Education

Consentino School Construction to Begin Next Week; No Change to Traffic Flow

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It’s time. Construction of a new Dr. Albert B. Consentino School begins in earnest next week in back of the existing building, and the school department is alerting students and visitors about what to expect. In letters in English and Spanish distributed to families, school officials say there is no change in the traffic flow that has been in place since last September. “At the start of the school year, the administration at Consentino School implemented a revised traffic pattern in preparation for the anticipated construction. This was completed so there would not be any mid-year changes to our arrival and dismissal procedures.

Community Spotlight

AgeSpan Celebrates 50 Years of Inspiring Aging with Meteorologist Harvey Leonard

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AgeSpan is hosting its milestone anniversary lunch, “50 Years of Inspiring Aging: Celebrating the Power, Value and Voices of Older Adults,” on May 2. The event features keynote speaker WCVB Channel 5’s Chief Meteorologist Emeritus Harvey Leonard. The organization, formerly known as Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore, are honoring 50 local people aged 60 and older who provide inspiration through healthy aging, intergenerational experiences, community service, caregiving and activism. “We are celebrating the accomplishments of older adults and want to encourage people to rethink the way they view aging,” says AgeSpan CEO Joan Hatem-Roy. “I am humbled by their service to others and proud to be part of an organization working to ensure everyone has the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest and in the communities of their choice.”

The lunch takes place Thursday, May 2, from noon-2 p.m., at Blue Ocean Event Center, 4 Oceanfront North, Salisbury.

Business Bulletin

Merrimack Valley Credit Union Staff Help Serve Haverhill Community Meals

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Merrimack Valley Credit Union this week sponsored a community meal at the Haverhill Citizen Center on Welcome Street. Every Monday, the nonprofit Community Meals serves meals prepared by a local chef that are free to the public. Local organizations and businesses sponsor these weekly meals and provide volunteers. In addition to a financial donation and bringing desserts, the credit union’s volunteers helped prepare and serve a meatloaf dinner to dozens of Haverhill residents. “MVCU looks forward to sponsoring Haverhill Community Meals each year,” says Anthony Marino, the credit union’s senior vice president of Organizational Development.

Health

Groveland’s PFAS Water Worries Come to Pass as EPA Declares New Drinking Water Standards

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What Groveland officials have been sounding the alarm about came to pass yesterday when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency placed new federal limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water. As WHAV reported last month, Groveland is scrambling to identify solutions since its existing well water currently tests slightly above the limits for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Called PFAS, for short. While the town is considering options such as an estimated $22 million water treatment plant or buying water from Haverhill, Clint Richmond, conservation chair for the Massachusetts Sierra Club, made a declaration. “These costs should not be borne by ratepayers or taxpayers when the problem stems from decades of industries using these toxic forever chemicals,” he said.

Education

Reception Opens Haverhill High Fine Arts Academy Seniors’ Art Show

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A student art show opens in May with a reception celebrating seniors enrolled in Haverhill High School’s Fine Arts Academy. Participating students are Reem Balbesi, Mila Barbrick, Keira Bushey, Amara Ezeoke, Jay Faxon, Jorie McIrvin, Dean Reinoso, Elina Sam, Nico Vaillancourt and Vasiliki Vourtsas. The gallery reception takes place Thursday, May 9, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at HC Media, 2 Merrimack St., Haverhill.

Business Bulletin

Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Leads Lunch May 1 Explores AI Marketing Tools

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A workshop on “Using AI for Digital Marketing” takes place as part of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s next monthly Leads Lunch. The workshop, which discusses artificial intelligence tools for email and other digital marketing campaigns, takes place Wednesday, May 1, from noon- 1 p.m., at the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, Harbor Place, 2 Merrimack St., third floor, Haverhill. Admission is free for Haverhill Chamber members and $10 for guests. Registration takes place online at HaverhillChamber.com. Leads Lunches takes place on the first Wednesday of every month.

Community Spotlight

Poet Karen Kline Helps Haverhill’s River Bards Launch Spring Season Next Week

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Featured poet Karen Kline, a former poet laureate of North Andover, helps Haverhill’s River Bards kick off its spring season next week

River Bards, organized by local poets, offer poetry, prose, spoken word and other literary arts during its seasonal meetings. The spring series starts Wednesday, April 17, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., at HC Media Studio 101, 2 Merrimack St, Haverhill. There is parking at the Herbert H. Goecke Memorial Parking Deck across the street. Kline starts the night with a reading, followed by open mic time until all attendees have a chance to read. Those interested in sharing during the open mic portion may sign a sheet and wait to be called.

Haverhill

Rep. Vargas to Participate in Forum on the Pros and Cons of Lowering the Voting Age

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Update: Rep. Andy X. Vargas’ office informed WHAV Wednesday morning that the legislator is no longer available to attend the forum because of the House budget calendar. Haverhill Rep. Andy X. Vargas is one of five panelists offering their perspectives on whether those under 18 should have the right to vote. The forum, “Expanding the Franchise: Under-18 Voting Rights,” intends to “explore the pros and cons of extending voting rights to people under age 18, the current limit for federal elections.” It is sponsored by Revolutionary Spaces—formed in 2020 as a merger of the Bostonian Society and Old South Association that oversee Boston’s Old South Meeting House and Old State House. Besides Vargas, panelists are James Nichols-Worley who convinced voters at Southborough’s town meeting to endorse making the local voting age 17 years; Katherine Silbaugh, a professor Boston University School of Law; Kelly Siegel-Stechler, a senior researcher at the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life; and state Sen. James Eldridge. The free forum takes place Wednesday, April 24, starting at 6 p.m., at Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston.