CAPTION: Blue-green algae floats near the banks of the Charles River near the Boat Haven.
CREDIT: Herb Nolan



For the second year in a row, the Environmental Protection Agency gave the Charles River a “B plus” for its water quality, meaning that on most summer days the river with the checkered past is now meeting safe for swimming.

To get that good news out, the recently formed Charles River Swimming Club will hold the first open water swimming race in the river Saturday…or will it?

Until Friday, no one will know for sure. The blue-green algae that blossomed in the waters during August and forced the Department of Conservation and Recreation to post a warning notice to river users is still hanging around.

“We are really hoping that the rain and cooler weather will diminish the cells in the algae,” said department spokesperson Vanessa Gulati. “The actual determination won’t be made until Friday, the day prior to the race, on the basis of results of testing by the EPA and Department of Public Health.”

The sanctioned race, which is sold out, is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at the River Dock, located near the Arthur Fiedler statute by the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade. One hundred experienced open-water swimmers wearing fluorescent swim caps and supported by kayakers will follow a one-mile loop course between Harvard and the Longfellow bridges in waters averaging 70 degrees in September. Wet suits are allowed—but the results of those wearing them will be tabulated separately. The swimming club recommended that swimmers have updated Tetanus shots.

“We are really hoping the race will take place,” said Ulla Hester, race director, “but it is still an issue.” If at the last minute the DCR says no, she’ll email the word to the 100 swimmers who signed up for the race, and they’ll lose bragging rights for having participated in the first Charles River One-Mile Swim.

One swimmer who will be disappointed if the race is cancelled is John Chesto, 35, who until mid-August lived on West Cedar Street and is now a resident of South Boston. “The race has been a long time coming,” said Chesto, who participates in triathlons. “If we can pull it off, it will send a strong message that the river once known for its pollution is now swimmable again.”

But, the problem with the algae is “a bad twist,” he said. Contact with the algae may cause eye, ear and skin irritation. Liver damage, muscle cramps and twitching can also occur, according to the state Department of Public Health.

Also know as microcystis, the algae grow naturally on the water’s surface. An “algae bloom”—dense, floating mats of algae—occurs when an excess of nutrients from storm water run offs or other pollutants team with hot weather.

“The State Department of Public Health and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency recommend it not be treated in any way,” said Gulati. “If it’s treated, it could become a larger bloom. The recommendation is to allow nature to take its course.”

According to its website, the Charles River Swimming Club has put a number of measures into place to ensure that the race is conducted in a safe manner. They will be using predictive metrics and water samples to ensure the water is safe to swim in and have notified all participants in advance that they may be obliged to cancel the race due to unsafe weather or unsanitary water conditions. Prolonged or heavy rainfall before or on the day could cause trash, untreated storm water runoff and sewage overflows to enter the river, making it unswimmable.

In that case, the club—founded by a small group of Charles River enthusiasts in 2005 to organize swimming events, represent swimmer’s interests to the city and promote ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the river—will hold the first-ever race next year.

Friendly Competition



On dry land, Acorn Street residents Rick and Nonnie Burnes have made a life from doing good while doing well. But it’s on the open sea that they live well while doing good: devoted sailors, last year they spent their money—and their talent—locally, by sailing in the Harbor Alliance’s first annual Boston Harbor Islands Regatta. Come September 30, when the second annual race is scheduled, they plan to race again. And they’re hoping for even fiercer, family-friendly competition this time.

The Harbor Alliance’s mission is to maintain and promote Boston’s Harbor Islands, a little-known network of islands that punctuate the marine area just outside Boston. Once much used and abused, particularly as military installations in the 18th and 19th centuries, some of the islands—like Thompson’s Island—still have intact school or institutional structures. Returned to their original state, or as close to it as possible, the islands are an invaluable natural resource for the people who visit them.

Invaluable they may be, but maintaining the islands costs money. And that’s where the Regatta—and the Burneses—enter the picture. “Last year we got a call from Enid Beal, an Island Alliance board member who was a classmate of mine in college. The topic of holding a regatta to raise money and public awareness came up, and we were in,” Nonnie Burnes remembers.

“Having a regatta that used the islands as a course seemed like a fabulous idea,” Rick Burnes said. “The islands are a magical part of Boston that most people don’t know about. Last year it was just lovely, being in this very rural, almost wild setting—and it looked like you could just reach out and touch the Boston skyline, it seemed so close. It was really special.”

The scenery didn’t exactly distract the Burnes clan last year: with five grandchildren on board, the pair “won a couple of trophies, including first place, woman skipper,” Rick Burnes says. “There are lots of prizes handed out—it’s a race, and it’s fun, but the emphasis is really on family: there are lots of kids on the boats, and it’s a really good time.”

The Burneses’ idea of a good time on the water, it should be noted, also includes sailing of a slightly more serious—and competitive—nature. In 1986, along with their three kids, who were then between the ages of 15 and 20, the Burneses stopped in Iceland for supplies on the way to Europe and met up with the country’s Education Minister, who remains a close family friend. More recently, this spring the intrepid pair raced from Newport to Bermuda, along with some 270 other boats, and managed to place first in their class.

Why do they do it? In addition to a love of adventure, the Burneses share a commitment to high-octane careers and community commitments. Rick is a venture capitalist who also spends his time in leadership positions at the Boston Museum of Science and the Boston Foundation. Nonnie, a Superior Court judge, has been a practicing lawyer for 20 years and a judge for 10. They both say they love what they do—and they love the escape that life on the water provides.

“Sailing is all-consuming. You can’t possibly worry about what you haven’t gotten done when you’re out on the water. You just feel free, with the endless horizon out there to look at,” Nonnie says.

Endless horizon and no e-mail: while their boats are equipped with sophisticated computer-aided navigation tools, the Burneses make a point to live Internet-free on the water. And they make a point of being partners, on sea as well as land.

“I’m really not interested in doing any long-distance, solo sailing,” Rick says. “The boat is a microcosm, and my wife is a critical part of the crew. Making a boat move involves technique and it involves teamwork—it’s one of those sports, and one of those skills, that you can keep growing in.”

For her part, Nonnie agrees. Though she didn’t start sailing until she met Rick, she’s now a devotée. “It’s terrific—it’s about the best escape there is,” she says. “We’ve been sailing together for a very long time, and we’ve had lots of adventures together. We’re always up for another adventure or two.”

After a summer-long fraud investigation, a Beacon Hill woman faces 43 counts of larceny, uttering, identity theft and other related offenses.

Karen Keester, 31, whose last known address is 130 Bowdoin St., has been taken into the custody at the Nashua Street Jail after a five-year scamming spree that netted over $250,000.

Prosecutors say Keester’s ploys were extensive. She is believed to have used three different dates of birth, four social security numbers and six drivers’ licenses. She has resided in at least seven Boston-area apartments in the past six years, four of which were on Beacon Hill, including 40 Grove Street, 70 Joy Street and 130 Bowdoin Street.

In addition, Keester allegedly used her access to company mail and databases as a temp worker to deposit fraudulent checks into her personal accounts. She also used co-workers’ personal information to apply for thousands of dollars in student loans. To apply for the loans, she provided the numbers of her own cell phones, which she answered herself using a variety of names and phony accents, according to Jake Wark, spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office.

Keester was first arrested on June 13 after an employee from Check X Change at 140 Harvard Avenue called police when the social security number Keester gave did not match her identity. The fraudulent payroll checks Keester attempted to cash were issued from Planned Parenthood, where Keester had been placed through an employment agency. Keester used her access to company databases to bilk Planned Parenthood out of nearly $10,000 before she was arrested.

She was charged with three counts of forgery, three counts of uttering (the act of trying to pass a forgery as authentic), two counts of larceny and one count of attempting to commit a crime and was released with a promise to appear in Brighton District Court on July 25. Failing to appear, Keester was arrested again at her Bowdoin Street apartment on July 27 on six counts each of attempted larceny and identity theft. At Keester’s arraignment the next day, her attorney, William Concannon, entered a plea of not guilty. Keester’s cash bail was set at $25,000.

Keester was arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on Aug. 28 on her most recent set of charges, including 20 counts of uttering, seven of identity theft, six of attempted larceny, five of larceny, four of larceny over $250 by scheme, and one for possession of false registry of a motor vehicle document, according to Wark. She is being held on $250,000 cash bail and is scheduled to appear in court on October 4.

Larceny over $250 is punishable by up to five years in a state prison or up to two years in a house of correction and a $25,000 fine. The sentences for the other charges stipulate fewer years in state prisons or correction houses and smaller fines. Theoretically, the harshest punishment for the sum of these charges would be 147.5 years in a state prison.

“It is unlikely that the punishment will be the sum of all the sentences,” Wark said. “Larceny over $250 will probably be the main sentence, with the others served concurrently.

In addition to Planned Parenthood, Keester defrauded at least three other Boston companies including Barkan Management, CFO Publishing and Cambridge-based Directory M. It appears that no one wants to admit knowing Keester. Spokespeople for Barkan said they were not aware of Keester or the larceny. A spokesperson at CFO Publishing knew of Keester but declined to comment on the case. Directory M did not return phone calls seeking comment.

It is not clear how much money Keester took from the other companies where she temped, but “it’s safe to say we believe she defrauded various businesses of more than $250,000,” Wark said.
Angus McQuilken, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood, issued a statement after Keester’s July 28 arrest. "We are in contact with the Suffolk County DA’s office about a theft that occurred at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. We understand that the person involved is being investigated for similar conduct with other employers. We are cooperating fully with the DA’s investigation. As this is a matter before the courts, we have no further comment at this time," he said.

A secretary at Sweeney & Abelow said that Arnold Abelow, Keester’s attorney, was not available for comment because he was on vacation. Abelow represented another high-profile larceny case two years ago when Dr. Weidong Xu, a former Harvard Medical School instructor, was accused of bilking 35 students, friends and colleagues out of $600,000 after convincing them to invest in a fictitious research company.

Concannon, who no longer represents Keester because he is not qualified to try Superior Court cases, declined to comment.

Lee Gersch, property manager for seven apartments on the Hill, including 40 Grove St. where Keester lived for nine months in 2005, is eager to discuss Keester, against whom he has a judgment for $5,600 in unpaid rent and damages.

“Karen’s a lunatic,” he said.

Gersch said that Keester regularly stopped payment on her rent checks, blaming Gersch’s own accounting practices when he confronted her about the missing rent. Keester gave him a letter on her behalf from a New Mexico credit union, which he called only to find out that they already had a fraud investigation against her.

Keester was evicted in April 2006 and, after failing to appear in court, she approached Gersch claiming to be Keester’s fictitious identical twin sister Michelle. She wanted to take over “Karen’s” lease, Gersch said. “[Michelle] spoke very harshly against Karen,” he said.

Gersch suspected that there was a problem with Keester once she signed the lease on the apartment. “We knew something was up with Karen. She didn’t have good or bad credit. She had no credit,” he said. “It is astounding. We’re fairly cautious, but there were no red flags on Karen.”

Gersch said that Keester kept to herself. “I never actually saw her with another person. She was very busy trying to remember what she told the person before.”

The events over the next nine months showed Gersch that Keester was no ordinary tenant. Gersch said that he remembered when a repossessor came by the apartment for two Hondas Keester had leased.

“She claimed she was not Karen Keester, that it was not her car, but if they would give her a few minutes, she would remove her personal belongings from it,” Gersch said. “She’s a hoot.”

“Some of us go to work. Karen stole money from people,” he said. “I’ve had some strange evictions, but this was the strangest.”

Keester wore Edwardian-style clothes in the summertime, Gersch said. “In some ways, Karen does baffle me.”

Editorial
Eleven years

This issue marks the 11th anniversary of The Beacon Hill Times. It’s rather a shock that it has been that long that we have been chronicling the events, activities and happenings of this small urban neighborhood.

Because 11 years have passed, it seems like a good time to consider how Beacon Hill has fared over those years. How have things changed? In what way have things improved? What, if anything, has deteriorated?

There have been many changes, mostly on the fringes, and they are good. Mass General’s new Yawkey Center, the Charles Street Jail transformation, the Charles/MGH station renovation and the new housing that surrounds the Saltonstall building are all welcome in the neighborhood. Even the Cambridge Street work, which hasn’t really taken longer than the Big Dig even though it seems to have, is improving that street year by year, shall we say.

The Common is in better shape than it was 11 years ago, with the wonderful ice skating facility on the Frog Pond and the rejuvenated Parade Ground. And the “temporary,” macabre statue of the Partisans, which most neighbors felt insulted, rather than honored, Polish patriots, found a new home. All in all, we’ve done well with the changes.

Affordable housing in the neighborhood is still scarce, but Rogerson Communities’ housing projects on South Russell and Joy streets have eased the burden somewhat, as did the affordable units at Bowdoin Place, the housing that now lines Cambridge and Bowdoin streets. The expense of housing still challenges young families, of whom we’d like to have more.

The public school situation has not improved. Only two downtown schools exist—not enough for all the kids that might go there. But there are more private schools, which helps solve the problem that there are too few classroom seats for kids in general.

Our institutions seem to have thrived. The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities got a new name, Historic New England, and seems to have renewed energy. The Rose Nichols House museum has also been full of new energy, with greater outreach to the community. Over the last decade the Museum of Afro-American History has restored, renovated or added to its facilities. Hill House has reinvented itself, with a new building and expanded offerings. The idea of Beacon Hill Village and Beacon Hill Seminars had not yet entered any neighbors’ heads 11 years ago, but both are now solid institutions.

Our commercial streets, Charles and Cambridge, are mostly in good shape with a richer mix of shops and restaurants. But we’re concerned about the tendency to replace active retail shops with offices that, by their very nature, create a dead spot on the street. Also of concern are our antiques shops, which are fewer in number than in 1995 and whose owners complain that running those businesses is more difficult than it was a decade ago. Some of us depend heavily on these shops to furnish our homes. They are a wonderful neighborhood resource. They are a nice draw for tourists, which are an important part of our neighborhood’s economy.

Other concerns are still trash and the general condition of our streets, sidewalks and trees. While peer pressure and much discussion seem to have greatly reduced the dog doo that used to make our sidewalks an obstacle course, we still have too much refuse on our sidewalks.

We see no improvement in the filth except for the dog doo. The city still does not tow cars on street cleaning days, so the mechanical sweepers are effective only about half the time. Too many residents are still putting out their trash the night before the pickup, rather than early in the morning on the day of the pickup. When the bags are torn open, either by the gatherers looking for cans or rats looking for food, their contents spill out and the trash men do not see it as their duty to pick up the outflow, nor apparently do the residents, so it remains on the street.

We also see no improvement in the condition of the streets and sidewalks. Over a period of about 25 years, beginning in the late 1960s, Beacon Hill sidewalks were all bricked. But with little maintenance, they are now terribly uneven. It isn’t because they are bricks: Concrete would have suffered the same fate. Tree roots have heaved the sidewalks in some areas. The early bricks were poorly laid compared to the later bricks. Several streets have sidewalks too narrow to walk on if one is carrying an umbrella or a large package. They should have been widened when the sidewalks and streets were refurbished. Residents mostly walk in the street, which is not an ideal solution.

So the condition of our neighborhood is mixed. Sometimes a reader will bring into the Times office a newspaper from the 1960s or even the 1920s. What is the news in these interesting publications? Trash problems and uneven sidewalks, the same as today. Perhaps the state of our neighborhood today isn’t so different from these eras.

Boxhead
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HEALTH
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HELP WANTED
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PART TIME SALES ASSOCIATE. Position available at specialty antique table-top store. Experience preferred, computer knowledge helpful. 11am-6pm 2 days/week. Devonia Antiques 617-510-3890.
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THE RED WAGON. A children’s specialty store located at 69 Charles Street is looking for full time sales help. Please stop by for an application.
PART TIME (8 hours/week) ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE. Established Beacon Hill invitations business seeks general office support. Fast-paced, professional work environment. Ideal candidate has excellent communications and organizational skills. Mother’s hours available. 617-227-2127.
LESSONS
STUDY PIANO AT HOME! Jonathan Lovenstein, faculty-All Newton Music. Call 617-331-0283.
PET SERVICES
HOUSE CALL CAT GROOMING. Where your cat feels the safest. Contact Cynthia 617-265-1800.
SERVICES
TROUBLE GETTING A LOAN? Need to get out of debt? We have the solution. Personal loans, home loans, mortgage loans, auto loans and debt consolidation. Call us today. Toll Free: 1-866-258-0763. Or visit www.directloaninc.com.
TRADE
CRAFTSMAN SEEKING PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. Your Mercedes S430 or E series or a Range Rover SUV in exchange for a new kitchen, new bathroom or other household renovations. Call Lou at 617-605-1726.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
BOSTON MONEY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. Needs adults willing to offer 2-4 hours per month to assist local elders who have difficulty managing day-to-day finances. For more information, call Deborah at 617-522-6700 or email dgrose@ethocare.org.
CAREER COLLABORATIVE. Practice interviewers needed Fridays 9 a.m.-12 noon to run practice interview sessions for low income people seeking permanent jobs. Individuals with extensive interviewing experience please call 617-424-6202 or email Valerie@careercollaborative.org.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS. The Arlington Boys and Girls Club is coordinating a campaign to support local programs. They are asking people with unwanted cars to donate them for auction with the proceeds going to local clubs. Call 1-800-246-0493.
MADD. Are you or is someone you know the victim of a drunk driving accident? We offer many free services including court-accompaniment, referrals for counseling and literature to help. Call 1-800-633-MADD.
HORIZONS FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN. Volunteers needed to play with children living in homeless shelters in your neighborhood and in Greater Boston. A two-hour weekly commitment for 6 months is required. Call 617-287-1900 ext 314 or visit www.horizonsforhomelesschilden.org.
BECOME A BIG BROTHER OR BIG SISTER. Being a “Big” means simply sharing a little time with one great kid just like someone once did for you. Become a “Big” today. Call 800-412-BIGS or log on to www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.
PARENTS HELPING PARENTS. Needs volunteers with good interpersonal skills and a commitment to strengthening families to facilitate support groups aimed at assisting individuals who are anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated or feeling isolated in their role as a parent or guardian. A commitment of several hours a week for one year is required. Call 1-800-882-1250 or e-mail www.parentshelpingparents.org.
COMMUNITY SERVINGS. Volunteers needed one Saturday per month to deliver meals to homebound individuals with life threatening illnesses. Shifts are from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Call Jennifer at 617-445-7777 or e-mail JPOCKOSKI@servings.org.
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. Seeks literacy volunteers to tutor adults with limited English writing and reading skills. Two hours a week, compatible with your schedule. One-year commitment required, must be 21 years old with a minimum of a GED or high school diploma. Contact Nora 617-859-2446 or VolunteerBPL@yahoo.com.
BOSTON MINSTREL COMPANY. Needs singers, musicians, and song leaders to facilitate sing-along songfests at Boston-Cambridge homeless shelters. Amateurs welcome. Call 617-787-2122 or e-mail Bostonminstrel@aol.com.
MATCH-UP. Interfaith Volunteers needs people to commit to making a weekly visit to an elder in need of companionship. Call 617-482-1510 or visit www.matchelder.org.
THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK. Needs volunteers to inspect and sort donated food at the Food Bank's headquarters at 99 Atkinson Street in Boston. Call 617-427-5200, ext. 5030 or visit www.gbfb.org.
AFC MENTORING. Needs volunteers over 18 experienced with adoption/foster care to mentor adopted children. One-year commitment desired. Karlee, 617-695-2441 or karlee@afcmentoring.org.
BLIND AND DYSLEXIC in East Cambridge. Needs volunteers with liberal arts, scientific and/or technical backgrounds to record textbooks. Call Peggy at 617-577-1111, ext 17 for more info. www.rfbd.org/bostonhome.htm.
GENERATIONS INCORPORATED. Needs older adults to volunteer as reading coaches and mentors to children in Dorchester, S. Boston and Roxbury. Training provided. Call 617-423-0408 or see www.generationsinc.org.
WGBH. Needs volunteers to assist with computer projects and office support during weekday business hours, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call Liz Hagyard at 617-300-5715.
LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF MASSACHUSETTS. Help an adult learn English. Call 617-367-1313 for information.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS. The American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program. Work from home or in our Weston office. For further information call 1800-ACS-2345.
SPAULDING REHABILITATION HOSPITAL. Boston. Opportunities for volunteers. We match volunteers' skills and talents with the needs of the hospital's patients and staff. Training provided. For more information contact volunteer services at 617-573-2740 or jburke11@partners.org.
BOSTON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION. Volunteers needed to tutor and mentor two 10th grade students in the areas of both math and literacy for the “City on a Hill” program . Training will be held on Saturday September 16. The program will run throughout the academic year. Join this proven program and be a vital part of a student’s success story. Contact Barbara Harris at 617-451-6145, or apply online at www.bostonpartners.org.
WALKBOSTON. Volunteers needed for walks, legislation and newsletter/e-news committees. Also occasional office work including membership mailings. Call 617-367-9255, www.walkboston.org.
MASS SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELPLINE. Volunteers needed for phone service to help people affected by alcoholism and substance abuse. Must have computer experience. Call 617-536-0501 ext. 201 or see www.helpline-online.com.
BEACON HOSPICE. Volunteers needed to provide support and companionship to patients and their families. Call Laraine Kohler at 617-242-4872.
COMPUTER TUTORS. Volunteers needed for coaching senior and disabled citizens at the Blackstone Apartments. Daytime and evening hours needed. Call Al at 617-557-9121 or email xAlbert3259@aol.com.
BEACON HOUSE. Housing for elderly needs volunteers for front reception desk, a few flexible hours per week. Training provided. Please apply in person at 19 Myrtle St. to fill out an application.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Donations needed: dog and cat toys and treats, blankets and towels for the cages, paper towels, clay cat litter, postage stamps, animal nail clippers, dog and cat collars and leashes. 617-522-5055.
DR. SOLOMON CARTER FULLER. Mental Health Center in the South End needs volunteers for several committees. Call C. Curtiss Carter at 617-626-8726.
MAB COMMUNITY SERVICES. Volunteers needed to read or shop with a blind neighbor. 2-3 hours per week, flexible hours. Training provided. Call Donna Bailey 800-852-3029 or see www.mabcommunity.org.
SAMARITANS OF BOSTON. Volunteers needed to provide telephone counseling on our 24-hour listening line. Help prevent suicide and alleviate the pain of isolation. Training provided. 617-536-2460.
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION. Cambridge chapter needs volunteers for its telephone Helpline service to answer caregiver calls. Training provided. Call 617-868-6718.
ADBAR ETHIOPIAN WOMEN'S ALLIANCE.Volunteers needed to help with its newsletter, website, grant writing, special events and fund raising. Near Harvard Square. 617-234-8981.
THE BOSTON HOME. Dorchester seeks volunteers of all kinds in this long-term care facility for adults with physical disabilities. Pet visits welcome. Call Sally Gorman 617-825-3905 ext. 299 or gormansally@aol.com.