Crime

Following Autopsy, Police Upgrade Charge Against Lawrence Man to Murder

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A 35-year-old Lawrence man, already being held for allegedly misleading an investigation, now faces a charge of murder in connection with the death of a woman, whose body was found in Haverhill. Cristian Montero is schedule to be arraigned Wednesday in Lawrence District Court for the alleged murder of Carol Flaz-Burgos, his neighbor The murder charge follows a medical examiner’s autopsy of the body of the 37-year-old woman. Flaz-Burgos was found last Tuesday, Sept. 3, in the Kenoza Lake conservation area in Haverhill. At a press conference that night, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker suggested additional charges against Montero could follow the autopsy.

Haverhill

Haverhill Receives ‘Safe Streets and Roads for All’ Grant in Effort to End Main Street Traffic Deaths

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Haverhill has won a substantial federal grant to make temporary safety improvements along Main Street, near downtown, aimed at meeting a goal of zero pedestrian and bicyclist deaths. Haverhill Public Works Director Robert E. Ward said the $743,778 award is targeted to a stretch of Main Street, Route 125, from White’s Corner downtown to the Monument Square area. It will be used to implement safety measures, while analyzing the most effective solution over the long term. City councilors have called for improvements along main Street several times, including during the fall of 2018 when an 18-year-old and 24-year-old were struck by cars within 10 minutes of each other. In early 2019, pedestrian Charles O. “Chucky” Burrill Jr. was struck and killed while walking within a crosswalk at White’s Corner.

Haverhill

Councilors to Hear Plans to Realign Three Bradford Streets to Reduce Automobile Crashes

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Haverhill city councilors are expected to sign off Tuesday night on realignment of three Bradford Streets in an attempt to reduce serious car crashes and injuries. In a memorandum to councilors, City Engineer John H. Pettis III explains consultant BSC Group has completed a new design for the intersections of Kingsbury Avenue, Willow Avenue and Chadwick Road. He says the offset of Willow Avenue and Chadwick Road “makes for a longer time for vehicles crossing Kingsbury Avenue.”

“That factor, combined with vehicles often traveling at excessive speed downhill on Kingsbury Avenue southbound, results in an intersection with a high crash rate, and many crashes being serious,” Pettis writes. He told the Haverhill Planning Board earlier the line of sight will be improved and drivers will face less confusion

The design calls for Chadwick Road to be widened to the south. The city already owns the land in the area to be widened and no changes are planned for the northerly limits of the road.

Business Bulletin

Podcast: Haverhill Bank’s Mortimer Shares Stories From the City’s Deep Financial Institution History

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The banking business in Greater Haverhill has seen a many changes over the years and, similar to the person hawking programs at a sporting event, Haverhill Bank President and CEO Thomas L. Mortimer knows “you can’t tell the players without a program.”

Serving as a local banker for more than 40 years, Mortimer is the “go-to” historian for the local banking scene, you can’t tell the banks without a seasoned veteran. He shared some of his memories recently with listeners of WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. He starts with Haverhill Bank, which will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in a couple of years. “Haverhill Bank was founded on Aug. 13, 1877 and the very first meeting was at the Good Templar’s Hall at 53 Merrimack St., and, also at the very first meeting, the first loan was made to an F.S. McKenny for the sum of $400.

Haverhill

Haverhill License Commission Signs Off on New, Four-Floor Historic District Restaurant, The Reserve

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A new restaurant, planned for the Washington Street space formerly occupied by the Barking Dog Ale House, cleared a critical procedural hurdle Thursday ahead of its grand opening. The Reserve Restaurant, planned to open at 77 Washington St., received unanimous approval by the Haverhill License Commission for liquor, food and entertainment licenses. Sharbel Azzi, owner of the proposed restaurant, organized his new venture on July 22, according to the records from the secretary of state’s corporations division. “On the first and second floor we have a restaurant, the Reserve Restaurant,” Azzi told the commissioners. “We’re doing all types of food, steak, things like that and lobster.”

He said another part of the four-floor restaurant, Vault 77 Lounge, will feature appetizers. “On the third floor, we’re doing a tapas lounge, appetizers, more like a laid-back type of thing,” he explained.

Haverhill

Haverhill Plans Meetings on Proposed Federally Paid Riverside and River Street Improvements

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Haverhill plans two more public meetings on plans to seek federal grants to make improvements to Water and River Streets. As WHAV reported, the city invited ideas at a meeting Aug. 21, in advance of competing for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity—RAISE, for short—grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Haverhill seeks money for work on River Street, from Maxwell Street to the Joseph C. Comeau Memorial Bridge, and Water Street, from Mill to Keeley Streets and Lincoln Avenue, from Keeley to Douglas Streets. The first meeting focuses on Water Street and Lincoln Avenue improvements and takes place Monday, Sept.16, from 6-7:30 p.m., at Riverside Church, 278 Groveland St.

Community Spotlight

Blankets for the Brave Drive Runs Sept. 11-Oct. 31

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The “Blankets for the Brave” Community Service Project aims to collect new, patriotic-themed fleece blankets for local veterans and active-duty service members stationed overseas. The collection drive runs from Wednesday, Sept. 11, through Thursday, Oct. 31, with the first delivery scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Haverhill

Congressional Delegation Calls for Possible Contempt Charges Against Steward CEO

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As the head of the failed Steward Health Care refuses to comply with a subpoena to testify before a congressional committee, Sen. Edward J. Markey is calling for Ralph de la Torre to be held in contempt of Congress, be fired as Steward CEO and lose his medical degree. At a press conference, Markey, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Lori Trahan and labor leaders from 1199 SEIU and Massachusetts Nurses Association responded to de la Torre’s plans to skip a Sept. 12 Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee meeting. HELP Chair Bernie Sanders and bipartisan colleagues voted July 25 to subpoena de la Torre to testify at a meeting titled “Examining the Bankruptcy of Steward Health Care: How Management Decisions Have Impacted Patient Care.” It was the first time the Senate HELP Committee issued a subpoena since 1981. “Ralph de la Torre has shown contempt for our health care system and now the United States Senate must bring contempt charges against Ralph de la Torre.