Cheers for (green, blue) white holiday LED lights

We would like to applaud everyone who participated in the Centre/South business district’s “Light Up JP” this season. More than 2,000 feet of LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights were strung in the district as part of a continuing effort by the JP Business and Professional Association (JP BAPA) to green up our main streets and promote buying locally. We also thank everyone who donated money to help defray the cost of the energy-saving lights.

Thanks to Ferris Wheels Bike Shop, Fresh Copy, Fresh Hair, Fiore’s Bakery, JP Centre/South Main Streets and Petal & Leaf on South Street .

On Centre Street: AAA Appliance, Ace Hardware, Boing! JP’s Toy Shop, Boomerangs, City Feed and Supply, Classic Cleaners, Cobwebs, Gadgets, Ghazal Indian Cuisine, JP House of Pizza, JP Licks, JP Seafood Café, Mt. Washington Bank, New Leaf Flores, On Centre, Prudential Unlimited Realty, Purple Cactus, Rhythm & Muse, Sal-magundi, Serene Vibes, Sweet Christopher’s, The Real Deal, Urban Medical, Xposure by Noe’l and Yumont Hard-ware.

On Green Street: Blue Frog Bakery, Jamaica Plain Animal Clinic and Red Sun Press. Other: Gloria Carrigg Photography, Green Epiphany, Just Out Photography and Just Small Jobs.

Regular light bulbs use about nine time more electricity than the LED lights, which were strung on the tops/fronts of the buildings to unite and emphasize the business corridor. JP BAPA installed most of the LED lights in early December. The lights are white but emit a bluish light.

They are expensive, but will last for many years. LED holiday lights are about $1 per running foot. JP BAPA purchased the LEDs at a reduced rate from the Forest Hills Electric. This year’s LEDs are on buildings from Ferris Wheels Bike Shop on South Street to Classic Cleaners on Centre Street. JP BAPA will extend the lights to other businesses next year.

The lights in the South Street Mall are regular lights installed by Jeff Ferris of Ferris Wheels.

JP BAPA would also like to thank the nearly 40 businesses that put out colorful collection cans made and distributed by BAPA members and all the great shoppers who donated money toward the lights. Many cans will be “on location” until mid-January.

JP BAPA is also the organization that produced the annual Dog Parade in conjunction with the JP Centre-South Main Streets before the tree lighting at the Monument on Dec. 6. All business owners are invited to come to our monthly board meetings on the third Wednesday of each month where lunch is served. The next meeting will be Jan. 21 at the Prudential Unlimited Realty office, 673 Centre St. Lunch starts at 12:15 and the meeting is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

We look forward to seeing everyone in the neighborhood patronizing local businesses throughout 2009! Thanks to local business owners and donors for their part in making JP green! For more information about JP BAPA, e-mail [email protected] or stop by Salmagundi, 765 Centre St., where Jessen Fitzpatrick, the vice-president, will be happy to answer questions.

Jude Hutchinson
and Michael Reiskind
For the JP Business and Professional Association
Board of Directors

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