Catch the wave – Beautification Committee wraps first year of activity, has big plans for future

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By The Hull Beautification Committee

The Hull Beautification Committee wrapped up a year full of ideas and initiatives that helped beautify the peninsula we Hullonians call home.

Rain and wind could not dampen our spirits during our first Hulluva Clean Up. Yes, we will be doing it again in the spring, and hopefully the weather will be more cooperative. Committee efforts resulted in an article on the town meeting warrant to amend a zoning bylaw addressing signs, billboards, and other projections, resulting in a favorable vote. A collaborative effort with the Village Market involved sprucing up their planters in the Kenberma shopping district.

The HBC is not resting on its laurels. New “Welcome to Hull” signs will soon be installed as you enter Hull from Cohasset on Atlantic Avenue, as well as on Pemberton Pier. The signs will have the same “wave” you see on the Welcome to Hull sign on George Washington Boulevard. We are planning pop-up cleanups in the months ahead. Our Facebook page is constantly updated with all things that make Hull beautiful and things that we could do better. Take a look and see.

We want to thank all the homeowners and businesses who have allowed us to showcase their properties. We have posted storefronts, homes, barns, sheds, gardens, window boxes, planters and decorations – anything that catches our eye and displays Hull pride.

We encourage neighborhood associations to join our mission. If you don’t have an association, please start one! Or just do it on your own – pick a spot and rid it of debris and weeds. It’s amazing what a pair of hands can accomplish.

Our efforts encompass the entire town – a tidal wave!

Please stop by our table at Endless Summer and let us know what you think of our efforts.

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© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Road to Responsibility celebrates ‘Christmas in July’ at Hull Lifesaving Museum

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Road to Responsibility, a South Shore nonprofit that provides housing and care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, hosted a special “Christmas in July” celebration on Thursday, August 7 at the Hull Lifesaving Museum.

The event is part of RTR’s Connection Corner, an initiative designed to help Members build friendships and meaningful community ties through inclusive social events.

Highlights included a visit from “Summertime Santa,” live music, yard games, ornament crafts, and writing letters to Santa, and delicious sandwiches and strawberry shortcake served by Wellspring Multi-Service Center’s food truck.

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© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

‘You have to work this out’ – counsel urges compromise on conflict over light plant management

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By Carol Britton Meyer

During a two-and-a-half-hour, sometimes animated special light board meeting this week, Hull Municipal Light Plant counsel Nicholas Scobbo presented his interpretation of voter-approved Article 37 to change the management structure of the light plant, as well as the light plant’s payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) to the town, both controversial issues in recent months.

All five members of the light board were present, along with Town Manager and Light Plant Manager Jennifer Constable.

Calling Article 37 “a very hot issue” and stating that he was “loathe to get into the politics of the town,” Scobbo prefaced his remarks with an explanation of the light plant manager’s and board of commissioners’ roles.

Scobbo was not present at the in-person meeting and presented via video conference. At a couple of points during the meeting, he urged that the select board and light board work together to resolve the issue.

“There’s a need to balance the interests of the town with the interests of the light board. You shouldn’t be fighting each other,” he said. “You have to work this out.”

Article 37, approved by a 116-83 vote, proposed restructuring the light department governance by removing the town manager as light plant manager. Constable told the select and light boards earlier that the article is “not actionable … because town meeting can’t direct the select board” to take that action. The wording of the article did not include provisions about filing the required special legislation at the state level to make the management change.

Town Counsel Brian Winner recently told the select board that he believes the article was flawed and prevents the board from taking further action.

‘Perhaps not artfully worded’

Following a lengthy presentation that included details of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 164, which deals specifically with the manufacture and sale of gas and electricity and includes various sections that define key terms, establish regulatory frameworks, and outlines the responsibilities of energy companies, Scobbo spoke about Article 37,  noting that it was “perhaps not artfully worded and is ambiguous to a certain degree.”

The key question, he said, is whether it’s “conceivable – not that it has to be possible” that the required special legislation could be filed by an entity other than the select board.

After painting different scenarios, Scobbo suggested the possibility that either the select board or light board could request Hull’s state representative draft or submit the proposed legislation.

“The local rep could say yes or no” and if yes, the special legislation may or may not be approved by the full Legislature. “There are no hard-and-fast rules about who can submit special legislation,” according to Scobbo.

Resident Lisa French asked Scobbo to confirm Winner’s earlier statement about whether the select board was compelled to act by a vote at town meeting. She was referring to Winner’s remark during a select board meeting that even if the article was in the correct form, or a future article in the right form was presented and approved by another town meeting, “the select board has the discretion as the town’s executive authority whether or not to proceed.”

“Even if the warrant article were worded correctly, can the select board ignore [the affirmative vote] legally?” she asked.

“I didn’t really dive into this, but I’m not sure the select board can ignore what town meeting voted,” Scobbo said.

Op/ed questioned

At the beginning of the meeting, Constable questioned an op/ed that appeared in the July 31 edition of The Hull Times submitted by light board Chair Tom Burns and members Dan Ciccariello and Jacob Vaillancourt in support of carrying out the wishes of the 116 voters who supported the article at town meeting. Members Stephanie Landry and Patrick Cannon’s names were not on the letter. Vaillancourt proposed the town meeting warrant article as a citizens’ petition.

“The [op/ed] was submitted by three [of the five members], which is a quorum,” and the submission was not discussed in open session and “is in fact a direct violation of the Open Meeting Law,” Constable said.

Burns responded was that he makes “a special effort to not violate [the Open Meeting Law] and appreciate your input.”

With regard to the PILOT payments, following a lengthy discussion, Scobbo’s interpretation was that after the light plant has paid all its expenses, the light board and the town manager can decide whether the light plant would make a PILOT payment out of any “unappropriated retained surplus” or loan the money to the town under an agreement to meet a short-term need. He also noted that under Department of Public Utilities regulations, “There’s no legal obligation to make these types of payments.”

“The board should have had authority over PILOT payments all along,” Cannon said.

Constable said that prior to the submission of the citizens’ petition, she told the commissioners that they “have more authority than just setting the rates.” She also noted that “PILOT payments are part of the town budget.”

‘The town manager has offered to work with us’

“The town manager has offered to work with us and discuss it with us,” Landry said. “I think it’s a good thing we’re discussing the PILOT program as a board. The town manager has gone out of her way to welcome us as a board and to say, ‘Have a seat at the table to discuss these issues and what you’re concerned about.’”

There will be future discussion about this issue, with Scobbo participating, and a vote by the light board at a future meeting on a proposed PILOT policy crafted by Vaillancourt, with input from Scobbo on the wording. This document is posted here.

Scobbo said the proposed policy is “too wordy” but “heading in the right direction,” and that further discussions should involve the town manager after “looking at [the light plant’s] accounts. It all has to be factored in.”

No decisions should be made, Cannon said, “until we sit down with the town manager and the numbers. … We're not even close yet.”

“We have to make this decision soon,” Ciccariello said.

During the discussion, Scobbo said regarding the overall issues of Article 37 and PILOT payments, “I’m not trying to describe nefarious intent here. I don’t think that’s what’s going on. It’s a messy situation.”

Following Scobbo’s discussion of both Article 37 and PILOT payments and showing related slides, Vaillancourt said the board had just heard “some unexpected information” and requested a copy of Scobbo’s presentation “for the board to digest.”

A replay of the light board meeting will be available on demand at Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net.

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© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Master planning process to include targeted outreach, community opinion survey

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The master plan steering committee met recently for the second time to hear project updates from Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) staff, which is providing technical assistance, and to begin thinking about ways to engage the community through an outreach campaign to raise awareness about the project.

The master plan is intended to guide the town’s decision-making for at least the next decade.

The year-long process, which will provide a foundation for making consistent decisions townwide, involves evaluating Hull’s strengths, identifying issues, challenges, and priorities, capturing the social fabric of the town, and envisioning the type of community Hull would like to be in the future.

A community engagement plan is being developed with guidance from community-based organizations. MAPC staff members are currently holding one-on-one interviews with members of these groups to understand the best methods to reach Hull residents and get them involved in the process, which will include a community survey. MAPC staff will also interview town employees.

The goal is to prioritize collaboration with residents and town leaders, “meet folks where they are,” integrate accessibility throughout the engagement process, and to engage in relationship building, according to the organization.

The process also places a priority on including input from as many individuals and organizations as possible, including Hull’s young people and seniors, as well as tourists and summer residents.

“What we want to hear is how we can do better,” noted Greg Grey, select board liaison to the committee.

“We’re trying to understand the kind of people who live and work here, what the local economy is like, and where people work and go to school,” said MAPC Senior Regional Land Use and Historic Preservation Planner Sarah Scott.

Committee serves as liaison to broader community

The steering committee guides the process, providing feedback to MAPC and the town. The planning board provides feedback to the steering committee and will adopt and implement the final plan.

The committee serves as a liaison to the broader Hull community, acts as a sounding board for the project team, provides feedback on the planning process and plan content, and acts as individuals – not representatives of a board, committee, or other entity.

“You are here because the town thinks you have a valuable perspective,” Scott told the steering committee members.

Under a “group agreement,” committee members will “listen for understanding, not disagreement; consider the opinions and experiences of others; bring a spirit of experimentation and creativity to the process; and respond, not react.“

The agreement is geared toward “feeling like everyone is on the same page and making decisions together,” Scott said, while encouraging committee members to think outside of the box. “There are big, complicated issues we will be talking about, and we would like [committee members] to share their thoughts and opinions.“

At Scott’s request, committee members were asked to suggest taglines for the community engagement campaign that could be enhanced later.

Suggestions included: “Your voice matters,” “Hull is planning its future now  does it matter to you?  If so, connect here,” “We're building a Hull of a comprehensive plan,” and “Bring your thoughts to shore.”

According to the outline of the process, there will be opportunities for community engagement from September through December.

For more details or to sign up for the email list that provides information and reminders about events pertaining to the master plan, visit www.mapc.org/resource-library/hull-master-plan.

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Shorelines: Good news about your friends and neighbors

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A HUNDRED REASONS TO SMILE: Four generations of the Anastos family gathered this past weekend to celebrate the 100th birthday of Adrienne Anastos. In the back row are Julia, Alex, Chris, and Adrienne’s daughter Cindy Feo; 10-year-old great-grandson Nash Zaremba with his mother, Angela, and Gina Anastos; seated on either side of Adrienne are sons Dennis and George; in front are Sophia Anastos and four-year-old Myles. Not pictured are grandson Doug and great-grandchildren Arthur, Amelia, and Elias Anastos. . [Skip Tull photo]

• In small towns like Hull, place names carry on through the generations, even as circumstances change over the years. Many people still refer to the intersection of Nantasket Avenue, Bay Street, and George Washington Boulevard as Anastos Corner – named after the family who owned property around that intersection and operated businesses there, including Anastos Hardware, Anastos Corner Restaurant, and the Apollo Spa/Apollo Theater. One member of that family celebrated her 100th birthday this past weekend.

Adrienne Anastos, for many years a fixture at the restaurant she ran with her husband, “Papa Lou” Anastos, was born on August 1, 1925. Family and friends gathered at her daughter’s home on August 3 to mark the special occasion as she earned membership in the “century club.” Think good thoughts about Mrs. Anastos the next time you are at California Underground, which now occupies the spot where Anastos Corner Restaurant served thousands of happy customers over the years.

• Congratulations to Madeleine Mahoney, who was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Simmons University in Boston.

• Ryan Johnson on Mountford Road said it took several years for his Dragonfruit Cactus to finally blossom. Thanks to Mark Abatuno for capturing this image!

• Vincent Curran participated in last weekend’s Pan-Mass Challenge bike ride in memory of his father, Stew Curran, who died in November 2021. The annual event raises funds for cancer research.

Curran’s story echoes the experience of many local families facing a cancer diagnosis:  “Glioblastoma Multiforme are two words that are not familiar to most people; a quick Google search will tell you that it’s very rare, under 200,000 cases per year. However, that stat was not what popped off the page when I did the same Google search – statements like ‘highly aggressive’ and  ‘this condition cannot be cured’ are what stood out.

“My father was a bear of a human; for us to find him unconscious and unresponsive on the floor of our house was a blindside that started a 13-month battle that ultimately ended with him passing in November of 2021. Through that journey, the hospital became a second home and the constants were surgeries, seizures, daily chemo trips, etc. Every time you felt there was a step forward; it was accompanied by two steps back.

“Glio was something we couldn’t control, fortunately my Dad set the tone for the family and his mindset never wavered on what we could control – referring to the seizures, terrible MRIs and loss of mobility as minor speedbumps. Even though he was fighting a battle he couldn't win, he battled as hard as possible, using humor, kindness, and courage as his weapons.

“Glio as a cancer diagnosis doesn’t get the innovation and capital it needs. The clinical trials are very limited and the treatment has been more or less the same for 20+ years. Last year, Crus11Tour raised over a million dollars for Dana Farber to fight Glio. Crus11Tour was the name Davey Hovey gave his battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme. Davey was a lifelong lacrosse player, my Dad was a lifelong lacrosse coach. The game of lacrosse has an amazing way of bringing people together. In this case, it’s to raise money so that in the next 20 years, when you do have to do that quick Google search, it no longer says this condition can’t be cured.” Congratulations to Vincent and all the riders in this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge!

• They’ve swum with sharks, leapt off cliffs, and surfed the Pacific – all before turning 22. Now, Hull-Hingham couple Ryan Parks and Kristi Phillips are chasing their next big thrill: being crowned America’s Favorite Couple and landing a feature in Variety magazine. The high school sweethearts first met at age 15 on Nantasket Beach, where a “mistakenly” thrown ball and a spontaneous game of four-square sparked a connection that’s only grown stronger. Phillips remembers spotting Parks and his red bike that day, a moment that would mark the beginning of a bold, adventurous love story.

From their first date (when Ryan nervously warned, “If you ever want to kiss me, please don’t eat peanuts”) to their cross-country move to San Diego, the couple has embraced every challenge together. After a year of long distance, they reunited for college just 15 minutes apart and have since adopted a rescue dog, explored the wild coast, and continued building a life rooted in trust, thrill-seeking, and shared dreams.

Now 21, they’re currently ranked first in their group in the national contest. A win would mean $20,000 toward rent, student loans, a donation to the Humane Society, and a spotlight in Variety magazine. Voting is free once per day, and additional votes support ocean conservation through Oceana. For more information and to cast a vote, visit https://americasfavcouple.org/2025/kristi-and-ryan.

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

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© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

In the Sport-light: Roundup of news from Hull's wide world of sports

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Compiled by Matt Haraden

• The Hull High Boys Soccer team recently participated in the summer 6v6 high school tournament in Braintree. After a strong showing at all summer games, the boys triumphed over a team from East Bridgewater in the semifinals to go on to beat a Milton High boys team for the Division 2 championship.

KICKING IT UP: The Hull High boys soccer team participated in the summer 6v6 high school tournament in Braintree. After a strong showing at all summer games, the boys triumphed over a team from East Bridgewater in the semifinals and beat a Milton High boys team for the Division 2 championship. [Photo courtesy of Tom O’Callaghan]

• Chase Silva struck out 17 batters as the right-handed pitcher led Pirates 14U Baseball team past East Bridgewater, 6-3, on Monday, July 28 at Hull High School. Silva gave up four hits and three runs over seven innings while walking five. The Pirates got on the board in the first inning after Nikko Mihal was struck by a pitch, driving in a run. A triple by Silva extended the Pirates’ lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Pirates broke up a tie when Christian Silva doubled, scoring two runs. Then a steal of home by Silva followed to extend the lead to 6-3. Silva and Silva were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in two runs for Pirates. Dom Ramos and Silva each collected two hits for the Pirates. Silva threw two immaculate innings for Pirates, where the pitcher struck out the side on nine pitches. Jayden Sheets and Silva each stole multiple bases for the Pirates, who ran wild on the base paths, piling up seven stolen bases for the game.

The Pirates lost a heartbreaker in Duxbury, 8-7, in their first loss of summer league. Christian Silva went 3 for 4 with two doubles. Chase Silva, Nick Mihal, Dom Ramos, Alex Provost, Mackie Concannon, and Shaine Hutcheson had hits. Shaine also made two run saving catches in left field. The Pirates captured the lead, 3-2, in the top of the second after Jacob Goodrich grounded out, Shaine Hutcheson singled down the left field line, and Silva scored on a passed ball, each scoring one run. The Pirates added to their early lead in the top of the third inning after Chase Silva tripled down the left field line, and Nikko Mihal singled down the left field line, each scoring one run.

Duxbury flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on three hits to take the lead, 7-5. The biggest blow in the inning was an inside-the-park grand slam by #12 that drove in four.

Hull tied the game at seven in the top of the fifth, thanks to two ground outs. Dom Ramos started on the bump for Pirates. The starting pitcher gave up seven hits and seven runs (three earned) over four innings, striking out two and walking three. #35 stepped on the mound first for Duxbury. The pitcher gave up eight hits and five runs (three earned) over three innings, striking out six and walking none. Mihal, Ramos, Silva, Goodrich, and Hutcheson each drove in one run for the Pirates.

Next up was a loss to Silver Lake, 11-6. A leadoff home run by Jayden Sheets put Pirates on the board in the bottom of the first. Evan Doyle and Jacob Goodrich each collected two hits. Doyle, Gavin Griffin, Sheets, and Goodrich each drove in one run. Mackie Concannon, playing right field, somehow ended up tagging out a runner going to second base.

The boys finished the season with a record of 8-2. Playoffs are up next.

• Two Hull High Girls Lacrosse players were named to the All-Scholastic team by The Patriot Ledger last week. Erin Walsh, a junior midfielder, was named to the first team, while senior attack Elly Thomas made the second team. Walsh, a three-time South Shore League All-Star, had a team-high 78 goals for the 10-9 Pirates this season. She added 74 draw controls and 30 caused turnovers. With 244 career points, she is on pace to become the all-time leading scorer for the Pirates. “She has a passion for the sport that is unmatched on our squad,” coach Dan Dahill said. Thomas, a team captain, led the Pirates in assists this season and has notched 254 career points. “Elly played hard all season, working through an ankle injury,” Dahill said, calling her “one of the most competitive athletes I’ve ever coached.”

• At the Hull Yacht Club, 11 boats came out to the line on Thursday, July 24, with wind gusts topping out just above 30 m.p.h. on choppy seas. Clean lanes, speed through the chop, playing the traveler, hiking hard and keeping the boat as flat as possible were some of the keys to success. The skippers and crew of Sweep, Rhode Runnah and Mermaid Hunter showed great consistency throughout the evening, and the Hull YC RC got in three races under tough conditions On Saturday, July 26, it was a totally different scenario for the Fleet 46 Anniversary Regatta, as wind speeds hovered around 10 m.p.h. before dying out late in the afternoon. Five boats armed with spinnakers came out for battle. The Hull RC was able to get in three races before the wind died, sending the fleet home for the coffee house, Hull Lifesaving Museum’s Illumination and post-race snacks and awards on the porch. 

Congratulations to Patrick and Doug on Mermaid Hunter (2-1-1), and David and Peter on Rhode Runnah (1-2-3) for securing first and second place for the day, respectively. Clare, Jim, and Carly on Wild Irish Rhodes (3-3-2) earned third-place overall and first mark honors in the third race.

On Thursday, July 31, a combined night saw 14 Hingham and Hull boats on the line, with flat water, a northeast breeze in the 10-15 knot range, and a few 18 knot gusts thrown in. Razzmatazz and roger that! battled it out all night with tacking and jibing duels in front of the fleet that entertained the crowd. JP Hnath took the helm of Tommy Craig’s El Packo in the final race of the evening and finished in second place. The consistency award went to Bill Bradford on Full Circle, turning in triple threes.

• Coaches, league organizers, and superfans – 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 Wednesday at noon. 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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Veterans – be sure to apply for your ‘Next Generation’ USID card before next year’s deadline

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By Paul Sordillo

Hull Veterans Service Officer

 

I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback in regard to the information I am trying to get out to the Town of Hull’s veterans and families.

I was not able to get an article for July but, I’m back on track for August.

Have you heard of Massachusetts Veteran Connect? This is a program funded by the Executive Office of Veterans Services. Its intent to fill in gaps in veteran services in Eastern Massachusetts. Some examples of services offered include transportation assistance, health navigation, and housing related-financial assistance. Check out this website for more information and eligibility requirements: www.nechv.org

Annuity payments: This program offers an annuity to certain disabled veterans, parents of deceased veterans, and unmarried spouses of deceased veterans living in Massachusetts. As part of the HERO Act, the annuity will be increasing from $2,000 to $2,500 over two years. Veterans should have received a payment of $1,250 in February of 2025. Then, in August, veterans will receive one annuity check per year of $2,500.

If you are a retiree, you need to action soon on your and dependents retiree ID cards! Time to start planning, as the Department of Defense began issuing Next Generation Uniformed Services Identification Cards on July 31, 2020, and the complete transition to the new ID card is targeted for January 2026. At that time, legacy USID card will no longer work or be accepted.

If your current ID card has a blue, green, red, or orange background, you need a new retiree ID card. Appointments are hard to get, and if you wait until next year, maybe almost impossible.

If you search “Next Generation Uniformed Services ID Card” in your preferred browser you should get a link to what the new and old ID cards look like.

Where can you get a new ID card? Boston, Hanscom, Natick, Fort Devens, Cranston, and Cape Cod – these are listed from the closest to farthest distances from Hull. Appointments can only be made online or by phone call, except for Hanscom, which has walk-in hours on a very limited basis. All locations have different days; some are limited to just two or three days a week. These appointments get filled up very fast. Appointments can be made online at idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco or search ID Card Appointment and select osd.mil link.

If an appointment is made, pay attention to the required documents list, as without the required documents, no ID card will be issued.

If assistance is needed you can reach out to my office using the contact information below.

Call or visit the veterans office (appointments recommended, but not necessary) for more details of the subject matter in this article, or any benefit question. Paul Sordillo, Hull’s Veterans Service Officer, can be reached at 781-925-0305 or psordillo@town.hull.ma.us.

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Take a ‘Dip for Sue’ to honor longtime a summer resident, support multiple sclerosis care

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For more than 100 years, gathering at the summer house on Beach Avenue has been a cherished ritual for the Freda-Vadala family, full of love and memories. This month, the family invites the community to join them in remembering Suzanne “Sue” Vadala, who passed away in October after living with multiple sclerosis for many years. August 15 would have been Sue’s 70th birthday. It is also the Feast of the Assumption, the Catholic holy day when the oceans are blessed.

Sue Vadala spent every summer in Hull since her birth in 1955. Her birthday was always a special family celebration at the “beach house.” After she was diagnosed with MS in her early 20s, the ocean became Sue’s healing place. She began every birthday with a visit to the water’s edge. There, she would dip her body, bless herself, and pray. When Sue was no longer able to walk, it became the family’s tradition to bring her to the ocean and pray alongside her. Sue could be seen every summer with her oversized sunglasses, the perfect beach hat, and a smile on her face. She lived a life full of faith, always thanking God for her blessings, especially her three children.

In 2014, Sue became a resident of The Boston Home, a community for adults with MS and other progressive neurological disorders.

“Sue taught our family the meaning of strength as she bravely faced her challenges with multiple sclerosis,” said her sister, Jeannie Shine.” The care and love that Sue received at The Boston Home enabled her to experience the quality of life and respect that she so deserved. The work they do is truly remarkable.”

Even after Sue moved to The Boston Home in Dorchester for full-time care, her family ensured that she could make her annual birthday trip to Hull, bringing her wheelchair to the water’s edge so that she could still feel the healing ocean.

In honor of Sue’s birthday, her family invites the community to take a moment to think of Sue and to enjoy the healing ocean: “Whether you dip, dunk, or swim, please think about Sue, wish her a happy heavenly birthday and say a prayer for someone in need. We also ask that you consider donating to The Boston Home in her memory.”

The Boston Home is a non-profit skilled nursing facility serving 96 residents who are full-time wheelchair users, as well as outpatients with similar neurological disorders. With on-site physical and occupational therapy, wheelchair enhancement center, assistive technology and adaptive arts and recreation programs, The Boston Home’s mission is to empower people with advanced neurological disorders to lead creative and purposeful lives. All donations to the “Dip for Sue” will directly support life-enhancing programs for The Boston Home’s residents and outpatients.

Sue’s family invites anyone who would like to join them in taking a “Dip for Sue” on August 15 or 16 to stop by the corner of Revere Street and Beach Avenue, where they will have table with photos and information. If taking a dip is not possible, the family suggests just saying a quiet prayer for someone in need.

“Sue is our angel now. Our children say that she is a green butterfly that flies free among us,” Shine said.

To learn more about The Boston Home or to make a donation in honor of Sue Vadala, visit thebostonhome.org.

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Agent Orange Awareness Day to highlight sacrifices of veterans and their families

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Agent Orange Awareness Day is Sunday, August 10. On this day of remembrance, it is crucial for us to acknowledge all those affected by Agent Orange and to honor their resilience.

The Agent Orange Memorial is part of the veterans tribute at Monument Square. [File photo]

First, to my fellow veterans: We honor those who came home only to face a new foe in their hospitals and homes. We remember the thousands of veterans who battled cancers like Hodgkin’s disease or lung cancer, who suffered from strange illnesses when answers were few. We remember those who lost limbs to soft-tissue sarcomas or who cope daily with diabetes and heart disease likely triggered by their exposure. We also remember the invisible wounds – anxiety, the depression, the feeling of betrayal and abandonment that many felt when their problems were shrugged off as “imaginary” in the early years.

To all veterans and their families who have borne the burden of Agent Orange, we see you and we salute your courage. Your fight to have your conditions recognized was not in vain; it paved the way for better healthcare and support for future generations of warriors.

Speaking to my fellow veterans: I want you to know that you are not alone. The weight of Agent Orange – whether you feel it in your own health or in the loss of a buddy – is a burden we carry together. We have a bond of solidarity that comes not just from our service in war, but from how we stand by each other in peace. When one of us suffers, we all feel it. That is why veterans organizations have been at the forefront of pushing for Agent Orange research, for healthcare improvements, for recognition of new illnesses as they arise. It was the voices of veterans that got Congress to act in 1991, and it will be the voices of veterans that ensure our country never forgets its obligation to us. In that, I find hope and pride even amidst the sadness. We took an issue that was once swept under the rug and made the nation confront it. That is a testament to the unwavering determination of those who serve.

Agent Orange has taught us that war’s impact doesn’t end when the war itself does. The bombs may stop, but the aftermath remains – in the land, in our bodies, and in our hearts. Thus, we must never forget. We carry forward the memory of those who died because of Agent Orange, long after they left the battlefield. We carry forward the mission to care for those still with us who need our help. And we carry forward the lesson that our country must always strive to protect not only its national security, but also the health and dignity of all human beings and the planet we share.

May we continue to speak the truth about Agent Orange. May we ensure such a legacy is never repeated. And may we honor the resilience of the human spirit that, even after such devastation, finds ways to heal the hope. Thank you, and let us move forward together with the wisdom bought at such a high price.

Please join us Sunday, August 10 at 7 p.m. at the Agent Orange Memorial at Monument Square for a ceremony honoring all those affected by Agent Orange.

David P. Irwin

USMC, Vietnam – ’66-’67

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Pick up the Hull Times Summer Guide at your favorite local store

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It’s here! The Hull Times annual guide to enjoying summer in Hull was included in the June 19 edition of the paper mailed to every house in town and is available at local stores and online throughout the season.

The long-anticipated annual publication provides residents and visitors with all they need to know about spending the summer in Hull and along Nantasket Beach. The centerpiece is the Community Calendar of Events, which includes events and activities throughout the summer and into fall, topping off with the Endless Summer festival on September 6.

You’rE READY FOR BEACH OR BOATING WITH THE AUGUST TIDE GUIDE, FOUND IN THE HULL TIMES SUMMER GUIDE!

We’ve included stories on birdwatching around town, a guide to staying safe on the water, and some fun local history.

In addition, you’ll find a tide guide, menu offerings and information from local restaurants and businesses, and everything you need to make 2025 a fantastic summer at Nantasket Beach.

Keep your copy of the Guide handy, and if you have visitors planning a trip to the peninsula, your guests can pick up their own copy at local stores so they, too, can make the most of their stay.

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Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.