Holidays

Haitian Independence Celebrated at Tchaka Fest in Woodbourne

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Sendie Dorcelly and Whitney Brice of Mattapan and Rachel St. Fleurose of Roslindale enjoy the Tchaka Festival on Memorial Day 2015. Credit: Richard Heath. A week after their grand Independence Day parade down Blue Hill Avenue, the Haitian community  gathered in the hundreds at Jamaica Plain's Pagel Playground in the Woodbourne neighborhood for the third annual Tchaka Fest on Memorial Day. Organized in part by Bel Mizik FM, the Haitian radio station out of Hyde Park (91.3 FM), family and friends flocked from Salem, Lynn, Everett, Mattapan, Hyde Park and Dorchester to hear DJs blast out the latest sounds, compete in soccer matches, sack races and even play musical chairs.

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The memorial to Capt. John Baker, who died in 1781, at Walter Street Burial Ground in the Arnold Arboretum.
Holidays

Did You Know Revolutionary War Soldiers Are Buried at the Arboretum?

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In honor of Memorial Day, the graves of a historic burial ground at the Arnold Arboretum have been adorned with U.S. flags. The Walter Street Burying Ground may not be well known, even to frequent visitors of the park. A church once stood atop Peters Hill, according to a brief history on the city's Web site. It had a cemetery behind it for early settlers. The soldiers were originally buried at what was then the Loring House after a smallpox breakout.

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U.S. flags on Boston Common for Memorial Day 2014.
Holidays

What’s Open and Closed in Jamaica Plain for Memorial Day

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Monday is Memorial Day, a day for honoring U.S. soldiers who have died in the nation's conflicts. Here is a list of what's open and closed in Jamaica Plain. Schools: Closed
State, local and federal government offices: Closed
MBTA: Mostly on a Sunday schedule. Check here for details. Post Office: Closed
Libraries: Closed
Alcohol sales: Prohibited, though grocery stores are open
Package stores: Closed
Grocery stores: Open
Retail stores: Open at owner's discretion
Trash and recycling pickup: Delayed one day in Jamaica Plain

Here are the plans of some specific JP businesses:

City Feed will be open (but of course you can't buy alcohol)

Simpli Bar and Bites will serve brunch on Memorial Day

225 Centre will be closed for Memorial Day

If you are a JP business, feel free to add your plans in the comment section below or email Chris Helms at chris@jamaicaplainnews.com and we'll add them to this post.

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Photo of the Day

Slainte Fellow Gaels We’ll Forget Thee Not

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In honor of Memorial Day, our Photo of the Day comes from Tollgate Cemetery in Forest Hills. This little-known cemetery is the resting place primarily of Irish soldiers who fought in the Civil War. An inscription at the main monument reads, in part, "'Slainte' Fellow Gaels We'll Forget Thee Not." Here's more on the cemetery, which is looking much better these days thanks to the efforts of volunteers. Here are four ways to nominate a "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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Poster for Boston's Memorial Day Concert 2014
Morning Memo

JP-based Symphony Will Play at City’s Memorial Day Concert

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Hello neighborhood. Here's your Morning Memo for all things JP for Friday, May 23. Metropolitan Wind Symphony to Play at City's Memorial Day Concert: The JP-based Metropolitan Wind Symphony will perform at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End on the evening of Memorial Day. The free concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Here's more information.

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