That blooming summer! Inside or out, this is the season for plant perfection

By Tricia Fleck 

Hull Garden Club 

Summer is here and that means more time on your porch or patio to enjoy the sounds and scents of the beach and summer sea breezes. Tomatoes are rounding out on the vines while kale, zucchini, and peppers are loving the regular rain and heat. It can be overwhelming to keep up with weeding, watering, fertilizing, and shooing away those cute and hungry rabbits, but your plants will thank you with a hearty harvest. 

DAISY DAISIES. The early summer blooms of a field of flowers accentuate the Victorian charm of this home on Strawberry Hill. [Richard W. Green photo] 

This summer we have been rewarded with gorgeous blooms on everyone’s favorite flowering bushes, the pink, white, and blue hydrangeas. Cut a bouquet and bring it to your neighbor. Set another on your mantel or in a guest room to welcome your friends and family. 

Successful gardeners will tell you that deadheading spent flower blooms, pruning yellow leaves and stringy vines, weeding, regular hand watering, and occasional fertilizing will keep your flowers blooming for weeks on end. 

Don’t have the time or energy for being outside in the heat and maintaining a vegetable or flower bed? Try an arrangement of houseplants to enhance your living space. Inside or out, there are many flowering and foliage-type plants that can bring a smile to both your place and your face. Perhaps you have some plants that need a refresh. This is a perfect time to bring your spiders, aloe vera, begonias, jades, peace lilies and more outside. Many of your favorite flowering plants like marigolds, nasturtiums, and impatiens will also grow beautifully in pots. 

Plan a “potting party” with your friends and neighbors. Invest in a large bag of potting soil and scour the thrift stores, yard sales, your basement, or garage for some interesting containers. That old watering can that’s been missing a spout may be the perfect container to hold a newly potted geranium, some marigolds or a colorful coleus plant. Share your resources, a pitcher of refreshing iced tea, some laughs and come away with some happy new house plants! 

Did you know that many plant varieties will propagate by simply placing cuttings in fresh potting soil? Beautiful red bloodleaf plants, begonias, geraniums, echeveria, aloe vera, and the ubiquitous baby spider plants are all good examples of this type of propagation. 

Some plants will require you to take cuttings, that when placed in water will quickly grow roots and be ready for potting in fresh soil. Examples of these are abutilon or flowering maple, coleus, and impatiens; all familiar favorites that add visual interest to your surroundings. 

Many other varieties of heat tolerant, moisture-loving plants are readily available in your local nursery, farmers markets, or home improvement stores. Spruce up a corner of your porch by placing plants on stepladders, upside down empty clay pots, old boxes, or side tables to add a colorful dimension to your space. A glass jar filled with shells and seaglass, personal mementos and a string of twinkling lights will add sparkle and match the stars twinkling down at you at night. 

Plants are happiest when they are nurtured, fed, watered, sung to and confided in; sound familiar? 

Balance matters – and Hull seniors can reduce fall risk with ‘A Matter of Balance’

Many older adults experience a fear of falling. People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater. ”A Matter of Balance” is an evidence-based program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. 

The Hull Council on Aging will host the Norwell Visiting Nurse Association’s “A Matter of Balance” eight-week program beginning August 1. Classes will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Anne M. Scully Senior Center, 197A Samoset Ave. There will be no class on Thursday, August 22.  

“A Matter of Balance” uses a variety of activities to teach fall prevention strategies. Activities include group discussion, problem-solving, skill-building, assertiveness training, videos, and exercise training. Participants receive a workbook to use during the sessions and to keep as a reference after the class. 

The program was designed to benefit older adults who: 

• Are concerned about falls 

• Have sustained falls in the past 

• Restrict activities because of concerns about falling 

• Are interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength 

• Are age 60 or older, community-dwelling, and able to problem-solve 

“A Matter of Balance” includes eight two-hour sessions beginning Thursday, August 1. The sessions are led by two trained facilitators for a small group, up to 15 participants. The program enables participants to achieve significant goals. 

They gain confidence by learning to: 

• View falls as controllable 

• Set goals for increasing activity 

• Identify common factors that contribute to falls 

• Make changes to reduce fall risk at home 

• Exercise to increase strength and balance 

Register for the classes at 781 925-1239, ext. 201 or lthornton@town.hull.ma.us. 

Birders be on the lookout: New naming patterns will change what you’re seeing

By John J. Galluzzo 

From time to time, common names of wildlife species of all types undergo change. While it may not have made the evening news when it happened, the Gypsy moth lost its historic epithet in 2021. Since then, it’s been known as the Spongy moth. Cultural sensitivity drove the Entomological Society of America to change the name, used since 1832, as “Gypsy” is an ethnic slur for people of Romani heritage. Until the day we die, you and I may call them Gypsy moths out of reflex. Future generations will learn the new name the first time they encounter the species and carry it forward. 

CHANGE IS IN THE AIR. Bird names like ‘Red-winged Blackbird’ will become more common as the American Ornithological Society proceeds with a broad sweep of name changes in the next few years. [John Galluzzo photo] 

During the 1800s, when many species of birds had yet to be named out West, here in the East birds underwent name changes based on numerous factors. For instance, birds with numerous “morphs,” or color patterns, were known to be separate species. Today, we recognize that Red-tailed Hawks have, generally, two morphs, light and dark, with various subspecies names attached to them: Harlan’s, Krider’s, etc. In 1839, when the state of Massachusetts published its first annotated bird list, the morphs were treated as individual species: Red-tailed Hawk, Black Warrior, etc. Today’s Merlin was known as two species, the Pigeon Hawk and the Little Corporal. Eventually, scientific research cleared up many of the disparities and brought the state list into a sharper focus. 

Often, name changes have to do with taxonomic discoveries. The advent and proliferation of DNA research has led to seemingly endless annual taxonomic order changes announced by the American Ornithological Union each June. We have found, for instance, that falcons are less closely related to hawks and eagles than they are to woodpeckers. Whether a species is a warbler or a sparrow or a finch is becoming easier to know through that research, and sometimes name changes follow. 

A new precedent was set for birds, though, in 2000, when the American Ornithologists’ Union voted to change the name of a sea duck we see off our coast in winter, the Oldsquaw, to Long-tailed Duck. At the time, the Union believed that the name was triply offensive, simultaneously ageist, racist and sexist. While, they suggested, political correctness alone was not reason enough to change the name, the fact was that the rest of the world knew it by the latter name, and the change would bring North America into step with everybody else. Today, political correctness, or just plain old human sensitivity, is the singular driving force behind a pending massive wave of bird name changes. 

A HAWK BY ANOTHER NAME? The next Cooper’s Hawk you see in Hull may be called something else. [John Galluzzo photo] 

In 2022, the American Ornithological Society (which itself underwent a name change in 2016 after a merger with the Cooper Ornithological Society) formed an Ad Hoc English Bird Names Committee for the purpose of developing “a process that will allow the [AOS] to change harmful and exclusionary English bird names in a thoughtful and proactive way for species within AOS’s purview.” The movement coincides with the internal uprising at the National Audubon Society that led to the dropping of pioneering naturalist John James Audubon’s name from the society’s name. Despite his contributions to the field, real or concocted by him as he tried to craft a marketable image for himself in order to sell his books, Audubon owned slaves, a practice hardly worth celebrating in any way. 

The AOS Ad Hoc English Bird Names Committee met in 2022 and 2023 and came to three targeted recommendations. Change all English names of birds named after people (and three additional troublesome names: Flesh-footed Shearwater, Inca Dove, and Eskimo Curlew); establish a separate naming committee; and involve the public in the naming process. In all, the committee identified 152 species on the North American list and 111 on the South American checklists in need of change. 

Changing from eponymous names to descriptive will, theoretically, make future birding easier. A Long-tailed Duck is easier to guess at that an Oldsquaw, just like a White-rumped Sandpiper is easier to find than a Schinz’s Sandpiper. We can expect more Red-winged Blackbird-type names in the near future. 

While a broad reform like this one seems simple, it brings moral questions to the forefront. While some names elicit obvious conflicts – like anything named for Audubon, for example – others were chosen for individuals as honorifics. While those individuals may not have done anything morally wrong, they will be swept away in the process. The decision to change all names removes the need for case-by-case moral judgements on the part of the final naming committee.  

The planned process means an interesting bit of local history will be lost. Isaac Sprague, a talented nature artist from Hingham, who once worked in Hull at an old carriage stop at the base of Nantasket Beach, accompanied John James Audubon on an exploration up the Missouri River in 1843 in search of new wildlife species. Audubon was so taken with his work that he named a bird that Sprague shot in order to draw it – Sprague’s Pipit – after him. Meek little Isaac returned home, got married, drew fantastic scenes of the White Mountains and beautifully detailed illustrations of New England wildflowers, then quietly passed away. Sprague’s Pipit will be named differently in the future. 

On a grander scale, Hull residents can expect to see a modest amount of change to the names of birds that grace the peninsula and surrounding waters throughout the year. Perhaps the most ubiquitous species will be the Cooper’s Hawk, once colloquially known as the Chicken Hawk. That species gained its name in 1828 when French naturalist Charles Bonaparte named it for his friend William C. Cooper, a fellow ornithologist (but not for whom the Cooper Ornithological Society was named; that was for his son, James C. Cooper). In the case of the Cooper’s Hawk, it comes with the added encumbrance of a Linnaean name change. The current scientific name, “Accipiter cooperii,” also pays homage to William C. Cooper. The AOU process will be forced to stand the test of many layers: common names, subspecies names, Linnaean names. 

Ironically, the second most commonly seen species in Hull due to have a name change is the Bonaparte’s Gull, named for the aforementioned Charles Bonaparte. Since 2020, the names on the list of species that will undergo changes that have appeared in Plymouth County become rarer and rarer in Hull: Swainson’s Thrush (William Swainson also had a warbler and a hawk named after him), Wilson’s Warbler (and Storm-petrel, Snipe and Plover), Lincoln’s Sparrow, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Townsend’s Warbler, Forster’s Tern, Baird’s Sandpiper, Nelson’s Sparrow, Bicknell’s Thrush, Ross’s Goose, Bullock’s Oriole, and MacGillivray’s Warbler. 

Historically, Plymouth County has had about a dozen more eponymously named species appear since the 1970s, including Harris’s Sparrow (named for Edmund Harris, who accompanied Audubon and Sprague up the Missouri), Allen’s Hummingbird, and Franklin’s Gull. 

The next time they arrive in Hull, they will probably have new names, whether they know it or not. We will struggle with the new names, as change is hard, but someday somewhere in Hull, someone will not say that they saw a Wilson’s Warbler grabbing a Gypsy moth, they’ll say that, perhaps, they saw a Black-capped Warbler snatch a Spongy moth. 

And the world will go on. 

HHS assistant principal quietly resigns; former Memorial School administrator named to position

By Carol Britton Meyer

Former Memorial Middle School Principal Anthony Hrivnak has been named the new Hull High School assistant principal, replacing Julie Burke, who had not reported to work since early May.

Anthony Hrivnak

In a June 28 email to Hull school families, retiring Hull Public Schools Superintendent Judith Kuehn reported that Hrivnak was appointed to this new role in consultation with new Superintendent Michael Jette, who started work in Hull on July 1.

Burke reportedly resigned on June 12, although no public announcement was made of her departure, nor was her resignation mentioned at the June 24 school committee meeting. Previous requests for information about her employment status were not answered by school administrators.

In response to an email request for a copy of Burke’s resignation letter made through the superintendent’s office, Executive Secretary/Office Manager Maggie Ollerhead told The Hull Times: “This is a personnel matter. All I can say is that Ms. Burke has recently informed HPS of her plan to pursue a career opportunity elsewhere. HPS is thankful for her service and wishes her well in her new position.”

julie Burke

The Times has filed a formal request under the Massachusetts Public Records Law for documents related to Burke’s separation from the school district, including her letter of resignation.

Hrivnak had been principal of the Memorial School since 2011. The middle school was closed last month as part of the Hull Public Schools’ grade realignment and building consolidation plan.

“Tony’s proven record as a strong leader at the Memorial School, his relationships with grade 8 educators and nurse, his familiarity with students and families, and his institutional knowledge make him an exceptional choice to partner with Principal Rob Shaw – especially with the implementation of phase two [of the school consolidation plan],” Kuehn wrote in the June 28 email.

Shaw was chosen as new principal, effective July 1, following a comprehensive search and interview process that included input from multiple stakeholders, including Hull High School faculty and staff, parents, community members, and administrators. He replaced Michael Knybel, who resigned earlier this year after two years in the position.

“I am delighted that Robert is choosing to join our team in Hull Public Schools,” Jette said earlier. “Listening in on the work of our hiring committee and the various staff, parent, and student forums, it is clear that he has the experience and attributes to build strong relationships with all members of the school community. Robert is ready to understand the proud past of Hull High School while also guiding us into the future.”

Phase two of the consolidation plan – beginning with the 2024-2025 school year – continues to be implemented as planned and as discussed at school committee meetings, Jette told The Hull Times. “Grade 8 teachers will be at Hull High School in a dedicated section of the school to ensure middle level collaboration remains strong.”

Grade 7 teachers will be at Jacobs School in a dedicated area with easy access to the 6th-grade team.

“They will be on the second floor in the grades 4-7 intermediate school, working closely with our new intermediate Assistant Principal Jessica Scott,” Jette said.

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Paragon Dunes developer to submit revised plans to comply with state review

By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

Hull’s planning department anticipates that the Procopio Companies will submit a new application with modified plans for the Paragon Dunes development by early August. The potential for a “major modification” of the approved plans, based on a state environmental review, could require another public hearing before the board.

The approval of the Paragon Dunes plans granted by the planning board on March 20 for a four-story, 132-unit building at the site of the Paragon Boardwalk was subject to conditions the board began to review on April 3 and subsequently approved April 10.

One of the conditions was approval by all state agencies. Procopio withdrew from the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review process on June 3 and is expected to resubmit its Environmental Notification Form to address the state’s flood resiliency concerns.

Town Planner Chris DiIorio said he, along with Building Commissioner Bartley Kelly and Director of Climate Adaptation and Conservation Christian Krahforst, recently met with Procopio to offer feedback to modifications to the plans based on comments from state agencies.

DiIorio said the developer is working on a design that better complies with what MEPA wants while also maintaining the streetfront commercial space previously approved by the planning board.

From what he saw, DiIorio speculated the planning board will consider the changes a “major modification,” which will prompt the reopening of the public hearing process.

Planning Board Chair Jean Paquin said the MEPA regulations state that no board should vote on a project before the MEPA review is completed, causing her to question whether the planning board should wait to review the project until MEPA has finished.

“Of course, MEPA says they want to review it first,” said DiIorio. “If they [MEPA] drive the development, we wouldn’t see any commercial on the first floor.”

Paquin suggested the developer could make one presentation to all boards so that each gets the same information at the same time offering a “cohesive approach.”

“The developer has a process they want to follow…at the first meeting we can have a discussion about them going to MEPA first,” said DiIorio.

Paquin says she takes exception to Procopio getting through the planning board and then filing with MEPA, and not ensuring the planning board was kept involved.

Procopio’s attorney, Adam Brodsky, told the planning board he always gets approval from the town before MEPA on development projects.

Susan Short Green, member of the Beach Management Advisory Committee, said she thinks she attended every meeting regarding Paragon Dunes and recalls former planning board member Steve White constantly raising the question of MEPA review and stressing it should be happening while the planning board was conducting its review.

“I am disappointed it did not happen simultaneously and then we could have approved a proper project,” said Green.

Planning board member Nathan Peyton said he wants the town to have adequate input into the process.

“It is important the people who live next to it, live in it, and shop in it have a voice,” said Peyton.

Resident Lisa French pointed out that the developer previously pushed the planning board to come to a decision to meet Procopio’s self-imposed deadlines.

“I hope you won’t be pressured to rush through the process this time,” said French.

Susan Mann, chair of the beach management advisory committee, said she believes “the planning board needs to push back at appropriate places.”

Paquin stressed that whatever the planning board approves is what will have to be built.

“The process will be followed as it was initially, at this point we don’t know what is coming,” said Paquin. “If there are more changes due to MEPA, they will be right back here again.”

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HRA debates impact of current Urban Renewal Plan

By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

This week’s meeting of the Hull Redevelopment Authority featured an extended discussion of the draft Urban Renewal Plan and its role in guiding the future of the 13-acre site.

On Monday, members failed to approve a motion made by Clerk Adrienne Paquin to “not endorse the draft Urban Renewal Plan as currently written.”

Paquin said she was prompted to make the motion because it has come to her attention the draft URP is being used as justification for other projects in town, when it is not something “shovel ready or about to happen.”

To read the current draft Urban Renewal Plan, click here

“I dislike how it is being framed and used because it is on our website as a draft,” said Paquin.

“Our town is treating it as a living document or something that can happen,” said longtime HRA member Bartley Kelly.

Member Dan Kernan seconded Paquin’s motion, sayong it is a way to “put a stake in the ground” to reaffirm that the HRA will be making changes to the document.

The motion was met with heated discussion; however, all members of the HRA agreed the goal is to get back to the board’s core mission and revise the URP.

Kelly did not believe the motion was “constructive,” saying that the URP draft does represent some members of the current board, and to say the HRA no longer endorses it may send the message “we don’t want development on the HRA property.”

“There are lots of good parts of the plan; lots to put in and take out,” said Kelly, pointing out the public input phase has been going on for more a year and some suggested items, if incorporated into the URP, will require zoning changes.

“The motion was not to throw out the current draft URP,” said Paquin, adding she should have made this motion when the new HRA board was assembled to demonstrate that it would not move forward with this specific URP.

“We received a lot of input… the input does not align with what we have as a working document,” said Kernan. “We all agree we want significant changes to what is presented… how do we let the town know?”

HRA Chair Dennis Zaia was on the side of not endorsing Paquin’s motion. He said the board’s focus needs to be to “identify what about the existing URP is not working and that is how to modify it…reaching a compromise that will benefit the community at large.”

“We each talked about what we envisioned,” said HRA Treasurer Joan Senatore. “As a board, we have not discussed it to see what can move forward.”

Senatore did not support the motion, saying the way the board can communicate that it is listening is to focus on regular business, which is the URP.

Resident Mindy Markowitz suggested that to alleviate confusion, the board could add a disclaimer on its web page that indicates “this is a work in progress; this is not final.”

In reference to the disclaimer, Zaia said “that may be a simple solution.” Kernan and Paquin also supported Markowitz’s idea of adding clarifying wording to the website.

“Once we start working on this (URP) we are not going to get to a vote right away; it will be a long way down the road…we need to do something to communicate,” said Kernan.

Kelly was not opposed to adding information to the web page describing the status of the draft URP, suggesting that members could come up with language when the HRA begins to discuss revisions to the URP on August 12.

“We need to look at it holistically…the primary objective is to complete the draft URP and come together as a board to decide the direction we are going to go,” said Kelly.

The board will meet on August 5 to provide an update on the results of the performances by the Hideaway Circus last week. On August 12, members will begin discussing updates to the draft URP. Subsequent HRA meetings will be held on August 25, September 9, and September 30.

To send correspondence to the HRA, use the contact form at hra02045.com and each member will receive the message; or send an email to admin@hra02045.com.

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Pemberton parking area reopens during pause in sewer pump station work

The town-owned parking lot at Pemberton has reopened after being temporarily closed during the reconstruction of the sewer pumping station across from the high school.

Access and parking will be available for the remainder of the summer, when additional site work is planned. In September, excavation and installation of pilings will take place, and there may be temporary restrictions while the site is prepared in the coming months.

Once construction resumes, sections of the parking lot will be used for staging the new pump station. During construction, signage will direct drivers to parking and access points, including additional parking near the Lifesaving Museum Boathouse. Portions of the sidewalk along the parking lot also may be affected.

This project is expected to take 18 months and will involve work within the footprint of Main Street. Hours of work are generally 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; delays should be expected.

The project is being funded in part by a $2 million federal grant. For more information, contact the Hull Sewer Department, 781-925-1207 or sewer@town.hull.ma.us.

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Hull Artists’ Open Studios offer a chance to enjoy the peninsula’s natural beauty

Text and Photo by Kevin Rush Locke

Open Studios, sponsored by Hull Artists, is back for its 28th year. On July 13 and 14, Open Studios takes the front stage in Hull, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. It’s always fun and always free. For an interactive map of studios open to the public throughout the town – 36 artists in 24 locations – visit hullartists.com/openstudios.

Even two artists in Cohasset will open their studios as part of the art festival. For 28 years, the artists of Hull have opened their hearts to encounter with you the transformative energy of the town’s 26 miles of coastline. Artists have engaged their craft and spirit to interpret the sandy, sometimes rocky and craggy, spit of land. You cannot miss Open Studios next weekend. The art is for sale!

What is the quiet side of Hull? The mystical aspect of Hull? Frederick Law Olmsted of Emerald Necklace, Central Park, and World’s End fame created lush gardens in the Nantasket Beach area more than 100 years ago. Think of it, the nation’s top landscape architect worked on the peninsula in concert with the natural environment. The father of landscape architecture who laid out the gardens of the U.S. Capitol in Washington labored to make Hull sing its song of peace and light. Those gardens are long gone, replaced by DCR’s reservation of asphalt and concrete. Soon, a building 47 feet tall, with 132 apartments and 7,000 square feet of commercial space will be erected to further erase the beauty that is ours to care for, and it will obstruct the iconic threshold to Hull – the sea. As the town takes on an urban look and feel, artists have an increasingly challenging time getting to nature. Have you ever seen a painting of the south end of town where the condominium buildings are? No, no would ever think of those buildings as belonging to a natural landscape by the sea in New England. These factors affect art in Hull.

Artists need a graceful palette with which to explore and be with the mystical side of Hull. Artists can even collaborate with a gritty subject. An artist must engage the colors, textures, shapes, and most of all, the light in a place like Hull.

Kristophe Green and Dacher Keltner of the University of California at Berkeley write in the university’s magazine on human flourishing: “A large body of research is documenting the positive impacts of nature on human flourishing – our social, psychological, and emotional life. Over 100 studies have shown that being in nature, living near nature, or even viewing nature in paintings and videos can have positive impacts on our brains, bodies, feelings, thought processes, and social interactions. Viewing nature seems to be inherently rewarding, producing a cascade of position emotions, and calming our nervous systems. These in turn help us to cultivate greater openness, creativity, connection, generosity, and resilience.”

Hullonians would do well to be intentional about acknowledging the full experience of nature and be strident in diminishing those obstacles to beauty. Thirty-six artists have been beguiled by the need to respond to the beauty of nature. You will be moved by what you see. I speak not only of painters and photographers. Artists of jewelry, fabric media, and ceramics also respond to the light that is Hull. Art is a compelling occupation. An artist is never satisfied.

Do not miss Open Studios 2024 on July 13 and 14.

Visit hullartists.com/openstudios. On August 24 and 25, Hull artists will again open their studios for you to enjoy. Remember, the art is for sale!

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‘Everything has settled down,’ but water company says it is prepared for summer surge

By Carol Britton Meyer 

ALL NON-ESSENTIAL OUTSIDE WATER USAGE IS PROHIBITED DURING A LEVEL 2 WATER RESTRICTION.

The Weir River Water System and Veolia, which operates the water company, said this week that they were prepared for the busy Fourth of July holiday and the expected additional usage following the widespread water discoloration that began on Juneteenth and continued for several days.

Staff was at heightened readiness during the holiday, Veolia Regional Vice President John Oatley told the board of water commissioners (the Hingham select board) at its July 2 meeting.

“Everything has settled down,” said WRWS Managing Director Russell Tierney. “Things are getting back to where they should be. Water usage is down a little bit but will ramp up with the holiday coming.”

Customers are asked to abide by the current Level 2 prohibition on outside watering through July 4 and to continue conservation efforts as a matter of course, even when a watering ban is not officially in place.

WRWS serves customers in Hingham, Hull, and North Cohasset. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection rated the discoloration event a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the worst-case scenario, according to Tierney.

“We will provide MassDEP with the information they requested,” he said. “We need to do a report and provide a checklist to be sure everything is covered.”

Abatement requests accepted

In response to customer inquiries, abatement requests related to the duration of the water discoloration event are being accepted through a link on the WRWS website: https://www.weirriverwater.org/987/Contact-Us.

Oatley said a draft report with the findings and historical water system information is expected to be ready by July 25.

“It’s an ongoing investigation,” he said.

Contributing factors to recent events included the extreme heat leading to increased demand for water on June 19; the fact that many people were at home since it was a holiday — causing higher water usage; a break in a 76-year-old Leavitt Street water main between Main and Short streets in Hingham Center; the need for additional system maintenance and infrastructure upgrades; the need for better communication; as well as other factors “unknown at this time.”

Immediate actions in response to the water discoloration —  to help prevent repeats and to enhance customer communication — include adjusting the tank monitoring alarm set points and the timing and range of the tank recharge; updating the WRWS emergency response plan; improving community outreach; and the development of an enhanced flushing program that is expected to start around October.

“We are also continuing to explore and implement effective infrastructure improvements,” Oatley said.

Communication improvements in the works

Christopher Halleron, manager of communications and community relations at Veolia, is working with media outlets and the three communities to update its contact list. Engaging in “test” messaging to encourage customer participation and to evaluate the responses is in the works, but not yet ready for prime time.

Water quality remains an ongoing concern among the water commissioners and customers. Testing of the distribution system takes place five times during the summer and regularly at the treatment plant. More information will be available.

Customers with water quality concerns are encouraged to email waterquality@weirriverwater.com.

Citizens Advisory Board Chair Steven Weiss noted that “a lot of lessons have been learned at this point and how to move forward.” The CAB will meet in advance of the release of the July 25 draft report “to discuss the communications piece. Part of the messaging has to relate to from whom the messages are coming – WRWS or Veolia.” The CAB is comprised of members from the three towns.

Hingham Select Board Chair Joseph Fisher said he was pleased that “steps are being taken to minimize risks on July 4, and we’re looking forward to receiving and reviewing the report.”

For customer service inquiries, contact the Weir River Water System/Veolia 24 hours per day at (877) 253-6665 or wrcs@veolia.com.

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Shorelines - News about your neighbors

• James R. Mahoney received a bachelor of arts degree in environmental studies during the 2024 commencement ceremonies of Hobart and William Smith Colleges on Sunday, May 19. Mahoney studied in Costa Rica and is the son of Chad Mahoney and Lisa A. Mahoney.

COLD COMFORT. Quick Pick convenience store owner Bobby Patel and his son, Khush, recently helped make a hot night more bearable by donating hundreds of cups of slush – turning the Hull Junior Baseball championship game into a really cool event. The players and their fans were very grateful! [Courtesy photo]

• Amanda Lorusso graduated from Emmanuel College on Saturday, May 18, during the college's 102nd commencement exercises on its campus in Boston. Lorusso received a bachelor of science in biology with a concentration in health sciences during the ceremony. Lorusso, the daughter of Dolores and Anthony Lorusso, graduated summa cum laude and with distinction in the field of study.

• Emmanuel College in Boston has named Victoria Rosado to the Dean’s List for the spring semester. To earn a spot on the Dean’s List, Emmanuel students must achieve a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher for a 16-credit semester.

• John Iversen graduated on June 22 from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a bachelor of science in international maritime business. While attending the academy, his activities included varsity lacrosse and serving as an orientation squad leader and as president of the Mass. Maritime Student Port of the Propeller Club. With his classmates in the international maritime business major, he participated in an experiential learning program in Durban, South Africa in 2022. He received the athletic director’s academic achievement award in 2024. In August, Jack will start as a demurrage analyst at Chevron Shipping in Houston. Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a fully accredited, four-year, co-educational state university offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees that are highly regarded in the worldwide maritime industry and beyond.

• Catholic Charities’ leadership team gathered with Sunset Point Camp staff and members of the community recently for a special luncheon in memory of Lorraine Earle, a longtime member of the Friends of Sunset Point Camp who passed away this January. As stated in her obituary, one of Lorraine’s life mottos was “Being kind is free.” She brought her kind and charitable spirit to everything she did, whether it was helping facilitate treasure night at Sunset Point Camp or serving as the CFO for her son’s T-shirt company, Johnny Cupcakes. In recognition of her incredible impact on the camp here in Hull, longtime supporters Jeff and Petey Menice painted a beautiful mural on the lean-to at the beach, which was unveiled along with a plaque following lunch.

“One way or another, Lorraine and her family were always involved in Sunset Point Camp, during the summer with the kids and even in the off-season,” said Sunset Point Camp Program Director Ivana Correia-Veiga. “My favorite memory with Lorraine was when she organized a special day where she taught the kids about all kinds of seashells, and she brought an ice cream truck to the camp for them to enjoy as they all watched a movie together. With the love of the Earle family, we know her legacy will continue to live on forever here at Sunset Point Camp.”

Lorraine’s daughter, Linsay, son-in-law Nick, and grandson Hudson attended the special remembrance of Lorraine.

“Ever since we were little, my Mom just always saw the joy in life, and taught us that what it was about is helping people, and not material things, but giving people your time,” she said. “That’s what she always embodied in us. This camp has been so special to us for many years, and we would love to continue to stay involved.”

 THE ONE THAT DIDN’T GET AWAY – and we have the photo to prove it! Eve Cullerton shows off the fish she caught on Nantasket beach on Juneteenth. She is shown with Patrick Jackson. [Photo courtesy of Mary Jackson]

Several Friends of Sunset Point Camp also attended, including President and CEO Kelley Tuthill.

“Thank you for all you do, from fundraising to sharing the mission and organizing treasure nights,” Tuthill said. “Just seeing the children’s faces completely light up whenever they talk about treasure nights is a prize all in itself.”

• Nicholas Stettler Lord graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Clark University during the school’s 120th commencement exercises on Monday, May 20.

• State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy leadership recently announced the graduation of 19 firefighters from the 50-day career recruit firefighting training program. Among them was Hull’s own Alyssa Basler, a new member of the Hull Fire Department.

• The Hull Artists organization recently announced that its Gallery Nantasket fine art and craft showcase has been honored with the Best Of the South Shore award for an art gallery for 2024-25. This is the third consecutive year that the gallery, at 121 Nantasket Ave., has been recognized by South Shore Home, Life & Style magazine readers.

• Hailey Gould has been named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of New England. Dean’s List students must have attained a grade-point average of 3.3 or better out of a possible 4.0 at the end of the semester.

• On June 14 at a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House, Hull’s Kim Greaves was honored by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as a Commonwealth Heroine. She was nominated by state Rep. Joan Meschino for the award, which recognizes female leaders in industry, business, and community organizations who are making a difference. Kim is well-known throughout Hull for her work with veterans organizations, holiday food drives, and countless other activities that better the lives of her neighbors.

If you have news about Hull residents to share – birthdays, anniversaries, career and education achievements, weddings, births, and other milestones – send your information to us at news@hulltimes.com. If you include a photo, please be sure that everyone in the image is identified. Thank you!

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