Flooding in the Dominican Republic, November 2016

Donations to Help DR Flood Victims Accepted in Jackson Square, Online

Devastating floods have hit the Dominican Republic. JP, home to a high number of Dominican families and businesses, is a collection point for donations to aid the recovery. Physical donations of canned food, diapers and shoes are being accepted at 225 Centre St., at the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, through 2 p.m. Sunday. You may also donate online via UnidosConRD. Here's how.

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A customer orders at Pikalo, 378 Centre St., in June 2015.

Pikalo Serves Fusion Empanadas to Hungry JP Residents

José and Elsa Pimentel opened Pikalo Empanadas and Sandwich Bar earlier this year, and today, the Hyde Square restaurant serves a diverse array of empanadas to a community equally as unique. This is not the first foray into the restaurant industry for chef-owner José Pimentel, whose first Pikalo location in Lawrence established his concept as an empanada eatery, while also building name recognition. Ultimately, though, the Pimentel’s knew they wanted to expand to Jamaica Plain, and so when a location opened up that was within their price range, they jumped at the opportunity to open a second venue in the area. “The neighborhood is extremely diverse,” said Elsa, who spearheads front of house management. “That’s what attracted us to the area.

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A Bird’s Eye View of the Dominican Parade

Each weekday we post a random image from around the neighborhood. Kirk Amaral Snow captured this view of Sunday's Dominican Parade as it rolled along Centre Street. [selfie]

If you have a photo that screams (or even whispers) "Jamaica Plain," here are four ways to nominate it as our "Photo of the Day":

Email me at chris@jamaicaplainnews

Tag a picture on Twitter with @02130News

Put your photo in the Jamaica Plain News photo pool on Flickr

Tag a picture on Instagram with #02130News

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Video: A Little Slice of “Convite Banilejo”

Each weekday we post a random image, usually a photo, from around the neighborhood. Here's a snippet of video from this year's "Convite Banilejo" festival at Stony Brook. Instagram user __yis__bliss gave permission to include this video. Thanks! Many people of Dominican heritage who live in JP trace their roots to the city of Baní.

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Top countries of origin for foreign-born Bostonians

Meet Your New Favorite Map of Jamaica Plain

Who says nothing good ever came from the Boston Redevelopment Authority? Behold your new favorite map of Jamaica Plain and Boston. This map shows the top countries of origin for foreign-born Bostonians. As you'd expect, the Dominican Republic is far and away number one for Jamaica Plain. My Dominican acquaintances tell me JP has always felt like home.

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