PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Infinity Portrait Design

PHOTO CAPTION: Officer Steve Pasciuto.

In early August, Officer Steve Pasciuto began his latest assignment as Beacon Hill’s newest “beat cop.”
"My goal is to develop relationships with residents and businesses along Charles Street and the surrounding area,” Pasciuto told the Times. “Through my relationships and my presence, I hope to have an understanding of the priorities in the area, and how the people of Beacon Hill can work together with the Boston Police to take responsibility to prevent or solve any issues that may arise.”
Pasciuto was assigned to Beacon Hill, following a meeting, sponsored by the Beacon Hill Business Association, earlier this summer that brought around 30 neighborhood merchants together with local law enforcement to discuss shoplifting and other concerns. After hearing feedback from shop owners, police responded by bring by providing additional coverage for the neighborhood.
Caption Bernie O’Rourke of Area A-1 said Pasciuto would be assigned to a bicycle once the necessary equipment arrives – a measure that will allow the officer to better patrol Charles Street and the surrounding area.

In order to better serve the community, effectively manage costs and focus on its growing list of programs and sports, Hill House recently restructured its staff.
As part of the restructuring, three new staff members have joined the organization, and the executive director role has been transitioned to Ian Moorhouse from David Beardsley. Due to Beardsley’s leadership, Hill House was able to manage the recession’s impact and create an infrastructure for future growth. Hill House thanked Beardsley for strengthening Hill House as an organization and for his dedication and leadership over the past three years
Over the summer, Hill House welcomed Dianne Harrison, Rachel Czubryt and MacEgan Starrett who will join Liza Roman, Jillian Bracken and Brian Koslosky.
After serving as Hill House’s associate director and program director for four years, Moorhouse has been appointed as executive director. He joined Hill House in 2006 after spending nine years with Crossroads for Kids, an organization that provides at-risk youth with summer camps and year round programming. Since his arrival at Hill House, Moorhouse has significantly expanded the number of quality program offerings while revamping its summer camps.
Harrison joined the team in July as the development associate. Most recently, she was the assistant director of alumni relations at her alma mater, College of the Holy Cross. In her role at Hill House, Harrison will oversee Hill House’s fundraising efforts, including the annual live and silent auction, Hill-O-Ween, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29.
Czubryt joins the team as program associate after helping coordinate this year’s summer camps. She recently graduated from Simmons College, with a dual degree in English and communications. In conjunction with recently promoted program manager and summer camp director Bracken, Czubryt will coordinate more than 120 programs each season while assisting families with registration, program inquiries and building rentals.
Starrett, who was a camp counselor this summer at Hill House, has been hired as the athletics coordinator. In this position, she will oversee all of Hill House’s current sports programs and league, including soccer, basketball, baseball and hockey, among others. Starrett recently graduated from Bates College, with a degree in English.
Moorhouse said staff restructuring would allow Hill House to have an even greater impact on the community and children.
“It takes a village to build a whole child and the Hill House team is committed to playing a critical role in shaping the lives of the children and the families we serve,” Moorhouse said. “I am very fortunate to be leading such a dynamic staff, dedicated board and exceptional group of volunteers.”
Hill House will kick-off another year of programs, events and outreach with the annual Soccer Jamboree on Saturday, Sept. 11. Fall programs and classes begin the week of Monday, Sept. 13.
For more information on Hill House, visit www.hillhouseboston.org or call 617-227-5838 ext. 10.

Three years ago, Mary Thomsen, a Revere Street resident at the time and former librarian par excellence, woke up with an idea.
As marketing chair and a board member of Beacon
Hill Seminars (BHS), she was always on the lookout for ways to shine attention on the good work of the non-profit for lifetime learning, and what better way than to connect it than with books.
She reached out to the Beacon Hill Civic Association and arranged for a few tables to be set up at its annual block party. Publicized only via this neighborhood paper and the e-mail list of BHS members, she had modest expectations, but lined up an enthusiastic group of volunteers to help sort, sell and schmooze. Nobody expected the phenomenal success that ensued or how the funds raised would help buy new tech equipment for the seminars to make the pro-bono group leaders' jobs easier.
BHS turned 10 years old this year, and Mary has stepped down from the task of chairing the book sale. But the practices she has put in place have allowed the sale to grow in scope, and it is now a permanent event every September on Mount Vernon Street.
Each year, there are more and better books and the audience becomes more enthusiastic, as do the cheerful volunteers who work hard sorting, selling and schmoozing. Many are board members but more each year are neighborhood "activists" who enjoy doing their part and love books.
Despite the introduction of the iPad and Kindle, books have endeared themselves to new generations and have continued to be treasured by the older ones. Spending a sunny Sunday in September away from devices and pressure, perusing books that beg to be read and allowing the mind to focus without multi-tasking...well, life can be pretty terrific. Thank you, Mary Thomsen.
Donations to the book sale can be dropped off after Sept. 7 on the second floor at 121 Mount Vernon St. during business hours. There is elevator access and donations are tax-deductible. Forms will be available. Unfortunately, textbooks have not sold well, but CDs, DVDs and gently worn books of all kinds have. E-mail beaconhillseminars@verizon.net for further information. All funds raised will benefit BHS programs.

There is nothing worse than having a barking or whining dog for a neighbor– even for a dog lover. For a dog to be a great neighbor, it takes consistent training and consideration for others by the human half of the team.
Unless you own a single-family home in Boston, your pet is part of a small community that has decided to allow its residents to have dogs. Your behavior, and that of your companion animal(s), will play a role in determining the future of that arrangement. In Massachusetts most landlords and condominium associations may make their own rules about pets.

Barking and Whining
Dogs vocalize for many reasons. They may think there is danger. They hear someone in a hallway and want to warn you. They may want attention and are calling for the person or dog passing by to come and play. They might be frightened, lonely, or bored. They could be responding to other dogs. That means you could have a chain-reaction with many dogs disturbing residents.

Tips for Hushing Dogs
Training your dog not to respond to every noise and to stop barking on command is as important as house training. You don’t want your dog soiling your home. Your neighbors don’t want your dog disturbing the peace.
I like using, “Hush!” for my quiet-down command. It’s not a word that comes up a lot in conversation. If you think about it, that is always a great point in choosing a dog command. I also try to use the word “Naughty” when correcting a dog. Both terms have a gentler, friendlier sound than some of the alternatives. In the end, you want your dog to understand you and obey you, not to be afraid of you.
It’s hard to reward a dog for being quiet. The pup could mistakenly think you are rewarding it for barking. Giving the dog a second command, like “Sit!” can serve as a distraction, redirect attention to you, and make the reason for the praise or treat clear.

When You’re Away
Confining your dog to an interior room or crate when you are not at home is a great idea. Playing a radio, audio book, or music can also help block distracting noises. I have an old iPod loaded with lots of soothing background sound that keeps my dog company when I’m not around.

Separation Anxiety
A dog that is fearful when you leave and cries for you to return takes special effort. With a young pup, the accepted routine is to begin leaving for short intervals and slowly increasing the time away. You can stand outside the door and go back inside to give a correction or praise.
With serious cases you should work with a veterinarian. A vet can help rule out medical problems that might cause the same symptoms.
Sometimes only anti-anxiety medications can solve the problem. The ASPCA has a great resource page on this topic on their website. They say, “The use of medications can be very helpful, especially for severe cases of separation anxiety. Some dogs are so distraught by any separation from their pet parents that treatment can’t be implemented without the help of medication. Anti-anxiety medication can help a dog tolerate some level of isolation without experiencing anxiety. It can also make treatment progress more quickly. “
Looking at your own dog’s behavior, figuring out what triggers barking and whining, changing what sets the dog off, and training are the keys to having your neighbors think well of you and your pet.