MAXFIELD & COMPANY (617) 293-8003 REALEXPERIENCE ESTATE • EXCELLENCE REAL ESTATE TODAY, PAGES 11-15 Vol. 28 No. 18 24 Pages • Free Delivery BOOK YOUR 25 Cents at Stores Jamaica Plain POST IT Call Your Advertising Rep Printed on (617)524-7662 Recycled Paper AZETTE 617-524-2626 • WWWG.JAMAICAPLAINGAZETTE.COM SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 CIRCULATION 16,000 LATIN QUARTER WORLD FAIR Boylston St. residents speak out against issues BY LAUREN BENNETT idents who spearheaded the tendance was William Moose, a group, led a community meet- transportation planner for the A group of concerned resi- ing along with his neighbor Sar- Boston Transportation Depart- dents on Boylston St. in JP have ah McKeon on September 16, ment, Mayor’s Office Neighbor- banded together to try and ad- which drew in a crowd of other hood Liaison Enrique Pepen, and dress traffic and safety problems concerned residents. McKeon City Councilor Matt O’Malley. on their street, as they believe said the goal of the meeting was After discussing in small that the current situation poses to build more community and breakout groups, residents pre- serious safety risks to the neigh- discuss the traffic and safety sented their concerns to the larg- borhood. concerns that people may have. Jeremy Menchik, one of res- Along with the neighbors, in at- Continued on page 2 Wu takes citywide ESTEEMING OUR ELDERS vote, Essaibi George Amanda Rodrique and Demi Romeo share a dance during comes in second the Latin Quarter World’s Fair on Sept. 15 – a beloved festival BY SETH DANIEL resurrected after more than a decade of it being gone from Hyde Square. The Fair marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Councilor Michelle Wu scored month as well, which runs through Oct. 15. Photo by Mike Mejia an impressive victory citywide See more photos on Page 5. in the Preliminary Election on Tuesday, Sept. 25, over her oppo- In Egleston Square, officials break ground nents, but Councilor Annissa Es- saibi George also made a strong on first new firehouse in over 30 years move in finishing second ahead of the rest of the field. BY LAUREN BENNETT Fire House in Egleston Square along with neighbors and fire- The Preliminary Election fea- tured 15 candidates from the For the first time in over 30 fighters. Council At-Large race squaring years, the City of Boston will “This is an exciting day in off to claim the top eight spots. have a brand new fire station. On Roxbury and it’s an exciting day The top eight now move on to September 16, Mayor Walsh and in the City of Boston,” Mayor fight for five seats in the Nov. 5 Boston Fire Department Com- Walsh said at the groundbreak- Marion B. Davis, President of Self Esteem Boston presents City Election. missioner Joseph Finn celebrated the Skills for Building Confidence curriculum in 6 languages There was no district seat race to Claribette Del Rosario, Mental Health Services Program the groundbreaking of Engine 42 Continued on page 7 this time around, as Councilor Ed Manager at Ethos, to deliver Self Esteem Boston’s self-esteem Flynn has no opponent. and life skills curriculum for the Ethos service area. Del Rosario Egleston Square tiene la primera Citywide, the vote totals were was trained and Qualified to deliver Self Esteem Boston’s as follows: curriculum through a grant to Self Esteem Boston from the estación de bomberos nueva en 30 años •Michelle Wu – 26,622 Cummings Foundation. For 26 years, Self Esteem Boston BY LAUREN BENNETT ciudad fue en 1984. •Annissa Essaibi George – 18,993 has worked in partnership with human service providers “Este es un día emocionante •Michael Flaherty – 18,776 to offer self-esteem training and education for both clients El 16 de septiembre, el Al- en Roxbury y en la ciudad”, dijo •Alejandra St. Guillen - 11,910 and providers. Ethos is a nonprofit based in Jamaica Plain calde Walsh y el comisionado el alcalde Walsh en el evento. “Es •Julia Mejia – 10,799 specializing in care management, volunteer-based support and de bomberos de Boston Joseph una celebración y un problema •Althea Garrison – 9,720 nutrition services in southwest Boston; And serves communities Finn celebró la nueva estación que esto no haya sucedido antes •Erin Murphy – 9,385 across Boston with community cafes and meals on wheels, the de bomberos en Egleston Square de hoy”. •David Halbert – 6,534 operation of 43 Community Cafes across the city of Boston. junto con vecinos y bomberos. La The campaign will begin in ear- For more information about Self Esteem Boston go to: www. última vez que se construyó una nest now through the Nov. 5 City selfesteemboston.com, For information about Ethos, go nueva estación de bomberos en la Continued on page 7 Election. to:www.ethocare.org. 3 major arts events on 3 weekends in JP will start the fall off right 2 • Jamaica Plain Gazette • SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 Hyde Square, Jackson Square and Canary Square are now called Three Squares Main Street STAFF REPORT cultural assets mapping, and dis- several generations, Three cultural events. Included in the whose mission is to create a safe, trict analysis. Their name and Squares Main Street will guide Three Squares Main Street dis- visually vibrant, and economical- Hyde Jackson Square Main logo incorporates three squares growth and instill stability in trict is a recognized cultural dis- ly sound business district along Street has changed its name in its geographic area of focus— the district by welcoming new trict—Boston’s Latin Quarter. Centre Street in Jackson, Hyde, to Three Squares Main Street JP. Jackson, Hyde, Canary—and entrepreneurs and supporting To meet volunteers, learn and Canary Squares. Three A Jamaica Plain Main Streets aims to clarify its unique purpose existing ones, and convening res- about future initiatives, and ways Squares Main Street is one of organization established to forti- in the district. Its logo shows idents, business owners, institu- to get involved in the business 20 Main Streets organizations in fy the commercial business dis- three small squares curved like tional partners, and commercial district, Three Squares Main the City of Boston and more than trict along Centre Street in Jack- Centre Street, surrounded by property owners to work togeth- Street invites the community to 1,300 across the country. Similar son Square, Hyde Square, and an orange line—reflecting the er to advance the district.” its Annual Meeting on Thursday, to other Main Street programs, Canary Square, Three Squares MBTA Orange Line—in the Three Squares Main Street’s October 17 at 6 p.m. at Jamaica HJSMS is volunteer-driven with Main Street uses the proven local shape of a “3”. focus area is home to approx- Mi Hungry in Jackson Square, working committees that focus economic development model of “We were established a gen- imately 10,000 residents and the area’s newest restaurant, lo- on streetscape design, district the National Main Street Center eration ago to tackle challenges more than 140 store-front busi- cated at 225 Centre St. The An- promotion, and building econom- (www.mainstreet.org/main- in the business district with for- nesses. It is vibrant in sounds, nual Meeting is free and welcome ic vitality in the business district streetamerica/theapproach). ward-thinking, local economic smells, and colors, has histor- to all. Food will be provided. as well as growing the organiza- Three Squares Main Street is strategies,” said Tom Griffith, ic sites, amazing murals, great Founded in 1998, Three tion. More information can be rebranding after more than three Three Squares Main Street’s parks, hard-working and cre- Squares Main Street JP is a found at www.threesquares- years of district data gathering, Board President. “For the next ative merchants, and numerous 501(c)3 tax exempt organization mainstreet.org. tentially look at,” including a at that intersection, and there at, certainly,” he told the resi- He said he doesn’t know if Boyl- Boylston St. chicane—an artificial turn that is not a lot of visibility due to dents. ston is an arterial street, but “if would create a staggering of parked cars. Additionally, she “The crosswalks alone—while so, there are other solutions that Continued from page 1 how cars park on the street in said that she sees a lot of people I think it’s great to have them— could accomplish the same goal.” er group. One mother said she order to get moving vehicles to going the wrong way on Boyl- if you have a speeding issue,” “Pedestrian safety is the big- saw a car flip on Boylston St. one slow down. He said bumpouts ston St., which others confirmed. the crosswalk doesn’t do much gest issue I’ve been working on,” morning, just as her kids were at intersections would narrow Someone else mentioned that to help, he said. He added that said City Councilor Matt O’Mal- leaving the house to go to school. the right of way at intersections there are a lot of noisy cars on stop signs are not typically used ley. He said that speed humps Several issues were with the way where people are most likely to the street, and wondered if this as speed control elements, but present a challenge for snow the street itself is laid out— be crossing the street. is something that is enforced by rather more intended as a traffic plows in the winter, but virtual Menchik said that the street Another resident commented the police. flow management tool when a lot speed bumps—paint on roads narrows towards the end so peo- that these particular solutions John Doherty of the Boston of cars are coming and need to that can slow down cars—could ple lose room to maneuver.