News
Red Cross CEO runs marathon, then helps victims
Jarrett Barrios, the chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts and a Jamaica Plain resident, had his first-ever run of the Boston Marathon halted by the April 15 bombing. Then, despite hurting his leg during the run, he went straight to work with hundreds of other Red Cross volunteers to...
MSPCA: No animals hurt by bombs
The Angell Animal Medical Center did not receive any reports of animal casualties from the Boston Marathon bombing, according to spokesperson Rob Halpin. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), which runs the cutting-edge animal hospital at its 350 S. Huntington Ave. headquarters in Jamaica Plain, also has not received...
JP’s earlier Patriots’ Day crime
The insane crime of bombing the Back Bay’s streets would be horrific at any time. But it was a particularly appalling contrast with the backdrop of the Boston Marathon, the Patriots’ Day holiday and sunny weather. Jamaica Plain has seen that horrific contrast before. Five years ago, on Patriots’ Day 2008, a man was shot to...
JP’s company key to marathon
A Jamaica Plain rental company whose equipment is a crucial part of the Boston Marathon did not suffer any casualties in the bombing. But its gear became part of a gigantic crime scene downtown. All of the grandstands, barricades and other event gear for the Boston Marathon is provided by Interstate Rental Service on...
Peace activist became rescue hero
Carlos Arredondo, a well-known anti-war activist known for his strong ties to Jamaica Plain, rushed to the aid of Boston Marathon bombing victims and became globally famous by appearing in some of the most dramatic news photos of the event. In an exclusive Gazette interview last week, Arredondo talked about the devastating irony of...
Kentucky runner, 21 family members escape bomb
A Kentucky athlete running her first Boston Marathon could have lost her entire, 21-member family in the April 15 bombing after they spent all day near the finish line to cheer her on, leaving only three minutes before the blasts. “All day, they were literally 25 feet, if that far, from where the bomb...
Arkansas rep. backs off ‘cowering’ crack
Arkansas state Rep. Nate Bell, who suggested April 19 on Twitter that Bostonians are “cowering” because they lack assault rifles during the marathon bomber manhunt, and was rebuked by local City Councilor Matt O’Malley, partly apologized for those comments. “I wonder how many Boston liberals spent the night cowering in their homes wishing they...
Candidates apply for mayoral election papers
Fourteen candidates had applied for nomination papers in the race to replace Mayor Thomas Menino at the Gazette deadline, though others have announced their intention to also enter the scrum. Some of those who have announced include state Rep. Martin Walsh, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley and City Councilors John Connolly, Rob Consalvo...
JP Kids: Teens fight for summer job funding
The citywide Youth Jobs Coalition, composed of adult and youth leaders including local organizations Hyde Square Task Force and Teen Empowerment, are once again fighting to fund teen summer jobs. The current proposed state budget cuts funding to support youth jobs with the City from last year’s $9 million to $2 million. That is...