Editorial – Prospects for ’71 Look Good: The town of Hull, blessed for many years with natural attractions, beautiful shoreline, and a healthy climate, has good reason to look forward with optimism to 1971. From an economic standpoint, this revenue-starved community seems definitely headed for substantial tax-base assistance from at least two directions. Project One of urban renewal at Nantasket is ready for a go-ahead order from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is expected anytime now after several months of federal delay after completion of all requirements on the Hull level. The other revenue source is in the private investment area, where an industrial combine, which includes the Perini Corp., has plans for a massive development of the Nantasket Bay area. Happy New Year to all!
$25,000 To Help Reduce Taxes: The Hull Municipal Lighting Department is again contributing $25,000 from operating revenue toward direct reduction of the Hull tax rate for 1971. In a ceremony Wednesday evening, MLD officials will present the check to selectmen for the town. The donation is nothing new for the department, which has been donating toward the Hull tax rate reduction for many years in the annual March town meeting appropriations. Since 1960, the department has donated $275,000 in this form and, since 1966, has contributed an additional $117,000 in lieu of taxes by taking over all fringe benefits payments to department employees that formerly came out of town taxes.
Charter Gets AG Approval: With the receipt of a letter from state Attorney General Robert Quinn last week, David E. Berman, Charter Commission chairman, informed the Times that the charter report and recommendation will be signed by the members of the commission after this week’s early press time. The attorney general offered some “technical comments” dealing with the wording in several sections of the proposed town constitution. He also praised the commission for doing “an excellent and thorough job in preparing the document.”
Kudos to Highway Workers: The Hull Highway Department was credited for having done an excellent job in the two storms that hit town Dec. 24 and 26. Roads were opened quickly and kept passable, with sanding operations equally good after snow changed to sleet in between the storms.
Prominent Doctor Stricken: Dr. William M. Bergan, 79, former Hull selectman, School Dental Clinic supervisor, and author of a recent humorous history of old Nantasket, is seriously ill at the Jamaica Plain VA Hospital. Bergan was stricken with a heart condition Monday afternoon and was rushed to the hospital in the Hull ambulance. He is under intensive care, and his condition was unchanged at press time Tuesday.
B’nai B’rith Aids Turnabout: A large supply of meats and other foods was presented to the Project Turnabout drug rehabilitation center in Hull by officials of the Hull B’nai B’rith Lodge, including Chairman George Bernstein, David Feinstein, and David Winkeller. Winkeller donated the meats from the firm for which he is a salesman. Project Turnabout officials and residents were delighted to receive the donations.
Christmas Fare at Lighthouses: A lonely vigil for Coast Guardsmen on Boston and Graves Lights was offset on Christmas Day when Christmas dinners and all the fixings were brought to them in a Hull Coast Guard boat. The boat could not dock at Graves due to low water, and the crew had the dinners in plastic containers ready to float them ashore when they saw the lightkeepers wading toward them from the lighthouse. “We didn’t want to take a chance that a current might take those dinners out to sea instead of to us,” chuckled EN/3 Douglas Stuart of Newtown, N.H., and FN Sheldon Kaminsky of Brooklyn, N.Y. The container left at each lighthouse included a fully cooked dinner, with a turkey split in halves, potatoes, squash, onions, cranberry sauce, dressing, mince pie, and cider.
Decking the Doors: Winners of the recently conducted “Christmas Doorway” contest, which was sponsored by the Hull Garden Club, have just been announced. They are: Mrs. Mary Haley, of Allerton Hill, first prize, a table radio; and Mrs. Ann Scully, of 67 Whitehead Ave., who will receive a plant. Receiving honorable mention were Mrs. Marlene Perry, of 6 X St., and Mrs. Alice Chase, of Worrick Road.
Holiday Lights a Delight: Christmas lighting was exceptionally beautiful throughout the town, and the Star of David, erected on Jacob’s Tower, Allerton Hill, by Steve Mahoney, was also the subject of much admiration.
