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Why Haverhill’s Mill Brook Park Was Chosen as the New Vietnam Memorial Site

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Two months after relocating the city’s war memorial from Water Street to Mill Street’s Mill Brook Park, members of Haverhill’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ad Hoc Commission tell WHAV the choice to settle the statue near Plug Pond was a no brainer. Convened at the request of Mayor James J. Fiorentini in September, the commission includes Ralph Basiliere and Linda Gambino-Baxter, who appeared on Monday’s Open Mic Show to update listeners on the progress since the Veterans’ Day dedication. According to Basiliere, it was fellow commission member Louis T. Fossarelli, a local businessman and veteran, who spoke up early and often about the merits of Mill Brook. “We had discussed the extension of the Rail Trail and Winnekenni Park—and Lou spoke up and talked about Mill Brook Park,” Basiliere recalled. “Instantly in the room, you could feel that everyone knew that was the right place.”

Calling Fossarelli “the right voice at the right time,” Basiliere said neighbors in the Highlands area near the park have embraced the new landmark.

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Snowplow Drivers Receive Raises; Worry About New Routes and Lack of Maps

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Stephanie Lesiczka expressed mostly satisfaction with raises for private snowplow operators, but raised concern about new routes and a lack of maps. (WHAV News photograph.)

After what promised to be a simmering dispute between the city and private snowplow operators, both sides won accolades from Haverhill city councilors Tuesday night for striking an accord. Councilors approved rates of between $65 and $135 per hour, depending on the type of equipment, for private contractors charged with plowing and hauling snow. One contractor, Stephanie Lesiczka, said that while the agreement is not everything she hoped for, contractors “can live with it.” She explained there are differences that can be addressed later. “In five of the seven weight classes or categories, Haverhill is still below the average for 11 comparable communities that the mayor cited in our negotiations,” she said.

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Haverhill City Councilors Nix Plan for Monument Square Used Car Lot

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Haverhill City Council Vice President Thomas J. Sullivan. (WHAV News photograph by Jay Saulnier.)

The Haverhill City Council Tuesday night killed plans for a used car lot in Monument Square, citing aesthetics and environmental concerns. Members voted 5-3 to deny a special permit to city resident Edgar Arias to open a 16-vehicle lot on the site of the abandoned Hess gasoline station at 3 Kenoza Ave. Council Vice President Thomas J. Sullivan led the charge against the plan. “The state and the city have spent significant resources to improve the area.

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Wood Intends to Nominate Ryan-Ciardiello as Haverhill School Committee Vice Chair

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Scott W. Wood Jr. hopes the Haverhill School Committee will abandon the “highly bitter divide between members” in 2019. (File photograph)

Longtime School Committeeman Scott W. Wood Jr. hopes 2019 will be a year of new beginnings for the Haverhill education board. Ahead of the committee’s first January meeting Thursday night, Wood tells WHAV he intends to nominate colleague Maura Ryan-Ciardiello to be the elected body’s vice chairperson. In doing so, Wood hopes his colleagues—Paul A. Magliocchetti, Richard J. Rosa, Gail M. Sullivan and Sven A. Amirian—will avoid the weeks of strife that preceded Magliocchetti’s ascension to the role last year. Magliocchetti currently sits second chair to Mayor James J. Fiorentini.

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Haverhill’s Temple Emanu-El Hosting Martin Luther King Jr. Service Jan. 18

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Temple Emanu-El on Haverhill’s Main Street is preparing to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at a song and prayer service open to all on Friday, Jan. 18. The 7 p.m. service at 514 Main St. features music from the choirs of Temple Emanu-El, Calvary Baptist Church and Bradford Christian Academy High School, along with remarks from the Greater Haverhill Clergy Association.

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DEP Fines Raytheon $45K for Andover Wetlands Violation

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A wetlands violation on the grounds of Raytheon’s Andover facility cost the U.S. defense contractor $45,000. (File photograph)

Raytheon must pay a fine to the state Department of Environmental Protection as a penalty for unauthorized destruction of approximately 5,000 square feet of wetlands during recent work completed at the office space in Andover. In a statement issued this week, the DEP said Raytheon petitioned the Andover Conservation Commission for an emergency allowance to clear an obstruction—a beaver dam—from a designated wetland area, arguing that potential flooding could pose a public safety threat. The town board granted the emergency certification in April and the state DEP received a complaint five weeks later that contended Raytheon violated the order. “The authorization of any work performed in a wetlands resource area is prescribed; it is not a blank check to do additional work,” the DEP’s Eric Worrall said in a statement.

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Locked Out National Grid Workers Heading Back to Work This Month

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After a six-month lockout, National Grid workers will be back on the job the week of Jan. 20, the company said. (WHAV News file photograph)

National Grid gas workers who have been locked out since June are set to be back on the job later this month after their unions on Monday ratified a new agreement, the State House News Service reports. Heads of United Steelworkers locals 12003 and 12012-04 last week applauded the tentative agreement and on Monday announced their union members had voted to ratify a new, six-year agreement replacing the contract that expired on June 24, 2018. According to National Grid, the employees will return to work the week of Jan.