Light Council Agenda Allows Nonprofits to Present Invitations

Regional Executive Director of the Haverhill YMCA Tracy Fuller updated the public about YMCA’s Eighth Annual Educator of the Year award ceremony. (WHAV News photograph.)

Rotarian Melissa Cerasuolo.

Rotarian Melissa Cerasuolo.

There was no talk of tax increases or development at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Instead the controversy-free meeting allowed several Haverhill nonprofits to give updates on their organizations.

Members of the Rotary Club of Haverhill invited the public to Haverhill’s first annual Veterans Day Awards Breakfast next month. Rotarian Melissa Cerasuolo asked councilors and residents to show support for Veterans the day before the holiday, Nov. 10, 7:30 a.m., at Haverhill Country Club. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas will be among those speaking at the ceremony.

“We expect this will be the beginning of a long tradition to honor the men and women who have served their country with distinction,” said Rotary President Arthur H. Veasey III. Tickets are $25 each. Proceeds benefit Haverhill Rotary scholarships.

Rotary Club of Haverhill President Arthur H. Veasey.

Rotary Club of Haverhill President Arthur H. Veasey.

City Councilor Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien expressed her appreciation for the Veterans Day observance, but added many people, including herself, may not be able to attend due to work obligations.

“I think one of the biggest problems in our society right now is that it’s not a day off,” said O’Brien. “That’s why the parade route isn’t lined. I don’t think it’s because of a lack of respect,” she added. Councilor O’Brien also mentioned her belief that election day should be a day off.

Other highlights from Tuesday’s meeting include Regional Executive Director of the Haverhill YMCA Tracy Fuller discussing the organization’s Educator of the Year event.

“We have 11 amazing nominees so far. These teachers have done amazing service to our students,” said Fuller. The ceremony takes place Nov. 15 at Diburro’s.

Whittier’s Birthplace’s Augustine J. “Gus” Reusch and Emmaus are among those who will be recognized during the YMCA’s Eighth Annual Educator of the Year award ceremony.

Bevilacqua Seeks to Remind Residents How to Handle Excess Holiday Waste

Tuesday’s meeting concluded after Councilor Joseph J. Bevilacqua requested a future discussion about how to alert the public of trash pickup during the holiday season.

“Put information on the website to help our residents anticipate how to deal with their accumulated and greater amount of trash. I think we all know that when Thanksgiving comes we have a lot of food waste and we also have, at Christmas, a lot of packaging. And rather than have our residents become very frustrated and concerned about, ‘How do I deal with it?’ and forgetting all the instructions they were given from the DPW director week after week,” Bevilacqua said.