A Jamaica Plain Storey

By Abe Scherzer

The Gazette Publications office is located in the basement of a large faded-green house off Centre Street. It office resembles the Jamaica Plain Gazette, the paper that it produces: small, simple, and in the heart of Jamaica Plain.

“I live in JP, most of our staff lives here, it’s a JP business and readers feel a lot of loyalty,” Sandra Storey, 62, editor and publisher of the Gazette says. Storey says she has lived in Jamaica Plain for over 35 years.

Storey started the Jamaica Plain Gazette nearly 18 years ago with its first publication in February 1991. She has been the editor since the first issue, but she defers to the neighborhood and the people she serves.

“We run pretty much every letter we get,” Storey says. “We’re very reader-oriented. I think we’re exceptional in receiving phone calls from readers to get story ideas.”

Readers seem to appreciate the Gazette’s local focus.

“I particularly like reading to see what’s opening and closing on Centre,” Aaron Hallquist, 31, of Jamaica Plain says. “All the people in my community are very involved in the neighborhood. (The Gazette) just kind of gives us a sounding board.”

Jamaica Plain resident Julie Prucll, 43, also likes the Gazette’s local angle. “I think it provides a local flavor you don’t find in the city paper,” Prucll says. “I think it’s just more involved in the street, more involved with the neighbors.”

Ken Kocincki, 30, a former Jamaica Plain resident, thinks the Gazette’s local focus can be a weakness. “I sometimes wish it wasn’t always so hyper-focused on JP and took on a wider scope of stories,” Kocincki says.

Storey, though, is happy with the Gazette as a means of local bonding. “It connects people,” Storey says. “I think the Gazette has helped connect the community and businesses. Before it, it wasn’t cool to go into JP’s center,” she says.

Sasha Vaut, a 26-year-old who works for Urban Medical, one of the many non-profit organizations in Jamaica Plain, appreciates the Gazette as a tool to promote her business. “We use it for publicity,” Vaut says. “The Gazette does a pretty good job of communicating to people.”

“(The Gazette) tries to help out local businesses,” Vaut says. “They will take an ad, deal with the press release and run an article all for the price of just an ad.”

Sitting in her small office, amid bulging boxes of back-issues and files, Storey is proud of her paper. She is proud of its dedication to Jamaica Plain and everything it does for community business. Nothing brings out this pride quite like the readers.

“This is a ‘Letter to the Editor’ from three health care providers,” Storey says, eyes glued on her computer screen. When she finds it, she reads aloud with delight, ‘“our well-beloved JP Gazette.’” Storey lets out a brief chuckle as she spins her chair around triumphantly. Her curly red hair perfectly frames her smiling face.