School committee declines to take position on question to end MCAS graduation requirement

By Carol Britton Meyer

The Hull School Committee this week declined to take a position on the upcoming ballot question about removing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests as a high school graduation requirement.

The Hull Teachers Association sought the committee’s support for a resolution calling for passage of Question 2 on the November 5 ballot. However, after listening to comments by HTA Co-President Maura Jones – who also read the resolution out loud – School Committee Chair David Twombly read from a prepared statement indicating that “the school committee is not here to advocate for one vote or another, nor can we, considering state conflict of interest laws.”

Jones, who was wearing a red, white, and aqua “Vote Yes on 2” T-shirt, said the teachers’ union isn’t seeking to stop the use of MCAS, but “to remove the high-stakes component.”

‘Our students have so much more to offer’

The K-12 experience “is a 13-year process, and graduation is a culmination of the efforts of students, their families, and teachers,” she said. “If teachers could take the time spent teaching to the test, it could be spent so much more wisely teaching kids how to work collaboratively, be creative, and experience different ways of learning. Our students have so much more to offer than is shown through [the MCAS exams].”

Twombly expressed appreciation to the union for taking the time to speak about Question 2 “as a way for the public to become more informed and [to learn about its] impact on our community.”

Click here for the Information for Voters guide for the November 5 ballot questions

While declining to take a vote on the resolution, he said he recognizes the importance of this discussion and encourages the public “to continue this information gathering” leading up to early and in-person voting for the November 5 state/presidential election.

The resolution calls for school districts to instead certify that students have satisfactorily completed coursework demonstrating mastery of the skills and knowledge “required by the Commonwealth’s strong, statewide standards in order to graduate. That’s what we are already [helping students accomplish],” according to Jones, who is a first-grade teacher. “We’re highly trained in assessing students in a variety of ways.”

Superintendents’ group opposes Question 2

By contrast, the executive committee of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents is opposed to Question 2 and advocates for voters to vote “No on 2” “to maintain high standards for high school graduation,” stating that the ballot question “fails to stipulate a replacement for the MCAS exam as a graduation requirement. If the measure is approved, there would be no statewide standard for students to qualify for a high school diploma.”

Superintendent of Schools Michael Jette provided information about the MASS’s perspective “to give the school committee a balanced look [at both sides of this issue].”

At the same time, MASS – which believes that Grade 10 MCAS exams alone “are insufficient as the statewide standard for graduation” –  is calling upon state leaders to begin a process immediately after the November 5 election, regardless of the outcome of Question 2, for developing and adopting a more comprehensive set of requirements “for students to demonstrate competency.”

Educator-led assessments recommended instead

The resolution presented by the HTA states in part that MCAS is “significantly limited in its ability to accurately and effectively measure whether students are meeting the Commonwealth’s standards and developing the skills they need to thrive after high school,” and that the most effective measures of whether students are meeting “strong, statewide standards and developing the skills they need to succeed in college, the workforce, and beyond” are educator-led assessments such as projects, papers, tests, and group activities conducted throughout the school year.

The resolution also states that “the punitive use of MCAS as a high school graduation requirement has restricted curriculum and shifted the focus of education in our public schools toward meeting a test score instead of fostering an environment of creativity, critical thinking, and real teaching and learning that helps students realize their full potential.”

According to the resolution, a number of pediatricians, researchers, and school counselors “have warned of the severe impact of high-stakes testing like the MCAS graduation requirement on students’ mental health and well-being” and standardized test requirements “notoriously stack the deck against students of color, ELS [English as a second language], and those with learning disabilities.”

The resolution also asserts that using MCAS testing as a high school graduation requirement has prevented or delayed thousands of students from earning a diploma, “thereby interrupting or derailing education or career plans.”

Visit www.hulltimes.com for a link to the Massachusetts Information for Voters booklet mailed to households for full details about the MCAS-related and the other four ballot questions.

In other business…

⦁ After some discussion, the school committee agreed to recommend that the select board approve the liquor license request of new Shipwreck’d owner Lillian Parker, who also owns the SandBar, reflecting the earlier agreement with the previous owners that no liquor will be served while Hull High School, which is located across the street, is in session Monday through Friday, but may be served after 3 p.m. The committee did not recommend placing restrictions on the 8 a.m. to midnight requested hours on the weekends. The select board is the licensing agent for the town.

⦁ Jette shared news from Athletic Director Connor Duhaime that Hull will be among eight towns participating in a girls’ ice hockey collaborative based in Bridgewater called the WEB. “This is a great opportunity for us,” Jette said. Duhaime was praised for his efforts in making this happen.

⦁ Hull High School Principal Robert Shaw and Jette are monitoring students’ vaping “and helping them understand the dangers [involved],” Jette reported, in part in response to a concern expressed by a community member.

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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Residences at Rockaway developer responds to concerns raised by ZBA, project abutters

By Carol Britton Meyer

The Zoning Board of Appeals this week continued its review of a four-story, 12-unit condominium development proposed for the Rockaway Annex neighborhood, the first project in town to be proposed under the state’s Chapter 40B comprehensive permit law.

Following a September hearing on a proposal to build on the .63-acre lot at 25 Ipswich St., the developer provided responses to questions raised by the board and abutters in a letter to Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Patrick Finn.

An Architect’s rendering of the proposed townhouses at 25 Ipswich Street. Click here for more details.

The project, proposed under Chapter 40B – a program that allows developers to build larger projects in exchange for including affordable housing, includes three affordable units. The site is located behind the former Veterans of Foreign Wars post off Salisbury Street.

The ZBA met again for three hours October 1, during which the developer provided a project update. An aerial photo of the proposed building and the surrounding houses was presented, with residents attending the meeting asked to point out their homes.

Click here for more details on the development and Chapter 40B application

One resident who showed where her house was located – near the proposed development – said there is a need for guardrails to prevent cars from driving over the edge of the hilltop property into the homes that are situated below the elevated site, and asked that a fence be installed to for the safety of children.

Peer review a key piece

The board voted to hire Merrill Engineers and Land Surveyors of Hanover to complete a developer-funded peer review, which Dean Harrison, consultant to developer Alan Mckenzie, said is a key piece in moving the project forward.

The developer plans to provide a detailed list of anticipated waivers that will be sought, and a site visit will be scheduled involving the developer and planning board, ZBA, and Design Review Board members. A balloon will be used to mark the proposed height of the development on-site.

The layout of the proposed development, which is behind the former VFW Post. Click here for more details.

This is the first comprehensive permit under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40B to come before the ZBA – which is the permit-granting authority for these projects – since two earlier 40B proposals didn’t get off the ground.

The board hired Hancock Associates to assist in its review of the proposal through a grant from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Technical Assistance program.

The first floor of each of the six Residences at Rockway buildings (with two units each) will feature garages, with living units above and decks on the fourth floor. The property is located in the Single Family C zoning district.

Concerns aired during hearings

Concerns voiced at the earlier meeting included impacts of 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 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.

According to the application, the site includes a significant amount of ledge and steep slopes, and the project will require the removal of some soil and rock.

“Our goal is to minimize the requested number of waivers and to meet as many setback and other requirements as possible,” Harrison said.

Discussion during the October 1 hearing included how the lottery for the deed-restricted affordable units would work, whether local preference for at least one of the units is possible, and hopes that the town’s Affordable Housing Committee would be able to participate in this process.

The ZBA would not be involved with the lottery, which would be a joint effort between the developer and MassHousing.

The need for at least one of the affordable condos to be handicapped-adaptable was also a topic of conversation.

Finn said he thinks residents would be more amenable to Chapter 40B projects if the affordable units were all guaranteed to go to Hull residents, which is not allowed under state regulations.

Design review board weighs in

Design Review Board member Tom Burns shared with the ZBA details from an earlier meeting between the board and the developer, including a request for more details about the exterior of the building and privacy concerns with the decks facing each other; whether there is enough turning space for emergency vehicles; and suggested landscaping, including trees rather than shrubs on some parts of the property.

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.”

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.

Other concerns voiced by neighbors and ZBA members relate to setback, traffic, maximum lot coverage, the proposed height of the six two-unit buildings, flooding in the area, and the overall density of the proposed development.

In a recent letter to the ZBA, the developer outlined several points:

⦁ As a courtesy, the development team is willing to talk informally with select town officials and boards about the proposal, including the Design Review Board.

⦁ The large puddle at the bottom of Salisbury Street and the flooding at a nearby bus stop are existing conditions, as is flooding on Barnstable Street.

⦁ A traffic impact report will be completed at the developer’s expense.

⦁ The developer is working to determine the exact height of the proposed building.

⦁ An updated vegetation clearing plan addresses concerns expressed about the units’ visibility from neighboring houses.

⦁ The developer is required to follow the state requirements for blasting related to existing wells, and if blasting is not required, will work with the town and abutters about chipping the ledge on the property, noise issues, and the duration of the hammering.

⦁ A sample of the Affirmative Fair Housing marketing plan/lottery package for the affordable units will be provided to give ZBA members an idea of how the process works.

⦁ The development would be built in one phase.

According to Finn, the development would fall below the town’s 30% maximum lot coverage requirement.

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

“So far everything is going the way I hoped it would go,” Finn said at the end of this week’s ZBA meeting.

A replay of the October 1 meeting is available on Hull Community Television’s broadcast channels and on www.hulltv.net.

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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Voters to face five questions on November ballot; early voting begins on October 19

By Carol Britton Meyer

The ballot for the November 5 presidential election will feature five questions proposing new legislation for voters to decide, in addition to the candidates for president, vice president, U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative, as well as state Legislators and county officers. Early in-person voting will take place for a two-week period, beginning on October 19, at town hall.

Click here for the full text of the november 5 ballot

These five initiatives include whether…

⦁ The state auditor should be granted the authority to audit the legislature (Question 1);

⦁ The state should eliminate Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exams as a high school graduation requirement (Question 2);

⦁ Drivers for transportation networks such as Uber and Lyft that use digital means to connect riders to drivers for pre-arranged transportation should have the right to unionize (Question 3); and

⦁ Tipped workers in Massachusetts should be paid the traditional minimum wage (Question 5).

Question 4 on the November ballot would allow the legalization and regulation of certain natural psychedelic substances. The proposed law would allow individuals aged 21 and older to grow, possess, and use certain substances, including two found in mushrooms and three found in plants. If the proposed law passes, these substances could be purchased at an approved location for use under the supervision of a licensed facilitator. The proposed law would otherwise prohibit any retail sale of natural psychedelic substances and also provide for their regulation and taxation.

Click here for a sample ballot and other information on the November 5 election

The red Massachusetts Information for Voters booklet that was recently mailed to Hull and other households statewide provides summaries of the questions and statements describing the effect of a “yes” and a “no” vote for each, prepared by the state attorney general/the Secretary of the Commonwealth as required by law, as well as arguments for both sides provided by proponents and opponents of each question, reflecting their opinions. The full text of the Red Book can be found by clicking here.

The results of “yes” and “no” votes on the questions would have these results:

⦁ Question 1: A yes vote would specify that the state auditor has the authority to audit the state Legislature, while a no vote would make no change in the current law.

⦁ Question 2: A yes vote would eliminate the requirement that students pass the MCAS exam in order to graduate from high school, but would still require them to complete coursework that meets state standards. A no vote would make no change to the current law.

⦁ Question 3: A yes vote would provide ride-hailing company drivers the option to form unions to collectively bargain with transportation network companies regarding wages, benefits, and terms and conditions of work. A no vote would make no change in the law relative to their ability to form unions.

⦁ Question 4: A yes vote would allow individuals 21 and older to use certain natural psychedelic substances under licensed supervision and to grow and possess limited quantities of those substances in their home while also creating a commission to regulate them. Some proponents say that research conducted by leading medical institutions shows that psychedelic medicines can be effective treatments for depression and anxiety. A no vote would make no change in the law regarding natural psychedelic substances. Some opponents of this proposed law cite numerous potential health- and medical-related impacts and other concerns to support their position.

⦁ Question 5: A yes vote would increase the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker to the full state minimum wage implemented over five years, at which point, employers could pool all tips and distribute them to all non-management workers. A no vote would make no change in the law governing tip pooling or the minimum wage for tipped workers.

In-person voting for all precincts for the November 5 presidential election will take place at Hull High School, 180 Main St., from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day.

In-person early voting hours will be held at town hall, 253 Atlantic Ave.

Week one

⦁ Saturday, October 19: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

⦁ Monday, October 21: 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

⦁ Tuesday, October 22: 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

⦁ Wednesday, October 23: 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

⦁ Thursday, October 24: 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Week two

• Saturday, October 26: 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

• Monday, October 28: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, October 29: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, October 30: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Thursday, October 31: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Friday, November 1: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

For full election and voter information, including a sample ballot, how to request a vote by mail application, online voter registration, a Hull voter precinct map, and absentee ballot application, visit www.town.hull.ma.us/town-clerk.

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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Latest attempt to repair Hull Wind II unsuccessful; turbine may be dismantled

By Carol Britton Meyer

While the expectation in June was that the Hull Wind II turbine would be back in service soon, that might not be the way the scenario plays out after all.

UP IN THE AIR. With repairs unsuccessful, Hull Wind II at the former landfill remains offline. The light board says that if another attempt to fix the turbine doesn’t solve the problem, the structure will be dismantled next year. [Richard W. Green photo from February 2024]

The Hull Wind I turbine at Pemberton Point was demolished recently, while Hull Wind II at the former landfill remains offline, awaiting repairs to its computer system.

At that time, the Hull Municipal Light Board was awaiting the arrival of bolts to replace ones that had broken off of the turbine.

While the parts were delivered, the repair didn’t solve the problem.

“There’s one more part coming that might help. However, if that doesn’t work, we will start moving forward with the process to have the turbine removed,” light board Chair Patrick Cannon told The Hull Times. “If that’s the case, it wouldn’t happen for another year or so.”

The Hull Wind II turbine generates enough energy to power 800 homes on an annual basis when working at capacity.

Although Vestas, the company that installed Hull Wind II in 2006, opted out of its maintenance contract with the town some time ago when the agreement expired, another company was hired to perform the necessary maintenance on the remaining wind turbine.

A rate study that’s in the beginning stages was another item on the recent light board meeting agenda.

“There’s nothing new to report at this time,” Cannon said. “We’re still waiting to hear back from MMWEC [Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company],” which is assisting with the study. This will include coming up with the light plant’s operating budget for the next three to five years.

“The cost of electricity and the costs associated with the line crews and the office staff, equipment, and other expenses will be considered, as any other business does,” Cannon explained earlier.

The non-profit MMWEC, through an energy partnership established in 1969, assists Massachusetts municipal light departments such as Hull’s with their needs to contract for energy.

Further discussions related to the rate study will take place at future light board meetings, with opportunity for public input.

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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

HRA plans more facilitated workshops as members seek consensus on development

The Hull Redevelopment Authority has scheduled sessions on Tuesday, October 8 and Tuesday, October 15 to continue discussions about what should be included in the draft Urban Renewal Plan that will guide the future use of its 13-acre property. 

Like its previous workshops in August, these in-person meetings at Hull High School will be facilitated by University of Massachusetts-Boston professor Douglas Thompson and are not designed for public comments on the plan. Both meetings are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. 

On August 12 and 26, Thompson and the five members reviewed the existing Urban Renewal Plan and considered 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 the second meeting, Chair Dennis Zaia proposed adding a conference center to the development plan for the property, and members debated some of their ideas for what constitutes “economic development” for the land. 

The public is invited to attend in person or over the Zoom platform to hear the discussion. Click here to join the meeting.

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. 

Future meetings include a meeting with attorney Paula Devereaux on Monday, November 4, and a regular business meeting on Monday, November 18. 

-- Christopher Haraden

Temple community gathers for celebration, reflection during Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur

By Rabbis David and Joshua Grossman

Shanah Tovah oo’mitukah!

We at Temple Beth Sholom wish everyone a happy and sweet New Year. We are counting the days during this final month leading to the holiday season. This important month of Elul that dovetails into the holidays is said to be a Hebrew acronym for the words Ani L’Dodi V’Dodi Li - I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. We can certainly agree it’s a beautiful concept. We relate this idea, not only to our loved ones, but to our personal and communal relationships with God. It’s during this season and the weeks that lead up to it that we are meant to pursue a closeness to holiness and divinity. Yes, easier said than done.

Rabbis David and Joshua Grossman

So how do we go about most effectively pursuing this elusive holiness? During the month of Elul, we find ourselves taking a detailed inventory of what we did and did not do during the preceding year, our deeds of loving kindness, as well as the areas where we have fallen short. 

Our method of returning to the correct path is called Teshuvah, directly translated as “return,” but informally understood to mean repentance. Of course, making right what was wrong is a worthy practice that can be done anytime, but it is truly emphasized during the days of the holidays. This is the principal idea of the High Holiday season and can be summed up in the closing prayer of Yom Kippur. God tells us, “I do not desire the death of the wicked, rather the wicked’s return from the way that they live.”

We engage in deep preparation for this powerful and meaningful time. Many of our buildings will be prepared beautifully with our special holiday curtains and Torah covers. Many of our sanctuaries use white Torah and table coverings in place of our standard colorful ones to signify purity and a fresh start, or “clean slate,” which is gifted to everyone this time of year.

We look forward to the Holy Days when we hear the sound of the shofar, a ram’s horn whose piercing sound reverberates in synagogues across the globe, ushering in a New Year. The shofar is sounded in three distinct blast styles. The Tekiah blast is a single sound calling attention to the community and reminding us that there is something far more important than the daily routines of our lives; the Shevarim, three broken, swooping blows meant to imitate sobbing, in relation to true repentance; and finally, the Truah, the nine rapid blasts in quick succession meant to be a full “wake up” call with its unique pattern and rhythm. These sounds join together to bring us a connection to God, and steal away our Yetzer Harah, our evil inclinations.

There is an outdoor, natural element to the first day of Rosh Hashanah as well. Our community here in Hull will gather as we hold our Tashlich service on the sand of the beach. There, we will ceremonially cast away past misdeeds into the ocean, represented by bits of bread. In doing so, we remember that sins are not character flaws, rather they are mistakes that we regret and resolve to not repeat. While many congregations find lakes or streams for this purpose, we are blessed to be in close proximity to the great sea to observe this tradition. We marvel at the power and majesty of the landscape that we are so lucky to enjoy.

We also look ahead to Yom Kippur, our Day of Atonement, slightly more than a week after Rosh Hashanah. We will fast from sunset to the next sunset, taking in neither food nor water. Our fast is meant to remove the possibility of eating and drinking from our minds, clearing them for more meaningful thought. It is a profoundly moving day of deep self-reflection, when we attempt one final time to recognize our shortcomings, our failures, to correct our wrongs from the past year, and return our faith to God as the true judge for forgiveness.

In no recent year have these upcoming days of awe been more critical. This time of year we will petition for God’s care and protection for our families and loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers also extend beyond our own borders, to our sisters and brothers worldwide in our hopes for safety and peace.

Shanah tovah!

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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

In the Sport-light - Roundup of news about Hull athletes

THE ROYAL TREATMENT. The Hull High Pirates’ 34-10 victory over Boston English wasn’t the only reason for celebration last Friday night. In addition to Senior Night and Alumni Night, the 2024 Homecoming Court was introduced during halftime of the football game. The king and queen – Grace Perry and Luke Dunham, at left – were announced at the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night. Members of the royal court are, from left, Grace Perry, Luke Dunham, Monica Del Guidice, Ken Autio, Fallon Ryan, Boden Ciulla-Sestito, Elsie Harper, Margot Harper, Oliver Szabo, Kaelyn Burke, John Truglia, and Shane McDonough. [Photos courtesy of Taylor Duhaime]

---

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Girls 5/6 Soccer took on Middleboro 1 at home this past Saturday, losing 5-4. After tying the game with a minute to play, Middleboro figured out a way to sneak one more shot past the Hull defense. Ruby D’Errico, Deirdre Flaherty, Reese Irby, and Frankie Rockett scored the goals for Hull; assists came from Magnolia Harbin and Ruby D’Errico. In net for the Pirates were Sydney O’Brien and Deirdre Flaherty. 6/7/8 Girls Soccer lost to Cohasset, 3-2, on Saturday, September 28 in a hard fought game. Hull goals came from Evelyn Concannon and Aubrey Littlefield. Ellie Kiley played well in the midfield for Hull. The team will travel to play Marshfield on Saturday, October 5.

• 3/4 Boys Soccer Team 2 had a strong presence in this weekend’s jamboree in Marshfield. The boys played three teams in total and came out on top in two out of the three games, winning the first two 2-0 and 7-2, while dropping game three, 6-5. Jordan Dunn had five goals, Andy Michaelides ended with four goals, Sam Chiba and Teddy Misdea each had two goals, and Enki Mundo had a goal. Great performances in net were turned in by Landgon Walper, Nolan Cichocki, and Declan Fahey. James Petruzzelli and Ryan Duran were powerhouses as forwards. The team’s next game is on Saturday, October 5 at 3:30 p.m. in Kingston. Boys 5/6 Soccer tied this weekend against Plympton, with a final score of 3-3. Reefe Markowitz did a great job stopping shots in goal. Finn Smith scored two goals, one from a beautiful pass by Slava Rzhevskii. The third goal was scored by Jacob Greenberg. Braedyn O’Hare played tough defense and midfield.

• HHS Girls Soccer suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday against Norwell, 4-1.  The Clippers had the lead at the half, 3-0, and the Pirates weren’t able to mount a comeback in time. The team is enjoying success, with a 6-1-2 record for the season. On Friday night, celebrate EM20 Friday Night Lights as the team takes on Sandwich at home – JV at 4 p.m. and varsity at 5:30 p.m. T-shirts to benefit the Emma Ryan Memorial Fund will be sold for $20, and the snack shack will be open with pizza, taco in a bag, popcorn, drinks, and candy. Next week, the girls are on the road on Monday, October 7, playing at Middleboro at 4 p.m. and at Rockland on Friday, October 11 at 4 p.m.

• Coach Jaime Standridge and the Hull High girls basketball staff and players will lead a five-week shooting camp beginning on October 5. The camp is designed to focus on proper technique and following through, instill a shooter’s mentality, and will include take-home drills, shooting competitions, and prizes. The camp will be held on Saturdays in the Hull High gymnasium between October 5 and November 2; Grades K-5 will be from 4-5 p.m. and Grades 6-8 will be from 5:30-6:30 p.m. A camp T-shirt is included in the $75 fee per participant, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Emma Ryan Memorial Fund. Email HullGirlsHoops@gmail.com.

SQUAD LEADERS. Among those honored at Senior Night last week were Hull High cheerleaders – Captain Hailey Putnam-Resnick, Captain Madeline Reede, Ellana Malley, Stevie Ryan, and Sofi Zalduondo.

• There was much to celebrate on Friday, as the Hull High football team defeated Boston English, 34-10, improving its record to 2-1 for the season. This was a great result for the home crowd, which honored seniors before the game and announced this year’s Homecoming Court. Many former players were in the stands for Alumni Night. This weekend, the team heads to the North Shore for the first of two away games. The Pirates face off against Kipp Academy at Manning Field in Lynn on Saturday, October 5. That noontime game is a rematch of the 2022 Division 8 Super Bowl, which the Pirates won, 27-6. On Thursday, October 10, the team will play at Randolph High School at 6 p.m. before coming back to the home field on Friday, October 18 to play Mashpee under the lights at 6:30 p.m.

• On Tuesday, the Hull High boys soccer squad dropped a game on the road, losing 4-1 to the Norwell Clippers, bringing the team’s record to 2-5-1 for the season. The next game is against Sandwich at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 4. The Pirates then have back-to-back home games, against Middleboro on Monday, October 7 at 5:30 p.m. and against Randolph on Wednesday, October 9 at 5:30 p.m.

• Hull Youth Football and Cheer picture day is scheduled for Sunday, October 13. You can order in advance by visiting https://easternexposuresphoto.teamimaging.com and using the code Hullfootball2024. If ordering online, it is strongly recommended to do so prior to picture day, as there is an added cost to orders placed after October 13. Delivery of these orders also may be delayed. Here’s the schedule for picture day: C Team – Player pictures at 8:30 a.m., Cheer pictures at 9 a.m.; Game starts at 10 a.m.; A Team – Player pictures at 10 a.m., Cheer pictures at 10:30 a.m.; Game starts at 11:30 a.m.; B Team – Player pictures at 11:30 a.m., Cheer pictures at 12 p.m.; Game starts at 1 p.m.

• Coaches and Super Fans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com. Deadline is Tuesday at 8 p.m. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo. 

Thank you for your help!

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Lifesaving Museum’s annual Head of the Weir rowing race hits the water on Saturday

Hull Lifesaving Museum’s 38th annual Head of the Weir River Race is a celebration of the estuary at the height of its fall beauty and the fabulous array of the region’s open water rowers. As many as 60 boats jockey for position racing out of the narrow estuary and onto open water, traveling from the headwaters of the Weir River downstream, past Bumpkin Island, across Hull Bay, to the museum’s Windmill Point Boathouse at Hull Gut.

This year’s Head of the Weir race has been rescheduled to October 5 (from October 12) to avoid any conflict with Yom Kippur.

The race begins at 12:30 p.m.; check-in is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Steamboat Wharf, 48 George Washington Boulevard. Entry fee is $45 per person. There is no day-of-event registration: Online registration ends on Friday, October 4 at noon. Register online at https://www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org/openwaterrowing.html#weir

A highly contested five-and-a-half miler, the Weir draws coxed youth and adult rowers in gigs, single and double livery and workboats, currachs, and ocean shells, as well as experienced kayakers. In the “head of the river” format, boats kick off the starting line at closely timed intervals, and times are collated at the finish to determine the race winners. The Weir is an exceptionally exciting race and a great spectator event, featuring more than 200 of the region’s finest rowers from all over New England and New York.

Please remember that due to worsening erosion of the marsh, the traditional starting line has been moved. All vessels must now launch at Steamboat Wharf and row to the starting line, 1-3/4 miles. High tide is scheduled for 1:36 p.m. on that date.

The traditional after-race party will be held at the boathouse, and all race competitors are welcome to nourishing chow and refreshments at the Boathouse Bistro. After competitors have gone through the line, friends, family, and spectators are welcome to enjoy the offerings with a $5 suggested donation.

Visit www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org for all the details regarding registration, launching, and parking. You can email your questions to info@hulllifesavingmuseum.org or call 781-925-5433.

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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Volunteers needed to collect, record beach trash and debris during Coastsweep on October 6

The Coastsweep beach cleanup is being planned for next month on the town-owned section of Nantasket Beach. Join the other volunteers at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, October 6 to collect trash and debris from the beach.

Since 1987, thousands of volunteers in Massachusetts have removed hundreds of tons of trash and other marine debris through Coastal Zone Management’s annual Coastsweep cleanup. This year, Austin Roberts, a member of Hull’s surfing community, is coordinating a Coastsweep cleanup on the town-owned section of the beach on Sunday, October 6 at 9:30 a.m. Roberts learned to surf on Nantasket Beach and says that coordinating this beach cleanup is his way of giving back to the community. This year, Hull’s Beach Management Advisory Committee also is supporting this endeavor.

As a volunteer at a cleanup, you will remove trash and debris from the beach and record the types and quantities of material you find. This data will be used to better understand what types of materials are littering the beaches all over the world. All volunteers are encouraged to wear protective gloves while collecting trash. Disposable gloves and trash bags will be provided, but gardening gloves, other reusable gloves and buckets for trash also work well, so feel free to bring your own to cut down on waste. This year the meet-up spot will be at A Street and Beach Avenue. Tacos will be served to volunteers, compliments of the South Shore Taco Guy.

Sign up to volunteer by contacting Roberts, 774-222-0020 or austintroberts23@gmail.com.

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Affordable housing committee to focus on education, partnerships before applying for CPA funds

By Carol Britton Meyer

The Affordable Housing Committee’s special projects subcommittee met Tuesday night to discuss whether to recommend that full board request Community Preservation Act funding before next Monday’s deadline, and ultimately decided to focus on building partnerships and educating the public before submitting an application.

The first step in the Community Preservation Committee’s FY25 application process requires a submission by September 30. Eligible requests in the community-housing category include funds to acquire, create, preserve, and support affordable housing.

Subcommittee members Cynthia Koebert (who also is the AHC chair), Bob Pezzini, and Bob Pahl shared ideas for potential requests – ranging from a market study of Hull’s rental inventory to identifying tax credit opportunities for improving the housing stock and increasing Hull’s affordable housing count to a loan or grant program to assist single-family owner-occupants create accessible dwelling units.

Subcommittee members also discussed creating an Affordable Housing Trust Fund and developing partnerships with groups such as Habitat for Humanity to create more publicly supported affordable housing in town, which exists primarily in the units managed by the housing authority on Atlantic Avenue and on C and D Streets.

“These partnerships are very important,” Koebert said.

Creating a trust fund to manage the town’s community preservation affordable housing money would require town meeting approval.

Following an hour-long discussion, the subcommittee decided to recommend the AHC continue to focus on town-owned parcels, affordable housing education, and expanding its capacity through partnerships and the creation of a municipal affordable housing trust fund prior to requesting Community Preservation Act funding.

Building expertise, partnerships, and support

Members of the subcommittee who have reviewed the statewide Community Preservation Coalition’s searchable database of community preservation projects noted the importance of building sufficient expertise, partnerships, and support prior to taking on such initiatives. AHC members also observed that many of the CPA applicants were municipal affordable housing trust funds. Visit www.communitypreservation.org for more information.

After discussing these possibilities, the conversation turned to focusing on creating a community engagement process to support development of affordable housing on town-owned land and to educate the public about what affordable housing is and is not.

With regard to education, there is an overall misunderstanding in the community about the meaning of affordable housing, Pahl said.

Koebert noted that the Citizens Housing and Planning Association awards municipal engagement initiative grants. The AHC applied unsuccessfully before due to a lack of funding, but the process may be reopening.

The underlying goal is to create more deed-restricted affordable units that would count toward the state’s 10 percent affordable housing threshold. Hull is currently at about 1.5%, which Koebert said she considers to be “close to zero.”

Not reaching or exceeding that threshold makes such communities vulnerable to comprehensive permits (more commonly known as Chapter 40B projects), which allow developers to circumvent most local regulations in exchange for an affordable housing component.

Town-owned parcels considered

Last March, three vacant town-owned parcels were identified as potentially suitable for the development of affordable housing by two consultants in a grant-funded town land feasibility study. Only parcels larger than one-half acre were considered.

The lot next to St. Nicholas Church on Spring Street (formerly the Hull Village School) and the parking lot at XYZ Streets are considered more suitable than a parcel of land on Gosnold Street consisting of several lots that could be combined. The Gosnold property is wooded and would require removal of a large number of trees, while the other parcels are flat and already cleared, select board member Irwin Nesoff, the board’s liaison to the AHC, told The Hull Times at that time.

Working with the AHC, South Shore Habitat for Humanity earlier identified two smaller town-owned parcels of less than one-half acre – at the corner of N Street and Nantasket Avenue and on F Street near Cadish Avenue. No decisions have been made.

The AHC’s intent, Koebert said, is to engage the community from the beginning of the process before the town issues a request for proposals, to explain the meaning of affordable housing and for citizens to share what they envision affordable housing to be and their ideas about affordable housing.

‘We have to find ways to be more successful’

Koebert said she knows enough about affordable housing “to get frustrated that it takes so long and it’s so complicated and complex. We have to find ways to be more successful.”

She also expressed concern about communication issues between the AHC and managers of the Hull Housing Authority properties, who are not based in town. Jim Richman is the authority’s liaison to the AHC.

Resident Christopher Sweeney said he is concerned about how long it is taking to develop affordable housing.

“We have plenty of town-owned property,” he said. “All we have to do is [collaborate] with Habitat for Humanity [or another organization], and they can build it.”

At its October 8 meeting, the AHC will host guests from neighboring towns that have affordable housing trust funds to learn more about their experiences.

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