Crime

Pair Facing Charges in Haverhill Mill Fire Due in Court Sept. 2

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Isabella A. Sargent and Bianca Leonhart, two of three teens charged with setting fire to a vacant mill complex on Stevens Street, are due back in Haverhill District Court early in September for a probable cause hearing. In the meantime, both have been released from home confinement. Leonhart, who lives in New Jersey, was released on personal recognizance by Haverhill District Court Judge Cesar A. Archilla Wednesday, July 8. A week later, Sargent was released by Archilla from home confinement and placed on a nighttime curfew, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to a clerk at the Haverhill District Court. The third teen’s case is being heard in Essex County Juvenile Court because she was under 18 at the time of her arrest, according to Michael Keefe-Feldman, a spokesman for the Essex County District Attorney’s office.

Haverhill

Haverhill Presbyterians Plan to Sell Church Building

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The First Presbyterian Church of Haverhill is selling its church building at the corner of Broadway and Carleton Street to another faith community in the Merrimack Valley. Josiah E. Morrow, chair of the church board of directors, told WHAV he isn’t at liberty to name the new owner just yet, but the sale closing date is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 31. The First Presbyterian congregation will continue normal operations, including Sunday worship services, at its current location at least through November, Morrow added. Beyond that, the congregation is still deciding whether to find a new meeting space, join another congregation or disband.

Haverhill

Amazon Grant Puts Haverhill Community Playground Drive Near the Top

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(Additional image below.)

Thanks to a $150,000 gift from Amazon, the proposed Haverhill Community Playground is closer to reality. On Tuesday, officials from Haverhill’s Amazon distribution center presented the playground’s organizers with the single largest check they have received towards the $450,000 project. The plan is to replace an aging play area at Golden Hill School, 140 Boardman St., with what is being billed as  “destination” play structure that will be welcoming to children of all ages and abilities. Martin Beck, station manager at the Amazon at the Broadway Business Park, pointed out many of the employees who work in the building grew up on Haverhill playgrounds. “A lot of our work staff have been locals of Haverhill their entire life.

Haverhill

Downtown Haverhill’s Keon’s 105 Bistro Closes Doors

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The tables at Keon’s 105 Bistro in downtown Haverhill are set to welcome diners but the lights are out—apparently permanently. Owner and chef Robert A. Giallongo voluntarily surrendered his license to operate a restaurant in Haverhill to the Haverhill License Commission last Friday, July 17, without explanation, according to Commission Clerk Nicholas Flynn. The restaurant acknowledged the closing in a Monday post. “So as everyone knows Keon’s is closed for now. I am working hard to find the new chapter for Keons.

Education

Public Meetings this Week: School Subcommittee to Evaluate Haverhill Supt. Marotta

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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. The periodic evaluation of Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta is on the agenda Tuesday when the Haverhill School Committee’s Strategic Planning Subcommittee meets. Marotta was first hired by the Haverhill School Committee in 2018 and went on to last win a new contract by a unanimous vote of the School Committee in 2024. That contract ends next year.

Education

Haverhill’s Northpoint Bible College to Change Name, Move to Certificates

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After losing its accreditation to confer four-year bachelor degrees, Haverhill’s Northpoint Bible College is changing its name and turning its attention to a three-year diploma and certificate programs in Christian studies. Rev. Tiff Shuttlesworth, Northpoint’s president, said in a video posted on social media the school will become known as Northpoint School of the Bible. It just recently accepted 49 students from a Pentecostal denomination in Kenya who will be traveling to the U.S. to attend the school in the fall. Another 80 from the group will be taking classes online. At the same time, the school is cutting tuition from $25,000 a year to $7,700—and $4,500 for those who attend online.

Haverhill

Haverhill Councilors Back Michitson Call for Long-Term Planning After Sewer Break

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Now that a temporary solution is in place, the Haverhill City Council Tuesday turned its attention to a long-term, “resilient” repair to the force sewer main that burst last month sending millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Merrimack River for several days. After hearing from Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and Public Works Director Robert E. Ward, councilors decided to refer the matter to its Planning and Development Committee at the suggestion of Vice President John A. Michitson. Michitson, who for years has advocated for better long-term planning, said he believes the Council, with the help of city departments, must conduct a systematic risk assessment of not just the city’s aging wastewater system, but other important infrastructure as well. “President (Timothy J.) Jordan and I, as well other city leaders, have been concerned for some time about the risks posed by aging and vulnerable infrastructure. To me, this event reinforces the need to formalize those concerns through a more structured and preventable approach,” Michitson said.

Haverhill

16 Haverhill Nonprofits Share in City’s Federal Block Grants

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Sixteen local nonprofits, serving low- and moderate-income Haverhill residents, were chosen by the city’s Community Affairs Advisory Board to share in about $141,000 in federal public service activity grants. Here are the grantees and their awards:

For the first time, the Winter Warming Center at the Universalist-Unitarian Church of Haverhill will receive $2,000 to support its overnight winter shelter for the unhoused. The second new program receiving support, $5,000, is the inaugural farmers market run by Nourishing the North Shore for residents of Presidential Gardens. Community Action will receive $30,000—$15,000 for its winter heating assistance program and $15,000 for its Homeless Drop-In Center. Sarah’s Place will receive $15,000 for its senior adult day care program.