Merchants Move to Revoke Fees: Strong protest continued to emanate from Nantasket merchants, town officials, and residents today as signatures increased on a petition seeking the revocation of fees imposed by the Metropolitan District Commission in 1,500 spaces at seven Nantasket parking areas. Paragon Park President Lawrence M. Stone, Fascination and Sands Lounge Manager Leonard Hersch, and 23 other amusement area operators voted unanimously Monday to retain counsel and seek court action to stop the MDC from charging $1 per car on weekends and 50 cents week and in areas previously free from such charges since 1889. Henry Lahage, concession operator at Nantasket, estimated “a daily 25 percent loss of business volume since the fee charges began.”
Study Plan for Jewish Cemetery: A request to Michael Gars to set aside a section of the Hull Village cemetery for Jewish burials was taken under study by Selectmen last night, pending advice of town counsel. Mr. Gars said he represented some members of the Jewish community in the request, although formal approval of the rabbi had not been obtained. Present Jewish custom is to bury their people in their own cemeteries, although there is no religious rule that bans their burial in public cemeteries providing the section is “separated from the rest of the cemetery by a road, walls or shrubs,” according to Gars.
Town Borrows More Money: Selectmen last night signed tax anticipation notes authorizing the town treasurer to borrow another $300,000, of which the Rockland Trust Co., will provide $100,000 at interest of 3.16 percent and State Street Bank and Trust Co., $200,000 at 3.22 percent on notes expiring Nov. 10h, 1971. The town has borrowed $1.4 million thus far in 1971 – a new record total.
‘Mr. American Legion’ Remembered: “Mr. William E. McTighe, 77, World War 1 veteran and one of the founders of the Oscar Smith Mitchell Post 140, American Legion of Hull, was buried Tuesday with full military honors high on the hillside at Hull cemetery after a Mass of the Resurrection at St. Ann’s church, celebrated by Rev. Fr. John Dunn. Born in Cambridge in April 1899, Bill resided most of his life in Hull after World War I during which he was decorated with five Battle Stars while serving in France with Battery F, 101st Field Artillery of the 26th Yankee Division.
Personnel Board Goes Weekly: The Hull Personnel Board, in its continuing effort to update, review, and revise, where necessary, the job classification plan for town employees, is now meeting on a weekly basis. The superintendent of public works, the chief of police, and the town accountant have all given the board a complete evening of their time for a comprehensive examination of their employees’ job functions, and the chairman of the assessors will meet the board next Monday night.
Med Center Site Bid: The Mulholland Co., of Ipswich, was low bidder at $12,000 among three firms for site development of the Hull Medical Center to be built on Washington Boulevard. MC Corp. President Frank Kerr and George Young said Wednesday that final contract details are now being completed.
Lobstermen Brand Gear: Massachusetts fishermen are now using branding irons, just as the cattlemen did in the early days of the West, but unlike the Western cattlemen they’re branding their equipment rather than their livestock. The reason for all this is a new law that went into effect on Jan. 1 that requires all lobster fishermen to burn numbers on their pots, buoys, traps, markers, and other equipment used in taking crustaceans from the sea. Commissioner of Natural Resources Arthur W. Brownell calls attention to the new law at this time because in the first six months of its being in effect many Bay State lobster fishermen have appeared to ignore or plead ignorance of it.
Record Summer School Enrollment: A record 856 pupils are enrolled in the Hull School Department summer programs. This represents an increase of 201 students over last year’s registrations. At the elementary level, 287 pupils are participating in review and enrichment courses encompassing such areas as: reading, language arts, arithmetic, drama, music, and art.