CPC endorses six projects, including Village Fire Station, playground work

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By Dolores Sauca Lorusso 

The Community Preservation Committee this week unanimously endorsed six requests for funding that will eventually be considered by voters the spring town meeting. The projects, which will use funds collected from the Community Preservation Act surcharge, include $1.5 million to renovate the Village Fire Station, $99,000 for the Hampton Circle Playground, $55,000 to repair the L Street Playground and tennis courts, as well as $30,000 for playground shade structures, $70,000 to restore the Paragon Carousel windows, and $28,000 for a waterfront access consultant.

THe Hull Village Fire Station is one of the town’s Most historic buildings.

The CPC approved spending $500,000 in cash and bonding $1 million over 20 years for phase two of the Village Fire Station preservation project. A written summary of a CPC site visit to the Village Fire Station said that “conditions demonstrate the building is in severe need of repair but is structurally sound. Addressing the need in a timely fashion will allow for the continued use of the building as well as to preserve a property of high historic value to the town.” 

The committee members expressed interest in preserving the many historical documents, photographs, and collectibles in the upstairs meeting room and basement area. Some of these items belong to the town and some are in the archives of the Hull Historical Society, which has occupied the second floor for decades. The building was formerly the town hall, and the basement contains a historic jail cell and vault, which the CPC would also like to see preserved. “It is amazing we have that memorabilia and it needs to be preserved,” Committee member Jim Ianiri said.

Ianiri also questioned whether people would be allowed into the fire station if it were renovated, because he believes “it is important to keep the promise of letting people into the building after it is fixed.”

“The challenge here is that if it is open constantly to the public, then you have to meet ADA requirements,” CPC Chair Rachel Gilroy said. “But limited scheduled tours could allow to manage it better.”

She followed up by expressing the importance of “just refurbishing the building from a visual perspective for the Village, so when driving by they don’t see a building falling apart.”

Judy O’Quinn Ranson, who lives next door to the fire station, agrees the building is in disrepair and referred to it as “an eyesore.” She is also a “big advocate” of the 1.5% property-tax surcharge for funding the CPC and sees “what the tax does for the town and the historic component of the town.” The fire station is manned during emergencies and that makes her “feel better in an astronomical high tide to have a fire truck sitting next to my house if cut off from the peninsula.”

Greg Grey, a select board member and the CPC’s Park and Recreation Commission designee, said the “CPC is going to shine the trophies we haven’t been able to shine in a long time. I am in favor of this. It is not locking all the funds so we can do another historical project if it comes along.”

Gilroy agreed. “Earmarking just that $500,000 leaves plenty of money still in our cash in case something else comes along that needs our attention,” she said, explaining that the earliest the $1 million bond would be issued is July 2023, but “if more feasible they could hold on the bond if rates aren’t good and use the $500,000.”

The Hampton Circle Playground supplemental funding increased from the initially proposed $70,000 to $99,000 due to the addition of a swing set, increasing costs, and permitting work. Community Development and Planning Director Chris DiIorio said there is “demand in the area” and “the people approved the initial $200,000.” In support of the motion to approve, Grey added he believes it is “money well spent because this area has been without a playground for years and they need a place to go.” Issues of flooding in the area were discussed, but ultimately it was determined the park would withstand minor flooding.

“The playground will be elevated a little bit, so in minor flooding events it should be fine,” said DiIorio.

Regarding the L Street playground and tennis courts, Grey commented they are in “major disrepair because cracks continue to open up despite Parks and Recreation continuously fixing them.” Grey said he is in favor of this project because the area is “one of the most used playgrounds because of all the sports that go on there.”

The L Street playground shade structures were deemed essential because 250 kids are in the summer program on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. DiIorio described the proposed shade structures as “a four-post sail structure that will be easy to put up and take down, and some sun will still get through because it is over grass.” Grey said these awnings are important because the kids in the summer program – as well as other park visitors – could be stuck in the extreme heat of an 80- to 90-degree day without any shade.

“When it is extremely hot we need to do something to combat it. Besides the summer program, it would also allow residents to enjoy their lunch at a picnic table, sit to read a book, or watch a game,” Grey said. In addition, Gilroy said the pop-up structures currently being used are “not safe.”

CPA funds are designated for historic preservation, open space and recreation, and affordable housing, and the state provides a partial match for these funds. The CPC is responsible for evaluating the needs of the town and making recommendations, including anticipated costs, to the town meeting as part of the annual budget process. The final decision rests with voters after recommendations from the select and advisory boards. Gilroy hopes to make an in-person presentation to the advisory board at the end of February.

ShoreLines: News about your neighbors

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By Matt Haraden

- Congratulations to Kelsey Rose Bannen who was named to the Dean’s List at Bridgewater State University for the fall 2022 semester. The Dean’s List is comprised of full-time undergraduate students who have a minimum of 12 credits earned and a 3.3 GPA for the semester.

- Hull High School graduate David Flynn started a master’s program in Environmental Science and Policy at Clark University in Worcester on Jan. 17. After graduating from Hull High in 1971, he eventually went on to Harvard, and graduated in 2002. He spent his career at Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, from which he retired. His goal is to teach environmental science at a college in western Massachusetts, where he now lives. Flynn grew up at 18 Mayflower Rd. on Allerton Hill and worked at Paragon Park and the Bayside Theater. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War as a Tin Can Sailor. His name is on the Town of Hull’s war monument.

- Congratulations to Alexandra Hendrickson of the class of 2023, who was named to the fall 2022 High Honors list at Pomfret School. To achieve this, Hendrickson earned a grade point average of at least 3.670, and received no grade lower than a B+.

- Five Hull residents were recently named to first quarter Honor Roll at Boston College High School. Khush Patel and Jackson Waldner of the class of 2023, Brenden Ryan of the class of 2025, and Liam Hopkins of the class of 2026 earned High Honors. Finn Stenfors of the class of 2025 achieved Honors. To earn High Honors, a sophomore, junior, or senior must hold at least a 3.80 quality point average, with all grades of C+ or higher. Freshmen need a quality point average of 3.60 or higher and all grades of C+ or higher to qualify. For Honors, a sophomore, junior, or senior needs a quality point average of 3.20 and all grades of C- or higher, while freshmen require a quality point average of 3.165 and all grades of C- or higher. Boston College High School is a Catholic school for young men with more than 1,400 students in grades seven to 12.

- Maya Walsh was one of 33 sophomore students inducted into Salem State University’s Alpha Omega Psi, an honor society for students who demonstrate strong academic performance at the university. These students participated in the Salem State University Emerging Scholars Program during their first year and completed all of its requirements while maintaining their commitments to academics. Students in the Emerging Scholars Program are paired with graduate student success coaches and go through sessions designed to build their academic and life skills.

- Helena Lynch, a member of the class of 2024, was named to the fall 2022 Dean’s List at Stonehill College. Students must have a semester grade point average of 3.50 and must have successfully completed all courses for which they were assigned to qualify for this honor.

- Grace Holden, a student at Lasell University, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. To qualify, students must have completed 12 credits as a full-time student and maintain a 3.50 GPA or higher. Holden was also the recipient of the Collaboration Recognition Award for the Main Fundamentals of Visual Art course. The students are selected by their peers for the award for exemplifying superior skills in communication and collaboration. The program was launched last year to acknowledge performance in not only academics, but also for collaborative behaviors that are key to success in professional environments.

- Two Hull residents graduated from the University of New Hampshire in December 2022. Shea Burke graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences-Ecosystems.

She also earned High Honors for the fall 2022 semester. Olivia Hutchinson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

- Faye Lofgren, a Health Science/Pre-PT major at Springfield College, was named to the Dean’s List for academic excellence for the fall 2022 semester. Students must have completed 12 credits and maintained a 3.5 grade point average for the semester to qualify.

- Ellie Hoffmeister, a student at Lehigh University, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. The status is granted to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better, while carrying 12 hours of regularly graded courses.

- Ornela Kotoni was named to the Plymouth State University President’s List for the fall 2022 semester. Full-time undergraduate students who maintain a GPA of 3.70 or higher and earn 12 credits during the semester are eligible for the President’s List.

- Nikolas Prestia, a Biology major at Plymouth State University, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. Students must achieve a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.69 for the semester and take at least 12 credits to qualify.

- Sophia Tremblay, a Psychology major at Plymouth State University, was named to the President’s List for the fall 2022 semester. To make the list, students must achieve a GPA of 3.7 or better and have attempted at least 12 credit hours during the semester.

- Geoff Hewett, a Cell Biology/Biochemistry major was named to the Dean’s List for outstanding academic achievement at Bucknell University for the fall 2022 semester. A student must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher to make the Dean’s List.

- Joseph O’Loughlin, who attends the University of New Hampshire, earned Highest Honors on the university’s Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. Highest Honors go to full-time students who maintained a GPA of 3.85 or better during the semester.

- Two Hull students were named to the Dean’s List at the College of the Holy Cross for the fall 2022 semester. Jaren Minucci, class of 2023, and Elise Ryan, class of 2025, both earned honors. Students must pass four or more letter-graded courses and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher to be eligible.

- Brandon P. Dang earned a Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland Global Campus in fall of 2022. Dang was one of more than 7,600 students worldwide to earn a degree from the exclusively online college.

- Caitlin E. Canavan, a junior history major at St. Michael’s College, was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits and maintain a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher to qualify for the Dean’s List.

- Katherine Seabury was named to the fall 2022 semester Dean’s List at the University of New England. In order to be eligible, students must maintain a semester GPA of 3.3 or better.

- Worcester Polytechnic Institute has announced that Stephen Fanning, a computer science major in the class of 2024, has been named to the Dean’s List for academic excellence for the fall 2022 semester.

- Brian Saniuk was named to the University of Rhode Island’s Dean’s List for the fall 2022 semester. Students must take at least 12 credits and maintain a 3.3 grade point average for the semester to receive the honors.

- Paul McDonald was named to the Dean’s List for fall 2022 at Endicott College, where he majors in Sport Management. Students must obtain a semester GPA of 3.5, receive no letter grades below a C, and take a minimum of 12 credits in order to qualify for the Dean’s List.

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!

Consultant selected to lead town manager search

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By Carol Britton Meyer

Community Paradigm Associates came out on top following lengthy interviews Wednesday by the select board as it sought to hire a consultant to search for a new town manager.

Bernard lynch of community Paradigm Associates.

The principals from Paradigm and Groux-White Consulting, LLC presented overviews of why they thought their firm was right for the job.

While the vote at the end of the interviews was unanimous, the board agreed that either firm would have been a good choice.

Bernard Lynch made the presentation for Plymouth-based Paradigm, noting that the firm was founded in 2014 and has conducted more than 90 town manager and town administrator searches and 30-plus more for other positions.

“We have a good handle on the marketplace,” he said. “We have a good process that we have fine-tuned over time. We customize it as needed to the communities we are working with and what they need to be successful in finding the best possible candidates for this position. We cast a broad net.”

Others involved are Peter Morin, the former Norwell town administrator and another principal of the firm, and Sharon Flaherty, who does research and interviews candidates and community members.

PETER MORIN, FORMER TOWN Administrator IN NORWELL.

Lynch described the comprehensive network of potential candidates that Paradigm has access to and explained the process.

“It’s not just about placing ads. We want to know exactly what you want and need in the next town manager,” he said.

Other components include working with a soon-to-be-created screening committee, advertising statewide and beyond for the position, and interviewing town staff and conducting an online survey for community members as steps leading up to developing a list of candidates.

“We will also work with the select board on questions to ask candidates and assessment tools to guide them through the process and help in whatever ways we can to help the town make the right decision,” Lynch said. “Our process works successfully.”

The biggest challenge, he explained is the lack of candidates, although there are signs of that situation “loosening up.”

A particular challenge in finding a replacement for Lemnios, Lynch said, is that “Hull’s location is wonderful, but the geography can make it challenging to get to for potential candidates who would be commuting.”

Lemnios brought up the issue of residency requirements, and Lynch explained that several communities that had such criteria have eliminated or are considering eliminating it.

“It can be more difficult to attract candidates with such a requirement in place,” because making the move to another town can place a burden on the new town manager and his or her family.

Morin knows the town well and has worked with Lemnios.

“Hull has benefitted from its reputation for being well-managed,” he said. “Phil is very well regarded and was my mentor when I started in Norwell. Being able to retain skilled and reputable town managers for decades speaks well for Hull and will attract many candidates during this turbulent era of town government.”

A contract will be ready for the select board to sign at their Feb. 15 meeting.

Richard White, representing Groux-White, outlined what he saw as the benefits of the town hiring his firm, including the “unique approach” of offering an 18-month guarantee for communities and town managers that don’t turn out to be a good fit, his involvement in every interview, the firm’s experience in working with coastal communities, and other considerations.

Board members noted that they liked White’s hands-on approach but that a deciding factor was the smaller size of the Groux-White firm.

The board chose Paradigm because of the availability of more staff and the firm seemed like a “better-seasoned operation and more professional,” board member Donna Pursel said.

When asked prior to the vote for his input, Lemnios said he felt that both firms would serve the town well.

“I won’t make a recommendation, because it wouldn’t be appropriate,” he said.

Board charts course for replacing Lemnios after 25 years in Hull’s top job

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By Carol Britton Meyer

Prior to conducting Zoom interviews Wednesday night with two consulting firms to search for a new town manager, the select board met to discuss its goals for the process. Current Town Manager Philip Lemnios is retiring in June after 25 years.

Town Manager Philip Lemnios plans to retire in June.

The principals of Community Paradigm Associates and Groux-White Consulting, LLC were interviewed separately during a 2-1/2-hour meeting. Both have extensive experience in town manager searches. (See related story.)

The board received copies of each firm’s proposals in January so had ample time to review them and develop questions. Neither firm has worked in Hull.

“The last search was for the police chief position,” Lemnios said. He added that in talking with people knowledgeable about searches, he learned the number of candidates available for this type of position “is not as robust as it was 10 years or so ago.”

Lemnios noted that some potential candidates might prefer working for “larger communities with a different demographic or a larger footprint.” Others might prefer working within a small-town government.

This is an opportunity to “step back and think about the position and the skill sets you will want in the next town manager,” he said, noting that “the town manager’s office will be [set up] differently if town meeting approves the hiring of an assistant town manager.”

Donna Pursel acted as chair in the absence of Jennifer Constable. Board members had done their homework in preparation for the interviews. Pursel spoke to a town official in Sudbury and the select board chair in Middleborough, one of which had engaged the services of Paradigm and the other of Groux-White for executive searches, and both were satisfied with the results.

“Both said that hiring a consultant made the process much easier for them,” she reported.

Lemnios noted that both firms have been in business for at least 10 years and that both proposals that were submitted were “very similar.” That’s not surprising, he said, “since there’s not a lot of variation on the theme with this kind of search.”

Both firms would be able to provide services in the $11,000 to $13,000 price range during what is estimated to be a 15-week process.

“We are in a unique situation – fortunate to have had our town manager for 25 years,” Pursel said. “He met the charge and objectives set forth when he was hired, and this is kind of a clean slate.”

DCR-area upgrades to complement creation of improvement district

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The Economic Development Committee continues its work to establish the Nantasket Business Improvement District in partnership with the Department of Conservation & Recreation.

A BID is a special assessment district in which property owners vote to initiate, manage, and finance supplemental services or enhancements beyond those provided by local government.

The goal is to improve a specific commercial area by attracting shoppers, diners, customers, and other businesses to the area, and involvement of the DCR is essential for the process to move forward.

The town was earlier awarded a $15,000 Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Grant, which pays for a consultant who works with the town to explore the possibility of creating a BID, which can provide a sustainable funding source for the revitalization and long-term maintenance of downtown areas and town centers.

In the coming weeks, town staff and the consultant will meet with district businesses and property owners for a status update on the BID process, Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable, who also chairs the EDC, told The Hull Times.

“Most notably, the town is finalizing a partnership agreement with DCR to expend a $250,000 earmark for economic development specifically for immediate improvements to the Nantasket Beach boardwalk area, including replacing and improving street furniture, signage, picnic tables, water bubblers, and benches,” she said, referencing funds designated for Hull in the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

This agreement will also establish a collaborative working group, annual work plan, and quarterly meetings.

“The long-sought-after agreement is an exciting next step in building collaboration between the town and DCR to advance improvements in the shared district for the benefit of the entire community,” Constable said.

Hull's BID participants will be asked to submit their desired district improvements in order to establish a budget to inform and create the BID petition, which will be presented for adoption.

The EDC also voted to support the work of the affordable housing committee and submission of an application to the Citizens Housing & Planning Association’s Municipal Engagement Initiative to begin the discussion of affordable housing options in Hull.

In addition, the EDC will be discussing a potential lighting project in town, as well as a marketing campaign consistent with the town’s Local Rapid Recovery Plan, according to Constable.

The won a $30,000 LRRP grant to identify actions that will help communities recover economic losses from the pandemic and provides participating communities with short-, medium-, and long-term recovery goals and actions for moving forward.

The creation of a BID in Hull was among the recommendations in the resulting LRRP report, which also included a focus on parking management and marketing and branding, which the EDC has set as a priority.

“These are the areas we heard the most concerns about from businesses in the proposed BID area,” Constable said earlier.

The EDC plans to make routine improvements to the ArtWalk and Art Garden so that both may continue to be enjoyed by visitors and residents.

“Special thanks to Bill Smyth, Steve Greenberg, and Jim Pitrolo for their commitment to maintaining both spaces,” Constable said.

Under BID status, a special assessment, or common area fee, is levied only on property located within an approved district. The assessments are collected and expended within the district for a range of services and programs, including improving a downtown business area or town center, public relations and marketing, public safety and capital improvements, and special events.

A BID must be a contiguous geographic area in which at least 75 percent of the land is zoned or used for commercial, retail, industrial, or mixed uses. Boston's Downtown Crossing is an example of a BID within a large city.

The LRRP recommendations correlate with the town's Unified Work Plan – approved earlier by the select board as a flexible, “living document” – that integrates eight earlier plans and studies focused on the revitalization of the front beach area and offers a strategy for short- and long-term implementation.

HRA to seek comments on development plan for long-vacant 13-acre site

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The Hull Redevelopment Authority will host six public presentations of its long-anticipated draft Urban Renewal Plan during the next three months as it seeks to develop its 13-acre parcel in a way that is compatible with the town’s and the community’s vision for the property.

In-person presentations will be held in the Hull High School Exhibition Room on Feb. 13, March 14, and April 25. Online presentations will be available via Zoom on Feb. 16, March 16, and April 27. All are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m.

Goals include redeveloping the property in a way that maintains the fabric of the community, avoids overwhelming the surrounding neighborhoods, and helps meet the needs outlined in the Hull Affordable Housing Committee’s Housing Production Plan while also meeting the objectives of the HRA “in a way that fits with the community at large,” HRA Chair Bartley Kelly told the Hull Times.

“We’re not looking to get the highest and biggest use out of the property, but to create a neighborhood that moves traffic freely, with open space for the public and a connection between Surfside and the north end of Phipps Street,” he said. “Now that the draft is completed, we’re seeking public input.”

The HRA’s mission is “to create a sense of place in our community through development that provides tax revenue, open space recreation, job growth, an improved business environment, event venues, and parking for Nantasket Beach within an effective and efficient traffic pattern.”

Two potential site plans (identified as Option 1 and Option 2) are included in the URP.

Option 1 and Option 2 differ only in the proposed uses on a section of the property north of the DCR parking lot, near Monument Square. Option 1 includes four-family and townhouse structures on the north end of the property, while Option 2 does not develop that area, which would remain as beach parking and potential event space. Fifteen percent of the housing will be affordable.

A 65-room boutique hotel with 5,000-square-feet of conference/convention space is part of the URP.

About 70 percent of the site will be left as open space or parking, in addition to open space that’s part of any future new development plan.

“Our charge is to redevelop the property, and [what’s described above is] what the URP calls for. There could be some changes – nothing like a seven-story building – but this is the plan we are proposing,” Kelly said. “Not on the table is doing nothing with the property, which would be a disservice to the town and to the people once living there who had their property taken by eminent domain by the government. We’re trying to strike a balance between redeveloping the parcel and providing nice, usable public open space.”

The HRA was created in 1961 by town meeting to accept a charter from the federal and state governments to redevelop this parcel of land, “which at that time was deemed to be substandard, decadent or blighted open areas for industrial, commercial, business, residential, recreational, education, hospital, or other purposes,” according to the HRA website.

Initial funding was granted at the end of 1967 in the amount of $4.7 million to take, by eminent domain, the 76 buildings on the property.

The urban renewal area has been vacant since the razing of the original neighborhood was completed in 1976. The original plan for that parcel in the 1960s “is what created the HRA and allowed the properties on the land to be taken for development,” Community Development & Planning Director Chris DiIorio told The Hull Times. “That plan expired, and the HRA is [now] drafting a new one for the site.”

During the years since the HRA was formed, there have been multiple development proposals that did not come to fruition.

Most recently, after denying in 2019 two responses to a request for proposals, the HRA determined that an approved URP was necessary in order to give the HRA the flexibility needed to negotiate with, and choose, developers for the property moving forward and to ensure the end result is in accordance with how town officials and residents would like to see the property developed.

The site could be developed in one of two ways: through a URP that gives the HRA the flexibility and ability to work with a developer to craft a development that is consistent with the plan, or through the request for proposals process, which provides for competitive bidding on the property, according to DiIorio. “The RFP process gives the HRA less input in the development of the project, and more emphasis is placed on financial considerations.”

The town’s role, through the select board, is to either support or not support a submission of the new URP to the state Department of Housing and Community Development for approval.

The public meetings are a required part of the state process, and feedback the HRA receives regarding the proposal will be used to refine the URP “to address community concerns and issues, wants and needs,” DiIorio said. “Public input should help to create a better URP and assist the select board in making their decision.”

The renderings that will be presented – which are posted on the HRA website – are a visual representation of the plan, enabling the public to have a better understanding of what is envisioned.

:Developers would be able, and would be expected, to propose a project that differs from the renderings,” DiIorio explained. “However, any project should be generally in line with what is being presented in the URP. If it isn’t consistent with the plan, the HRA could refuse to move forward with the project, and/or the permitting authorities could potentially deny the permits.”

The UPR will go before the select board for a vote following the public meetings.

Having an approved plan in place will allow the HRA greater flexibility to engage and interact with governmental agencies, potential developers, and others to achieve the objectives described in the plan.

For further information about the HRA, the draft URP, and to view all of the conceptual building renderings, visit www.hra02045.com.

In a related development, the HRA was awarded a $272,000 state MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant in support of a two-way road design for Nantasket Avenue, Hull Shore Drive, and Hull Shore Drive Extension.

This grant provides for the continued development of the two-way concept into fully designed and shovel-ready construction plans.

This major change is geared toward improving vehicular flow and pedestrian safety and access through the area, as well as helping to resolve traffic back-ups and adding open space along the bayside of the HRA property. In the mid-1970s, the streets in the neighborhood were two-way thoroughfares; they expanded and changed to one-way flow in order to accommodate the anticipated development of the site.

45 years later, Blizzard of 1978 still evokes strong memories among 'survivors'

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By Christopher Haraden

New Englanders love to talk about the weather.

No matter what it’s like outside, it’s either too hot or too cold, too windy or too calm – never a happy medium. The record-breaking low temperatures of this past weekend will be remembered for a long time, but the Blizzard of 1978 – which struck the region 45 years ago this week – is the standard by which all future weather events continue to be measured.

Those who didn’t live here during those difficult days have learned to be patient with those who did – they called themselves “survivors” long before the TV show popularized the word – because the events of February 6-7, 1978 were indeed life-altering for Hull’s 10,000+ residents.

Although the storm struck only 45 years ago, it might well have been in another lifetime. Advances in meteorology, technology, and sociology have greatly improved our ability to predict, prepare for, and survive natural disasters.

Much about the aftermath of the Blizzard of ’78 would have been different if cellphones were commonplace, and residents had the advantage of constant updates from social media or one of cable television’s 24-hour news and weather channels. Large, rear-wheel drive cars were the norm 35 years ago; 4x4 capability was generally reserved for large trucks. Technological advances that make storm preparations easier – access to bank ATMs, computerized weather modeling, and Doppler radar, to name only a few – were not widely available in 1978.

When light snow began falling on Monday morning, Feb. 6, 1978, eastern Massachusetts was unprepared for the gathering storm. Commuters went to work, children left for school, and most citizens continued their regular routines. Within hours, as the National Weather Service’s warnings became increasingly urgent, residents and government officials reacted, setting in motion a series of events that created havoc on the highways and along the coastline.

Overnight, four distinct weather systems had combined into a storm that was hundreds of miles wide and dumped snow on Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York as it traveled east. Massachusetts already had experienced the second-highest-ever snowfall in Boston [21.4 inches] on Jan 20-21; the last thing anyone wanted to see was more snow in the forecast.

The storm stalled when it reached New England, keeping the snow falling and wind howling through two full tide cycles. Hurricane-force winds pushed waves from astronomically high tides farther and more forcefully onto the shore.

The Boston Herald American described it in more dramatic terms in its storm recap on Feb. 12:

“It was a mean and violent week because the Blizzard of ’78 was a two-headed demon.

“First came the snow. Even at the start there was an unusual bite to it, a sting. It began early Monday morning and a few hours later was striking the ground with an audible hiss.

“By noon it had killed a man and by mid-afternoon people were in flight. By late afternoon a mighty whistling wind had pushed it into great drifts that made everything stop.

“And then, after night had come and no one could see it, the sea went mad in a way it has seldom gone mad before, chewing and spitting what man had built at its edge.

“In the morning the bits and pieces lay on the beach like all the wreckage of the world. What the sea did was the worst of all.”

At midday Monday, as the snow fell more quickly, Gov. Michael Dukakis sent state workers home, and so did nearly every other business in the city. With thousands of cars clogging the highways, an accident on Route 128 snarled southbound traffic and turned the road into a snow-filled parking lot. More than 3,500 cars and trucks were stranded on highways, and “storm orphaned” drivers with nowhere else to go were taken in by strangers living near the exit ramps or at public buildings that doubled as shelters. Even Hull’s commuter boat made the treacherous trip to Pemberton Pier from Boston that evening – a boat ride that the 80 passengers still recall as harrowing.

As Dukakis was fielding questions from constituents on David Brudnoy’s Monday evening radio show, callers’ concerns quickly turned to flooding from the approaching high tide. From the radio studio, the governor asked coastal residents to evacuate, and by 10 p.m. had declared a state of emergency and mobilized the entire National Guard to storm duty.

Monday night’s high tide was an incredible 10.1 feet above normal, sending freezing water over the dunes and seawalls. The morning tide of 10.4 feet was even worse than expected, smashing the previous record and smashing into the shore with unrelenting fury. Coastal residents who hadn’t abandoned their homes kept rescuers busy in rowboats and amphibious “duck boats” (the actual use of the now-commonplace sports championship parade vehicles). The number of refugees in shelters swelled into the thousands, with at least 2,000 in Hull at the Memorial Middle and Damon Elementary schools.

The snow finally ended at about 10 p.m. Tuesday, but not before dropping a then-record 27.1 inches on Boston, with higher amounts in the suburbs. The mountains of snow were featured in news reports about the storm, but people were only beginning to understand the devastation along the coast.

As residents evacuated their homes in the darkened streets the night before, they’d braved waist-high water rushing into their neighborhoods. When Tuesday morning’s tide receded, much of the water stayed in place. It would be as much as a week before the seawater could be pumped back into the ocean.

“Slowly, it began to be understood – while the blizzard stood still and raged – that it was the little towns on the Massachusetts shores that had suffered the most. The discomfort of the big cities was nothing compared to what such coastal areas endured,“  a United Press International reporter wrote.

“The wind and water scythed through the towns. Houses were tossed about like toys. Cars were buried in the mud. Boats were shoved into living rooms. People feared for their lives while everything else they owned was taken by the sea.

“It was like a whirlwind in a toothpick factory. Suddenly, the 27 inches of snow in Boston and up to 40 inches in Rhode Island seemed of little consequence. Snow can be moved. It requires only time and money.

“There were too many things to put it all in focus at once. Blackouts affecting 100,000 Bostonians; jammed freeways everywhere; avaricious looters; a mounting death toll; exhausted, stranded people; and in Hull, people peered out under their first blue skies in three days to view streets filled with water, houses torn to shreds and mud and debris everywhere.”

In all, the storm was blamed for 54 deaths across the region, and millions of dollars in property damages. In Hull, two homes in the Pemberton area and one in the alphabet section burned to the ground, as floodwaters prevented firefighters from hooking up hoses to the hydrants. National Guard troops patrolled the town and blocked entry to non-residents. Power was restored slowly, and schools that were used to shelter residents reopened after a two-week vacation.

Schoolkids weren’t the only ones whose routine was disturbed. The Catholic Church moved Ash Wednesday to the following Sunday, and the Boston Archdiocese relaxed its no-meat rule for the first Friday of Lent, saying that snow shoveling required extra nourishment, and that the governor’s travel ban had prevented people from getting to the store to buy fresh fish.

Florists, card shops, and candy stores convinced Dukakis to extend Valentine’s Day into a week-long celebration, allowing people more time to purchase gifts, and the postal service extra days to catch up on delayed deliveries.

The physical destruction of the storm is only one reason the Blizzard is so memorable. More so than any other disaster, the Blizzard of ’78 represented an outpouring of community spirit unrivaled in the past and unmatched since.

Neighbors who previously had disregarded each other’s presence were quick to help pick up the pieces of damaged houses, bring food and supplies to stranded residents, and transport folks whose cars remained submerged.

Neighbors took in residents who had lost their homes to flooding, and owners of summer cottages happily turned over their keys to those needing shelter. Strangers went out of their way to help each other in the unique way that times of shared distress bring out the best in people.

For many years after the blizzard, however, the lessons learned in the aftermath were quickly forgotten. Most property owners quickly rebuilt their homes without regard for flood mitigation. Flood insurance was grudgingly purchased, and typically only when required by a mortgage lender. Coastal communities, including Hull, paid little attention to disaster-prevention planning, leaving citizens without an awareness of how to minimize risks from future storms. While memories of the blizzard remained vivid, they did not translate into action on public policy and governmental response until current officials began the planning process.

More recently, has not only been preparing for foul weather, but building resiliency in the face of climate change – a factor unheard of in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Hull also holds the distinction of being the only community in the state to publicly thank its blizzard rescuers. On July 30, 1978, the town hosted Hull Appreciation Day and invited disaster-relief workers back to Hull for a full schedule of activities, including a day at the beach and rides at Paragon Park. Sales of bumper stickers and a souvenir photo book emblazoned with the day’s slogan, “Thanks a ‘Hull’ava Lot!” raised money for the American Red Cross and other relief agencies. To mark the occasion, Dukakis honored the town’s spirited response to the storm:

“Your courage and determination in facing the devastation wrought on this brave community in February 1978 was an inspiration to all of us in the Commonwealth working to restore normalcy to our shore communities.

“We were proud of the way this community held together and helped the homeless find shelter, the hungry find food, and the downhearted find courage and the will to go on.

“Through very desperate days, Hull townspeople and their community leaders held together.

“For centuries to come, proud residents of Hull will look back at the storm of 1978 and remember the splendid and unselfish response of her citizenry in time of need.”

 

Times Editor Christopher Haraden is the author of “Storm of the Century: New England’s Great Blizzard of 1978.” His late father, Barry, was co-chairman of the Hull Appreciation Day Committee 45 years ago.

Kenberma day spa owner charged with prostitution

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By Christopher Haraden

The owner of a Hull massage business has been arrested and charged with running a prostitution operation at the Sunny Hull Spa in the Kenberma shopping district.

On Jan. 9, Hull Police arrested Lianli Qu, 54, and charged her with sexual conduct for a fee, trafficking of a person for sexual servitude, and maintaining a house of prostitution. Police also seized three iPhones, a customer payment ledger, and $5,293 in cash from the Kenberma Place storefront at 522 Nantasket Ave.

According to police, Qu took over the business in October from Yuying Hu, who had owned the business since June. Neither Qu nor Hu are currently licensed massage therapists; in paperwork filed with the Hull Town Clerk, they described the business as a “Rolfing service.” Rolfing Structural Integration, named for Dr. Ida P. Rolf, is a decades-old form of deep-tissue bodywork that is similar to massage and is used to relieve tension and treat pain. According to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy, practitioners of Rolf Structural Integration are exempt from state licensing laws. Hull’s health department became suspicious of the business last year and reported these concerns to the police.

Lianli Qu was arrested on Jan. 9. [Hull Police photo]

Qu advertised Sunny Hull Spa on several “known adult sex websites” that state and federal investigators regularly monitor for illegal activity, Hull Police Officer Leanne Marshalsea wrote in her report detailing the arrest.

“It is known that this type of massage parlor is a front for prostitution,” Marshalsea wrote. “Customers frequent these parlors looking for more than a massage: specifically ‘happy endings.’ This is done by the customer paying for the price of a massage, which generally goes to the business, and then to the monetary ‘tip’ which goes to the masseuse for extra service.”

In December, police officers watched as at least three separate “lone male” customers patronized the business and then questioned them after they left; all three are cooperating as witnesses in the continuing investigation.

According to the police report, Qu is from a neighborhood in New York City that is “a known illegal point of entry where these women are introduced into the sex trade.” Marshalsea reported that after closing the spa for the day, “Qu would not leave the business during closing hours and would sleep inside the business.”

“Based on the knowledge of investigators and speaking with state and federal officers who are involved in sex trafficking, it is known that Asian style massage parlors rotate the women through the massage parlors and transport them, as they do not have vehicles,” Marshalsea continued, adding that the businesses typically contain “sleeping quarters within the parlor, as the women do not leave the building,” and “networks of Asian-style massage parlors are used to employ Asian women that are illegal or undocumented immigrants.”

Hull Police arrested Qu with the help of Canton Police Officer Thomas Mei, who is fluent in Mandarin. She told officers that all of her identifying documents were in New York, and that she purchased the business from her “friend Lilly” but planned to sell it. When officers informed her of the charges, “Qu responded multiple times, ‘Impossible,’” according to the police report.

After the arrest, the Hull health and building departments were notified, as was the state licensing board, and the business is closed.

Police Chief John Dunn said the investigation remains active.

“The Hull Police Department strives to enhance the quality of life in the Town of Hull,” Dunn said Wednesday. “People should feel comfortable and safe living and visiting our town. Sadly, places like this give a bad name to legitimate establishments.”

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Planners address parking, drainage issues at Atlantic Hill, aquarium projects

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By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

Neither the redevelopment of the former Atlantic Aquarium property nor the former Marylou’s building on Atlantic Hill were put to vote by the Hull Planning Board on Jan. 25, but each project moved closer to approval. The board needs further details on the property plans, each having some issues in common, such as parking requirements, drainage, and construction access.

An artist’s Rendering of the building proposed for the former Marylou’s News at 248 Atlantic Ave.

The roughly 31-foot-high mixed-use building to be built by Robert Patel at 248 Atlantic Ave. will sit roughly on the same footprint as the former Marylou’s, but is to be set further back. However, parking is an issue because there are no spaces on the site. Planning board member Steve White pointed out that the “parking bylaws require 10 to 11 spaces.”

Chris DiIorio, director of community development and planning, responded that he had a discussion with Building Inspector Bartley Kelly, who said parking spaces are not required because the site is “grandfathered” to existing conditions. When Atlantic Avenue is reconstructed, DiIorio added, there will be a bump-out for parking along that stretch of road. Planning Board Chair Harry Hibbard said a letter would need to be obtained from Kelly confirming the grandfathered status.

The parking situation being addressed at the former Atlantic Aquarium redevelopment is the size of the spaces. Jonathan Leavitt, a principal of 120 Nantasket Ave LLC, said a written request for relief was submitted “to reduce the size of the parking spots from the current requirement of 9 by 20 to 9 by 19.” While he has not requested relief on the width of the parking spots, he added there are currently four tandem parking spaces off State Park Road in the back of the building, and “if 8.5-foot parking spaces were considered instead of 9-foot, they could change the tandem parking to two spaces.” John Chessia, a civil engineering consultant hired by the town, stressed that the best engineered design is “standard dimension parking.”

Drainage is also a concern for both locations, as each must show they meet stormwater standards. The first-floor convenience store and second floor apartment proposed for 248 Atlantic Ave. would feature stormwater control through walkways around the property made of porous pavers, as well as underground chambers in the front of the building to mitigate runoff. Chessia explained the site is out of wetlands jurisdiction, but it drains down the hill to Straits Pond, and generally has a higher standard for stormwater drainage.

In addition, he said, abutters must be protected from any runoff from the northeast corner of the property.

“The area is not subject to DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) regulations, but generally this is what people use as a guide,” the engineer said. DiIorio inquired if the pavers in the back of the building would increase water draining to adjacent property.

“If poorly maintained, you will see that,” Chessia replied. “But with porous pavers there is so much area to cover, even if there are clogs, most of the water still goes into the ground.”

In addition to porous pavers, a suggestion was made to build a small wall in the lower back corner of the property to trap water.

The developer of the 21-unit apartment building proposed for the site of the former Atlantic Aquarium is required to amend the plans to show drainage, sewer, roof runoff, and a catch basin. Chessia said that even though the building is not in a flood zone, it looks like “the corner of the lot touches a floodplain, and this affects how things apply in relation to storm drainage.” Leavitt said he “understands it is a complex roof structure and it is not all designed yet,” and assured the planning board water would not be discharged onto the ground.

The planning board told both Patel, who has owned the old Marylou’s building since December 2020, and Leavitt, the Brookline developer who purchased the old aquarium in August, that they need to develop construction access plans for their sites. The aquarium site construction access plan is more complicated because it requires access on Department of Conservation and Recreation property in front of the building. Amy Boehmcke, a project manager with the ReyCon consulting firm, stated “a construction logistics plan needs to be developed” before they can begin the process with the DCR. She added they are aware it is a very busy area, particularly in summer, and cannot interfere with traffic.

Julia Parker, member of the design review board, said that both Patel and Leavitt made changes to their plans based on board members’ input. For instance, Patel changed the front façade of the building to wrap brick around the sides and updated the roof to metal awning. Leavitt incorporated changes to his building façade, garage, landscaping, and lighting based on the design review board’s suggestions. The photogrammetric lighting plan demonstrates “lighting levels are not super-high, and the site is mainly illuminated by low light,” explained Leavitt. Regarding the Residences at the Aquarium, the design review board would like to see more of the pool design and a finalization of materials for the deck and trim.

The planning board requested that Patel submit a revised plan to show the extended raised patio and fencing in front of the store. Patel explained seating would not be available on the patio; the extension is only to even out the ground level because the area is slanted.

Because the aquarium site is in the Nantasket Beach Overlay District, Chessia suggested Leavitt submit a traffic study and physical impact study.

Patel will return to the planning board for a continuation of his hearing on Feb. 8, while Leavitt hopes to resolve all issues so there could be a vote on Feb. 22.