Haverhill Man, 41, Faces Charges Related to Pandemic Unemployment Claim for Non-Resident

A 41-year-old Haverhill man was arrested and charged Thursday in connection with a Massachusetts Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claim he filed in 2020 for a man who was living in Brazil and who has since been charged with migrant smuggling, among other offenses. Julio Roncaly Morais was charged by complaint with mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. He was arrested Thursday morning and was scheduled to appear in U.S, District Court in the afternoon. According to court documents, Morais filed a Massachusetts pandemic unemployment claim on June 3, 2020, on behalf of Chelbe Willams Moraes, who was living in Brazil when the claim was filed. In the application, Julio Morais allegedly certified under penalty of perjury that Chelbe Moraes was a current resident of Massachusetts and was able and available to work in Massachusetts, but was unable to due to the pandemic.

Tickets Available for Haverhill Chamber’s 26th Annual WOW Conference April 26

Tickets are now available for the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s 26th annual Winning Opportunities for Women conference next month. Speakers include Amber Farley, educator, consultant and thought leader and partner and executive vice president of brand development at FMS; Michelle Saunders, a certified trainer involved with the Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance assessment, which is a global professional personality development program; and Ilhianna Rojas of BeLIVE Coaching and Consulting. Farley speaks to “10 Myths Debunked: How to Inspire, Empower and Get Things Done;” while Saunders addresses “The Guiding Force of Self Awareness” and Rojas offers tips on how to “Cultivate Your Legacy Story.”

Early bird admission of $189 per person is available until Friday, April 5, and $209 thereafter, and ticket may be purchased online here. As WHAV previously reported, Chamber President and CEO Alex Eberhardt said the conference—called WOW, for short—is expected to draw more than 200 people and feature speakers discussing professional and personal development. Speaking on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast,” Eberhardt said this year’s venue takes place Friday, April 26, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at The Vault, owned by Wendy Estrella, 238 Essex St., Lawrence.at The Vault at Lawrence

Admission includes a continental breakfast and full lunch.

Magliocchetti, Grannemann Tell Beacon Hill State Left Haverhill Estimated $19.2 Million Behind

Arguing a faulty state funding formula has left Haverhill Public Schools with a potential $11.1 million deficit for next year’s budget, School Committee Vice Chairman Paul A. Magliocchetti and member Thomas Grannemann met with Beacon Hill lawmakers to explain their proposed fix Tuesday. Magliocchetti told WHAV he was spurred into action after people mocked his declaration he would march on Beacon Hill if the district did not receive additional money, which he made at a recent School Committee meeting, as WHAV reported. “It inspired me to do this, because, you know, I’m that passionate about this,” he said. The two committee members were well received, meeting first with state Rep. Andy X. Vargas Tuesday morning, according to Magliocchetti. He said he is confident more discussions will follow.

Haverhill High School Class of 1979 Plans 45th Reunion, Seeks Classmate Info.

The Haverhill High School Class of 1979 is planning its 45th anniversary reunion this fall. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30, from 6-11 p.m., at Maria’s Galleria Banquet Hall, 85 Essex St., in downtown Haverhill. Classmates who may be away or out of touch with the “Superfine 79” are asked to email class President John J. Guerin at [email protected].

School Committee Pulls Second Whittier Tech Seat Off Agenda; City Lawyer Said to Have Found Errors

The Haverhill School Committee is revisiting plans to fill, what were first described as, two available seats on the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee. While the existing appointment of Richard P. Early Jr. expires at the end of the month, a new policy that declared a vacancy in the seat now held by Scott W. Wood Jr. is now being reconsidered. Behind the concern, officials said, is a ruling by City Solicitor Lisa L. Mead that the Whittier Tech policy and eight others should have been heard and voted upon separately under the state’s Open Meeting Law. In light of the decision, the full School Committee will interview six candidates at its regular meeting Thursday night only for the seat held by Early. The agenda now lists candidates as Paul A. Bergman, Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien, Early, Debbie Gangi, Jeff LeBlanc and Warren Seitz.

Haverhill Education Foundation to Host Trivia Night April 6, Announces $1,000 Scholarship for Tech Grad

The Haverhill Education Foundation will host a trivia night fundraiser Saturday, April 6. New this year, Kalyn Ryll, clerk for the nonprofit, told city councilors last night the organization created a $1,000, needs-based scholarship for a Haverhill High graduate who completed the Career Technical Education program. The money may go toward a postsecondary degree, technical school program or an apprenticeship. Details are on Haverhill High’s online scholarship portal, with applications due Friday, April 19. “We hopefully will have this be the start of a longstanding scholarship that we might be able to offer to these students,” Ryll said.

Greater Haverhill Arts Association Features Student Works May 5-11

The Greater Haverhill Arts Association will feature the works of high school and middle school students, including homeschoolers, during its 2024 Student Art Exhibit in May. Artwork will be juried and awards presented. The exhibit runs Sunday, May 5, through Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, and noon-5 Sunday, at Buttonwoods Museum, 240 Water St., Haverhill. There is a registration/entry fee of $5 to be paid when delivering art. The fee covers up to three art entries and may be applied to $15 student membership.

Steward Health Care to Sell Physician Group to Optum, Pending Regulatory Approval

Steward Health Care, owner of Holy Family Hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen, said it plans to sell its physician group, Stewardship Health, to a UnitedHealth Group’s subsidiary, Minnesota-based Optum Financial. Stewardship Health is the parent of Stewardship Health Medical Group, which employs primary care physicians and other clinicians across nine states, according to the state’s Health Policy Commission. The company’s hospitals were not included in the deal. “This is a significant proposed change involving two large medical providers, both in Massachusetts and nationally, with important implications for the delivery and cost of health care across Massachusetts,” Health Policy Commission Director David Seltz said. “Details of the proposal will be reviewed by the HPC to examine potential impacts on health care costs, quality, access and equity.