Weeks footbridge that crosses the Charles river in Cambridge, and is the location for the Boston Tango Society's Tango by Moonlight. Produced by Gen Andrews, Sarah Brett, Juan Castellanos and Julie McConlogue, students in the ZIPDOCS at Cambridge Community Television.

1:26 – 2:33 film story, “the Exile of Gardeau”

2:48 – 3:49 novel story

4:00 – 4:50 how people react

5:24 – 6:46 first dates

7:00 – 8:12 history/idea behind tango, momentary chemistry between

people, passing connection

9:30 - other activities on the bridge

10:35 – 11:15 Boston tango festival

11:22 - Argentines

12:20 – 13:10 permit, ownership, historical context**

13:19 - response to dancing, difficulty with ending**

14:20 - Cachanga Latina

14:35 – 15:25 4th of July, 2 years ago****

15:55 – 16:25 how the bridge looks when he drives/walks by does a little

dance by the bridge

17:06 - history of the bridge, what Clifton remembers

18:03 - 18:30 anything he would like people to know about the bridge

he is looking straight at the camera**

18:55 - “let the moon lead the way”, good ending**

19:30 - bio on Clifton

00:00 – 00:33 span from left to right, really nice opening shot of the bridge**

00:33 – 00:57 monument at the side of bridge to pan

00:58 – 1:11 on bridge, people walking towards camera

1:12 – 1:50 insignia with zoom out, slowly pans to right**

1:51 – 2:14 another pan from left, over the water, then to bridge

2:14 – 2:43 sky pan from right to left, really romantic view, great colors**

2:45 – 3:00 zoom in to water under bridge, columns

3:00 – 3:09 zoom out from water under bridge****

3:14 – 3:20 close up of pillars on bridge*

3:24 – 3:42 dancing balloons

3:43 – 4:09 focusing on “D” balloon then panning down

4:09 – 4:43 dancing balloons, pans up

4:44 – 4:57 path on side of river, pedestrian

5:04 – 5:30 pan left with sunlight on bridge to grass and dog on side of river

5:30 – 6:05 zoom in to insignia and pan right

6:06 - zoom out far

6:21 – 6:24 kayaker

6:25 - kayaker under bridge

6:53 – 7:05 kayaker and person on bridge

7:08 – 7:15 kayaker paddles away

7:21 – 7:40 john weeks bridge

7:40 – 7:52 distant shot

7:54 - steeple zoom out, long pan left

8:47 - kayaker in water, zoom out left to bridge to walkway, little slant

9:54 - shadows of dancers, some legs, coming up to show dancers

10:28 - back to shadow

10:43 - nice zoom out, quick***

11:00 - two couples dancing

11:16 – 11:37 dressy couple dancing, nice footwork

11:41 - shoulders and face of dancers

12:05 - nice turn

12:08 – 12:25 full body turns

12:25 – 12:31 full body dancing to end of song

12:38 - couple interweaving dance

13:02 - pan to dressy couple

13:14 – 13:27 dressy couple, cool leg moves, nice footwork****

13:30 - upper body dancing

13:50 – legwork, 2 couples in shot

14:12 - more good fottwork

14:35 - leg move with skirt

14:50 - interview, four dancers in the shot

15:03 - Clifton, zoom in on his face

15:17 - Clifton’s partner speaks, zoom out

15:44 - pan left to dressy man, “if anyone is interested in tango”, talking

16:25 - dressy woman talking, zoom in

17:29 - dressy man talking, “switching partners best way to learn…”

17:40 – 18:06 clifton “don’t know who will be leading…”

18:57 - cliff talking, looks excited

19:38 - dressy man talking

21:12 – movie filmed on bridge*****

22:20 - first dates talk, who is dressed up

23:30 - tango shoes

24:12 - formal wear

24:20 - depends on context – Cliff

25:25 - music starts

25:36 - feet start moving

26:28 - nice footwork with shadows, nice bare shadows***

26:50 – 27:08 same ********

27:15 – 27:23 – great footwork and shadows**

27:30 – 27:38 cliff dancing

28:28 - dressy couple

29:15 – 30:22 boat under bridge***

31:03 - walking track across bridge

31:56 – 32:30 steadier walking track shot, moves faster

32:36 - pan left from bridge

33:11 - shadows on bridge wall

33:35 – 33:40 unfocus to focus

34:36 – 35:32 seeing the steeple through the bridge columns, zoom out***

35:37 – 36:06 zoom out faster, pan left

36:30 - romance shots

37:20 - people approaching, couple, Italian, some dudes

In last night's class, the bridge team had an inspiring interview with Clifton Chow of the Tango Society of Boston. He spoke about how the full moon tango got started, the romance of dancing in the moonlight, and what the bridge means to him now. He also told us about his experience dancing on the bridge on July 4th one year, and volunteered to give us some footage he has from that night to use in the video. Sweet!

Bridge Video Outline:
Brief narration on history of the bridge
Transition with Clifton's description of the movie that inspired tango on the bridge
Bridge is property of State park
Stories of first dates/romance at tango on the bridge (with B-roll of dancers/bridge, boats passing?)
Story of July 4th on bridge (with footage from Clifton)
End with his descriptions of what the bridge means to him now and/or how dancing on the bridge lets the "moonlight lead the way"

Bridge team homework:
Gen and Jackie: reserch history of bridge, call historical society
Sarah, Gen, Jackie: work on ideas for narration at beginning
Sarah: get video of fireworks from Clifton
Juan: find video or stills of the movie "Tango, l'exil de Gardel"
Jackie: type up the log of the footage

Found this shot of the dragon boat festival right near the Weeks Bridge on Flickr.com. The festival itself takes place in June - once again unfortunate for our May deadline. However this photo and others like it are creative commons licensed. For those of you who haven't worked with creative commons before, this license gives non-commercial producers like us the right to use other people's creative works in our productions as long as we give them credit. It's a great tool to keep in mind.

If you want to look for creative commons licensed photos check out Flickr's advanced search page and check the box to search within their pool of creative commons photos. There are also great web resources for creative commons music (a couple of my favorites are opsound and jamendo although there are many more), film (try the internet archive ) and sound effects (at the free sound project ).

see you this weekend!

Greetings,

it was a great first meeting. I'm very enthusiastic about what this group can accomplish. to review:

we talked about various documentary types as well as a brief discussion about distributional on the Web. if you are curious please check it the wikipedia information around vidoblog and google map

we split into two teams and decided on two topics.

Team Mural
http://www.peaceworkmagazine.org/pwork/0399/039904.htm
http://www.cambridgema.gov/~cac/public_art_tour/map_05_private.html

Julie P
Julie J
Karma
Karen

I believe that the current plan is too obtain footage of the mural on Sunday.

Team Bridge
http://www.pbase.com/ez_boston/image/62405438
Sarah
Jackie
Gen
Juan

I believe that the current plan is to obtain footage on Saturday

Homework for all:
1. create an account on the CCTV web site
http://www.cctvcambridge.org/user/register
2. Check out the ZipDocs Blog
http://www.cctvcambridge.org/zipdocs
3. Check out the map
http://www.cctvcambridge.org/mediamap
4. research your topic and post at least one idea to the ZipDocs blog (you must be logged in)

Yes! Finally!...I am happy to announce, I have finished my long version of "Exploring the African American Experience in Cambridge". If you haven't seen the short (6-min) piece that was part of the 'You Are Here" video news magazine, last year aired on an episode around February or March of 2006, than it may not bother you that you missed out. But you will see the full length version coming up in a couple of weeks. It has taken a year to research all the information, and gather pictures and things that were needed for this (57'36-minuite Documentary Lecture), not to mention the numerous editing issues that I had with it, how many times I had to go over it, and so many other things I could talk about, but I won't. The main thing is that it is finally done, and ready to air. read more...

this Wednesday, March 14 at 6:15 PM we will interview the artist, David Fichter. there are some backgrounds in the studio. if anyone has a chance to check them out we should try to get an idea of how to set up the studio for David. I forwarded him the questions that we have already brainstormed.

How would you characterize the community in Central Square at the time you started this project?
What problems did you see? How did you want to help this community thru this mural?
(What effects did you hope the mural would have on the community?)
What community effects have you seen? Do you think that your piece was successful?
What was the experience like working with 50 volunteers?

anything else to add.

after the studio shoot we can walk over to harvest and do that shoot.

Hey all...Just a little info to kickstart us on researching the artist.

David Fichter's website:
http://www.davidfichter.net

Jake, I think you'll be particularly interested in this...He's got a whole section on the process of creating a public mural.

He's got some great photos up of the painting of the mural...Let's ask him for permission (and larger files) so we can include them in the doc, waddya think?

Hey all!

I spoke last night with Garland McQueen, the owner of Harvest Market (the mural's on the outside of the building). Garland said he would be glad to do an interview, and was enthusiastic about our covering the creation of the mural and the positive effects of public art on the community.

Some relevant points from our conversation, re: the interview:
- Harvest Market does NOT own the building.
- The mural was completed before McQueen took ownership of Harvest Market, so he wasn't there for that (bummer)
- He does have, however, a relic from the time of creation, specifically a b&w sketch by the artist given to Harvest Market as a gift; he will bring it to the interview
- McQueen said that many people do indeed come in and comment positively on the mural (a big one we were hoping for...I think that should be a big focus of our interview, talking to him as sort of the collector of commentary over the years) read more...

Subject:
Harvest Market Mural

Purpose of film:
Underscore the positive effect of public art in a community. A subtopic will be to describe the process of getting a large public art project done, as a blueprint for other communities.

Interviews:

--Mario (grew up in community, knows artist, is in mural)
Questions for Mario:
What's unique about growing up in Central Sq?
How would you characterize this community?
How do u feel about the way the community is depicted in the mural?
How did this project affect the community when it was being made?
How does the mural continue to affect the community?
How do you feel about having become a part of this mural?
Describe the experience of participating in the creation of this piece of community art.

--David Fichter (artist)
Questions for David Fichter:
How would you characterize the community in Central Square at the time you started this project? read more...

Greeting everyone! Black history month Who's who?! continues. Recently, I had the oportunity to talk with a dazzling individual and CCTV member, who I feel deserves the opportunity to be recognized for his outstanding perserverence in his life career and life in general. So, the Angel would like to recognize at this time Jacques Fluery, the Haitian Fire Fly for Black history month. I will be interviewing him soon, and uploading the audio to blip.tv soon. You will know about it here first. read more...

It's February...and that means Black History Month!..of course that should be not for just February, but to be acknowledge, on any given occasion that represents the great work that has been established be our anscestors or great outstanding individuals who have contributed to our society, communities, or lives, in any capcity. There are many indigenous individuals past, present and in the near future, who need to be acknowledged, and because most of us take for granted what they may have done, or for whatever reason we overlook them, they remain forgotton, or are never given the credit they deserve. Yes!...Many of us, too, sometimes remain forgotton soldiers of this trodd, and you may wonder why you haven't been acknowledged yourself, why is there a special month for some groups, but not for others. read more...

Everyone, please check their e-mail.

We can meet Mark Ferranti and some former store employees next Wednesday evening at RedBones in Davis Square. I don't know if we'll be able to tape in the restaurant, but it's a chance to meet him face to face and possibly get in touch with his brother in California. Further details are in my e-mail.

I updated our Myspace page so that we have a URL and a photo and sent a message to the Ferranti page.

So, I contacted both the Historical Commission and the Historical Society. The Historical Commission only has a few photos of the storefront--- Pam, did you see these when you looked through their files?

The Historical Society has business records for the store on file, mainly consisting of policies and procedure memos dating from the late 1980's to the present. There are a few building plans detailing the space that they occupied in the building, but the only photographs that they have are sample photographs illustrating different photographic processes that they offered. They also have the sign for Wright & Ditson Sporting Goods, the business that previously occupied the space. Do any of these items sound like they might be useful to us?

The Historical Society does plan to interview Tony as ask him about photographs of the business, although I am not sure when that will be..... probably after we complete this project.......

ZipDockers,

I have obtained equipment and am planning to meet anyone participating in the Harvard Square shoot at 10:45 a.m. in front of the camera store.

see you then!

I just sent out a possible script to everyone's e-mail, please read it through and tell me what you think.

Typed up the letter and sent a copy of to what I believe is Tony's Arlington home address. Also, dropped off a copy at the store. I could not slide it under the door because of the metal grates, so I left it with the owner of the dry cleaners in the basement. He told me he did not know when he would see Tony, as it must be very hard for him to keep coming back to an empty store. He also mentioned that at one point both Tony and his brother were operating the barber shop upstairs, but that they had to close that down when Harvard created a rule that inviduals could not lease more than one space. Thought that was interesting. It might be worth trying to get him on camera..... He has personality and is seems to have some good information. If we just have him talk about Ferranti, and leave out Harvard do you think he might be willing?