For your amusement: Author’s newest Hull-based mystery aims to solve ‘The Paragon Park Murders’

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Paragon Park lives on, if only in the imagination of author Frank J. Infusino Jr., whose latest novel, The Paragon Park Murders, is now available on Amazon and soon locally at Nantasket Paint and Hardware in Kenberma. In coming weeks, it will be posted on Barnes and Noble and over 100 other sites.

Infusino donates 100% of the proceeds of his books to fund two scholarships for graduating seniors at Hull High School. Last year’s recipients, chosen by school staff, were Dahlia Hedrick and Sean Reilly.

The Paragon Park Murders begins when two men are shot dead in the shuttered famous amusement center in the winter of 1957. The twisted tale of suspense and corruption moves like a roller coaster ride with bone-jarring turns and terrifying plunges into the world of mafia gangsters and crooked cops.

Rookie MDC Detective Anthony Gallo, a Hull native and Korean War hero, leads the investigation into the killings and is thrust into the crosshairs of mafia assassins when his probe strays too close to their planned robbery scheme. Two attempts are made on his life.

While operating out of the MDC substation in Nantasket, Gallo comes face to face with the high school sweetheart he abandoned to join the Marines. His efforts to win her back are not well received – she has moved on; he has not. His obsession with her jeopardizes his focus on the investigation.

Infusino believes “the readers of murder mysteries will be enthralled by the efforts of a young detective, thwarted even by his own superiors, to solve a crime which becomes increasingly complex and dangerous.”

Infusino grew up in Hull, worked at Paragon like many of his friends, graduated from Hull High School and UMass, and served as a Marine officer in Vietnam. A teacher and high school principal, he retired as the superintendent of a 34,000-student school district in southern California.

Infusino is named after his father, Frank J. Infusino, a longtime Hull Police officer, who in his off time helped build the miniature golf course at Paragon and could often be seen walking the track of the Giant Coaster to ensure its safety. Infusino still calls Hull home, although he has lived in California for many years. His sister, Joanne Haraden, still lives in town and cousins and nephews are spread from Boston to the South Shore.

Two of Infusino’s previous novels, “Murder at Fort Revere” and “The Lady in Black” (involving the rumored ghost on Fort Warren) are set in or near Hull. You can email him at cuzvito73@gmail.com or visit frankinfusino.com.

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School committee once again receives no feedback on budget; introduces new athletic director

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The school committee addressed a full agenda this week, from holding a public hearing on the fiscal 2026 budget and further discussing the superintendent evaluation process to welcoming the new Hull Public Schools athletic director and responding to a request for a dog park near the high school.

For at least the third year in a row, there were no public comments during the hearing on the proposed $18.4-million budget, which represents a 3% – or $535,643 – increase over the fiscal 2025 budget figure.

During one of their occasional updates, state Sen. Patrick O’Connor and state Rep. Joan Meschino said that of the $58-billion state fiscal year 2025 budget, $7.01 million has been allocated to Hull and local organizations to date.

Chapter 70 education funding is at $4.08 million, with local aid totaling $2.6 million for the current year, with relatively small increases in both expected for fiscal 2026.

Local organizations benefitting from state funding include the Anchor of Hull and the Hull Lifesaving Museum, as well as the Hull Police Department.

Click here to read the full school budget proposal for FY26

Free school meal funding allocated to Hull was $241,683, along with funding for special education and special ed transportation, charter school reimbursement, and library aid.

Both legislators encouraged not only the school committee with education-related issues and concerns but also residents to contact their office if in need of assistance.

Contact Meschino’s office at 617-722-2092 or O’Connor’s office at 617-722-1646, or by email at Joan.Meschino@MAHouse.gov or Patrick.O’Connor@masenate.gov.

The presentation is posted on the Hull Public Schools website.

In other business…

• Superintendent of Schools Michael Jette introduced new Athletic Director Benjamin Kistner “following an exhaustive search process. He’s now in week three, and we’re happy to have him onboard at the start of Spring sports,” he said.

The former athletic director for Holbrook Middle-High School, where he was also a teacher, Kistner said he will be able to focus solely on his new position as athletic director in Hull.

“Sixty-five percent of our student population are athletes,” Kistner noted. His first priority is to get to know them. He is also considering asking past and present student athletes to take a survey about their experiences, including asking former athletes why they are no longer on a team.

“I’m excited to be here,” Kistner said. “I’m a fireball of energy [and look forward] to getting started and figuring out what the successes and challenges will be.”

• Jette reported progress on exploring coastal partnerships in addition to current participation in the Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research in the summer months and in the Hull Lifesaving Museum/Hull High School boatbuilding program.

“Next steps include sitting down with curriculum leaders to discuss various possibilities and to explore whether there may be grant funding available,” he said.

• The committee and Jette also discussed the superintendent evaluation process that includes a progress report on his year-one goals. Each committee member will fill out an evaluation form and without sharing it with fellow members, submit the forms to Maggie Ollerhead in the superintendent’s office, who will compile the completed forms into one document.

Jette presented his entry plan for his first year on the job to the school committee last September, including a commitment to “looking, listening, and learning” to help set up HPS for “success for the next decade.”

Jette has a three-year contract, with an annual salary of $180,000. The public evaluation is scheduled for April 28.

• A letter signed by Jette was sent to resident David Irwin, who earlier floated the idea of locating a dog park on town-owned land between Finlayson Field at the high school and Hull Gut at the site of the former windmill, asking for answers to a number of questions before the school committee makes a final determination.

These included how the dog park would he contained and maintained; would new fencing be added parallel to the field fence or would the existing fence serve as containment for the park -- and if so, who would be responsible for repairs; would the park restrict potential travel outside the field from the Gut to the back of the high school; and who would mow and otherwise care for the dog park?

Other concerns were whether parking issues would “put pressure” on Shipwreck’d and the school and commuter lots and maintaining park cleanliness, including disposal of animal waste and other trash, since the field is used by students and the public throughout the year.

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© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Sprinkler testing turns water brown from Village to Kenberma

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By Christopher Haraden

Boston music fans are familiar with The Standells’ song about how much they “love that dirty water,” but many Hull residents were singing the blues this week when they unexpectedly encountered brown water flowing from their taps.

On Monday, a private contractor at the apartment building at 1 A Street conducted the annual test of the high-rise’s sprinkler system. The work caused a disturbance within the Weir River Water System that sent discolored water through the pipes and into homes from Hull Village to Kenberma.

“Typically these tests are performed in a controlled manner and have little, if any, adverse effect on the water system,” said WRWS Managing Director/Superintendent Russell Tierney. “In this case, we experienced discolored water in the area. Our crews responded immediately and worked through the day and into the night mitigating the issue.”

The testing firm, Encore Fire Protection, completed its work on Monday. Residents in most parts of town reported that the water had cleared up by Tuesday afternoon, but some areas still showed discoloration.

“As of early Tuesday morning the water mains in the affected areas were running clear and we were responding to individual homes as requested to assist in clearing their service lines,” the water company said in a statement issued Wednesday evening. 

On Monday, WRWS’s initial communication on Facebook indicated that the contractor had not given customary notification of the testing so that nearby customers could be alerted. On Wednesday, however, Tierney and Hull Fire Chief Chris Russo said the company did notify the Hull’s fire prevention office at town hall. WRWS later edited its social media post to remove the references to whether notice had been provided.

“Prior notice is not a requirement for private fire system testing; it is a courtesy for WRWS to know that these tests are being performed,” Tierney said. “The company did notify them [Hull Fire] but in the morning, and by the time the message was received by Hull FD, they were already performing the test.”

Tierney and Russo said the policy for private fire-flow tests is being revised to request 48 hours’ notice for future testing. This will allow the water company, fire department, and residents to be notified about the work and to prepare for potential disruptions.

“Letters will be sent to all customers who have fire services that require annual flow testing to ensure that they contact both the Weir River Water System and local fire departments 48 hours prior to conducting these tests,” according to the water company’s statement.

“It’s important to note that while this particular scenario was an absolute inconvenience for our residents, it has never happened prior with testing on any required location,” Russo said. “Response was immediate and communication was sent quickly as possible once the location was determined.”

Residents with complaints about damage to laundry or household fixtures should contact the water company, although Tierney said there is no compensation for having to keep the taps open to clear discoloration from the household pipes. Running the water for extended periods before use is the solution that the water company typically recommends to customers.

“Any potential claims can be submitted to the WRWS; however, we do not credit for water usage,” Tierney said.

Weir River Water also said the company is looking beyond Monday’s fire-flow test to determine if something else caused the discoloration.

“There are several factors that can lead to this type of event, and over the next few days we will investigate if there’s any other circumstances that contributed to this incident,” according to Wednesday’s statement.

Tierney said that residents still experiencing problems should email waterquality@weirriverwater.com.

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Celebrate Earth Day by Cleaning Your Corner of Hull

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To celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, the Hull Garden Club is sponsoring its fourth annual Clean Your Corner event.

Members simply ask that residents go outside at a time that is convenient to you and clean up your corner of our precious planet Earth by picking up debris, sweeping up, and caring for your own corner. Together, we can make a difference with the businesses and people of our small town enjoying the benefit of our labor. 

For a free trash bag, as well as a variety of seeds for planting, contact Roxanne Mihal, thehullgardenclub@gmail.com or 339-788-0613.

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In the Sport-light - Roundup of news about Hull athletes

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Compiled by Matt Haraden

• The Boys 3/4 Soccer Team 2 won the first game of the spring season, 2-0, against Kingston. Andy Michaelides scored the first goal and Kai Funari scored a goal with the help of the opponent’s defender. The team battled through rainy conditions to get the victory. 5/6 Soccer beat Kingston Saturday, April 5 at home, 3-0. Goals were scored by Cody Calabria, Jacob Greenberg, and Finn Smith. Reefe Markowitz did an excellent job as goalie. The next game will be in Plymouth on Saturday, April 12 at 11 a.m.

• Girls 3/4 Soccer had a great start to the spring season with a 6-2 victory over Kingston. Willa Britton led the team with six goals, with assists from Addie Chalifoux, Ellie Caparrotta, Rae Rockett, Eleanor Reilly, and Laila Dolan. The team brought equally impressive defense to the match, led by goalkeepers Lydia Caparrotta and Thalita Nascimento, who delivered a shutout in the second half. The keepers were protected by a strong front, including Maisie Handrahan, Meara Gilroy, Cate Mulvihill, Viola Pearson, and Laila Dolan. 5/6 Soccer had an exciting 1-1 draw against Kingston in the first game of the spring season. With the rain falling and trailing with minutes left in the game, Hull tied the score. The goal was provided by Deirdre Flaherty, with the assist from Frankie Rockett. Sydney O’Brien and Ruby D’Errico covered duties in net.

• Girls 5/6 Lacrosse battled a tough Hingham squad on Sunday, April 6, losing 13-4. Molly McCarthy, Piper Yakubian, Sydney O’Brien, and Cordelia Hennessey led Hull’s scoring. Reese Irby, Deirdre Flaherty, and Frankie Rockett attacked the crease and opened up shooting lanes for Julianna Moore-DaSilva, who flew up and down the field. First-timer Addison Mahan, along with Hadley Dolan and Leah Dibley, held up on defense in response to Hingham’s offense, and the goalie duo of Josie Tyrrell and Ruby D’Errico did their best in the cage. The team is working well together and looking for its first win at home on Sunday, April 13, against Pembroke.

• Hull High Baseball improved to 2-0 on the season with a 10-5 win over Westport last Friday. Max MacEachern got the win on the mound, pitching five innings and striking out eight. Ken Autio got the save, going two innings, allowing no runs and striking out three. Luke Dunham and John Reynolds both went 2/4 batting, getting two RBIs each. Brayden Roberts went 3/4 with one RBI. On Wednesday, the Pirates scored another big victory, defeating Norfolk Agricultural High School, 14-0. Liam Conneely pitched five innings and struck out seven. Nate Tiani and Luke Dunham both went 3/4, while John Reynolds went 2/3 and Ted Hipp was 1/1. The team is scheduled to take on Cohasset on the road Thursday, April 10, and West Bridgewater at home at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. Norfolk Aggie gets its chance at a rematch on its home field on Monday, April 14 at 3:30 p.m.

• Hull High Lacrosse won a thriller in overtime against Middleboro, with Henry Buchlietner netting the game winner off an assist from Matt Thomas. Six of the 11 goals scored by Hull came off assists from four different players. Freshman Josh Gatto scored two goals, junior Henry Buchlietner had two goals and two assists, junior Matt Thomas netted five goals and one assist, junior Max Lofgren had a goal and an assist and sophomore Christian Truglia had a goal and an assist. The team fought hard in its next game, but fell, 17-4, to Norwell. Thomas scored a hat trick with Buchlietner scoring the Pirates’ fourth goal in the game. The 2-1 team travels to East Bridgewater on Friday, April 11 at 4 p.m. and Cohasset on Monday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m.

• Hull High Girls Lacrosse took care of business at home on Thursday, April 3, beating Middleborough, 13-5. Erin Walsh scored five goals, Elly Thomas had three goals and four assists, Georgia White had two goals, an assist, and seven draw controls. Sophia Grosso had a goal and Emma Lees scored her first varsity goal. Libby Harper had six caused turnovers and goalkeeper Jillian McDonough had 16 saves. The Pirates suffered their first loss of the year, falling 14-1 to Norwell on Monday, April 7 in the cold and rain. Elly Thomas scored the lone goal. Meghan Duran and Libby Harper shone on defense. Jillian McDonough was great in net, despite the score, with 10 saves. On Wednesday, the 4-1 team defeated the East  Bridgewater Vikings at home, 14-2. The Pirates played great full-field defense, led by team hardhat winner Meghan Duran. Georgia White had four goals, an assist, three caused turnovers, two ground balls, and six draw controls. Libby Harper had an assist, four caused turnovers and two ground balls. Elly Thomas had three goals, an assist, and two ground balls. Meghan Duran had a goal. Erin Walsh three goals, two assists, two ground balls and draw controls. Maggie Mullen had two goals and a ground ball. Tessa Schultz had a goal, a caused turnover, two ground balls and a draw control. Goalkeeper Jillian McDonough had four saves and a ground ball. Cassady Reilly, Ava Palermo, Evelyn Concannon, Olivia Michaelides, and Juliet Bellew all logged their first varsity minutes for the Lady Pirates! The team takes on Pembroke at home on Friday, April 11 at 4 p.m. (JV at 5:15 p.m.) and Cohasset (also at home) on Tuesday, April 15 at 4 p.m. (JV at 5:30 p.m.)

• On Wednesday, April 9, both the boys and girls track teams came up short against Abington on the road. The boys’ score was 83-53, with Michael Cimetti winning the triple jump and Lawrence Bodley winning the high jump, long jump, and 100 meters. State qualifiers were Lawrence Bodley in the high jump, 100 meters, and 200 meters; Christopher Resnick in the 110 hurdles and 100 meters; and Iktan Guzman in the 400 hurdles. The girls’ score was 81-35. Elsie Harper won the shot put, long jump, 100 hurdles, and 400 hurdles, while Bree Simpson-Sliney came out on top in the high jump. Both athletes qualified for the states – Elsie Harper in the 100 and 400 hurdles, and Bree Simpson-Sliney in the high jump and 100 hurdles. Both teams travel to Mashpee on Monday, April 14 at 4:30 p.m.

Watch the Times in print and online for details, or for more information, visit www.hullpublicschools.org/athletics.

• Coaches and Super Fans – 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 Tuesday at midnight. 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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‘I feel we’re being mistreated’ – Rockaway Annex developer objects to town’s fire sprinkler mandate

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The seventh zoning board of appeals hearing on the proposal to build a four-story, 12-unit condominium development under the comprehensive permit process at 25 Ipswich St. in the Rockaway Annex neighborhood ended with a unanimous vote to continue the hearing until April 15.

At that time, the board will deliberate on a draft decision that will be written by Town Counsel Brian Winner and a consultant who has provided guidance and assistance to the ZBA throughout the process. Members also will discuss associated conditions to attach to the decision. Chair Patrick Finn said he expects that the hearing will be closed following the April 15 meeting; the board will then have 40 days to render its decision.

Fire Chief Chris Russo’s request for the developer to fully sprinkler the buildings and a dispute over a utility access easement that could end up in Land Court are the remaining issues to be resolved. Neighbor Derek Paris of 20 Ipswich St. objects to the developer’s plan to install utilities in the easement across his property and says the access rights were not properly documented. Paris said that while he objects to utility installation and any other improvements or alterations, he has no issue with allowing access to his land for emergency vehicles.

The proposed Residences at Rockaway plan includes six modular, townhouse-style buildings with two units each set on a .63-acre, single-family-zoned lot. Three units would be affordable. Parking would be in garages under the units and in the driveways.

Click here for project plans, studies, reports, and other details

The comprehensive permit process, more commonly known as Chapter 40B, allows developers to circumvent most local regulations in exchange for an affordable housing component if the town has less than 10% of its housing units designated affordable. Hull’s current percentage of affordable units is 1.6%, according to the state’s formula.

The site is located in the Rockaway Annex neighborhood behind the former Veterans of Foreign Wars post off Salisbury Street near the Hull Community Garden and the Manet Community Health Center.

Sprinkler system not required under building code

Housing consultant Dean Harrison, representing developer Alan Mckenzie, a Hull resident, continues to object to the sprinkler system request because it is not required under the building code, but is amenable to other requests from the chief related to fire safety measures, including installing additional hydrants.

“With a condition like this, we could appeal to the housing appeals committee,” Harrison said. “A sprinkler system for each unit is not necessary considering the other accommodations we’ve made.”

Nevertheless, the ZBA may include a sprinkler in the conditions if the board decides to approve the project out of respect for the chief’s request.

Harrison also emphasized that Chapter 40B projects must be treated similar to other developments when it comes to setting certain requirements, such as a sprinkler system.

Russo – who attended Tuesday’s ZBA meeting – did not back down but agreed to meet with Harrison between now and the April 15 hearing to discuss alternatives to sprinklers, at Harrison’s request. In the meantime, he plans to do some research.

‘If we don’t set a precedent now, shame on us’

“This may not be the last 40B presented to the town,” Russo said. “If we don’t set a precedent now on the first one, shame on us.”

The developer wants to provide “the high-quality development we’ve agreed upon,” Harrison said. “This issue is causing us a lot of anxiety, and I feel we’re being mistreated. … If this goes to the housing appeals committee, it will cost the developer and the town money, and everyone comes out with a bad taste in their mouth.

“We would look at all the conditions in total to see which we would or would not appeal,” he said. “I hope it doesn’t go that way.”

Russo, on the other hand, disagreed with Harrison’s mistreatment characterization.

“Sprinkler systems save lives,” he said. “I’m not trying to stall the plan, but I don’t want people to die in these buildings [should a serious fire occur].”

Finn told Harrison that the sprinkler system request has nothing to do with the project being proposed under Chapter 40B.

Finding of fact presented

Near the end of the hearing, Finn read a lengthy “finding of fact” detailing the process to date and various documents submitted, along with proposed conditions, a request for local preference for the affordable units, landscaping, conditions related to individual waivers, ornamental versus chain link fencing, concerns about blasting, the noise and vibration plan, fire hydrants, and improved access to Ipswich Street requested by the fire department, along with other considerations. He passed out copies to fellow board members and the development team.

On a unanimous vote, the board approved a motion related to the finding of fact that the ZBA “has enough preliminary information and plans in order to render a potentially favorable decision” to issue a comprehensive permit for the project. This is not a commitment to a favorable decision, but as Finn pointed out, there would be no conditions to draft or consider if the ZBA were to outright deny the permit.

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

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© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

‘Catch the Spirit of ’76’ – committee planning celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The town is working on big plans for celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as part of a nationwide commemoration spanning this year and next.

Hull’s newly created 250th Anniversary Committee – or the USA Semiquincentennial Anniversary Committee – is charged with planning townwide activities focusing on remembrances, coordinating events related to the founding of the country, and aligning Hull’s activities with other local, state, regional, and national commemorations.

The committee, chaired by former select board member John Reilly, met formally for the first time on Tuesday.

Other members, who were sworn in by Town Clerk Lori West, who also sits on the committee as vice chair, are Hull Lifesaving Museum Director of Development Maureen Gillis; Peter Preble, pastor of St. Nicholas United Methodist Church; former town counsel James Lampke; and Notre Dame Academy Principal (and Hull resident) Mary Merrigan, who is serving as clerk.

Select board member Greg Grey, who also served on the 375th committee, was appointed earlier as the board’s liaison to the committee, and this week the select board added Hull Animal Control Officer Michael Sampson. There is still one opening on the committee.

“A majority of the time was spent completing a rough draft of an application for a $100,000 state grant that has to be submitted by April 11,” Reilly told The Hull Times about the committee’s work.

The committee will meet again April 8 to vote on a finished application. If the grant is awarded to the town, the funds would be spent on various celebrations in 2026, including a parade and field day, Fort Revere/Bastille Day observances, dances, theater productions, Revolutionary War re-enactments and encampments, and fireworks, among other events.

A national committee is organizing commemoration events in all 50 states, similar to the 1976 Bicentennial celebration.

Committee meetings are open to the public and there will be numerous volunteer engagement opportunities for interested residents with an interest local history.

“All citizens are encouraged to participate in upcoming USA 250th activities and to catch the ‘Spirit of 76’ on the town, state, and national level,” Reilly said.

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In the Sport-light: Roundup of news about Hull's athletes

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Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Hull Youth Soccer’s in-town spring soccer season kicks off this Saturday, April 5. The season will run for six Saturdays – April 5, April 12, April 26, May 3, May 10, May 17. (No games on April 19) at James P. Sullivan Field (the Dust Bowl) in Hull Village.

Guppies (co-ed, must be 3 years old by September 1): 9 – 10 a.m.

Kindergarten (co-ed) & girls (grades 1 & 2) – 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Boys (grades 1 & 2) – 11 a.m. to noon.

Players should arrive on time and be dressed appropriately for the weather. Shin guards are mandatory, and don’t forget to bring a water bottle. Hull Youth Soccer is designed for players who are interested in learning how to play the game as well as developing their skills. Newly registered players should check in at the soccer shed on April 5 upon arrival.

In-town registration is open through Friday, April 4, so there are still opportunities to participate. Visit www.hullyouthsoccer.com for more details.

• Girls 5/6 Lacrosse kicked off the season with a thrilling opening game against a powerhouse Cohasset squad, losing 13-5 on Sunday, March 30. Molly McCarthy, Piper Yakubian, Peyton Dunn, and Cordelia Hennessey moved the ball around to take an early 2-0 lead. Solid defensive play from Abby Donovan, Bianka Truglia, and Olivia Picewick befuddled Cohasset’s offense, while goalkeepers Ruby D’Errico and Josie Tyrell kept the score close. Stella Palermo, Leah Dibley, Frankie Rockett, and Natalie Tiani roamed the field, helping out on both sides of the ball. The team plays Hingham in its next game on Sunday, April 6.

BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. As the Hull Pirates girls lacrosse team edged out a 7-6 victory over Plymouth South on Tuesday – improving to 2-0 on the season – Elly Thomas had an even more special reason to celebrate, as she scored her 200th goal. In addition, she notched three assists in the game. Congratulations! [Courtesy photo]

• The Hull High Girls Lacrosse team opened its season with a 13-4 victory over Stoughton on Monday, March 31. The Pirates revamped defense featured excellent work by Libby Harper causing five turnovers, Meghan Duran with three caused turnovers and three ground balls, Allison Leary, Lily Nunes, Gwen Lofgren, and Bridgett Stamatouras. Jillian McDonough was outstanding in goal. Midfielders Elly Thomas, Erin Walsh, Georgia White all had four points each. Tessa Schultz and Emily Hughes scored their first varsity goals. Maggie Mullen led the attack with four goals. Sophia Grosso pitched in a goal. The Pirates moved to 2-0 with a close 7-6 win over Plymouth South on Tuesday, April 1. Goalkeeper Jillian McDonough had a great save in the waning seconds to secure the win. Elly Thomas recorded her 200th goal, along with three assists in the game. Erin Walsh had four goals, Georgia White and Maggie Mullen each contributed a score. The defense worked as a unit and cleared the ball well under great pressure. The JV team also won its game over Plymouth South, 5-3. Next up are games against Middleborough at home on Thursday, April 3 at 5 p.m. (JV at 6:30 p.m.) and at Norwell on Monday, April 7 at 4 p.m. (JV at 5:30 pm.)

• Hull High Baseball started the season with a commanding 22-4 win over West Bridgewater. Ted Hipp got the win on the mound, throwing for five innings and recording four strikeouts. Luke Dunham and Tristan Lofgren both went two for two from the plate, with Dunham drawing three walks and Lofgren drawing two. Brayden Robert also went 2/3 batting on the day. The team plays Westport in its next game at home on Friday, April 4 at 4 p.m., then travels to Cohasset on Monday, April 7 at 4 p.m. before coming back home on Wednesday to face Norfolk County Agricultural High School at 3:30 p.m.

• JV Softball posted a win over Cardinal Spellman, 31-12, on Wednesday. McKenzie Neal registered four strikeouts from the mound; Rachel Timmins hit two back-to-back homeruns with three RBIs. Chloe Hutcheson and Sophia Provost also turned in strong performances on offense and defense. The team is set to face Hingham on Thursday, April 3 at 4 p.m. and then travel to Carver for a game against the Crusaders on Wednesday, April 9 at 4 p.m. The next day, April 10, the Pirates face Scituate at home at 4 p.m.

• Boys varsity lacrosse started the season with an 8-4 win over Taunton on Friday, March 28, and plays at Middleboro on Thursday, April 3 at 4 p.m. Next week, the Pirates face Norwell at home on Monday, April 7 at 4 p.m.

• The outdoor track and field teams will travel to Abington on Wednesday, April 9 at 4 p.m. and Mashpee on Monday, April 14 at 4:30 p.m.

Watch the Times in print and on this site for details, or for more information, visit www.hullpublicschools.org/athletics.

• Coaches and Super Fans – 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 Tuesday at midnight. 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!

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

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

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

With trust fund proposal on TM warrant, forum to explore affordable housing plans

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The Affordable Housing Committee will host a meeting next week to share information about the town meeting proposal to create an affordable housing trust.

Such a trust would help create and preserve below-market-rate housing for low- and moderate-income households and fund community housing, as the AHC doesn’t have the authority to develop housing, but rather can educate citizens and advocate for it.

The purpose of the meeting is “to help citizens understand what a trust is,” Select Board Chair Irwin Nesoff – the board’s liaison to the AHC – explained at his board’s meeting Wednesday night.

The affordable housing trust session is scheduled for Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hull High School exhibition room.

The presentation by members of the committee is entitled “What is a Municipal Housing Trust Fund?” and will explain how the trust fund would help to create affordable housing in town. There will be an opportunity for community members to offer input, ask questions, submit ideas, and share experiences.

The select board, which earlier approved the article, voted unanimously in favor of Nesoff, and any other interested board member, speaking on this subject on the floor of town meeting. Board member Jerry Taverna was not present.

“This is a very important project, and I want to congratulate the committee, which has worked for many months to put this article together [with input from] consultants and town counsel,” Nesoff said. “The important thing is that a trust would give the town a method for supporting the construction, renovation and/or rehabilitation of affordable housing, none of which has been produced for a long time in Hull.”

AHC Chair Cynthia Koebert thanked Nesoff for his “active part” on the committee and the select board for its support. In addition, the advisory board recently voted unanimously in support the article.

“This would be a tool to act in a more timely fashion,” she said. “The housing crisis has only gotten worse, and it’s not getting easier.”

Contingent on town meeting approval, a trust would bring additional expertise and timely decision-making to the utilization of Community Preservation Act funds for affordable housing. The Community Preservation Committee has approximately $500,000 available from the annual required 10% allocation of funds, plus reserves, to support community housing.

Koebert noted that some neighboring communities have had success with affordable housing trusts.

“During my two years on the committee, we haven’t developed one single unit of affordable housing,” she said. “With a trust, we would be able to provide affordable housing for various income levels.”

Board member Greg Grey thinks the warrant article will “pass on a breeze” at town meeting with Nesoff speaking on behalf of the article.

Following the information session, the presentation will be posted on the town’s website. The meeting will also be recorded by Hull Community Television and available on demand at hulltv.net.

In other business…

• The idea of creating an interactive town meeting warrant with links to related information is being explored, Town Manager Jennifer Constable told the select board. A future town newsletter will also feature information about the warrant articles.

• The proposed two-way road plan in the Surfside/HRA area and the deteriorating former hockey rink in the parking lot near Rockland Circle will be discussed at the next meeting between the Department of Conservation and Recreation and town officials, according to Constable.

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Paragon Carousel preparing for Easter opening, annual Derby Day celebration

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By Carol Britton Meyer

The Paragon Carousel is opening for the season April 19 – a welcome sign of spring!

Children will delight in having their photos taken with the Easter Bunny that day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by the traditional egg hunt the next day on Easter Sunday, starting promptly at noon. The carousel will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to making this one of our best seasons ever,” Friends of the Paragon Carousel President Marge West told The Hull Times. “We’re also looking ahead to the centennial of the carousel – 100 years on Nantasket Beach – in 2028.”

West said the Friends are grateful for local businesses and residents of Hull, Weymouth, Cohasset, Hingham, and beyond “who share our passion for the Paragon Carousel. We really appreciate their support and enjoyment of this simple pleasure.”

She said that one of the nicest things is seeing different generations of families returning year after year “with grandparents, parents, and new mothers all riding the Carousel together.”

There’s more excitement coming up next month with the Paragon Derby Day gala and fundraiser on Friday, May 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Participants will dress up as if they’re “going to the races” at Kentucky’s Churchill Downs and enjoy an evening of games, prizes, and socializing. Tickets are $50, which includes a derby hat contest; five “derby” races with prizes, silent auctions, finger foods, and a cash bar. Proceeds support the restoration and preservation of the historic carousel.

Sponsorship opportunities include a horse or chariot (including a promotional business sign displayed on the horse and an invitation to provide a derby hat for the horse to wear), an outside row standing horse for $350 (includes two event tickets), a first-row jumper for $250 (includes two event tickets), $200 for a second row jumper horse (one event ticket included), and $200 to sponsor a third or fourth row carousel horse (including one event ticket).

Derby Day fun continues Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the fun-filled Junior Derby, featuring a chance to wear your best derby hat, friendly competition during “races” throughout the afternoon amid the magic of the carousel, trivia, raffles, and surprises all day long.

“Race to Win” offers opportunities to enter one of six special carousel “races.” Race rides are $5 each, with a winner crowned and awarded a prize for each.

Other events coming up this season include the annual Flag Day observance on June 14 and Taylor Swift Tuesdays from June 24 through Aug. 26.

Visit www.paragoncarousel.com for information about the Paragon Carousel, to purchase event tickets, Derby Day sponsorships, and for full details about upcoming events.

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