Wednesday, August 16, 8:00–9:30am https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/event-signup/?id=76655 Join Arboretum docent Lisa Gaquin for a brisk early morning walk along the inside perimeter of the Arboretum. This 3.5 mile walk will be fast-paced, energetic, and will involve walking over hills and rough terrain. Bring good walking shoes, water, and walking poles if desired. FREE. Registration required.

August 18-20; Friday: noon–4pm; Saturday: 11–4pm; Sunday: 11–4pm https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/event-signup/?id=76678 The Caterpillar Lab is coming to the Arboretum! This immersive, interactive exhibit features hundreds of native caterpillars at every stage in their life cycles. Learn from the experts as you explore the displays. The Lab offers something for every age group! FREE. Registration is not required but is appreciated as it helps us with planning. There will also be a caterpillar walk on Friday, August 18…

Sunday, August 20, 1:00pm-2:30pm https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/event-signup/?id=76835 Families need nature at all times of the year! Following a StoryWalk® path, we’ll visit a nearby forest on Arboretum grounds and look under logs for the tiniest animals of the forest floor. Free and open to all, most suitable for children ages four through ten. FREE. Registration required.

Sunday, August 20, 2–3:30pm https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/event-signup/?id=76668 Join docent Rick Ward for a tour of Peters Hill. Learn about the history of this lesser-known corner of the landscape and the uniqueness of the plants that grow here, including its history as a “testing ground” for trees that were resistant to cold, wind, heat and drought conditions. This diverse area is home to white pines, dawn redwoods, bamboo, ginkgoes, larches, and a truly magnificent crabapple collection. FREE. Registration…

Wednesday, August 23, 5:30–7:00pm https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/event-signup/?id=76904 Practice writing under, about, and in collaboration with trees. Join Matthew Battles, editor of Arnoldia, the Arnold Arboretum's quarterly magazine, for an immersive workshop in the Arboretum landscape. FREE. Registration required.

The September Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter will be held Thursday at 5:30 pm on the lawn of the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, 633 Centre Street at 5:30 pm, rain or shine. We are very pleased to welcome as our speaker karen marshall, the Executive Director of Rethink New Orleans, an organization supporting Black youth in “rethinking” their life experiences and taking action for systemic change in such areas as education,…

The 11th Jamaica Plain Music Festival at Pinebank Field is Sept. 9 from noon to 7 pm. The festival is free and includes 7 hours of continuous music on two stages from 21 local artists and bands. There will be seven food trucks, activities for kids, bike racks, and water truck. Dogs are welcome.  Artists performing include: Aaron and the Lord • The Alchemists • Merrie Amsterburg • Bob Bradshaw Band • Terry Borderline •…

The SNA is made up of residents living or owning property on the following streets: Brookley, Rossmore, Williams, Gartland, Kenton, Shurland, Dungarven, Stedman, Plainfield, Meehan, Stonley, Lotus, Burnett, Rockvale and adjacent portions of Forest Hills and Washington Streets. Sign Up for the SNA Forum (http://www.sna-jp.org/online-forum.html) to share and receive information with your SNA neighbors. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89930485594?pwd=ek1TL3ppdUJWcUxPdklMQWxZcXlQQT09Meeting ID: 899 3048 5594 Passcode: 832091 One tap mobile +19292056099,,89930485594#,,,,,,0#,,832091# US (New York) And more information can…

The section of Jamaica Plain we refer to as Allandale has quite an interesting history. Once a rural farming area it still includes Boston’s only working farm. Centre Street has traversed the area since the 1600s and a famous colonial tavern once offered respite to weary travelers. Eventually, large estates came to be built in the area whose inhabitants created history in their own right. And we mustn’t forget the Allandale Spring - whose Spring…

The Boston Public Library holds a remarkable collection of approximately 500 bird’s-eye view maps from the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. How were these maps produced? How accurate are they? What sorts of historical information can we learn from them? Join the Leventhal Map & Education Center for a deep dive on bird’s-eye view maps of Boston, mapmaking techniques and more. This event is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served.…