Chamber’s 2026 goals include efforts to promote businesses, history, townwide branding

/

By Carol Britton Meyer

The Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce is committed to fostering community engagement and economic development initiatives and “identifying opportunities for growth of business and community, both locally and at large,” President Steven Greenberg told the select board last month as part of the Chamber’s annual update.

In his report, Greenberg outlined the Chamber’s 2025 events and initiatives, providing an overview of its activities, achievements, and future projects “to enhance community engagement and economic development in Hull.”

The executive board is comprised of Greenberg, Vice President Jennifer Freedman, Secretary Jim Pitrolo, and Treasurer Kathy Dunn, with Tara Ashe in the role of executive director.

Click here for the Chamber’s report to the select board

The Chamber continues to focus on three major events, all well-attended – the annual townwide yard sale that creates community connections; the Hull Holiday Showcase, featuring unique and affordable holiday gifts, decorations, home decor, coastal holiday arts and crafts created by local professional artists; and Endless Summer – the highly successful end-of-summer celebration that attracts about 2,000 visitors and that highlights community cooperation, with support from the Town of Hull; Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Massachusetts State Police, and local volunteers.

In collaboration with the historical commission, the Chamber is looking toward the creation of a townwide historic preservation plan focused on improving the town’s stewardship of Hull’s historical properties leading up to events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

“We’re proud of our heritage,’’ Greenberg said.

Another historical preservation effort relates to the First Night Baseball Game storyboard located on Cadish Avenue between A and B street, with special 250th-related events planned. One of these will involve the Society for American Baseball Researchers, which contributed to the creation of the storyboard commemorating the first known baseball game played under electric lights that took place in Hull in 1880.

The Chamber’s goal is to look for ways to tie its events to the town’s 250th celebration.

With regard to transportation, the Chamber has been actively engaged with the MBTA and the town focused on upgrading the 714 bus route. As a result, the connection between ferry and bus service has improved – benefiting not only Hull residents but also day-trippers. The organization also facilitated a connection between Shipwreck’d and the MBTA, allowing the restaurant to sell tickets.

Greenberg reported that the Chamber has signed an agreement to lease a 250-square-foot community space from the Procopio Companies (developing the former Paragon Boardwalk property) for $20 a year to establish a welcome center and gathering place. 

The Chamber continues to have discussions with the beautification committee about efforts to improve public spaces “and building community pride,” he said.

On the subject of economic development, the Chamber continues to monitor the ongoing Hull Redevelopment Authority meetings and regularly engage with members of the HRA about options “to promote both community and economic development,” according to Greenberg.

In other news, the Chamber is partnering with HullNext, an online guide to Hull, to develop online storyboard strolls showcasing Hull’s character and history.

In addition, the Chamber was involved in the recent creation of a branding and marketing campaign involving Erin Swenson Gorall and Humans Not Consumers that was accepted by the Economic Development Committee and supported by the select board.

“We are in the process of formalizing the relationship between the EDC and the Chamber to make sure the rollout of this campaign goes as planned,” Greenberg said. “Together we will finalize and license a logo and how it can be used. An optimistic expectation is that we can generate an additional 20,000 customers per year spending $50-$100 each to our businesses.”

He also encouraged residents to invite their friends to Hull to take a walk and then have lunch at a local restaurant as an example of a way to support local businesses.

Parking was also a topic, related in part to a planned reduction in parking spaces on the Hull Redevelopment Authority property for the coming season and the new digital metering system, as well as encouraging visitors to take public transportation, with further discussion to come.

Greenberg noted that the Chamber “will continue to cultivate partnerships that support Hull’s interests, with a focus on improving the community through increased local business activity and fostering pride and prosperity for the Town of Hull.”

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

With light plant bill stalled on Beacon Hill, voters will again be asked to change management setup

/

By Christopher Haraden

Voters at the May 4 annual town meeting will once again consider a proposal to rescind a 33-year-old provision that placed the Hull Municipal Light Plant under the control of the town manager.

A citizens’ petition submitted to town hall on January 22 seeks to return the light plant to independent operation, confirming a 116-83 vote taken on Article 37 at last year’s town meeting. Article 37 proposed reverting to the management setup that was eliminated in 1993 when town meeting amended the town’s charter. Although Article 37 was approved in the spring, Town Manager Jennifer Constable told the light board and select board during the summer that legal counsel had deemed the article “not actionable” because the wording did not include specific provisions necessary to make the change.

After debate about whether the select board could – and should – vote to file the home-rule petition with the state Legislature, in September the board agreed to pursue the matter on Beacon Hill.

The Legislature’s Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government accepted written testimony on bill H.4739 in November. Although sponsored by state Rep. Joan Meschino and state Sen. Patrick O’Connor, the bill has been referred to a study committee, according to light board member Jacob Vaillancourt, who sponsored Article 37. Vaillancourt said he believes the maneuver stalls the bill indefinitely.

The new citizens’ petition, sponsored by Leslie Taylor, seeks to amend Chapter 8 of the Acts of 1989 – the special act of the Legislature that established Hull’s town manager form of government and was amended in 1993 – “to remove the town manager from the operation of the municipal light plant and to restore the statutory authority of the municipal light board.”

Annual town meeting petitions need the signatures of at least 10 registered voters. Taylor said she collected about 25 signatures and sought to submit them for verification as early as possible. She said the petition sponsors believe Hull’s electric company should be run by a strong board and a separate manager, the way the light plant had operated for about 100 years.

Those favoring an independent utility also believe that the separation will ensure clarity in the light plant’s finances. Current and former light commissioners have debated the merits of the plant’s payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOTs) that have supplemented the town’s budgets over the years.

Current light board members disagree on the proposed change. Supporters of the current management setup say that having the town manager in charge of the utility is similar to the structure of other town departments and provides stability in financial management.

“The 1993 changes we want to undo may have been motivated by problems at that time, but the 1993 changes never did preclude the very mismanagement it claimed as its motivation,” Taylor said in a statement to the Times. “Instead, stripping control from the elected board has resulted in the town budget dependent on automated unregulated flows of money from the electric ratepayers.” 

Last year’s approval of Article 37 and this year’s citizens’ petition are not the first attempts to undo the management structure change approved in the aftermath of a recall of four of five light board members. A similar proposal to repeal the 1993 legislation was referred to a study committee at the 2011 town meeting.

“We must do this again because the select board and our state representatives dropped the ball,” Taylor said. “Adding to the key phrase ‘restore the statutory authority of the light board,’ we want to help restore the authority of votes by town meeting. The select board’s disrespect for the town meeting votes, and their clinging to the status quo of money flowing from the electricity bills to the general account, results in the subversion of the authority of the light board.”

The warrant for the May 4 annual town meeting remains open until February 12.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Tell your loved ones you care with free Valen-Times messages

/

Get your Valentine’s Day messages in as soon as possible!

With so much negativity in the world, the Hull Times is proud to continue our tradition of publishing free Valentines to (and from) our readers. You can tell that special someone just how much you care with a free Valentine in the February 12 issue of The Hull Times. Just print your 20-word message and return it to us by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 9. No late entries, please! Send your Valen-Times messages to news@hulltimes.com.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

HRA’s center section tops ‘short list’ of sites to build new police and fire station

/

By Carol Britton Meyer

The Hull Redevelopment Authority property is the top choice to build a combined police and fire station, two HRA members told their fellow board members Monday night.

During member updates to the board, Chair Bartley Kelly reported that he and member Dan Kernan met with Town Manager Jennifer Constable and Assistant Town Manager Stacy Callahan in mid-January and Constable informed them that consultants for the proposed public safety facility had narrowed consideration of potential sites. She said that what is known as Lot B – or the larger, center section of the HRA property – is at the top of the consultant’s short list of sites. Neither Constable nor Callahan participated in the Zoom meeting. The Times reached out to Constable but did not hear back prior to our Wednesday deadline.

“They wanted us to be in the know,” Kelly said. “The HRA would have to be on board, with approval of design funding through town meeting.”

The surprise announcement came during a two-and-a-half-hour Zoom meeting during which the authority also heard updates on a plan for a townwide survey about future uses of the property and the request-for-proposals process for an operator for the parking lots next summer.

Regarding the public safety building, Kernan said community meetings will be held prior to the spring town meeting.

“We have a vacant lot, and this is [likely] the most affordable location in town,” he said. “The HRA property is clearly an easy solution … It’s obvious why it would be on their list.”

It’s not clear how much of Lot B – the largest on the 13-acre property – would be needed for a combined fire and police station.

‘It’s all part of working through the process’

Member Joan Senatore asked, “How would that work?” to which Kelly responded, “The town would be looking to negotiate with the HRA in some form or other. It’s all part of working through the process.” No decisions have been made.

In response, Kelly said that “town meeting and [voters at the] ballot box will have to be on board, and the HRA is part of this.”

Kernan said he was glad that this information was brought to the board’s attention.

“They did the right thing by calling us in about what might happen,” he said. “There was no sales pitch; they were just informing us. It’s up to us to decide.”

This “will take its course, and the HRA will have to react for or against it after understanding what it means and everything about it, including the cost,” Kernan further stated. “I’m grateful [this news] was brought to [our attention] early.”

In other business

• HRA Technical Operations Manager Mark Hamin went over the request for proposals for next summer’s parking lot operator. Lots A and C will be leased, while the middle lot B will be available for events and vendors and short-term parking for their use, but not for public parking as it has been in the past. There was a general consensus at Kelly’s suggestion to keep the process as simple as possible.

After Hamin makes the modifications from the discussion, the board will further talk about and take a vote on the RFPs, including any further changes.

Following a lengthy conversation, the board reached a consensus that the RFP for lot A should go to the highest bidder, with electronic payment required by people using the lot as it has been for the past two years.

The RFP for lot C would also require electronic payment as well as evaluation criteria that includes – but does not require – supporting local businesses in the area by providing a discount to parking lot users who provide validation that they have spent at least a certain amount at a local restaurant or other business, with a maximum stay of four hours.

Kelly suggested that local businesses respond to the RFP for lot C and that Hamin reach out to inform them of this opportunity.

“Let’s agree to do the best we can and see what the bids are,” board member Charles Richardson said. “In a perfect world, it would be nice to have [one or more businesses] around the Breadbasket Bakery and the hotel put in a bid.”

This means that “the HRA could score in a way possible for a bidder who is not the highest to [win] the lease” based on the criteria, Hamin said. Parking will still be free in lot C for residents with a sticker on a first-come, first-served basis.

In the meantime, the subcommittee consisting of Kelly and Kernan will work with Hamin on the RFP details.

“With two RFPs, we could get exactly what we want – A as a revenue-based lot and C, community-based, without over-complicating the process, and if someone wants to, [he or she] could bid on both,” board member Adrienne Paquin said.

• The HRA also discussed next steps to the townwide survey regarding best uses for the property, sharing their goals with Stephanie Gonthier of Market Street Research – the company hired to conduct it.

She shared a “high-level” view of various methods that could be used for the survey process, with more detailed discussion to come.

Services will include working with HRA members on the design of the survey questions and format, survey response optimization features, analysis of response data, and submission of survey reports, subject to HRA approval.

A subcommittee consisting of Paquin and Richardson met with Gonthier, along with Hamin, on Zoom recently to talk about the process and for the two HRA members to share their goals.

“I feel that we have a good game plan in place and that things are moving in a great fashion,” Richardson said.

In sharing her goals with the board, Paquin said, “I was elected by the citizens, and therefore I want to know what they think. I would like to see an incredible response, and hope [respondents] expect that we are [listening] to them.”

Hamin noted that previous surveys regarding the HRA property were shared with Gonthier “to see the trends over time, not to reinvent the wheel, and to recognize some of the limitations of previous surveys.”

There was general agreement to frame the survey questions in a way in which those participating understand exactly what they are responding to, rather than answering them in isolation – and to avoid terminology such as the word “development” that could cause misunderstanding and create polarization.

Kelly emphasized that the target audience for the survey is Hull residents, and said it’s important to widely share the survey and to ensure that citizens only respond once.

Next steps include Gonthier and other members of Market Street Research crafting questions based on the board’s goals with subcommittee input and then bringing the draft survey before the full HRA board.

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

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Sunday mornings with the ‘Dopamine Dippers:’ Where cold water, community, and courage meet

/

COLD COMFORT: Every Sunday morning, the ‘Dopamine Dippers’ take the plunge into the waters of Nantasket Beach – no matter the season. Above, Steve Walsh and John Ferris head back to shore after taking a dip prior to the arrival of Sunday’s winter storm. [Photo courtesy of Jennifer Whelan]

What began as a single, solo dip in 2021 has quietly evolved into one of Nantasket Beach’s most life-affirming community rituals.

Every Sunday at 9:30 a.m., year-round, you’ll find the “Dopamine Dippers” gathering at Nantasket Beach on Hull Shore Drive Extension – locals and newcomers alike, standing together at the edge of the Atlantic, ready to do something bold.

No experience required. No pressure. Just an open invitation to step into the water in whatever way feels right for you that day.

The group was founded by Karen LaFond, who started cold water swimming shortly after moving to Hingham in 2021. What started as a personal practice for healing, resilience, and longevity organically grew, one person at a time. This year marks the fifth season of the Dopamine Dippers, and weekend dips now regularly draw 20 or more participants, with a dedicated crew meeting at sunrise most mornings at the same spot on the beach.

But this isn’t about bravado or pushing limits for the sake of it.

Deliberate cold water swimming is known to support dopamine regulation, reduced inflammation, improved circulation, nervous system resilience, and mental clarity. Beyond the science, participants speak about something harder to quantify: presence. Joy. A deep sense of aliveness. The kind that comes from doing hard things – together.

“This is about longevity. It’s about healing your body. It’s about showing up for yourself,” LaFond said. “But most of all, it’s about community.”

And that’s the heartbeat of the Dopamine Dippers. Seasoned plungers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with first-timers. You’re encouraged to listen to your body, move at your own pace, and trust that you’re supported – whether you go all the way in or simply dip your toes.

In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, this community has created something rare: a space where relationships are built through shared experience, courage, and laughter – often followed by hugs, hot tea, and wide smiles.

If you’re even the slightest bit curious, you’re already welcome.

You can find the Dopamine Dippers on Instagram, or reach out directly to LaFond on Instagram with questions or to try your first dip. Whether you go once or become a regular, there’s a place for you in the circle.

TAKING THE PLUNGE: Members of the ‘Dopamine Dippers’ hit the water every Sunday morning, year round, as part of their wellness routine. Shown this past week are, from left, Werner Schultz, Christine Danielson, Jill Griffin, and group founder Karen LaFond. [Photo courtesy of Jennifer Whelan]

Because this is where people come to feel alive.

This is where presence lives.

And sometimes, all it takes is a step into cold water to remember who you are.

Always better together! It takes a village.

The Dopamine Dippers are not just rooted in community; they are grounded in science and safety. LaFond is one of the first certified thermalist instructors in the world, having completed more than 130 intensive hours of training under Dr. Susanna Soberg, the leading global scientist in cold water immersion and thermal stress adaptation, based in Sweden.

Soberg’s groundbreaking research has helped redefine how cold exposure impacts dopamine regulation, metabolic health, inflammation, stress resilience, and longevity. Her work is widely regarded as the gold standard in the field of deliberate cold exposure, bridging cutting-edge science with real-world application.

LaFond traveled to Sweden to study directly under Soberg. The training emphasized understanding individual nervous system responses, safe exposure protocols, breath regulation, recovery, and contraindications – ensuring cold-water immersion is practiced as a therapeutic tool, not a reckless challenge.

“This isn’t about how long you stay in,” LaFond said. “It’s about how intentionally and safely you enter the experience.”

That scientific foundation shapes every Dopamine Dippers gathering. Participants are guided to listen to their bodies, honor their limits, and engage with cold water as a practice for long-term health, nervous system regulation, and sustainable resilience.

The result is a rare blend: a joyful, inclusive community experience backed by world-class research – where courage meets care, and cold water becomes a pathway to healing mind, body, and soul.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

‘Too old for this!’ After 30 years, Drowned Hogs taking a final swim for Wellspring

/

By Carol Britton Meyer

The annual Drowned Hogs polar plunge – a tradition that will end after this year’s event – started 30 years ago as a Wellspring fundraiser for those daring enough to walk or run into the frigid waters of Nantasket Beach.

The name, which was recently changed to Winter Warrior Games, was a play on words, as the plunge typically happened on or near Groundhog Day.

When asked why this is the final year, Wellspring Communications Director Kathryn Walsh told The Hull Times, “We are officially retiring the Drowned Hog. The last, updated logo shows the aged groundhog, ready for retirement, saying, ‘I’m too old for this!’”

The Drowned Hogs: The Last Hurrah plunge will take place Saturday, January 31, near the Mary Jeanette Murray Bathhouse on Nantasket Beach at noon, followed by an after-party at Daddy’s Beach Club at 12:30 p.m., with a suggested donation at the door for non-swimmers.

It’s hoped that long-time participants as well as newcomers from the past few years will take the plunge. These brave and fun-loving individuals often come dressed in creative costumes to add to the fun.

While the Drowned Hog plunge isn’t Wellspring’s biggest fundraiser, it has become a beloved tradition that brings the community together.

“It has given everyone something fun to look forward to in the middle of the winter when Hull is quiet – and better yet, it’s all been for a good cause!” Walsh said.

The event will be missed by many.

‘L Street Drownies’

Hull resident Tom Haddock and Al Bollinger, who now lives in Pittsburgh, started what would become an annual tradition among hardy souls on February 3, 1996, when the then-“L Street Drownies” – emulating their South Boston counterparts, the “L Street Brownies” – plunged into the near-freezing surf on L Street in Hull.

The first year was particularly challenging, with a 13-degree temperature and 30-mph winds.

“I threw my towel on the ground before taking the plunge, and it blew away,” Bollinger recalled.

The following year, the location was changed to A Street, with the day of the event featuring a temperature of 45 degrees and abundant sunshine.

Bollinger’s traditional garb was a colorful Hawaiian shirt, bathing suit, and Daniel Boone-style hat.

While taking the plunge started out just for fun among several fellow commuter boat riders from Pemberton Pier to Boston at Haddock’s suggestion, it became a fundraiser when Bollinger stopped by Wellspring’s Nantasket Avenue location shortly after the first event and had the idea of going back to the group to collect donations – after getting the OK from the surprised thrift shop attendant to borrow a wooden well decoration from the counter in which to collect the money.

That day about $50 was collected, with many thousands of dollars raised over the years through this event.

Number of participants has grown

Following that first plunge, the six participants, including one woman, Susan Redican – later nicknamed the “Ice Queen” – promised to return the following year, again on the first Saturday after Groundhog Day. The number of fun-loving participants has grown to more than 200 swimmers a year, regardless of the temperature.

“While the men were debating on how to enter the cold surf, Susan just ran in and we followed her,” Bollinger – who has a binder containing photos and newspaper clippings from past plunges – recalled.

He wrote a poem that the group used to predict spring’s arrival: 

“If the Drowned Hogs frolic in the ocean’s brine,

Spring arrives right on time.

But if they scream and run back out,

Winter will be a six week bout!”

While his last year taking the plunge was 2024, Haddock now supports the fundraiser as an event sponsor.

Bollinger last participated in the plunge during its 25th year.

“I was in Pittsburgh and started a chapter called the “Pittsburrrgh Drowned Hogs, who took the plunge on Groundhog Day for 10 years,” he said. “I would fly to Hull to take part in that plunge and then return home to participate in the one there.”

Drowned Hogs float won second place

Haddock recalls the group decorating a float featuring an ice queen, designed by Bollinger, in honor of the Drowned Hogs plunge during a Heritage Days parade in Hull, throwing out ice to the kids along the parade route instead of candy. “We came in second place!”

Those planning to join in this last plunge to benefit Wellspring are encouraged to challenge their friends, family, and co-workers to join them to help raise record-high dollars in support of community members in need of assistance.

To register or make a donation, visit wellspringmultiservice.org/drownedhogs. For more information, email Jessie Pilewski, vice president of adult education, at jessie@wellspringmultiservice.org.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Nine-unit townhouse complex proposed to replace crumbling eyesore at base of Allerton Hill

/

By Carol Britton Meyer

The long-vacant property that once housed the Lighthouse Restaurant, Sunset Marine, and an apartment building at the base of Allerton Hill could be redeveloped into nine townhouse-style units, according to plans filed with the zoning board of appeals.

Chris Reale, former owner of the Paragon Boardwalk, has applied for a special permit/variance to redevelop the roughly 143,288-square-foot property at 839, 843, and 845 Nantasket Avenue under the name The Point Nantasket Realty, LLC.

PROMISING DEVELOPMENT: The long-vacant property at 839-845 Nantasket Avenue at the base of Allerton Hill could be redeveloped into nine townhouse-style units under a plan to be reviewed by the zoning board next month. In better days, the property housed the Lighthouse Restaurant, Sunset Marine, and apartments, but has been empty and boarded up for several years. [Chris Haraden photo]

The proposal for the development – named “The Point” – includes constructing a multi-family residential building with nine separate townhouse-style modular “Nantucket-shingled bungalow” units with a shared deck and parking underneath, an accessory pavilion building, and two accessory canopy structures for covered parking.

The maximum height of the proposed buildings would be about 33.6 feet, and there would be a total of 41 parking spaces. An earlier proposal included 17 units.

A zoning board of appeals public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, at 7:15 p.m. The Point Nantasket Realty is filing the proposal on behalf of ARC DC, LLC, the current owner of the property.

Click here for links to the plans submitted to the zoning board of appeals

Community waterfront access

The proposal calls for demolishing the four existing structures – which are in a state of disrepair – repairing the existing dock, and building new residential units, a pavilion, and parking. Community waterfront access is planned for the northern section of the parcel, with a seasonal waterfront pavilion with outdoor seating and programming.

The property is located within the commercial recreational zoning district and FEMA flood zones and other coastal wetland resource areas.

“We’re excited to continue investing in Hull and transform a long-dilapidated site into something that enhances quality of life for everyone in the area. We look forward to engaging with the community and continuing to improve the project through the approval process,” Reale told The Hull Times. “After Paragon closed, we knew we wanted to stay invested in Hull in a way that aligns with our passions for building community amenities, fostering connection to nature, and low-impact development with understated design. This smaller, waterfront project allows us to do exactly that and stay connected with people in the community who have become a part of our lives and who continue to work to improve their community.”

As part of the redevelopment, the developer proposes paving a section of Cadish Avenue that crosses the property but is now unpaved. Referenced on the plans as Bay Avenue – the former name of Cadish Avenue – the road would be improved to a width of 20 feet and available for public use.

According to a legal notice published in The Hull Times for the hearing, there are more existing and proposed accessory structures than allowed under Hull’s zoning bylaw, and the existing and proposed front and side setbacks of the accessory structures are less than required.

While the main structure does not require zoning relief, the proposed covered parking structures and the public pavilion require a special permit from the ZBA.

Reale said he has been meeting with the site’s Allerton-area neighbors to solicit feedback on the design.

IN WITH THE NEW?: The property at the base of Allerton Hill that once housed Sunset Marine, the Lighthouse Restaurant, and an apartment building could be replaced by nine townhouse units if a developer’s plan is approved by the town. [Source: Hull Zoning Board of Appeals]

“This project has been and will continue to be a true team effort,” Reale said. “We’ve been working for over 18 months with a committed group of consultants, local residents, and stakeholders on designing a thoughtful, low-impact community.”

“The Point Allerton Association is in the process of soliciting neighborhood feedback on The Point proposal ahead of our meeting with the developers next week,” according to a statement the neighborhood group issued to The Hull Times. “Because the property sits at the entrance to Allerton Hill, Allerton homeowners have a rooted interest in how the units are designed and built, how the property will be utilized, and how public access to both the bayside beach and existing boat ramp at that location will be handled. The PAA is appreciative of efforts by Chris Reale and his team to address our neighborhood’s concerns in a collaborative and transparent manner. This cooperation has been, and will continue to be, essential to Allerton residents as the project moves forward.”

Previous uses of property

The property was previously operated as a combination of residential and marine-related uses, including a dock and restaurant. ARC DC purchased the site, once owned by businessman William R. Kelley, from a court-appointed receiver for $1.05 million in 2018.

Reale’s proposal also requires site plan review by the planning board. In addition, portions of the proposed redevelopment are subject to the jurisdiction of the Hull Conservation Commission under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which will require additional permitting.

In a January 6 email to the Point Allerton Association, Reale provided an update about the proposals and encouraged feedback. In the email, Reale described key aspects of the project which he said is designed “to embrace the waterfront setting:”

• Weathered cedar and native landscaping that mirror the coastal environment while providing natural resilience for the bungalows.

• Shared front porches and craftsman details “to encourage connection and community.”

• Site design that creates a walkable neighborhood that flows naturally toward shared amenities that reconnect Hull’s working waterfront with recreational access for everyone and not just the nine families who own a bungalow.

• Improvements featuring a seasonal sunset pavilion next to the restored pier “where neighbors gather; a waterfront park ending at the bike path where the community can swim, paddle, or row; and flexible space for rotating design installations or a farm stand.”

These “aren’t vague concepts. They form the basis of this redevelopment, and they’re actionable activations that will transform a dilapidated site into a genuine community asset as soon as we obtain permits – enhancing quality of life for everyone living in the area,” Reale wrote. “This is architecture and landscape working together to strengthen both neighborhood bonds and our connection to the water that defines Hull.”

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Weir River Water System’s hearing on rate increase set for Wednesday

/

The Weir River Water System Board of Water Commissioners will hold a joint meeting with the Hingham Advisory Committee on Wednesday, January 28, at Hingham Town Hall, Central Meeting Room (second floor), from 6 to 7 p.m.

This meeting is to review the proposed FY27 water system usage rate increase and associated capital debt service assessment for single family residential customers.

Additional details – including in-person and Zoom options – and the agenda are available on the Town of Hingham website. Click here.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Aquarium condominium complex marketed as package; owner now says individual unit sales will resume

/

the residences at the aquarium was built on the site of the former atlantic aquarium at 120 nantasket Avenue.

Clarification: After publication of this story, the Times was contacted by Residences at the Aquarium co-owner Jonathan Leavitt, who said that the building now will be marketed as individual condominium units.

Original headline: Aquarium condominium complex to be sold; new owner plans to rent out all 21 units

By Carol Britton Meyer

The owners of The Residences at the Aquarium condominium complex at the base of Atlantic Hill will sell all 21 units to an unnamed buyer at the beginning of February. The new owner plans to operate the building as a rental property, according to one of the current owners.

The 21 units were offered as a package to potential buyers by the Marcus & Millichap investment firm: www.marcusmillichap.com/properties/189236/residences-at-the-aquarium.

Enrique Darer, who co-owns the four-story property with Jonathan Leavitt, identified the buyer as a “big real estate owner who wants to purchase the whole building and rent it out as residential units,” but declined to provide the person’s name. He said they were approached last summer while the building was still being developed.

A certificate of occupancy is expected to be issued shortly, Darer told The Hull Times this week. Leavitt and Darer paid $1.45 million for the then two-story concrete block building at 120 Nantasket Avenue, which formerly housed the Atlantic Aquarium, in August 2022.

Their plan was to sell the units as condominiums. Prices ranged from $699,000 for a second-floor unit to $2.45 million for one of the penthouse residences.

“We had already sold three of the units to friends, who are agreeable to the [upcoming] sale,” Darer said.

After the offer was made on the property – which Darer did not disclose but said was a “good price” – it was taken off the market.

“We were hoping to close at the end of the year, but that didn’t happen, so it will be next month,” Darer said.

He and Leavitt were amenable to the sale “because if you sell [the entire building] to one buyer, only one sale is involved rather than our initial plan to sell 21 units with separate closings,” he said.

When asked if there were other reasons for the planned sale, Darer said there were not. “There is nothing mysterious about it,” he said.

The development is a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The largest units are penthouses.

“They all have beautiful views facing the bay,” Darer said. Amenities include parking, a covered pool, and a gym. “It’s a fantastic building.”

These are among 4,000 residential units Darer said he has developed in Massachusetts, Vermont, Georgia, Florida, and New Hampshire throughout his career.

“This is my first project in Hull,” he said. “I fell in love with the location and the town, but if an opportunity comes around, I’m always game to do it!”

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Monday’s townwide outage fuels questions about delays with light plant’s generators

/

By Laurie Kirby

When power went out across town in the aftermath of Monday’s snowstorm – and the light plant’s generators were slow to restore temporary power due to a “load issue” – Hull’s Laurie Kirby ventured out to see how residents responded to the unexpected blackout.

The frozen morning in Hull began in the warm afterglow of victory – the New England Patriots tackling the snow and the Houston Texans on Sunday to clinch a berth in the AFC championship game with the Super Bowl in sight. While Tom O’Callahan clicked away on his computer in the Samoset area to tackle some work, the lights flickered like the Houston Texans and then clicked off; his computer powered down with a groan.

“We just lost power on Samoset,” he remarked. He wasn’t alone.

At approximately 1:10 p.m. on Monday (the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday), all power went out in all of Hull.

Swiftly, the Verizon auto-message popped on the cell phone alerting Verizon Fios customers, “We’ve detected a commercial power issue that may affect your Verizon services. For more info, please visit Verizon.com/outage.”

Within the hour, Hull Fire Chief Chris Russo posted on the Town of Hull Emergency Management Facebook page the following:

“Hi Everyone,

“We are aware the power is down townwide. Crews are responding from NGRID to locate the issue. This is involving Hull 1-2 outside of town. HMLP working to bring up the generators. More to come…”

The Hull Municipal Light Plant rents large backup generators from Milton CAT Power Systems in the event of a townwide outage, such as damage to National Grid’s feeder lines that bring power to Hull through Hingham. The $800,000 cost is tacked onto the monthly electric bill for ratepayers.

To date, the generators have smoothly fired up until whatever infrastructure problem (or falling tree in Hingham) could be remedied.

O’Callahan, with good humor on that chilly, powerless Monday, admitted that while the power outage was a pain, his work could wait, but he looked me straight in the eye and said, “I just wondered, does the town still have the generators? Are they gonna go up today?”

“Where are the generators?” asked a ruddy-complected man filling up at the Kenberma Food Mart and gas station on Nantasket Avenue to the two other men trying to work the pumps in the cold.

GENERATING INTEREST: With the power out all over town, Tony Mazza stopped by the Kenberma Food Mart and gas station to fill up his fuel containers to keep his generator going. [Laurie Kirby photo]

Tony Mazza of Hull was kneeling below one of the pumps, trying to funnel the gas into several bright red, five-gallon plastic fuel containers.

“My wife was cooking and the power just went out! I’m trying to fill up some tanks here to run my generator and see how long the power runs,” a focused Mazza said.

Reporter: “You have a generator? I thought Hull had a generator.”

Mazza: “They do!”

Another voice, the man with the rosy cheeks, piped in from pump #2, “There are generators,” he emphasized as the gas flowed into his vehicle’s tank.

I turned to face him. Reporter: “Why aren’t they on?”

Answer: “That’s an excellent question; you should ask the ah, light power company that.”

Reporter: “Are you paying for those generators?”

Answer: “Yes, I am. I am not happy.”

But what all the gentlemen shared in conversation, seemingly strangers each, was how come the generators hadn’t flipped on yet? Compared to the outages “B.G.” (before generators), one hour was nothing. And the several inches of fresh snow promised nature’s freezer for any souring milk. But, the question, all jokes aside, was a serious one. What had caused the delay in at least two of the generators?

On Facebook, locals were chiming in.

Mike Lutz wrote, “Better be turned on by the time we get home at 5…” getting a heart emoji for his missive.

Mimi Holden asked, “Do we have to wait until they find the source before the generators take over? “ and Jessica Digan asked “Y” the town generator hadn’t “kicked in yet” and “thank God I have my own but yet we are still stuck paying for urs mmmmmmmmm.”

A drive down Nantasket Avenue became perilous; none of the lights were working, and intersections became a cat-and-mouse-game. Hull seemed eerily quiet. Daddy’s seemed to have its generator groove on, firing up its own backup juice. The Nantasket Beach Resort would soon follow. Lights began to hesitantly flicker in the business block near the beach.

Chief Russo, true to his word to update residents again on FB sometime between 3:19 and 3:42 p.m. on Monday:

“Hi Everyone: The power issue was found off Hobart St. in Hingham with Hull 1-2 compromised.

“NRGID has crews on scene and working for the past hour plus to get the lines cleared and back up from tree damage.

“Our HMLP crews along w/CAT Gen. crews have been working to get the townwide generators up and on line but have encountered a load issue slowing the process and protocols to safely energize Hull 1-2 on our side. Please plan for 2-4 more hours of interrupted services as crews continue to work on this matter on Hobart Street restoring Hull 1-2.”

It indeed was a Hingham tree. Rob from Hull pondered whether it might make more sense to cut down the trees near the infrastructure and get rid of the need for generators outright.

Down at the generator site, men in hard hats talked quietly and went into the trailer to confer. A Milton CAT service truck rolled in, along with several black SUVs. No one was willing to be interviewed for this story, but it was evident that there was quiet frustration and focus.

Two calls out to the executive office at Milton CAT have not been returned, but a woman at the office did speak to me on the phone briefly and said she understood, with even colder weather in the forecast, why residents would be concerned about the heat being off and the generators coming on.

SMOKE SIGNAL: When National Grid’s supply lines in Hingham failed on Monday, the entire town was plunged into darkness. The light plant’s rented generators along George Washington Boulevard, shown here with some smoke billowing out of one section, did not restore temporary power quickly enough for some of the residents we encountered around town. [Skip Tull photo]

At 4:20 p.m. Monday afternoon, the computers groaned back to life, the flights flickered back on, and the heat blasted along the lower-letter streets and beyond to the Point.

Word on the street is that the generators kicked back in sooner on the other half of Hull.

Hull Light Operations Manager Mike Schmidt, in an email response to my question about why that had occurred, wrote, “The customers closest to the generators were energized first. The Village was last to be energized by the generators only due to the layout of our distribution system.”

Hull was now on full generator power.

At around 7:10 p.m., Tom’s computer whooshed off again, along with all the lights, and the heat. Hull was “switching over” and putting the generators to bed. It took all of 10 minutes.

On Tuesday, January 20, at just after 10 a.m., Hull Town Hall issued a press release summarizing the town’s experience:

“On Monday, January 19, 2026, the Hull Municipal Light Plant (HMLP) responded swiftly and effectively to a power outage affecting the entire town, triggered by the loss of both National Grid transmission lines (H1 and H2) serving Hull.

“At approximately 1:20 p.m., the National Grid Dispatch notified HMLP that both lines had tripped out on fault. Hull Light linemen were immediately dispatched to verify conditions on the local system, confirming that both incoming feeds were out. The outage was attributed to tree damage on Hobart Street in Hingham, which impacted the National Grid lines.

“In accordance with established emergency protocols, preparations for generator transfer began without delay. Milton CAT was contacted to dispatch technicians to Hull to assist with startup and operation of the town’s backup generators. The transfer process was safely and collaboratively coordinated among Milton CAT technicians, Hull Light personnel, and National Grid.”

When asked why it took so long for Hull residents to see the light, Schmidt, the light plant’s operations manager, replied by email: “Thanks for reaching out. Please see attached press release. The generators did run for four hours yesterday. It could take up to three hours to transfer the entire town to generator power.”

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

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

© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.