Region

Methuen Ends Use of Flock Safety Cameras; Says City Councilor was Tracked

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Methuen said Wednesday it plans to immediately cover its existing Flock Safety cameras and arrange for removal after officials said they don’t have enough control over their use and following an allegation another department searched a city councilor’s license plate. In a joint statement Wednesday, Methuen Mayor David P. “D.J.” Beauregard Jr. and Acting Police Chief Jamie Moore said that while they found no evidence Methuen personnel misused the system, they concluded “Flock does not provide sufficient protections or local control of that data.”

“We are also aware of concerns recently raised by a Methuen city councilor about searches of the councilor’s license plate reportedly conducted by another police department. Those searches were not conducted by the Methuen Police Department,” Beauregard and Moore added, without providing details. They acknowledged the cameras, used as automated license plate readers, can help locate missing or abducted children and vulnerable missing persons, recover stolen vehicles, identify vehicles connected to serious crimes and respond to imminent threats. A statement refers, for example, to last December’s use of the cameras that were able to track a rental car used by the suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University to a storage facility just across the Methuen line in Salem, N.H.

However, Beauregard and Moore said they will “pursue an alternative system that preserves those important investigative capabilities while meeting Methuen’s standards for privacy, constitutional protections and local data control.”

The cameras have come under scrutiny.

Community Spotlight

Buttonwoods Museum Offers Haverhill in the Revolutionary War

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As part of Essex National Heritage Area’s Trails & Sails, Buttonwoods Museum is holding a reprise talk on Haverhill during the battles of Lexington and Concord. The talk explores how Haverhill’s citizens responded to the first shots of the American Revolutionary War and discusses who the citizens were, how they mobilized and the journey they made toward the fighting in Lexington and Concord. The talk takes place Thursday, Sept. 24, from 7- 8:30 p.m., at the Buttonwoods Museum, 240 Water St., Haverhill.

Health

YWCA Converts Former Massage Parlor into Space for Victims

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YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts, which serves Greater Lawrence, Haverhill and other Essex County communities, said it is opening a new domestic violence and sexual assault services office in Methuen where women can escape. The YWCA and Methuen said the basement at the 5 Wallace St. space was once used in an alleged human trafficking operation. It will now be used as a space for victims of sex crimes, domestic violence and human trafficking to meet with counselors and advocates and host workshops for survivors. “This community has an opportunity to look at this location differently,” said Maricelis Ortiz, CEO of the YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts.

Haverhill

Coveted National Preservation Award Honors Historic New England

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Historic New England, which recently opened its Haverhill Center downtown, Tuesday night was one of eight institutions nationwide honored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Historic New England, owner of the historic Burgess and Lang buildings at 143 and 151 Essex St., in Haverhill, was awarded the Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence, calling the organization, a “national model for how preservation organizations can lead in the 21st century.”

“These trailblazing individuals and exemplary projects show us all how historic preservation can revitalize communities, enhance economic opportunities, and protect our nation’s cultural vitality,” said Brent Leggs, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Historic New England is described as the nation’s oldest and largest regional preservation organization, stewarding 38 diverse historic properties across five states—from rural farmsteads and urban residences to industrial complexes and designed landscapes—while maintaining one of the country’s most significant collections of material culture and historic archives. Established in 1910, the National Trust for Historic Preservation noted, “Historic New England has advanced preservation through rigorous stewardship, civic engagement, financial integrity, inclusive leadership and innovative programming. For more than a century, Historic New England has safeguarded the architecture and stories of New England.

Community Spotlight

Greater Haverhill Pentucket Youth Hockey Plans Music Bingo Fundraiser

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Greater Haverhill Pentucket Youth Hockey is holding an October music bingo fundraiser, to support programs during the upcoming season. The night, open only to people age 21 and up, includes bingo, music, prizes, food and raffles. Money raised will be used to support players and the overall Thunder hockey program. It takes place Friday, Oct. 16, at Merrimack Valley Golf Club, 210 Howe St., Methuen.

Business Bulletin

‘Tis the Season: Jarvi Productions Sets Dates for Thanksgiving Donations

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Jarvi Productions is again seeking frozen turkeys and Thanksgiving fixings to ensure families of Haverhill Public School students “facing hardship can celebrate Thanksgiving with dignity and comfort.”

This year’s annual collection drive takes place Sunday, Nov. 15, and Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21 and 22, from noon to 3 p.m., behind Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St. “This event is about bringing our community together and supporting our neighbors,” said Mike Jarvis, founder of Jarvi Productions. “Every donation, large or small, helps make a difference in the lives of families who may be struggling during the holiday season.

Haverhill

Public Meetings This Week: Merrimack River Shoreline Cleanup Set for Saturday

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As local government meetings go, the first week of fall is a relatively quiet one for officials with the exception of the Haverhill City Council and School Committee. While not quite a meeting, officials invite residents to take part in Haverhill’s second annual Merrimack River Shoreline Cleanup, Saturday, Sept. 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Merrimack River Park, 1318 River St., Haverhill. Residents are asked to help to protect wildlife and keep the river healthy by removing one bag of trash at a time. Volunteers are advised to wear sturdy, close-toe shoes; long pants; and thick gloves and bring a reusable water bottle.