Haverhill

Updated: Women’s Commission Lauds 7 from Haverhill, North Andover, Andover

By |

Three women from Haverhill and two each from North Andover and Andover were honored June 24 as 2026 Commonwealth Heroines. Dianne Connolly, Devan M. Ferreira and Erin Padilla from Haverhill and Kim Hearst and Christina A. Minicucci from North Andover were recognized by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. They are among 145 women from across the state who will be honored at the 23rd Annual Commonwealth Awards Ceremony at the Massachusetts Statehouse for often-unrecognized service to their communities. Members of the state legislature were invited to nominate one woman from their districts. Nominated by Rep. Ryan M. Hamilton, Connolly recently retired from Haverhill Public Schools as the Title 1 and community outreach director.

Haverhill

Haverhill Library Trustees Honor $14M Donor, Launch Renovations

By |

Haverhill Public Library trustees took a moment Thursday to recognize the late Olive Reynolds Macdougall, the woman whose unprecedented $14 million gift is transforming the community cultural hub by sparking a $17 million renovation project. In brief remarks, Vice Chair Richard J. Sheehan Jr. recalled Macdougall’s love for the library and how she understood its importance to the community as more than just a repository for books. Her bequest represents the single largest gift made by a private individual to a library in the Commonwealth. “We are here to ensure our library continues to have the resources to innovate, expand and serve every single person who walks through our doors,” Sheehan said. Sheehan noted Macdougall was also a generous contributor to other Haverhill institutions including Whittier Birthplace.

Haverhill

State Pride Commission Honors Haverhill Councilor, Organizer

By |

(Additional photograph below.)

Two members of Haverhill’s LGBTQ+ community were honored Wednesday for their leadership and service to the community and state by the Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus. Thomas J. Sullivan, an at-large city councilor in Haverhill, and Emilio Viscio, vice chair of the Haverhill Pride Collective, were among 105 honorees from across the state to receive inaugural Commonwealth Pride Awards. State Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, who represents Ashland and Framingham, served as the master of ceremonies for the awards ceremony at the statehouse. Lewis said the awards were first envisioned two years ago. When the LGBTQ+ caucus put out the call for nominations from their statehouse colleagues earlier this year, Lewis and his office staff predicted they might receive as many as 35 nominations.

Haverhill

Haverhill to Weigh Pros and Cons of Allowing More Mobile Food Vendors

By |

Haverhill Ward 3 City Councilor Devan M. Ferreira thinks the public would be well served by allowing more food trucks and carts in parks and squares across the city, but her colleagues Tuesday were not in full agreement. Because of demand from both vendors and the public, Ferreira said, she offered a change to the city’s, so-called, “fixed vendor” ordinance which would increase the total number of vendors and add Plug Pond, Riverfront Park and Washington Square as new locations. “We know that more options are always good for folks and if there’s food any place and there are more options for food any place, you tend to spend your money there and spend more time there. So as a business practice it’s tends to be a good thing to do,” Ferreira argued. She introduced a measure that would more than double the number of vendors from six to 14 and add three new locations Under her plan, the number of vendors allowed in Riverside Park would go from one to four and GAR Park, Swasey Field Park and Nettleton Avenue would each go from one to two vendors.

Haverhill

UTEC Opens New Mattress Recycling Center in Haverhill

By |

(Additional photograph below.)

A mattress recycling operation, now relocated to Haverhill, received a state welcome Wednesday morning from Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. Heiple praised the social justice nonprofit for helping the state divert from landfills and incinerators about 53,000 mattresses and box springs annually from 42 communities, hotels and universities. UTEC, now recycling at 231 Neck Road in the Ward Hill Business Park, takes them apart, allowing components to be turned into other products. Metal springs, for example, are destined to become screws and bolts, foam will become the padded backing on new carpeting, wood frames will be turned into mulch and fabric toppers will become new recycled mattresses and dog beds. “You’re taking away greenhouse gas emissions from creating new products.

Haverhill

Haverhill Library Trustees to Mark Start of $17M Construction

By |

The Haverhill Public Library’s $17 million overhaul is starting with a smash. Library Board of Trustees Vice Chair Richard J. Sheehan Jr.is scheduled to ceremonially swing a sledgehammer during Thursday’s celebration. In addition to a new roof, large picture windows will replace the solid wall on the Summer Street side of the building and the entrance on Stage Street will be redesigned. Inside, a new teen area will be added and more small meeting spaces created. The children’s room will be opened up and a flexible multipurpose community room to replace the Johnson Auditorium.

Business Bulletin

Bradford Eatery Gets New Name and New Owners

By |

A longtime Bradford breakfast and lunch spot is getting a new name along with new owners. Most recently called Bradford Village Square, the restaurant at 109 S. Main St., was christened “Bradford Diner” during a ribbon cutting ceremony this past Monday. The restaurant will operate daily from 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

Christos Kyriazis, his wife, Sofia, and his mother, Veronika Kyriazis, purchased the outlet from Michelle Eason and have spent the last several weeks sprucing it up. Christos brings more than 15 years of restaurant experience to the operation, most recently having worked at Nan’s Café in North Reading. Sofia has been a familiar face behind the counter at Haverhill’s Drop Café.

Haverhill

Haverhill Council Approves Spending Plan Despite Objections

By |

Following debate, Haverhill’s City Council Tuesday night accepted Mayor Melinda E. Barrett’s $285.2 million spending plan for the year beginning July 1 which includes a property tax increase and water and sewer rate hikes

Several councilors, however, expressed displeasure by voting no, either because they thought the tax and fee hikes are too high or not enough money is being allocated to city schools. Ward 7 Councilor Catherine P. Rogers opened the discussion by reading a statement calling for more state support and less reliance on property taxes, saying she fears layoffs are likely in the city’s future. “By fiscal year 2029, we will likely be facing two choices: Making significant cuts to city services or ask residents to approve an override simply to maintain current operations. The numbers show we are rapidly approaching a fiscal cliff,” Rogers argued. Ward 5 Councilor Shaun P. Toohey agreed.