Shorelines - News about your neighbors

• Congratulations to Graham Whelan, who graduated in May from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida with a bachelor of arts in sociology with a minor in business.

• Several local students were named to the Dean’s List at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for the spring semester. In order to qualify, an undergraduate student must receive a 3.5 grade-point average or better on a four-point scale. Hull students earning this distinction were Martin Aramis Brault, Grace Elizabeth Cain, Katie Lynn Clifford, Natalie Mars Devin, Bridget Catherine Fleming, Katie Marie Fortnam, Kyla Catherine Ho, Ava Margaret Hutchinson, Haylee Rose Londergan, Neelah Marie McCarthy, Jillian Grace Rose Reppucci, Harriet Violet Wiley, and Ellie Miriam Zieper.

• Six Hull students were among the 7,000 scholars who earned bachelor’s degrees at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s undergraduate commencement in May: Kimberly Dang, Hannah Nicole Duran, Yana Fralkova, Kyla Catherine Ho, Rebecca Lynn Rosenbaum, and Rebecca Jeanne Whelan.

• Congratulations to Matthew Averill, who has been promoted to the rank of major in the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina.  Matthew has served with the Beaufort County Sheriff's office for 31 years, after he took the position when he finished his tour of duty with the US Marine Corps. He graduated from Hull High School in the Class of 1979 His family is so proud of him and the rank he worked to achieve.

• The Rev. Edward McCabe, who was assigned to St. Mary’s Catholic parish in the 1970s and 1980s, has entered hospice care in Boston. He is unable to receive many visitors but would enjoy receiving cards of support from his old parishioners. Anyone wishing to send him a greeting should address cards and letters to Fr. Edward McCabe, Regina Cleri Residence - Room 212, 60 William Cardinal O’Connell Way, Boston, MA 02114.

• A piece of American Legion Post 140 history recently was delivered to post Commander Jim Richman. The Post 140 Legion flag was found while cleaning out the Memorial School. Hull Veterans’ Service Officer Paul Sordillo preserved it and presented to Richman, who said the post will fly the flag with the honor and the respect it deserves.

• Attorney Teresa Walsh, who spits her time between West Medford and Hull, was a delegate to the recent Democratic National Convention in Chicago last month. This was her third convention and first as an elected delegate from Congressional District 5. Walsh, is a former Assistant Attorney General and an election integrity specialist who has monitored elections in Eastern Europe – including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, and Ukraine.

Additionally, she was an elected member of Electoral College during the historic 2020 election. Walsh lives in Hull Village with her husband, John Plunkett, and their cat, Lassie, who was adopted from Hull Seaside Animal Rescue.

• Hull’s Karen Riccio will join thousands participating in next month’s fundraising walk for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support all forms of cancer research and care. The Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk will be held on Sunday, October 6. The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $176 million for Dana-Farber in its 35-year history, raising a record-breaking $9.4 million in 2023. To register for the walk or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.

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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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Hearing on four-story, 12-unit project in Rockaway Annex draws standing-room-only crowd

By Carol Britton Meyer 

It was standing room only Tuesday night during the first Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on a proposal to build a four-story, 12-unit condominium development on a .63-acre lot at 25 Ipswich Street behind the former Veterans of Foreign Wars post in the Rockaway Annex neighborhood. Neighbors shared a number of concerns during the three-hour meeting. 

ZBA Chair Patrick Finn explained that this is the first comprehensive permit under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40B to come before the ZBA – which is the permit-granting authority for 40Bs – since two earlier 40B proposals “didn’t get off the ground.” The town has the benefit of technical support through a grant-funded consultant for the project, which will contain three units designated as affordable under the law. 

Abutters shared various concerns, including the impacts of potential blasting to remove ledge, overall disruptions to the neighborhood, stormwater runoff, assurances from Weir River Water System that there is enough water to supply the new development, and the proximity of the planned new units to some of the existing homes in the neighborhood. The project is located near the Hull Community Garden, off Salisbury Street and in the area of the Hull Medical Center. 

Other residents voiced concerns related to setback and other requirements, additional traffic, maximum lot coverage, height of the six two-unit buildings, the possibility worsening flooding in the area, and the overall density of the proposed development. 

Long hearing process 

“The 40B hearing process can take quite some time,” Town Manager Jennifer Constable said, while encouraging interested residents to monitor the town’s website for a special project page. 

The property, located near the Hingham-Hull town line, last sold on August 30, 2022 for $310,000. 

The developer, Hull resident Alan Mckenzie, is seeking approval through the comprehensive permit process under MGL Chapter 40B, which allows developers to circumvent a number of local zoning regulations in exchange for an affordable housing component. 

Despite objections raised by abutters, because Hull falls far short of meeting the state’s 10% affordable housing threshold from among all housing units in town – less than 2% – were the ZBA to not approve the project, the developer could appeal that decision in the housing appeals court with a likely outcome in his favor. 

North Truro Street resident Joan Wilder asked if it would be likely that the developer would appeal. 

Dean Harrison, consultant to the developer, said the plan is to “work with the board and abutters,” while reiterating the right to appeal if the ZBA vote is unfavorable. “The lower the affordable housing count, the harder it is for a community to say it doesn’t need [additional] affordable housing,” he said. “We don’t want to go there. Our goal is to provide more affordable housing.” 

Harrison plans to provide a detailed list of 40B requirements and anticipated waivers the developer will be seeking for building with regard to height and lot coverage, and to meet with abutters to address their concerns. 

Ipswich Street is a partially built road that runs up the hill along the former VFW’s driveway. The land to be developed includes an unpaved area that was previously used as the post’s parking lot. 

Views of the beach and beyond 

The first floor of each of the six “Residences at Rockway” buildings (with two units each) will be garages, with living units above and decks on the fourth floor with views of Nantasket Beach, downtown Boston, and the Weir River. The property is located in the Single Family C zoning district. 

“We want this development to fit into the surrounding community, with similar colors, styles, and features,” Harrison said. 

Three of the units will be affordable for families at or below 80% of the area median income and available to qualified buyers by lottery. The remainder will be market rate. The affordable units remain so in perpetuity. 

According to Mckenzie, the initial thought was to build 40 units. However, the number was later reduced to 12. 

According to the application – filed through MassHousing – the site, or a portion of it, is located within a designated flood hazard area and includes a significant amount of ledge and steep slopes. 

Each unit will feature three bedrooms and two full and two half baths, with parking garages at ground level and parking spaces in each unit’s driveway. 

The intent is for the new buildings to complement the surrounding architecture. The design includes hip roofs and Nantucket-style siding in a “simple palette of greys and blues.” 

The letter of eligibility from MassHousing to Mckenzie dated April 1, 2024 states that Hull officials, after reviewing the site approval application and submitting comments to MassHousing, believe the siting of the building, the roof height, and overall architectural style “should be readdressed to fit into the surrounding context more thoughtfully.” 

Neighbor Bob Burwick said it would be helpful for the plan to show how close the proposed development would be to Barnstable Street residences. 

One abutter noted that “this will [appear to be] the second-tallest structure in all of Hull” due to its location on the top of a hill. “Fort Revere is the tallest. We’ll be able to see [this development] from George Washington Boulevard.” 

Development of the site will require compliance with all state and federal environmental laws, regulations, and standards applicable to existing conditions and to the proposed use related to building construction, stormwater management, wastewater collection and treatment, and hazardous waste safety, according to the letter. 

“We care about the people who will eventually buy these units,” Harrison said. “It will be an expensive community, and we want to be sure that the units are sellable” – to which ZBA member Richard Hennessey responded, “We care about everybody [involved].” 

‘Good-faith effort’ 

“The applicant should continue to engage with [Hull town officials] in a good-faith effort regarding design review and other site-related matters, including water access, road and sidewalk connections, and sewer access,” according to MassHousing, in addition to providing detailed information related to the existing slope and the site work required to stabilize it. 

Hennessey called this first hearing “a good start,” noting that informal input from other town boards will be helpful to the process. “I think this can work, but it will take some time and finesse,” he said. 

Hennessey also suggested that those with an interest in the proposal educate themselves about what is involved so the meetings will go smoothly. “This is like a new frontier for us,” he said. 

The hearing was continued to Tuesday, Oct. 1. 

In response to an email after the hearing, Finn told The Hull Times that the ZBA intends to adhere “to our standard operating procedures with standard scheduling of meetings” on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 7 p.m. at town hall. 

Finn also noted that the ZBA received assurances during Tuesday’s meeting that the applicant “will attend meetings and work cooperatively with all town of Hull departments and the planning and design review boards to enable the ZBA to get input on the important site plan and design review issues that are typically not within the purview of the ZBA to the extent necessary in multi-family developments. The conservation commission is not involved and has no jurisdiction.” 

For more information on this project and Chapter 40B, click here. A video of the meeting is available on demand through Hull Community Television at hulltv.net. 

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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

HRA members still ‘miles apart’ from agreement; chair floats new conference center concept

By Carol Britton Meyer 

While Hull Redevelopment Authority members remain “miles apart” – as member Bartley Kelly described it at Monday night’s meeting – on reaching consensus on potential changes to its Urban Renewal Plan, the five-member board showed a willingness to take time prior to the next two meetings in October to review a “dream scenario” presented by Chair Dennis Zaia. 

Zaia’s vision for the area known as Lot C, or the “triangle lot” at the southern end of the property includes a 6,400-square-foot, two-level building consisting of a conference and learning center where students “from schools of higher education” could come to further their study of geology and oceanography. The building, which would generating income, would be “built to the prerequisite height on pilings” due to projected sea level rise and include a space for weddings, trade shows, and community events that could accommodate about 350 people, complete with a staging kitchen for caterers, a rooftop deck with a view of the ocean and bay, and parking under the building and at the nearby lot on Bay Street. 

“There are no facilities on the South Shore that can accommodate more than 225 for a sit-down dinner event, and this venue would be a desired location,” Zaia said. “I realize it’s near the water and part of an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, but magic can happen.” 

Monday’s meeting was the second this month to be facilitated by UMass-Boston professor Douglas Thompson. The HRA is considering changes to the Urban Renewal Plan that guides development of the 13-acre parcel after hearing from residents and presenting their own ideas in past meetings. 

Idea of Hull WaterFire floated 

Zaia’s concept also includes creating a Hull spinoff of Providence, Rhode Island’s WaterFire; improved transportation, with added bus stops and signage along the HRA property; metered parking along Hull Shore Drive from The Parrot to the Phipps Street comfort station; and a possible partnership with the Blue Cross BlueShield BLUEbikes program. 

A Hull WaterFire “would generate opportunities for Hull citizens and visitors alike to gather and enjoy the sights of flickering flames on the water and adult rowers of the Hull Lifesaving Museum rowing to load the braziers with wood while music, dance, art and theater may be happening on the bayside park area,” he said. 

In response to HRA member Adrienne Paquin’s question about who would own and run such a development, Zaia responded, “That’s the big question. The answer is not yet known. I don’t have a clue.” 

For more information, including the draft Urban Renewal Plan, click here.

Zaia also said that his vision for the property has moved away from affordable housing with the recent passage of the state MBTA Communities Act and by-right accessory dwelling unit legislation, which he feels could provide other viable opportunities for affordable housing. 

In addition, Zaia suggested aligning the HRA’s objectives with the select board and the Department of Conservation and Recreation “to identify and support opportunities which advance the vitality and value of the Hull community, while ensuring there are adequate affordable housing units for first responders, veterans, and seniors by updating the zoning requirement to ensure at least 15% of new properties in the MBTA Communities zones are deed-restricted ‘affordable’” and addressing this same concern with respect to the accessory dwelling unit regulations recently approved at town meeting and the more stringent ADU requirements recently adopted by the state. 

Animated discussion 

The discussion among HRA members during the three-hour meeting was often animated, with a wide variety of opinions and ideas shared without making any major decisions. The idea of getting the select board involved in the overall discussion was floated, since its approval, along with the state’s, is necessary for any URP to move forward. 

“We are only the first step in the process,” Zaia said. 

Paquin noted that a URP can “be as specific or not to allow for flexibility or not. It’s simply an option on the table. We could issue another RFP [Request for Proposals], we could disband, or we could do nothing,” she said. “We’re under no obligation to do anything. We could give the land to the town and disband tomorrow.” 

HRA meetings with the same format and continued guidance from Thompson are scheduled for October 8 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. 

As was the case at the August 12 HRA meeting, this was an opportunity for HRA members to dig deeper into what they envision for the property and to reach a consensus, and while residents were encouraged to attend in-person in the Hull High School exhibition room or watch the meeting live on Zoom or on hulltv.net, no public comments were accepted. 

The audience remained a listening one following Zaia’s request at the beginning of the meeting in response to attempts to interject comments into the discussion during the August 12 meeting. 

While no consensus has been reached, all five members agree that some form of open space should be included in the final plan and that including the HRA’s legal counsel in an upcoming URP discussion is a good idea. 

‘We should make a wish list and narrow it down’ 

Kelly said the HRA “should go back to defining the different parcels and their potential use” to determine what is economically viable. 

“We should make a wish list and narrow it down to what we can accomplish with available funding.… the devil is in the details,” he said. “We’re miles apart. The plan has to be economically viable to work.” 

Paquin noted that economic stimulus was not part of the HRA’s original goal. 

“I’m not saying we should disregard that part, but it’s not up to us to solve all the problems in the town,” she said. 

Part of the discussion centered around differences of opinion among HRA members as to the meaning of certain definitions contained in the authority’s goals and objectives, and the already town meeting-approved and partially funded two-way road plan. 

While HRA member Dan Kernan supports preserving the parcel as open space, he acknowledged that there was no “real opposition” to Zaia’s idea, and that while it’s “not making us happy, I don’t have a fundamental conflict. I like [some of the components].” 

‘One of Hull’s most beautiful parcels’ 

At the same time, in advocating for open space, Kernan said, “This is one of Hull’s most beautiful parcels – between the bay and the ocean and the only chunk of Nantasket Beach that’s sandy. [Landscape architects] would drool over the opportunity to make this the jewel of the whole state park system. We would be the number one beach in Massachusetts – a treasure if we do it right. It would make national news.” 

At the end of the session, Thompson told HRA members that in order to reach a consensus, “You will all need to agree to move forward together and not necessarily remain with your preferred approaches. This [discussion] has exposed some fault lines and differences, but frankly it’s kind of expected, and with some compromise, the HRA will find something that can work for all of you. You have made some progress there.” 

The HRA is in the process of hiring an administrative assistant. “We can’t continue to do this on our own,” Zaia said. 

A replay of the meeting is available on demand on hulltv.net. To view the draft URP and other HRA documents, visit www.hra02045.com. 

The redevelopment authority was formed in the 1960s under a federal program to revitalize urban and suburban neighborhoods. The HRA’s original footprint – designated Town Center No. 1 – encompasses the land between the beach and bay from Water Street to Phipps Street; at one time, the authority planned to expand its territory into three additional districts that stretched southward to the site of the former Paragon Park. 

Much of the HRA land has been vacant since the 1970s, when homes and businesses were taken by eminent domain by the authority and bulldozed, burned, or relocated in anticipation of development proposals that never materialized. The HRA has been working for the past several years to create a set of guidelines for future development. 

A 2023 version of the URP envisioned several uses for the property, including a boutique hotel and buildings with ground-floor retail and residential units on the upper floors. For the property north of the DCR parking lot near Monument Square, options included affordable housing or beach parking and event space. The HRA stepped back from that plan and has embarked on the current process to rework the URP. 

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Red Line, commuter rail closures to impact Boston commuters in September

Hull residents who use the Red Line for their daily commutes will be affected by closures during most of September. 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will shut down service between the Braintree terminal and JFK/UMass station between September 6 and 29. Shuttle buses will pick up riders at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, and North Quincy and bring them to the Ashmont station to board a train for the ride into South Station and beyond. 

In addition, there will be no Greenbush commuter rail service on the weekends of September 7 and 8 and September 14 and 15. Shuttle buses will run between South Station and Braintree on those weekends. 

The MBTA says the closures will allow crews to repair 18 miles of track between JFK/UMass and Braintree, resulting in the removal of more than 20 speed restrictions and improving round-trip Braintree branch travel times by as much as 24 minutes. These track improvements will also lay the groundwork for the MBTA’s goal of raising current Red Line train speeds above current speeds where possible. Kingston, Middleborough, and Greenbush (Old Colony) Commuter Rail line trains, which run adjacent to the Red Line, will also be replaced with shuttle bus service between South Station and Braintree during the weekends of September 7 and 8 and September 14 and 15 to accommodate this work. 

On the Red Line:  

• Red Line Braintree branch service will be suspended between JFK/UMass and Braintree for 24 days from September 6 to September 29.  
• Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush (Old Colony) Commuter Rail line service will also be replaced by shuttle bus service during the weekends of September 7 and 8 and September 14 and 15.   
• The T encourages riders to use the Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush commuter rail lines for fare-free service between Braintree, Quincy Center, JFK/UMass, and South Station (with the exception of the weekends of closure). Commuter rail schedules are available on mbta.com. 
• Commuter Rail trains operate about every 20-30 minutes. Travelling between Braintree and South Station on the Commuter Rail is about 24 minutes. 
• Additional Keolis personnel will be available at Braintree, Quincy Center, and JFK/UMass during weekday morning and evening rush hour periods to answer questions and assist riders boarding Commuter Rail trains. 
• Extra trains will be added to the Middleborough, Kington, and Greenbush Commuter Rail lines to accommodate the anticipated increase in ridership. 
• Regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected for travel beyond Braintree. 
• Free and accessible shuttle bus service will make stops at Braintree, Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Wollaston, North Quincy, and Ashmont for connections to further Red Line subway service. 
• There will be no direct shuttle bus service to or from JFK/UMass. These riders should use the fare-free Commuter Rail when possible. 

• Riders using shuttle buses during this service change should budget extra travelling time. For example, a rider travelling to Park Street from Braintree should anticipate an extra 40 minutes in addition to their regular commute. Again, riders are strongly encouraged to consider the fare-free Commuter Rail during this service change. 
 • There will be increased subway service on the Ashmont branch in order to maintain train frequency through the Red Line core between JFK/UMass and Alewife. Trains will operate at about an eight-minute frequency between Ashmont and Alewife. 
• Riders can find complete information at mbta.com/RedLine. 
• This service change is in place to perform work as part of the Track Improvement Program, including replacing tracks and ties, resurfacing track areas, and upgrading station amenities. The track work accomplished during these 24 days allows the MBTA to run service up the maximum allowable speed of 40 miles per hour, but also lays the groundwork for raising current Red Line train speeds. 

On the Commuter Rail lines: 

• Free and accessible shuttle buses will operate directly between South Station and Braintree, stopping only at South Station and Braintree. The schedule will be available online at mbta.com/CommuterRail. 
• Passengers can use free and accessible shuttle buses replacing Red Line Braintree Branch service between Braintree and Ashmont. 
​​​​​​​• There will be no direct shuttle bus service to or from JFK/UMass. 
• Bicycles are not allowed on shuttle buses, and regular Commuter Rail fares will be collected between Kingston, Middleborough, Greenbush, and Braintree stations. 
• Keolis customer service agents, MBTA staff, and transit ambassadors will be on site at impacted stations to support riders. 
• This service change is in place to accommodate Track Improvement Program work taking place on the Braintree branch noted above. Suspending service on these Commuter Rail lines allows crews to be more productive during the planned work during these weekends thanks to the unencumbered access to the track area. 

Riders can find more information on service changes through in-station signage, in-station public announcements, and at mbta.com/alerts. 

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19th Endless Summer kicks off at noon on Saturday; will feature food, fun, and music

The 19th Endless Summer Waterfront Festival kicks off this Saturday, September 7 at noon, and promises to be the biggest and best event yet!

With free admission, free parking, and lots of entertainment, there’s no excuse for not attending. If the weather is an issue on Saturday, the Hull-Nantasket Chamber of Commerce has set Sunday, September 8 as a rain date.

Endless Summer was created to give Hull’s businesses one final boost before the end of the season. It has grown in size and popularity as the years have passed.

Dozens of vendors and other participants will line Nantasket Avenue under tents, including the Hull Boosters Club (selling fundraising stickers to support school athletic programs), Hull Artists (featuring their Aquarium art pieces that are being auctioned), and many other community groups.

This year’s food vendors include the South Shore Taco Guy, Lilly’s Craft Barbecue & Catering, MJ’s (Lobster Rolls), Cool Breeze Ice Cream Shoppe, Aahhh-Roma (wood-grilled pizza), Gonzalez Food Truck (Mexican), Cali Arepa (Columbian) Saltivate, Daddy’s Beach Club, Al’s Backyard Berries, Pick Pop Shaved Ice & Thai Food, Rooted Bloom, and Wellspring.

Musical performances at the Bernie King Pavilion include Assisted Living at noon, Here for Now at 1:15 p.m., and Gracie Grace and All Good Boys at 3:30 p.m. These performers are part of the Friends of Nantasket Beach Summer Sunshine Performance Series.

Endless Summer is supported by grants from the Save the Harbor Save the Bay, Massachusetts Department of Conservation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Hull Cultural Council.

Visit www.hullchamber.com or the Endless Summer Facebook page for the full schedule of events and additional information.

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Celebrate Nantasket Beach’s Jewish history at temple’s panel discussion this weekend

The Jews of Nantasket Beach project and the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center of Boston (jewishheritagecenter.org) are partnering on a free event celebrating summer and Jewish community, past and present, on September 8, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Hull’s Temple Israel, 9 Hadassah Way.

Please join us for a lively afternoon of stories, conversation, and history of the Jewish summer community in Nantasket Beach. The event will feature a panel discussion about the popular Nantasket Youth Center in the mid-20th century with some of those who grew up going to the youth center, like Rhoda Kanet and Mark Levenson, sharing memories of how good it was to be Jewish in this seaside community. There will be opportunities for participants to tell and share their own memories, and a kosher ice cream social.

Along with your stories, bring your original photos and documents of summers past in Jewish Nantasket, and the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center’s archivist will digitize them for you, as well as offer advice on how to preserve these precious mementos.

Please register online at https://jewishheritagecenter.org/events

Looking forward to seeing you there.

For information, contact Steven Greenberg, 508-314-4777 or steven@resourceful.com.

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New faces in administration, classrooms to greet students when school starts September 3

By Carol Britton Meyer 

Hull Public Schools students, administrators, teachers, and staff are gearing up for the new school year, the first under the reconfiguration plan that places preK through grade 7 students at the Jacobs School and grades 8-12 at the high school. 

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. The Hull Public Schools’ opening day is Tuesday, September 3. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique offered shopping for school supplies for all of Hull students’ back-to-school needs last week. Displaying some of the donated items at The Anchor of Hull are Quincy Koloba, Lily Lynch, Addie Mahan, and school committee member Liliana Hedrick. [Skip Tull photo] 

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 3. The Jacobs School will host open houses for the sixth- and -seventh grades on Tuesday, September 17 and on Wednesday, September 18, for preK through grade 5. The high school open house is scheduled for Thursday, September 19. 

Thirteen new teachers will join the staff for the 2024-25 school year, along with new Hull Family Network Coordinator Kristen Chalifoux. 

The new teachers, who all are enthusiastic about joining the HPS staff, are Stephanie Bongarzone, Lisa Carter, Barbara DelGallo, Mark Ewell, Samantha Ferrari, Julie Galluzzo, Jennifer Gibbons, Dylan Hall, Anne Kearley, Rebecca Lewis, Faith Martin, Drew Menice, and Heather Swimm. 

New Superintendent of Schools Michael Jette, who started in Hull on July 1, told The Hull Times that he has “thoroughly enjoyed” meeting with staff, families and students throughout the summer as the school department prepares for the start of the new school year. 

“The buildings look great thanks to our custodial and grounds staff, and the positive energy in the room during new staff orientation was incredible,” Jette said. “It takes many hands to prepare for a school year, and I have seen dedicated staff members all doing their part. Everything will pay off once our students return after Labor Day to kick off another great school year.” 

‘Looking, listening, and learning’ 

As Jette mentioned during the hiring process last winter, he remains committed to “Looking, listening, and learning” throughout the fall. 

“I will be a frequent visitor to our schools and will [stop by] every classroom at both the Jacobs School and Hull High School before the end of September,” he said. “My goal is to be visible, available, and to become aware of what the school and broader community value while also identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.” 

Jette and his family have found Hull to be very welcoming. 

“I have learned that this is an extremely proud community that values physical and emotional safety,” he said. “Our daughters will be attending both schools this fall, and they have met some wonderful new friends over the summer. I will always approach the role of superintendent as a parent first and expect all students in Hull to feel a sense of belonging through strong relationships and a broad horizon of opportunities.” 

‘I couldn’t be more excited’ 

Jacobs School Principal Kyle Shaw told The Hull Times he “couldn’t be more excited” for the upcoming school year. 

“A tremendous amount of time and effort has been put into the reconfiguration process by all school stakeholders. Last year, during phase one, we operated in somewhat of a hybrid model, sharing staff with Memorial and piecing together a schedule to accommodate for this,” he said. “This year, we are fully staffed and eager to implement and house both our elementary and middle school programs under one roof, embracing the many opportunities that reconfiguration has provided.” 

As examples, fourth- and fifth-grade students now have the option to participate in chorus or band, a choice that wasn’t available to them in years past. In addition, Spanish will be offered to fifth- and sixth-grade students, a language option that previously wasn’t introduced until seventh grade. 

After-school offerings – including a new theater program and an intramural sports program – have been greatly expanded. 

“This year will certainly come with challenges as we embark on our first year with this new model,” Shaw said. “However, I am confident that there is no staff more prepared for the task, nor a community more gracious and forthcoming with solution-based recommendations to ensure our success. Together, I’m certain this reconfiguration process will be a success for the Hull community, and I feel honored to be a part of it.” 

‘Sense of excitement and anticipation’ 

For newly-hired Hull High School Principal Robert Shaw, the beginning of any school year “arrives with a sense of excitement and anticipation, and each year brings its own new opportunities and challenges.” 

He told The Hull Times that he is looking forward to engaging with students, families, and staff at the high school and getting to know them. Coming into his first year, Shaw has had the benefit of a head start by working through July and August. 

“This has given me some time to meet just about every member of the staff and many students and parents. From these conversations I have learned so much about the school and community and feel ready to get started on September 3,” he said. “We are very fortunate that Anthony Hrivnak began as the high school assistant principal on the same day I started as principal. As the former middle school principal, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, including familiarity with the two newest classes to Hull High School – the eighth and ninth grades. This will help in the transition to the new grade configuration and in ensuring that our eighth-grade students receive all of the support and resources they need.” 

Sustaining a positive environment 

Shaw’s top priority is to sustain “a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment in which everyone feels connected, everyone can engage, and everyone can be successful. And I mean everyone – students first, but also parents, families, and staff. It’s going to be a fantastic year.” 

Hrivnak also shared his thoughts about the new school year. 

“Integrating eighth-graders into Hull High School is an exciting challenge, and as their former principal, I feel a special commitment to ensuring that they feel welcomed, supported, and ready to thrive in this new environment,” he said. “I have been with our incoming grade eight and nine students throughout middle school, so I know where they are coming from and look forward to seeing how they will grow over the next several years.” 

This year is about building a stronger community “where every student feels like they belong,” Hrivnak said. “I am confident that with our dedicated staff we will make this a truly remarkable year for Hull High School.” 

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Hull schools welcome 13 teachers, new Family Network coordinator for coming year

The Hull Public Schools have hired 13 new teachers for the 2024-25 academic year, as well as a new coordinator for the Hull Family Network. Many of the new staff members were welcomed at a luncheon hosted by the O’Brien Family at Jake’s Seafood Restaurant. 

Stephanie Bongarzone is joining us as a preschool teacher at Jacobs School. Bongarzone comes to us from Marshfield Public Schools. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University, and her postgraduate certificate of study from Southern New Hampshire University. She lives in Kingston. 

SCHOOL’S IN. The Hull Public Schools are welcoming several new teachers to the district this year. In keeping with tradition, the incoming staff members celebrated with a lunch at Jake’s Seafood Restaurant. Shown at Jake’s are, in the back row, from left, Hull High Principal Rob Shaw, Drew Menice, Barbara DelGallo, Kristy Chalifoux, Heather Swimm, Jennifer Gibbons, Rebecca Lewis, and Samantha Ferrari. In the front row are Dylan Hall, Mark Ewell, Lisa Carter, Annie Kearley, Stephanie Bongarzone, and Superintendent Michael Jette. [Skip Tull photo] 

Lisa Carter comes to us as a special education teacher in the team-based learning program at Jacobs School. Ms. Carter received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and her master’s degree from Wheelock College. She lives in Hingham and previously worked in the Boston Public Schools. 

Barbara DelGallo was a paraprofessional at Jacobs School for the past few years and this year has been appointed as a (0.8) physical education/wellness teacher at Jacobs School. DelGallo received her bachelor’s degree from Niagara University in Lewiston, N.Y., and has started graduate school for elementary education at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. She lives in Hull. 

Mark Ewell will be joining the Jacobs School as a (0.8) music teacher. Ewell received his bachelor’s degree from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. His most recent job was band director/music teacher in the Rockland Public Schools. He lives in Rockland. 

Samantha Ferrari is joining Hull High School this year as a guidance counselor. Ferrari lives in Somerville and has come to us from the Collegiate Charter School of Lowell. She received her bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University and her master’s degree from New York University. 

Julie Galluzzo was a long-term substitute Spanish teacher at Hull High School a few years ago and has been working as the guidance secretary since then. This year, she will be returning to the classroom as a (0.8) Spanish teacher at Hull High School. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State College and her master’s degree from Emerson College. She lives in Hull. 

Jennifer Gibbons comes to us as a grade two teacher at Jacobs School. Gibbons received her bachelor’s degree from Keene State College and her master’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University. She lives in Swampscott and comes to Hull from the Lawrence Public Schools. 

Dylan Hall is a familiar face around Hull as a contracted Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for the past six years. Hall is now a regular part of the team. He received his bachelor’s degree from Emerson College, his master’s degree from Bridgewater State University, and his graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from UMass Lowell. He lives in Kingston. 

Anne Kearley was a long-term substitute grade four teacher at Jacobs School last year and this year, she has been appointed as a grade three teacher. Kearley received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and her master’s degree from Lesley College. She lives in Norwell. 

Rebecca Lewis comes to Hull as a science teacher, after teaching chemistry in the Hingham Public Schools for several years. Lewis received her bachelor’s degree from New York University, her doctor of medicine degree from the University of Massachusetts at Worcester and her master of education degree from Brandeis University. She lives in Hull. 

Faith Martin was a long-term substitute grade five teacher last year and this year she has been appointed as a grade four teacher at the Jacobs School. Martin received her bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College and her master’s degree from Bridgewater State University. She lives in Marshfield. 

Andrew (Drew) Menice has been a paraprofessional as well as long-term substitute special education teacher at the Jacobs School since 2021 and this year he has been appointed as a special education teacher in the team-based learning program. Menice received his bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University and his certificate of study from Fitchburg State University. He lives in Hull.  

Heather Swimm will be joining the Jacobs School as a reading/math intervention teacher. Swimm received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) from Bridgewater State University. A Hull resident, she was a special education teacher in the Stoughton Public Schools since 2011.  

Kristen Chalifoux comes on board as Hull Family Network Coordinator as Joan MacDonald begins her well-deserved retirement after 23 years on the job. Chalifoux lives in Hull and has been part of the HFN community for the past 11 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Babson College and her master’s degree from Tufts University. She is an experienced early childhood educator and has been a playgroup leader at Hull Family Network. 

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High atop Allerton Hill, a tower built to defend the coast in wartime has become a symbol of peace

Submitted by Joe McKendry 

On a raw day this past March, my wife and I were out for a walk on Beach Avenue when we started chatting with a woman who was also out braving the elements. When we asked where she lived, she pointed to the top of Allerton Hill and said, “See that tower? I live there.” 

[Images by Joe McKendry Illustration, www.joemckendry.com] 

Maureen Keiller owns the house at the base of the concrete tower and has lived there since 1998. She graciously offered to give us a tour of the tower when the weather got better, which we did this summer. With wine in hand, we carefully climbed the steep stairs to the roof and soaked in the view as she told us the story of how she came to own the property, what purpose the tower served, and about the light displays she and her friends mount at the top every year. 

The tower was built as part of the Boston Harbor defense system during World War II. Known as the Point Allerton Artillery Fire Control Tower, its purpose was to locate and plot the precise location of enemy ships and pass on that information to the gun operators at Fort Duvall on Hog Island (now known as Spinnaker Island). If the shots missed, the splash was visible from the tower and that information was passed along so adjustments could be made to the position of the gun barrel. Long horizontal windows on the top three floors allowed military personnel to get an open view of Boston Harbor and any approaching ships. Observational equipment mounted in front of each of the three windows was lined up with a geodetic disc on the roof that allowed for precise measurements. 

In the late ‘90s when Maureen and her fiancé, Patrick Miehe, were searching for a place to call home, the real estate agent drove them past the tower on the way to see another property. But once they learned the tower (and the house that came with it) were soon going on the market, they had already made their decision before setting foot in either. The pair graciously carried on the tradition of mounting an illuminated star atop the tower during the holiday season, which began in 1962 when neighbors Joseph Cannon and Charles Brennan wanted to brighten up the neighborhood with a star atop the tower during the holidays. The owner of the tower, William Jacobs (locals affectionately called it Jacobs Tower), loved the idea on the condition that it was a Star of David. Sometime in the ’80s the Star of David was in disrepair and a new version was built in the design of a five-pointed star and cared for by Steve Mahoney and a crew from the neighborhood. 

In 2018, when Maureen’s husband Patrick succumbed to esophageal cancer, she created a tradition of her own, mounting a laminated photo of Patrick to the star so he can continue to enjoy the view that he loved so dearly. Dave Wentling, a close friend of Maureen and Patrick who also lives on Allerton Hill, has helped maintain the star for close to 20 years, replacing bulbs when they burn out and rebuilding the structure when necessary. He also is responsible for the new peace sign which he and Maureen mounted on the tower because “a daily reminder of the concept of peace is definitely needed.” 

At 179 feet above sea level, the tower is one of the highest points on the South Shore. 

What better place to send a message of unity and peace? 

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HRA’s discussion of development goals in Urban Renewal Plan continues

The Hull Redevelopment Authority will hold another working session on Monday, August 26 to discuss what should be included in the draft Urban Renewal Plan that will guide the future use of its 13-acre property.

DEVELOPING THE FUTURE. A crowd of residents filled the Exhibition Room at Hull High School on August 12 to hear members of the Hull Redevelopment Authority discuss their ideas for the future of the 13-acre HRA property. The facilitated discussion will continue on Monday, August 26. [Skip Tull photo]

Like its most recent meeting on August 12, Monday’s meeting at Hull High School will be facilitated by University of Massachusetts-Boston professor Douglas Thompson and is not designed for public comments on the plan, according to the authority’s chair.

Click here for the draft Urban Renewal Plan and other HRA documents

“This meeting is a working meeting dedicated to affording the members of the HRA and opportunity to have a robust conversation, within the guidelines of the Open Meeting Law, open to the public’s observation and listening, but absent any feedback, comment, or responses from the public audience, either in person or via Zoom,” Chair Dennis Zaia explained.

Thompson also will be invited back in the fall for at least two additional meetings, Zaia said.

At the August 12 meeting, Thompson started the process of reviewing the existing Urban Renewal Plan and asked each of the five HRA members to consider whether the current goals should be retained, deleted, or modified. Although no formal decisions were made, three authority members said they favored removing housing from the list of development goals.

At Monday’s meeting, Thompson will help members “work through the differences” in their perspectives on the future uses of the property, which stretches from the beach to the bay between Water Street and Phipps Street.

Zaia said the public is invited to attend in person or over the Zoom platform to hear the discussion. The URP will be the only business item on the HRA’s meeting agenda.

The meeting will be recorded by Hull Community Television and available to view on the local cable channels, as well as on demand on hulltv.net.

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