The deadline for JP Agenda listings is noon, April 24 for the April 27 issue. Send listings to [email protected]. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.

Meetings

BPS school choice community meeting, Fri., April 13, 4:30-6pm, Hennigan Elementary School, 200 Heath St. Info: 635-6771.

JPNC Housing and Development Committee, Tues., April 17, 7pm, Bowditch School, 82 Green St. Info: jpnc.org.

JPNC Zoning Committee, April 26, to discuss 29 Brookside Ave., 41 Amory St. May 10, 24. Curtis Hall, 7pm, Curtis Hall, 20 South St. Info: [email protected].

Casey Arborway Design Advisory Group, Mon., April 30 and Wed., May 16, 6-8:30pm, State Lab, 305 South St. Info: 973-7342/[email protected].

JPNC Public Service Committee, May 1, 7pm, Curtis Hall, 20 South St.

Jackson Sq. CAC, Wed. May 9, Amory community room, 20 Amory Ave. Agenda forthcoming. Info: [email protected].

JP Problem Properties Committee, normally first Wednesday of the month, 10:30am, E-13 Police Station Community Room, 3347 Washington St. Info: Robert Torres 722-2060.

JPNC Parks and Open Space Committee, normally third Thursday of the month, 6:30pm, JP Licks, 659 Centre St. Info: [email protected].

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council, normally the last Tuesday of the month, 7pm, Curtis Hall, 20 South St. Info: jpnc.org.

Jamaica Pond Association Board of Directors, first Monday of the month, 7pm, Jamaicaway Tower, 111 Perkins St.

Egleston Square Organizations, including JPNDC, the YMCA, 826 Boston, Teen Empowerment, St. Mary of the Angels and more meet at 1pm on the first Tuesday of every month. Info and Egleston Square Events Calendar: eglestonsquare.mainstreets.org.

Jamaica Hills Association, second Wednesday of every month, 7:30pm, Springhouse, Allandale Rd. Info: jamaicahills.org.

Special Interest

Arborway Committee Annual Meeting, elections for board members & officers. Mon., April 30, 6:30pm. Loring-Greenough House, 12 South St. Info: [email protected].

Urban Edge’s 38th Anniversary Celebration & annual meeting, celebrate the Endurance and Evolution of Urban Edge in a big tent, Thurs., May 3, 5:30-8:30pm, 1542 Columbus Ave., $85, $25 for Urban Edge residents. Info: 989-9306/urbanedge.org.

JP Spring Clean Up, coinciding with Boston Shines!, coordinated by Neighborhood Services Coordinator Jullieanne Doherty. Sat., April 28, 9am-2pm. Tools to be provided by the City. Info: 522-1150/635-4855.

Leland St. Garden open house, no plots, no membership fees. Sat., April 21, 10am-3pm. Info: [email protected].

Community Garden work day, Spontaneous Celebrations, 45 Danforth St. Sat. April 14, 10am-2pm, rain or shine. Info: 607-379-9942/[email protected].

JP Spring Fling Clothing Swap, $12-$15, proceeds benefit First Church, leftover clothing will be donated to Goodwill. Sat. April 14, 1-4pm, First Church, 6 Eliot St. Info: firstchurchjp.org.

JP Forum: April 18, 7-9pm: Darkening the Doorways: Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed on African Americans in the UU Church. April 26, 7-9pm: Wealth Inequality: The Gilded Road to Ruin? Chuck Collins & journalist Linda McQuaig explore the impact of the growing wealth gap, and suggest ways to reverse the increase in economic inequality. May 24: Can the Earth Survive Capitalism?  Reading & Discussion with Peter Barnes. First Church in Jamaica Plain, UU, 6 Eliot St. Info: jamaicaplainforum.org.

Occupy JP General Assembly, Sundays, 6pm, Farnsworth House, 90 South St. Info: occupyjp.org.

Office Hours

Congressman Mike Capuano, members of Capuano’s staff, fourth Tuesday of each month, 4-5pm, Ula Café, 284 Amory St. Info: 621-6208.

State Rep. Liz Malia, third Friday of each month, 8-9:30am, J.P. Licks, 659 Centre St. Info: 722-2060.

City Councilor Matt O’Malley, Fri., April 13, 8-9am, JP Licks, 659 Centre St. Info: 635-4220.

Jullieanne Doherty, JP Coordinator from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, 4th Monday of the month, 2-6pm, JP Branch Library, 12 Sedgwick St.

Youth/Families

College Prep Program, Upward Bound currently accepting applications for college preparation programs, including MCAS English, Math and Science prep, SATs. Application deadline is April 15. Info: bu.edu.ub.

Boston Centers for Youth and Family (BCYF) open house, learn about programs & activities. Wed. April 18, 4-7pm. Info: 635-4920.

KidsArts! affordable vacation & summer camp for children in grades K2-5. Info: 524-0818/[email protected].

Boston Area Health Education Center’s High School program, for 10-12 graders interested in health career exploration and job shadowing. Register for a tracking number at www.bostonyouthzone.com/BYF.

Free youth fitness assessment, for kids 10-18. Participants will be guided through several simple fitness assessments by a fitness coach. Sat., May 12, 10am-noon, 3134 Washington St. Info: [email protected].

Support Group for Young Parents, a program of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, open to all faiths, for parents with children from birth to one-year, registration not required. Thursdays, 10:30am-noon. Info: 781-647- 5327/[email protected].

Swim League, Boston Center For Youth & Families seeks youth participants seeks youths ages 6-17 for a competitive swim league. Experience not necessary, but participants must be able to swim one length of the swimming pool, Hennigan Community Center, 200 Heath Street. Info: Bladimil Pujols, 635-5198/[email protected].

Sports

Free fishing gear & bait, children under 15 fish for free, older teens & adults need a state fishing license. April 19-20, 10am-noon, JP Pond. Info: 1.usa.gov/MAfish.

JP Children’s Soccer spring season, for kids 3.5-6.5. Season begins April 25, ends June 26 at Jamaica Pond/Pinebanks Field. Practices are held Wednesdays & Thursdays, 4pm, & Saturday, 9am, 10am & 11am. Registration through April 13, $25. Info: jpchildrenssoccer.squarespace.com /[email protected].

Weekly Bike Rides, Community Rides (Beginners), Saturdays, 8:30am; Mountain Bike Rides (Intermediate), Sundays, 4pm; Paceline/Roadtraining Rides, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7am, leaving from Ferris Wheels Bike Shop, 66 South St. Info: 524-2453.

Health/Fitness

Community walking club, organized by Faulkner Hospital, all ages welcome. Wednesdays, 2-3pm, through Nov. 14, weather permitting. Meet at Arnold Arboretum’s Hunnewell Building. Info: 983-7451/ [email protected].

Breast/ Ovarian Health community workshop, hosted by state Rep. Jeff Sánchez. Wed., May 2, 6-8pm, Curtis Hall, 20 South St. Info: brightpink.org.

Insomnia and Sleep Disorders in the Elderly, breakfast lecture for nurses, presented by Dr. Milena Pavlova. Wed., May 2, 8:30-9:30am, Springhouse, 44-46 Allandale St. Info: 971-1678.

Care to Care, a support group for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, second Wednesdays of the month, 6:30-7:30pm. Springhouse, 44 Allandale St. Info: Meredith Griffiths, 522-0043/[email protected].

Stroke Support Group, last Weds. of every month, 1-2pm, Faulkner Hospital 1153 Centre St. info: www.faulknerhospital.org.

Meditations of Natural Wisdom and Love/Compassion, taught by a Foundation For Active Compassion meditation teacher, with Q & A, third and fourth Saturday of each month, Omega Theater, 41 Greenough, upstairs, 10am-noon. Donations welcome. Info: [email protected].

Overeaters Anonymous, No weigh-ins, dues or fees. Newcomer friendly group, Wednesdays, 4-5pm, Farnsworth House 1st Flr. Library, 90 South St. (on-street parking only). Info: Kristen, 857-244-1664/oa.org.

Free Nicotine Patches, the Boston Public Health Commission is offering Boston residents free nicotine patches to help them quit smoking. Residents who are 18 and older can call 1-800-784-8669.

Al-Anon, are you troubled by someone else’s drinking? Newcomer friendly group, Fridays., 8-9:30pm, Faulkner Hospital 2nd Flr. Atrium Conference Room, 1153 Centre St. (validation for free parking in garage behind hospital); Al-Anon Women’s Meeting, Tuesdays 7-8:30pm,  Hope Church, Seaverns Avenue and Elm Street. Use the back door. Info: ma-al-anon-alateen.org.

Faulkner Hospital Stroke Support Group, meets first Wednesday of every month, 2-3:30pm Faulkner Hospital, Atrium 2, 1153 Centre St. Info: faulknerhospital.org.

LGBT Caregiver Support Group, join other caregivers for refreshments and discussion in a relaxed, confidential setting. Please contact group leader for times in Boston. Info: Joanne Peskowitz, 271-4182.

Seniors

 

Crossroads Café, free lunch and social event for seniors and their guests, often featuring live music and educational presentations. Food made with local produce and other healthy ingredients. Bread, produce, milk, and leftovers to take home as available. Saturdays, First Baptist Church, 633 Centre St., 12:30–2pm. Info: 524-3992/[email protected].

Second Retired group, forming for coffee & conversation in local coffeehouse. Info: 983-0275.

Community Cafes, entertainment, good company and a tasty, hot meal, sponsored by Ethos. 3 JP locations: Mon-Fri, 11am-1pm, Farnsworth, 90 South St; Weds.-Fri., 11am-1pm, Soul & Salsa café, Julia Martin House, 90 Bickford St.; Weds. & Fri., 9:30am-1:30pm Nate Smith House, 155 Lamartine St. Reservations required, $2 suggested. Info: 522-6700.

Workshops for Older People Raising Children, support and training for child caregivers where at least one caregiver is over 55 and child is not Department of Children and Families-involved, 10am-12pm, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 157 Green St; 10am-2pm, 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, Julia Martin House, 90 Bickford St. Info: MSPCC, 983-5850.

LGBT Bereavement Group, a project of Ethos and the LGBT Aging Project, call 522-1292 to find the group closest to you.

Classes

99% Spring Training, training to prepare activists to tell the story of what happened to our economy and take action, supported by JP Forum. Fri., April 13, 7-9pm. Info: [email protected].

Buddhist meditation classes, Thurs., April 19, May 10-June 21, 7-8:30pm, $5-$10. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 7 Revere St. Info: MeditationInBoston.org/508-979-8277.

ToLabor Doula Training, May 18-20. Info: tolabor.org/ [email protected].

GED Program, GED, pre-GED, beginning and advanced ESOL classes, individual tutoring, computer-assisted learning and college and career readiness offered by the JP Community centers Adult Learning Program. Classes: evenings, English High School, 144 McBride St.; mornings, Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South St. Info/Registration: 635-5201/[email protected].

Boston Neighborhood Network Open House, learn about trainings and broadcasting opportunities available through Boston’s cable access station, first and third Thursday of every month, BNN Studio, 3025 Washington St. Info: 708-3224/[email protected].

Spanish-English Language Exchange/Intercambio de Idiomas en Inglés y Español, English speakers can learn Spanish and Spanish speakers can learn English, Saturdays, 11:30am, Connolly Branch Library, 433 Centre St. Info: 522-1960.

Practice speaking English, ESL conversation group for new adult English learners. Connolly Branch Library, 433 Centre St. Info: 522-1960.

Spanish-English Language X-Change/Intercambio de Idiomas Ingles y Español, Thursdays, 6:30pm Jamaica Plain Branch Library, 12 Sedgwick St. info: 524.2053/bpl.org.

The Center of Light, offers workshops and opportunities for prayer and meditation, 200 Amory St. Info: centersoflight.org.

Classes at the Arnold Arboretum, arboretum.harvard.edu.

Volunteers

Tutor adults, JP Adult Learning Program seeks volunteers to help students toward their GED or learning English as a second language, two hours a week. Info: [email protected]/635-5201.

PetPals, a program of FriendshipWorks, is a pet visitation program that recruits, screens and trains volunteers with dogs to visit long-term care facilities in the Boston area. Info: 482-1510/[email protected].

Jamaica Plain Ecology Advocates, seeking volunteers for litter cleanups and more. Info: on.fb.me/GKO1em.

Volunteer coaches needed for JP Regan Youth League, baseball and softball for boys and girls ages 5-15. Knowledge of baseball/softball and experience with children preferred. League provides orientation and support. info: 983-1563/[email protected].

Faulkner Hospital, active adults to volunteer at various areas in the hospital, including Patient Information, the Taiclet Family Center and the Retail Therapy Center. Info: 983-7424.

Springhouse Retirement Community, volunteer activities can include reading to a group. Cooking, playing music or calling a bingo game, 44 Allandale St. Info: Jacki Katz [email protected].

Boston Teachers Union Pilot School, seeks volunteers to tutor middle school students in math, one-on-one or in small groups, Mon., and/or Weds. afternoons, 3-4:30pm. Info: David Weinstein, [email protected].

Faulkner Hospital seeks volunteers to staff its gift shop. Gift shop hours, 9:30am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri. Training provided. 1153 Centre St. Info: 983-7424.

The First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain seeks volunteers for the Crossroads Cafe, its Saturday lunch for seniors. Volunteers needed for set-up, cooking, serving, performing, or teaching a subject of interest to seniors. 633 Centre St. Info: 524-3992/[email protected].

Ethos on Amory Street is looking for volunteers in the following areas: friendly visitor, medical escort, shopping assistant, telephone reassurance caller, office assistant, ombusman, money management, internships and other group projects. Info: 477-6623/[email protected].

FriendshipWorks for Elders seeks friendly visitors, medical escorts, pet pals (to visit elderly people with pets), walking partners, and volunteers to provide one-time and short-term assistance. JP chapter volunteers offer friendship and care in English and Spanish. Info: JP chapter, 277-5248/fw4elders.org.

Volunteers Needed to Help Seniors Understand Their Medical Bills, Action for Boston Community Development seeks volunteers for Serving the Health Information Needs of Seniors (SHINE) program. Info: Elaine Cronin, 348-6226.

Horizons for Homeless Children, seeks volunteers for its playspace programs at locations throughout the state, including JP. Info: 445-1480.

Boston Partners In Education, seeks volunteers to tutor and mentor BPS students. Info: 451-6145/bostonpartners.org.

Bikes Not Bombs, seeks volunteers and interns to help with administrative work, events-planning and curriculum development. Info: bikesnotbombs.org.

Dare Family Services is recruiting foster parents in JP to provide safe, loving homes for local foster teens that have been abused or neglected, especially ages 10-18. Info: 427-6500/darefamily.org.

Local Residents Needed, to drive cancer patients to and from treatment. Info: American Cancer Society, 800-227-2345/cancer.org.

Help Seniors Navigate the Complicated World of Healthcare, 12-day training qualifies volunteers to staff hotline for seniors with questions about Medicare. A program of Action for Boston Community Development. Info: Emily Shea, 348-6380.

Friends of Jamaica Pond seeks volunteers, Info: friendsofjamaicapond.org/524-7070.

826 Boston Writing Program, Egleston-based program has oodles of opportunities for volunteers to work with BPS students. Info: 826boston.com.

Jumpstart Community Corps., seeks volunteers (ages 55+) to work one-to-one with preschool children in Boston neighborhoods including JP. Volunteers serve 6 hours a week during the school year. Comprehensive training and $800 stipend provided. Info: Katharine Gamer, 542-5867 x515.

Public Notices

Borrow Laptops, every Boston Public Library branch has laptops available for library cardholders to borrow for up to 2 hours of in-library use.

Street Sweeping, City of Boston and state Department of Conservation and Recreation programs, Info/Schedules: Boston, cityofboston.gov/publicworks/sweeping/; DCR, mass.gov/dcr/sweep.htm.

Boylston Congregational Church Thrift Store, open first Saturday of each month, 10am-2pm, Boylston Congregational Church, 207 Amory St.

Former Employer Contesting Your Unemployment Claim? Harvard Legal Aid bureau student attorneys may be able to represent you at your hearing. Spanish, Portuguese, Creole support available. Info: 495-4408.

Pay by Plate, a new option is available for Boston parking ticket payment on the City of Boston’s website, cityofboston.gov.

Donate Gently Used Blankets to the Elizabeth Stone House, for the women and children being served at its domestic violence shelter and transitional housing program. Info: Amanda Green: 427-9801.

Large Apt. Building Recycling, if you are a Boston resident living in an apt. bldg. with 6+ units, have your landlord call 635-4959 to set up recycling.