Board signs agreement to allow existing marijuana dispensary to open a retail sales operation

By Carol Britton Meyer

The select board this week unanimously approved a Host Community Agreement with Alternative Compassion Services that will allow the business at 175 George Washington Boulevard to sell retail marijuana.

Alternative compassion services at 175 george washington boulevard, which is on its way to becoming hull’s first retail marijuana shop.

The planning board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, December 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial School, 81 Central Ave., for a site plan review and to consider ACS’s request for the issuance of a marijuana overlay district special permit.

In early November, the board unanimously agreed to enter into an HCA with ACS to sell retail marijuana in addition to the medical marijuana that has been sold at the current location for the past two-and-a-half years.

Town meeting earlier authorized allowing up to two retail marijuana establishments in town.

What Town Manager Jennifer Constable called “a fairly standard Cannabis Control Commission template” includes general definitions, that ACS will operate as a marijuana retailer and medical marijuana treatment center in the marijuana overlay district, the laws under which the facility will operate, their security plan, and that ACS will hire locally – as well as minorities, Indigenous people, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people – whenever possible.

ACS will pay an annual community impact fee not to exceed 3% of gross sales related to any infrastructure improvements, public safety, inspectional services, or other expenses “as reasonably related to the actual costs imposed by the company.” These will be submitted to ACS by the town on an annual basis.

ACS hosted a community outreach meeting Monday night, according to ACS President Stephen Werther, who signed the document at the end of the HCA discussion.

“We very much appreciate your hard work,” he told the board.

The next step is submitting their application to the state CCC.

Regarding the remaining number of potential HCAs, Constable clarified a question that arose during an earlier meeting as to whether the combined medical and retail operations at the ACS site constituted the two maximum HCAs that can be awarded at the town’s discretion.

“The legal opinion is that this is one HCA, leaving an additional HCA that can be issued,” she said.

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Festival of Trees, Flying Santa highlight museum’s season of holiday activities

By Carol Britton Meyer 

The Hull Lifesaving Museum is celebrating the holiday season with a Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees, featuring 20 beautifully decorated evergreens – twice as many as last year – that will create a magical atmosphere and double the cheer.

Other events include a visit by Flying Santa on December 7; the December 14 annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count; and an opportunity for children to drop off letters to the jolly fellow in a special mailbox.

To kick off the festivities, Wonderly Lights of the South Shore “very graciously professionally decorated the outside of the museum for the second time,” Museum Director of Development Maureen Gillis told The Hull Times.

Wonderly Lights, which offers professional holiday and Christmas light installation, reached out to the museum again this year in support of its “saving lives then, changing lives now” mission and offered to install white lights on the outside of the building to help attract more visitors during the winter months.

Museum open for entire week

The second annual Festival of Trees will be open to the public from Saturday, December 14 to Friday, December 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The entrance fee is $20 for families and $10 for individuals. The museum will be open for the entire week for this special event.

Visitors will cast their votes for “Best in Show,” with the winner earning “a year of bragging rights,” Gillis said.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For $100, businesses and individuals can create a “dazzling holiday masterpiece” while spreading joy to local veterans and their families, who will be gifted the trees at the end of the week to brighten their holiday season. The trees will be delivered by resident Craig Wolfe on December 21.

“There’s a limit of 20 trees, and spots fill quickly!” Gillis said.

The museum supplies beautiful trees and sturdy stands; the decorators provide their own unique creative talents, lights, ornaments, and tree skirts.

Showcasing creativity and community spirit

The names of sponsors will be prominently featured on an elegant sign beside their trees. “This is the perfect opportunity [for community members] to showcase their creativity and community spirit,” Gillis said.

Decorating night is planned for Friday, December 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. Participants will enjoy light refreshments and holiday cheer generously provided by Jake’s Seafood Restaurant as each tree is brought to life.

To sign up as a sponsor or for more information, contact maureen@hulllifesavingmuseum.org.

The Festival of Trees is sponsored by Home Depot, Jake’s Seafood, Lowe’s, Craig Wolfe, and Wonderly Lights of the South Shore.

Proceeds from the event will support the museum’s many programs throughout the year.

Santa will arrive by helicopter

According to tradition, Santa will pay a visit to the museum at 1117 Nantasket Ave. on Saturday, December 7, arriving by helicopter, which lands nearby, for photos with children and families. The museum is proud to have been a “Candy Cane Stop” on Flying Santa’s voyage for many years, and again this year. The expected arrival time is about 12.30 p.m., subject to weather conditions.

“Flying Santa, a New England-wide program, has been celebrating those who guard our shores for years, first by dropping off gifts for lightkeepers and now by visiting Coast Guard families with a gift for every Coast Guard child at the Point Allerton station,” Gillis explained.

The arrival time is not definite due to weather uncertainty. After stopping at the museum, the helicopter carrying its special passenger will pass over Boston Light as a tribute to that icon and on to another Coast Guard station.

Bird Count for lovers of outdoors and nature

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count on December 14 will be an exciting day for anyone who loves the outdoors and nature. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly and bring a camera and binoculars. There will be a midday break at the museum for coffee, tea, cookies, and restrooms. To learn more about this event and other holiday activities at the museum, email Maureen@hulllifesavingmuseum.org or call 781-925-5433.

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Committee’s survey aims to take stock, set priorities for increasing access to Hull’s miles of coastline

By Carol Britton Meyer 

A committee taking stock of the areas in Hull where residents have access to the water is asking residents to participate in a survey to help compile information on the community’s use of the beach and bay.

Citizens are encouraged to complete an online Hull Community Waterfront Access Survey to share where and how they access the waterfront and which access sites are most important to them, among other questions. Input gained from the responses will help the waterfront access working group prioritize its efforts.

The survey is available at http://tinyurl.com/hullwaterfront, with a Sunday, December 15, deadline.

The working group was formed following an independent study of known waterfront access points by the Woods Hole Group, which was hired by the town.

Assessment of town-owned waterfront property under way

Its role is to work with the consultants to identify and develop an assessment of town-owned waterfront property, with the ultimate goal of providing public waterfront access wherever possible.

Sites will be prioritized based on potential use, fair distribution, and neighborhood benefits, balanced with cost considerations.

“One of the best things about Hull is its physical location, surrounded by water,” working group Chair Scott Taylor told The Hull Times, noting that there are more than 160 public waterfront access points in town.

He first became involved with access issues a number of years ago with regard to the access point across from his family’s Hampton Circle home, collecting 90 names on a petition asking the town to address safety issues at that location.

As it turned out, a number of other petitions were being circulated asking for similar waterfront access issues in their own neighborhoods to be addressed, as well as inquiries to town officials related to waterfront access.

Around 2021, he was part of an effort to seek Community Preservation Act funding to address some of these issues, but the window for applications for that round of funding had already closed.

Study paid for with CPA funds

A couple of years ago, the Woods Hole Group study was commissioned, paid for with roughly $30,000 in CPA funds.

The study includes an assessment and prioritization of existing waterfront access; information about whether public access has been established and what type; parking availability, including handicapped parking spaces; and any coastal/wetland resource areas – coastal beach, dune, bank, saltmarsh, among others – present at those locations.

Taylor explained that while he has his own interests concerning waterfront access, “they have to be balanced with the needs of everyone else. I wanted to be part of this effort to fairly and accurately judge these access sites.”

Existing town-owned waterfront parcels without existing public access were inventoried as part of the study for review by the working group to determine the top five parcels to be evaluated further for potential creation of new public waterfront access.

After reviewing the Woods Hole report, the working group created teams to look at the sites mentioned.

“We learned a lot. We found access points that weren’t in the report and thought if we didn’t know about them before, maybe other residents don’t either,” Taylor said. “There also may be individuals who may have lived here all their lives who know of others that were not included.”

These realizations led to the development of the survey, with the goal of collecting data from the town as a whole to provide the working group with more “widespread knowledge.”

All residents encouraged to take the survey

While not everyone will participate, all residents will have the opportunity to do so.

“We would like to hear from as many as possible,” Taylor said. “We want to clarify the town’s waterfront access points, whether town-owned or not, to make it clear where they are and where [public] waterfront access is allowed.”

The overall purpose of the survey is to collect information that will be helpful to the working group, which will not make any decisions.

“We’ll be providing a summary of all the information we gather about waterfront access points and make recommendations,” Taylor explained. “The next step is to consider how to make improvements with community participation.”

A “no action” approach is not acceptable, he said. “We need to provide a working document the town can move forward with to solve some of the issues [related to waterfront access]. We’re doing our best to sift through all of the information we can find and make good recommendations.”

Taylor said that the study will recognize that some of the town’s many summer and year-round residents own waterfront property, while others do not.

“Whatever we recommend has to respect the rights of all residents, guests, and abutters,” he said. “We want to ensure the protection of and improve [public]waterfront access. It’s priceless.”

More information is available at the 2024 Waterfront Access Working Group tab on the planning board’s page on the town’s website or by clicking here.

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Lifesaving Museum welcomes new feathered friends: Meet roosters Joshua and James

This week brought an unusual surprise to the Hull Lifesaving Museum. On Monday morning, as staff members arrived to begin their day, they were greeted by two unexpected visitors perched on the ramp – two friendly roosters.

Efforts to locate their owner began immediately. Museum staff made calls to neighbors, hoping the roosters might have escaped accidentally. However, no one seemed to know where they came from, leading to the assumption that they had been abandoned. The Hull Lifesaving Museum then contacted animal control, which worked to identify any possible owners.

In the meantime, the roosters needed names, and the museum drew inspiration from its rich history. The birds were christened Joshua and James, in honor of the legendary lifesaving captain Joshua James, who was stationed at Point Allerton.

During their stay, Joshua and James enjoyed top-notch hospitality. The museum provided them with food, water, and a safe environment. The roosters even got to bask in the festive glow of the museum’s Christmas lights, a display generously created by Wonderly Lights of South Shore.

By Thursday, Joshua and James found their forever home at Three Sisters Homestead in Scituate, where they are sure to thrive.

This charming episode is a reminder of Hull Lifesaving Museum’s enduring motto: “Saving Lives Then, Changing Lives Now.” Whether it’s rescuing those in peril or finding shelter for two wayward roosters, the museum remains dedicated to making a difference in every life it touches.

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Fire department, Campbell Christmas Angels teaming up for holiday toy collection

The Hull Fire Department and Campbell Christmas Angels are joining forces to distribute toys for the Hull Fire Annual Toy Drive.

Central Fire Station is the designated drop off location for the program through December 16.

All donations must be in their original boxes and the items cannot be gift wrapped. We will be accepting toys for age groups, newborn to 18 years old.

Collecting toys is a great initiative for school groups, book groups, etc. Gift cards would also be appreciated.

If you have any questions regarding this wonderful program, please contact Chief Chris Russo, program director, or Jane Walsh, program coordinator, at the Hull Fire Department, 781-773-3875, or jwalsh@town.hull.ma.us.

Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!

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Traditional Thanksgiving bonfire on hold as dry conditions pose public safety risks

By Christopher Haraden

Because of the heightened risk for fires due to the dry weather conditions, Hull’s annual Thanksgiving bonfire has been postponed.

THE FIRE NEXT TIME. Crews have been assembling a pile of wooden pallets on the Hull Redevelopment Authority property in anticipation of the annual Thanksgiving bonfire. However, risks from the state’s severe drought have prompted a postponement of the event until weather conditions improve. [Richard W. Green photo]

In a statement posted online Wednesday morning, Fire Chief Chris Russo cited the continuing drought and hazardous conditions across the state as the reasons for the delay. Wildfires across Eastern Massachusetts have been burning in several communities during the past few weeks, clouding the local atmosphere with smoky conditions.

“We are all aware of the current dry weather which has brought drought and hazardous conditions to the entire state, including the currently active North Shore wildland fires,” Russo said. “Unfortunately, the risk posed by these continuing conditions will have a local impact. After careful consideration, a longstanding Hull Thanksgiving Day tradition, the annual bonfire, is being postponed.”

Russo said he understood the community’s affinity for the bonfire, which is traditionally held on the Hull Redevelopment Authority’s property after dark on Thanksgiving Day, but concerns about safety are top priority. The HRA last week had approved holding the fire for Thursday, November 28, and crews already were piling wooden pallets on the property.

The tradition began in the 1960s as a way to build on the community spirit of Hull High’s football rivalry with neighboring Cohasset. The first bonfires were held at the Dust Bowl playground at Pemberton and later moved to the HRA site after the land was cleared of homes and businesses in the 1970s. This year’s football game will be held in Cohasset at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, November 28.

“While I recognized that this news will come as a disappointment to many in the community, as Hull’s fire chief, decisions in the best interest of public safety must come first and foremost,” he said. “This decision is supported by all department leadership who prepare well in advance to manage this event in the safest possible way each and every year.”

Russo said he will stay in contact with the town manager, police, public works, and light departments to select a new date when weather conditions are more favorable.

“As a resident, I believe this annual Thanksgiving Day tradition brings the community together, much like the football game and the gift of friends and family that we celebrate each Thanksgiving, most of which will remain unchanged,” the chief said. “The town is committed to rescheduling this cherished tradition and will do so in resilient Hull fashion. Stay tuned for the new date!”

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Girls Soccer Team's historic quest for championship ends with 3-2 loss in state finals

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Congratulations to the Hull High Girls Soccer Team on an incredibly exciting season! The Pirates advanced to the Division 5 State Finals for the first time in program history, but came up one goal short, losing 3-2 to the Douglas Tigers. Elly Thomas and Libby Harper scored the Pirates’ two goals in the championship game. The entire community is proud of this team’s dedicated players and coaches, and enjoyed cheering them on all season!

HISTORIC SEASON. The Hull Girls Soccer Team outplayed all opponents in the playoffs to advance to the state finals on Saturday. Despite a valiant effort, the Pirates fell to the Douglas Tigers, 3-2. Although the game was played at Curry College in Milton, the stands were loud with proud Pirates fans who made the trip to support the history-making team. Click here for a full gallery of photos from the game, by Jennifer Lynne Photography. [Jennifer Whelan photos]

Three Pirates players were recognized as Eastern Massachusetts Girls Soccer Coaches Association All-Stars – Elly Thomas, Elsie Harper, and Fallon Ryan. The All-Star game was played on Sunday, November 24 in Woburn.

• Two members of the Hull High Football Team have been selected as South Shore League All-League players – junior Isaiah Green and senior Luke Dunham. Congratulations to both, and to the entire Pirates team, which finished up its season on Thanksgiving Day game with a loss to the Cohasset Skippers, 51-0.

• With both the Thanksgiving Day football game and the girls soccer finals in the rearview mirror, attention now turns to Hull High’s winter sports season. The Boys Basketball team (varsity and JV) begins the 2024-25 year on the road against Falmouth Academy on Friday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. (JV at 5 p.m.). The Girls Varsity team begins on Wednesday, December 11 at home against Plymouth South at 5 p.m., while the JV squad will be at Randolph on Friday, December 13 at 4 p.m. The first meet for the Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams will be on Monday, December 16 at 6 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

For more information, visit www.hullpublicschools.org/athletics.

• All three Hull Youth Cheerleading squads dominated the competition with spectacular performances at the Old Colony Youth Cheerleading Association League Championship on Saturday, November 23 in Marshfield. Both the A Squad and the B Squad won first place, while the C Squad came away with a second-place finish. Great work by the team and coaches for an amazing season!

• Hull Youth Lacrosse registration is open until January 22 – in-town registration, kindergarten to second grade, boys and girls travel registration, third to eighth grade, boys and girls. Register at hulllax.com; if you have questions, email hullyouthlax@gmail.com.

• 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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© 2024 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Board agrees with engineers’ opinion to retain two-way traffic on Beach Avenue

By Carol Britton Meyer

A report by an engineering firm hired by the town to monitor traffic along Beach Avenue between A and L streets recently recommended that portion of the road retain two-way traffic flow, observing that it “currently operates at low volume and speed.”

The BETA Group was tasked with evaluating a possible two-way to one-way conversion of Beach Avenue. Following a lengthy discussion, the select board voted this week to approve BETA’s recommendation from its August 28 report.

The police and fire departments earlier expressed an interest in changing this stretch of the street to one-way to enhance emergency access.

However, following a review of the BETA study, both departments were in agreement with other town staff to keep the road two-way, Town Manager Jennifer Constable said. She also thanked residents for their input during the process.

Before the vote, a resident living in the area suggested perhaps making Beach Avenue one-way during the summer months, but Merrick Turner of the BETA Group said doing so would make it difficult to manage “all of those side streets,” and that making such a change would most likely result in it becoming a permanent one.

BETA conducted a 72-hour traffic count between Thursday, July 11 and Sunday, July 14 during nice weather at two locations along Beach Avenue and determined that “the traffic volume along [that road] is low” – about 500 to 700 vehicles per day for the average weekday, with Saturday volumes slightly lower at 400 to 500 vehicles per day, and Sunday activity similar to weekday volumes, according to the report.

The 85th percentile speeds – the speed at or below which 85% of drivers travel along a portion of a road — were observed at 20 to 24 miles per hour.

Select board member Brian McCarthy remarked that he found the low volumes and speeds that were reported “surprising.”

BETA also monitored pedestrian activity and parking demand on Sunday, July 21, when the weather was warm and sunny.

“Most pedestrian activity is in an east-to-west direction (and vice versa) crossing Beach Avenue as residents walk to and from the beach,” the report states. “There is typically an entrance to the beach at the end of each of the intersecting alphabet streets, and therefore multiple crossing points. Pedestrian crossing activity appears to peak around mid-day, and up to approximately 50 to 60 pedestrians were observed crossing at various points along Beach Avenue over a 20-minute time period.”

About five bicyclists were observed along Beach Avenue over a 30-minute mid-day period.

BETA also reported that parking along abutter frontage was observed to be minimal, with most parking occurring within the road, with vehicles stopping to unload people visiting the beach.

Although the road is narrow, with a drivable width of about 20 feet, “the low volumes and low speeds along the roadway appear to allow for a safe interaction between the various users,” according to the report.

Concerns expressed by residents at the meeting related in part to cars that park on the intermittent sidewalks, forcing pedestrians to walk in the street, and a request to install crosswalks where feasible.

BETA staff met with town officials on August 20 to discuss general operations and adjustments that could be made.

The following observations resulted:

⦁ According to the Hull Police Department, Beach Avenue was originally a wider street, but encroachment of the dunes has over time reduced its width. DPW officials noted that other than maintenance operations limited to pushing back encroaching sand by approximately 18 inches, reclaiming the original road width is not permitted.

⦁ Traffic volumes were not expected to be an issue if conversion to one-way were to take place. However, BETA noted that one-way operations could create issues related to accommodating all users and could lead to increased vehicle speeds and “confusion and conflict with bicycle users, who would likely desire to use the roadway in both directions.”

⦁ Installation of a sidewalk and the striping of crosswalks across Beach Avenue at the end of each of the alphabet streets were also considered. Installing a sidewalk on one side of the street is estimated at $350,000, however, not including drainage relocations, and could require modification to one-way operation. Striping about 10 crosswalks would require signage at each one.

⦁ Striping the 20-foot shoulders on either side was deemed impractical since the resulting street would be two narrow for two-way traffic.

⦁ Creating seasonal landing areas at beach entrances using barrels or stanchions to create an obstacle for approaching traffic also was discussed. However, the police department expressed concern about nighttime operations related to “any device encroaching into the roadway” and that they might need to be lit.

In its recommendation that the road remain two-way, BETA noted that any modification would have operational impacts, “which may create more negatives than positives to the general convenience, safety, and use of Beach Avenue and may be less desirable to the community. As such, maintaining existing conditions appears to be a reasonable alternative.”

BETA also suggested continued education for the community, including the periodic use of “dynamic signage” such as sign boards to emphasize the need for “slow operation and caution” along Beach Avenue, and evaluating the feasibility of placement of permanent signs.

Another suggestion offered by BETA is the possibility of improving the sight lines at the dune entrances where needed.

BETA also presented the possibility of rebuilding Beach Avenue from Revere Street to Lewis Street at the town’s expense, since such a project would likely not qualify for funding under the state Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP. Estimates range from $420,000 to $580,000, depending on which option is selected. The repairs would be expected to last for between 10 to 15 years, according to BETA engineers.

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Rebuilding Manomet, Samoset Avenues could include one-way traffic, sidewalks, bike lanes

By Carol Britton Meyer

The town has begun planning the long-awaited reconstruction of Manomet and Samoset Avenues, decried by neighbors for their poor condition and described this week by one resident as an ‘obstacle course’ of potholes and uneven pavement.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable told the select board this week that no design decisions have been made, but community input will be sought throughout the process. Final plans may include new accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians, and could include changing one or both roads to one-way traffic instead of the current two-way setup on each street.

Funding could come from the State Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for a more comprehensive project, or entirely from town funds for a simpler one. Various one- and two-way traffic options are under consideration, as well as different parking scenarios.

“A lot more community outreach is needed for this project,” Constable said. “I recommend going forward to determine what this would look like as a TIP project, because it would be more inclusive and provide more accessibility for bikers, walkers, and others.”

No specific design in mind

At Constable’s suggestion, the select board voted to endorse moving forward with the next steps, without specifying which design would be chosen.

A Manomet resident said he was thrilled to see on the agenda that “this obstacle course would be fixed” and asked that measures be included to help decrease the speed of some vehicles in the area.

Options for rehabilitating Samoset Avenue could range from $3.1 to $6.1 million and for Manomet Avenue, $2.8 to $5.5 million, based on a chart provided by the BETA Group engineering firm.

Click here for more details from the BETA Group on the road projects

All of the estimates include constructing pedestrian ramps at the intersections and some include shoulder and sidewalk reconstruction, while another includes construction of a concrete sidewalk with granite curbing down one side of the road.

These estimates are in 2024 dollars and include engineering/construction phase support, police details, and a general contingency.

The BETA Group was hired to complete an assessment of a series of typical sections of Manomet and Samoset, in part to help determine the general feasibility of providing the pedestrian and bicycle accommodations that are required under the TIP process.

On-street parking a consideration

The town has identified on-street parking as an important consideration for reconstruction of these roads. In a recent report, BETA provided scenarios to meet all of these criteria.

Seventy-two hour traffic counts were taken between Thursday, July 11 and Sunday, July 14, with 24-hour volume and speed recorded for each day.

“The traffic volume on each roadway is minor,” Merrick Turner of the BETA Group said in a memorandum to the town. “Along Samoset Avenue, traffic volumes are approximately 1,100 to 1,200 vehicles per day (vpd) for the average weekday and Saturday, with higher Sunday volumes (approximately 1,800 to 2,100 vpd).”

Along Manomet Avenue, traffic volumes are approximately 500 to 600 vehicles per day for the average weekday and Saturday. Sunday volumes are higher at about 900 to 1,100 vpd.

The 85th percentile speeds were observed at 27 mph to 29 mph on Samoset Avenue and 22 mph to 25 mph on Manomet Avenue “and are not indicative of excessive speeds in the corridor,” according to Turner. The 85th percentile speed is the speed at or below which 85% of drivers travel.

Town meeting allocated $500,000

Within the TIP process, the town would be responsible for temporary and permanent easement costs and may or may not elect to “bear the costs of certain abutter impacts, such as relocated walls and fences,” the memo states. “A one-way roadway project that limits right of way and abutter impacts may minimize these costs.” Town meeting earlier committed $500,000 to begin this project.

Total costs to the town when completing the reconstruction of Manomet Avenue and Samoset Avenue through the TIP process are anticipated to be less than completing a less comprehensive project independent of it, according to BETA, but the reconstruction work would take a longer period of time – several years or more, compared with two to three years.

Next steps outlined

Moving forward, next steps include determining whether this will be a town or a TIP project. If the state program is used, the town must determine whether a consensus exists for the one-way option, which BETA considers to be more desirable and a more competitive design, following a local outreach effort.

Adoption of a one-way road for Manomet may influence the selection of a one-way road design for Samoset, and vice versa, according to project engineers.

If the one-way option is favored, the TIP qualification process could begin.

If not, then the study would be redirected to evaluate design elements and to get input from MassDOT.

In other business at the meeting…

⦁ John Struzziery, director of wastewater operations and assistant director of public works, provided an update on the town’s pavement management plan.

Over the past several years, since a $10-million bond was authorized for road improvements, work on 21 miles of roads – 41% of the town’s 50 miles of roads – has been completed at a cost of $23 million, Struzziery said.

“We’ve made a significant investment in roadway infrastructure,” he said.

The costs have added up significantly beyond the $10 million due to unplanned but necessary related work and increasing costs. Some of the additional money came from state-funded programs. Next season, there will be a focus on repairing roads in the Allerton Hill and Hull Village.

⦁ The select board approved Shipwreck’d owner Lillian Parker’s request that the restaurant’s seasonal all-alcohol license be extended until January 15 from November 30.

⦁ The board also approved the renewal of the following annual licenses: The C Note – all-alcohol, entertainment, and automatic amusement; and the Nantasket Beach Salt Water Club – all-alcohol, common victualler, and entertainment.

⦁ Also approved by the board were the renewal of package store licenses for The Village Market and West Corner Liquors.

⦁ Breadbasket Bakery and Cafe’s common victualler license was also renewed.

⦁ The lodging house licenses for the Bermaken Hotel, 102 Revere Street, and Nantasket Beach Lodging, 12 Park Avenue, were renewed as well.

⦁ Also renewed was the Class II wholesale license for Ben’s Auto and the livery service license and livery badges for Seaside Transport.

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Wellspring offering free meals for Thanksgiving, as well as discounted holiday shopping

 By Carol Britton Meyer

There’s still time to place a reservation for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the fixings as part of a 10-year cooperative effort between Wellspring Multi-Service Center and Alma Nove’s Paul Wahlberg through the “Alma Cares” program. Both are named after the Wahlberg family matriarch, Alma, and in the case of the restaurant, her nine (nove) children.

“This is a way to ensure that families and individuals have food for Thanksgiving,” Wellspring President & CEO Vinny Harte told The Hull Times. “No one should ever go without.”

The meal boxes will be available for pickup on Turkey Tuesday – two days before Thanksgiving to allow plenty of preparation time – to enjoy during the holiday. Arrangements can be made to have meals delivered for those without transportation.

Call Wellspring Food Services Director Anne Stenfors at 781-925-3211, ext. 122 to reserve a Thanksgiving meal, free of charge.

Starting this Friday, November 22, students enrolled in Wellspring’s entrepreneurial adult education classes through the Sprout Center for Jobs will host “Festive Fridays” for the second year due to last year’s success.

A holiday shop set up in the extension of the thrift shop will offer seasonal decorations, gifts customers can purchase for family and friends, clothing, baked goods, and other items.

“Donations for the shop are already coming in from individuals and organizations in the community,” Harte said.

The holiday shop will be open every Friday through December 20, except for the day after Thanksgiving, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“This will not only be a great opportunity to buy really nice items, all at good prices,” Harte said, “It’s also a chance for our students to take a project from start to finish, while giving them the ability to expand their job skills and real-life experiences.”

Wellspring is also offering a holiday gift program for parents and caregivers of children who can use assistance during these challenging times.

Those interested in participating are encouraged to stop by Wellspring, 814 Nantasket Ave., to fill out an application asking for the ages, gender, sizes, and gifts their children desire for Christmas.

“We’ve been organizing this program for 25 years, meeting the needs of each of the families,” Harte said. Families are matched with donors, who provide gifts from their wish lists.

The gifts are available for pickup closer to the holiday. Those interested in donating to this program are asked to call Stenfors at the above number.

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