Haverhill

AHEPA Awards Man of the Year to Papaefthemiou, Kakavitsas During Ceremony with Boston City Clerk

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Boston City Clerk Alex Geourntas was in Haverhill Saturday night for the centennial of the Haverhill chapter of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association and the presentation of Man of the Year Awards. Geourntas, in his capacity as AHEPA National Trustee, presented Acropolis Chapter 39 of Haverhill with the organization’s Diamond Jubilee citation as well as hand-carried a state citation from Gov. Maura Healey. Geourntas was formally named Boston city clerk in 2022 and had served as assistant city clerk since 2005. Christos S. Papaefthemiou and John Kakavitsas were surprised by the joint awarding of the annual Man of the Year Awards. Both men are longtime chapter members and also served on the anniversary committee.

Education

Haverhill Schools Won’t Accept Out-of-District Students; Marotta Explains How Enrollment Shifts

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Citing a lack of space, Haverhill Public Schools will not allow out-of-district students to attend this coming year. According to Superintendent Margaret Marotta, the school board also voted no to inter-district school choice in the past several years for similar reasons. Asked by member Yonnie Collins if there might be capacity this time, Marotta explained how enrollment starts misleadingly low, then quickly grows. “Generally, in the summer, we have some space in our classrooms, but we receive kids all school year long, and we particularly have a big bump of kids, oftentimes in early October, and in January as well,” she said. Due to families arriving from the Dominican Republic in early October—Marotta speculated flights become a little cheaper then—and a “big influx” of people moving in January, Marotta said class sizes swell.

Haverhill

Amid Steward Health Concerns, Walsh Lectures Legislature on Making Decisions in ‘Haste’

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Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh issued a broad warning Tuesday about hasty legislative solutions to address the role of private equity in health care, as officials and hospital leaders continue to brace for potentially major care disruptions amid Steward Health Care’s financial challenges. Walsh did not invoke any specific proposal when asked about the role of state or federal legislation to respond to the Steward crisis, following recent Beacon Hill hearings focused on the negative impact of private equity on patient care and possible strategies to boost regulatory oversight of health care transactions. “I think that the health care system in our country is really, really complicated, and I worry about broad brushstrokes that say, ‘private equity bad, not-for-profit good,’” Walsh told reporters following an event at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “I think we have seen an extreme set of circumstances, the choices that Steward made as a health system to capitalize their system—it just didn’t work,” the secretary continued. “And so what we need to do when we get patients, and staff, and people and regions through this is sort of step back.

Haverhill

Podcast: Haverhill Native Brian McGravey Releases New Album, ‘Feather in the Wind’

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When it comes to making an impact in the world of music, it often takes a lot of time to become an “overnight” success, and success knows no zip code. But, when you love to play, you play! That’s Haverhill native Brian McGravey with the title track from his new album “Feather in the Wind.” McGravey was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. McGravey has been playing in bands and composing music for the past 20 years—some of his work is in the form of production music that can be heard on dozens of TV channels including HBO, Nickelodeon and the History Channel. “It’s really kind of a dream come true, and it’s usually not that I go and listen, or I just hear it randomly, ‘cause I usually don’t know ahead of time when it’s going to be used, or where, but I use the website called TuneSat, and basically it will detect any music that’s used.

Business Bulletin

Six Projects will Pitch Live at Digital Equity Challenge May 2 in Haverhill

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An estimated, one in five Essex County residents lacks access to internet service and computers, along with an understanding of how to use digital devices. Aiming to solve this disparity, the Digital Equity Challenge will award $10,000 in cash prizes to the most promising solutions for the region through a live pitch contest event in Haverhill. The event is hosted by the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub Haverhill and the Essex County Community Foundation. “Through the Digital Equity Challenge, we’ve encouraged the community to use entrepreneurial thinking to develop innovative solutions to the challenges of digital literacy, access and equity, and we’ve seen great results,” said UMass Lowell’s Stephanie Guyotte, associate director of the university’s Innovation Hub Haverhill. “This year’s finalists are offering unique solutions that will positively impact our communities.

Haverhill

Residents Say Zoning Board Member Falsely Called Them Racist, Demand Accountability

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Reporter’s note: WHAV intended “Why One Haverhill Zoning Board Member Voted ‘Yes’ on a Proposal Nearby Residents Opposed” to explain how the views, beliefs and experiences of a public official led her to vote a certain way. Wood School residents said a zoning board member should face consequences for, what they believe, was a false accusation of racism after she told WHAV why she voted yes on a variance they opposed at a January meeting. Board of Appeals member Kassie Infante told WHAV in a recent interview she was not calling them racist, but rather takes a “different angle” on how race affects housing access. “Whether or not race is explicitly talked about, it’s always at play,” she said. “I never, once, called anyone racist.”

At the Jan.

Community Spotlight

Emmaus Spring Gala, Sip, Sample & Support, Set for May 16

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The third annual Emmaus spring gala, “Sip, Sample & Support,” kicks off May 16 with its signature event—the cocktail contest—overseen by WMUR-TV anchor Katherine Underwood, master of ceremonies. Local restaurants will create samples of their signature cocktails and compete for attendee votes as the “Best Cocktail in Haverhill.” Hors d’oeuvres will be served during the cocktail hour

Also under the main tent will be live music, a heads and tails game and opportunities to sample wine and food pairings from four different countries. The night concludes with dessert, a live auction hosted by City Councilor Timothy J. Jordan and more. The 21+ Sip, Sample & Support, benefitting Emmaus, takes place Thursday, May 16, from 5:30-9 p.m., at Bradford Country Club, 201 Chadwick Road, Haverhill. Business casual attire is recommended, with purple color preferred.

Haverhill

Councilors Honor Outgoing Haverhill Conservation Commissioner LaCroix; Two Partners Join Board

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As city officials celebrated filling the new volunteer Conservation Commission partner role, outgoing Commissioner Phillip LaCroix received an official citation for his 20 years of service at last week’s City Council meeting. “This is the first time we have conservation partners, who will help do the work that the conservation commission just can’t get to, or do some digging on things that are upcoming for them,” Mayor Melinda E. Barrett said. In February, as WHAV reported, city councilors considered creating the partner role to help the board keep up with its growing responsibilities, particularly guiding the city on how to use its open spaces. “It is not a commission post that you mail in,” Barrett said of LaCroix’s job. “It is a lot of work, a lot of study and a lot of effort, and Phil has exhibited all during his 20 years, and the city is grateful for his work and efforts.”

Environmental Health Technician Robert E. Moore Jr., who works closely with the commission, said it usually takes three years to train new commissioners due to the complexity of the regulations they navigate.