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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. Tuesday, June 25
The City Council meets in regular session at 7 p.m. in room 202 of City Hall, 4 Summer St., Haverhill. See separate story. Wednesday, June 26
The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission meets from noon-1:30 p.m., at 160 Main St.
Seventy-one percent of the state’s 351 cities and towns have now received state grants to identify and address their climate change vulnerabilities, the Baker administration announced last week as it awarded municipalities $12 million, including nearby Merrimac. Sixty-five communities received a total $1.7 million through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program for a planning process to identify vulnerabilities and “priority actions,” while $10.3 million was distributed among 34 communities that have already completed the planning process and are ready to implement resilience projects. The planning grants ranged in size from $15,000 each for Douglas, Dudley, Hadley, Hamilton, Maynard, Medway, Merrimac, Norfolk and Templeton to $102,000 for Fitchburg. The action grants include a recommended $1.5 million for resilience preliminary design, technical analysis and pre-permitting at Boston’s Moakley Park; $960,000 for Mattapoisett’s Pine Island Pond Watershed lands project; $1 million for Millbury’s Armory Village Green infrastructure project; and $150,000 for reforestation and tree resilience in Concord. A bill filed by Gov. Charlie Baker that would raise the real estate transfer excise tax to fund municipal climate change products had a hearing before the Revenue Committee last week, while the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee held a hearing on a similar bill filed by House Speaker Robert DeLeo that would gather its funds through bonding.
Mariann G. (Tuck) Anzaldi, 69, wife of the late Steven A. Anzaldi, died June 20, at Holy Family Hospital, Haverhill. She was employed by Community Action and various local nursing homes. Calling hours are Monday, June 24 from 4-6:30 p.m., at Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill. A funeral service follows in the funeral home at 6:30 p.m.
Rita J. (Cunningham) Dusombre, 70, a life-long Haverhill resident, died peacefully Sunday morning, June 23, at Merrimack Valley Health Center, Amesbury. She was last employed as a supervisor at Haverhill Industries and previously worked at the former YumYum Shop Bakery at West Gate Center in Haverhill.
A health and physical education teacher at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School was recognized last week by Gov. Charlie Baker as one of the state’s “outstanding educators.”
Roxann Grover was one of the 2020 Teacher of the Year semifinalists honored at a State House ceremony June 20. “Massachusetts teachers are instrumental in preparing the leaders of tomorrow for success after they leave the classroom,” said Baker. “We are very pleased to recognize these Massachusetts public school teachers today for the hard work, dedication and creativity they bring to their students every day.”
“It was such an honor to be nominated and then selected to the semifinalist round,” Grover said earlier this spring. “It validates the profession of health and physical education and the things we do as teachers everyday to make sure students understand that their well-being is the most important thing in their lives.”
Whittier’s Curriculum Coordinator Kelly Fay nominated Grover earlier this year, highlighting her dedication to students and wellness education for the last 40 years. She’s helped parents recognize the signs their children might be using drugs or alcohol through “Hidden in Plain Sight” events, organized walks for hunger to raise money for Project Bread and led food drives throughout the community to benefit Haverhill’s local food pantry, Our Neighbors Table.
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Groveland’s former building inspector was murdered Friday, and local police and the District Attorney’s office say it is too early to speculate on motives or the person responsible. Just before midnight Friday, Groveland Police found 82-year-old Patsy Schena “unresponsive” and “suffering from multiple wounds” at his 20 Governors Road home. He was pronounced dead at the scene. “This is a shocking and brutal crime,” said Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr. Schena as they try to comprehend this horrific event.”
Groveland Police Chief Jeff Gillen said the State Police Detective Unit and Groveland Police secured the home and initiated an investigation.
Saturday, June 22
Gunsmoke: “Dolly Varden,” 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Sunday
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: “Bad One Matter,” 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Monday
Suspense: “Sundown,” 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Tuesday
Dimension X: “The Kaleidoscope,” 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Wednesday
Great Gildersleeve: Mae Kelly Gets Engaged, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Thursday
Our Miss Brooks: The Moving Van, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Friday
Couple Next Door: Betsy Learns Golden Rule, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Saturday, June 29
Gunsmoke: “Wind,” Saturday, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Sunday
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: “The Double Deal Matter,” Sunday, 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
A 20-year-old Methuen woman was arraigned today in Haverhill District Court for felony motor vehicle homicide and manslaughter in connection with a 2018 crash that killed her friend. Judge Stephen Abany ordered Emily McGovern to remain drug and alcohol free with random screens and not to drive while the case is pending. She appeared on a summons that was issued following an investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. Essex Assistant District Attorney Calvin Skeirik told the court that, on March 31, 2018, Massachusetts State Police responded to a roll over crash on Route 495 north near exit 50 in Haverhill. A State Police trooper found a 2004 Lincoln LS overturned. Passenger Alexis Spartz, 18, of Methuen, was removed from the vehicle and taken to Lawrence General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.