The gravestone for the first person buried in the First Church’s graveyard stands again. Samuel Keyes died at 9-weeks-old in 1785, according to the gravestone that was in the basement of the church. “No one knows how long the stone had been in the basement, but Samuel’s grave may have been one of 16 that were moved when the church built an addition for community activities more than a century ago,” said longtime church member…
Jamaica Plain News
The other day I happened upon the very invasive spotted lanternfly outside of our house — and killed it. That’s what the state advises us to do — kill the spotted lanternfly. The spotted lanternfly (SLF) was first detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014, and detected in Massachusetts in 2022. It has been documented in many municipalities across the state. While the spotted lanternfly has a very cool red and black look when…
The Massachusetts Supreme Court released its decision regarding a lawsuit about the redevelopment of White Stadium — ruing in favor of the city, and pro women’s soccer team — clearing the way for the project to proceed. The Court’s decision on Wednesday affirms the lower court’s decision regarding the lawsuit by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and citizens. The plaintiffs argued that the project required an Article 97 legislative approval, which is a provision of the…
The annual JP Porchfest is set to take place on Aug. 22. JP Porchfest is a neighborhood festival featuring music, storytelling, dance, and more — all happening on people’s porches, driveways, green spaces, and community locations. The festival is from noon to 6 pm, and the rain date is Aug. 23. The main and curated stages are: Porchfest Central, Sam Adams Beer Garden, 30 Germania St. JP Boathouse, 507 Jamaicaway Ula Cafe, 284 Amory St.…
Would you like to participate more in democracy and get paid doing so? Boston’s Election Department is recruiting poll workers for the upcoming state primary and pay a stipend from $160-$200. The primary is on Sept. 1. Residents can request to be assigned a location close to their home. Bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged. Residents can apply or get more info at boston.gov/pollworkers, or by emailing the Election Department at pollworkers@boston.gov, or by calling 617-635-0905.
The staff of the Sam Adams Brewery told management on Aug. 13 that they intend to unionize. UFCW Local 328 News reports that the bartenders, beer ambassadors, cooks and key holders, are looking to join its union. The employees want to be part of a union for job security, equitable treatment, clear and consistent policies, and clearly defined wages and benefits. “If you’re talking to management over and over and over again and nothing’s changing…
Check out these fantastic photos of a bald eagle hanging out in a tree on Pond Street! “While I was inspecting a large, historic oak tree, I spotted a bald eagle sitting right on one of the lowest branches,” said Tyler Ledin, who works for a local tree company. “It was an incredible sight. It was a truly unforgettable experience to see such an amazing bird perched in a large historic oak right here in…
A new private school that uses personalized AI-powered learning to free up students to work on more hands-on workshops, is opening in Jamaica Plain. The Alpha School is opening two locations in Boston, with one of them in the old Croft School location. The Alpha School has opened schools across the country, and is well-funded—an Alpha executive told the Boston School Committee that the company’s founder has committed more than $1 billion to the national…
If you’ve walked past the Arnold Arboretum’s Hunnewell Building recently you may have noticed a new rock with a plaque in front of a dawn redwood tree. That plaque honors Hu Xiansu, the father of modern Chinese botany who identified the dawn redwood. There is much more to Xiansu’s story. The following was published on the Arnold Arboretum’s website in July 2026, and has been republished here with the Arboretum’s permission: On December 2, 2025,…
Police are asking for the public’s assistance to identify a suspect wanted for allegedly breaking into multiple apartments on Heath Street. In two separate incidents, the suspect broke into an apartment and fled after coming across a person in the home. Around 6:50 am on Aug. 5, police responded to 182 Heath St., and spoke to a victim who said that an unknown male climbed through his bedroom window while he was sleeping. He said…