Business Bulletin

Haverhill Owned Coppola Bus Sold to North Reading Transport

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The 46-year-old Haverhill bus company Coppola has officially been sold to North Reading Transport after the School Committee approved the transfer of contract at Thursday night’s meeting. Changes to daily function are planned to be minimal, as buses will continue to be housed in Haverhill, according to NRT owner John McCarthy, who addressed the Committee Thursday. When Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini asked McCarthy if local jobs would be impacted as a result of the sale, McCarthy used humor in his response. “With all due respect, Mayor, school bus drivers don’t grow on trees,” McCarthy said, when letting the Committee know all drivers’ positions would remain in tact. The motion to approve the transfer was made by committee member Scott W. Wood Jr. with a second from Attorney Richard J. Rosa.

Haverhill

Haverhill Public Meetings Week of July 29

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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. Monday, July 29

The City Council’s public safety subcommittee is meeting in part to discuss an update on group homes following the Westland Terrace tire slashing spree earlier this month. An ordinance about animals left in cars is also on the agenda. The meeting is in room 204 of City Hall, 4 Summer St., at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, July 30

Haverhill’s Board of Assessors meets in regular session in room 115 of City Hall at 9 a.m.

Hillview Montessori Charter School’s Board of Trustees discusses new business and education reports at their meeting at 75 Foundation Ave.

Haverhill

Stevens Joins Haverhill’s Temple Emanu-El as Rabbinic Intern

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Jennifer Stevens, a rabbinic student from Hebrew College, began her one-year internship earlier this month. Her responsibilities include assisting Cantor Vera Broekhuysen, the spiritual leader of Temple Emanu-El. Stevens is a candidate for rabbinic ordination and is experienced in service leading, as well as being a Jewish educator, the Temple tells WHAV in a statement. The chair of the search committee, Scott Hannula, shared their excitement when hiring Stevens, telling WHAV “the committee felt that Jen’s skills, talents, and outgoing nature would be an excellent complement to our dynamic spiritual leader, Cantor Vera.” Main Street’s Temple Emanu-El is a reform congregation that seeks a “traditional, yet creative” approach to Jewish worship.

Community Spotlight

Registration Now Open for Haverhill Fire Department’s Sept. 21 5K

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Run before the Ruckus! The Haverhill Fire Department’s annual 5K takes place this year on Saturday, Sept. 21, right before Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus festival, with registration now open. Members of Haverhill’s Fire Department Local 1011 are again raising money for the Hector Segura Memorial Scholarship in memory of the city firefighter who died in 1990. Registration is open to all ages and starts at $20 and participants are able to walk or run.

Education

Silver Hill Math Coach Donais Jets to NASA Space Camp for Teacher Training

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Jennifer Donais, a math coach at Silver Hill Elementary School, has just returned from a stellar stint at Space Camp. The weeklong program featuring NASA-inspired curriculum that adheres to national science education standards took place at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. and is a special training program for teachers hoping to expand their school’s science curriculum. Donais and a team of teachers from across the country became students for the week, learning about the space program and how to teach critical thinking skills any future astronauts may require. They also engaged in more unconventional lessons where they underwent space training as though they were authentic astronauts.

Community Spotlight

Free Swing Concert at the Castle July 28

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Get ready for a swingin’ good time! The local band “Rico Barr” is performing a free concert at Winnekenni Castle this Sunday, July 28 from 4-6 p.m.

The concert will be outside (weather permitting), so don’t forget blankets or lawn chairs! The rain location is inside the castle, with seating provided. Aside from dancing along to the “Jump n’ Jive Review” attendees can buy snacks, hot dogs and root beer floats. Donations to the Wishing Well Foundation are also welcome at the event.

Business Bulletin

Berkshire Hathaway Verani Merges with Ben Consoli Real Estate

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A new development in the real estate world comes with the recently cemented merger between Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty and Ben Consoli Real Estate. With locations already in Somerville and North Andover, this is just the latest expansion of the growing Verani Realty group. The former Ben Consoli Bradford office remains open under the new Verani Realty name, with Verani agents joining the Consoli team. Charlie Zappala, Verani Realty’s Massachusetts regional manager, is thrilled to bring the agents together as one and is confident the Consoli team will be an asset to the Haverhill and Bradford customer base. “Adding their expertise shows our continued commitment to expand our Massachusetts base and presence.

Haverhill

Motorcycle Crash Cause Remains Undetermined; NTSB Says Truck Driver Crossed Center Line

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No new details but a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board Wednesday, concludes that the 23-year-old truck driver, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy crossed the center double yellow line when he collided with a pod of bikers going the opposite direction. The crash killed seven motorcyclists, including former Haverhill resident, Albert “Woody” Mazza Jr., and seriously injured three more. After a month of investigation, there is still no clear reason for the deadly crash. “All aspects of the Randolph, N.H., crash remain under investigation,” said the report, “as the NTSB focuses on determining the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes.”

The crash triggered the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to review and suspend hundreds of licenses and provoked Attorney General Maura Healey to review Westfield Transport, the driver’s employer. The NTSB is working in partnership with the New Hampshire State Police as well as both the New Hampshire and Massachusetts licensing agencies as research is ongoing.