Curtis Hall Community Center Gym Closed Jan. 30 to March 2

The Curtis Hall Community Center's gym will be closed from Jan. 30, to March 2, for floor refinishing, painting, and more thanks to the Boston Celtics and TD Bank, according to boston.gov.

The full work includes:

Gym floor work/refurbishing (repairs, sanding, coating, lines/logos/designs, finish sealing)

Wall painting and repairs on both lower and upper walls

Wall graphics on select areas

Repairs to all 4 backboard/hoops with the possible addition of 2 side backboard to increase playing capacity (should budget allow)

Gym users can check the BCYF boston.gov registration page to find where their program has moved due to the closure. Nearly all BCYF Curtis Hall gym programming has been relocated to other BCYF centers during the gym closure. Other areas of the building are not affected.  

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A scene from the South Street Parade at Wake Up The Earth 2015

Wake Up The Earth Festival & Parades on May 7

The beloved Wake Up The Earth Festival & Parade will be on May 7, and you'll have three places to join a parade, as they come together at Stony Brook. Parades will gather at 10:30 am. If you're interested in joining the parade, and everyone is welcome, please email Zafiro at wute22parade@gmail.com.  The trio of parades will start at Curtis Hall, the Curley K-8 School, and the Egleston Square YMCA. Parades will meet at Jackson Square and then continue together down Lamartine Street to begin the festival at Stony Brook, which starts officially at noon, and goes to 6 pm. The festival includes musical performances, food vendors, a local farm selling seedlings, lots of local organizations with information tables, a kids musical play area, and more.

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Curtis Hall Community Center Pool Reopening September 2

The Curtis Hall Pool will be one of four indoor city pools reopening to the public starting Sept. 2. "As we head towards the end of summer, I am pleased we are able to open up indoor swimming options for our residents," said Mayor Marty Walsh. "[Boston Centers for Youth and Family] has spent a lot of time making sure that safety protocols are in place so that we can open these additional recreational facilities within the current COVID-19 guidelines. I encourage residents to take advantage of these options and continue to take all the precautions: wearing face coverings when out, keeping your distance from others, and washing your hands."

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Support Local Children in Need by Donating to Cradles for Crayons; Curtis Hall Drop-off

Cradles to Crayons is partnering with Boston Centers for Youth & Families and Boston Children’s Museum to call on Boston residents to participate in a city-wide collection of children’s essentials. As communities take on spring cleaning and clear out their closets this season, the Boston-based nonprofit asks to keep the collection in mind and donate any new and gently used clothing, shoes, books, and small toys at one of the participating drop-off points throughout the city. The drive will culminate in the fun, hands-on Boston Collect & Sort volunteer event at Boston’s Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology Auditorium on May 4. Collections are ongoing through May 3 at the following drop-off locations:
BCYF Curtis Hall Community Center – Jamaica Plain
20 South St. Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

BCYF Roche Community Center – West Roxbury
1716 Centre St.

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Thread Ensemble Performs INTERACTION

Thread Ensemble performs a day of interactive, free, public performances throughout Jamaica Plain, featuring a moving musical feast of pieces improvised by vibraphone and violins. Thread Ensemble will give five performances in public spaces throughout Jamaica Plain in the course of one afternoon, culminating in an early evening concert on the lawn of the Eliot School. In each performance spot, Thread Ensemble will draw in passersby by inviting them to participate in the creation of new music. In between performances, Thread will roll the vibraphone from place to place and travel with the two violins, filling outdoor spaces with music. Venues: Arnold Arboretum (1pm), Curtis Hall steps (2pm), Belle's Park on Centre Street near JP Licks (3pm), Jamaica Pond pathway (4pm), Eliot School lawn (5pm and 6pm). *times of first five performances are approximate*

Photo: Books on Shelves at Renovated JP Branch Library!

The renovated Jamaica Plain Branch Library had books on its shelves as of April 28th, 2017. It will be opening very soon. The renovated Jamaica Plain Branch Library is so close to opening you can almost feel the touch of your library card being used to take out books! On Friday, April 28th, Jamaica Plain News took this photo showing the reflection of the adjacent Curtis Hall Community Center in the window panes of the beautifully renovated library. The renovations are pretty much complete and it will be opening in May (a public date has not been provided yet).

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Public Art Project for Renovated Jamaica Plain Library To Be Discussed

Editor's Note: The meeting referenced in this article initially scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16, has been postponed. A rescheduled date has not yet been set. The original article is below. ~~~

The Jamaica Plain Branch Library currently being renovated has been selected as the first beneficiary of a new city program focused on bringing public art to Boston's neighborhoods.

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Boston Red Sox Foundation to Install Batting Cage at Curtis Hall Community Center

The Boston Red Sox Foundation will install four indoor batting cages this year at Boston Centers for Youth and Families locations, including Curtis Hall in Jamaica Plain. The batting cages are being funded by a grant from the Youth Development Foundation, an organization of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), "...to improve the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the United States and Canada." "Baseball isn't just a sport -- it's a passion for so many Boston residents and children, and this grant will allow young people throughout our city to improve their baseball game in a welcoming, accessible environment," said Mayor Martin Walsh via a press release. "I'm grateful to our Red Sox Foundation partners for providing BCYF centers batting cages that will allow our young athletes to enjoy baseball throughout every month of the year." "On behalf of all players, and especially those who call the Boston area home, we are happy to direct funds from the Youth Development Foundation to help install indoor batting cages throughout the city," said MLBPA Executive Director and former Red Sox Tony Clark.

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