Kelly Rink funds on the horizon

By DAVID TABER August 14, 2008

Wilkerson secures $5.69 million in bond bill

JACKSON SQ.—After years outside in the cold, Friends of Kelly Rink is a step closer to realizing its dream of getting inside in the cold, thanks to the efforts of state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson.

Historic houses face demolition

By JOHN RUCH August 14, 2008

photo by Bernard Gillespie LaRosa Development Corporation has already built foundations for two new houses on Larch Place. LaRosa plans to demolish the 1896-era house standing behind them, as well as a second house on Hyde Park Avenue.

WOODBOURNE—Two century-old houses on Hyde Park Avenue are facing demolition at the hands of Joseph LaRosa, one of the city’s most controversial developers. One house has already been damaged by construction work, according to the Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC).

LaRosa has already started building new houses on an adjacent Larch Place site. Police halted worked on the first house about six months ago because LaRosa appeared to have no building permits, according to neighbor Bernard Gillespie.

Councilors: City breaking nonprofit tax reporting law

By John Ruch August 14, 2008

New institutional land database coming

The City of Boston appears to be violating its own law mandating the reporting of voluntary payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) made by nonprofit institutions, according to City Councilor John Tobin’s office.

JPNC weighs joining an advocacy coalition

By DAVID TABER August 14, 2008

The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) Housing and Development Committee proposed at the council’s July 29 meeting that the JPNC join a formal coalition to advocate for affordable housing in

Cop car hits baby

By JOHN RUCH August 14, 2008

A 1-year-old infant in a stroller was hit by a police car in the Centre Street/Seaverns Avenue crosswalk during the Aug. 7 First Thursday art event, according to the Boston Police Department.

JP History: The Arboretum Mocker

By John Ruch August 14, 2008

JP was home to famously talented bird

Northern mockingbirds can be found all around Jamaica Plain, displaying their famous skill at imitating the songs of other birds. One in Brookside has spent the summer mimicking car alarms.

JP:History: Church safe a treasure trove of local history

By DAVID TABER August 14, 2008

Anti-slavery stand, early fire, silver service included

It was with bated breath that members of the First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain in February of this year confronted a locked safe that had been recovered after the church at the corner of Centre and Myrtle streets burned down in 2005.

Group revived to oppose illegal guns

By DAVID TABER August 13, 2008

JACKSON SQ.—Citizens For Safety, a recently reanimated nonprofit with roots in Jamaica Plain dating back to the 1990s, made a splash July 31, hosting a workshop at the Bromley-Heath housing develop

The Mayors and the Mole

By DAVID TABER August 13, 2008

There was plenty of discussion about what gun regulation advocates consider strong-arm lobbying by the National Rifle Association (NRA) at the July 31 “Traffick Jam” workshop put on by Citizens F