Election Central

Pair of Local Races, Ballot Questions and U.S. Midterms Get Attention

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It’s Election Day Tuesday for those who didn’t vote early or cast ballots by mail, with few local races garnering much attention. Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright Esposito reported 2,766 residents took advantage of early voting over a two-week period. She warns anyone who hasn’t returned a vote-by-mail or absentee ballot should bring them to her office in city hall or use the drop-box on the main Street side of City Hall by 8 p.m. Otherwise, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All eyes are on the national congressional midterm elections where Democrats are seeking to take back control of both the Senate and the House. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey, a Democrat, faces John Deaton, a Republican. The 6th district House seat vacated by Seth Moulton brings Democrat Dan Koh against Republican Micah Quinney Jones, while 3rd District Congresswoman Lori Trahan, a Democrat, faces Republican Gary J. Grossi and unenrolled candidate Dennis R. Conlon.

Education

Whittier Tech Officials Point to Local and State House Efforts to Return to College Talks

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Two efforts to resurrect a partnership between Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community are taking shape, both locally and at the State House. In a recent email to the Whittier Tech Building Committee, Whittier Business Manager Angus G. Jennings said he expects Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll to convene a meeting later this month between the administrations of both schools. “We expect this will restore clarity regarding the (Massachusetts School Building Authority) process, and the Commonwealth’s commitment to pursue this opportunity,” Jennings wrote. Meanwhile, Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch, said in a letter Monday to Northern Essex Community College President Lane A. Glenn that “Whittier Tech remains committed to a partnership with Northern Essex Community College, and I hope the NECC site will remain one of the options in our feasibility study.”

The letter was widely circulated, going to community leaders, Whittier Tech School Committee, Regional Agreement Amendment Committee and Whittier School Building Committee. The initiatives follow an Oct.

Haverhill

Haverhill Big Dog Show Brings Tail-Wagging Contest Winners

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They may have been made of rigid metal, but some still swore they saw tails wagging as awards were handed out Saturday, capping Haverhill’s Big Dog Show. Hunking School PTO’s pet won the popular vote for Best Dressed Big Dog with its Pablo Picasso-inspired “Dog Casso.” Waystone Health and Human services won the Haverhill BrightSide Award: Best Use of Natural Materials for its dog, emphasizing trust, integrity, respect, growth and belonging, while Nunan’s Florist & Garden Center and Haverhill Garden Club won for Best Collaboration. Big Dog artist Dale Rogers chose Haverhill Bank’s patriotic red, white and blue bog for his honorable mention. The Big Dog Show is the signature public art exhibition of Haverhill-based artist Dale Rogers with charitable proceeds for the exhibition going to Haverhill’s Whittier Birthplace. Twenty of Dale Rogers’ “American Dogs” were assembled for a fifth year on Bradford Common from Friday through Monday.

Community Spotlight

Podcast: Haverhill Readies for Greek Festival This Friday and Saturday

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Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul Haverhill Greek Festival returns this Friday and Saturday with homemade Greek food and pastries, music, Greek products, raffles and more. One of the festival organizers, Ted Vathally, gave WHAV listeners a preview during Monday’s “Win for Breakfast” program. “The food is just spectacular. It’s all homemade. Nothing’s bought,” he said.

Haverhill

Macintosh Wins Second MLB Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run Championship

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Mollie MacIntosh, formerly from Haverhill and now of Salem, N.H., recently won her second Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run national championship. WHAV previously reported MacIntosh was set to compete in the competition the day after game two of the World Series, between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays. On Sunday, Oct. 25, MacIntosh won the national championship for the second time in three years, at America Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.

Haverhill

NewsMatch Launches Today in Support of WHAV’s 80-Year Local News Tradition

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Today, WHAV launches NewsMatch, its largest annual fundraiser, and this year likely marks the most consequential campaign in the nearly 80 years of the WHAV call in Greater Haverhill. WHAV—radio, 24/7 Live Stream and Wavelengths eNewspaper—joins 436 other nonprofit newsrooms across the country, leveraging more than $7 million from a network of 19 local and national funders to spark community giving, building a base of donors who sustain fact-based reporting. This includes three new funders this year, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Critical to this effort are local, individual donations necessary to unlock national matches. This year, Haverhill Bank generously kicks off the campaign with a $5,000 local community match that effectively triples new or additional donations from individuals for a limited time.

Haverhill

As Little River Dam Comes Down, Officials Outline Next Steps; See Project History

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As Little River now flows almost unobstructed under Winter Street on its way to the Merrimack River, Haverhill officials this week will outline next steps for the dam removal and park project. The city’s Conservation Department is having a public information session with officials, contractors and consultants this Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9-11 a.m., at Cashman’s Field, 175 Hilldale Ave., Haverhill. Julianne Busa, senior project manager from Fuss & O’Neill, previewed plans during the summer of 2023. “We’re also looking to increase river access and provide additional ways for people to get to the river, interact with the river, utilize the river and create some public greenspace and increased tree cover in the downtown area,” she explained.