As though on cue, as the sun fell on the evening of July 31, the crickets began chirping in Jamaica Plain for the first time this year—signaling that summer is waning. Right around the same time, another Jamaica Plain insect made the news as mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus were found here, something that...
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JP Observer: JP needs to honor local peace hero
Not many neighborhoods can boast that a Nobel Peace Prize winner was born there—no more than 101 in the world, to be exact; that’s how many people have won the prize since it was established in 1901. Jamaica Plain can make such a claim, but looking around, one wouldn’t know it. Little in the...
JP Observer: Young adults drive the neighborhood
Jamaica Plain is getting younger and younger. Or it seems that way to residents who have lived here for a while. Although JP is diverse in terms of race, ethnic groups and incomes, the truth is that young adults have dominated the neighborhood’s economy and culture for more than 30 years. Nearly one-third of...
JP Observer: BPS needs more ‘pathways’ to boost grad rates
Sit at a desk facing the front of the room with young people roughly your age. Listen. Write things down from time to time. Speak every once in while after you get permission. Move around when told, down a hall to another room that looks pretty much the same, maybe briefly outdoors or to...
JP Observer: JP’s affordable housing is diverse, plentiful
The affordable housing stock of Jamaica Plain is another diverse element of the neighborhood that is home to a well-known mix of races, ethnic groups and income levels. When the words “affordable housing” are used in JP, no specific picture should come to mind, because the housing is so varied. Also, thanks to the...
JP Observer: JP has dozens of ‘arts centers’
Fifteen years ago, Jamaica Plain’s Multicultural Arts Center had to vacate its large, prominent Centre Street space because it was having trouble paying the rent, causing much upset in the community. But no one is complaining about space for the arts in JP now. J.P. Licks later bought the former fire station and has...
JP Observer: Has JP become gentrified?
A lot has been said recently about the characteristics of the people of Jamaica Plain—and often with some passion. Results of the 2010 census came in last year. Whole Foods, with its hip image, moved into a spot occupied for a long time by Hi-Lo Foods, with its Latin flavor. The change gave rise...
JP Observer: Siren noise problem shouldn’t fall on deaf ears
Walking down Centre Street just after New Year’s, I was suddenly assaulted by a sound so loud it felt like someone had jabbed an ice pick in my right ear. I instinctively covered both ears, and I noticed some other pedestrians did the same. We were responding to the siren from an ambulance speeding...
JP Observer: Time to spend—and give—locally
No matter how little or how much money local folks have to spend this special month of December, the best place to do it is here in the neighborhood. Fortunately, many businesses offer merchandise and services at price ranges that match the range of incomes of JP residents. Restaurants beckon to us with food...
JP Observer: Presidential race distracts from local power
Jamaica Plain residents would be smart to pay little or no attention to the U.S. presidential race from now until next September, two months before the election. It will be hard, given the media pressure, but worthwhile. Who gets elected president is obviously important. But it doesn’t make sense for us to give much...