Haverhill

U.S. Rep. Trahan Lauds Annual Federal Grants Awarded to Haverhill, Lawrence and Other Cities

By |

Congresswoman Lori Trahan yesterday called out and celebrated federal Community Development Block Grant and other money distributed to Haverhill and area communities. Within her district, Trahan celebrated Haverhill receiving $947,975; Lowell, $3.1 million; Lawrence, $2.5 million; and Fitchburg, $1.3 million which may be used for affordable housing, community development, and homeless assistance programs. Trahan, who recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the block grant program during a visit to WHAV, gave an overview of how the money is used. “So, it is a vehicle for federal funds to make their way directly to cities and towns. They don’t go through the state, so they can use those funds on local initiatives, local projects. They can help nonprofits with capacity building.

Business Bulletin

Lawrence Community Works Takes Home First Prize in Haverhill-Based Digital Equity Challenge

By |

An idea to bring free Wi-Fi and education to a Lawrence public housing project was the top winner of the third annual Digital Equity Challenge pitch contest that took place May 2 in Haverhill. Lawrence Community Works was awarded $5,000 for first place for a project to provide free, reliable Wi-Fi throughout its affordable housing project in Lawrence as well as provide a community advocate to help residents access Wi-Fi and Internet resources. “LCW’s community programs are designed for maximum integration with residential life and to support an overarching goal of family economic mobility,” said Jacob Greer, Executive assistant and resource developer at Lawrence Community Works. “No matter how someone may be connected to the LCW network, our goal is for them to access a diverse menu of supportive resources and offerings depending on their individualized situation and aspirations.”

Rachid Moukhabir of Methuen won second place for his proposal to expand his information technology training program, called Mass Association for Computer and Internet Resources.  Moukhabir said his program helps underserved populations enter the IT workforce and provides support and further training to allow those workers to continue to grow in the industry. Josefa Arriagada Saieh, a MassDevelopment fellow working in Lawrence, and Karina Calderon of the Lawrence Partnership won third place and audience favorite for a project to turn an under-utilized alleyway in Lawrence into vibrant community space with free outdoor Wi-Fi access.

Haverhill

Haverhill Grapples With High Costs In Next Budget, But Councilors Praise Barrett’s Approach

By |

Mayor Melinda E. Barrett’s budget for the year starting July 1 grapples with large costs like several labor contract settlements and the $152 million Dr. Albert B. Consentino School building project. The tight budget, which Haverhill city councilors still must approve, was drafted recognizing the impending end of federal American Rescue Plan Act money. City Chief Financial Officer and Auditor Angel A. Perkins was quick to point out at Tuesday night’s council meeting the city is not using the aid for any recurring expenses, rather it has bought $24 million in federal bonds, and is earning over $1 million on the investments each year. However, as required, the city will spend the money on one-time capital improvements by 2026 and can no longer rely on the revenue each year. Council President Thomas J. Sullivan asked for a full explanation of its intended use at a scheduled budget hearing.

Haverhill

Haverhill Firefighters Quickly Knock Down School Street House Fire; Pet Dog Perishes in Blaze

By |

Haverhill firefighters were able to quickly knock down a fire Tuesday night at a two-family School Street home where a pet dog perished. Haverhill Fire Chief Robert M. O’Brien said firefighters were dispatched, beginning with Deputy Fire Chief Gregory R. Roberts and the crew of Water Street’s Engine 3, led by Lt. John Farrell, just before 8 p.m., to 39 School St. “They found heavy fire and smoke from the front, left side, first floor,” O’Brien told WHAV. He said there were no residents in the home, but firefighters were alerted to at least two dogs. “Fire had already broken out of the windows on its own, self-ventilation,” he added.

Education

Haverhill’s Gabriella Garozzo Earns Accounting Scholarship

By |

Haverhill’s Gabriella Garozzo, currently a junior at Babson College, won a scholarship for her accounting studies from the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants—or MassCPAs. Honored at a networking event last night, she was one of 51 students to receive the merit- and need-based Gregory T. O’Gorman CPA Memorial Scholarship. Awards from the organization range from $2,500 to $10,000, and it has issued over 400 since 2006, giving $1.9 million drawn from donations. Open to undergraduate and graduate students, money can be used for tuition, books, interviewing costs and other expenses. “MassCPAs is committed to fostering a diverse and talented accounting workforce,” said Allie Orlando, director of academic and career development at MassCPAs.

Business Bulletin

Greater Haverhill Chamber to Bestow Honors During 108th Annual Celebration June 6

By |

A city official, community volunteer, business leaders and others are among those to be honored next month when the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce holds its 108th Annual Celebration at one of Haverhill’s newest venues. During the summer kickoff party, Haverhill Community Development Director Andrew K. Herlihy will be presented with the Chamber’s public service award, while Melissa Cerasuolo is honored as community volunteer; Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods Executive Vice President Marketing Aimee Tsakirellis, community leadership; and Haverhill Public-Private Partnership Director Allison Heartquist, Chamber director of the year. The Chamber Service Award goes to North of Boston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Community Catalyst Award to Northern Essex Community College. The event takes place Thursday, June 6, from 5-9 p.m., at Bosa Coastal Italian’s rooftop, 160 Merrimack St., Haverhill. Admission is $150 each and includes appetizers, live music, Spacetown Band and a cash bar.

Haverhill

Breezeline Completes Plaistow Hub, Competitive Internet, Mobile, TV on its Way to Haverhill

By |

The days of limited internet competition in Haverhill are coming to an end. Despite limited progress reports over the last two years, Breezeline says it has taken significant steps toward bringing fiber optic internet, cable and telephone service to Haverhill, offering an alternative to the historically dominant Comcast. With engineering and design work complete, Head of Corporate Communications Andrew Walton said the length of the permitting process—he estimated six months to a year—determines when customers can begin signing up. Connecting Haverhill to a newly-built hub in Plaistow, N.H., requires permits “from multiple parties … for underground work, road [or] highway crossings and more,” Walton explained. Subscribers can have fiber optic cables connected directly to their homes with upload and download speeds up to one gigabit per second, according to Walton.

Haverhill

Repaving Begins on Primrose From Lancaster to Ninth; Improvements Include Raised Sidewalks, Curbs

By |

After rerouting stormwater from the sewer system and replacing gas lines under Primrose Street, the city began to repave the stretch of road from Lancaster Street to Ninth Avenue yesterday, with improvements including raised, concrete sidewalks and granite curbs. Mayor Melinda E. Barret said to Haverhill City Councilor’s at last night’s meeting, “We know that Primrose Street was a hot-button issue with all the work going on, both under the surface and on top, and we thought we would make an effort to keep the council and the public a little better informed as to what is going to happen.”

With the project set to be complete by mid-September, Public Works Director Robert E. Ward said residents should expect some street closings and detours this summer. He said the bulk of construction, two to three months of building sidewalks, should not be “too intrusive,” with the road smooth enough for travel and one potential lane closing. After completing pipe work beneath the street two summers ago, Ward said the city scheduled repaving for last summer, but before they could begin, National Grid ripped up the road once again. “As you know, National Grid has been doing a lot of gas work around the city.