Arts

JP Porchfest is July 7th: Get Ready for 170 Performances on 90 Porches!

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The 5th Annual Jamaica Plain Porchfest this Saturday will be more awesome than the previous four as it will include music, theater, dance, spoken word, storytelling, comedy, circus arts and a politicians' porch. "We have 90 generous porch hosts this year – that is, folks who offer their porches to performers. In some cases, people perform on their own porches, but they often welcome others," said Mindy Fried, co-organizer with Marie Ghitman and Eli Pabon. "And in many cases, porch hosts simply offer their porches to whomever we assign to their porches, of course taking into consideration their available space, and if they have any special requests." Click on the map of porches to see a description of all of the performances (courtesy JP Porchfest).

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Neighborhood Life

State Lab Community Garden Members Dedicate Little Free Library Honoring Co-Founder

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Members of the JP State Lab Community Garden came together to dedicate a Little Free Library to honor Detlev Koepke, a garden cofounder, who fought to keep the garden when it was threatened. Led by Koepke, the garden was established in 1987 thanks to the community organizing of the Asticou Martinwood South Street Neighborhood Association (AMNSNA). Today the community garden remains active, producing several tons of produce every year. There are more than 40 active gardeners comprised of neighborhood residents and state lab employees. Koepke’s brother Jens played an audio clip of an interview with Detlev in his final weeks, said Chuck Collins to Jamaica Plain News.

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From the Community

Jamaica Plain Benefit Fun Run to Raise $ for Immigrant Advocates on June 24

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A free fundraising fun run to benefit the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) is expected to draw hundreds to Jamaica Pond on June 24. The event is being organized by Jamaica Plain nonprofit Boston For All, a local coalition dedicated to strengthening community bonds and raising money for organizations working to preserve rights. Boston for All was founded in 2016 by Jamaica Plain neighbors determined to raise money for civil liberties organizations in the wake of the presidential election. Since then, the group has hosted the first wildly popular Run for All, two sold-out ‘Rock For All’ community concerts and a Dining for a Difference restaurant week. The group raised more than $14,000 for the ACLU in 2017 and more than $6,000 for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition so far in 2018.

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Government

Councilor O’Malley Proclaiming June 20th Des Linden Day, Honoring Boston Marathon Winner

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Desiree Linden was the first American woman to win the Boston Marathon in 33 years, and to honor her, Wednesday will be Des Linden Day in Boston. District 6 Boston City Councilor Matt O’Malley will host a meet and greet with Desiree “Des” Linden in Boston City Hall (Curley Room, 5th Floor) from 11 am to noon. Later at the weekly Boston City Council meeting at noon, O'Malley, himself and avid runner, will declare June 20, 2018, Des Linden Day in Boston. Linden has completed the Boston Marathon six times, and won it this year in treacherous weather conditions, with a time of 2:38:55.

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Business

Poll: Should Commercial Property Owners Pay a Fee for Empty Storefronts?

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Should landlords pay a fee when their storefronts are vacant? That's the question that a Boston City Council hearing will tackle on Tuesday. District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley proposed a vacancy fee for landlords causing "high-end blight" in April. "When properties remain vacant year after year, they create holes in the fabric of our communities," said O'Malley to Jamaica Plain News. "As we encourage investment in our neighborhoods, we must also make sure that investment benefits our neighbors.

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