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Local online venture links community to nonprofits
A Jamaica Plain-based online fundraising platform called Social Seam has been created to link local nonprofits, donors and businesses. “The goal is for Social Seam to become a useful tool for communities,” Jason Baguio, the website creator, said in an email to the Gazette. “That it helps members and supporters of a community to...
Domino’s pulls out of JP again
Keeping the streak alive, Domino’s has yet again given up a potential Jamaica Plain location. The latest proposal, aimed at opening a Domino’s franchise at 3203-3213 Washington St. in Egleston Square, was originally scheduled to appear before the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) in December before potential franchisee Robert Rivard asked to postpone the...
Birdwatcher aims to boost Latino interest in hobby
When Isabel Mendez retired, she returned to a hobby she had picked up during college: birdwatching. But she encountered a lack of Spanish-language literature as she researched the study of birds. Mendez is now attempting to rectify that problem through a project that targets the Latino population of the city, including creating Spanish-language literature....
O’Malley talks Casey, dog parks at town hall
City Councilor Matt O’Malley, who represents and lives in Jamaica Plain, outlined his achievements and plans for the upcoming year in his fourth annual “Town Hall” meeting, held March 26 at Arnold Arborteum. O’Malley said his “best role” in the Casey Overpass demolition and Casey Arborway construction project is to disseminate information and encourage...
On the Police Beat, March 23-April 6, 2014
The following police 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 6: Larceny shoplifting, 704 Centre St.; larceny from vehicle, 665 Centre St.; threats, 31 St. Rose St....
Editorial: Our Boston Marathon
“Explosions injure dozens at Boston Marathon; many JPers in race.” So read the headline that Gazette reporters, still in shock, wrote atop a breaking news story on the afternoon of April 15, 2013. For nearly four days, the news only got worse. JP’s Faulkner Hospital filled with victims of the maniacal bombings. Nearly everyone...
Editorial: Organizing Forest Hills
Rumblings about a special Forest Hills committee for the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council and a new neighborhood association forming around Wachusett Street are different expressions of a similar truth. The Forest Hills/Woodbourne area is JP’s hot new epicenter of development and gentrification. It is also by far JP’s least politically organized sub-neighborhood. That is...
DA gives funds to JP group
Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley last month delivered thousands of dollars seized from drug traffickers to a Jamaica Plain organization dedicated to reducing gun violence in Boston. As part of his annual Asset Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program, Conley visited Citizens for Safety to present staff members with a check for $5,000 earmarked...
Invitación, April 11, 2014
La entrega para la lista de Invitación es al mediodía, el 22 de abril para la publicación del 25 de abril. Manda a reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Atención: Marca el 617 antes de los números que salen abajo. Reuniones Stonybrook Neighborhood Association, lunes, 14 abril, 7-9pm, en la trastienda de Doyle’s, 3484 Washington St. Info: www.sna-jp.org JPNC...
Ecotone Magazine celebrates short story book publication
Doyle’s Café at 3484 Washington St. will host a party to celebrate the publication of “Astoria to Zion: Twenty-Six Stories of Risk and Abandon” from Ecotone Magazine’s First Decade on April 8. Featured storytellers will include award-winning Boston writer Steve Almond, as well as Bill Roorbach, author of “Life Among Giants,” and Matthew Neill...
T to demolish 500 Arborway building
FOREST HILLS—The MBTA will issue a “site preparation” contract this summer for the Arborway Yard that includes demolishing the now vacant 500 Arborway office building. But the full reasons and funding for the work remain mysterious, as it is preparation for building a still unfunded $200 million bus maintenance facility—a plan that has stalled...
Zoo to build ‘learning playground’
Franklin Park Zoo announced last week plans to replace its children’s zoo section with a $6.6 million “learning playground” project called “Nature’s Neighborhoods.” The “nature-based educational exhibit for children,” as described by Zoo New England’s Vice President for Development Suzanne Thompkins, will compare various ecosystems to neighborhoods. Grasslands, woodlands and wetlands will form the...
Forum brings state candidates to JP
Following its successful governor candidate forums last fall, the JP Progressives recently brought to JP several Democratic state office-seekers for lieutenant governor, attorney general and treasurer. At a March 19 forum at Doyle’s Cafe, attorney general (AG) candidate and former Jamaica Plain resident Maura Healey spoke about her experience fighting for equality in the...
Zoo a construir un ‘patio de aprendizaje’
Franklin Park Zoo anunció la semana pasada su plan de sustituir la sección del zoológico para niños por un ‘patio de aprendizaje’ llamado “Nature’s Neighborhoods” valorado en $6.6 millones. La vicepresidente de desarrollo del zoo, Suzanne Thompkins, la describió como “una exhibición educativa para niños basada en la naturaleza.” Comparará varios ecosistemas con vecindarios....
State rep. to lead AIDS Action Committee
State Rep. Carl Sciortino will be the new executive director of Jamaica Plain-based AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, and will resign from office April 4 to take the job, the nonprofit announced March 25. Sciortino is openly gay and is living with HIV, he said in a press release. He takes over for Rebecca...
Egleston Sq. Main Street hires new executive director
Egleston Square Main Street (ESMS), a business promotion organization, has hired Luis Edgardo Cotto as its new executive director, according to a press release. Cotto will take over March 31 from interim Executive Director Giovanna Tapia, who in turn replaced Betsy Cowan when she left last fall to join the City’s Department of Neighborhood...
First Thursday relaunches with new art, reduced schedule
CENTRE/SOUTH—Centre/South Main Streets’ (CSMS) flagship event, the monthly neighborhood art walk First Thursday, has been retooled with a new April-to-October schedule in a more structured format. Held on the First Thursday of each month, the evening event features art exhibits in local businesses along with live entertainment. In recent years, it has been a...
JP has new police captain
Jamaica Plain has a new police commander who grew up in the neighborhood. Capt. Alfredo Andres took over for Capt. Paul Russell earlier this year at District E-13 Police Station, which is located at 3345 Washington St. Andres was not immediately available for an interview. According to Boston Police Department (BPD) spokesperson Sgt. Mike...
JP Observer: Commissioner search launches new City focus on arts
When the mayoral candidates, including now-Mayor Marty Walsh, touted the importance of arts during the campaign last fall, the rhetoric was refreshing for people and organizations in Jamaica Plain. Many of our residents work in the arts. The neighborhood is home to myriad musical, literary, visual and other arts events, venues and educational programs....
Legal clinic offers free workshops in basic law
A Harvard Law School clinic in Jamaica Plain is offering free workshops in basic law tomorrow. The Legal Services Center (LSC) at 122 Boylston St. offers low-cost legal services that cover a wide range of civil services, like divorce, representation for veterans and suing predatory lenders. The LSC will be holding its Second Annual...
MassDOT pushes for Shea Sq. design
The state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is continuing to push for replacing Shea Circle with a signalized intersection as part of its Casey Arborway project, according to a letter obtained by the Gazette. MassDOT is negotiating with the Massachusetts Historic Commission (MHC) about the final design for the historic traffic rotary at the Arborway...