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WHAV - Greater Haverhill’s only public radio station and nonprofit local news service

WHAV (https://whav.net/)

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Haverhill Council Oks Buying Brandy Brow Road Land in Ongoing Effort to Protect Drinking Water

By Jacob Posner | December 8, 2023

Haverhill City Councilors authorized a $75,000 “friendly” taking of a 6.2-acre parcel on Brandy Brow Road along the East Meadow River on Tuesday, as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to buy land in the name of water resource protection. “We purchased, not too long ago, some property from D&D Realty Trust, so this is the last piece of that puzzle to own,” Public Works Director Robert E. Ward said. “It locks in an area along the East Meadow River in that upper area.”

Because the landowner, Fermata Limited Partnership, agreed to the sale, the city deemed the land purchase “friendly.” In the past, the city has made similar purchases through eminent domain, as in the June 2022 “unfriendly” taking of a $240,000 parcel that James E. Young Jr. and Victoria Angers did not want to part with. Ward explained to councilors on Tuesday that the Millvale Reservoir supplies more than half the city’s drinking water.

Abundant Housing Names Vargas Legislator of the Year for Housing Efforts

State Rep. Andy X. Vargas of Haverhill was recently awarded Abundant Housing’s Legislator of the Year Award for his “Yes in My Back Yard” and other efforts to boost both affordable and market-rate housing statewide. Abundant Housing is described as a “statewide coalition of pro-housing activists standing up for housing for all in Communities across Massachusetts.” According to the organization, the award recognizes a “state or local legislator who went above and beyond to push the pro-housing agenda forward.” They called Vargas one of the “most outspoken pro-housing legislators.”

“Our current housing situation is decades in the making, and it will require bold action to sustainably address the problem,” Vargas said, adding, “Abundant Housing is doing the grassroots organizing work necessary to create the long-term solutions on housing. The housing shortage is affecting individuals, families and even our economic competitiveness as a state.

AgeSpan Again Wins 3-Year Accreditation from National Committee for Quality Assurance

AgeSpan has earned its three-year accreditation for Case Management for Long Term Services and Supports from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for our Home Care Program. AgeSpan has annually won accreditation, which “demonstrates strong performance of the functions outlined in the standards for Case Management accreditation,” since 2017. “For individuals and families, the accreditation ensures that they are at the center of everything we do and that we maintain high-quality services,” said AgeSpan CEO Joan Hatem-Roy.

Haverhill Schools ask Residents to ‘Stuff-The-Bus’ Saturday with Toys, Food, Clothing

The Haverhill school department is looking for new toys, clothing, non-perishable food and household items for families in need during its “Stuff-The-Bus” drive Saturday. Items may be donated Saturday, Dec. 9, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., at both Westgate Shopping Center, 400 Lowell Ave., and Target, 35 Computer Drive, both in Haverhill.

More Headlines

Pentucket Kiwanis Club Seventh Annual Trivia Night Set for Jan. 13
U.S. Rep. Trahan Among Leaders Calling for Additional Money for Home Energy Assistance
Steward Health Care to Close Stoughton Hospital; Says Move Helps ‘Safeguard’ Holy Family

Haverhill

  • Haverhill Council Oks Buying Brandy Brow Road Land in Ongoing Effort to Protect Drinking Water

    Haverhill City Councilors authorized a $75,000 “friendly” taking of a 6.2-acre parcel on Brandy Brow Road along the East Meadow River on Tuesday, as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to buy land in the name of water resource protection.

  • Abundant Housing Names Vargas Legislator of the Year for Housing Efforts

    State Rep. Andy X. Vargas of Haverhill was recently awarded Abundant Housing’s Legislator of the Year Award for his “Yes in My Back Yard” and other efforts to boost both affordable and market-rate housing statewide.

  • Pentucket Kiwanis Club Seventh Annual Trivia Night Set for Jan. 13

    The Pentucket Kiwanis Club is again asking, ‘Are you smarter than a Kiwanian?’ in time for its January Trivia Night.

  • U.S. Rep. Trahan Among Leaders Calling for Additional Money for Home Energy Assistance

    Editor’s Note: WHAV News calls attention multiple times annually to the availability of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for households in need.

  • Steward Health Care to Close Stoughton Hospital; Says Move Helps ‘Safeguard’ Holy Family

    The Dallas-based owner of Holy Family Hospital, with campuses in Methuen and Haverhill, plans to close its Stoughton rehabilitation hospital due to multi-million-dollar losses.

  • Ceremony Launches Bradford Mixed Housing and Retail Complex, Start of Traffic Improvements

    Although actual construction began months ago, ground was ceremonially broken Tuesday for “The Beck,” a 290-unit housing development, park, restaurant and retail complex along the Merrimack River in Bradford.

More Haverhill Stories

Education

  • Haverhill Schools ask Residents to ‘Stuff-The-Bus’ Saturday with Toys, Food, Clothing

    The Haverhill school department is looking for new toys, clothing, non-perishable food and household items for families in need during its “Stuff-The-Bus” drive Saturday.

  • Northern Essex Community College and Regis College Sign Student Transfer Agreement

    A new joint admissions agreement between Northern Essex Community College and Regis College, which improves the transfer process between the two institutions, was celebrated during a signing ceremony Tuesday.

  • Pentucket Regional High’s Drescher and Friend Earn Spots to Perform Next Month

    Two Pentucket Regional High School students were accepted recently into the 2023-24 Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association Northeastern Senior District Music Festival and will perform next month.

  • Whittier Tech to Discuss Building Project at Upcoming Meetings in Merrimac, Haverhill

    Information about the proposed $445 million replacement of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School will be presented during meetings this week in Merrimac and next week in Haverhill.

  • Haverhill’s Gateway Academy Lists Students Earning Distinction, High Honors and Honors

    Editor’s Note: Gateway Academy now accepts 150 students at its Upper School.

  • UMass Lowell String Project Helps Bring Classical Stringed Music Ed to K-12 Merrimack Valley Students

    Nicole Parks knows the value of music education.

More Education Stories

Region

  • U.S. Rep. Trahan Among Leaders Calling for Additional Money for Home Energy Assistance

    Editor’s Note: WHAV News calls attention multiple times annually to the availability of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for households in need.

  • Steward Health Care to Close Stoughton Hospital; Says Move Helps ‘Safeguard’ Holy Family

    The Dallas-based owner of Holy Family Hospital, with campuses in Methuen and Haverhill, plans to close its Stoughton rehabilitation hospital due to multi-million-dollar losses.

  • Groveland Police Collecting New, Unwrapped Toys Through Dec. 15

    The Groveland Police Department is holding a toy drive, collecting new, unopened and unwrapped toys to benefit children in Groveland and Haverhill.

More Region Stories

Community Spotlight

  • Haverhill Schools ask Residents to ‘Stuff-The-Bus’ Saturday with Toys, Food, Clothing

    The Haverhill school department is looking for new toys, clothing, non-perishable food and household items for families in need during its “Stuff-The-Bus” drive Saturday.

  • Pentucket Kiwanis Club Seventh Annual Trivia Night Set for Jan. 13

    The Pentucket Kiwanis Club is again asking, ‘Are you smarter than a Kiwanian?’ in time for its January Trivia Night.

  • Haverhill Garden Club Seeks Photos of Your Holiday Doors and Decor

    The Haverhill Garden Club’s fourth annual “Holiday Doors of Haverhill” photograph project is underway.

More Community Spotlight Stories

Crime

  • Feds Charge Former Whittier Tech Employee with June Cyberattack on School Systems

    A former employee of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School agreed to plead guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of a cyberattack on the school this past summer.

  • Multiple Arrests Follow Baby Shower Melee Involving up to 40 People in Haverhill

    A 45-year-old Dracut woman and three others face charges after a baby shower Sunday in Haverhill turned into a melee involving up to 40 people.

  • Heavy Police Presence Converges on Plaistow Home After Break-In

    (Additional photograph below.) Updated: Police Chief John J. Santoro confirms there were no arrests Friday contrary to social media posts.

More Crime Stories

Business Bulletin

  • AgeSpan Again Wins 3-Year Accreditation from National Committee for Quality Assurance

    AgeSpan has earned its three-year accreditation for Case Management for Long Term Services and Supports from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for our Home Care Program.

  • Haverhill Chamber Hails Tax Incentives to Encourage Market Rate Housing

    The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the success of the state’s Housing Development Incentive Program which supports market-rate multi-family housing in Haverhill and 25 other Gateway Cities.

  • Leapfrog Group Names Anna Jaques Hospital a Top General Hospital

    Anna Jaques Hospital was named a Top General Hospital Tuesday by The Leapfrog Group in recognition of its achievements in patient safety and quality.

More Business Bulletin Stories

WHAV Careers

  • Careers: Part-Time Local News Night Reporter/Board Operator

    97.9 WHAV, Greater Haverhill’s only public radio station and nonprofit local news service, is offering a rare opportunity to join a respected and growing regional news operation—on-air, online and everywhere. Requirements Successful applicants must demonstrate natural curiosity, objectivity, dependability, willingness to learn and commitment to accuracy.

Learn More

State House

  • State Awards $15,000 to Haverhill’s Riverfront Cultural District

    Haverhill’s Riverfront Cultural District was one of 54 areas awarded state grants last week to “encourage the development and success of the cultural districts and foster local cultural preservation.” The Riverfront Cultural District, which covers Washington and Wingate Streets in downtown Haverhill, is administered by Creative Haverhill.

More State House Stories

What’s On?

  • Podcast: Temple Emanu-El’s Rabbi Stevens Discusses Hanukkah, Which Begins Thursday

    The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, begins Thursday.

  • Supporting Nonprofit WHAV on #GivingTuesday Underpins High Community Values

    Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday and the day nonprofit WHAV launches its year-end appeal to uphold the highest values and pay for local news and community programs. During the past year, Greater Haverhill’s only public radio station and nonprofit local news service maintained the highest principles and played a far-reaching role in shaping the community’s future.

More What's On Stories

Election Central

  • Legislature to Decide Whether Two Haverhill Candidates Can Run for or Serve Two Offices at Same Time

    Haverhill city councilors voted this week to formally ask legislators to ban politicians from running and serving in two offices at the same time. All councilors present Tuesday approved sending the state legislature a home rule petition that would ratify voters overwhelming approval of two ballot questions.

  • Sullivan the Favorite to Lead the Haverhill City Council Come January

    (Additional photograph below.) Haverhill City Councilor Thomas J. Sullivan is currently the favorite to lead the City Council as its president in January. Sullivan, second highest vote getter with an unofficial 6,418 votes recorded last week, received the endorsement Monday of current Council Vice President John A. Michitson, who topped the count with 6,508 votes last Tuesday.

More Election Central Stories

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