Education

Haverhill Gateway Academy Students to Unveil Greenhouse Friday

By |

Students at Haverhill’s Gateway Academy unveil their new greenhouse and raised gardens Friday morning during a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Melinda E. Barrett. Food grown in the greenhouse and gardens will be used as ingredients in the school’s farm-to-table cooking classes, called among the most popular of the school’s offerings. Students planted seeds to grow spinach, radishes, beets, snap peas, cilantro, dill and dianthus, among others, and have tomato and cucumber seedlings started. A crew from the school department prepared the area and Quincy-based Dellbrook Construction provided six people to build the foundation and raise the greenhouse frame. Students helped build the wooden raised beds.

Cannabis

Public Meetings This Week: Stem Asks City to Allow Cannabis Lounge

By |

The public has opportunities to shape policy this week as various Haverhill boards meet. In the interest of transparency in government, WHAV provides this list of upcoming meetings every week on air and online. Haverhill Stem hopes to become one of the state’s first-on-site cannabis-consumption lounges. The 124 Washington St. cannabis retailer, the first to open six years ago in Haverhill, goes before the Haverhill Planning Board Wednesday, asking the city to amend its ordinances to allow for the licensing and operation of “Marijuana Social Consumption Establishments.”

Back in January, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission laid out rules for allowing such lounges to open.

Haverhill

Outpatient Health Program Wins Approval to Open at Former Bike Shop

By |

The Haverhill Zoning Board of Appeals gave Joshua Stephens the green light last week to open an outpatient mental health treatment program at the location of a former bicycle shop. Stephens, 39, of Medford, sought relief from city’s parking requirements to open a licensed outpatient program for individuals with mental and/or behavioral health issues in a Residential Urban Density zone. The site is the former location of Riverside Cycle and, previously, Boris W. Migliori’s H.R. Sawyer Schwinn Bicyclery, at 1 Ginty Blvd. Stephens told WHAV no medication will be dispensed on site. Haverhill Planning Director Jackie Byerley told WHAV that instead of 33 spaces, the zoning board allowed 14 because Stephens agreed to provide a regular shuttle bus from the Haverhill train station.

Haverhill

Haverhill to Use Untapped Property Taxes to Help Pay Proposed $285.2M Budget

By |

Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett is proposing a $285.2 million budget for the year beginning July 1, representing a 2.9% increase over last year’s $277.1 million, and would raise taxes by $245 for the average home valued at $561,903. The average tax bill would increase 4.1%, slightly lower than last year’s 4.6%. Of that, $245 average residential property tax increase, employee benefits account for $90; public safety, $67; and schools, $58. She said added expenses include health insurance premiums and the city’s contribution to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School. To balance her budget, Barrett is proposing to use $1.1 million of $1.5 million the city could have previously taxed under the state’s tax limiting law, Proposition 2 1/2, but did not.

Business Bulletin

Napoli’s Pizza Re-opens in Two Weeks with Original Recipes

By |

The new owner of Haverhill’s famed Napoli’s Pizza is hoping to reopen the landmark eatery in two weeks and bring back its distinctive, original recipes. Tom Lyons, of Hampton, N.H., told WHAV he leased the business from his friend, Robert LeClaire, who purchased the pizza shop at 146 White St., in 2022. Lyons is bringing back former Napoli owners, Jim and Kathy Clarke, who will serve as the restaurant’s chefs. “We are bringing back the old Napoli’s recipes—the same dough and the same sauce,” Lyons said, noting Napoli’s pizza is baked on trays and served in rectangular slices. He also said he expects to add a few hot sub options.

Education

Haverhill Teachers to Vote Wednesday on Contract; Pact Delivers 11.5% Raise

By |

Correction: Because of a misunderstanding, an earlier version of this story failed to note there are two 2% raises in each of the next two years. Haverhill teachers are in line for a 11.5% salary increase over three years beginning last July 1 along with a 3% retroactive cost of living increase for last year as well as two 2% raises in each of the next two years. As WHAV reported, the agreement between the Haverhill School Committee and Haverhill Education Association emerged last week without many details. The union is expected to vote on the three-year agreement Wednesday, May 27. The School Committee is expected to take it up at its meeting Thursday, May 28.

Haverhill

Haverhill Library, Museum of Printing to Share in State Cultural Grants

By |

Haverhill Public Library, Methuen Memorial Music Hall and Haverhill’s Museum of Printing are among those receiving large state grants for capital improvements. The Massachusetts Cultural Council last week awarded the Haverhill Public Library $200,000 towards its $17 million renovation project. Methuen Memorial Music Hall was also awarded $162,500 for a new electrical system, heating and ventilation overhaul and lighting while the Museum of Printing was awarded $111,100 towards the replacement of the museum’s roof and heating system. In addition, North Andover-based Institute for Industrial Art and History was awarded $28,500 to study the feasibility of moving to Lawrence. “We are thrilled and grateful for the support of Gov. (Maura) Healey and her administration,” said Cecily Craighill Davis, who is leading the library’s capital campaign that still seeks to raise another $2.5 million.

Haverhill

With No Haverhill Battery Storage Firm Ready, Councilors Look to Future Zoning

By |

Could the humble Blanding’s turtle be the key to keeping large battery storage farms out of Haverhill? The theoretical siting took center stage Tuesday when city councilors learned a proposal to build a battery farm in Ward Hill, the subject of social media speculation, was quietly withdrawn. Councilors pondered, however, how to influence future battery energy storage systems through zoning. One idea is to designate an area at a former airport off Route 110, near Northern Essex Community College. It was previously considered for a new industrial park until it was found to be a protected wetland habitat for the endangered turtles.