Raftery to Head School Board: In a reorganization Tuesday, John Raftery was elected chairman of the Hull School Committee in a 3-2 vote over Harriett Stern, who was then elected secretary of thecommittee. Prefacing the action, Raftery was nominated by Neil Dushan, with Dr. Silva seconding. Mrs. Stern had previously placed her name in nomination, which was seconded by John Wholey. Highlighting the meeting was a unanimous approval of a motion by Mr. Dushan that the high school Student Council designate two of its members to attend all school board meetings as ex officio members.
Massive Clean-up by Beauty Board: With the coming of spring, a massive clean-up campaign is being planned by the Beautification Committee. At the next meeting, March 24, finalized plans will be presented by Jack McSheffrey, in charge of the clean-up. Student Council representatives Will Raymond and Bob Moog will be present to present an outline of their ideas of what the student body plans on contributing to the campaign.
Recount of Planning Board Vote Asked: William M. McLearn, son of the late registrar of voters, James McLearn, has requested a recount of the votes in the Planning Board contest for the four-year term. McLearn, who lost to Kevin Healey by one vote in the town election Monday, is gathering the required 20 signatures for the recount petition he will file over the weekend.
Election Sidelights: Treasurer Carlton H. O’Donnell scored the highest number of votes of the day – 2,284 – for an uncontested office, with Francis McDuff second with 2,276 votes. N. DiVito Jr., topped the contested office winners with 2,006 votes; Selectman Richardson followed closely with 2,003. Winifred Kelly, running for election to the office of tax collector for the first time, received a fine total of 2,185 votes. Wife of Hull police officer Jack Kelly, she served as senior clerk for several years under Miss Lesbia Dowd and at her retirement became acting tax collector. It was one of the “longest counts” in Hull election records due to the complicated results of the Charter Commission voting, with 19 candidates seeking nine posts.
500 Ask Reversal of Prayer Ban: In a move sponsored by St. Mary’s parish Holy Name Society of Hull, more than 500 residents last Sunday petitioned Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution in order to permit prayers in U.S. schools. The petition signed by parishioners after Sunday Masses was sent to U.S. Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Edward W. Brooke and was prefaced: “The Supreme Court has ruled prayer in the schools unconstitutional. We the undersigned favor a constitutional amendment to reverse that decision.”
Fire Cause Probed: Hull Fire Chief Roger Means, Police Sgt. Gillis, and the state fire marshal are investigating the cause of a fire in an apparently unoccupied two-story house at Lincoln Street and Nantasket Avenue on March 9. Chief Means said the fire, discovered at 2:30 p.m., started in a stuffed chair in the living room and spread up through the walls, with damage estimated at $6,000. The fire was declared out at 3:10 p.m.
Trio Charged With Holdup: The court cases of two Hull youths and a juvenile charged with assault, larceny, and carrying a dangerous weapon were continued to March 18 in Hingham District Court last Monday by Judge Martha Ware. Police said the trio was arrested by Officer John Colameco Saturday evening, March 7, after the parents of a juvenile had complained their son had been held up in a car and robbed at knifepoint, on Nantasket Avenue at Allerton.
Blood Donors Step Up: There were 110 donors at the Red Cross Blood Bank in the Memorial School during the town election Monday. Organizations donating included the Nantascot Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Town Employees, VFW, Lions Club, and K of C.
Miss Marylou Davis Engaged: Miss Veronica Melvin of 33 Andrew Road announces the engagement of her godchild, Marylou Davis, of 421 Newport Road, Hull, to Mr. Robert F. Galluzzo of Hingham. Miss Davis is a graduate of Archbishop Williams High School and Emmanuel College. She is currently employed as a teacher in the Hull school system. Mr. Galluzzo is a graduate of Boston College High School. He has served with the Marines in Vietnam and presently is attending Bridgewater State College. A May wedding is planned.