Jamaica Plain resident Johnnie Bonnie was charged last month with first-degree murder and several other offenses for a June 29 South End shooting that killed 17-year-old Evens Archer, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Besides the murder charge, Bonnie also faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition...
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JP Agenda, Jan. 16, 2015
The deadline for listings is noon, Tues., Jan. 27 for the Jan. 30 issue. Send listings to reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given. Meetings Rethinking Transit, discussion on possible extension of Green Line to Hyde Square, featuring Stephanie Pollack of Dukakis Center for Urban and...
Nonprofit developers hope to build 40 units on Heath St. parcels
Two nonprofit developers specializing in affordable housing—the Back of the Hill Community Development Corporation (BOTH CDC) and the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC)—presented a draft plan to develop about 40 housing units in a four-story building on City-owned parcels on Heath Street. The two organizations—which previously co-developed the Back of the Hill housing—...
Sights and Sounds, Jan. 16, 2015
The deadline for listings is noon, Tues., Jan. 27 for the Jan. 30 issue. Send listings to reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given. Special Events Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day of service at Franklin Park, Jan. 19, 10am-3pm, meet at the Franklin Park Golf...
JP History: The Boston Public Library in JP
The Boston Public Library (BPL) has been bringing literary joy to Jamaica Plain since 1876, from reading rooms and book depositories, to the first neighborhood branch, to a massive upcoming renovation. The Jamaica Plain Branch began its life in 1876, as a small Reading Room in Curtis Hall at 20 South St., with books...
JP History: This Week in JP History
The Gazette’s top headlines from this week in JP history: 5 years ago: 2010 “JP man charged with New Year’s hate crime” A Jamaica Plain man, Herbert A. Malloy of Weld Hill St., was charged with a hate crime after allegedly attacking a local lesbian couple for holding hands and kissing on Weld Hill...
Green energy firm to pay $4m settlement
Utility company Just Energy, who tried to sign up Jamaica Plain customers in 2010, has agreed to pay $4 million to settle allegations of deceptive marketing. Attorney General Martha Coakley announced last week that Just Energy will pay a total of $4 million, including $3.8 million to an independent trust fund for purposes of...
DCR to study bike lanes in parkway system
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced last month that it will review its parkway system to find locations where bike lanes and improvements could be installed, according to a press release. DCR parkways in Jamaica Plain include the Jamaicaway and the Arborway. Bike lanes were installed and then removed on the...
Teacher announces 2nd City Council run
Dorchester resident and Boston Public Schools teacher Annissa Essaibi George is throwing her hat in the ring for a second time, announcing Dec. 12 that she will be running for an at-large City Council seat in 2015, according to a press release. She finished fifth in 2013, behind Stephen Murphy. The top four receive...
Student population drops by 30%
Jamaica Plain’s student population has dropped by nearly one-third in the past year, according to an annual City census. In fall 2014, JP’s reported student population was 1,168: 637 grad students and 531 undergrads. That means about 3 percent of JP residents are students, though the number is likely to be slightly higher due...
JP minister charged in Ferguson protest
The Jamaica Plain minister who continues to train demonstrators in Ferguson, Mo., is facing charges for his dramatic attempt to head off a police confrontation there. Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou of JP’s First Baptist Church was arrested in late September when he knelt in prayer in front of the Ferguson Police Department as armed...
On the Police Beat, Dec. 7, 2014-Jan. 11, 2015
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. Jan. 11: Hit and run (property), School St.; Roberto Castro of Roxbury and Raul Davila of Boston charged...
Invictacion, Jan. 16, 2015
El plazo para la lista de eventos es el 27 de enero al mediodía para la publicación del 30 de enero. Mande a reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Atención: Marque el 617 antes de los números que salen abajo. Reuniones Comité del medio ambiente, parques y energía de JPNC, agenda se anunciará, 19 enero, 6pm, JFK School, 7...
Editorial: Seeing through the Olympics game
Without a single public meeting, without talking to a single park advocate, a Boston Olympics bid is now moving forward with national momentum behind it and JP and Franklin Park in its sights. We warned you before that the Olympics works like this: placating the public with nonsense until it’s too late. We will...
Letter: Olympics would be a tragedy for common citizens
Who ever heard of discussing an issue after it has been decided? That is what just happened with the Olympics 2024 bid of Boston. Mayor Walsh will pay a steep price in the next election for the administration of the Olympics bid to date. Thanks to the Gazette for again showing exceptional leadership by...
Letter: Franklin Park needs fix-up and maintenance plan
The Healthy Square Committee of the Egleston Square Neighborhood Association wishes to express its thanks to Christine Poff from the Franklin Park Coalition and Marchelle Jacques-Yarde from the Parks Department for spending a recent morning in the northwest corner of Franklin Park with representatives from our committee. (“Franklin Park advocates seek improvements,” Dec. 19.)...
Letter: Thanks to Parks commissioner for park fixes
The Franklin Park Coalition wants to applaud new Parks Commissioner Chris Cook for long-overdue park clean-up projects. The commissioner’s leadership means that the standard use of a beautiful Franklin Park hillside, Scarboro Hill, to store sand, soil, gravel and park debris has ceased. Visit the site! There’s a long view of the golf course...
Letter: South St. Harvest should stay open
The following is an edited version of a letter sent to Harvest Co-op Markets prior to the announcement of its decision to close its South Street store: I am a member of the co-op and value it on many levels. I also understand that one of its primary functions is to make money—and that...
