Pine Village Preschool Moving Into Old Harvest Co-Op Building on South Street

From groceries to little kids: the old Harvest Co-Op building on South Street will be empty no more come September. Joana Araujo, director of the Pine Village Preschool, confirmed to Jamaica Plain News that the school will be moving its classrooms at the First Baptist Church (633 Centre St.) to a roomier space at the former Harvest Co-Op location at 57 South St. Pine Village Preschool (PVP) is a Spanish Language Immersion school for toddlers and preschoolers with two locations in Jamaica Plain, with the second in St John's Episcopal Church on Revere Street. "Our Mission is to educate and nurture each child’s individuality within a culturally diverse, bilingual community so that every child develops a true passion for learning and an ability to engage in any environment and community," says the school's website. Araujo, originally from the Azores, immigrated to the United Sates 14 years ago.

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Papercuts JP Draws Crowds at Boston Book Festival Saturday

Opened a year ago at 5 Green St., Papercuts JP was prominently displayed Saturday at the seventh annual Boston Book Festival held at Copley Square and adjacent venues. Working in collaboration with Harvard Book Store, Papercuts JP was one of seven metropolitan-area independent booksellers at the Book Festival. Boston proper has only two independent book sellers focusing on new books: Trident on Newbury Street and Papercuts JP. Papercuts JP had a table overflowing with new books at the Boston Common Hotel on the second floor conference room. This summer, Jamaica Plain News spoke to proprietor Kate Layte about her first seven months in business.

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Rear of 46 Dunster St. after a fire on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015.

$300K Damage as Three-Alarm Fire Torches Dunster Road Home

A Fire Department spokesman reported via Twitter that crews responded at 3:30 p.m. Saturday for a report of fire in the rear of the two-family building. Firefighters were able to knock down the blaze. One of the units was vacant and two people who were living in the other unit are staying with family or friends. Fire officials tweeted that the house was at 46 Dunster, but at least one resident Tweeted that the address was actually 38 Dunster Road. [Editor's note: The original post incorrectly listed the home as being on Dunster Street.]

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Sharpening Service In JP

Thought folks would like to know that we have a new sharpening service in Jamaica Plain! The Sharpening Guy is now partnered with Hardware City JP's local ACE Hardware. We're now sharpening Knives-Scissors-Garden Tools and More! Drop off any Day of the week we have fast turn around and if the community supports us The Sharpening Guy will be on location every Saturday! We don't use grinders our method produces a Sharp Edge we Guarantee it or we'll re sharpen!

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Photos: Fourth-Annual Agricultural Fair at the Loring-Greenough House

For the past four years, Bill Perkins of Agricultural Hall, 245 Amory St. at the Brewery complex, has hosted an old-fashioned New England agricultural fair in Jamaica Plain. The last three have been held on the grounds of the Loring-Greenough House - itself originally the hub of an 80-acre farm - and were co-sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club. The Jamaica Plain News wandered over on a beautiful crisp fall Sunday morning to see what the harvest was like.

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Eastern Bank Robbed

A mustachioed and goateed robber knocked over Eastern Bank in busy Centre/South on Tuesday morning. Boston Police report receiving a panic alarm from the 687 Centre St. bank at 10:12 a.m. A bank employee told officers a man walked into the bank and said he wanted to open an account. He tried to pass a note written on a legal-size envelope, but the teller couldn't retrieve it, police report. The man repeatedly told the teller, "Give me what's in your hand, this is a robbery!"

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James’s Gate Has Closed

Pour one out for James's Gate: The Irish pub on South Street has seemingly served the JP community for the final time. According to a sign posted on its doors this afternoon:
Dear faithful patrons,
We regret to inform you James's Gate had to close its doors. Thank you all for all your support over the years. We will miss all and hope to see you around the JP community. Sincerely,
James's Gate staff.

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JP’s Salmagundi Expands to North End

Occasionally Jamaica Plain News leaves the neighborhood and Wednesday we ended up in the North
End...only to discover a bit of Jamaica Plain: Salmagundi for Ladies and Gents at 61 Salem St. Long a fixture at 765 Centre Street, Salmagundi opened on Salem Street in the fall of 2014. Co-owner Jessen Fitzpatrick  was on duty and he told Jamaica Plain News that "we officially moved in August but it took us a while to get the same vibe at this new location that we have in JP. We rotate the sales staff from JP to keep that vibe too," like Rachel Buffer, whom the Jamaica Plain News chatted with at the flagship Centre Street shop. The store is in a perfect location on the edge of the North End, a few steps from the Greenway and a straight line from the bustling new Boston Public Market (a must see!) and the Haymarket Orange Line station; but even more than that it's located next to Lulu's Ice Cream. (almost as good as JP Licks)

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Il Panino Express, an outpost of the Jackson Square and North End pizza and sub shop, plans to open at 172 South St.

Pizza, Prosciutto Sub Powerhouse to Open Satellite South Street Location

Il Panino Cafe & Grill, which expanded from the North End to Jamaica Plain years ago, plans to open a take-out only branch at 172 South St. The restaurant is known for its thin-crust pizza, calzones and subs. Its namesake sub is a Caprese plus prosciutto. Jamaica Plain News has reached out to Il Panino, which anchors the corner of 268 Centre St. in Jackson Square, about timing for the expansion.

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Seven Months On, Papercuts Is Going Strong

Nothing is more heavenly than the scent of freshly baked pastries and books.  Both uplift the soul at the end of Green Street where next door to each other are Blue Frog Bakery and Papercuts JP, Jamaica Plain's newest indie bookstore. Papercuts is owned and managed by Kate Layte, 29, of Forest Hills. She opened the 5 Green St. store on Nov.29, 2014 during Small Business Saturday. "I had a fantastic opening day," she said.

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