Hull pledges support for joining AARP’s network of ‘age-friendly communities’

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The select board this week authorized Chair Jennifer Constable to sign a letter to be sent to the American Association of Retired Persons pledging the Town of Hull's commitment to creating an age-friendly community and environment at the suggestion of the Council on Aging during a recent meeting.

The board also supported joining AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities, an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.

This program supports the efforts of cities and towns to be “great places for people of all ages.”

Joining this program is one of the key recommendations from the recent needs assessment aimed at enhancing the lives of Hull’s growing senior population now and in the years to come.

This AARP network is based on the premise that communities should provide safe, walkable streets, age-friendly housing and transportation options, access to needed services, and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life.

There are no membership costs.

-- Carol Britton Meyer

Upcoming workshop to explore climate change’s impact on Hampton Circle area

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By Carol Britton Meyer

Residents living in the Hampton Circle neighborhood are encouraged to attend a Climate Adaptation Workshop on Dec. 7 for an overview of flood vulnerability in their neighborhood based on climate change projections.

The workshop will be hosted by the Hull Climate Adaptation and Conservation Department and the sewer department, both which are exploring options to address flooding in the Hampton Circle area. This includes the proposed reconstruction of the Lt. Joseph D. McLaughlin Playground, which is subject to frequent flooding. This event will provide an overview of flood vulnerability based on climate change projections, introduce adaptation options.

The workshop, which will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will be held in the Hull High School Exhibition Room. It is funded by the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Residents who live on Marginal Road, Moreland Avenue, Hampton Circle, and Bay Street – as well as others interested in the topic – will have the opportunity to offer feedback.

The Hull Community Development and Planning Department is working with Hampton Circle residents to reconstruct the McLaughlin playground, subject to an environmental review conducted by the state and other considerations.

“The current proposal calls for a new play structure with an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pour-in-place surface and walkway, parking, a new swing set, benches, plantings, and a rain garden-type feature to better manage stormwater and to attempt to improve ocean flooding drainage,” Director of Community Development and Planning Chris DiIorio explained earlier.

As part of the process, the CDP submitted an Environmental Notification Form to the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on Oct. 31 to initiate review of this project.

This is due to the fact that the land where the playground existed is located in an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

In addition, because the town plans to use some federal funding for this project, a Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review was triggered, resulting in the ENF. MEPA will make the determination as to whether an Environmental Impact Report is required for the project.

For additional information about the effects of climate change on Hull, visit the Climate Adaptation and Conservation Department website at www.town.hull.ma.us/climate-adaptation-and-conservation.

Endangered sea turtle dies after stranding on beach, despite Hull family’s rescue effort

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By Carol Britton Meyer

RESCUE ATTEMPT. The McFadden family found a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, the rarest – and the world’s most endangered – species of sea turtles stranded on the beach last week. Despite their best efforts, and those of the New England Aquarium, the turtle did not survive. [Photo courtesy of Joel McFadden]

While a Hull family’s efforts to save a sea turtle recently found on the bayside beach that runs along Strawberry Hill had a sad ending, they are glad they had the opportunity to help the rare creature.

While walking along that part of the beach last week, Corvid Martinez and his father, Joel, came across the 1.5-foot-long sea turtle, an endangered species, which was not moving and appeared to be lifeless.

“We made the mistake of bringing it home so it would not be destroyed,” Joel told The Hull Times. “When we arrived, our [partner/mother], Melany McFadden, who teaches oceanography [at a local college], knew to call the New England Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Hotline.”

Corvid, Joel, and Melany were aware of the fact that sea turtles “are very endangered from humans hunting them, ocean pollution, and entanglements in fishing and shrimp trawling gear,” she said.

The NEA Marine Animal Rescue Team vehicle arrived within 45 minutes and picked up what turned out to be a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, the rarest – and the world’s most endangered – species of sea turtles.

“They are also the most common to have cold-shock in the Cape Cod Bay area,” according to McFadden.

As it turned out, the sea turtle had a very weak heartbeat, but passed away overnight.

“This was both a sad experience and an amazing one to see a sea turtle up close,” McFadden said.

According to the rescue staff at the aquarium, any wild animals found on the beach should never be removed.

“In the case of turtles, they should be moved above the high tide line so they don’t get washed back out into the ocean, and then a call should be made to the hotline at 617-973-5247,” McFadden explained.

Nearly all species of sea turtle are now classified as endangered, with three of the seven existing species being critically endangered, research shows.

The Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rescue Hotline responds to calls about distressed sea turtles from Boston and surrounding communities to the New Hampshire-Maine border.

Sea turtles in this area do not typically come ashore unless they are seriously debilitated from extreme hypothermia or dehydration, pneumonia, shell or bone fractures, or other issues, according to the New England Aquarium website.

“Other people have seen turtles washed up on the bayside of Hull as well over the past several years,” McFadden said. “Sea turtles are common in our area in the summer and fall, feeding on crabs and other animals in the warm water currents. But when the winds and weather patterns switch, the turtles can end up in water below 50 degrees, which causes their systems to shut down, and the current patterns in Cape Cod Bay and the Gulf of Maine trap them in the region.”

As their body temperatures drop, the sea turtles can’t swim and get blown by the wind into shore.

Joel said he is saddened “to see the loss of another sea turtle, whose populations are so endangered due to human activities such as fish and shrimp trawling, pollution, and the increase of strandings due to cold-shock events in our area related to turtles traveling further north into Cape Cod Bay and the Gulf of Maine, due to the warming of our oceans as a result of human activities.”

Part of the aquarium’s mission is to rehabilitate endangered sea turtles, with an average of 300 turtles treated each year. Treatment can last between two and eight months, sometimes longer. Most of the sea turtles that arrive alive at the aquarium recover and are released back into the ocean.

“For more than 100 million years, sea turtles have covered vast distances across the world’s oceans, filling a vital role in the balance of marine habitats,” according to the World Wildlife Fund website.

WWF is committed to stopping the decline of sea turtles, works for the recovery of the species, and has a symbolic Adopt a Sea Turtle program.

According to Massachusetts Audubon, it’s very important to recover stranded turtles as quickly as possible. “Do not assume a turtle is dead —turtles that appear lifeless are often still alive,” according to its website, which further notes that it’s illegal under both state and federal law to harass sea turtles or transport them without a permit.

For anyone who comes across a stranded sea turtle on the beach, the following simple steps are recommended, in addition to moving it above the high tide line:

* Never grab or hold the turtle by the head or flippers.

* Cover it with dry seaweed or wrack.

* Mark it with an obvious piece of debris, such as a buoy, driftwood, or branches.

* Call the hotline: 617-973-5247.

Off the Wall at Hull Town Hall  - Your Government's Meeting Schedule

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Are you interested in learning more about how your local government works? Find out when Hull’s boards and commissions are holding public meetings by visiting www.town.hull.ma.us and clicking on the “calendar” icon, or scanning this QR code with your smartphone. 

Under the state’s Open Meeting Law, each public meeting and agenda must be posted at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, so be sure to check the site often for new postings, time adjustments, and supplements to the main agenda. 

Some meetings are in person and some are held remotely; if the meeting is to be held online, the access link and other information will be included on the meeting posting. 

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.