Haverhill

Podcast: Haverhill Author Releases ‘Killer Dreams’ Novel Even as he Gives Life Himself

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A Haverhill author’s latest novel focuses on loss of life following an accident even as he regains his strength in real life after personally giving the gift of life. Vincent Donovan has two stories to tell. His new book is called “Killer Dreams,” while his kidney is helping someone fulfill their own dreams. He talked about both during his recent appearance on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. “I just sat down to watch the Patriots game last fall and saw a post from my neighbor about her cousin who is up in New Hampshire—a dad with a 9-year-old daughter. I stepped forward, start the long journey.

Haverhill

Podcast: Back to School and Back to Work are Related at Haverhill’s Leaving the Streets Ministry

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Leaving the Streets Ministry in Haverhill is finding jobs for youth that help them stay in school and out of trouble. The nonprofit, which placed teens into 286 jobs so far this year, is also building a new relationship with Haverhill Public Schools’ enlarged Gateway Academy in the former St. James School on Primrose Street. Founder Jesus Ruiz told listeners of WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, said jobs he and his wife Wanda find for the youth are tailor made for unusual student schedules. “Some of our kids in the after school program, they’re going to night school.

Region

Podcast: Community Celebration This Saturday Celebrates 30 Years of Methuen Festival of Trees

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Over the past 30 years, historic preservation around the region has received a $2 million boost thanks to the Methuen Festival of Trees. To celebrate its first three decades, thank supporters and usher in this year’s effort, the Methuen Festival of Trees is having a Community Celebration with tours, food, children’s activities and more this Saturday, Sept. 9. Among the organizers who were there at the beginning were former state Sen. and Methuen Mayor Sharon M. Pollard and her husband, former Rep. Thomas R. Lussier. Lussier recently stopped WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program to discuss the milestone and upcoming plans.

Haverhill

Podcast: MeVa Transit Extends Six Bus Routes Two Hours Later Into the Night with Added State Money

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MeVa Transit’s six highest bus ridership routes will be running two hours later starting tomorrow thanks, in part, to a $56 million statewide budget increase for regional transit authorities. MeVa Transit Administrator Noah Berger, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, said he also has more drivers, helping support extended hours. “With our September schedule, we’ll be extending service on six routes, including two in Haverhill, to 9 at night. One of the areas we’ve heard about from our riders, and community groups in general, is that we stop running too early. We stop at 6 in Haverhill and 7 in Lawrence, and life just doesn’t stop at 6 or 7 o’clock at night,” he said.

Business Bulletin

Podcast: Pentucket Bank Stadium Branch Renovations in Progress; 24 Operations Offices to Move There

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Those traveling along Lincoln Avenue by Haverhill Stadium may have noticed some changes taking place. The stadium branch of Pentucket Bank, at 120 Lincoln Ave., is undergoing renovations that take into account the times as well as plan for the future. Recent guests on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, Pentucket Bank CEO, and River Run Bancorp President Jonathan H. Dowst and Pentucket Bank President Eric G. Leurteritz discussed the project. Leurteritz said the outside of the building is in great shape, but changes are being made inside. “It is going through a significant renovation.

Region

You Didn’t Miss It; New England Summer Classic Car Show Moves to This Sunday

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The New England Summer Classic Car Show, originally planned for yesterday in downtown Andover, has moved to this Sunday afternoon. Show organizer Wes Pettengill says concerns over the weather forecast and the affect it could have on the cars forced the change. Pettengill, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, says organizers are expecting more than 200 show vehicles–with special attention going to the Mustang. “We’re going to be featuring a Mustang corral and we’re going to be talking about the history of the Mustang starting in 1964 and a half. That’s what Ford designated that mid-season unveiling of the Mustang, and it’s going right up to the current Mustang.

Haverhill

Podcast: Veterans Northeast Outreach Center to Rededicate Intake Center to Late Leader Forbes

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Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill is ready to return to its home base, recently damaged by a burst water pipe, and will honor its fallen, former leader during a rededication early next month. The Scott Forbes Memorial Intake Center is to be dedicated at the 10 Reed St., Haverhill, building. Veterans Northeast Outreach Center Outreach Coordinator Jim Behen discussed the reopening during an appearance Tuesday on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. “Our event that’s going on, on August 4, that’s a Friday, at 10:30 a.m. will be the reopening of the center, and then also we will be dedicating our intake center office in memory of the late Scott Forbes, who was our past executive director who, unfortunately, took his life in March. One of Scott’s big things was you couldn’t help a veteran until you got him in the door.

Region

Podcast: North Andover’s Johnson Discusses his ‘Window Seat on the World’ with John Kerry

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(Additional photographs below.)

North Andover’s Glen Johnson has truly had a “Window Seat on the World,” witnessing alongside former Secretary of State John F. Kerry, the unfolding of history. Four years ago, Johnson, who now serves as chief of communications and external affairs to Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker, committed his adventures—from the Vatican to the Kremlin and London to Baghdad—to his book, “Window Seat on the World: My Travels with the Secretary of State.” The book remains topical and fascinating, as Johnson explained during a recent appearance on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast.”

He explained after graduating from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisc., he initially observed newsmakers as a reporter in Salem and Lowell and the Associated Press. That all changed when he was working as a political reporter for the Boston Globe and “got the call.”

“It was a very familiar voice at the other end of my cell phone, and he asked if we could have an ‘off the record’ conversation. He made his pitch, and offer, and I went home that night and talked with my wife and two sons about it and the consensus was it would be an impossible thing to turn down,”  Johnson recalled. During his time on the job, he and Secretary Kerry visited all seven continents, 91 countries, and traveled 1.5 million miles.