Early-morning demolition brings down Hull’s last wind turbine at former town dump

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DOWNWIND: Shortly after sunrise on Wednesday morning, crews toppled Hull Wind II, which had stood atop the former landfill since 2006. The 200-foot-tall wind turbine had been offline for several years after replacement parts could not be found to make the needed repairs. [Skip Tull photo]

With a loud crash that reverberated through the Rockaway neighborhood, Hull’s last remaining wind turbine was toppled by crews early Wednesday morning, officially ending the town’s decades-old foray into wind-generated electricity.

The 1.8-megawatt turbine, which was about 200 feet tall, was installed at the former town landfill in May 2006 and generated enough energy to power 800 homes each year. It had been offline since 2023 and was declared beyond repair less than a year later when replacement parts could not be located.

Crews cut into the tower at the base and the turbine crashed to the ground shortly after sunrise on Wednesday. Some neighborhood residents expressed surprise that the light plant kept them in the dark about the demolition. The removal also was not discussed with light commissioners at the board’s meeting on Tuesday night.

“Due to the timing and location of Hull Wind II, and for safety reasons, the date and time of demolition was not publicized prior to removal,” according to a statement issued by the light plant Wednesday evening.

GROUNDED: The demolition crew made quick work of taking down Hull Wind II at the former town dump on Wednesday morning. After they cut into the base, the 200-foot tower crashed to the ground shortly after sunrise. [Richard W. Green photo]

The removal of Hull Wind II comes after Hull Wind I at Pemberton was taken down in February 2024. That turbine also was deemed beyond repair. The light plant estimated that Hull Wind II generated 7% of the energy needs of customers, while the smaller Hull Wind I provided 4% of the town’s electricity.

“In the wake of decommissioning both Hull Wind I and II, Hull Municipal Light Plant and the light board look forward to developing new initiatives and partnerships to enhance energy services,” the light plant’s statement concluded.

– Christopher Haraden

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‘Team effort’ rescues rare sea turtle from freezing ocean water at Hull Gut

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By Carol Britton Meyer

What started out last Tuesday, December 2 as a normal morning at work loading lobster traps onto the Acushnet Marine truck at Hull Gut turned out to be anything but when the four crew members ended up rescuing a critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle from the water.

RESCUE ME: Kelly MacKenzie holds the rare sea turtle named ‘Tugboat’ that was rescued from the cold water at Hull Gut last week. The turtle was brought to the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy, where it is recovering from exposure to the cold. [Courtesy photo]

Kelly MacKenzie, owner Mike McDevitt, and co-workers Liam Borza and Jodi Clefstad were going about their business at Pemberton when they spotted a sea turtle – whom they later named “Tugboat” – in distress close to shore.

“At first I thought it was a fish,” MacKenzie told The Hull Times. “However, Mike recognized right away that it was a sea turtle and knew that it wasn’t supposed to be around this time of year.”

They immediately contacted Hull Harbormaster Kurt Bornheim, who told them to call the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy.

“That’s what we did, and we were told to try to get the turtle out of the water and that an animal ambulance would soon be on its way,” MacKenzie recalled.

She and the others were able to gently lift the sea turtle out of the water and place him in a bin with seaweed.

“It was a team effort,” she said. “We were all really excited and started taking photos.”

The ambulance arrived within 30 minutes. Tugboat is continuing his recovery in the Sea Turtle Hospital after the staff there kept him in a heated environment for three days to slowly raise his body temperature.

“We were told that he’ll be there for about a month,” MacKenzie said. “We get regular updates by email.”

Kemp’s ridley is a small sea turtle species that is rare and endangered and frequently is cold-stunned in New England’s waters. The hospital rehabilitates hundreds of injured turtles annually before returning them to the ocean.

MacKenzie is asking Hull residents to be on high alert because sea turtles are showing up lately and getting beached at the high-tide mark in Hull and the surrounding area.

“When the temperatures are low, they only have about two hours out of the water to survive,” she explained. “Sea turtles usually would have migrated by now, but they are getting turned around by high winds and other conditions” and losing their way.

MacKenzie was “super excited” about seeing a sea turtle because she has always loved them but had never seen one in real life until Tugboat’s rescue.

“I come from a Hull lobstering family and always heard stories about how there used to be a lot of them around, but not in recent years,” MacKenzie said.

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Master plan survey reveals residents divided on whether Hull meets their ‘ideal vision’

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council consultants working on Hull’s master plan shared their findings from the recent community survey and visioning open house at Monday’s planning board meeting – with 959 survey responses and a sizable turnout at the visioning session.

In describing Hull’s positive aspects, respondents used words such as beautiful, beachy and scenic with regard to the town’s natural beauty, and friendly, close-knit, and quaint to describe the town’s social fabric. Two quotes referred to Hull as “Heaven on Earth” and the “best-kept secret.”

When asked to describe Hull’s negative aspects, respondents used terms such as poor governance, falling apart, corrupt, and mismanaged, with one resident referring to the town as “expensive, boring, nostalgic.”

Public comment was suspended to allow the board to focus on the presentation and to ensure there was ample time for members to make comments and ask questions. There will be other opportunities for public comment throughout phase two of the master planning process.

Click here for more information on Hull’s master plan process

Survey response ‘quite incredible’

MAPC Senior Regional Land Use and Historic Preservation Planner Sarah Scott called the survey response – representing about 10% of Hull’s residents, or one in five households – “quite incredible for any community working on a master plan, especially for a small town.”

The town is working with the MAPC to develop a town-wide master plan. The planning process allows community members to evaluate the town’s strengths, identify issues and challenges, and develop a vision of the type of community Hull residents would like to see in the near future.

At the end of the master planning process, the town will have a clearer understanding of what Hull’s priorities should be and how strategic investments and other implementation efforts can achieve the community’s desired future.

The master plan will provide a foundation for future decision-making by the town’s boards and committees, including town meetings, and provide opportunities for the community to hold leaders accountable to achieving shared goals.

Scott provided a summary of the survey results. About 82% of respondents were year-round residents, 5% live in Hull for the summer, and the remaining number, part-time residents.

About 29% said that Hull is very close to meeting their ideal vision for the town, while 27% responded “not close” and 22% had no opinion.

According to the survey results, the top five amenities frequented in Hull are restaurants and cafes, the pharmacy, grocery stores, various local services, and family-friendly attractions.

The presentation will also be made to the master plan steering committee at an upcoming meeting.

A vision for Hull’s future

Respondents’ vision for Hull’s future related to the following themes: environmental resilience; coastal, small-town character; vibrant, year-round community; municipal fiscal sustainability; and accountable, transparent governance.

Some respondents called for limiting development, deciding on use of the Hull Redevelopment Authority property, reforming town government, prioritizing affordable housing, attracting more families to town, and investing more in infrastructure.

MAPC co-project manager Jiwon Park provided an overview of open house feedback, including a summary by attendees of what they felt Hull’s “missing pieces” are. These encompassed community gathering spaces – including “bringing back mini-golf” – economic development, effective town government, a network of open spaces, opportunities for young families to plant roots in Hull, modern utilities and infrastructure, and “a master plan.”

Other priorities (top values) named during the visioning session included a sense of community, preservation and open space, overall safety – including environmental – “term limits for good ole boys,” transparency, affordability, responsibility to the environment, sustainability as it relates to climate change, and being friendly and welcoming.

The master plan framework involves developing a vision, followed by setting goals, coming up with strategies and actions, and at the end of the process, forming an implementation committee.

Cost overruns addressed

Planning board member Abby Klieman asked about what she heard were cost overruns related to the project.

Project advisor Josh Fiala explained that they are not uncommon with projects like this one and that typically they catch up with themselves and “come into alignment.” The gap relates to additional meetings requested by the town, among other factors.

“We have some additional funding sources at our disposal, so we’re using some of those to cover the gap we are currently experiencing and so are not asking the town to do so,” he said.

At the board’s request, the project team is developing a comprehensive list of names of members of the community who have been interviewed.

When asked by planning board member Nathan Peyton “what has surprised you so far in the process,” Scott said she was struck by “how important the social fabric of Hull is to so many people and their love for the community and their neighbors. Their desire to enhance that and strengthen it surprised me in a lovely way.”

Peyton also suggested the board keep the individuals on the project’s email list informed about master plan updates while a short pause is being taken to determine the scope of phase two in order to keep the momentum going.

Grants are being sought for assistance with the creation of the master plan.

Next steps

The next steps include preparing a phase one report that will be shared with the planning board ahead of its January 28 meeting. Completed phase one deliverables include creation of a community engagement plan and developing a project website.

Potential planning board next steps include using the survey results and open house feedback as well as MAPC’s recommendations to identify key themes that consistently emerged from the community; drafting a working vision statement; developing draft goals to implement the vision statement; and sharing the working vision statement and draft goals with the community and soliciting their input.

The board will also decide how it wants to involve the master plan steering committee in these conversations.

The steering committee is not scheduled to meet in December.

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Bibbidi Bobbidi Bright decorating contest returns for its sixth year

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Bibbidi Bobbidi Bright is back by popular demand for its sixth year – one night of magical lights for everyone to enjoy. Make sure to get on our map and light up your house on Sunday, December 21 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

BBBright Maps will be handed out on December 21 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Scoops Ice Cream Company at 540 Nantasket Ave. in the Kenberma Shopping District. Maps also will be posted online the day of the event, but we will still need your votes!

After you have seen all you can see, you can vote for the best-dressed house and drop your map at Santa’s Pub at The Parrot, 1 Hull Shore Drive. Feel free to stay for a nice meal and fun decorations.

No house will be left behind – If you have lights up, we could use you on our map. Check out our Facebook group for updates. You may contact us directly through Facebook messenger or by email at bibbidibobbidihull@gmail.com.

If there are any elves out there that would like to help with the details or donations for prizes, please contact us directly as well.

Happy Hullidays from

The Hedrick Family (Gary, Lili, Dahlia, Chloe, Verona)!

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‘Nobody’s trying to be a Scrooge’ – Safety concerns prompt access restrictions on lobster-trap tree

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By Christopher Haraden

A three-story holiday tree made from stacked lobster traps still stands at Mariners Park, but visitors are no longer allowed to venture inside the structure.

Crews from Hull’s fishing fleet built the tree – the third year they have done so – and celebrated its lighting on Saturday night. By Tuesday, however, Hull’s building department had ordered interior access closed due to concerns about safety.

TRAPPED: A three-year-old holiday tradition at Mariners Park is at the center of a controversy over access to the interior of the lobster trap tree. Organizers opened the inside for public access, but town officials stopped the practice, citing concerns about safety.

Building Commissioner Bartley Kelly posted “keep out” notices at the site on Tuesday afternoon. Justin Goodwin, one of the boat captains responsible for building the tree, posted on social media that he believed the structure was secure enough for people to go inside.

“The tree is structurally sound,” Goodwin wrote. “Four 120-lb. breaking strength zip ties are on each trap holding one another together … The hollow design allows wind to pass through, rather than acting like a wall to be blown down.”

Kelly disagreed, saying that one of the traps – which weigh between 45 and 50 pounds each – had shifted in the wind in the past years. He said he is concerned that the added weight of snow and ice buildup during the six-week holiday season could put additional stress on the integrity of the structure.

“Someone standing 20 feet away and taking a picture is one thing, but going inside with your family is another,” Kelly said Wednesday morning. “They did a nice job. It’s just in a very windy location.”

Supporters of the effort have pressed town officials to allow the interior to be reopened, and have begun a “Save the Lobster Trap Tree” petition online at https://hull.scottybstudios.com. The dispute over access also attracted the attention of WHDH Channel 7, which aired a report on the issue during Wednesday night’s newscast.

At this week’s select board meeting, Town Manager Jennifer Constable said she applauded the volunteer effort by those who built the tree, but shared Kelly’s concern about liability and safety. She said allowing people inside the lobster trap tree might be considered next year with the proper permitting, as some other communities have done.

“Nobody’s trying to be a Scrooge or put a damper on [the effort],” she said. “The tree is a great addition, but safety comes first and foremost, and the town would be liable if, God forbid, anything were to happen.”

In his post, Goodwin said that Kelly rejected his suggestion to reopen the interior of the tree with access restricted during periods of high winds. He also said Kelly told him that posting an “enter at your own risk” sign on the structure was unworkable.

“This is the third year of this tradition, made possible by the great team that constructs it. We privately fund the tree,” Goodwin wrote. “Our team doesn’t ask for anything to make it happen; we just want to see joy in Hull residents. The only thing we do not want is our own town to go against us, and to work with us.”

Kelly said he was not opposed to the tradition of building the tree at Mariners Park, but the added dimension of interior access changed the dynamic of this year’s project.

“I just don’t see a way to open it up,” he said.

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Winter parking restrictions now effect until March 31

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The Town of Hull’s seasonal parking regulations for the winter months took effect on December 1 and will last through March 31. 

On-street parking is prohibited on Nantasket Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, Spring Street, and Main Street between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. 

On all other streets, during inclement weather, parking will be allowed on the odd-numbered side of each street, except in areas where such parking is always prohibited. This will provide for orderly snow removal, sanding, salting operations, as well as the free flow of traffic, especially emergency vehicles. 

Failure to comply with the parking bylaw (Chapter 155 Section 19) regarding impeding snow removal will result in parking violation fines and potential towing of the offending vehicles at the owner’s expense, after due prior notice to owners when it is practicable to do so. 

For more information, visit www.hullpolice.org or www.town.hull.ma.us.

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Friends of the Hull Public Library launch annual membership drive

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The Friends of the Hull Public Library kicked off the organization’s annual membership drive on December 2. We’d love to have you as a member!

The Friends of the Hull Public Library’s mission is to enhance traditional library services with programs for all that may not be possible through the town budget. It is a volunteer organization that promotes and supports our library primarily through fundraising. Your donation provides financial support of author talks, children’s and teen activities, concerts, lectures, and more. We also fund discounted passes for museums and zoos. With your help, the Friends can provide opportunities for you, your family and other members of our community.

At a time when money can be tight, a donation to the Friends of Hull Public Library is a great way to help provide free events for all. Annual membership dues are: $20 Basic, $40 Sustaining, $75 Patron, or $100 Hero. Donations can be made online at www.hullpubliclibrary.org (visit the “About” tab and you will find the Friends of Hull Public Library page).

If you need a paper copy of our membership form or have questions, please call the library at 781-925-2295. We look forward to seeing you enjoy the library!

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Town to study alternatives for waste disposal, including municipal trash collection

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By Carol Britton Meyer

Public meetings will be held in the new year to talk about how waste and recycling are currently handled in Hull and possible alternatives for the future, including municipal trash pickup.

“We want to find out what the town wants and how much it would cost,” Public Health Director Rachel Gerold told the select board Wednesday night.

She has already had discussions with DPW Director Chris Gardner and South Shore Recycling Cooperative Executive Director Claire Galkowski to float ideas, but this is the very beginning of the process – with many factors to be considered, including widespread public input.

Options could include municipal trash collection, creation of a transfer/recycling station – which could be cost-prohibitive and impractical, as many of the states and countries that formerly accepted municipal trash no do so – composting programs to reduce the amount of food waste, or maintaining the status quo of the two private trash haulers currently serving between 1,500 and 2,000 of the town’s 3,500 single-family and 45-50 two-family households – at a cost of between $48 and $70 a month.

“A large number of people aren’t using curbside pickup services because they have other means to dispose of their trash and recycling,” Gerold said. “We’ve heard that some people [combine] theirs with a neighbor’s or bring it to work, and that some summer residents bring theirs to the towns they live in.”

Another option is the possibility of some Hull residents participating in Cohasset’s pilot recycling and transfer facility program – beginning soon – which will allow a limited number of non-Cohasset residents to use the recycling transfer station for a $300-a-year charge, not including the cost of the trash bags.

Select board member Greg Grey asked Gerold to provide statistics about how other towns roughly the size of Hull operate their municipal trash collection services and the associated costs.

“We’ve had conversations about this in the past, and in the end it would have been very costly, so the idea didn’t go any further,” he said.

The SSRC “is here to help with any efforts the town wants to pursue,” said Galkowski, who participated in the conversation via Zoom.

In other business

Town Manager Jennifer Constable reminded citizens to check the town’s website for information about the winter parking ban that took effect this month, current disruptions in ferry service, and other news.

She also noted that the recently board-approved committee handbook is “a great step forward and a great resource.”

Constable also described a recent incident at an unnamed board meeting during which a resident “physically approached the board and took things from board members. This is not allowed,” she said. “If we have to provide monitoring at meetings for public safety, we’ll be doing that. People should be respectful of the work our boards and committees are doing. This kind of [behavior] is disruptive and disconcerting. We want to be sure our volunteers are safe.”

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

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Youth basketball season is now under way. Shown are the Seventh Grade Girls: Back row, Tess Rand, Piper Yakubian, Ruby D'Errico, Deirdre Flaherty, Addison Mahan, and Abby Donovan; front row, Molly McCarthy, Josie Tyrrell, and Natalie Tiani. Not pictured are coaches Regan Yakubian and Evan Resnick.

Seventh Grade Boys also started their season this week. Shown are: Back row, Trent Whelan, Mason Vaillancourt, Henry Littlefield, Jayden Sheets, Finnian Smith, Reefe Markowitz, Jack O'Mara, and Coach Matt Littlefield [Coach Lodovico Sestito is not pictured]; front row, Liam Chalifoux, Tristan Misdea, Josh Papasodero, and Marco Sestito.

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Hull Youth Basketball opened the winter season at the Starland Thanksgiving Tournament, with multiple Hull teams participating, including Seventh Grade boys, who won the championship. The travel season starts this weekend with all Hull teams playing at home on this schedule:

Girls Teams: Saturday, December 6 at the Jacobs School: Sixth Grade vs. Scituate at 9 a.m.; Seventh Grade vs. Plymouth at 10 a.m.; Eighth Grade vs. Scituate at 11 a.m.

Sunday, December 7 at the Jacobs School: Sixth Grade vs. Duxbury at 9 a.m.; Seventh Grade vs. Duxbury at 10 a.m.

Boys Teams: Sunday, December 7 at Hull High School: Fifth Grade vs. Halifax at 1 p.m.; Eighth Grade vs. Milton (Black) at 2:15 p.m.; Third Grade vs. Pembroke (White) at 3:30 p.m.

• Congratulations to Hull High Girls Varsity Soccer player Meghan Duran, who was named the South Shore High School Athlete of the Week by The Patriot Ledger. Duran scored the tiebreaker in Hull’s 3-1 victory over Monson in the Division 5 state championship final last month.

• After two wins in a row, the Hull High School Football Team fell to Cohasset, 28-7, on Thanksgiving Day at home. The Pirates finished their season with a record of 4-7.

• Hull High’s winter sports season gets under way in only a few weeks. The Boys Basketball team begins the 2025-26 year on the road against Calvary Chapel Academy in Rockland on Friday, December 12 at 5:30 p.m. and then plays Rockland at home on Monday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. (JV at 5 p.m.). The Girls Varsity team begins on Wednesday, December 10 at West Bridgewater at 4:30 p.m., and then will play Calvary Chapel Academy in Rockland on Friday, December 12 at 4 p.m. The JV squad will be at Rockland on Tuesday, December 16 at 5 p.m. The first meet for the Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams will be on Monday, December 15 at 4 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

• For the full schedule for each team, visit https://www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=10611.

• 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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Public comments sought on Manomet & Samoset reconstruction project

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The public is invited to share thoughts on conceptual designs for improvements to Manomet Avenue and Samoset Avenue. A brief presentation will be made about design evaluations considered to date, followed by an opportunity for the public to ask questions and offer input.

Date: December 10, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
Location: Hull High School - Exhibition Room 180 Main Street, Hull, MA 02045

Free babysitting will be provided for parents and guardians who would like to attend the meeting by National Honor Society students.  If you would like to use the babysitting services, please call or email Renee Kiley at 781-773-3847 or rkiley@town.hull.ma.us.  

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