Haverhill

Haverhill Riverfront Walk of Fame Adds Sapienza, Mobley and Cogswell at Rotary Ceremony

By |

Editor’s Note: Additional information and a clarification was added to this story after initial publication. A coach and world-class marathoner, a pioneering African-American entrepreneur and a philanthropist, educator and abolitionist last week became the latest additions to Haverhill’s downtown walk of fame. The Rotary Club of Haverhill Thursday dedicated plaques along the Rep. Brian S. Dempsey Boardwalk to Anthony “Tony” Sapienza for his contributions to sports and education; William “Professor Bill” Mobley for his work shaping the city’s economic landscape; and Dr. George S. Cogswell, prominent physician, philanthropist, educator, abolitionist and civic leader. Creative Haverhill’s Danielle Kravetz Smida detailed contributions by Cogswell, who lived from 1808 to 1901. “In public service, he was appointed by President Lincoln as a collector of the Internal Revenue for the sixth district of Massachusetts, a role he was appointed to again by President Grant in 1870.

Haverhill

Podcast: Essex County Habitat for Humanity Invites Applications to Buy New Haverhill Duplexes

By |

Essex County Habitat for Humanity is at work developing a duplex with affordable three-bedroom units in Haverhill’s Mount Washington neighborhood, but has hope for another local project as well. Habitat for Humanity’s Director of Charitable Giving Kevin Hudson appeared Monday on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program to discuss plans for the 41-43 Curtis St., Haverhill site. “We will start excavation over the summer and get the foundation in and, once we do that, we’ll start building the home and volunteers can help us frame,” he says. Both units, valued at $245,000 each, have approximately 1,200 square feet with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and a single-car garage. Those interested in getting one of the sets of keys must be first-time homebuyers, have a qualifying household income and be willing to contribute 240-360 hours of “sweat equity.” Applications are due by Friday, Aug.

Haverhill

Podcast: Clean River Project Makes Pitch for More Money to Keep Merrimack River Clean

By |

Clean River Project founder Rocky Morrison seeks to redouble his organization’s efforts to keep the Merrimack River free of discarded mattresses, syringes, cars and mountains of trash. Appearing last week on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, Morrison says his group is the only one undertaking this kind of work below the water’s surface and communities should help pay for it. “We started 20 years ago cleaning up the Merrimack River, back in Methuen, as a scavenger hunt and it grew into a nonprofit. Here we are 20 years later. We pull about 100 tons a year.

Region

Podcast: Groveland COA’s EngAGEment Celebration and Symposium Saturday; More to Come

By |

The Groveland Council on Aging’s “EngAGEment Celebration and Symposium” this Saturday, features an address by Dr. Katharine Esty, author of “Eightysomethings,” workshops and connections to community resources. Groveland Council on Aging Director Alyssa Lee visited WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” show recently to welcome attendance at the free event and explain its purpose. “That is an opportunity to celebrate and promote community engagement and well being among older adults. It’s an opportunity for the community to connect with local organizations as well as community members and just have general resources of the wealth of information that is around in our community to support our older adults in our community as well as care partners,” she said. Lee emphasizes the event is not just open to seniors and Groveland residents, but also to caregivers and those in surrounding communities.

Education

Podcast: Spurr Relates Story Behind Finally Donning Graduation Cap and Gown After 65-Year Wait

By |

(Additional photographs below.)

School graduation season offers a time for reflection, planning and often some heartwarming stories, but it was considerably more for 82-year-old Jean Spurr of Groveland. Spurr was awarded an honorary diploma June 1 from Georgetown High School where she was a member of the class of 1959 at graduation ceremonies on Saturday morning. She recently told WHAV listeners the unusual and heartfelt experience of how she came to finally don cap and gown and participate in high school graduation. Spurr and her companion, Steven D. Sardella of Haverhill, were guests on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. Earlier this year, Sardella had an idea about a special birthday gift for Spurr.

Haverhill

Podcast: Haverhill Church Group Leads Mission to Moldova, Bringing Supplies and Hope to Orphans

By |

When it comes to reaching out with a helping hand, a Haverhill church is reaching out halfway across the world to help orphaned children. West Church is sending 15 people today on a mission trip to Moldova, a small country sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine. Leading the group is church Director of Outreach Mark Cottrell. Speaking recently on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, he explains how the 767 Broadway church became involved. “For a number of years we’ve supported a ministry in Moldova, a gentleman named Oleg Reutki—he’s a pastor over there—and he runs a number of orphanages.

Business Bulletin

Podcast: Carolyn’s Farm Kitchen Opens Haverhill Storefront Location

By |

If you are looking to show off your creativity in the kitchen, you may be interested in using a “secret weapon” to make it easier. This Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Carolyn’s Farm Kitchen hosts an open house at the new storefront location. Owner Carolyn Grieco was a guest this past Wednesday on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, where she announced she will be opening a location at 800 Broadway in Haverhill. “A lot of my customers know me for baking at the market, as well as the products, but it is not a bakery. I used to own a bakery many years ago in Middleton.

Haverhill

Podcast: More to Building Haverhill-Based Mason & Hamlin Pianos Than Meets the Ear

By |

The next time you have a chance to hear someone play the piano, just remember that instrument had its beginnings years earlier in a factory that could put it all together, piece by piece. It comes as a surprise to many people that such a place exists in Haverhill—the Mason & Hamlin Piano Co. The company’s creative director, Nathan Mabanglo-Burgett, whose family owns the on Duncan Street business, was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program

“Yeah, we are kind of a hidden gem in Haverhill—not many people know that there is a piano factory located in Haverhill. We started in 1854 in Boston, Massachusetts, had a couple of different homes, but in 1980 we relocated to Haverhill, Massachusetts.”

When it comes to making a piano, he says many steps must be taken. “One part is woodworking.