Haverhill

Haverhill Pitches Redevelopment Projects as State Official Visits with Grant Eligibility Info

By |

Haverhill put its best foot forward during a recent visit by a high-ranking state official, and took back some tips on accessing some of the $4 billion the state is setting aside for jobs and business. Ashley Stolba, undersecretary of the state Executive Office of Economic Development, met with Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, City Councilor John A. Michitson, state Reps. Andy X. Vargas and Ryan Hamilton and other officials at Haverhill City Hall. While the meeting was not open to the press and public, state Sen. Barry R. Finegold’s office displayed photographs on social media showing city officials giving updates on current projects. Stolba, for example, saw an overview of such projects as the $160 million Merrimack Street mixed-use project by developer Salvatore N. Lupoli and a proposal by Historic New England for a welcome center and retail and artist live-work space on Essex Street.

Haverhill

Merrimack Valley Transit Gets Council OK to Add Above-Ground Diesel Fuel Tank

By |

Merrimack Valley Transit—MeVa, for short—received approval Tuesday from the Haverhill City Council to license both above- and below-ground fuel tanks at its Railroad Avenue bus garage near the Bradford commuter rail station. The rather routine flammables permit became a history lesson with documents showing the site holding licenses going back to 1925 when it was in the hands of the private sector. Councilors updated and consolidated two handwritten permit applications given to the city’s then-aldermen—one in 1925 for two tanks and one in 1926 for five steel tanks—sought by the George D. Currier Co., of Railroad Avenue. Receipts, acknowledging both applications, was signed by then-City Clerk William W. Roberts. The City Council approved a new 22,000-gallon, above-ground diesel tank, and reauthorized a 22,000-gallon underground gasoline tank at 123 Railroad Ave.

Community Spotlight

Ruth’s House Holds Trivia Night with Food and Prizes March 21

By |

Ruth’s House, a popular Lafayette Square, Haverhill, thrift shop with a charitable mission, plans a fundraising Trivia Night. Organizers say door prizes will be awarded throughout the night as well as a prize to the winning team. The event takes place Friday, March 21, from 6-9:30 p.m., at Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant, 354 Merrimack St., Lawrence. Admission is $50 per person and includes pizza, salad and dessert. Reservations may be made online here.

Business Bulletin

Eco Dev Secretary Hao to Address Merrimack Valley Chamber Spring Expo Lunch

By |

The state of the economy is the theme of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Expo Luncheon with state Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and a panel of local experts. Hao addresses the conference along with a panel of speakers including Louis Minicucci Jr. of Minco Corp., Jennifer Sloan of Pfizer and Merrimack Valley Planning Commission Executive Director Jerrard Whitten of the Merrimack Valley Economic Development Corp. The lunch takes place Wednesday, April 2, from noon to 1:15 p.m., at Phoenician Restaurant, 12 Alpha St., Haverhill. Admission is $39 each for members and $49 each for non-members. And may be reserved at MerrimackValleyChamber.com or by calling 978-686-0900.

Haverhill

Haverhill Winter Parking Proposal Moves to Public Safety Committee for Further Review

By |

A proposal that could give residents a reprieve from longstanding city policy regulating winter parking will receive further scrutiny at the Haverhill City Council’s Public Safety Subcommittee after a number of residents on Tuesday aired concerns over the practice, which carries a $25 fine per violation. As WHAV reported, current policy mandates residents alternate parking on even and odd sides of the streets between Nov. 15 and April 1 to help crews better clear roads during and after storms. A resident proposal presented to city councilors Tuesday suggests creating a grace period until plowable snow is forecasted to fall within three days. Concerned residents were introduced by Ward 1 City Councilor Ralph T. Basiliere. “As we all know, in the inner city, really big parts of wards one, two and three in particular, there are a lot more cars and the same amount of street that there always has been,” Basiliere said.

Haverhill

Haverhill’s Hannah Duston Healthcare Center Sells to N.J. Firm; Nursing Home Changes Name

By |

Hannah Duston Healthcare in Haverhill and Port Healthcare Center in Newburyport are among six nursing homes changing hands this week from Haverhill-based Whittier Health Network to Lakewood, N.J.-based Atlas Healthcare Group. New signs went up at Hannah Duston Healthcare, across the street from Haverhill High School on Monument Street, noting it is now known as Haverhill Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. The transfers were expected as the company said in a December letter, signed by the Arcidi Family, that “It is with mixed emotions that we announce the change in ownership of the six Whittier skilled nursing facilities” and Atlas Healthcare would take over during mid-to-late March. “We believe Atlas will carry on the mission that our father, Dr. (Alfred L.) Arcidi, started so many years ago: to treat our patients, residents and staff as if they are family.” The letter accompanied filings for each nursing home with the Department of Public Health, Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification. Besides Hannah Duston and Port Healthcare, the company also sold Masconomet Healthcare Center, Topsfield; Nemasket Healthcare Center, Middleborough; Oak Knoll Healthcare Center, Framingham; and Sippican Healthcare Center, Marion.

Education

Investment Executive, Author and Lecturer Pozen to Address Northern Essex Grads in May

By |

Robert C. “Bob” Pozen—a former investment company executive, best-selling author and educator—will be the featured speaker when Northern Essex Community College conducts its 63rd annual Commencement Ceremony in May. Pozen, of Boston, is currently a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former executive chairman of MFS Investment Management and vice chairman of Fidelity Investments. “Beyond his distinguished roles in both the public and private sectors, Bob has demonstrated a generous, steadfast commitment to helping community college students to succeed,” said Northern Essex President Lane A. Glenn. “He has inspired and led practical research focused on enhancing student retention and degree completion by addressing student basic needs, with an eye toward the future and influencing national public policy and investment.”

The 63rd annual Commencement Ceremony takes place Saturday, May 17, beginning at 11 a.m., at Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St. In late 2001 and 2002, Pozen served on President Bush’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security and, in 2003, served as secretary of economic affairs for Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Citizens Center
Community Spotlight

Haverhill Council on Aging Offers Tips on ‘Downsizing and Decluttering’ March 13

By |

AARP Massachusetts Volunteer Presenter Linda Ruiz will help seniors with “Downsizing and Decluttering” during a talk Thursday. During the free Haverhill Council on Aging presentation, Ruiz explains how “having too much stuff can impede people from relocating or getting healthcare into their homes.” She explores “why stuff is so important for some people and teaches practical, easy-to-follow tips. Ruiz speaks Thursday, March 13, beginning at 11 a.m., at Haverhill Citizen Center, 10 Welcome St., Haverhill.