Monthly Archives: December 2011
JP activists secure transgender rights
With plenty of help from Jamaica Plain politicians and advocates—a new state law protecting transgender peoples’ rights was passed this month. The bill was co-sponsored in the Senate by state Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz, and it received crucial behind-the-scenes support in the House from state Rep. Liz Malia, advocates said. Prominent among those advocates were...
Hernandez School suffers deaths of 2 leaders
Muñiz, Larson pass in same week The Rafael Hernandez School in Egleston Square suffered a double blow in last month with the deaths of its longtime principal and assistant principal Margarita Muñiz and Ken Larson. Muñiz, who died Nov. 18 after a long battle with cancer, was nationally renowned for her nearly 30...
JPNC names new members
Four of the five remaining vacancies on the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) were filled at its Nov. 29 meeting at Curtis Hall. Cooper Renfro, Alex Rodriguez and Erin Colgan-Snyder from Area B and Courtney Snegroff from Area A were appointed by the 15 council members. One remaining vacancy in Area A remains open....
Occupy JP to hold ‘Hard Times’ march
Occupy JP will hold its first public event on Dec. 4: a Centre Street march called the “Economic Hard Times Tour of JP.” The march, which begins at 1 p.m. in Monument Square, will involve handing out informational leaflets about budget cuts to social services and how they impact Jamaica Plain, said Occupy JP...
Neighbors still pushing for McBride St. project changes
STONYBROOK—Disagreement between neighbors and developers of a project at McBride and Washington streets continues amid a lack of Impact Advisory Group (IAG) meetings. Neighbors to the site, currently occupied by the Flanagan & Seaton Motor Car Company at 3529 Washington St., have asked developers for reduced parking, along with other concessions to promote a...
JPNC tries new Whole Foods strategy
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) once again took up the thorny issue of Whole Foods at a Nov. 21 meeting of the revamped Whole Foods Negotiating Committee. The group hopes to look at gentrification in Hyde Square, where Whole Foods recently opened a store, and reestablish communication with the grocer. But a community benefits...
Whole Foods offers Goya, car charger
During a Nov. 23 visit to the recently opened Whole Foods store at 413 Centre St., the Gazette observed indications that Whole Foods is trying to influence the type of traffic it gets. In the rear of the parking lot are an electric car charging and bicycle repair stations. The latter is a set...