JP Agenda, Dec. 7, 2012

The deadline for listings is noon, Dec. 18 for the Dec. 21 issue. Send listings to [email protected]. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given.

Meetings

District E-13 Police, Latino Monthly meeting, Thurs., Dec. 13, 7pm, Nate Smith House, 155 Lamartine St., Monthly strategic meeting, Thurs., Dec. 20, 7pm, E-13 Police Station, 3345 Washington St. Info: 343-5624.

BRA Corridor Plan meeting, BRA to present first draft of S. Huntington Avenue zoning plan, Wed., Dec. 12, 6:30pm, Hennigan School, 200 Heath St. Info: bostonredevelopmentauthority.org.

Casey Overpass MEPA site visit, Thurs., Dec. 13, 3pm, public meeting, to discuss site visit, 6pm, English High School, 144 McBride St. Info: [email protected].

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council, agenda to include upgrade plan to Bussey Brook area conservation, Tues., Dec. 18, 7pm, First Baptist Church, 633 Centre St. Info: jpnc.org.

JPNC Zoning Committee, agenda tbd, Thurs., Dec. 20, 7pm, Farnsworth House, 90 South St. Info: jpnc.org.

JPNC Public Service Committee, agenda tbd, Tues., Jan. 1, 7pm, Greater Egleston High School, 3134 Washington St. Info: jpnc.org.

Jamaica Pond Association Board of Directors, first Monday of the month, 7pm, Jamaicaway Tower, 111 Perkins St.

Egleston Square Organizations, including JPNDC, the YMCA, 826 Boston, Teen Empowerment, St. Mary of the Angels and more meet at 1pm on the first Tuesday of every month. Info and Egleston Square Events Calendar: eglestonsquare.mainstreets.org.

JP Problem Properties Committee, first Wednesday of the month, 10:30am, E-13 Police Station Community Room, 3347 Washington St. Info: Robert Torres, 722-2060.

Jamaica Hills Association, second Wednesday of every month, 7:30pm, Springhouse, Allandale Rd. Info: jamaicahills.org.

Special Interest

JP Forum: Dec. 7, 7pm: From Guerilla to Grandmother: Politics of Rage and Practical Peace with Katherine Power, how she went from terrorist to fugitive to penintent grandmother. Dec. 14, 7pm: Here comes Walmart… to our neighborhood? First Church UU, 6 Elito St. Info: jamaicaplainforum.org.

Egleston Farmers Market, Saturdays, 11am-2pm, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Hall, 45 Brookside Ave. Info: eglestonfarmersmarket.org.

Nativity Prep School open house, for 4th & 5th graders, Sat. Dec. 15, Sat., Feb. 16, 9:30-11am, 39 Lamartine St. Info: nativityboston.org.

Office Hours

State Rep. Liz Malia, third Friday of each month, 8-9:30am, J.P. Licks, 659 Centre St. Info: 722-2060.

Jullieanne Doherty, JP Coordinator from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, 4th Monday of the month, 2-6pm, JP Branch Library, 12 Sedgwick St.

Youth/Families

Homework help, BPS teachers, Mondays, 4-6pm. High school mentors for K-8, Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm. Connolly Branch Library, 433 Centre St. Info: 522-1960.

Support group for LGBT parents with young children, Wednesdays, 7:30-9pm, Parlor Room, St. John’s Church, 1 Roanoke Ave.  $60 for the series, packages available if both partners are participating.  Info: [email protected].

Boston Area Health Education Center’s High School program, for 10-12 graders interested in health career exploration and job shadowing. Register for a tracking number at bostonyouthzone.com/BYF.

Support Group for Young Parents, a program of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, open to all faiths, for parents with children from birth to one-year, registration not required. Thursdays, 10:30am-noon. Info: 781-647- 5327/[email protected].

Swim League, Boston Center For Youth & Families seeks youth participants seeks youths ages 6-17 for a competitive swim league. Experience not necessary, but participants must be able to swim one length of the swimming pool, Hennigan Community Center, 200 Heath Street. Info: Bladimil Pujols, 635-5198/[email protected].

Sports

Free fit kits, mesh bag filled with sports equipment to play a number of games and activities, sponsored by BCYF. Available at Hennigan Community Center, 200 Heath St. Info: 635-5198.

Health/Fitness

Yoga classes, meditation and stress reduction classes, low cost, some free, English and Spanish, MindBody/Health Promotion Center, 10 Green St. Info: 983-4226.

Community walking club, organized by Faulkner Hospital, all ages welcome. Wednesdays, 2-3pm, through Nov. 14, weather permitting. Meet at Arnold Arboretum’s Hunnewell Building. Info: 983-7451/ [email protected].

Care to Care, a support group for family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, second Wednesdays of the month, 6:30-7:30pm. Springhouse, 44 Allandale St. Info: Meredith Griffiths, 522-0043/[email protected].

Stroke Support Group, last Weds. of every month, 1-2pm, Faulkner Hospital, 1153 Centre St. info: faulknerhospital.org.

Seniors

Senior Center at Curtis Hall now open, with bingo, dominos, movies, gardening, arts & crafts, Monday-Thursday, 12:30-2:30pm. Info: 635-5193.

Crossroads Café, free lunch and social event for seniors and their guests, often featuring live music and educational presentations. Food made with local produce and other healthy ingredients. Bread, produce, milk, and leftovers to take home as available. Saturdays, First Baptist Church, 633 Centre St., 12:30–2pm. Info: 524-3992/[email protected].

Community Cafes, entertainment, good company and a tasty, hot meal, sponsored by Ethos. 3 JP locations: Mon-Fri, 11am-1pm, Farnsworth, 90 South St; Weds.-Fri., 11am-1pm, Soul & Salsa café, Julia Martin House, 90 Bickford St.; Weds. & Fri., 9:30am-1:30pm Nate Smith House, 155 Lamartine St. Reservations required, $2 suggested. Info: 522-6700.

Workshops for Older People Raising Children, support and training for child caregivers where at least one caregiver is over 55 and child is not Department of Children and Families-involved, 10am-12pm, 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 157 Green St; 10am-2pm, 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, Julia Martin House, 90 Bickford St. Info: MSPCC, 983-5850.

LGBT Bereavement Group, a project of Ethos and the LGBT Aging Project, call 522-1292 to find the group closest to you.

Classes

The Eliot School, now enrolling Winter classes. Info: eliotschool.org.

BPD RAD Basic Self-Defense Course for Women, Nov. 26, 28 & Dec. 3, VA Hospital, 150 S Huntington Ave, 6pm-8:30pm.  Info: Elisa Reid, 343-5624.

Study Island, state standards in math, reading, writing, science, and social studies with interactive features and games, Curtis Hall, 20 South St. Info: 635-5193×116.

Foreclosure prevention forum, HUD-approved counseling, sponsored by ESAC. Thurs., Dec. 13, 8pm, Brookside Community Health Center, 3297 Washington St. Info: 524-2555/esacboston.org.

GED Program, GED, beginning to advanced English, Transitions to College classes; plus individual tutoring, computer classes, and college and career readiness advising offered by the JP Community Centers Adult Learning Program. Evenings, English High School, 144 McBride St.; mornings, Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South St. Info: [email protected]/635-5201.

Boston Neighborhood Network Open House, learn about trainings and broadcasting opportunities available through Boston’s cable access station, first and third Thursday of every month, BNN Studio, 3025 Washington St. Info: 708-3224/[email protected].

Spanish-English Language Exchange/Intercambio de Idiomas en Inglés y Español, English speakers can learn Spanish and Spanish speakers can learn English, Saturdays, 11:30am, Connolly Branch Library, 433 Centre St. Info: 522-1960.

Practice speaking English, ESL conversation group for new adult English learners, Mon., Dec. 10 & 17, 6:30pm, Thurs., Dec. 13, 20, 29, 2pm, Connolly Branch Library, 433 Centre St. Info: 522-1960.

Spanish-English Language X-Change/Intercambio de Idiomas Ingles y Español, Thursdays, 6:30pm Jamaica Plain Branch Library, 12 Sedgwick St. info: 524.2053/bpl.org.

Classes at the Arnold Arboretum, arboretum.harvard.edu.

Volunteers

Volunteers to help seniors get around, at least three years of driving experience, a clean record and an insured, registered and inspected car required, about 2 hours per week. Drivers also earn ride credits that can be used for friends or family, or donated to supplement low-income riders’ fares. Info: 508-309-7375/[email protected].

Tutor adults, JP Adult Learning Program seeks volunteers to help students improve their English, pass the GED, gain computer skills, and get into college and career ladders. Minimum two hours a week. Info: [email protected]/635-5201.

Jamaica Plain Ecology Advocates, seeking volunteers for litter cleanups and more. Info: on.fb.me/GKO1em.

Faulkner Hospital, active adults to volunteer at various areas in the hospital, including patient information, the Taiclet Family Center, gift shop and the Retail Therapy Center. Info: 983-7424.

Springhouse Retirement Community, volunteer activities can include reading to a group. Cooking, playing music or calling a bingo game, 44 Allandale St. Info: Jacki Katz [email protected].

The First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain seeks volunteers for the Crossroads Cafe, its Saturday lunch for seniors. Volunteers needed for set-up, cooking, serving, performing, or teaching a subject of interest to seniors. 633 Centre St. Info: 524-3992/[email protected].

Ethos on Amory Street is looking for volunteers in the following areas: friendly visitor, medical escort, shopping assistant, telephone reassurance caller, office assistant, ombusman, money management, internships and other group projects. Info: 477-6623/[email protected].

FriendshipWorks for Elders seeks friendly visitors, medical escorts, pet pals (to visit elderly people with pets), walking partners, and volunteers to provide one-time and short-term assistance. JP chapter volunteers offer friendship and care in English and Spanish. Info: JP chapter, 277-5248/fw4elders.org.

Volunteers Needed to Help Seniors Understand Their Medical Bills, Action for Boston Community Development seeks volunteers for Serving the Health Information Needs of Seniors (SHINE) program. Info: Elaine Cronin, 348-6226. 12-day training qualifies volunteers to staff hotline for seniors with questions about Medicare. A program of Action for Boston Community Development. Info: Emily Shea, 348-6380.

Horizons for Homeless Children, seeks volunteers for its playspace programs at locations throughout the state, including JP. Info: 445-1480.

Boston Partners In Education, seeks volunteers to tutor and mentor BPS students. Info: 451-6145/bostonpartners.org.

Bikes Not Bombs, seeks volunteers and interns to help with administrative work, events-planning and curriculum development. Info: bikesnotbombs.org.

Dare Family Services is recruiting foster parents in JP to provide safe, loving homes for local foster teens that have been abused or neglected, especially ages 10-18. Info: 427-6500/darefamily.org.

American Cancer Society, to drive cancer patients to and from treatment. Info: 800-227-2345/cancer.org.

Friends of Jamaica Pond seeks volunteers, Info: friendsofjamaicapond.org/524-7070.

826 Boston Writing Program, Egleston-based program has oodles of opportunities for volunteers to work with BPS students. Info: 826boston.com.

Jumpstart Community Corps, seeks volunteers (ages 55+) to work one-to-one with preschool children in Boston neighborhoods including JP. Volunteers serve 6 hours a week during the school year. Comprehensive training and $800 stipend provided. Info: Katharine Gamer, 542-5867 x515.

Public Notices

Toy & gift collection, for The Home for Little Wanderers’ Big Wishes gift drive, donations accepted through Dec. 10 at the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office, 713 Centre St.

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council, now accepting applications for members to fulfill remaining time on current term through Sept. 2013. Info: jpnc.org.

Jamaica Plain Branch Library will be closed through Mon., Dec. 3, 10am, for electrical work.

The JP Unitarian Church Food pantry now open, 11am-noon, 6 Eliot St. Info: 524-1634.

Boston Bikes subsidized Hubway memberships, $5 annual Hubway memberships to low income Boston residents who qualify. Info: 918-4458 or 534-5690 (non-English).

Borrow Laptops, every Boston Public Library branch has laptops available for library cardholders to borrow for up to 2 hours of in-library use.

Street Sweeping, City of Boston and state Department of Conservation and Recreation programs, Info/Schedules: Boston, cityofboston.gov/publicworks/sweeping/; DCR, mass.gov/dcr/sweep.htm.

Former Employer Contesting Your Unemployment Claim? Harvard Legal Aid bureau student attorneys may be able to represent you at your hearing. Spanish, Portuguese, Creole support available. Info: 495-4408.

Pay by Plate, a new option is available for Boston parking ticket payment on the City of Boston’s website, cityofboston.gov.

Large Apt. Building Recycling, if you are a Boston resident living in an apt. bldg. with 6+ units, have your landlord call 635-4959 to set up recycling.

Leaf collection, on recycling day, tie branches with string, 3’ maximum length, 1” max diameter. Do not put branches in barrels.  Place leaves and yard debris in large paper leaf bags or open barrels labeled “yard waste.” No plastic bags. Info: 635-4500.