In the Sport-light - This week's Hull sports highlights

By Matt Haraden

• 3/4 Boys Soccer Team 1 played a tough game against Halifax this past weekend, losing 9-6. Goals were scored by Andy Michaelides, Patrick Garr Chase, Ryder Lankas, and North Saforrian. Enki Mundo played strong on offense, as well as goalie Killian Kelly, who played the first half in goal and then switched between offense and defense in the second half. Now 1-1-2 on the season, the team will play Middleboro on Saturday, May 11. 5/6 Team 1 played a great game against Marshfield on Saturday, May 4, ending in a 3-3 tie. The Pirates led 2-0 going into the half, but Marshfield netted three straight goals in the second half, including a penalty. Tristen Misdea then scored the game-tying goal off of a free kick, giving him a hat trick. 5/6 Team 2 also landed a tie on Saturday, drawing Hingham 3-3. Joe Elisii-Johnson had a goal and two assists, Jack O’Mara and Finnian Smith also found the back of the net. Nick Mihal had another strong performance in goal, saving a penalty shot in the game. Jack Ranger and Cody Miller also had stellar performances.

HAVING A BALL. D1 Assistant Coach Pat Handrahan pitches to his daughter, Maisie, during a youth softball game against Norwell recently. [Photo courtesy of Amanda Twombly]

• Girls 3/4 Gold Team Soccer won a close one on the road against Middleboro last weekend, sneaking by at 5-4. Magnolia Harbin put Hull on the board first, while Frankie Rockett shot one from midfield to add to the tally. Hannah Summers added another two goals to make it a 4-2 game going into the half. Middleboro came out strong in the second half, tying the game at four. Not willing to settle for a tie, the Hull offense was relentless in the final minutes, determined to get one past the goalie. Hannah Summers blasted in her third goal for a hat trick to win the game with less than a minute left. Strong work in goal by Oliva Veissid, backed by stellar defensive performances by Leah Dibley, Skylar Kaplan, Charley Ward, and Cate Mulvihill, held off a hungry Middleboro team. 5/6 Soccer beat Hingham, 5-2, on Saturday, May 4, bringing them to 4-0 on the season. Aubrey Littlefield scored all five goals for Hull. Stella Palermo had a strong performance at midfield, assisting in the scoring. Sophie Munn had another great game in net. The team has a double header on Saturday, May 11, traveling from Plymouth back to Hull for game two. 7/8 Soccer battled hard but fell, 2-1, to Middleboro. Gianna Throne had the lone goal for the Pirates, with Michaela Collins playing well on defense. Now 4-1-0, the team plays Cohasset in its next game on Saturday, May 11.

• Girls Softball Team 2 fell to Norwell on Tuesday, May 7, with a final score of 26-8. Despite the loss, the players had grit and kept their heads up, even when the odds were against them. Leigha McClory, Tessa Schultz, Aislinn Connors-Duffy, Kiera Nashawaty, McKenzie Neal, and Lauren Augier all had hits in the game. Kelsea Dunlap, McKenzie Neal, Mackenzie MacLeod, and Leigha McCory led the defense. The team has two more games this week if the weather allows.

• Girls 3/4 Lacrosse continued its winning streak, taking down Parkway Academy, 6-5, for the second time this season. Lily Effinger and Hailey MacLeod were flying around at midfield. Jackie Collins and Hannah Summers played swarm defense, while Cate Mulvihill and Ryleigh Mooney charged the net on attack. Scoring came from Willa Britton and Cordelia Hennessey. Laila Dolan was the field general, passing the ball around to her teammates, while Sklyar Kaplan made save after save in goal.

ON TRACK FOR SUCCESS. The Hull High track team’s medal winners at the Sunset Classic Twilight Invitational Meet included Bree Simpson-Sliney [fifth place in the high jump], Elsie Harper [first place in the 100 meter hurdles], and Veronica Fleming [sixth in the 100]. [Photo courtesy of Brian Lanner]

• On Tuesday, April 30, the Nantasket Nor’easters traveled to Jamaica Pond to sail against Brookline High School. The team usually races 420s, but the host team provided Quests for the match. Despite never having sailed this type of boat, the Nor’easters sailed to a 4-0 win against Brookline and remain undefeated for the season, with a 3-0 record.

• Hull High Baseball edged past Quincy in the Pirates’ latest game, with a final score of 4-3. Liam Conneely pitched all seven innings, getting five strikeouts, allowing seven hits and three runs. Luke Dunham went 2/4 from the plate, scoring two runs. Josh Dunham went 2-3 with 2 RBIs and Ken Autio went 2/3 with an RBI. Nick Tiani batted in the winning run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning.

• Coaches and Super Fans – we need your help to report the scores and results of the latest games in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com.

Deadline is Tuesday at 8 p.m. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!

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Hull High principal resigns after two years in position

Less than two years after being named principal of Hull High School, Michael Knybel will leave his position at the end of the current school year.

“It is with mixed emotions that I share Principal Michael Knybel’s decision not to return for the upcoming school year,” Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn wrote in an email to parents on Friday, May 3. “While we are saddened by his departure, we are grateful for the leadership he has provided in his short tenure at Hull High School. We have, in just a short time, seen improvement in several areas of our high school. His dedication to enhancing curriculum options for the students and faculty alike, facilitating a smooth transition for our eighth graders to Hull High School, and improving overall student outcomes has been instrumental in shaping the future of our students.”

Knybel was hired in June 2022 to replace Principal Nicole Nosek, who resigned to become the assistant principal of Hingham High School. At the time, he was the middle and high school principal in Lenox, and previously served in East Longmeadow, Ware, and Gill-Montague Regional School District, all in western Massachusetts.

The principal earned praise from students and parents during his time in Hull, although in early April, teachers protested outside the school, holding signs critical of Knybel’s leadership.

“My commitment is unwavering: students come first,” Knybel said in a statement after the public demonstration. “It is disheartening to see teachers feeling unsupported and frustrated.”

Kuehn’s email also touted Hull High’s placement as the 78th best statewide in the U.S. News 2024 Best High School rankings.

“We appreciate all that Principal Knybel has contributed and wish him all the best,” said Kuehn, who is retiring next month. “I will be collaborating with [incoming superintendent] Dr. [Michael] Jette to develop a plan to replace Principal Knybel.”

-- Christopher Haraden

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MBTA zoning, opening of railroad bed get voters' OK on final night of town meeting

By Carol Britton Meyer

The third session of the marathon 2024 town meeting wrapped up at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night, for a total of 12 hours in all.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION: WITH MODERATOR GEORGE BOYLEN UNAVAILABLE FOR THE THIRD NIGHT OF TOWN MEETING, FORMER SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER JIM CANAVAN STEPPED INTO THE ROLE AND ABLY MANAGED VOTERS’ SPIRITED DEBATE.

Because Town Moderator George Boylen was unable to carry out his duties on the last night due to unforeseen circumstances, attorney James Canavan, a former member of the school committee and advisory board, offered to serve as temporary moderator, which voters approved unanimously.

“When I woke up this morning, I didn’t expect to be doing this, but I thank you and will do my best,” he said.

The entire meeting was an example of democracy in action, with many engaged citizens speaking for and against various articles, some standing several times to express their views on various issues before the voters.

During night three following a lengthy discussion, voters supported the MBTA Communities warrant article crafted to meet the requirements of the new state legislation requiring as-of-right zoning for multi-family housing near public transportation. The affirmative vote followed a “no” vote on a substitute motion to refer the issue to study. (See related story.)

Funding approved to retrofit Memorial School

Voters also supported spending up to $3.6 million to retrofit a floor of the Memorial School as municipal office space due to the deteriorating condition of the current town hall and to possibly move the senior center to that location. (See related story.)

Also approved was a opioid special revenue fund using proceeds from part of a settlement to resolve opioid litigation brought by states against large pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors to be used for substance misuse prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support and establishing a committee to consider the best use of these funds.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable informed voters that such an effort is already underway.

Articles 35 and 36 were related, with voters approving both. Article 36 – which was addressed first by lottery – asked the select board to stipulate that the old railroad bed right-of-way from L to XYZ streets, which is unobstructed from December through April, continue to be unobstructed throughout the year and that the town-owned barrier at the corner of L Street and the right-of-way be removed and replaced by a lockable gate or chain that can be accessed by police and fire for emergency use (as recommended in the 1991 Railroad Bed Report). A “no action” substitute motion failed.

Advisory Board Chair Jason Frady explained the board’s unfavorable action recommendation on this article based on the premise that the authority to take such action rests with the select board. “This is really a referendum for voters to express their opinions,” he said.

Town Counsel James Lampke made a motion to reconsider the affirmative 146 to 57 vote on Article 35 to allow him to present a substitute motion, which failed to pass.

The purpose of this article to amend the current bylaw by prohibiting the deposit by anyone – including a town official or agent unless strictly necessary to ensure public safety and other considerations – on public or town-controlled property of manure, gravel, ashes, lumber, wood (including telephone poles) buildings, carriages, stones, barrels, rubbish, or other materials was an attempt to resolve a longstanding issue with respect to the proper use of all town-owned public access ways, including the old railroad right-of-way parallel to Nantasket Avenue between L and XYZ streets.

Working collaboratively to find solution

Issues include vehicular access and parking concerns. The majority of the advisory board supported encouraging affected residents and the town to work collaboratively to find a solution, but in the meantime recommended favorable action on the article on the basis of public safety so these issues can be addressed.

Advisory board member David Clinton took a minority position, feeling strongly that the article should have been referred to study. He suggested a series of community forums as the best course of action for determining the best use of the area and to develop a plan “that recognizes the safety, parking, and quality of life concerns of all citizens.”

Lampke’s motion to reconsider the initial affirmative vote was based on concerns about the wording of the article “and how it will play out if it gets enacted.”

He noted that the current bylaw allows a town agent to place materials on public or town-controlled property as needed for public safety or other reasons, not just under the circumstances outlined in the proposed amended bylaw.

Constable explained that discussions about this issue have already begun.

“We walked the area, and there are authorized and unauthorized encroachments on the railroad bed,” she said. “This is a very complex area. We want everybody to know that this matter is being addressed. We’re waiting for [additional] information before making a decision.”

Voters also approved the creation and funding of a capital stabilization fund for capital planning, as called for and budgeted by Constable in her Fiscal 2025 budget.

The fund will also support the work of the town meeting-approved new capital improvement planning committee and is specifically designated for future planning. For that reason, it is separate and apart from the town stabilization fund also approved by voters during this town meeting.

In addition, voters approved appropriating up to $500,000 to continue pursuing litigation related to contractor failure involving the Crescent Beach seawall and revetment project and for costs associated with construction, engineering, design, and legal expenses, among others.

Click below to read the full text of the May 6 town meeting warrant:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/hull_atm_2024_final-2.pdf

Click below for the Times’ news stories about town meeting issues:

https://www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion on this issue? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

Funding approved for seawall, public safety study on town meeting’s second night; third session is Wednesday

By Carol Britton Meyer

The three-and-a-half-hour second session of town meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday evening after consideration of eight warrant articles, with only one “no” vote. The third session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8 at Hull High School, beginning at 7 p.m.

EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. Town Moderator George Boylen reads a motion on one of the articles at Tuesday night’s session of town meeting.

Voters approved spending $150,000 to study building a combined police/fire public safety facility, appropriating $6 million for the town’s share of rebuilding the deteriorating seawall in the Allerton area, establishing a floodplain overlay zoning district, and replacing the float at Pemberton Pier. An article that would have allowed the town to take land on Beach Avenue by eminent domain received a vote of 124-123, short of the two-thirds required for approval.

The first item on the agenda will be the MBTA Communities Zoning Act. While that article number was drawn during last night’s meeting, discussion was postponed due to the lateness of the hour out of concern that it was unlikely that a vote would be taken by the 11 p.m. deadline for adjourning the meeting.

New state legislation requires that MBTA communities (those served by commuter rail, ferry, bus, or subway service, or adjacent to those with service) have at least one zoning district of reasonable size near the MBTA facility in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right.

Town meeting will be asked to adopt changes proposed to the town’s zoning map to put Hull in compliance. Failure to do so puts the town in jeopardy of losing significant state grants.

Other articles remaining to be addressed are Community Preservation Act funding recommendations; creation and funding of a special purpose stabilization fund for capital planning; establishing an opioid special revenue fund to hold Hull’s allotment of the Commonwealth’s share of the financial settlement with the states by manufacturers of opioids for use to treat and combat substance use and addiction; and funding the Memorial School retrofit related to relocation of town hall operations to that location as part of the school consolidation plan.

Voters are encouraged to arrive early so the meeting can start on time. Watch this week’s Hull Times in print and online for full details of town meeting action.

Click below to read the full text of the May 6 town meeting warrant:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/hull_atm_2024_final-2.pdf

Click below for the Times’ news stories about town meeting issues:

https://www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion on this issue? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

In first night of town meeting, voters approve budget, say ‘yes’ to accessory dwelling units

By Carol Britton Meyer 

Voters were in a “yes” mood during the four-hour first session of Hull’s annual town meeting Monday night, approving all seven of the warrant articles that were addressed – including the $50 million FY25 town budget, accessory dwelling units (ADU) and zoning and general bylaw amendments related to marijuana establishments – with 29 articles remaining on the agenda. The meeting was continued to 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Hull High School.

THE FEDS ARE HERE. US REP. STEPHEN LYNCH ADDRESSED HULL TOWN MEETING VOTERS TO ANNOUNCE that HULL has received $850,000 in federal funds for the two-way traffic plan in the area of the Hull Redevelopment authority property.

“It’s so good to see a full house of friends, neighbors, and my parents here tonight,” Rep. Joan Meschino, a Hull resident, said at the beginning of the meeting. “This is where we come together as part of our civic duty for public discourse on matters that are important to us.”

Passage of the ADU article will allow homeowners of single-family residences to add and rent out an accessory dwelling unit within their home, subject to the special permit process. The goal is to help increase the town’s housing stock and to allow owner-occupants to generate rental income. There’s a maximum of 10 permits that could be issued annually over 10 years, for a potential 100 ADUs.

The intent of the marijuana zoning article was to rectify and clarify procedural issues in the article that passed at the 2023 special town meeting intended to allow two retail establishments at one time, but not cultivation, testing, manufacturing, or on-site consumption.

Voters also approved salaries for the select board, town moderator, town clerk, assessors, and the municipal light board; a $50 million town budget, including $17.9 million for the schools, on a vote of 333 to 62; replacing the capital outlay committee that hasn’t met for quite some time with a new capital improvement planning committee; and accepting a $3.8 million settlement resulting from the sewer plant lawsuit filed in 2013 following storm damage.

Watch for full town meeting coverage in this week’s edition of The Hull Times, in print and online.

Click below to read the full text of the May 6 town meeting warrant:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/hull_atm_2024_final-2.pdf

Click below for the Times’ news stories about town meeting issues:

https://www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion on this issue? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

Know before you go: Click here for the full town meeting warrant and budget documents

Town meeting will be held at Hull High School on Monday, MAy 6 at 7 p.m. This is last year’s turnout.

Click below to read the full text of the May 6 town meeting warrant:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/hull_atm_2024_final-2.pdf

Click below for the full text of Town Manager Jennifer Constable’s FY25 budget presentation:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/FY25-Budget-02-21-24-MB-Balanced-Distribution-Version.xlsx

 Click below for the full FY25 school budget presentation:

https://www.hulltimes.com/s/FY25-School-Budget.pdf

Click below for the Times’ news stories about town meeting issues:

https://www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024

Click below to watch Hull Community Television — the meeting will be broadcast live, and you can check the Video on Demand section for recordings of past meetings about the issues:

https://www.hulltv.net

Residents raise concerns about traffic, safety with seawall replacement plan

By Carol Britton Meyer

It was standing room only during the second informational meeting about the seawall project on Nantasket Avenue near the Fitzpatrick Way lagoon, in preparation for Monday’s annual town meeting, when voters will be asked to approve about $6 million toward the town’s share of the total $15.6-million cost. (See related story.)

The purpose of the project is to reduce the risk of flood damage and coastal erosion, increase resilience against projected future sea level rise, and maintain critical links to the infrastructure, homes, and businesses on Pemberton Point.

HITTING THE WALL. On Monday, a packed room of concerned Hull residents listened as town officials and engineers give a detailed presentation on proposal to replace the seawall along Nantasket Avenue near the Fitzpatrick Way lagoon. Among those speaking during the session were Allerton Hill resident Paul Falletti, who discussed the potential changes to traffic patterns on Allerton Hill. [Photos courtesy of the Point Allerton Association]

Residents at the meeting raised concerns about changing traffic to one-way along that section of Nantasket Avenue, safety for pedestrians along the new wall, and the impact of traffic on the rest of Allerton Hill.

The existing deteriorating seawall – which was named the top priority in a recent study of Hull seawalls and other vulnerable structures in need of repair – overtops during some storms and is in bad shape due to its age and erosion.

 If the seawall were to fail, everything north of the structure would be cut off from the rest of the town and vice versa, including two schools, the wastewater treatment plant, the U.S. Coast Guard station, the commuter ferry, and hundreds of homes.

Consultants provided an overview of the project and fielded numerous questions from among the dozens of residents who packed the Hull High School Exhibition Room Monday night.

The work involves replacing a large portion, about 1,675 feet, of the seawall along a section of Nantasket Avenue adjacent to 948 Nantasket Ave., Point Allerton Avenue, and Stony Beach as well as relocating overhead utilities, intersection improvements, raising a portion of the road, and creating an overlook with a view of the ocean.

The plan calls for the new seawall to be constructed landward of the existing seawall, with armor stone between the walls.

In response to a question from the audience, Russell Titmuss of GEI Consultants confirmed that the work involving cutting off part of the old seawall after the new seawall is installed.

One-way road a concern

Among residents’ concerns are the planned one-way road (direction not yet determined), additional expected traffic on Allerton Hill, the “incredible impacts” the project will have on residents, and other issues.

“There will not be enough space for the road to be two-way,” Titmuss said.

One resident suggested that the single-lane road could be one way in either direction at different times of the day, which was not ruled out as a possibility.

After a number of other residents questioned the use of stone dust for a walkway along the seawall, a request was made to have the pathway paved instead. Project engineer Kevin Mooney said that change is possible, pending conservation commission approval.

A 30-year Allerton Hill resident aired concerns shared with others living in his neighborhood about how to make the project “less burdensome” for those living in the area and suggested the money that would be used to create the overlook instead be put toward constructing a concrete sidewalk, which he considers safer and better than stone dust.

State and federal grants will cover most of the project’s cost – including associated road work – as long as the work meets certain deadlines, Mooney said. Town meeting voters will have the final say on the warrant article related to the town’s share of the costs.

Project could start this summer

The construction, with a targeted start date of mid-2024, will take about 18 to 24 months to complete, with an expected “lifespan” of at least 50 years.

“Although we can’t predict Mother Nature,” the new seawall is designed to stand up to major severe storms, according to Mooney.

Construction will take place during daylight hours, starting no earlier than 7 a.m. Rodent control is part of the contract.

The earlier town-approved matching $1 million for the $3 million state seawall grant and another $4.94 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help pay for the project, with approval pending on another $665,000 federal grant. The town is expected to pay the remaining tab, hence the request for $6 million on the May 6 town meeting warrant.

In response to a question about how the new seawall will be maintained “so it doesn’t unravel,” Mooney said he’s working with the town to develop a maintenance plan for all of Hull’s coastal structures that will involve annual inspections and keeping records of storm damage, cleanups, and other work performed.

Constable noted that many meetings can be viewed on hulltv.net on demand once they are recorded, including this week’s informational session.

For full town meeting coverage, click here.

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In the Sport-light - This week's Hull sports highlights

By Matt Haraden

• Congratulations to Hull High’s boys and girls track teams, both of which registered wins against Mashpee on April 24. The girls team won, 69-60, while the boys finished on top, 72-59. Winners for the girls were: Elsie Harper, triple jump and 100 hurdles; Bree Simpson-Sliney, high jump; Gabriella Thomas, javelin; Veronica Fleming, 100m; Abigail Jeffries-Ranger, 400m; and Kaelyn Burke, 400 hurdles. Winners for the boys were: Chris Resnick, high jump, long jump, and 110 hurdles; Jameson Luggelle, discus and javelin; Michael Cimetti, 400 hurdles; and Lawrence Bodley, 200m.

Hull Track and Field represented well at the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association

Division IV relays, with six medal-winning teams, including:

• Fifth place, shot put: Jonah Smith, Dan Gianibas, Owen Bechtold

• First place, high jump: Joshua Miller, Lawrence Bodley, Chris Resnick

• Fourth place, SMR 1600 relay: Sam Tuchmann, Lawrence Bodley, Chris Resnick, Finn Walsh

• Second place, javelin: Kaelyn Burke, Montana Alibrandi, Gabriella Thomas

• Third place, 4x100: Lilly Copenheaver-Smith, Veronica Fleming, Elsie Harper, Bree Simpson-Sliney

• Second place, long jump: Lilly Copenheaver-Smith, Veronica Fleming, Elsie Harper

• On Saturday, April 27, the Nantasket Nor’easters were scheduled to sail three matches in a quad meet at Hull Yacht Club. The wind didn’t fill in until after 12:30 p.m., so only four of the scheduled six matches took place. The Nor’easters are a high school sailing team made up of students from Hull and Cohasset and are supported by Sail Nantasket, a non-profit dedicated to supporting youth sailing locally.

First up, in breezy 15- to 20-knot winds, the Nor’easters sailed a great first match of the season, beating Scituate five races to zero. Next up was Boston Latin. Last year Boston Latin was just too much for the Nor’easters to handle, beating them in two matches and keeping the Nor’easters out of the playoffs. Nantasket raced to a 4-1 win, frustrating Latin at every mark. After two lengthy protests and some negotiation between the teams over what additional protests were worthy of pushing forward, the 4-1 result stood and the Nantasket Nor’easters celebrated their two wins to start what promises to be a successful 2024 campaign.

• Girls 5/6 Soccer beat Cohasset on Saturday, 6-1, bringing the team’s record to 3-0 on the season. Aubrey Littlefield lead the way in scoring with four goals. Piper Yakubian and Stella Palermo each added a goal for the Pirates. Nadia Schultz and Ellie Kiley played solid games in midfield. Hull hosts Hingham Saturday morning at 8 a.m. at the high school field.

• The Boys 5/6 Soccer team played its best soccer to date this past Saturday, hammering Pembroke, 7-1 on the road. The game featured stellar performance by the impenetrable defense line, headed up by Billy Littlefield and Slava Rzhevskii. The midis and strikers had excellent performances, with Macklin Concannon scoring three goals, Henry Littlefield with three goals, and Eathan Medina with one goal.

• The Boys 5/6-2 Soccer Team played Kingston on Monday, finishing with a tough 1-2 loss. Cody Miller anchored the defense. Nick Mihal was in goal for the second half and saved a great penalty shot. Joe Elisii-Johnson had multiple breakaways and shots on net and scored Hull’s only goal. Jacob Greenberg, Reefe Markowitz, and Charlie Montgomery also had notable performances.

• The Boys 3/4 Soccer Team 2 was at it again, beating Carver this past Saturday. The boys –Owen Bilodeau, Ty Bilodeau, Jordan Dunn, Jack Gregorio, Harrison Jones, Braedyn O’Hare, Liam Palermo, Luke Panetta and Zack Shea – played a great game and showed tremendous sportsmanship toward their opponents by not playing to their fullest potential.

• Girls 7/8 Soccer battled hard and won, 2-1, against Marshfield, to remain undefeated on the season with a 4-0-0 record. Goals were scored by Gianna Thorne and Brianna Ramos, and the game featured strong defense by Bridgett Stamatouras and Scarlet Arevalo in net. The next game is Saturday in Middleboro.

• The Girls 3/4 Gold Soccer Team had a busy couple of days this past weekend. They notched their second win of the season with a 2-1 win over Carver on a rare Thursday night game. Magnolia Harbin and Frankie Rockett each scored, while Hannah Summers and Cate Mulvihill played strong halves in net, keeping the Carver team to one goal. On Saturday, April 27, the girls played at home and their strongest opponent yet. It was a tough loss to Plympton, but the powerhouse defense of Leah Dibley, Skylar Kaplan, Cate Mulvihill, and Charlie Ward made the opposing team work hard for any goal scoring chances. Strong offensive pressure by Jackie Collins, Magnolia Harbin, and Hannah Summers supported Frankie Rockett, who was able to get one goal by a highly talented Plympton defense. The team is 2-2 so far this season.

• The Hull Youth Lacrosse Girls 3/4 Team bounced back from last week to beat Weymouth at home on Sunday, with a final score of 10-5. First-time goalie Skylar Kaplan dominated the cage. Willa Britton zipped a pass to Sydney O’Brian for the goal. Bianka Truglia and Ryleigh Mooney had their first goals of the season, and Laila Dolan and Cordelia Hennessey added to the tally. Great defensive play came from Hadley Dolan, Hannah Summers, Cate Mulvihill, and Maddie Beck to keep Weymouth away from the net. Jackie Collins and Hailey MacLeod buzzed around on attack. The girls return to West Roxbury to take on Parkway Academy this Sunday at 11:45 a.m.

• The Girls Lacrosse 7/8 Team also beat Weymouth this week, coming out on the top end of a 12-8 score. Nelleh Huxtable scored five goals, Cassady Reilly scored two goals, and other scores were by Abby Baglione, Erin Murray, Evelyn Concannon, Tessa Schultz, and Bridgett Stamatouras. Olivia Michaelides played an excellent game in the net.

• Girls 1/2 Lacrosse scored an impressive 18-11 win over Weymouth on Sunday. It was a gorgeous day on the home turf, with points coming from Addie Chalifoux, Saoirse Gilroy, Meara Gilroy, Lennon Grieco, Margot Lankas, Keira MacLeod, Riley Musco, Eleanor Reilly, and Rae Rockett.

• Girls 5/6 Soccer played its best game yet against the Weymouth Wildcats. The game ended with the Pirates on top, 9-5. Goalies Ruby D’Errico with five saves and Audrey Lancaster with four saves led the team. The defense had standout performances from Caroline Lancaster, Abby Donovan, and Natalie Tiani, who forced multiple turnovers and helped move the ball away from the Pirates goal. Assists were earned by Deidre Flaherty, Ruby D’Errico, Nadia Shultz, Piper Yakubian, and Molly McCarthy. Payton Dunn, Eleanor Kiley, Ruby D’Errico, Molly McCarthy scored goals. The next game is in West Roxbury on May 4.

• The two D3 Softball Teams in town played a recent rematch. Hull 2 once again came out ahead, 17-9. Both teams played well and celebrated with good sportsmanship over pizza afterwards. Hull 2 offense was on fire, with almost every player hitting singles or doubles. The defensive star of the game was Abby Baglione, with two unassisted double plays at third base and two plays to first as catcher. Defensive plays by Mackenzie MacLeod, Brianna Ramos, and Robin Timins sealed the win for Hull 2. Pitchers Kelsea Dunlap, Loren Augier, and McKenzie Neal also turned in very strong performances, with a combined total of four strikeouts. The two teams will not meet again this season, and we wish both the best of luck against our other South Shore opponents.

• Coaches and Super Fans – we need your help to report the scores and results of the latest games in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com.

Deadline is Tuesday at 8 p.m. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion on this issue? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

$50.1 million budget tops warrant for Monday’s annual town meeting

By Christopher Haraden

Voters at annual town meeting on Monday, May 6 will face a number of spending proposals, most significantly, the Fiscal 2025 budget of $50.1 million as proposed by Town Manager Jennifer Constable.

The total budget represents an increase of $2,596,531, or 5.46% over FY24’s $47.5M spending plan. Constable’s proposal would fund the schools at $17,854,77, an increase of $520,042, or 3% over the current year.

A significant increase is projected for the law department. Town Counsel James Lampke is retiring after 40 years on the job; the department budget is anticipated to increase from $147,898 to $300,000 as the town shifts away from an individual town counsel to a multi-firm model. Capital expenses include the movement of town offices, and possibly the senior center, into the Memorial Middle School, which will be available after the Hull Public Schools consolidate all grades into two buildings.

Monday’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the high school and will be broadcast live on Hull Community Television, but voters must be present at the meeting to participate.

The 36 articles include Community Preservation Committee proposals for funds for a dog park feasibility study, Kenberma pickleball court resurfacing, restoration of lights at the Paragon Carousel, veterans’ memorial grave markers for Hull Village Cemetery, renovations to the Hull Lifesaving Museum boathouse at Pemberton Point and the steeple at St. Nicholas United Methodist Church, and more funds for the Village Fire Station rehabilitation.

Other articles propose zoning changes, tweaks to the retail marijuana bylaw, forming a capital planning committee, establishing an opioid special revenue fund using a settlement from suits against pharmaceutical companies, appropriating $150,000 for a feasibility study for a new public safety building and up to $385,000 for a new Hull Community Television media center, and spending $2.4 million to replace the Pemberton Point commuter float.

The full warrant with advisory board recommendations, as well as Times coverage of town meeting proposals, is available at www.hulltimes.com/town-meeting-2024.

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Tipsy Tuna pledges to mitigate noise as board OKs entertainment license

By Carol Britton Meyer

Much of the three-hour-plus discussion during this week’s select board meeting centered around the consideration – and ultimate approval – of the Tipsy Tuna restaurant’s live entertainment license request and the continuous back-and-forth between the board and Anthony Ghosn, Freidy Elkhoury’s partner in the business, to iron out all the details.

The level of noise from the live outdoor entertainment is an issue for some neighbors, reflected in a number of complaints to the Hull Police Department in the past, which Ghosn acknowledged.

“We don’t want to be a nuisance to anyone,” he said. “The quality of life of my neighbors is something I take into consideration.”

The select board approved the renewal of the restaurant’s seasonal all-alcoholic and common victualer licenses last week to allow the business to open on May 1 for the new season, but stopped short of approving the requested entertainment license renewal pending the need for more information about the history of Tipsy Tuna’s past live entertainment requests and approvals.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable provided that information this week, researched by town staff. “Live entertainment in particular was restricted during COVID,” she noted.

In 2023, Tipsy Tuna, at 276 Nantasket Ave., was approved for a 1 a.m. closing time, along with a four-piece band for live entertainment. However, that information was not reflected on the actual license for some reason, according to Constable.

The 2024 seasonal live entertainment license application considered by the board this week requested approval for a 1 a.m. closing time, among other considerations.

Following a lengthy discussion, the board approved specific hours for piped-in, jukebox, and karaoke music – and live indoor/outdoor music Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to midnight – instead of the requested 1 a.m. out of consideration for neighbors – Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight.

To help resolve the noise issue, the Tipsy Tuna is hiring a sound engineer to make recommendations for reducing the decibel level. Noting that there are about 200 abutters to the restaurant, Ghosn pointed out that the complaints weren’t from that many people.

“The problem is in one concentrated area,” he said. “The sound is traveling up the hill behind [the restaurant], which makes it easier to remediate.”

Despite losing sleep due to the noise from live outdoor entertainment, Porrazzo Road resident John Farley said he holds both men in high regard.

“I’m not wanting them to alter their hours of business, but the decibel readings are too high,” he said.

Live entertainment begins on Memorial Day. Prior to voting on the live entertainment hours, the board approved requiring Ghosn and Elkhoury to present the results of the sound mitigation plan two weeks after Memorial Day to see how effective the remediation has been, with the possibility of adjusting the hours ultimately approved by the board, at the owners’ request.

“The size of the bands and the number of bodies is 90% of the problem,” Select Board Chair Greg Grey said.

Board member Brian McCarthy suggested that Tipsy Tuna owners meet with the neighbors informally before Memorial Day as a community outreach effort.

Board member Jerry Taverna reiterated that he thinks the board should develop an entertainment policy for the area along the beachfront to address these issues.

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