Special to the Gazette
The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 26, via Zoom. Chair Renee Stacey Welch presided over the session. JPNC members in attendance were vice-chair Bernie Doherty, secretary Michael Reiskind, Willie Mitchell, Sarah Freeman, Danielle Sommer-Kieta, David Baron, Purple Reign, Nick Chaves, Carla-Lisa Caliga, Lorenzo Bartoloni, and Peter DeCotis.
Also on hand were State Rep. Sam Montano and Bonnie Delaune, the Chief of Staff for District 6 City Councilor Ben Weber.
The meeting began with community announcements. Holly DeMelo from the JP Recovery Center at 120 South St. said that the second annual recovery cookout is set for Friday, Sept. 19, from 11-2 at the Shattuck picnic area at Franklin Park. The cookout, which is being held in conjunction with six peer recovery support centers, will feature food, games, music, raffles and more. All are invited.
Dave Baron, the chair of the Zoning Committee, passed along the sad news that longtime Zoning Comm. member and community activist Marie Turley, who was the founding Executive Director of the City of Boston’s Women’s Commission (now the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement) and a dedicated advocate for women who served as former Mayor Tom Menino’s advisor on women’s issues, passed away the week before after a lengthy illness at the age of 76.
“Marie definitely will be missed,” said Baron.
Reiskind presented the report of the Public Service Committee. He said the committee approved a request from the Streetcar package store at 488 Centre St. to upgrade its beer & wine license to an all-alcohol license.
Reiskind said many residents attended the meeting in support of the application. He said the Streetcar has been in business for 13 years with no liquor-law violations and has pledged there will be no sales of mini-bottles or single beers.
Reiskind asked the full JPNC to support the Public Service Comm.’s approval of the application and the vote was a unanimous 10-0.
The Public Service Comm. also heard a request for three separate licenses from a new restaurant, Cafe La Paz, located in the Serenity apartment building at 101 So. Huntington Ave., to serve food all-day with no alcohol from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The restaurant will feature a small patio out front with 16 seats out that will close at 8:00 p.m.
La Paz also is seeking additional licenses for take-out and for entertainment in the form of a projector inside the premises. Reiskind said the committee gave its approval for the trio of licenses.
The full JPNC also endorsed the application for all three licenses by a unanimous vote of 10-0.
The owners of both establishments now must go before the city’s licensing and entertainment boards in order to obtain their licenses.
Reiskind said that the Public Service Comm. preliminarily discussed a proposal for a new French bistro restaurant with hours of 6 a.m.-1 a.m. at 380 Centre St. next door to the Brendan Behan restaurant at 378 Centre St.
However, the proposed bistro’s owner, who owns the building and also is the manager of the Brendan Behan, did not have details about his venture and therefore it was premature for the committee to take a vote.
Reiskind noted that the Orange Line will be shut down on the weekends of Sept. 13-14 and 27-28 with no train service between North Station and Forest Hills for signal upgrades
According to the MBTA’s website, free shuttle buses will operate between Forest Hills and Back Bay, and riders should use the Green Line from Copley and Back Bay to reach Downtown Boston. Commuter Rail service will also be free between Forest Hills, Ruggles, Back Bay, and South Station, and riders should allow for significant extra travel time.
Reiskind also noted that there will be work (to improve accessibility) at the Jackson Square station that will affect that station for the three-day periods of Sept. 17-19 and Sept. 24-26.
According to the MBTA’s website, Forest Hills-bound riders who typically exit at Jackson Square should instead exit at Stony Brook and board an Oak Grove-bound train back to Jackson Square. Forest Hills-bound riders who typically board at Jackson Square should instead board an Oak Grove-bound train at Jackson Square, exit at Roxbury Crossing, and board a Forest Hills-bound train to their destination.
In addition, for the weekend of Sept. 20-21, the station will be closed in both directions. Riders should instead use Bus Route 22 to travel between Roxbury Crossing and Jackson Square. Riders using Bus Route 22 should budget an additional 10 minutes for their trip.
Chaves presented the report of the Parks Committee. He reported that funds have been set aside by the city in the amount of $500,000 for a study of the repair needs of the Jamaica Pond boathouse and bandstand and $50,000 to study the long-term needs of Jamaica Pond.
Chaves also told the committee of the progress being made in conjunction with the Campaign for Jamaica Pond and Olmsted Park to better delineate the pathways for bicyclists and pedestrians (the innermost ring is for pedestrians and the outer ring for bicyclists) in order to ensure the safety of all who use the pond.
He said that the new stenciling on the pathways and signage that have been installed by the city’s Parks Dept. are much larger and more visible than what had existed previously.
The report of the Outreach Committee was presented by Welch. She said that the committee extended the deadline for candidates for the JPNC’s upcoming election to submit their nomination papers to Saturday, August 30.
The JPNC’s biennial election originally had been scheduled for June, but was put over until Saturday, September 20, because of a lack of candidates to fill out the JPNC’s 20 positions (five at-large and five each from Areas A, B, & C).
When it was noted by Doherty that there was a need for a third ombudsperson to monitor the election, Rep. Montano volunteered to be that person.
Volunteers also are needed to man the three polling locations, Centre Food Hub (3702 Washington Street), JP Licks (659 Centre Street), and Stop & Shop (301 Centre Street), from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.=