City’s JP Better Bike Lanes Plan Includes Changes to Green, Boylston, Seaverns, and McBride

Boston's Public Works Department will be reconstructing several Jamaica Plain streets this year to grow the city's network of low-stress bike routes, and community feedback is wanted to shape the projects. This year's JP Better Bike Lanes projects include Green Street and Seaverns Avenue/Gordon Street, Eliot Street, McBride Street, and Boylston Street. There are two upcoming open houses on May 3 and May 11 (more info below) to discuss and learn more about the proposals. There will also be community walks to physically go to the streets to discuss the proposals with city personnel. Eliot Street
The Public Works Department is planning to allow bicycling in both directions on Eliot Street between the Emerald Necklace and Centre Street.

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Universal, Affordable Early Education Advocates Tout A Day Without Child Care in Jamaica Plain

In observance of national A Day Without Child Care, early educators, families, and advocates gathered at the Green Street MBTA station and the Johnson Playground across the street on May 9. As part of the day, hundreds of people across Massachusetts and the nation took action to demand change in the child care and early education sector. 
Neighborhood Villages Action Fund was on the ground supporting early education and care providers across the state as they, in solidarity with families and advocates, called for child care reform. 
In JP, the Action Fund engaged parents and child care providers in their I’m a Child Care Voter initiative, which encourages people to demonstrate their support for legislative change with elected leaders in the statehouse, in Congress, and in their communities. 
“Too many families struggle through days without child care and too many underpaid early educators struggle to balance their passion for education with maintaining financial security,” said Latoya Gayle, senior director of advocacy at the Neighborhood Villages Action Fund. “We were pleased to see an incredible outpouring of support from early educators, families, and advocates who joined us on Monday to advocate for child care reform. We will continue to fight every day to push for an overhaul of our child care system so it works better for everyone.”
Neighborhood Villages Action Fund is a Boston-based organization that is dedicated to fighting for state and federal legislation to create an equitable and affordable early education and care system that works for families, providers, and educators. The Action Fund works in partnership with the Common Start Coalition, which is backing the Common Start legislation in Massachusetts.

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Jamaica Plain Historical Society Neighborhood Walking Tours Begin May 14

Ever wonder about the history of Hyde Square, Green Street, or Stony Brook? Learn about those neighborhoods and other JP areas through the Jamaica Plain Historical Society's history walking tours series. This is 27th season of JPHS' historic walking tours. All tours are free to the public, and the series kicks of May 14 with a tour Monument Square. The tours are mostly on Saturdays at 11 am, although there are a few Sunday tours this summer.

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Learn About The Industrial History of Green Street on Jan. 23

How many times have you walked down Green Street in Jamaica Plain? What was on Green Street 100 years ago? What was on Green Street in further back than a century ago? Learn about the industrial history of Green Street during a Jamaica Plain Historical Society virtual presentation on Jan. 23.

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Hernández School Students Couldn’t Vote, So They Interviewed Who Could

The eighth grade students of the Rafael Hernández K-8 School were too young to vote on Election Day. Instead they got an Election Day education by hitting the polls to interview voters and learn about their views on the candidates and issues.  

The following article was written by the eighth graders of the Hernandez School:

Views from Green Street 
Eighth grade students from the Rafael Hernández K-8 in Egleston Square took a trip to the polls on the  morning of November 2nd, 2021, the day of Boston's  election. We went to the Bowditch polling station on Green Street to interview voters. 

The weather was sunny and crisp, and many voters came out with their dogs and children. Fourteen students (and their two teachers) stood in a line in front of the Bowditch building with clipboards. Some voters walked by, staring with a confused look, but we pushed out of our comfort zones to start conversations with these strangers.

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Jamaica Plain Historical Society Historic Walking Tours Start May 22

The 26th season of the free Jamaica Plain Historical Society neighborhood tours are kicking off May 22. The tours are a great way to learn more about Monument Square, the Woodbourne neighborhood, Jamaica Pond, and more. "I like helping people discover more about the history of the places they visit each day. People pass by the colonial milestones in JP zillions of times without knowing they are there and what they are," said JPHS President Gretchen Grozier. "But once someone takes a tour they learn more, and hopefully, are curious to continue learning more about the rich and wonderful history of Jamaica Plain."

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Jamaica Plain’s Connections to the History of Baseball

The beginnings of baseball in Boston and its first connection to Jamaica Plain are found with Harry Wright and his brother George. Harry was born in England. George, 13 years his junior, was born in New York City. Their father, Samuel, was a professional cricket player in New York and both boys started with that sport before switching to baseball. Harry played and managed the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first professional baseball team, to a run of 76 consecutive victories during the 1869 and 1870 seasons.

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Boston Cyberarts’ GoFundMe Raising $ to Make Up for COVID Losses

The nonprofit organization that runs the Boston Cyberarts Gallery at the Green Street MBTA station has turned to GoFundMe to make up for the money its lost due to COVID. Boston Cyberarts operates the free gallery in Jamaica Plain, the Art on the Marquee project at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and numerous other public art projects. But due to the COVID pandemic, the Art on the Marquee has been suspended, resulting in a projected los of $44,500, according to the organization's GoFundMe page. "We've brought opportunities to the general public to experience the work of thousands of new media artists, without cost.  We also pride ourselves on creating dozens of paid opportunities for MA based artists every year.

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Rescheduled Public Meeting Dec. 8: 38 Units for Low/Extremely Low-Income Seniors Proposed for Washington Street

Editor's note: This meeting was originally rescheduled for Dec. 1, and has been moved to Dec. 8.  If you have already registered you will receive an email with this updated information and the new registration link. If you have not yet registered and wish to do so, please use the updated link found here. 

There will be a public meeting on Dec.

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Historical Society Leading (Real Life) Walking Tours of Stony Brook, Hyde Square, Jamaica Pond and More

The Jamaica Plain Historical Society is leading four real life walking tours during the next four weekends. The hourlong tours are on Saturdays . The tour schedule is as follows: Stony Brook; Hyde Square; Green Street; and Jamaica Pond. JPHS has had to adapt their tours to modern pandemic times. "Luckily, the tours are all outside and that also makes things safer.

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