Lifesaving Museum to mark milestone with launch of ‘Barbara Ann,’ a student-built boat

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By Carol Britton Meyer 

The Hull Lifesaving Museum’s high school boat-building program will mark another milestone next week as it launches its newest creation, a craft to be named in memory of a beloved Hull resident and familiar face at a landmark local restaurant.

TAKING A BOW: Hull High students, guided by Hull Lifesaving Museum Executive Director Michael McGurl, combined craftsmanship, teamwork, and maritime tradition to build a boat that will be launched on June 13 at Pemberton Pier. The ‘Barbara Ann’ is named in memory of Hull’s Barbara O’Brien. [Hull Lifesaving Museum photo]

The community is invited to a special boat launching ceremony on Friday, June 13, at 3 p.m. at Pemberton Pier to celebrate the dedication and launch of the Barbara Ann – a beautifully handcrafted Gloucester Gull pulling boat built this year by Hull High School students.

This newest vessel is “lovingly dedicated to Barbara Ann O’Brien, whose legacy of love, kindness, and service continues to shape the Hull community,” according to the museum.

From raising her family on Sunset Point to her role in the family-run Jake’s Seafood Restaurant on Nantasket Pier, O’Brien exemplified strength, generosity, and commitment.

The Barbara Ann is “a fitting tribute, crafted by the hands and hearts of the next generation in honor of a woman whose spirit lives on in the town she called home.”

Guided by museum Executive Director Michael McGurl, students engaged in a rigorous, hands-on project that combined craftsmanship, teamwork, and maritime tradition. Their work honors Hull’s seafaring heritage “and represents a growing effort to engage young people in maritime skills that benefit both personal growth and community connection,” according to a statement from the museum.

The boat building program – launched in January 2023 – is “very unique. There’s nothing like it on the South Shore,” McGurl told The Hull Times. “It offers an opportunity for students with no boat-building experience to learn valuable trade skills related to the marine environment and end up with a boat at the end of the program.”

The Barbara Ann will serve not only as a symbol of student achievement, but also as a platform for environmental exploration and education as part of HLM’s broader initiative.

The Barbara Ann will become a vital part of the museum’s growing fleet, supporting programs such as Summer Explorers, where children engage in hands-on marine science and water-based learning.

Participants, including youth, veterans, and individuals with developmental disabilities, “will deepen their connection to the local marine ecosystem while fostering curiosity, environmental stewardship, and a lasting love for the sea.”

The seven-week Summer Explorers program for ages 12-16 at the museum’s Windmill Point Boathouse, features a different maritime theme for each session.

The experience includes the museum’s fleet of open-water rowing vessels, the harbor, and the harbor islands.

Areas of focus include safety on the water, rowing and commanding (coxing) open-water rowing craft, operating outboard powered boats, harbor piloting and navigation, marine environment, and boat maintenance and boat building, while making connections to each other, “to our past and to our future.” Participants can sign up for any number of weeks.

The June 13 event celebrates not only the launch of the Barbara Ann, but also the dedication of Hull’s talented students, Hull’s community spirit, and generous support from Massachusetts’ Charitable Mechanics Association.

The museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich maritime heritage of Hull and its surrounding communities.

Looking ahead, “Upon completion of the current boathouse restoration project, there will be more space for the museum to host programs and special events,” McGurl said.

To help the lifesaving museum preserve a powerful piece of Hull’s maritime legacy, email info@hulllifesavingmuseum.org to learn more.

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Residents’ complaints prompt town to begin cleanup of knee-deep seaweed piles

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By Christopher Haraden

Amid complaints about large mounds of seaweed washed up on Nantasket Beach – and at least one dead deer – several town departments this week launched a plan for cleanup.

NO DAY AT THE BEACH: In response to residents’ complaints about massive amounts of seaweed washed up on Nantasket Beach, Hull’s public works crews began pushing the piles toward the water line to be taken by the outgoing tides. The work is expected to be completed by the end of the week. [Richard W. Green photo]

DPW Director Chris Gardner said Wednesday that crews are moving the seaweed down the beach toward shore be taken with the outgoing tides.

“The seaweed is being pushed back into the water with a front-end loader with a rake attachment,” Gardner said. “It’s been a practice we have used for years and works well. The town has a process that is required to follow before any machines can be put on the beach.”

On Tuesday, Public Health Director Rachel Gerold acknowledged in a memo that her office had “received numerous complaints from residents concerning the accumulation of seaweed from B Street to N Street.”

“The large accumulations of seaweed will, if not removed, become infested with insects and could pose a present or imminent threat to the health or safety of the general public,” she wrote.

“We have all worked collaboratively and swiftly on a solution for cleaning the beach between B Street to N Street,” she said Wednesday. “We all will continue to monitor all of North Nantasket Beach.”

According to the town’s beach management plan, seaweed is removed only from the area between mean high water and 10 feet seaward of the dune. Seaweed may be removed with hand rakes or, if the accumulation is large enough, with machinery.

Click here to read Hull’s beach management plan

Residents from other neighborhoods – from Kenberma to Gunrock – also reported large buildup of seaweed on their sections of the beach.

On Sunday, DPW crews removed a dead deer from the sand near the dune opening at Revere Street. Gardner said no heavy equipment was used in that process in order to comply with the town’s beach-cleaning regulations. A few days later, residents reported seeing another deer swimming in the ocean.

The DPW director estimated that the seaweed movement operation should be completed by the end of the week.

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Board’s officers to remain unchanged; members debate social media posts in contentious meeting

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By Carol Britton Meyer

During an often contentious select board meeting this week, Chair Irwin Nesoff, Vice Chair Greg Grey, and Clerk Jason McCann were elected to those same positions for the coming year, with board member Jerry Taverna nominating himself for all three seats. There were no seconds to his nomination motions.

The votes were 4-1 (with Taverna voting no) for the chair and vice chair positions. The vote for McCann to remain in the clerk seat was unanimous.

“Even if this might be ceremonial, I’m doing it as an example to help people understand how [the process] works,” Taverna said after nominating himself for vice chair.

While saying he was pleased with some board accomplishments during his first year, Taverna said he is “not completely onboard with a lot of things that have happened since. … The second year has not gone as expected.”

Select board members brian Mccarthy, greg Grey, Jason McCann, Irwin Nesoff, and Jerry Taverna.

Nesoff said he was out of order, saying that the board was in the process of making nominations.

After nominating himself for clerk, Taverna said again, “I know it’s ceremonial, but I’m trying to break into this board of officers. I’m willing to start at the bottom, gentlemen. Is there a second?”

There was no second, and McCann was elected on a unanimous vote.

Nesoff thanked board members for their confidence in him and explained that he expected the board to disagree in a respectful manner and to “treat each other with respect. Unfortunately, that is not the case with a board member who feels he needs to go on social media.” He did not mention a specific individual.

“Can I call you out of order?” Taverna asked, to which Nesoff responded, “Not at this time.”

Nesoff read a number of social media posts he said were made by the board member he referred to that he deemed “not acceptable.”

As a board, “we should respect each other and not call out another board member publicly,” he said. “Facebook is not the place for us to have disagreements, which belong in the board room among board members.”

Because of these posts, Nesoff asked that a copy of the “Dignity Pledge” recently supported by the board be placed in each member’s packet of information for that meeting.

Nesoff said he believed that everyone doesn’t have to agree on every issue.

A member of the audience said she knew who Nesoff was referring to and didn’t feel the posts were inappropriate. Another resident said she saw a post by a No Place for Hate Committee member “making derogatory comments” about someone running for office. “The select board should look at what other people are saying on Facebook,” she said.

“It would be up to the NPFH chair to address that,” Nesoff responded.

In other business…

• During select board updates, Nesoff said he wanted “to assure people that this board is not stonewalling on Article 37” which passed at the recent town meeting. The purpose of the article was to remove the town manager as the light plant manager.

“It’s a long process, not something we can do in [the] three weeks since town meeting met,” he said. “The town manager has met with counsel for the town and light plant to discuss next steps and legal ramifications, so that vote is not being ignored and is moving forward.” Town Manager Jennifer Constable was absent due to another commitment.

Taverna said he believes the select board should be involved “in those discussions, but that’s for the chair to decide.”

He added concerns about the 2024 select board retreat following an earlier mention of setting this year’s date – which he said was not attended by any members of the public, unlike the previous year’s.

“I don’t want to waste another Saturday going through that experience again and would like to see a clear agenda before I agree to attend,” he said. “The first one wasn’t bad.”

Nesoff asked Taverna to pause his comments because he said it was not the time “to critique our retreat meeting.”

“Should I prepare a statement?” Taverna asked, at which time Nesoff said, “If you continue, I will call you out of order.”

“Fair enough,” Taverna responded. “Mr. Chairman, the floor is yours.”

Nesoff said that “this is the time for select board updates,” to which Taverna responded, “I don’t want to be called out of order. It would be a stain on my good record.”

During the meeting, there was some back-and-forth discussion about when members of the audience are allowed to speak.

“We don’t have a public comment period. If an agenda item is posted, they can talk,” Grey explained. Article 37 was not on that night’s agenda.

Light Commissioner Jake Vaillancourt, who spearheaded Article 37 as a citizens’ petition, was in the audience. Following discussion with Nesoff, he said that “serious matters have been raised that haven’t been addressed, and there are more,” without giving specifics.

Nesoff suggested Vaillancourt request to have this issue put on an upcoming agenda.

Vaillancourt said he was not available for the June 11 board meeting but plans to attend the June 25 meeting “after sending the board some information.”

“We will follow up directly,” Nesoff responded.

When asked by light board member Tom Burns whether public comment is only accepted when an item is on an agenda, Grey said that agenda items involve “discussions with an audience. If we go by the fly [and talk about items not on the agenda], anyone could go with any topic they want.” Public comment on agenda items is encouraged.

McCann noted that if items are discussed that aren’t on the agenda, citizens who watch the meeting live on community television or later on the replay could say, “I didn’t realize the board was going to talk about this.”

“It’s about transparency and giving notice, and not having an item that’s discussed on the agenda is a huge disservice to the community,” he said.

Citizens who wish for certain items to be placed on an agenda are encouraged to email a member of the select board, the town manager, or assistant town manager, “and if appropriate, we will see about putting them on a future agenda,” Nesoff said.

• Nesoff read a proclamation declaring Saturday, June 7, as Hull Pride Day. This will be the town’s 12th annual Pride celebration.

• The board approved Public Health Nurse Elizabeth Gudmand’s request to host an event with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute Sun Safety and Skin Care Prevention Program van on the HRA property for skin cancer prevention screenings and Dana-Farber’s mammography van to do breast cancer prevention screenings at the Manet Community Health Center on June 12 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Rhoda Kanet was appointed as a member of Hull’s newly created 250th Anniversary Committee, created to help celebrate the USA’s semiquincentennial anniversary.

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A day of remembrance and reflection: Memorial Day 2025

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On Monday, May 26, the town observed Memorial Day with the traditional parade from Hull High School down Main Street to Spring Street, and ending at the Gold Star Mothers Memorial at Hull Village Cemetery.

The keynote speaker this year was Colonel Francis J. Curtis (Retired), who served for more than 32 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. His is a recipient of the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart.

Following the ceremony, town officials dedicated four squares in memory of Hull veterans — Joseph Mario Grieco, Sr. at Standish Avenue and Beacon Road; John D. Zullo at D Street and Nantasket Avenue (on the beach side); the Chase family – including Robert, Joseph, John, and Harold – at Samoset Avenue and Phipps Street; and Edward Charles O’Brien at Edgewater Road and Sixth Street.

Photos by Skip Tull and James Lampke.

Following the parade, marchers gathered at the Gold Star Mothers Memorial at Hull Village Cemetery… [Skip Tull photo]

David Irwin of Hull American Legion Post 140… [Skip Tull photo]

Chloe Hedrick sang the National Anthem… [Skip Tull photo]

Hull Police Officer Leanne Marshalsea and Officer Peddocks… [Skip Tull photo]

Colonel Frank Curtis was the keynote speaker… [Skip Tull photo] 

Marchers in the parade included Hull’s police and fire departments, town officials, and community groups… [Skip Tull photo]

Point Allerton Coast Guard Commander Justin Young handed out small American flags… [Skip Tull photo]

 The Rev. Scott Euvrard gave the invocation… [Skip Tull photo]

A gun salute marked the dedication of squares in memory of local veterans. [James Lampke photo]

 A square was dedicated in honor of Joseph Mario Grieco, Sr. at Standish Avenue and Beacon Road. [James Lampke photo]

 A square was dedicated in honor of the Chase family – including Robert, Joseph, John, and Harold – at Samoset Avenue and Phipps Street. [James Lampke photo]

A square was dedicated in honor of John D. Zullo at D Street and Nantasket Avenue. [James Lampke photo]

A square was dedicated in honor of Edward Charles O’Brien at Edgewater Road and Sixth Street. [James Lampke photo]

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Hull man faces ‘open and gross lewdness’ charge after exposing himself while driving

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By Christopher Haraden

A 39-year-old Hull man was arrested on Tuesday after four teenage girls reported that he performed a lewd act while driving next to them on George Washington Boulevard.

FILIP CERNY

Filip Cerny was arrested Tuesday and charged with open and gross lewdness, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, as the Hull Police Department’s investigation confirmed that Cerny exposed himself while driving unsafely in order to maintain eye contact with passengers in a car in the next lane.

According to a report by Sgt. Edward Minelli, “Mr. Cerny expressed that he did not intend for the girls to see what he was doing. Mr. Cerny expressed that he had been masturbating for one minute while driving and that he stopped when the girls saw him.”

However, in separate interviews with Hull Police Department sexual assault investigator Officer Leanne Marshalsea, the three 19-year-old girls and one 18-year-old recounted the same circumstances of the incident, which occurred around 4 p.m. on Monday.

The 19-year-old driver told police “that she tried to speed up but the van accelerated with her remaining next to her vehicle,” according to Marshalsea’s report. “She stated that at some point she slowed down and that the vehicle also slowed down in an effort to maintain the same speed as her.” She said the driver “looked over in their direction several times but did not make any facial expressions or say anything.”

All four girls said their vehicle and minivan were side by side traveling into Hull until the two lanes merged into one lane near Cumberland Farms on Nantasket Avenue. They followed the minivan until it turned off at A Street.

In the interview room at Hull Police headquarters on Tuesday, Cerny admitted to masturbating but “the ladies weren’t supposed to see anything,” according to the incident report.

Cerny was arraigned later that day in Hingham District Court and released on personal recognizance with the condition that he have no contact with any of the victims or witnesses.

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

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Compiled by Matt Haraden 

• Hull High Baseball qualified for the state tournament, beating South Shore Vo-Tech, 7-5, in the Pirates’ latest game. Ted Hipp got the win on the mound, pitching 6-2/3 innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Ken Autio got the save, recording a strikeout in the final third of an inning. Luke Dunham went 3/3 from the plate. The 10-10 team will host Avon on Thursday, May 29 at home in the Pirates’ final game of the season.

• The Hull High Girls Lacrosse team is heading into its final game with a 10-8 record, after winning the last two games. The Pirates defeated Rockland, 11-2, on May 21 and Mashpee, 15-12, on May 23. Next up is an away game against Swampscott on Sunday, June 1 at 4:30 p.m.

FORWARD MARCH: Members of the Hull Girls Softball team get ready to march in the Memorial Day Parade outside the high school on Monday morning. [Courtesy photo]

• Girls Softball D1 Team 1 wrapped up its season this past Tuesday, May 27, with a game in Hingham. A great season was had by all girls, including Jameson Mooney, Shakti Mundo, Keira MacLeod, Iris McMullen, Ava Noonan, and Aubrey Sampson.

• D2 Softball is 4-4 before playing the final game of the season on Wednesday, May 28, with a 16-8 win against Scituate. Emma Medina was hot at bat, going 3-3 after pitching four strikeouts in the first two innings on the mound. Ryleigh Mooney contributed in the final inning on the mound with a strikeout and two outs at first. Erin Goodfellow had a two-RBI hit in the final inning.

BEACHY KEEN: On Tuesday night, the Girls 3/4 soccer team made the most of a beautiful evening with a beach practice and some post-practice ice cream. It was a great way to build team spirit, and have fun on an alternative playing surface. [Courtesy photo]

• 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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Can you believe it? Castiglione to speak at temple sports brunch

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Temple Beth Sholom will host retired Red Sox announcer Joe Castiglione at its sports brunch on Sunday, June 15.

Castiglione, known for his 42 years announcing Red Sox games, will be the featured speaker at the event, which begins at 10 a.m. at the temple.

He joined the Red Sox in 1983. At the end of the 1992 season, Castiglione became the team's lead radio announcer, along with Jerry Trupiano. His voice became nationally known when the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, as his unforgettable “Can you believe it?” became a catchphrase.

In August 2014, Castiglione was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, and in 2023, he was named as the 2024 recipient of the Ford C. Frick  Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, and later accepted the award during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend in July 2024.

A raffle for Red Sox tickets will be held; tickets are $5 each or three for $10. Two seats at each game on July 11 and August 6 are the raffle prizes.

Cost is $15 per person; children under 18 are free. RSVP at www.tbshull.org/sports-brunch.html.

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Firefighters Memorial Sunday set for June 8 at Hull Village Cemetery

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On Sunday, June 8, the Hull Fire Department will celebrate Firefighters Memorial Sunday at the Hull Village Cemetery beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Firefighters Memorial Sunday is held each year on the second Sunday in June to honor all the active and retired Hull Firefighters who have passed away during the last year. This has been a tradition for more than 100 years throughout the country.

Memorial Sunday is sponsored by the Hull Firefighters Relief Association, organized in 1925; it provides a small benefit to the families of deceased members at a time of need.

Firefighters Memorial Sunday is also the department’s annual awards ceremony, when members are recognized for actions above and beyond the call of duty during the year.

In the event of heavy rain, the service will be held indoors at the Central Fire Station at A Street. The public is invited to attend.

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McCarthy, Nesoff returned to select board; Hedrick, Littlefield, and Kilroe win school committee seats

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A total of 1,402 voters participated in Monday’s annual town election, re-electing select board members Brian McCarthy and Irwin Nesoff and turning out one incumbent, housing authority member Kathleen Bogdan.

McCarthy received 881 votes and Nesoff finished with 782, topping challenger Christopher Niland, who earned 475 votes, according to results released Monday night by Town Clerk Lori West shortly after the polls closed at 8 p.m. Turnout was about 15% of Hull’s total 9,263 registered voters.

Lisa Boretti defeated Kathleen Bogdan, 660 votes to 504, in the race for a five-year seat on the Hull Housing Authority. Nichole Londergan was unopposed for a three-year seat.

On the school committee, incumbent Liliana Hedrick and Brendan Kilroe won three-year terms, with 828 and 742 votes, respectively as former school committee member Ernest Minelli IV fell short in a bid to return to the board with 513 votes. Courtney Littlefield, who was appointed last year after Minelli resigned for personal reasons, retained her seat over Linda Hetue in the contest for a one-year term, 938 votes to 222.

The planning board has two new members, as Abby Klieman defeated Edwin Parsons for a five-year term (771 to 448) and Chandelle Schulte was unopposed for a three-year seat.

Other races were unopposed. Incumbents winning new terms were Town Moderator George Boylen, Town Clerk Lori West, assessor Richard Morris, light commissioners Thomas Burns and Daniel Ciccariello, and library trustee Alice Sloan. DJ Simon won the second open seat on the library board.

A school committee meeting to reorganize after the election that was scheduled for Tuesday night was canceled. The housing authority will meet on Tuesday, May 27 at 1:30 p.m. over Zoom, and the select board meets again on Wednesday, May 28 at 7 p.m. at town hall.

Full results are below.

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Despite members’ reservations and easement uncertainty, ZBA approves Rockaway Annex condos

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By Carol Britton Meyer

After reviewing the proposal for a four-story, 12-unit condominium development in the Rockaway Annex neighborhood since last August, the zoning board of appeals approved the project by a 2-1 vote Tuesday night.

However, an unresolved access easement issue could halt the plans for 25 Ipswich Street, which is being proposed under the state’s Chapter 40B comprehensive permit process. The ZBA vote came after the board wrapped up the final details of its written decision, related conditions, and waivers requested by the developer.

ZBA member Richard Hennessey voted against the project and didn’t hold back on expressing his opposition.

“Nothing personal, but this is a terrible project that doesn’t benefit the town,” he said. “It benefits the developer, and I find it to be a detriment to the neighborhood and its occupants. I don’t like it one bit.”

“Many members of the public and town folks are against this project, and I want it to be known that their voices have been heard and that I feel terrible about it,” he said.

Unlike most ZBA votes, those related to comprehensive permits are not required to be unanimous.

‘I’m certainly disappointed’

ZBA member Ed Parsons had concerns of his own but said he decided to vote “yes” because of the affordable housing component.

After Hennessey voted no, ZBA Chair Patrick Finn asked him if he would accept a motion to reconsider in order “to make the vote unanimous.”

“No,” was Hennessey’s reply, to which Finn responded, “I’m certainly disappointed.”

Town Counsel Brian Winner noted that “this is the first stop in a very long process. Alot of this is conceptual.”

The Residences at Rockaway, proposed by developer and Hull resident Alan Mckenzie, 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.

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 ratio of affordable units is 1.6%, according to the state’s formula.

‘I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes’

Before the expected affirmative vote was taken, Finn told the development team: “This is not as cut and dried as yes, good luck, you’re all set, but proceed at your own risk is essentially how I look at my favorable vote. Please do your due diligence to see if this is even doable financially and legal-wise. It’s a lot, I think, and a risk, and I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”

Finn was referring, in part, to the unresolved issue of an access easement over the neighboring property at 20 Ipswich St. that is necessary to carry out the current development proposal.

The developer had planned to use the easement as an alternative access road and for the installation of utilities to service the project, but the property owner is opposed to this plan and has challenged the validity of the easement.

Lawyers for the abutters have submitted letters describing the easement as void because it was not properly filed at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds.

In response to a question from a ZBA member, Winner explained what would happen if the easement issue is not resolved.

“If the determination is made that the developer has no right to the easement, they will have to decide what they want to do with this project and conditions in the decision,” he said. “If they can’t build the development as proposed and approved, all bets are off and they could [present] plan B if they want to, which has not been vetted by the ZBA.”

Changing plans would trigger another separate review process.

Controversial process

Dean Harrison, housing consultant for the developer, said after the vote that while he hoped it would be a unanimous decision, “We do understand that this is a very controversial process. I don’t see anyone coming out of this as the overall winner except for the people who get to live in this housing, which will be a high-quality product that [the town] will be proud of once it’s done.”

“We’ll be back in front of you with good news, bad news… ” he said in closing out his remarks at the end of the meeting.

Earlier, Finn remarked that the process must be “stressful [to the developer] as a Hull resident doing something that has never done before,” referring to this being the only approved Chapter 40B project in the town’s history. “It’s like reinventing the wheel.”

Visit the online version of this story for more details on this project, including reports, plans, and architectural renderings.

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

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