FY27 $56.6M budget proposal includes 3.43% increase to fund capital projects, new staffing

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SOURCE: TOWN OF HULL

By Carol Britton Meyer

Town Manager Jennifer Constable presented her proposed $56.6-million FY27 town budget to the select board last week, representing an increase of $1.9 million, or 3.43%, over the current year’s budget of $52.6 million.

“We’re in a very healthy financial status,” she said, expressing appreciation for those involved in the budgeting process. “Some neighboring communities are facing overrides, while we are confidently adding staff and supporting reasonable cost-of-living increases for nonunion staff.”

In addition, the town has completed contract negotiations and is moving forward on a number of capital projects, Constable said.

Click here for the full FY27 budget presentation from the select board meeting

The town manager’s budget includes funds to pay for two new firefighters and an increase in hours for the IT, veterans services, and public works departments, as well as money for a collective bargaining agreement with library employees.

Capital projects in the budget proposal total $765,000, including $156,000 for new police vehicles, $171,000 in technology upgrades ($151,000 townwide and $50,000 for the school department) and $20,000 for a redesign of the town’s website. The budget also includes $20,000 for air conditioning at the library, $25,000 each for HVAC and boiler replacement at the police and fire stations. Additional capital projects include $38,000 for seawalls, $30,000 for maintenance of Straits Pond, $60,000 for townwide line painting, $70,000 for the new online permitting system, and $25,000 each for a beach management survey and the USA 250th Anniversary celebration.

According to the town manager’s presentation, on May 4, town meeting voters will be asked to approve funding articles at town meeting for new Department of Public Works equipment, landfill capping, pavement projects on Manomet, Samoset, and Central avenues, rehabilitation of the Pemberton sewer pumping station, Crescent Beach seawall work, design of a new combined police and fire station, and funds for the town hall relocation to the Memorial School, including the Anne M. Scully Senior Center. The town meeting warrant will be signed by the select board on March 25.

SOURCE: TOWN OF HULL

The town’s revenue comes mostly from property taxes (about 72%), as well as state aid (about 14%), with the other funds derived from excise taxes, ambulance receipts, and building permit fees.

Constable predicts that state aid will increase by $115,944, or 1.6%, to $7,341,505, and local receipts will climb 7.02%, from $8,445,838 to $9,038,647. The tax levy’s increase is just under 3%, from $39,068,880 to $40,235,133.

Overall, departmental budgets in the town manager’s proposal will go up by 4.71% and health insurance expenses are expected to increase about 5%. These will be offset by decreases in total debt of 8.53% and intergovernmental assessments of 3.35%.

The school committee already discussed its FY27 departmental budget proposal, which calls for a 3% increase, from $18.3 million to $18.9 million.

The fiscal 2027 process began with a request for departmental budgets and capital proposals in November, followed by budget and capital request meetings with department heads and capital improvement planning in December.

Advisory board departmental budget meetings and the refining of revenue and expenditure estimates began in February and continue in March, followed by a town meeting vote May 4. The town manager is scheduled to present the budget to the advisory board tonight, Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. The schedule and agenda topics of future advisory board meetings can be found on the town’s website, www.town.hull.ma.us.

Fiscal 2027 expenses in addition to debt and increased health insurance costs relate to pension liabilities and MBTA, charter school, and South Shore Regional Emergency Communications Center assessments. The town also maintains a balance of $2.7 million, or between 3% and 5% of the operating budget, in the reserve fund. The capital stabilization fund has a balance of $1.2 million, according to the town manager.

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‘The Last Islander’ documentary captures uniqueness, beauty of life on Peddocks Island off Hull’s coast

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O, CAPTAIN: Hull’s Mike McDevitt, shown aboard the tugboat ‘Acushnet,’ is the subject of a new documentary about life on Peddocks Island, ‘The Last Islander.’ [Photo courtesy of Joe Berkeley]

By Carol Britton Meyer

A locally produced documentary about the last full-time resident on Peddocks Island has been selected for inclusion in the New Bedford Film Festival in April, with a viewing in Hull scheduled for May.

Hull resident Joe Berkeley’s recent work is a fascinating documentary titled “The Last Islander” about Michael McDevitt, who lives on the island off the coast of Hull. After McDevitt’s sister, Crissy, died last May, the state – which took the island by eminent domain decades ago – is considering taking a wrecking ball to her home, which is made from building materials that washed ashore from Boston Harbor.

“Mike is attempting to save the home – which is full of history and historical artifacts,” Berkeley told The Hull Times. “Mike’s life on Peddocks Island is extraordinary. He is one of a kind.”

McDevitt makes his home on the island year-round, with no running water and limited electricity, living off the land. He and his three siblings were transported by boat from the island across the Gut to school in Hull by their father when they were children.

A viewing of the film is planned at the newly renovated Hull Lifesaving Museum Boat House at Pemberton Point on May 30. General admission tickets are already sold out, as are the VIP tickets – which cost more but include a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to circumnavigate Peddocks Island with Captain McDevitt aboard his tugboat, “Acushnet,” before the screening and reception. All proceeds benefit the museum. The New Bedford screening is planned for April 11 at 1 p.m. at Gallery X.

‘I wanted to do something unique’

Berkeley shared the story behind the film.

“In celebration of the 10th anniversary of my passion project, ‘Humans of Nantasket Beach,’ I wanted to do something unique, so I enrolled in a documentary cinematography class with Luc Forsyth of Toronto and learned how to do more with less” after making television commercials with the assistance of “giant crews,” he said.

The course offered tips on blocking out shots, running the camera, and capturing the subject as well as what gear to buy, among others.

Normally Berkeley races small sailboats on Sundays, but this winter the season was canceled due to repairs to the Boston Yacht Club, from which he usually sails.

On a Sunday in early December last year, unable to race, Berkeley was shooting his cinema camera “when the ‘Acushnet’ steamed through my frame. McDevitt landed at the town pier in Hull. We started talking, and he told me his story,” resulting in the documentary.

McDevitt – whose house is also made of found materials – also owns several fishing boats named after family members and the pier beside Jo’s Nautical Bar – also known as Darcy’s after the property’s former owners – where he frequently docks the Acushnet, along with his two dogs – Gunwale, a Ridgeback mix, and Barccus, a Husky mix – who keep him company on the island. He also is the owner of Acushnet Marine.

“Mike’s is an incredible story of resilience and a great representation of what’s possible,” Berkeley said. “He embraces anything that washes up on the Peddocks Island shore. He makes a life from found people, objects, and stories and has made an impact on a lot of lives.”

‘He’s a great Hull character’

McDevitt’s good works aren’t well-known, he noted, “because he’s often out on the ocean with his tugboat. He’s a great Hull character.”

Berkeley refers to “The Last Islander” film as “a passion project with a small but mighty crew” that included Hull residents Richard Green as the drone cinematographer and Ted Richardson – a Hull resident and launch driver at Hull Yacht Club – who was the key grip who carried the heavy gear and “can fix anything.”

Berkeley was the writer, director, cinematographer, editor, “and the guy who made lunch!” he said. “I had to buy some gear to make the documentary, but it was worth it. This is a beautiful story – an ‘only in Hull’ story – soaked in salt water with a dash of piracy … As always, Hull and its surrounding waters made for beautiful imagery and a great story. Mike is an amazing subject in a beautiful environment.”

Green, who collaborated with Berkeley in the past – including on a public service announcement to save MBTA ferry service to Hull a few years ago – told The Hull Times that it was “nice to be part of the crew. Joe brings a lot of excitement to his projects and goes at them full tilt.”

‘Lovely island in middle of everything’

Green especially enjoyed being on “this lovely island in the middle of everything” and the ham and cheese sandwiches prepared by Berkeley’s wife, Lisa, to enjoy on the island – where he met McDevitt for the first time. “Joe tells a good story,” he said.

A few months earlier, Green had read the book “Once Upon an Island: A Century of Life on Peddocks Island” about what life is like there and its rich history, written by longtime summer resident, Matilda Silvia – which he highly recommends.

Richardson also enjoyed being part of the crew.

“It was really peaceful on the island and a really cool experience being there during off-season, riding on the ‘Acushnet,’ and hearing Mike’s stories,” he said. “The cinematography in the film is incredible, and the houses on the island are pretty sturdy – not just pieces of driftwood nailed together!”

Stories to tell

McDevitt intends to stay on Peddocks Island as long as possible, despite the harsh winter weather, with 12 inches of ice on the beach this year. “I really enjoy it here,” he said.

He enjoys living on the island year-round.

“It’s peaceful with the wood stove going, and there are a few chickens left – like a little farm,” McDevitt said. “It does get lonely, though, with no other family members or the Portuguese fishermen who once lived here.” There are still summer residents on the island.

Peddocks features a variety of wildlife, from owls to coyotes to seals.

“Once in a while a seal will get into my rowboat,” he said. “Once I found one in the boat out on the water with no oars in sight. The boat had kept going in the water until I discovered the seal.”

McDevitt noted that the Humane Society had erected little houses on islands up and down the East coast from the Cape to Maine for people who run aground, providing firewood and food until help comes.

While Peddocks is not one of those islands, Crissy’s house served that purpose last fall when a man fell overboard and the boat he had been on kept going.

“He swam to the west side of Peddocks Island and walked seven miles until he found my sister’s house,” McDevitt recalled. “It was amazing.”

Mike’s brother, Edward X. McDevitt, happened to be on the island that day and called him on his tugboat.

“I [led] the Coast Guard to my sister’s house,” he said. After providing assistance, the Coast Guard evacuated the man to Hull.

“Following the incident, the man gave $100 to everyone whose house he had broken into in the hopes of getting help before he reached my sister’s and returned all the blankets from her house that were loaned to him – along with the ones he had taken from a couple of the houses along the way in the freezing cold and wet weather,” he recalled.

Peddocks Island history

According to Berkeley, an English settler with the last name Peddocks took ownership of the island in Colonial days. Much later, the state took it over and built Fort Andrews – which played a prominent military role in the defense of Boston Harbor during World War I and in prior times due to its proximity to the mainland.

The state then sold the island to a gentleman named Isadore Bromfield – who hired McDevitt’s parents, Judy and Edward, as caretakers starting in the 1950s and continuing into the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Edward served as the Hull harbormaster for a time, and Judy ran tugboats up and down the East Coast and was also talented at writing, sewing, photography, and painting.

After the island – which was also home to a number of Portuguese fishermen living in shacks – fell into disrepair, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts took it by eminent domain in the 1970s.

At that time, the state told the current residents – who were also without running water or electricity – that they could remain in their homes until they passed on, but once that happened, they would be knocked down. This is the challenge McDevitt is facing while working to save his sister’s home.

“Before my sister passed, we used to have tea together and talk on her front porch,” he said. “Crissy said to me, ‘Never let anything happen to this house when I pass,’ and I promised her I would take care of it.”

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Senior center could move to Memorial School when town offices relocate there in 2027

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The current Hull Town Hall relocation project includes space that has been set aside for a possible new senior center, although nothing has been finalized. Projected occupancy is early 2027.

From the $3.2 million – including a contingency – appropriated for the overall project, $1.5 million remains to pay the construction costs associated with town hall moving to the former Memorial Middle School, according to Owner’s Project Manager Brian LaRoche of project management firm PCA360 in an update to the select board Wednesday night. Cost estimates are expected in about three weeks, followed by construction drawings and bid estimates.

Click here for the full presentation from Wednesday’s select board meeting

“The building is obviously a [former] school, and we want to make it look municipal,” he said, noting that “the preliminary numbers are likely to change once we get the estimates back.”

Other costs relate to administration, architecture and engineering, and boiler work at the current town hall because the Hull Police Department will remain in the lower portion of the building for the time being, among others.

The plan includes numerous meeting rooms of different sizes scattered around the building, a much larger select board room, a town manager’s suite near the front entrance, a landscaped handicapped-accessible ramp, and the potential senior center.

“We’re talking about a senior center that’s a possibility,” Chair Irwin Nesoff said. “No decisions or plans have been made.”

‘Ample space in building for additional services’

Town Manager Jennifer Constable said that following the needs assessment, “we found there is ample space in the building for additional municipal services,” noting that “we have arranged space to complement a senior center if it moves there.”

The relocation team “is not trying to just lay out the departments by room, but to make sure we’re right-sizing each of them,” LaRoche said.
There are a number of potential air conditioning options and a possible grant available and a potential $200,000 grant that would pay for the ramp. There is very limited air conditioning in the building now.

There’s also consideration of including a pre-fabricated records vault because the normal type would cost roughly between $350,000 to $400,000 – a large percentage of the $1.5 million construction budget.

The process so far has included a needs assessment involving conversations with town hall department staff and the hiring of an architect, Jeremy Tobin, from bh+a, who explained the proposed floor plan – including department layouts – and storage/flex space that will eventually be used for other purposes once the town’s files are digitized.

“The former storage spaces would become expansion spaces, designed for the town’s future 50-year growth,” LaRoche said.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

11 potential candidates, including 6 incumbents, draw nomination papers for May 18 election

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Eleven candidates – including six incumbents – were among the first to obtain nomination papers for the 15 positions available in the May 18 annual town election.

Drawing papers is the first step in the election process; prospective candidates now need to collect the signatures of at least 50 Hull registered voters in order to qualify for the ballot. Some candidates may change their minds prior to the deadline for returning them (May 30), and two of those who are considering running for office have taken out papers for different offices; they must choose which office to seek.

The last day to take out nomination papers is Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m.

As of the Times’ print deadline on Wednesday, select board members Jerry Taverna and Jason McCann will be challenged by Susan Short Green and Patricia Lynn Cormier. Green also took out papers to run against incumbent planning board member Jeanne Paquin for a five-year term.

C. Anne Murray, who unsuccessfully applied for a vacancy on the Hull Redevelopment Authority last year, will either challenge the person who won the appointment – Charles Richardson, Jr. – for a three-year term, or will seek a full five-year term. That seat is currently occupied by Adrienne Paquin, who has not yet indicated whether she will seek re-election.

Incumbent light board members Patrick Cannon and Jacob Vaillancourt are so far unopposed for re-election to their three-year seats. Amy Hyde is the only candidate for one of the two three-year terms on the board of library trustees now held by Celia Nolan and Duncan Stone, neither of whom has taken out nomination papers.

Not yet attracting candidates are three seats on the board of assessors (three-year terms of Mario Grieco and Pamela Sinton-Coffman, as well as the one-year unexpired term previously held by Rochelle Terranova, who was appointed in July after the resignation of Michael Waldner), two three-year seats on the school committee (Courtney Littlefield and Aleeza Hagerty, who was appointed after the resignation of Regan Yakubian); and a five-year term on the housing authority (Anne-Margaret Gould MacEachern).

Town Clerk Lori West recommends that potential candidates schedule an appointment to pick up the nomination papers and request checklist of upcoming deadlines and milestones in the process of running for office by emailing lwest@town.hull.ma.us or calling 781-773-3803. A online request form also is available at www.town.hull.ma.us/town-clerk.

The last day to register to vote in the May 19 annual town election is Friday, May 8.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

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

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RINGING IT IN: On Thursday, March 12, the community will celebrate Hull’s first-ever girls soccer state championship team with a ring ceremony in the high school auditorium, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to honor the players and share in the celebration with the team, families, and other fans. [Photo by Nicole Townsend]

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Eighth Grade Girls Basketball had an exciting three game weekend, going 2-1 against some tough competition. In the first game, Hull upset heavily favored Martha’s Vineyard, 30-28. Devon English had 15 points, Nadia Hristov had five points, Delaney McAuliffe scored four, with Ella Kiley, Kennedy Huxtable, and Grace McMullen all chipping in. In the second game, the Pirates snuck by Braintree, 28-27, with scoring from Devon English, who had 12 points and Olivia Zalios, who had six. Delaney McAuliffe scored four and Ella Kiley, Frankie Buchleitner, Nadia Hristov, and Grace McMullen also added to the scoresheet. In the third game, Hull fell to Norwell, 52-34, with Kelsea Dunlap, Sophie Munn, Devon English, Delaney McAuliffe, Nadia Hristov, Frankie Buchleitner, Olivia Zalios, and Grace McMullen all scoring points. The team will play Cohasset next weekend to cap off the season.

• In this week’s Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament games, Hull’s girls basketball, boys basketball, and co-op hockey teams all were eliminated.

• Cohasset-Hull Co-op Boys Ice Hockey fell to Sandwich, 5-1, in the Round of 32 in the MIAA tournament on Friday, February 27. The team finished the season with a record of 5-13.

• In the preliminary round of the MIAA Division 5 playoffs, Hull High Girls Basketball defeated Pioneer Charter School of Science II, 44-31, but Pirates dropped the next game in the Round of 32 to Minuteman Regional on February 27, 43-23. The Pirates’ final record for this season was 7-14.

• Hull High Boys Basketball was the Number 13 seed in the playoffs, winning a Round of 32 game on Saturday, February 28 against Franklin County Tech, 75-53. The team then traveled to the central Massachusetts town of Spencer on March 2 to take on David Prouty High School in the MIAA Division 5 state tournament's Round of 16. The Pirates were eliminated from the tournament after losing that game, 78-47.

• High school athletes have a respite of a couple of weeks between seasons – spring sports will start up later this month.

• On Thursday, March 12, the community will celebrate Hull’s first-ever girls soccer state championship team with a ring ceremony in the high school auditorium, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to honor the players and share in the celebration with the team, families, and other fans.

• The Girls 3/4 travel basketball team competes at the fourth-grade level and has a record of 2-10. The last two games are against Rockland on Saturday, March 7 at 3 p.m. and against Sandwich on Sunday, March 8 at 4 p.m. Games are played at Indian Head Elementary School in Hanson, so fans need to travel to see the team play. The full schedule of game times and weekly opponents is at this link: www.oldcolonybasketball.org/team/hull/4/1.

• 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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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

This weekend’s Snow Row to launch Hull’s yearlong USA 250th anniversary celebration

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The Hull Lifesaving Museum will launch the Town of Hull’s USA 250th Anniversary celebration with a powerful blend of history, athleticism, and community spirit at the 45th Annual Snow Row, taking place at noon on Saturday, March 7, at the museum’s Windmill Point Boathouse.

This year’s race, officially titled “Snow Row 250 – Pulling Together Since 1776,” will serve as the first major public event of Hull’s commemoration of 250 years of American independence and coastal service. The beloved winter rowing tradition will feature its signature LeMans-style beach start, a three-and-three-quarter-mile triangular course, and, for 2026 only, a dramatic ceremonial cannon start and appearance by the Hingham Militia, bringing Revolutionary-era pageantry to the shoreline.

“For 45 years, the Snow Row has embodied everything Hull stands for – grit, teamwork, and maritime courage,” said Hull Lifesaving Museum Executive Director Michael McGurl. “Snow Row 250 gives us a way to honor that tradition while launching Hull’s 250th anniversary in a way that is active, inclusive, and uniquely our own.”

Teams will row from Windmill Point along a historic stretch of Hull’s shoreline, the same waters that have been guarded, worked, and defended since the 18th century. Rowers are invited – though not required – to add a touch of Revolutionary-era flair, such as tricorn hats, sailor sashes, or Colonial-inspired gear, adding color and personality to the race while keeping the focus on competition and seamanship.

In addition to traditional race awards, Snow Row 250 will introduce special honors including the Spirit of ’76 Award, the Revolutionary Crew Award, and the Hull Heritage Award, recognizing teams that best capture the energy, creativity, and community pride of this milestone year.

Spectators can follow the action from shore or aboard the popular Snow Row Spectator Boat, which offers a front-row seat to the wild and woolly winter race. Boarding takes place at Pemberton Pier between 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Tickets are $30 per person online and on sale at Pemberton Pier on race day. Veterans are invited to a free ride on the spectator boat and should reserve their spot with Craig Wolfe, 89edge@comcast.net or 781-771-6416.

Snow Row 250 also reflects the Hull Lifesaving Museum’s enduring mission: “Saving Lives Then ~ Changing Lives Now.” From Revolutionary-era coastal defense to modern maritime education, the museum continues to carry forward Hull’s legacy of courage and service.

Race details and registration are available at www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org.

For information on the town’s 250th Committee and future events throughout 2026, visit www.town.hull.ma.us/usa-250th-semiquincentennial-anniversary-committee.

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Celebrate International Women’s Day, support Hull PorchFest this weekend with Rosie’s Rock Fest

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By Kathleen McKenna

International Women’s Day is this Sunday, and the lady rockers of Hull and surrounding towns are kicking it off Saturday night from 7 p.m. to midnight with the Second Annual Rosie’s Rock Fest, an evening of music and community that’s sure to be a great time for a great cause.

Net proceeds from this year’s event will once again go toward covering costs of producing the Hull PorchFest music festival each September, and HPF is incredibly grateful to the wonderful musicians who are donating their time and talent.

This year’s event organizers welcome the addition of the Women of WSU, namely Fran Araujo, Laura Sinclair, Colleen Patterson, Sue Prindeville, Cindy Thames, and Nancy Zappolo. All are regulars in Whoever Shows Up (WSU), the bluegrass circle that plays year-round on Tuesday nights at Daddy’s Beach Club.

Other groups rounding out the stellar lineup: Ruth & Mike (featuring Ruth Steele), The Cold Ones (featuring Katie Lovett), Good Sleeping Weather (featuring Sara Pearson), The Pitfalls (featuring Lindsey Buck), and Thirsty Boots (featuring Liz Woodard).

Jo’s Nautical Bar was filled to capacity for last year’s inaugural Rosie event, so getting $10 tickets in advance through the C-Note website (cnotehull.com) is recommended. Or you can pick up $15 tickets on the night of the event. Cash only for tickets at the door and full bar; ATM on site.

Please note that no food is sold at the C-Note, but you’re welcome to bring what you like. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Want to run for local office? Nomination papers for 15 positions are now available

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Nomination papers for this spring’s annual town election became available at the town clerk’s office on Tuesday, February 17. Candidates for office must obtain the signatures of at least 50 Hull registered voters in order to qualify for the ballot in this year’s election, which is scheduled for May 18.

The last day to take out nomination papers is Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m.

A total of 15 positions are available, including two three-year terms on the select board (now held by Jerry Taverna and Jason McCann); three seats on the board of assessors (three-year terms of Mario Grieco and Pamela Sinton-Coffman, as well as the one-year unexpired term previously held by Rochelle Terranova, who was appointed in July after the resignation of Michael Waldner), two three-year seats on the school committee (Courtney Littlefield and Aleeza Hagerty, who was appointed after the resignation of Regan Yakubian); a five-year term on the housing authority (Anne-Margaret Gould MacEachern); a five-year term on the planning board (Jeanne Paquin); two three-year terms on the board of library trustees (Celia Nolan and Duncan Stone); two three-year terms on the light board (Patrick Cannon and Jacob Vaillancourt); one five-year seat on the redevelopment authority (Adrienne Paquin) and the three-year unexpired term of Charles Richardson (appointed after the resignation of Dennis Zaia).

Town Clerk Lori West recommends that potential candidates schedule an appointment to pick up the nomination papers and request checklist of upcoming deadlines and milestones in the process of running for office by emailing lwest@town.hull.ma.us or calling 781-773-3803. A online request form also is available at www.town.hull.ma.us/town-clerk.

The last day to register to vote in the May 19 annual town election is Friday, May 8.

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© 2026 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Amid high winds, 18 inches of snow, and power outages, Hull survives the Blizzard of 2026

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NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS: The high winds quickly caked the businesses along Nantasket Avenue in ice and snow during this week’s blizzard.[Richard W. Green photo]

By Christopher Haraden

Eighteen inches of snow fell and winds reached 70 miles per hour in Hull during the Blizzard of 2026 earlier this week, according to the National Weather Service, but most of Hull was spared from major coastal flooding during high tides.

Following a quickly-assembled remote meeting on Sunday at which the select board approved an emergency declaration, town crews moved into position to respond to the storm, which began overnight Sunday and raged through most of Monday. The emergency declaration helps the town access state and federal assistance for storm relief efforts.

Half of Hull lost power on Monday morning when one of the two electrical feeder lines coming into town failed. Other neighborhoods were in the dark due to smaller incidents, such as poles that came down on Newport Road during the worst of the storm. Residents all over town reported low-hanging wires as the winds whipped the coastline.

Power was mostly restored after a few hours, although schools and town buildings remained closed on both Monday and Tuesday. Governor Maura Healey instituted a travel ban in Plymouth, Bristol, and Barnstable counties on Monday that lasted through noontime Tuesday in order to allow cleanup crews adequate time and space to do their work.

With this week’s precipitation sitting atop piles of snow already on the ground from previous storms, many streets in Hull resemble ski country, with mountains of snow on either side of the road and extra buildup where the wind created large drifts.

By Wednesday, Hull was one of the only school districts on the South Shore to return to the classroom, and municipal services returned to a regular schedule.

“Many thanks to the community for looking out for each other, staying off the roads, and providing crews the necessary space to work, helping to shovel out, and for everyone's patience,” Town Manager Jennifer Constable said in a statement released on Tuesday. “Town departments not only coordinated seamlessly with each other, but also with DCR operations staff and the MBTA. Neighboring communities, including Cohasset, and the state stepped in with resources and services to support Hull residents.”

Although the town did make a “Code Red” telephone call to residents to warn them about the impending storm, most storm updates were delivered through social media posts and updates on the town’s website. The town reported receiving 65,465 views of storm posts, and the town’s accounts gained 200 followers.

“We understand that storms are stressful, but residents and businesses can be confident that departments work tirelessly to prepare for and recovery from storms with the goal of safety and continuation of services to the community,” Constable said.

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Shorelines: Good news about your friends and neighbors

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• Hull’s Mark Reed (right) takes a star turn next weekend as the slovenly Oscar Madison in True Repertory Theatre’s production of “The Odd Couple,” the classic comedy by Neil Simon. True Rep’s 25th anniversary season continues with two of the stage’s most mismatched roommates: neat-freak Felix Unger and slovenly Oscar Madison, whose unlikely cohabitation makes sparks fly and laughter inevitable. The play will run from March 6-15 at the Beal House, 222 Main Street, Kingston, according to founder and Artistic Director Donald Sheehan.

“We are having so much fun with this play. Sometimes theatre provides an escape for its audience and ‘The Odd Couple’ is the perfect retreat,” Sheehan said. “Come banish your winter blues away with the perfect medicine – laughter.”

“The Odd Couple” will run March 6, 7, and 13 at 8 p.m. and 8, 14, and 15 at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are $25, and  seniors and students are $22. Tickets are available at the door with cash or Venmo or on Zeffy at www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-odd-couple

In addition to Hull’s Reed, the show is populated with talent from across the South Shore.

The production will be directed by Victoria Bond of Plymouth (she also appears on stage as Gertrude), Sheehan plays the role of Felix, and other stars include Jim Sullivan of Braintree as Vinnie, John Stratton of Halifax as Murray, Adam Bond of Plymouth as Speed, M.J. Brennan of Plymouth as Roy, and Jennifer Serowick of Scituate as Cecily. Rosemary Catrone of Bridgewater will stage manage.

• Merrimack College recognizes academic excellence by naming students with high academic achievement to the Dean’s List. Congratulations to Fallon Ryan, a nursing major, who made the Dean's List for the fall semester.

• The next meeting of the Nantasket-Hull Rotary Club on March 4 will feature Jean Liben, who will speak about how she took her sewing hobby to a new level and created Coastal Aprons, which makes dresses for underprivileged children in several countries. In addition to other projects, she is the author of a children’s book, “Village Dresses” that is in the Library of Congress. The meeting will be held at the Parrot; social time begins at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. ($25 per person). The meeting itself begins at 7 p.m. For more information, email nantaskethullrotary@gmail.com.

• The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that several area students have been named to its fall Dean’s List, including Chase Mcdowell and John Truglia. To be included on the Dean’s List, full-time students must have completed 12 or more credits during a semester and achieved at least a 3.30 quality-point average.

• Saint Anselm College student Maeve White, a nursing major in the class of 2028, recently attended the college’s treasured Blessing of the Hands ceremony ahead of her first clinical experience. The ceremony is a special tradition and major milestone for second-year nursing students at Saint Anselm. Family, friends, and faculty gather in the college’s Abbey Church to mark the beginning of students’ clinical practice, a halfway point to pinning, and a step toward an impactful future in healthcare. Members of the monastery preside over the blessing and present each student the medal of Saint Raphael, the patron saint of nurses. 

• It’s almost time for another fantastic Hull tradition – the Hull Lifesaving Museum’s Snow Row, scheduled for Saturday, March 7 (weather date March 8). The race begins at noon at the Windmill Point Boathouse at Pemberton. This year's race, officially titled “Snow Row 250 – Pulling Together Since 1776,” will serve as the first major public event of Hull's commemoration of 250 years of American independence and coastal service. The beloved winter rowing tradition will feature its signature LeMans-style beach start, a three-and-three-quarter-mile triangular course, and – for 2026 only º– a dramatic ceremonial cannon start and appearance by the Hingham Militia, bringing Revolutionary-era pageantry to the shoreline. Rowers are invited – though not required – to add a touch of Revolutionary-era flair, such as tricorn hats, sailor sashes, or Colonial-inspired gear, adding color and personality to the race while keeping the focus on competition and seamanship. In addition to traditional race awards, Snow Row 250 will introduce special honors including the Spirit of ’76 Award, the Revolutionary Crew Award, and the Hull Heritage Award, recognizing teams that best capture the energy, creativity, and community pride of the milestone year. A spectator boat also will be available for those who want to view the race from the water. Al Mahegan, longtime rower and dedicated volunteer at the museum who also is known for his hands-on boat repair work, will serve as onboard narrator. Spectator boat boarding begins at 10:30 a.m. Race details and registration are available at https://hulllifesavingmuseum.org/events-programs or by calling 781-925-5433.

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