Haverhill

Ceremony Launches Bradford Mixed Housing and Retail Complex, Start of Traffic Improvements

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Although actual construction began months ago, ground was ceremonially broken Tuesday for “The Beck,” a 290-unit housing development, park, restaurant and retail complex along the Merrimack River in Bradford. The ceremony also called attention to planned roadway improvements aimed at relieving a bottleneck at the intersection of South Elm Street, Blossom Street, Laurel Avenue and Railroad Avenue near the Joseph C. Comeau Bridge. Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini praised the developer and the state for the upgrade. He said, “I want to thank the Procopio Companies for working with us. I want to thank the state for this $2 million MassWorks grant that’s going to finally improve traffic and pedestrian signaling in this area to make the great project we know it will be.”

These improvements include updated traffic signals and coordination with lights on the Haverhill side of the bridge; realigning Laurel Avenue with South Elm Street to reduce open pavement areas, driver confusion and pedestrian crossing lengths and provide additional separation from the Blossom Street; realigning Railroad Avenue with South Elm Street to improve transit bus maneuverability constrained by the existing bridge abutments; constructing bicycle lanes to provide a direct connection from the surrounding area to the Bradford Rail Trail; reconstructing sidewalks and installing an enhanced pedestrian crossing; install traffic signals at two intersections to clearly define driver rights-of-way and providing exclusive pedestrian crossing phasing; and fixing deterioration of the existing road surface.

Haverhill

Podcast: Temple Emanu-El’s Rabbi Stevens Discusses Hanukkah, Which Begins Thursday

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The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, begins Thursday. Rabbi Ashira Stevens, of Haverhill’s Temple Emanu-El in Haverhill, speaking on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, discussed the historical significance of the holiday. “When the Jews won against their enemies, back in those days, back in the days of the Maccabees, they then rededicated their temple. The word Hanukkah itself actually means dedication, or rededication, and when they did that, they cleaned everything up. The temple had been made into a complete mess, and they shined the menorah and they looked around for oil to light it, and they only found one cruise of oil, one small container.

Haverhill

Haverhill Rotary Gives Highest Honor to Klueber, Grassie, Marzilli and Rogers

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Four Haverhill residents last week were each awarded Haverhill Rotary Club’s highest honor. During the Club’s annual Foundation Day, which honors Rotary International’s founder, Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded to William J. Klueber, Dale Rogers, Jeff Grassie and Lisa Marzilli in recognition of their positive impacts on the community. Klueber, who retired as Haverhill’s auditor and director of finance and still serves as chairman of the Haverhill Retirement Board, is a longtime Haverhill Rotary Club treasurer. Rogers is an internationally recognized metal sculptor whose iconic big dogs are credited with bringing Haverhill much positive attention. His sculptures were recently used to help raise money for Whittier Birthplace.

Education

Podcast: As Dice Retires, Pentucket Regional High School Plans to Recruit New Service Dogs

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A retirement is on the horizon one of the beloved members of the Pentucket Regional High School staff, who offers comfort to both students and staff. Pentucket Regional School Superintendent Justin Bartholomew, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, talked about the service dog named Dice, who is coming up on his 10th birthday. “That is about the age when you retire a service animal from a public space like this, so we have spent, at the end of last year and this summer, we have spent quite a bit of time trying to determine how do we replicate what Dice has brought to the students, what Dice has brought to the adults in that building as well,” Bartholomew says. Dice is a black lab that started going to Pentucket Regional High School in 2018. “Dice was originally—we have one of our teachers, Pam Shedd, her daughter had diabetes and because of certain situations, her daughter couldn’t have a pump.

Haverhill

Podcast: Haverhill Exchange Club’s Annual Hillie Hunt Sends Teams Scurrying Next Week

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An old-fashioned scavenger hunt, using modern technology, sends teams traveling around town next week in search of the most clues to win. Haverhill Exchange Club’s annual Hillie Hunt offers prizes for first, second and third place as well as for best Halloween costume. There’s also an after-party and 50/50 raffle. Exchange Club member Michael Joy, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program explains participants will be using a phone app. “You just log into the app and then the questions start to pop up.

Region

Podcast: Sixth Annual Methuen Day Saturday Brings Bands, Organ Concert, Food and More

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A community celebration is set to take place tomorrow in downtown Methuen with the observance of the sixth annual Methuen Day. Methuen City Councilor and Methuen Day Chairwoman Eunice D. Zeiger was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program and outlined what to expect. “We have the police station open house from 10-2 and the fire station open house from 10-2 and the Methuen Memorial Music Hall is doing open console which is similar to an open house, but if you are a trained pianist, you can go to the Memorial Hall and you can play their organ, which is absolutely amazing organ. If you have not seen it, have not been there, it’s definitely a sight to see,” she said. The Methuen Memorial Music Hall, at 192 Broadway, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and was built specifically, architecturally and acoustically for the 1863 Great Organ that it houses.

Haverhill

Podcast: Trahan Says Programs Like Haverhill Fire Staffing Grant at Risk with Federal Shutdown

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Eyes are on Washington to see how Congress deals with a budget deadline and looming shutdown of the federal government. Congresswoman Lori Trahan, went live Thursday on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, noting the Haverhill Fire Department recently benefited from an operating federal government. However, she said, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy now has to choose between the country and those Republicans who would take away his leadership position. “The House could put that bill on the floor and it would get a majority of votes from Democrats and Republicans, but you know there is a small group of Republicans right now that just aren’t allowing that to happen. Frankly, Speaker McCarthy is having to make a decision on what is more important to him, the country or his speakership.

Community Spotlight

Podcast: Rocks Village Memorial Association’s Yard Sale This Weekend Offers Bonus Tours

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Furniture, vintage items and modern kitchen tools, hand-sewn quilts, artwork and more are among the finds when the Rocks Village Memorial Association’s yard sale takes place this Saturday and Sunday to support restoration of the Hand Tub House. Association member Christine Kwitchoff, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, says the yard sale features items donated over the summer including such oddities as the 16-foot metal and wood sign from the former Haverhill Music Center. Shopping or not, she says, there’s another reason to stop by. “Something that we will be doing, during the sale, both on Saturday and on Sunday, will be giving tours of the second floor of the building. Not many people have been up there yet, and we’re excited to open that to the community, Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the day of the sale, Saturday, Sept.