Redevelopment Authority expects revised Urban Renewal Plan to be ready by fall

By Carol Britton Meyer

The Hull Redevelopment Authority has been working on a much-anticipated Urban Renewal Plan during the past couple of years, and Chair Bartley Kelly said a draft of the document could be ready by late summer or early fall.

The HRA was charged in the 1960s with redeveloping a large parcel of land in the Nantasket Beach area that is considered to be prime property, and the plan relates to this area.

After denying in 2019 two responses to a Request for Proposals, the HRA determined that an updated URP was necessary in order to give the HRA the flexibility needed to negotiate with, and choose, developers for the property and to ensure the result is in accordance with the opinions of town officials and residents. Some affordable housing is expected to be included in the plan.

“We’re currently working with a consultant to help us drill down the details,” Kelly told The Hull Times. “We’ve already had discussions with developers about what we would like to do with the property, and the HRA is trying to get an idea of what the town [would like to see there]. It’s important to maintain the fabric of the community and to avoid overwhelming the surrounding neighborhoods.”

The HRA has identified the parcels to be developed and is now working to find the proper balance and scope of any future project, Kelly said.

“The draft will include the layout of what we’re looking for, including the unit count and how the [planned] two-way road would intersect with that,” he said.

The HRA was earlier awarded a $272,000 state MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant in support of a two-way road design for Nantasket Avenue, Hull Shore Drive, and Hull Shore Drive Extension around the HRA property.

This grant provides for the continued development of the two-way road beyond the 25% design concept, funded by the HRA, into fully designed and shovel-ready construction plans.

This major change is geared toward improving vehicular flow and pedestrian safety and access through the area, as well as helping to resolve traffic backups and adding open space along the bay side of the HRA property.

Once complete, the draft form of the Urban Renewal Plan will be presented to the select board and planning board for input, followed by public meetings to gather comments from citizens.

“We’ll incorporate the boards’ and residents’ comments into the final plan,” Kelly said.

The draft will also be submitted to the state Department of Housing and Community Development. The ultimate goal is to gain DHCD’s approval of the final URP following the select board’s endorsement of the document.

“It’s important that the final approved plan meets the needs and wants of the community,” Kelly said.

Hull High turf field rentals attract out-of-towners to local shops, restaurants

By Carol Britton Meyer

Since the turf field at Hull High School opened in September 2019, it has been widely used not only for Hull-based sports, but also by some out-of-town teams.

For example, the high school field hosted the 2022 Shore Cup Memorial Day Soccer Tournament on May 28 and 29 and has been the site of a regional lacrosse tournament. Hull Public Schools Director of Athletics & Intramurals/Athletic Facilities Coordinator Connor Duhaime, a 2011 Hull High graduate, is the point person for out-of-town teams interested in renting the facility.

“Though we are very fortunate to have such a beautiful field, it is the only field in town that can hold these events. That means we have to be aware of the times and dates that we’re scheduling to ensure we’re not double booking,” he told The Hull Times.

Proponents of the town meeting vote authorizing the bond needed to construct the $2.1 million project cited the potential for revenue from field rentals. An added benefit associated with active use of the field is that out-of-town players and their families sometimes stop by local shops and restaurants on their way to or from the games.

To hold an event on the turf, forms are filled out by the team wishing to rent the field. The forms are then sent to the business department to create an invoice based on the field-use request.

“We charge a fair price for outside teams to use the field, but that same fee does not apply to Hull youth sports programs, such as football or soccer,” Duhaime explained. “The more kids we can get actively playing sports in Hull, the better. Kids love to play on the turf field, [and this positive experience] may lead them to continue playing sports at the high school level and beyond.”

Youth teams are charged $45 an hour when they host games on the field, Hull Public Schools Business Administrator Diane Saniuk told The Hull Times.

“This covers the cost of the custodian to set up and clean up as well as to open, close, and clean the bathrooms,” she said.

Rental of the field by out-of-town teams has generated approximately $18,500 so far. Funds raised through turf field rentals go into a revolving account that is used for field maintenance and repairs, bond payments on the field, and the eventual replacement of the turf carpet, according to Saniuk.

Funds from the sale of field signs go into the field advertising account, which is used for the same purposes. The balance in that account is currently about $75,000.

Duhaime understands the importance of local businesses generating revenue during the summer months “to get them through the slower winter days.”

During the Memorial Day tournament, for example, he noticed a number of kids in uniforms walking into Hull restaurants with their families, along Nantasket Beach, and shopping for groceries at the Village Market, which contributes to the local economy.

“While I’m not sure how much revenue this brings in for local businesses, I am confident that the more times we rent our field and hold larger, weekend-long tournaments, the bigger the positive impact on generating revenue for the businesses here in town,” he said.

Shipwreck’d owner Adrian Muir, who is also president of the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce, said he definitely noticed a boost in business during Memorial Day weekend with the restaurant in such close proximity to the high school.

Scoops owner Kathy Prevett also experienced an uptick in the number of customers that weekend – most noticeably, whole teams dressed in their uniforms who stopped by to enjoy an ice cream.

“Paragon Boardwalk was definitely busier, too,” Muir said.

Hull teams take priority, though, when it comes to scheduling on the turf.

“During the school year, things are different. We have our Hull High School sports teams and youth teams using up a majority of the field time,” Duhaime said. “That said, I am always willing to consider requests to use the field on weekends during the fall and spring seasons [when they are not being used by Hull teams].”

Muir plans to reach out to Duhaime with the hope of getting information about the turf field schedule ahead of time to share on the Chamber’s website, so local businesses will be prepared for a potential influx of customers on those dates.

Posting the schedule would also inform Hullonians who enjoy attending sports events of games they might not otherwise know about, offering them a chance to “support our local kids” and other athletes right in their hometown, he said.

Duhaime’s role is multi-faceted, including building relationships with Amateur Athletic Union teams, select organizations, and travel/club leagues in an effort to host yearly tournaments on the turf field and to “build traditions” in Hull, he explained. “We’re [continually] trying to grow awareness of our turf field.”

The AAU involves high-level competition for a number of sports. There is usually a fee to participate.

The Hull turf field is definitely in the spotlight. Last summer, Duhaime sent a photo of the field to MaxPreps, a high school sports resource, which was posting what it considered to be the most unique high school fields in the country on its social media pages.

“They chose our field and posted a photo and write-up about it, which contributes to larger organizations noticing us,” Duhaime said.

Last November, thanks to “some amazing people here in town, we held a USA Lacrosse Day, with banners supporting USA Lacrosse and coaches and kids from around the South Shore playing on the field.”

Following the event, USA Lacrosse Magazine featured an eye-catching photo of the turf field and a writeup about the Hull lacrosse program.

“We also had Patriots Quarterback Mac Jones and No Bull clothing shoot a commercial last summer on the field,” Duhaime said. “When I asked them why Hull, they told me they were looking for a field that truly represents New England.”

Overall, Duhaime believes that the turf field has been “nothing but a positive” for the community.

“I see people daily just walking the track while the weather is nice or playing soccer with their small kids running around in the afternoon,” he said. “This is truly a community that deserves something beautiful to call its own. The job moving forward will be to continue to promote and maintain what we have. I could not be more excited about the future and to see the growth over the next few years.”

This weekend’s Illumination to continue maritime tradition of lighting up the night

HULL TIMES FILE PHOTO

By Christopher Haraden

Continuing a tradition begun in 1881 along the town’s miles of shoreline, the Hull Lifesaving Museum will present its annual Harbor Illumination this Saturday night, July 30.

Volunteers will light flares that have been purchased to honor, remember, or celebrate loved ones along the two-mile stretch of the bay from A Street to Hull Village. Flares are still available on the museum website, www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org, or at the museum shop for those who have yet to reserve them, said museum Executive Director Mike McGurl.

The collective celebration and personal remembrance event begins Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Hull Village Cemetery, where the legacy of Capt. Joshua James and the lifesavers who patrolled the shores in the late 1800s and early 1900s will be honored. Following that recognition, the Forever Flare memorial ceremony, sponsored by Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, will begin at 8 p.m. near the A Street Pier. The general lighting of the flares begins at 8:30 p.m., as the community and visitors gather along Hull Bay from the A Street Pier to James Avenue in the Village.

In Hull, lighting the harbor with candles and torches began as an end-of-summer celebration, with the first illumination organized by the yacht club in 1881. By the next year, The Boston Globe reported that the locals had ironed out any wrinkles, and the second annual event cast a bright glow from the verandas of local hotels and cottages along the shoreline.

“The residents of the charming village of Hull, as a rule, entered heart and soul into the preparation for the illumination… seen from the landing at the Hotel Pemberton, the many-colored lights decorating the cottages on the hill were mirrored in the surface of the water below, the twinkling lights reflected in the bay producing a most charming and delightful effect,” the Globe reported on the morning of Sept. 5, 1882.

This year, Hull Lifesaving Museum will honor Hull native General Richard “Butch” Neal, Hull Times Publisher Patti Abbate, and shipwreck historian Bob Sullivan, all of whom died in recent months, with Forever Flares.

“They were forever friends of the museum, and will be forever in our hearts,” said Maureen Gillis, the lifesaving museum’s director of development.

Individual flares can still be purchased for $10, while Forever Flares – which the museum will display every year to remember loved ones – are $300. Participants should contact the museum at info@hulllifesavingmuseum.org to buy flares or to purchase T-shirts and sweatshirts to support the museum’s diverse programming calendar throughout the year.

To prepare for the harbor illumination, staff members place the flares along the shoreline, and area captains are responsible for lighting them on cue.

“Volunteers are always needed to help the captains in each neighborhood ignite the flares to ensure a consistent glow, and residents interested in helping can approach the captains on the night of the event to assist,” McGurl said.

The Hull Harbor Illumination was an annual event in the late 1800s and early 1900s before being discontinued. The museum brought the tradition back for several years in 1989 as part of Joshua James Heritage Days, and in recent years the event has become part of the lifesaving museum’s annual fundraisers and community-building efforts.

Proceeds from the event support programs for children, adults, veterans, and underserved individuals throughout the year, including offering scholarships and financial assistance when necessary. Gillis and McGurl said that the museum values and is grateful for the support of its sponsors, including Pyne Keohane (memorial sponsor of Forever Flares), Save the Harbor Save the Bay, Woodard and Curran, Granite City Electric Company, Safe Harbor Sunset Bay, Local 02045, O’Donoghue Insurance Agency, South Shore Cycles, and Hull Trolley and Tours.

The Illumination is a favorite event of photographers on land and sea throughout town, and with favorable weather in the forecast, the museum staff is looking forward to a repeat of the Globe’s assessment of the 1882 illumination: “The scene was one never before witnessed in this vicinity, and rarely surpassed by the display upon any similar occasion elsewhere. It was a picture of striking beauty, and one that, once seen, will not easily be forgotten.”

Hull-O Trolley returns with plans for expanded routes, narrated tours

HITCHING A RIDE. The Hull-Nantasket Chamber of Commerce’s Hull-O Trolley is now operating. Rides are free! The route runs the length of the peninsula, from the ferry dock Pemberton Point to Hull Town Hall, from approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 18. This weekend, it runs on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. For the full schedule, as well as advertising opportunities, visit www.hullchamber.com. [Skip Tull photo]

By Victoria Dolan

This summer, the “Hull-O Trolley” is up and running again after being unavailable during the height of the COVID19 pandemic, and plans are under way to greatly expand its service.

Operated by the Chamber of Commerce, the free trolley service runs on weekends, shuttling passengers to different parts of the town in an effort to reduce beach traffic and boost tourism. Running from the MBTA ferry stop at Pemberton Point down to Nantasket Beach, trolley services are planned to run until mid-September.

The trolleys are managed by South Shore Cycles, a Hull business that also rents out e-bikes. With one location already on Nantasket, the business is working on opening another in Kenberma to manage and park the trolleys.

Bill Hennessey, the owner of South Shore Cycles, says for the two weeks of the year the trolley has run so far, it has been very popular, with more than 400 passengers already. 

“Quite a few people have been coming in,” said Kat Wasabi, a Chamber of Commerce member and administrator who was involved in the process of getting the trolley rolling again. “It’s a cool little thing that we do.”

Hennessey also reports that the Chamber is planning to expand the trolley services, and will be adding a second trolley in the coming weeks “to connect to different towns or the commuter rail.” He hopes to have five trolleys in service by the end of the year with an expanded route.

The Chamber will also be adding narrative tours, with “volunteers that would give a speech on each point they’re passing,” according to Wasabi. Those will begin this weekend. 

Not only is the Hull-O Trolley” good for tourism in Hull, as it brings in new visitors from surrounding towns, but it can also help contribute to lowering beach traffic and Hull’s carbon footprint. 

Hull aims to reduce its carbon footprint to net-zero by 2030, and having many people take the trolley instead of riding in their own cars can help reduce carbon emissions.

“The trolley company itself is actually looking into the future,” said Hennessey. “We’re looking into providing electric vehicles.”

Another plus of riding the trolley? With no cost to riders, it’s much more affordable than gas. But if you don’t have to pay to ride, who is financing the service? A series of grants and a few sponsorships from local businesses. Funding from the Town of Hull and grants obtained by state Sen. Patrick O’Connor, and from Save the Harbor Save the Bay, the state’s Better Beaches program, and the Hull Redevelopment Authority have made this public service possible. 

“We're glad to be a part of this,” said Hennessey. 

For more information on the Hull-O Trolley, including its schedule, visit the Times’ website or hullchamber.com.

Emmy-winning television producer’s Hull roots still influence his flair for storytelling

EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH. Greg McQuade won so many Emmy awards for his television work – eight at this year’s ceremony – that his girlfriend, Melissa Golden, had to help him carry them home. [Courtesy photo]

By Carol Britton Meyer

Former Hull resident Greg McQuade has done it again, winning another eight Emmy Awards for his work as an anchor and “storyteller” for CBS affiliate WTVR-TV in Richmond, Virginia. These latest wins bring the total number of Emmys McQuade has earned since 2002 to 56.

McQuade spent many happy summers in Hull during his childhood and returns here occasionally to visit his family, including two planned trips this summer.

His mother, Annie McQuade, proudly displays about half of the Emmy statuettes on the mantel of her Hull home.

The 2021 winning stories, which were judged by his peers in the industry across the country, included a piece on the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and a story about a 101-year-old man in rural Virginia whose father was born into slavery before the Civil War.

“I’m a history buff through and through. I love exploring Fort Revere in Hull and the historic cemetery below,” McQuade told The Hull Times. “I read anything I can on Hull’s rich past and Paragon Park.”

That’s not surprising considering his deep roots in, and love for, the community in which he grew up and has many happy memories, including his first summer job as a teenager was working for the Metropolitan District Commission on Nantasket Beach.

“I was the attendant at the bathhouse across the street from the Bernie King Pavilion during the summer of 1985,” McQuade recalled. “I can still hear sounds of the big bands that played there on weekend days.”

Another story for which he won an Emmy this year featured modern-day musicians who play instruments once owned by people who lost their lives in the Holocaust through a program called “Violins of Hope.”

McQuade also earned an Emmy for a story on a 73-year-old BMX rider “who doesn’t mind coming in last as long as he can compete,” McQuade said. “One of my most cherished Emmy Awards this year was in the writing category.”

The ceremony was held June 25 near Washington, D.C. in Bethesda, Maryland. WTVR is part of the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

For the past 11 years, McQuade has anchored the “CBS6 Weekend Morning” show with his colleague and friend, meteorologist Mike Stone.

“The alarm clock starts ringing a little after 3 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings,” he said, but he’s not complaining because he enjoys doing what he loves most – storytelling.

McQuade recently returned from Florida, where he organized and hosted his late grandfather’s 50th annual WWII reunion.

“I am the unofficial historian for the 692nd Tank Destroyer Battalion,” he said. “We meet in different parts of the country every June. More than 40 people attended, including 97-year-old veteran Elman Brown. You could hear a pin drop on the carpet as he recounted tales from the battlefield nearly 80 years ago.”

While he never had the pleasure of meeting his grandfather, Capt. William McQuade, his spirit lives on. The former MDC police officer passed away at the age of 47, years before McQuade was born.

“The surviving veterans serve as surrogate grandfathers,” he said.

Whenever McQuade makes plans to return to Hull to visit his mother, Annie, and stepfather, Charlie, during the summer, he counts the days until he can put his beach chair in the sand “and feel the ocean breezes” at Nantasket once again.

Beloved banker to bid Rockland Trust goodbye after decades of service

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS. Rockland Trust Assistant Manager Kathy Concannon is counting down the days to July 29, when she retires after 36 years in banking, the majority of them at the Hull branch. [Victoria Dolan photo]

By Victoria Dolan

After 32 years at the Hull branch of Rockland Trust bank, Assistant Manager Kathy Concannon is saying goodbye and retiring with assurances that she will be missed.

Concannon has worked for Rockland Trust since 1986, starting at a branch in Cohasset. After growing up in Norwell, but living in Hull since 1978, she was asked to transfer to Hull in 1990. She worked her way up from the teller position she held in Cohasset and is retiring as the assistant branch manager and the customer service “platform” position.

“Every day is an experience,” Concannon said this week of her job, which she will be leaving on July 29. She loves working in customer service, and says it taught her “how to deal with people.”

Her secrets?

“Listen, don’t judge – everybody is different,” she said.

Perhaps this philosophy is what has made her such a staple of the Hull community, and encouraged the level of client retention at the Hull Rockland Trust.

“People have stayed faithful to Rockland Trust,” she said. “Thank you for your loyalty and relationships.”

It’s mostly the relationships she’s formed that have kept Concannon in Hull for so long. Both of her children went to school in Hull, and she loves “the beauty of the ocean and the atmosphere.”

Concannon has had some notable accomplishments during her 36-year tenure, from being honored for Best Customer Service in 2009 to not being robbed once in her career. 

“She’s an icon in the community,” said Manager Jessica Abbott. “It’s going to be a big loss for the bank, but an even bigger loss for the community.”

So what’s next for Concannon? Right now, she’s just looking forward to the next stage of her life. She’s planning on “spending time with the grandbabies before they go back to school,” and “going to see Christmas school concerts.” 

Concannon also has some trips planned that were delayed due to COVID19. She’ll be going on a cruise in August, as well as visiting Italy in October. 

“I’m ready for the next phase,” she added. “It’s been a long time.”

Report: Hull needs more affordable housing; Plan sets five-year goals to create new units

By Carol Britton Meyer

More than half of Hull’s existing households are cost-burdened or living at or below the poverty level, according to the recently completed draft five-year Housing Production Plan.

As the next step in addressing Hull’s affordable housing needs, the select board and planning board met in joint session Wednesday night to hear an update on the plan, with a focus on providing more senior- and family-friendly housing. Public input was considered in the development of the plan.

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council collaborated with Community Planning and Development Director Chris DiIorio, other town officials, and the HPP Advisory Group to craft the draft the plan for review and submit for approval by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

“DHCD looks for planning board support before a community submits their HPP,” Carlos Javier Montanez, a consultant with MAPC, told the boards. The planning board will review the report prior to the Aug. 1 submittal deadline and decide whether to support the plan.

Members of the HPP Advisory Group are Steven Greenberg, Matt McGonagle, select board members Irwin Nesoff and Donna Pursel, Carl Katzeff, and planning board Chair Harry Hibbard.

Select board Chair Jennifer Constable said that the fact that only 1.6% of the town’s housing stock is considered to be affordable, that 37% of Hull households are “cost-burdened,” and that 16% are at or below the poverty level – as indicated in the report – “makes it clear that we have to do more. Most of our affordable housing is under the housing authority’s control. There’s been a lot of talk about attracting families to town and meeting the housing needs of our seniors, and it’s clear that we need to act, and yesterday.”

The term “cost-burdened” refers to households that pay more than a third of their monthly income on housing.

During the process of developing this plan, various sites were reviewed for further exploration for residential development potential, including town-owned land, underutilized properties, and possible “opportunity sites.”

Included on the list of properties “considered for future exploration and potential future voluntary redevelopment” are the former aquarium building; Nantasket Beach Overlay District (possible “oceanfront inclusionary” zoning district),Paragon Boardwalk mini-golf and amusement center; Hull Redevelopment Authority property, the town-owned parking lot at XYZ Streets; “additional land” at McTighe Manor (Atlantic House Court), commercial recreation zoning districts, the Kenberma area (with no specific site identified); and town-owned properties. These were listed as possibilities, with nothing decided at this time.

Pursel said the HPP Advisory Group “had some great conversations around the subject of accessory dwelling units [often referred to as in-law apartments]. How could we do that?” noting that “a lot of thought went into this plan.”

Even though the town has a “finite amount of land and houses available, and it seems as though the town is a day late and a dollar short, there are [affordable housing] opportunities [as outlined in the HPP],” she said.

The report sets forth several goals for affordable housing production. (See related story.)

“This plan will be an effective tool in developing affordable housing in town,” DiIorio said. “It contains a lot of good strategies to move us forward.”

Approval of the plan by DHCD, which is about a three- to four-month process, would mean that the town would be eligible to receive certain grants.

In the meantime, Town Manager Philip Lemnios suggested, pending planning board approval of the HPP, that town officials “begin to strategize and decide who is responsible [for which part of the plan] and how to implement it.”

Even though DHCD does not require select board approval of the plan, there was a motion to endorse it as presented, with whatever additions/changes the planning board might suggest. The vote was unanimous.

Late-night prankster targets DCR’s lighted message board with vulgar political message

Hull residents Richard Booth and Mimi Leary were among those who found an expletive-laden political message posted on the DCR’s message board on George Washington Boulevard Tuesday night. By the next morning, the electronic sign had been disabled. [Richard Booth photos]

By Carol Britton Meyer

As residents Richard Booth and Mimi Leary were returning to Hull around midnight on Wednesday, July 6, they were surprised to see the digital sign in the Department of Conservation and Recreation parking lot on George Washington Boulevard displaying a vulgar message about President Joe Biden.

This sign is normally used to alert residents and visitors about parking restrictions, fireworks notices, and other important information. It is unclear how the lighted message was changed to include the derisive political message, which included an expletive, and who is responsible for the act.

After noticing the sign, Booth and Leary made a U-turn into the Jake's parking lot and circled back to the DCR lot, where they joined Hull Police officers and a couple of other cars that were already parked near the sign.

They learned that a similar digital sign near the Weir River Estuary Center that they had already passed had earlier borne an inappropriate message that had been disabled by the time they passed it.

“We stayed by the second sign by the DCR parking lot for about 45 minutes, talking with some other observers and the police, who were looking for ways to shut the sign down” but were unable to do so, Booth told The Hull Times.

Efforts to reach the state police and the DCR for assistance were unsuccessful at that time, according to Booth.

Leary suggested covering the sign with a tarpaulin using duct tape to secure it, which was achieved with some effort

On Thursday, Leary received a return call from a DCR staff member who said the DCR was “horrified” that the sign’s message had been changed to a political message and included an expletive. The Hull Times left messages with the DCR community relations office but has not yet heard from the agency.

When Booth drove by the sign that afternoon, he noticed that both signs were “not lighted in any way” and that the tarp was gone.

In response to an email inquiry, Hull Police Chief John Dunn said that because the signs are on state-controlled land, the DCR “will be handling anything to do with their signboards and property. If a police agency is needed [to assist], it will be the Massachusetts State Police.”

Neighbors dedicate Pan-Mass charity bike ride to memory of Hull Times publisher

RIDING FOR A CAUSE. Hull’s Lisa, Caroline, Stuart, and Julia Patterson will participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge bicycle trek across Massachusetts next month to raise money for cancer research in honor of their neighbor, Hull Times Publisher Patti Abbate, who died in May after battling pancreatic cancer. The family will include Abbate’s photo on their jerseys.[Courtesy photo]

By Victoria Dolan

For her 17th year riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge, Hullonian Lisa Patterson and her family have decided to dedicate their ride to their neighbor and friend, late Hull Times Publisher Patricia Abbate. 

The Pan-Mass Challenge is a Massachusetts bike-a-thon that raises millions of dollars for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Participants ride anywhere from 25 to 200 miles and collect pledges to donate to the cancer center. 

Abbate was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2020, and Lisa Patterson dedicated her 2021 ride to her then as well. After Abbate died in May, Patterson decided to dedicate this summer’s ride to her neighbor again, “to remember her and honor her.”

Late Hull Times Publisher Patti Abbate, who died in May.

Lisa Patterson’s whole family is involved in the ride this year. She will ride with her husband, Stuart, who has been participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge for 10 years, and her daughter, Julia. Her son, Brad, will be riding and raising money virtually from Washington D.C., and her other daughter, Caroline, (or “KK”), will be volunteering during the ride. 

“They all knew Patti,” she said. “We miss her terribly.”

Stuart Patterson agreed, noting that “Patti is really in our hearts this year.”

He added that “it means a lot” that his children are ready to support the cause. “They’re younger than 30, but they know people like Patti who have suffered from cancer,” he said. “I’m really proud of them for being willing to do the ride.”

The ride itself is certainly no picnic. Lisa Patterson is planning to bike an 85-mile loop and raise $4,000 out of the PMC’s goal of 68 million dollars. Since she is riding for Patti, some of the money will go toward pancreatic cancer.

“It’s a wonderful way to raise an incredible amount of money,” said Stuart Patterson. 

The family will be riding as part of a new team of bikers, Team PopSciCycles. The team is named after the McGraw/Patterson Division of Population Sciences at Dana-Farber and was created in honor of Stuart’s father, Dr. W. Bradford Patterson, who was instrumental in the founding and growth of the division.

Team PopSciCycles has a “Pedal Partner,” Ellie, whom they are riding for as well. Teams are matched with children getting treatment at Dana Farber.

“She’s sort of an inspiration,” said Lisa Patterson. Ellie is eight years old, and Team PopSciCycles will get to meet her at the third water stop on their route. “That’s always an incredible thing.”

In preparation for the ride, the Patterson family has been training. They rode a 50-mile route to Duxbury from Hull on July 3, and will continue getting ready for the ride until the day arrives on Aug. 6. 

The family is definitely excited about their ride.

“It’s a very powerful weekend,” said Lisa Patterson. “It’s very moving, but you have a lot of fun too.”

On the challenging ride, one of the many things pushing the family forward will be their memories of Patti. Stuart Patterson remembers her through her business.

“She invited me to speak at one of the many organizations she was responsible for,” he said. “She was so well connected and with such a wonderful personality, and was such a wonderful, powerful, entrepreneur…  she was just a dynamo.”

Lisa Patterson likes to remember “hanging out on her porch and always looking at the sunset.” Abbate was a sunset lover, she said, and was always taking a photo. “I think when I see sunsets now, I think so much of Patti.”

Abbate’s “attitude toward her cancer was incredible,” she added. “I think she tried to make the people around her feel better and was very willing to talk about it which brings good awareness.”

“I think we all thought we had a little bit more time with her,” she said. “She’s going to be missed by so many people.”

Their bike ride “is a small thing to do for her, but if we can bring more awareness to pancreatic cancer that would make Patti really happy…she wouldn’t want us to be sad,” she said.

The Patterson family will ride on Aug. 6 with a photo of Abbate on their jerseys. Anybody can participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge by walking, riding, or running, and making a donation. You can learn more about the Pattersons’ ride and donate to the Pan-Mass Challenge at https://profile.pmc.org/LP0071.

School department promotes two, changing leadership at Jacobs Elementary School

The Hull Public Schools this week announced two administrative promotions that will change the leadership structure of the Jacobs Elementary School next year.

Superintendent Judith Kuehn said that Jacobs Principal Christine Cappadona will move out of her current role to become director of curriculum and assessment districtwide. Assistant Principal Kyle Shaw will replace her in the top job at the elementary school.

Cappadona has worked in Hull for 22 years, starting as a fourth-grade teacher and serving as assistant principal before being promoted to principal in 2015. In her new position, she will develop staff training, analyze student data, and develop school-wide intervention and enrichment programs for students.

“I have seen tremendous growth in the Hull Public Schools over my 22 years and look forward to building on the strong foundation our staff and administrators have worked hard to implement across the district,” Cappadona said. “I am excited to serve as an instructional leader supporting the district’s initiatives at all three schools, collaborating with staff across the district, and providing leadership to ensure equity for all students to achieve their fullest potential.”

Shaw began his career in the Hull Public Schools in 2008 as a physical education teacher. He also has been the supervisor of attendance and the sexual harassment grievance officer for the elementary school, which has 60 staff members and 385 students in grades preK-5. Additionally, he is the founder of South Shore Surf Camp, the first of its kind in Massachusetts.

“It is my sincere pleasure to be able to continue my work at Jacobs Elementary in my new role as principal,” Shaw said. “I’m so lucky to have been able to observe Christine Cappadona as principal and I am excited to take what I have learned into my new role and continue to serve the students, families in the Jacobs community.”

Cappadona holds a bachelor’s degree in business and managerial accounting from Regis University and a master’s degree in elementary education from Fairfield University. Shaw holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Salve Regina University, a master’s in elementary education from Lesley University, and completed the Graduate Education Leadership program at Curry College.

“We are so excited for Mrs. Cappadonna and Mr. Shaw to start their new positions within the Hull Public Schools,” Kuehn said. “Appointing them to their positions supports the district’s goal to employ and retain personnel who are motivated, always strive for excellence and are committed to providing a better educational environment for all our students.”

-- Christopher Haraden