Coronavirus

Long Lines at JP Testing Center, MA Reports Highest # of Daily Cases, Hospitalizations Past Threshold, BPS Hands Out Test Kits

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With the omicron variant running rampant causing COVID-19 cases to peak again, testing centers such as the Anna Cole Community Center are seeing very, very long lines. Even before Christmas, Massachusetts reported, by far, it's highest amount of positive cases during the pandemic with 10,997, according to worldometer. In Jamaica Plain, people were lined up well before the Anna Cole Community Center in Jackson Square was open on Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday night, Boston.gov listed operation hours for the Anna Cole Center as: Sunday noon to 3 pm, on Monday and Thursday 2 to 7 pm, and 3 to 7 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Also, the center will be closed Dec.

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Transportation

Help Improve Safety, Traffic in Egleston Square (Atherton, Beethoven, Copley and Arcardia Streets)

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The Boston Transportation Department is hosting three upcoming meetings to examine how to make safety and traffic improvements in the Egleston Square area, with a focus on several specific streets. BTD is looking for feedback on changes to particularly affect Atherton, Beethoven, Copley, and Arcadia streets. There will be several public sessions to provide feedback. There will be a popup meeting at Lawson Park (corner of Atherton and Washington streets) on Dec. 9 from 2-4 pm.

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Playgrounds

How Accessible Are Jamaica Plain’s Playgrounds?

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There are a total of 16 playgrounds in Jamaica Plain managed by either Massachusetts' Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) or the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. So how accessible are all of them? The 16 playgrounds have varied features including age-based play structures, splash pads, spray decks, athletic fields, swings, a sandbox, and more. Currently, DCR is assessing opportunities to make improvements at their agency-managed playgrounds across the Commonwealth. In Jamaica Plain, DCR manages nine sites that include playgrounds, spray decks, benches, gardens, and sport courts.

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City Services

5 JP Sites: Boston Summer Eats Program Free to Youths 18 and Younger

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The city's Boston Summer Eats program is offering meals at 53 sites, with 14 more coming later in the summer, with a goal of expanding access to free and healthy meals to youth and lessen the summer food gap. Meals are available to youth 18 years and younger at no cost and no registration or ID is needed. Last summer, the program served 1,894,748 meals across 91 sites in 16 neighborhoods, according to a press release. Boston Summer Eats sites can be found at boston.gov/summer-eats or find additional locations across the state by texting “Food” or “Comida” to 877-877. Hours of operation vary depending on the site.

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Sports

Petition to Repair Murphy Field Gains Steam

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A petition was recently created asking the city to improve the Murphy Field, and last week residents testified at city hearings, urging money be allocated to fix up the well-used site. As of June 6, more than 700 people had signed the online petition created by Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer (JPYS) board president Alf Gracombe. "The playing surface, surrounding fences and backstops, lighting systems, and concrete bleachers are in clear need of an upgrade. Ever-growing youth sports programs like Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer (JPYS) and the Jamaica Plain Regan Youth League (baseball) rely on spaces such as Murphy to run their programs that provide athletic opportunities for the children of JP, Roxbury, Roslindale, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and Dorchester. The crisis is already upon us.

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City Services

Boston Public Branch Libraries Reopening June 14

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The Boston Public Copley Library opens on June 1, and all branch libraries (not under construction) will be reopening on June 14. Beginning on June 1, patrons will be able to browse select books in the Copley Library building, and patrons will also be able to ask staff to pull books on demand. Patrons will be able to pick up holds, check out books and DVDs. Patrons will also be able to spend time in the courtyard, renew their library cards, use public computers, print, and make photocopies. Starting June 14 branch library visitors will be able to pick up holds, check out books, spend time browsing, use the library’s computers for limited time slots, print and make photocopies.

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Jamaica Plain People

Jamaica Plain’s Lydon Serving as Interim Commissioner of Inspectional Services Department

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Jamaica Plain resident Sean Lydon was recently named as the Interim Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Department (ISD). Lydon has worked for the city of Boston for 25 years, and most recently served as Deputy Building Commissioner of the Inspectional Services Building Division, where he managed more than 50 staff members, according to a press release. Lydon previously worked as a building inspector where he was charged with enforcing building and zoning codes. ISD administers and enforces building, housing, health, sanitation and safety regulations mandated by city and state governments. Inspectional Services is made up of five regulatory divisions charged with serving the public by protecting the health, safety and environmental stability of Boston's business and residential communities.

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City Services

ICYMI: Boston Public Library Permanently Eliminates Late Fines

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The Boston Public Library system is joining a growing list of a libraries across the country to permanently eliminate all library fines. Maybe you wouldn't think that late fines generate a lot of money -- but you'd be wrong. In FY19, BPL collected $176,512 in overdue fines from cardholders, which only represented a fraction of the total overdue fine balance on record, according to a press release. Currently, about 42,000 BPL cardholders are facing fines, and thus cannot continue their use of the library system. BPL states that a large portion of the Boston residents facing fines live in neighborhoods which are the most economically challenged parts of the city.

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Transportation

Free MBTA, Bluebikes Passes for Employees in Three Squares Main Street District

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To support COVID-19 recovery, Boston's government is offering preloaded MBTA and Bluebikes passes to employees in five Main Street Districts, including Three Squares Main Street in Jamaica Plain. The first 1,000 employees who sign up for the program from Three Squares, Mission Hill, Nubian Square, East Boston, and Fields Corner, will receive the passes. This is a pilot program being phased in during the next two months. Some applicants will be selected to receive an MBTA pass with a full $60 right away, and others will get two cards after four weeks values that add up to $60, according to the city's website. Bluebikes pass-holders will be able to take as many trips as they want during the two-month period.

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City Services

Check Out Franklin Park Action Plan, Fill Out Survey Thru April 2

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The Boston Parks & Recreation Department would like to hear residents' opinions about the preliminary designs to give Boston's largest park a major facelift by filling  out the Franklin Park Action Plan survey by April 2. The designs were recently presented to the public during two online virtual sessions. The plan was created after three community workshops. Feedback will help project planners refine the plan. The survey is available on the project website FranklinParkActionPlan.com.

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