Community Spotlight

Greater Haverhill Arts Association Spring Art Exhibit at Penacook Place Through May 18

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The Greater Haverhill Arts Association is presenting a Spring Art Exhibit featuring members’ works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil, digital art and stained glass. The display is the latest in the second year of an ongoing series of quarterly exhibits of favorite artworks from the studios of members. Art is on display to the public through Saturday, May 18, during regular hours in the main floor hallway at Penacook Place, 150 Water St., Haverhill.

Haverhill

Merrimack Valley Striders Honors 12 Area High School Students; Awards Scholarships

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The Merrimack Valley Striders’ running club last week honored 12 area high school seniors as recipients of this year’s MVS Memorial Scholarship, supported by Schneider Electric. Students were honored May 8 at a dinner at Salvatore’s in Lawrence with guest speaker Becca Pizzi, an elite runner and champion of the World Marathon Challenge—seven marathons, in seven days on seven continents. “Honoring students for their hard work is one of our favorite activities as a nonprofit organization,” said Merrimack Valley Striders President Robin Condon. “These students inspire us not only for their love of the sport of running, but for their contributions to their school, their academic achievements and their strong character. We’re excited to see what the future holds for these talented individuals.”

Scholarship recipients are Aaliyah Anaskevich, Lawrence High School; Brenna Corcoran and Natanael Vigo Catala, both from Haverhill High School; Grace Silver and Peyton Acker, both from Salem, N.H., High School; Kaylie Dalgar, Pentucket Regional High School; Spencer Belson, Andover High School; Jack Courtney, Lowell High School; Anthony Danella, Methuen High School; Sydney Ng, Lawrence Central Catholic High School; Luke Manzi, North Andover High School; and Lexi Lippman, North Andover High School who was the recipient of the President’s Award Scholarship.

Education

Northern Essex Community College Solicits Private Sector Bids to Redevelop Haverhill Sports Center

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Northern Essex Community College is moving ahead with plans to have the private sector play a role in redeveloping and modernizing its Haverhill health and wellness facilities—an idea that has already attracted interest from the Haverhill YMCA. The state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and the college yesterday formally opened to door to bids for leasing and sharing part of the campus that, officials said, “will address deferred maintenance, contribute to campus decarbonization, foster neighborhood relationships and boost recruitment and retention by enabling vibrant athletic programming.”

“Vibrant health and wellness programming is not only beneficial to our students, and essential to retention and recruiting, but also serves as a connection directly to the community,” said Northern Essex President Lane A. Glenn. “This redevelopment project will position us to modernize our athletic, health and wellness offerings and meet the changing needs of our community head on.”

As WHAV reported first a year ago, the state and the college solicited preliminary ideas that would be developed in concert with talks with the college. The Haverhill YMCA suggested demolition of the existing college Sports and Fitness Center Building and replacing it with a 60,000 square-foot health and fitness center; 10,000 square-foot early learning center; academic achievement center, serving the Y’s targeted middle school and teen programming; outdoor multi-sport turf fields and fitness studios, created in collaboration with Northern Essex and Central Catholic High School. The YMCA mentioned the possibility of leasing the property for 99 years for $1 and converting its existing Winter Street building into an “affordable housing development.” Maine-based Treadwell Franklin Infrastructure also suggested a 50,000-90,000 square foot building that would include a strength and fitness center, running track, courts, multi-purpose studios, locker rooms, possible field turf and ancillary use and classroom spaces.

Haverhill

Watching Long-Term Trends, Michitson Proposes Haverhill Focus on Job Training, College Alternatives

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With an eye on declining interest in four-year college and the growing number of English-language learners in Haverhill Public Schools, City Councilor John A. Michitson is set to suggest fine-tuning to the city’s economic development strategy at tonight’s meeting. Noting the need for a catchier phrase, Michitson calls his proposal “Equitable Alignment of Learning, Training and Business needs.” Pointing in particular to the high demand for qualified workers, he argues the city’s abundance of educational opportunities can make it a more attractive business destination than similar communities. Though residents already have access to Career Technical Education programs at the local high school, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community College, Michitson explained how the training model can fall short for people from “underserved communities.” He shared research from a federal agency revealing some students face financial, transportation and language barriers. With a poor reputation among teachers, staffing can be a problem, too. His presentation included a Gallup poll showing 46% of families want options for their children other than four-year college.

Haverhill

Poet Comeau Releases Latest Work, ‘Ivy and the Tyrant’

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Editor’s note: Dr. Raymond F. Comeau is a WHAV Wavelengths contributor, offering timely and topical wisdom and food for thought. A Haverhill native, and now of Belmont, Comeau is a retired dean and current lecturer at Harvard University Extension School. He is also a trustee, emeritus, of the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill. Ivy and the Tyrant
We used to have fun
But after elections it started
By creeping along the foundation
And railings on the porch
Then up doors
Siding and windows
Onto the roof
Family and neighbors
We all tried pulling it off
Experts were called chemicals used
Not a single
Green tendril unstuck
Our house is a prison dome of leaves
And inside it’s getting worse
Breathing’s bad
Darkness everywhere even media
Can’t make it in
My wife like an automaton
Just walks around the basement
With my daughters who cling for life
God help us what did we do

© Raymond Comeau May 2024

Education

Haverhill’s Draft $126.6 Million School Spending Plan Less Than Current Year; Mostly Avoids Layoffs

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With money for the next school year falling short of what is needed, Haverhill Public Schools aimed to preserve teaching staff above all in its proposed budget. Pending final approval, the number comes in at $126.6 million, Assistant Superintendent Michael J. Pfifferling told School Committee members Thursday night. Despite rising prices, the district received around $1 million less in total than last year. Explaining technical terms, Pfifferling said the money is not enough to reach “level funding,” let alone to provide the same “level of services.”

Member Richard J. Rosa said, “You started out the presentation by saying, level funding is not a good thing, and we didn’t even get to level funding. It’s just important that people know.”

Superintendent Margaret Marotta’s said her guiding philosophy was to “have the least impact, day-to-day, on children,” which she identified after surveying the school community and collaborating with principals.

Education

Haverhill May be Seeking Assistant School Superintendent as Pfifferling Receives Marblehead Offer

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Haverhill Public Schools may soon be looking for a new second in command now that Assistant Superintendent Michael J. Pfifferling has been offered a similar job in Marblehead. Pfifferling, of Groveland, told WHAV this weekend he has accepted the post of assistant superintendent of finance and operations for Marblehead Public Schools pending completion of contract negotiations. His name appeared on the Marblehead School Committee’s May 2 agenda as a finalist for the job and the contract offer was extended last week. In his cover letter, Pfifferling told Marblehead officials, “I thrive in high-pressure and fast-paced situations, striving for positive results by applying my strategic planning and operations design and implementation abilities. Further, I possess expertise in relationship building and acumen for maximizing performance and inspiring colleagues.