credit: Jamie Fairstone


The annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge ran through the neighborhood on Thursday, June 15. These runners turned from Beacon to Arlington Street on their way to Kenmore Square.

credit: Mandrita Datta.
caption: Jason West at work in the lab.





What kind of a scientist is Jason West?

As the running family joke goes, “A mad scientist!”

He looks the part, with his easy smile, mess of dark brown hair, and even messier desk. A lanky six-feet tall, he bicycles every day from his South Russell Street apartment to Children’s Hospital Boston, where he slaps on a nametag and white coat as a fourth-year biology doctorate student at Harvard Medical School.

He’s also at the vanguard of embryonic stem cell research, using these controversial cells to study the formation of sperm and eggs. West’s lab, led by Children’s Hospital researcher Dr. George Q. Daley, received permission on June 6 to begin attempts to create the world’s first cloned human embryonic stem cells.

“Right now I’m in the position to find answers to questions that have never been explored before,” West said in his native West Virginian dialect that stretches words like “frog” and “strawberry.” “These cells have a lot of promise as a research tool to treat diseases and study human development.”

With at least three more years before he can hope to publish his thesis and graduate, West, 26, is working “around the clock” eager for a breakthrough.

“Seven days a week I devote myself to work, and in the time I have off, I’m thinking about experiments I need to do or should have done,” he said. On the odd afternoon he doesn’t spend in the lab, he likes to relax by playing a round of golf with a group of fellow graduate students.

When he first came to Harvard, West heard about a senior scientist who berated a student for taking a spontaneous vacation. The words “vacation” and “scientist” have since become mutually exclusive in his mind. “The joke goes, as a grad student, you’ve accepted guilt as an inherent part of relaxation, and there’s truth to this,” he said.

“Convivial? Depressing? Inspiring?” West asks when trying to describe the atmosphere in a lab rife with young scientists pursuing innovative paths of medical research. “It really depends on the day. It’s a place where you are almost guaranteed to find someone, whether it is day or night, weekday or weekend, Christmas or Passover, working on experiments.”

Scientists derived the first human embryonic stem cells when he was an undergraduate biology major at West Virginia University, but West didn’t begin studying stem cells until he came to Harvard in 2002, one year after President George W. Bush prohibited government funding for research involving human embryonic stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001.

The sharp controversy surrounding stem cell research, which entails destroying embryos, helped draw West to the field. “It’s exciting for me to see this other side of the science and the impact it has on our society,” he said.
“
The most important part of the debate lies in educating the public so that people can make informed decisions about whether this is something they want their society to do or prevent. I just think the facts speak for themselves,” he added.

Human embryonic stem cells have the ability to divide into and form any type of cell in the body. They are obtained from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst, a proto-embryo composed of 100 to 300 cells. In comparison, a drop of blood contains millions of cells. The cloning experiments that West’s lab is undertaking would help scientists create embryonic stem cells with DNA identical to that of a sick patient and thereby facilitate the study of that disease.

Although scientists have not yet succeeded in cloning human embryonic stem cells, it is thought that such research can unlock the mysteries behind genetic diseases. Many of the scientists in West’s lab study how stem cells can treat blood-based conditions, such as leukemias and anemias. No one knows when, or if, the lab will succeed in the cloning experiments.

Before the lab received permission to begin experiments to clone embryonic stem cells, eight committees at Harvard reviewed the research’s ethical ramifications over two years. “The Hippocratic Oath says to do no harm, so I think all scientists have to keep that ethical framework in mind,” West said.

As the public debate wages, especially with the approach of election season this fall, West will continue his dogged days in the lab. It can be a life of frustration, he said, especially the year he spent trying to see a single element in his experiment to fruition.

“You never know what sort of hurdles you’ll face,” West said. “There was one year [during my studies] when I had nothing to show except what not to do. But it was invaluable. It made me a better scientist.”

CAPTION: Chris Reilly of Equity, Tom Miller of the BRA, Greg White of Equity, Mayor Thomas Menino, Equity Residential President and CEO David Neithercut, BRA Director Mark Maloney and Gerry Spector of Equity took part in Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony of Equity Residential’s new development at Emerson Place.

PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Godfrey




Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston Redevelopment Authority Director Mark Maloney and a cast of supporters from Equity Residential and the West End community broke ground last Wednesday for the soon-to-be West End Residences at Emerson Place, a 5.17 acre development area that is the first new housing addition to the neighborhood in ten years.

Scheduled for completion in Spring, 2008, the development will include 310 rental units in five buildings, with a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and townhouses, as well as two below-grade parking structures for 660 cars. The project is the culmination of more than four years of planning and negotiating—sometimes contentious—with the community, city and state.

As part of that process, Equity Residential pledged a series of benefits to advance the renewal of the neighborhood, including contributions to ongoing improvements of the Science Park MBTA station, Downtown North initiatives and more than 2.5 acres of open space. It committed $350,000 towards the upgrading of Thoreau Path, which connects the West End and the Charles River. It also has made physical contributions to the adjacent Boston Children’s School, a training center for Wheelock College which educates children beginning at age two years and nine months to seven years during the regular school year.

When owner Eric Stevens took down two floors of a hidden historic house at the rear of 28 Phillips Street without a demolition permit in November, the Inspectional Services Department immediately put a stop to the work. With the two top floors of the four-story brick home already gone, local and state historic preservationists, black community leaders and residents alike all flew into a rage.

Last week, down came the rest of the building—the last remnant of a once thriving 19th century enclave of African American residences known as Coburn Court—but this time there was little fanfare.

Elizabeth Leary of ISD said Stevens now has the correct permits in place to do the demolition. On March 13, he filed an application for permission to amend his original plan, which had been filed in March, 2004, and granted him permission to renovate and rehabilitate the existing building. The amended plan asked for permission to remove all unsafe exterior walls and reconstruct with a new foundation and walls. He agreed to keep the building shape and footprint identical to the original home, and not to add to the existing building.

Stevens, who did not return phone calls for this story, had said in November that he had begun demolition because the building was structurally unsound and that none of it was salvageable.

In April, Beacon Hill Architectural Commission Preservation Planner Colleen Meagher notified Stevens that she had reviewed his plans for demolition and new construction and had determined that both were exempt from commission review because the site is not visible from a public way.

In May, Architect Steven Petitpas submitted a letter from a professional engineer and design firm stating that, while in November it was apparent that the brick bearing walls above grade were not in a satisfactory condition, the existing brick foundation walls, if reinforced with a concrete block wall, could sustain the anticipated weight of new construction.

On June 9, ISD officially approved the amendment to Steven’s existing permit, and the demolition began shortly thereafter.

“I am sorry this happened to the Coburn House, but sometimes unfortunate things like this happen when they are below the radar screen,” said Diana Parco, project manager for capital improvements at the Museum of Afro-American History and a Boston University graduate student. She personally believes the building could have been saved if proper measures had been put in place to stabilize it before the roof was lifted. But after the initial two floors had been removed, it was too far gone to save it. She said museum officials were aware it was going to be taken down and rebuilt.

But there was a good side to it all. After the work had been stopped last fall, Stevens met with museum representatives and acknowledged that things could have gone better, she said. As mitigation, he gave them $3000 that will enable them to put together a report on all other hidden homes on Beacon Hill so that this won’t ever happen again.

Before the final demolition took place this week, Parco and a team of her colleagues from the Preservation Studies Program at Boston University went into the house to do some documentation and take some remnants, such as an original door and window. “There were some fascinating early things there, still some original materials. And we now have hand drawings of the original layout.”

“It was under unfortunate circumstances, but we did garner important information about places like this that were off the beaten track,” she said.

Two pieces of property are affecting our neighborhood right now. One is already built. The other is probably going to be. They are both the subject of controversy. In both cases, there is a clear benefit to the neighborhood by something happening. We want to speed up the process.

The first house is at 18 Brimmer Street. Construction started at this location more than six years ago. Little progress appears to have been made. It was on January 29, 2002, that the city of Boston’s Inspectional Services Department gave owner Zouhair Hassan eight months from the time they issued a building permit to finish or officials would appoint a receiver to complete the construction, using a bond the owner was required to post to pay for the work. That was two years after the building was condemned. Now, more than six years later and long after the derelict building began to concern neighbors, the building is still not finished. In fact, it looks as if it is not even half finished.

This cannot go on. The city must begin again the process to take over this building. Construction is always a problem for neighbors, as is an unoccupied building. Normally, however, neighbors put up with it with only a few complaints since they know it is necessary. But no building owner should have the right to disrupt his or her block for six or more years.

The second piece of property is at 45 Beaver Place. In this case it is not the owner, but the neighbors who are now thwarting an attempt to build an appropriate house on a derelict piece of land.

George LaPerle, the owner, has been slowly making his way through state bureaucracy, engineering problems and neighbor problems to build a house that has passed muster with the Beacon Hill Architectural Commission and would be a welcome replacement for the pit that has existed in that location for as long as anyone can remember. He has cleaned up the pit and is now asking for a couple of zoning variances. He should get them, especially if he makes a few changes to his design.

LaPerle has not necessarily behaved wisely or strategically. He hasn’t always been willing to see how he might do something different in his design that would encourage more support.

Some of his future neighbors have behaved badly too. They have embarrassed themselves harassing him with lawsuits that appear to have little merit and have only succeeded in stalling the process. LaPerle’s house will change the views from some of the backs of some of the buildings along Beacon Street. But it will also screen noise from Storrow Drive that makes some of the roof decks along Beaver Place now unusable. Moreover, the same neighbors who complain that they will lose some views may end up with better views than they have now if the ultimate plan for the reconstruction of the Storrow Drive tunnel includes removing the Fiedler Bridge. Finally, LaPerle’s proposed design steps down and forms an attractive bridge between the Union Boat Club, one of the flat of the hill’s tallest buildings, and the lower former stables along Beaver Place.

It is time to compromise for the sake of the neighborhood. The dirty pit did no one any good. Neighbors missed their chance to control what happened to the pit by not buying it themselves when it went up for sale. They must have realized that a person could build 65 feet high in that location if he maintained a floor-area ratio of two. In fact, LaPerle can still do that without any neighbor having any say.

This is the time for neighbors to offer support and for LaPerle to modify his plans a bit. He wants zoning variances to be able to add more square feet and to avoid creating a rear yard setback of ten feet. These ten feet will do no one any good, since they can’t be used well by anyone. He should get this variance and another that will enable him to add excessive square feet. In exchange, he should modify the design on the fourth floor and maybe on the third floor to enable a few neighbors to keep the view they have. He then should proceed quickly with construction so that this pit is filled, and the neighborhood is quiet again.

CLEANING SERVICES
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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.horizonsforhomelesschildren.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 logon 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 4th grade students in math. Training and placement will be provided. Join this proven program and be a vital part of a student’s success story. Contact Barbara Harris at 617-451-6145 x 620, 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.