Brendan Behan Pub, 378 Centre St., Jamaica Plain
Business

Discuss: What is Your Favorite Business in Jamaica Plain?

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Jamaica Plain is known for its independent businesses -- bakeries, pizza places, restaurants, gift shops and more. Having all these independent businesses is one thing that people love about JP. And most people don't have just one favorite business, but that's what we're asking you to name. Think about it this way -- if you could get a gift certificate to one business, which business would that be? At the Wake Up the Earth Festival, Jamaica Plain News asked people to submit answers for what their favorite business is in Jamaica Plain and below are the answers.

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File Photo: Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley, left, at an Aug. 25, 2014 press conference at Boston Police Headquarters.
Police and Fire

Man Found Guilty in Strangling of Girlfriend

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The last time Phillip Carrington stood trial in the death of Celestine Walker, the jury couldn't reach a verdict. But on Tuesday a jury found the 51-year-old guilty of murder. Walker, 45 when she died, was found dead in her JP apartment in May 2013. Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley said those who loved Walker received "some measure of justice" from the decision. "This verdict won’t return Celestine to their arms," Conley said in a press statement, "but I hope they can take satisfaction in the knowledge that this jury saw her death for what it was – a crime of deadly domestic violence for which her abuser will be held accountable."

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The JP Neighborhood Development Corp.'s booth at WUTE 2016. From left: Executive Director Richard Thal, Francia De Jesus, Anna Waldron and Kelly Ransom.
Neighborhood Life

Wake Up the Earth Nonprofit Roundup: How to Get Help or Get Involved

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Dozens of local nonprofits turned out for Wake up the Earth on Saturday to share their messages of caring and activism. Need help? Want to get involved? Here’s how:

The Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine supports Palestinians in their struggle to end the occupation and “raises awareness about Israel’s use of water as a weapon against the people of Palestine.” Sara Driscoll said, “We want the state of Massachusetts to stop aligning with Israel until the occupation ends.” Contact bostonallianceforwaterjustice@gmail.com for more information. The Arborway Committee for Public Transit is advocating to extend the green line to Hyde Square.

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Map and schedule for 2016 Wake Up the Earth
Neighborhood Life

Here’s Your Map for Wake Up The Earth 2016

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The 38th Annual Wake Up The Earth Festival runs noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 7. Here is a map of the live music, vendors and other events you'll experience. If you'd like to be in one of the parades leading to the festival, meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at any of the following three step-off points (yes, three this year!):

The Egleston YMCA, 3134 Washington St. Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South St. Dudley Square Plaza, 2400 Washington St.

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A crowd of proud parents, teachers, community members and students gathered to cut the ribbon on the new playing field at Curley K-8 School on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014.
Schools

School Employees on Leave After Lead Contaminated Water Found at Curley

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The saga of lead contamination in the Boston Public Schools took a shocking turn Wednesday. That's when the Boston Globe reported that children at four schools, including the Curley K-8 in JP, may have drunk water laced with lead. Lead in the water has been known as a potential problem. The latest news is that several fountains in the district were apparently turned back on before testing was finished. Supt.

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Arts

A Hundred Kids Build Fairy Houses in Franklin Park

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It was glorious mild spring Thursday at Schoolmaster Hill in Franklin Park for the Third Annual Fairy House Building Workshop sponsored by the Boston Parks Department and the Franklin Park Coalition. Over a hundred boys and girls scampered over the drumlin collecting branches, leaves and cones to build houses for the magical woodland creatures that reappear in the springtime in New England fields and woods. Storytelling and books from Read Boston and the MassHort plant education tent were also on hand as well as face painting. The workshop showed kids of all ages how to have fun simply using natural items that are just lying around on the park floor under trees and shrubs.

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Richard Heath
Opinion

State Of Our Neighborhood Needs Opposing Views

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The Sixth Annual State Of Our Neighborhood on April 7 was a sunny and happy affair. The elected officials were sage and the non profit advocates satisfied. Everyone agreed with everyone else. At the March 14 City council hearing on Just Cause Eviction the opposition was heard and their views were blunt: restraints on evictions "destroys property," "coddles problem tenants," "increases crime like illegal drugs," "breaks a contract between landlord and tenant," "the system will fall apart," "they're robbing us of our property." One opponent was Gilbert Winn who chairs the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and is owner and manager of Winn Properties (one arm of which is Winn Residential that manages thousands of income-based rental apartments for Community Development Corporations like Codman Square NDC and Urban Edge.)

Councilor Andrea Campbell asked him, "What are the solutions?" Winn broke out in a big grin and said "Money! There's not enough money for affordable housing.

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Elections

JP Neighborhood Council Election Day Set For April 30

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The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council will hold its election for members on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The JPNC is an elected advisory board whose recommendations are usually, though not always, accepted by the city's Zoning Board of Appeals, Licensing Board and other civic boards. The poling places are:

Stop and Shop. 301 Centre St,  Jackson Square
JP Licks. 659 Centre St. Jamaica Plain center
Harvest Co-op 3815 Washington St Forest Hills

There are currently 19 members on the JP Neighborhood Council; four at-large and 15 area members.

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Final conditions as planned for Casey Arborway project.
Transportation

Casey Weekend Work Begins Saturday, Goes Through June

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With spring here, the pace of work on the Casey Arborway is picking up. State officials announced on Thursday that weekend work on a massive water main will start on Saturday. This project within a project is to dig out the room for and install a 40-inch water main. Transportation officials say the work will be done each Saturday and Sunday between this weekend and June 1. Work hours are supposed to be 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

"All work will take place within the existing work zone and there will be no impact outside of the construction zone," the Department of Transportation wrote in a community notification.

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