Haverhill

Following Censorship, WHAV Urges Public to Listen to Radio, Subscribe to Free eNewspaper

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Increasing worldwide censorship and intimidation from social media giants could cause you to miss news of critically important local happenings, but there is a step you can take today to stay informed. To safeguard access to news, WHAV, on-air, online, everywhere is asking its social media followers to subscribe to WHAV’s free Wavelengths eNewspaper here. In the last week, a local news warning about the sinkhole along the southbound lanes of Interstate 495 near Ward Hill was flagged as spam and removed by one social media site. Another blocked WHAV story was news of possible restoration of Haverhill’s 1845-era (gun) powder house. The tech giant behind these removals piles on with intimidation by writing “Repeatedly breaking our rules can cause more account restrictions.”

WHAV is not alone.

Haverhill

Certain Eligible Voters to Cast Ballots in Little-Known Haverhill Election Next Week

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There are no known instances of sign holding, hand shaking or baby kissing, but a little-known Haverhill campaign, involving well-known candidates, will be decided next week. While all eyes are focused on next month’s presidential election, three candidates are vying for a post on a board of five that oversees an investment portfolio of more than $300 million. Sandra L. Foisy, Colin F. LePage and Pamela J. Carr are on the Haverhill Retirement Board ballot to fill the unexpired term of the late William J. Klueber. The result could be historic. “To the best of our knowledge, there has never been a woman elected to the board,” says board Administrator David S. Van Dam.

Haverhill

Last of Haverhill’s Powder Houses Appears Destined to be Added to National Register of Historic Places

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Haverhill’s 1845-era powder house on Golden Hill appears to be a shoo-in to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Massachusetts Historic Commission last month deemed the cone-shaped, circular, brick structure eligible for listing and forwarded its recommendation to the U.S. Interior Department. Haverhill city councilors are expected to be briefed on the process Tuesday night by city Community Development Division Director Andrew K. Herlihy. Haverhill has been seeking since at least as early as 2019 to win the federal designation as it potentially opens the door, perhaps literally, to grants and other restoration aid. According to preservation consultant Lisa Mausolf, the front entrance of the powder house was removed in 1883 and sealed with brick.

Education

Haverhill Schools Celebrate National Literacy Month with $150K in Added State Aid to Boost Reading

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(Additional photograph below.)

Haverhill and state officials celebrated National Literacy Month Monday by highlighting $150,000 in state money received to adopt early literacy curriculum in Haverhill Public Schools and help Haverhill Promise deliver early literacy interventions and tutoring. Officials gathered in front of Golden Hill Elementary School to demonstrate how efforts as early as pre-school have been shown to reduce dropout rates later and deliver lifelong success. Golden Hill Principal Paula Rodriguez explained how students are using the school’s outdoor little library and other the resources made possible by the state earmark. “They can come, take a book and the kids use it quite often. Every day, we are constantly filling the books, so that’s been great.

Haverhill

Lawrence General Hospital Takes Over Holy Family ‘With No Glitches;’ Celebrates in Two Cities (Photos)

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(Additional photographs below.)

Lawrence General Hospital said its takeover Tuesday of Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill and Methuen went “absolutely with no glitches,” and hospital staff and elected officials celebrated the return of nonprofit ownership in ceremonies in both cities. Lawrence General Hospital President and CEO Abha Agrawal called the near closings of Holy Family Hospital by Steward Health Care a “breach of trust,” but promised to “rebuild.”

“Today is the day when we step out of the fog of uncertainty onto a path of progress forward, creating a healing system of care for our patients and our team. Just a few months ago, we were on the brink of losing Holy Family Hospital, its facilities—beautiful, the care it provides, the jobs it sustains and the economic benefit it creates,” she told a crowd gathered Tuesday morning outside Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. Agrawal tanked Gov. Maura T. Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, state Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh and other local and state leaders for their efforts in saving the hospitals in Methuen and Haverhill. She said the priorities are now to protect patients and the care team; expand mission of health equity, diversity and inclusivity; fostering partnership and collaboration with area institutions such as Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, rehabilitation centers, community services and AgeSpan; “integration and efficient organization” of clinical services and operations; and “laying the foundations of innovations in care.

Haverhill

Haverhill Councilors to Consider Petitioning Beacon Hill to Increase Size of Board of Health

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Haverhill city councilors are scheduled tonight to consider asking the legislature for approval to expand the city’s Board of Health from three to five members. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett recommends the additional members. In a letter to the mayor last week, City Solicitor Lisa L. Mead said state law currently limits the city to a three-person board and she drafted a home rule petition for councilors to consider. The special legislation would give the mayor the authority to name five members with staggered terms, eventually totaling three-year appointments. Health Board Chairperson Peter Carbone told WHAV, he has requested an enlarged board for at least three years.

Haverhill

Motorcyclist Receives Injuries in Rush Hour Crash Along Route 125 in Haverhill Near Plaistow

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A motorcyclist received what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries after his bike struck a compact SUV during the heavy, late afternoon commute Wednesday along Route 125 in Haverhill. Haverhill Deputy Police Chief Stephen J. Doherty Jr. told WHAV it appears the unnamed motorcyclist, driving south on a 2017 Harley Davidson, struck a 2021 Subaru Crosstrek just before 5 p.m. The driver of the Subaru was leaving a McDonald’s restaurant and turning northward on Main Street, Route 125. The motorcyclist was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Doherty said no citations had been issued by Thursday, but the accident is still being investigated.

Business Bulletin

Anna Jaques Hospital Says Haverhill YMCA Freight Farm Helps Overcome ‘Food Deserts’

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The first birthday of Haverhill YMCA’s Freight Farm brought out staff, city officials and its primary sponsor for a birthday cake and, of course, salad made with the farm’s own lettuce. Celebrating Wednesday at the Gateway Academy on Primrose Street, where the first YMCA Freight Farm in the country is located, were Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, YMCA Regional Executive Director Tracy Fuller, city councilors, community leaders and Glenn D. Focht, president of Anna Jaques Hospital, which sponsored the farm. “Now, there’s a year’s worth of results to show that it can make a difference in the community where a lot of kids and families experience food insecurity or lack of access to healthy food. Parts of the city are food deserts when it comes to things like fruits and vegetables,” he said. Focht explained why Anna Jaques’ parent company got involved.