Boston Shines, the City of Boston’s annual cleanup event, will be held Sat., April 27. Organizations and individuals can volunteer to help spruce up city streets and public spaces. In JP, Boston Shines collaborates with a longtime neighborhood cleanup and is among the most popular local volunteer events. The City or local organizers can...
Blog Archives
JP leaders reflect on Menino’s legacy
Mayor Thomas Menino announced March 28 that he will not run for reelection this year after a record 20 years in office. Menino’s move has left local leaders and residents reflecting on his legacy. “I doubt there’s been a mayor in the whole country who’s done more to advance a neighborhood development agenda than...
JP’s history of mayors
With City Councilor Felix Arroyo joining the mayoral race, there is a chance for Jamaica Plain to be home to a mayor for the first time in nearly 50 years. At least five Boston mayors have hailed from JP, including the legendary James Michael Curley. Here is a list: John Collins (1960-66). Oversaw creation...
Menino’s JP years
Before Thomas Menino was mayor, he was a Hyde Park city councilor whose district long included a large chunk of Jamaica Plain. Councilor Menino’s district included Woodbourne, Forest Hills and the Stonybrook area along Washington Street. Gazette stories from the early 1990s show he had a reputation as a straight-talking, sometimes blunt, politically moderate...
On the Police Beat: March 24 – April 7, 2013
The following crime incident reports are public records provided by the Community Service Office of the District E-13 Police Station, which is solely responsible for their content. All suspects are innocent unless proven guilty in court. April 7: Hit and run (property), 669 Centre St.; assault with dangerous weapon, 2030 Columbus Ave.; vandalism, 180...
JP Tunes: New local music
Jamaica Plain musicians recently released the following albums or singles: Boston Cello Quartet, “Pictures” (self-released). Bostoncelloquartet.com. Gracious Calamity, “Double Indemnity” (Whitehaus Family Record). Graciouscalamity.bandcamp.com. Steph Barrak, “Words to Break Your Heart” (self-released). Stephbarrak.com. JP musicians can notify JP Tunes about new releases at news@jamaicaplaingazette.com.
JPNC-City links seen in early documents
The Gazette has discovered JPNC documents from the 1980s that may bolster its claim in a controversial lawsuit to be a government body. An April 10 court hearing in the dispute concluded without a decision by the judge. The documents include discussion of a contract between the JPNC and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood...
City takes over some Charlestown council duties
The City of Boston has quietly taken over some Charlestown Neighborhood Council (CNC) zoning review duties after a private City Hall meeting with its leaders, the Gazette has learned. The move apparently was triggered by recent lawsuits filed against the council, and the plaintiffs say it bolsters their argument that the CNC—and other neighborhood...
Man shot to death; vehicle sought
By John Ruch and Peter Shanley, Gazette Staff HYDE SQ.—A man was shot to death at 104 Minden St. on March 31, and Boston Police are seeking a dark-colored Ford Flex vehicle seen in the area around the time of the 8:30 p.m. shooting. The victim was Edward Villalona, 25, of Jamaica Plain, according...
No decision on JPNC lawsuit
A Suffolk County Superior Court judge made no decision on a motion to dismiss the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council’s (JPNC) controversial lawsuit at a hearing yesterday afternoon, according to an attorney involved in the case. The attorney declined to speak on the record about what happened in the hearing. No further hearings have been scheduled...