Environment

Letter: Franklin Park Action Plan Light Pollution Concerns

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The following letter was sent to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu; Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space Rev. Mariama White-Hammond; and Boston Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ryan Woods. We are writing with concerns about proposals to make significant changes to Franklin Park in the recently released Action Plan. At well over 400 pages, it was too big for us to analyze everything in detail but the recently released highlights from the Franklin Park Coalition alerted us to the proposal to add significant amount of lighting to the paved park paths and clear a large border of understory foliage on the park edges. Both of these suggestions appear to be proposed in the spirit of accessibility, wayfinding and perception of safety however we are concerned that other important aspects are not being taken into account, such as increased light pollution, nighttime park uses that the added lighting would eliminate, added lighting's effects on the nocturnal creatures that call this urban forest home, as well as noise pollution, effective reduction of the size of the park, and elimination of habitat for park animals and birds that live in this understory habitat. Increased light pollution
We’d like to remind you that as a city councilor, you sponsored a Dark Skies talk by Kelly Beatty, editor of Sky and Telescope Magazine, at the Arnold Arboretum in July of 2019.

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Government

Sen. Miranda and Rep. Montaño Share Opinions on Rent Control

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After the Boston City Council voted in support of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's rent control plan, that put the home-rule petition in the fate of the state Legislature. The plan would tie rent increases to inflation with a cap of 10% for Boston apartments. The plan exempts smaller landlords and units in buildings less than 15 year olds, and about 55% of Boston's 313,000 rental units would be affected if it becomes law, according to WBUR. With the measure now at the State House, it's important to know what state legislators think about it. Previously, Massachusetts voted to ban rent control in 1994, which is why a home-rule petition is required to make it law.

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Police and Fire

Police Want Help Finding Murderer of Victim Shot on Parker Street

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Boston Police identified the victim who was found shot dead on Parker Street on March 5, and are asking for the public's help in finding the suspect. BPD District E-13 officers responded to a report for a well-being check-in of a resident of 940 Parker St. in Jamaica Plain. Upon arrival police found Orlando Watkins, 44, of Dorchester, suffering from gunshot wounds, who was pronounced dead on scene, according to BPDnews.com. Boston Police are investigating the shooting and encourage anyone with information to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at 617-343-4470.

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Arts

JPHS Presenting Play About JP Woman Who Was First to Graduate MIT with Architecture Degree

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In 1891, a 23-year-old woman from Jamaica Plain won an architecture contest to design the Woman’s Building for the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago -- and while that should have been the beginning of a great career for Sophia Hayden -- her life's story ended being quite harrowing. While doing research, a Jamaica Plain Historical Society member learned that Hayden was from Jamaica Plain, and was the first woman to get an architecture degree at MIT. "We thought her story deserved to be better known and we always do an event for Women's History Month," said JPHS President Gretchen Grozier. On March 12, there will be a reading of the play Sophia Hayden Deserves Better by Stephanie Alison Walker. It is a fictionalized version of her story for dramatic purposes.

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City Services

Washington St. Project: 82 Fewer Units Being Discussed in Public Meeting on March 9

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A virtual public meeting to discuss the impacts of a proposed project at 3390 Washington St., that has drastically reduced its initial proposal for residential units, will be on March 9. The project would be on a two-acre site where BMS Paper is currently located, and BMS Paper would be expanded. When it was initially proposed, the project included 160 residential units and a "moderately priced neighborhood style restaurant." The project is now for 78 residential units and off-street parking for 87 vehicles, according to the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) website. The amount of off-street parking spots has changed since the initial proposal of 195 parking spots.

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Arts

Local JP Quilter Being Featured in Upcoming Show

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Jamaica Plain's Susan Krantz has been working with textiles since she was a teenager. At 9 years of age, her grandmother taught her to knit to distract her from being fidgety. Krantz then took sewing lessons while in high school from a woman who studied in Paris. Quilting was a spontaneous undertaking after purchasing a copy of Georgia Bonesteel’s first book Lap Quilting. Forty years later she is an avid quilter.

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Elections

Four Candidates So Far for Special Election to Fill 10th Suffolk District Seat

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Four Democratic candidates have filed paperwork to run for the 10th Suffolk County District rep seat after Rep. Ed Coppinger announced he'd be leaving the job. After redistricting, a small part of Jamaica Plain became part of the 10th Suffolk District. The majority of the 10th Suffolk District is in West Roxbury, Roslindale, and a little in Brookline. The four candidates are Roslindale resident Robert Orthman, Jamaica Plain's Garrett Casey, and West Roxbury residents William MacGregor, and David Giordano. All four are Democrats, so they would face off in a May 2 Democratic primary.

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Arts

Check Out ‘Artists Redux’ Painting Exhibit at Arnold Arboretum

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You still have time to see the an art show at the Arnold Arboretum featuring two Jamaica Plain painters. "Artists Redux" is an exhibit at the Arnold Arboretum’s Hunnewell Building Gallery in the Visitors Center through March 13 featuring work by JP painters Ginny Zanger and Lizi Brown. The Hunnewell Building is open every day 10 am to 4 pm

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Business

Haitian Restaurant Taking Over for 100% Delicias

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From the looks of it, it would appear that 100% Delicias cleared out of its Centre Street location, and a new restaurant will open in its place. The new restaurant is called Fritay, and will serve Caribbean cuisine. Fritay means fried food and is a staple of Haitian cooking, and sources confirmed it will be a Haitian restaurant. There was no menu or more info posted in the windows or door. It is next to the former location of Cacao, which closed at the end of last year.

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Arts

Nosenko ‘I’m Glad You’ve Left’ Exhibit Opens at Jamaica Plain Library March 2

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Photographer Yana Nosenko's solo exhibition I’m Glad You’ve Left opens at the Jamaica Plain Branch Library on March 2. Nosenko's exhibit explores immigration, displacement, nomadism, and familial separation, reflecting on her own experiences growing up within a Kazakh family living in Russia, and now living in the U.S. for the past few years with limited ability to travel outside the country, according to a press release. “I’ve been told that no one leaves home from an excess of happiness and comfort. One leaves, because it’s not possible to remain," said Nosenko. Her color photography reveals quiet interiors with unexpected details, nostalgic portraits, and a wistful atmosphere.

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