Haverhill

City Begins First Phase of Seasonal Sidewalk Repairs and Street Paving

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Haverhill this week began the first phase of its annual street and sidewalk resurfacing projects. Street paving is set for Offer Street; Hilldale Avenue, from Vale Street to the New Hampshire border; Glen Meadow Road; Twin Brook Circle; and Ferry Road, from South Riverview Street to Cross Road. Sidewalk repairs are scheduled for Webster Street, Travers Street at Kenoza Avenue, Winter Street in the vicinity of the YMCA and Washington Street at Ford Street. In a separate statement officials said milling of roads continues today on Peabody Street, from 33 Peabody St. to Salem Street; Boxford Road from 275 Boxford Road to the Chadwick Road intersection; and How Street, from Winter Street to Welcome Street.

Community Spotlight

Howe to Read From Her Book ‘On the Plus Side’ April 27 at Haverhill Public Library

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Author Jenny L. Howe reads from her 2023 novel, “On the Plus Side” and talks about writing romance and why plus-size representation matters during an upcoming presentation in Haverhill. Howe’s talk will be followed by a book signing and the first 10 people to register receive a free book

Howe first started scribbling stories into black-and-white composition notebooks with neon pink pens when she was in junior high and never really stopped. In college, she decided to turn her love of books into a career by pursuing a doctorate in literature, where she spent the next few years studying medieval romances. Now, as a professor, she teaches courses in college writing, literature and children’s media. Her talk takes place Saturday, April 27, from 2-3 p.m., at Haverhill Public Library’s Johnson Auditorium, 99 Main St., Haverhill.

Haverhill

Haverhill Train Station to Close to Downtown Commuters; Officials to Receive Secret MBTA Briefing

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Beginning this summer, a bridge replacement project will surprisingly and inexplicably close the downtown Haverhill station to commuter rail passengers, yet leaving it open for Amtrak Downeaster passengers. Starting “tentatively” in mid-July and continuing for 10 to 12 months, those who usually board the commuter rail in Haverhill must get on at the Bradford station instead, according to a letter from the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority—or MBTA—to the city. The letter explains, as WHAV reported first in 2022, the diversion is due to the replacement of the South Elm Street bridge originally built in 1906. The downtown parking lot will remain open. “The project understands that a request has been made for the MBTA to provide alternative service between Haverhill and Bradford stations during the construction of the South Elm Street bridge replacement project,” the letter continued.

Citizens Center
Community Spotlight

Haverhill Council on Aging Spring Fling Combines Lunch and Music

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The Haverhill Council on Aging serves up its annual Spring Fling luncheon on Thursday May 16, from noon to 2 p.m. Tickets are $10, and include entertainment by guitarist and vocalist Howie Newman, who plays songs of yesteryear. To reserve a spot, contact Paula at the Council on Aging at 978-374-2390, extension 3916. The performance is supported by a grant from the Haverhill Cultural Council.

Business Bulletin

Covanta Changes Its Name to Reworld to Reflect Full Suite of Carbon-Negative Waste Solutions

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A Ward Hill company with a more than 35-year relationship taking waste from Haverhill and other communities and generating electricity is taking a new name it says better reflects its commitment to a more sustainable world. Covanta, which got its start in Haverhill as Ogden Martin, is now known as Reworld. “Rebranding was inevitable as we looked to the years ahead with all our total waste solutions under a one name. A name that demonstrates our commitments and services far into the future,” said Area Asset Manager Mark Van Weelden. In a statement, the Morriston, N.J.-based company said it has made $1 billion in investment and acquisitions to deliver “carbon-negative waste solutions that can reliably address a wide variety of customers’ Net Zero goals.” To help companies and communities “navigate complex waste challenge,” the company unveiled ReDirect360, zero waste-to-landfill; ReDrop, wastewater treatment; ReKiln, alternative fuel engineering; ReMove, transportation and logistics; and ReCredit, sustainable carbon offsets.

Haverhill

Haverhill Boys & Girls Club Signs Purchase Agreement for 6.5-Acre Site Near I-495 and Broadway

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(Additional photographs below.) The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill is moving ahead with plans to buy and develop a 6.5-acre parcel at the corner of Monument Street and Broadway near Interstate 495. Executive Director Javier Bristol told WHAV Friday the Club signed a purchase and sale agreement, following the withdrawal of a competing housing applicant for the state-owned parcel. Both applicants bid $855,000 for the land. WHAV exclusively reported the proposal Feb. 23.

Education

Haverhill Schools Highly Rank Early Literacy Program Despite Cost During Expected Tight Year

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While the Haverhill district grapples with potential cuts, public school officials made the case last week to include a new early literacy program in the budget. With the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requiring lower-income districts to demonstrate how they will improve outcomes with state aid, Superintendent Margaret Marotta said of “Wit & Wisdom,” “that’s our most pressing lever for change.”

With a projected $10.7 million deficit next year, Chief of Teaching, Learning and Leading Bonnie Antkowiak told School Committee members it would cost an additional $421,000 to adopt the program districtwide, $260,000 plus professional development for kindergarten to second grade and $138,000 plus professional development for third to fifth grade. Marotta added they could roll it out over three years, spreading out costs. Marotta called “Wit & Wisdom” the district’s “priority among priorities.” The committee motioned, in the words of member Richard J. Rosa to “approve this presentation we received tonight about our student opportunity act money as our priority for the Haverhill public schools.”

While Marotta said the district has already invested heavily in four of the five areas detailed in the 2019 Student Opportunity Act, they still need to work on a “comprehensive approach to early literacy.”

“We are really looking to improve our early literacy programs and our early literacy scores,” she said. As WHAV reported, teachers who have piloted “Wit & Wisdom” spoke favorably of the program at a school committee meeting in late January.