Developer files plans to tear down former aquarium, build four-story, 21-unit complex

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THE NEXT WAVE. The developers who purchased the former Atlantic Aquarium have filed plans for a four-story, 21-unit residential building with parking underneath. Construction of the complex, which will be built on the existing foundation, is expected to begin in the spring and be completed in 2024. [Courtesy photos]

By Christopher Haraden

Calling his concept “a solution to an eyesore,” the new owner of the former Atlantic Aquarium property filed plans last week to tear down the long-vacant building and construct a four-story, 21-unit residential complex at the base of Atlantic Hill.

To be called The Residences at the Aquarium, the new building will be constructed on the foundation of the existing structure, which was built in 1972. The proposal is a mix of three one-bedroom units, 12 two-bedrooms, and seven three-bedroom units. The three-bedroom units are two stories each and occupy the upper two floors. Each floor is designed to “step back” toward the Atlantic cliff and provide an open-air balcony. The complex would have parking underneath the building and an outdoor pool to the side.

Developer Jonathan Leavitt, of Brookline, and fellow managing partner Enrique Darer paid $1,450,000 for the two-story, concrete-block building on Aug. 19. Leavitt said he and Darer submitted plans to the town late last week for review, and hopes to begin construction in the spring, with completion set for 2024. Although taller than the current aquarium, the proposed building meets the zoning regulations of the Nantasket Beach Overlay District and does not require a variance, Leavitt said.

“Nantasket Beach, and Hull in general, is a wonderful historic beachfront community that has managed to preserve its identity and cohesion right up through the present day,” Leavitt said. “We hope that by upgrading this unused site to create flagship new residences, we will contribute to the overall growth and continuing revival of the beachfront neighborhood, of which we look forward to being a part.”

Leavitt said he plans to discuss the project with abutters, many of whom objected to the previous owner’s proposal to operate a marijuana cultivation facility. He said initial conversations with nearby condominium owners have been positive.

“There is an official process to go through, and we will reach out to the neighbors to discuss their feelings on the project outside of the hearing,” Leavitt said.

Plans call for a parking garage on the first level of the new building. The developer said the narrowness of the site, as well as limitations of the property’s boundaries, ruled out commercial uses.

“I just don’t think that this is the place for permanent, year-round-retail,” Leavitt said, adding that the sidewalk and strip of grass now in front of the building are not part of his property. “I can’t even plant shrubs or trees in front of the building without permission.”

He said a final decision has not been reached about whether the 21 units would be rented, or sold as condominiums.

“Current indications are there will be a strong demand for luxury condominiums at the beach. But we do not have a crystal ball, and are subject to the same market forces as everyone else,” he said. “We will assess the market closer to the spring of 2024, and make a decision about selling versus renting based on circumstances at that time.”

School Committee honors scholars who earned state, national academic awards

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By Carol Britton Meyer

A number of high-achieving Hull Public Schools students were recognized at this week’s school committee meeting, with a crowd of parents present to show support and to cheer for them.

There hasn’t been a group that large at a school committee meeting for some time, Chair Stephanie Peters noted.

“It’s exciting!” she said.

Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn announced that Bridget Fleming was recognized recently by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, which annually provides an award to a senior from every school district in the state related to class standing, cumulative average, class rank, and leadership, and presented the award to Fleming.

Kuehn praised her as a leader who exemplifies “academic and civic excellence with ease and grace and is well-respected by her peers and the staff.” Fleming has also received numerous sports and other awards.

The recipients of the National School Development Council Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning award were also announced: TD Doty, who was not present, and Brennan Minucci.

This award is presented to high school seniors who have consistently pursued a high level of academic effort and who have also served as positive role models for fellow students. Recipients also exemplify admirable character and accomplishment.

Doty has been involved with bullying prevention and in conversations about inclusion and acceptance, Kuehn said. He is also involved in the theater arts program in costume design and as a member of the stage crew.

Kuehn called Minucci “a kind person who has shown much growth and resilience during his high school career. A shining example is his work in the athletic department.”

Due to an injury, Minucci had to step away from participating in sports but continues to support Hull athletes in his role as Athletic Director Connor Duhaime’s “right hand man” after completing an internship,” according to Kuehn. “Brennan is also an excellent student.”

Principal Michael Knybel presented certificates to two HHS students who were named in the National Merit Scholarship Program by the College Board: Matthew Sullivan and Austin Bongo.

Sullivan was recognized for an outstanding score on the junior PSATs after placing among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants nationwide of all students who took the PSAT in the fall of 2021. “This means Matthew is in the top 3% in the nation,” Knybel said. 

Bongo, who was not present, earned Academic Honors for the College Board National Recognition Program. Students who may be eligible for this award are those “who have achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT or have earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP exams; who are African American or Black, Hispanic American, or Latinx, or Indigenous; and/or attend school in a rural area or small town,” Knybel explained.

Knybel also recognized Veronica Fleming for achieving a perfect MCAS score in Grade 10 mathematics.

“Perfect scores are pretty rare,” he said.

Hull’s MCAS results show students’ growth as well as areas for improvement

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By Carol Britton Meyer

School administrators recently presented an overview of Hull students’ scores on this past spring’s Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exams to the school committee, naming two critical areas of focus – student attendance and low participation in the exams as compared to statewide numbers.

“Overall, we did very well,” Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn told The Hull Times in a follow-up telephone interview.

While some results were praiseworthy, there are areas of concern.

“We have such high expectations,” she said.

Director of Curriculum and Assessment Christine Cappadona explained the latest MCAS test results, with Hull High School Principal Michael Knybel, Memorial School Principal Tony Hrivnak, and Jacobs Elementary School Principal Kyle Shaw providing details for their individual schools.

* Math achievement was at or above the statewide results in grades 3 to 7 and grade 10.

“Overall, we saw typical student growth, but our expectation is high growth,” Cappadona said. Student growth percentiles complement the MCAS year-by-year test scores, measuring change in achievement over time rather than grade-level achievement results in any one year, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.

“We want to ensure that our students are really learning the content [of the subjects they are studying] as well as achieving high scores,” Cappadona told The Hull Times. “We want to see our students grow and exceed their expectations,” including students who are already good test-takers.

* The Hull Public Schools ranked number one in both 10th-grade English language arts and mathematics when compared with similar districts and schools with regard to size, demographics, and other considerations. “This provides a level playing field, comparing apples with apples, so to speak,” Kuehn said. “In this comparison, we are always at the top, and we’re proud of that.”

This year Cappadona and Kuehn compared Hull’s MCAS results with those of students in the neighboring communities of Hingham, Cohasset, and Norwell, and Hull students fared “pretty well,” Kuehn said.

* HHS students’ average was above the state in ELA, math, and science,” Cappadona reported, “and they are in the top 20% in ELA and math.”

* Memorial Middle School results were mixed. “However, we saw significant growth in the sixth-grade math results,” Cappadona said. “They were 19% above the state average in meeting and exceeding expectations.”

* Jacobs School had strong reading and language scores, while the writing scores declined, consistent with the statewide results. Math and science scores were above the state average.

As was the case nationwide, student learning in Hull was impacted by the COVID19 pandemic.

Two critical areas of focus in the Hull Public Schools accountability results were attendance and the MCAS participation rate.

According to Cappadona, 28.9% of HPS students missed 18 days (10 percent) of school last year, and 4.9% of the students missed 36 days, or 20 percent. The average number of days missed was 13.

This is not surprising since students who exhibited potential COVID19 symptoms were encouraged to stay home from school, which resulted in “a loss of critical instruction time,” along with COVID-restricted in-person learning, according to Kuehn.

The Class of 2026 as middle-schoolers was particularly hard hit, entering sixth grade followed by a shutdown of in-person learning halfway through, and then in seventh and eighth grade, implementation of COVID-related restrictions that cut back on the usual in-person learning opportunities and face-to-face instruction, Kuehn explained.

Steps are being taken to help students at all levels make up for the lost learning, “but this is challenging and takes time,” she said.

HPS used money from the COVID-related Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund (ESSER) in part to pay for summer scholarships for some children to participate in the Hull Parks & Recreation Program and benefit from socialization, and to start an intramural track program for students in grades 6 and 7, and an eSports program for students who enjoy participating in electronic sports, a form of competition using video games.

In addition to attendance issues, the HPS MCAS participation rate was low compared to the statewide numbers, according to Cappadona.

“Our rate is low compared to the state, meaning we did not have 100% of our students in each grade take the test,” Kuehn explained. “We are a small district, which means that a small number of students not taking the test has a significant impact. There are a small group of elementary and middle school parents who choose to opt-out [their children].”

Visit www.hulltimes.com for a link that shows how each of the Hull Public Schools’ participation rates compares to other schools within the Commonwealth.

Each school district is expected to maintain a participation rate of 95% or higher for each subject-area test. Any school or district with a participation rate below 95% is considered to have low assessment participation.

“Hull participation rates differ at each grade level,” Kuehn noted. “Overall, this is an area of improvement for the district.”

Cappadona called the overall MCAS process as it relates to Hull Public Schools a collaborative effort.

“There are tests everywhere [at all different levels of students’ time in school and beyond], and we want them to learn the strategies for test-taking,” Cappadona said.

While keeping up with the overall state MCAS results is not the only consideration, helping students achieve higher scores is considered to be a priority.

A number of action steps are in place to help students who need assistance at different levels for various reasons.

Districtwide strategies for improvement include comprehensive curriculum reviews, curriculum mapping, deeper learning, more enrichment time, a focus on writing skills, benchmark and formative assessments, data meetings, and a consistent K-12 student-intervention process.

 Curriculum maps encourage teachers to discuss best practices and share resources, improving the overall level of teaching across a school district. Parents benefit from structured curriculum maps because they make them aware of learning targets for their children. Students are given coherent curriculum throughout the class, with a constant flow of knowledge from term to term and year to year.

Cappadona and Kuehn praised the school system’s leadership team and teachers for their hard work during the pandemic and now.

“They remain dedicated, and we want to acknowledge them so that they know they are valued and appreciated,” Kuehn said.

Board pledges support for diversity, sets Nov. 30 date to fill HRA, planning board vacancies

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By Carol Britton Meyer

Following a previous presentation to the select board by the No Place for Hate Committee about the possibility joining the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Massachusetts Municipal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coalition and developing a DEI policy for the town, the committee asked the select board to adopt a related pledge at its meeting last week.

The following wording was approved: “The Hull Select Board believes in the strength and vitality of an inclusive, equitable, and diverse community. We will work to support and promote these qualities in Hull through the town’s policies and operations.”

“We fully support the work of the committee,” select board Chair Jennifer Constable said.

The town joining this coalition is among the committee’s key goals. DEI is based on the premise that diversity, equity, and inclusion are three distinct values “that municipal leaders should actively seek to understand, define, and incorporate into their daily practice.”

The committee is planning to do research on DEI and to prepare, with the select board’s support, an application to MAPC for a technical assistance grant to support facilitation, training and planning for communitywide engagement about this program.

The board asked the committee to draft a grant application to present to board members at an upcoming meeting.

In other business last week, planning board Chair Harry Hibbard notified the board that due to the election of Irwin Nesoff to the select board during the last town election, there is currently a vacancy on the planning board. The term of the current open seat ends in 2025.

HRA Chair Bartley Kelly also submitted a letter to the select board informing them of the recent resignation of Vice Chair Robert DeCoste, effective Oct. 17.

Kelly asked the board to schedule a time for a joint meeting with the HRA “to consider candidates to temporarily fill [this] seat until the next town election,” when the position will be filled for the remainder of DeCoste’s term, which expires in May 2026.

The select board will meet in joint session with the HRA and the planning board on Nov. 30 to discuss these vacancies.

Town Manager Philip Lemnios encouraged citizens interested in filling these positions to contact the select board office.

Veterans Day ceremonies include street-naming honor for late General Butch Neal

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Veterans Day ceremonies at Monument Square on Friday, Nov. 11 included the dedication of a small section of street to the late Gen. Richard ‘Butch’ Neal. Among those performing during the ceremony were piper Bob Cameron and Robert Corcoran. The Rotary Club of Nantasket-Hull recognized dozens of veterans with a dinner at the Parrot restaurant earlier in the week;  Attending Friday’s ceremony were veterans Tommy Emanuello, George Anastos, and Jack W. Morse; speakers included War Memorial Commissioners Paul Dunphy, left, and Edward Burke, right, and Veterans Agent Paul Sordillo, center; attending the street dedication ceremony were Neal family members Patricia McCann and her daughter, Joanna Frazier.

Click here for Hull Community TV’s Video-on-Demand coverage of the full ceremony.

The Hull Police Department Honor Guard – Detective Andrew Reilly, Officer John Mercer, Sgt. Stephen Glavin, and Officer Leanne Marshalsea – offered a salute to Hull veterans during Friday’s Veterans Day ceremonies at Monument Square. 

Also during Friday’s ceremonies at Hull’s war memorial, Director Ian Barkon led the Hull High Band as they provided musical accompaniment. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1787 Commander Kevin Beck presented awards to the annual essay contest winners: third place, sixth-grader Luisa Rizzo; second place, eighth-grader Libby Harper; and first place, seventh-grader Colin English.

[All Skip Tull photos, except the veterans dinner, which was taken by Karen Pitrolo]

Hull Garden Club’s ‘Daffodil Lady’ honored for decades of dedication to beautifying town

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By Carol Britton Meyer

Longtime resident Anne Musmeci, known around town as “Hull’s Daffodil Lady,” was honored by the select board last week with a resolution from the “grateful Town of Hull” for her many years of service with the Hull Garden Club.

GRATEFUL GROWTH. The select board presented Anne Musmeci, shown here with some of her fellow members of the Hull Garden Club, with a resolution honoring her years of service to the club and the community. She was a founding member of the club and is known as the ‘Daffodil Lady’ for her work in planting bulbs throughout town. [Skip Tull photo]

Musmeci attended the meeting, and following presentation of the resolution by Chair Jennifer Constable and a round of applause, she posed for photos with the select board and members of the Garden Club who came to the meeting to show their support for efforts over the years.

Musmeci was a founding member in 1966 and served as president from 1997 to 1999, when the Daffodil Trail program was created as an ongoing campaign to sell and distribute daffodil bulbs as part of a continuous planting effort throughout town.

This avid gardener has sold more than 180,000 daffodil bulbs during her time with the club – hence her nickname – and was responsible for having the daffodil named as the town flower because it “represents a sign of spring that makes everyone smile,” according to one club member.

Throughout the years, Musmeci has dedicated her “time, talent, and effort to beautify our surroundings and enhance our quality of life by sharing her gardening skills with our community” through the ‘Adopt a Garden’ program,” the resolution states.

This program, which Musmeci chairs, gives club members and others in the community the opportunity to “adopt” small areas of town property to maintain and beautify, including traffic islands.

When the Veterans’ Council and the DPW had containers added to the Hull Village Cemetery markers for streets named in honor of Hull residents who were killed in action during wartime, Musmeci included them in the program.

The 14 containers were all adopted by members of the club, who are responsible for the plant material, design, and watering.

A smiling Musmeci expressed appreciation for the recognition and offered a special thank you to fellow Garden Club members for their assistance in planting the daffodils and with other projects.

“It looks so nice when they start to bloom throughout the town,” she said.

Sandbar’s expanded entertainment request approved; owner pledges to control noise

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By Carol Britton Meyer

With the end-of-year license expirations approaching, the select board voted this week to renew six annual alcohol and five package store licenses, along with three common victualler and a number of livery, lodging house, and auto sales licenses.

THE SANDBAR IS LOCATED AT 297 NANTASKET AVE., IN THE SURFSIDE BUSINESS DISTRICT.

The board also agreed to expand the Sandbar’s entertainment license after a public hearing was requested by restaurant owner Lillian Parker.

In response to concerns expressed by neighbors about noise from the music affecting their quality of life, restaurant patrons who gather outside the restaurant in the late evening hours being disruptive, and potential parking issues, the select board approved the following: live music Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., including three-piece bands without amplification according to the existing license but not including televisions, which can remain turned on until 1 a.m.

In accordance with the request to expand the restaurant’s entertainment license, live music with amplification for up to five-piece bands and floor shows will be allowed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and all holidays up until 1 a.m., with live music and floor shows to begin no earlier than 2 p.m. on Sundays. The Sandbar, at 297 Nantasket Ave., will also be open seven days a week moving forward.

Town Manager Philip Lemnios said it’s a balancing act to accommodate commercial enterprises that are close to residential properties, because the residences in that area are in a business district.

Parker said every effort is made to be considerate of residents living near the restaurant.

“It’s hard to control people, but if we hear loud noise on the sidewalk, we ask them to quiet down. We have respect for our neighbors and [will continue to] do everything we can to manage [the noise],” she said.

Board member Donna Pursel called Hull “a unique place to live for both residents and businesses. It’s necessary to communicate in order to survive, and we have found businesses to be willing to work with the neighbors [overall].”

Annual alcohol license renewals were approved for The C Note, Daddy’s Dry Dock, California Underground, Schooners, Nantasket Flatts, and Jo’s Nautical Bar.

Common victualler licenses were renewed for Dylan’s Pizza, Nantasket Seafood, and Breadbasket Bakery and Cafe.

Package store renewals were granted to West Corner Liquors, Smart Save Variety Store, Nantasket Liquors, the EZ Smoke Shop, and Quick Pick, Inc.

Chair Jennifer Constable and Select Board member Domenico Sestito were not present at Wednesday’s meeting.