Education

Meland, Called ‘Exceptional Leader,’ to Become Principal of Haverhill High School, Succeeding Burns

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Jason Meland has been named principal of Haverhill High School. Meland, principal of James P. Timilty Middle School in Boston, was called an “exceptional leader” Thursday morning by Superintendent Margaret Marotta. As WHAV reported first earlier this month, Meland and D. Jaime Parsons, assistant and interim principal at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School, were finalists to replace Glenn Burns who is returning to Salem, Mass., to become executive principal of Salem High Schools. The two met with students, faculty, School Committee members and others during campus visits June 8. “We have had a month filled with resume screenings, interviews, conversations, and deliberations with a series of candidates for principal of Haverhill High.

Haverhill

Gov. Baker in Haverhill Today for Announcement at New Mount Washington Homes

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Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to be in Haverhill this afternoon to discuss the CommonWealth Builder Program, economic recovery and American Rescue Plan Act money. Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Michael Kennealy, Administration and Finance Secretary Michael J. Heffernan and MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay visit 430 Washington St. Back in January, Baker unveiled the $60 million CommonWealth Builder program. “We are committed to combatting systemic inequities, and promoting homeownership and building wealth in communities of color is a key part of that effort,” Baker said in a statement at the time. “Through the CommonWealth Builder program, MassHousing is incentivizing new housing development and homebuying opportunities for middle-income residents of Boston and our Gateway Cities—particularly for people of color—empowering more people to become homeowners,” he added.

Haverhill

Covanta, Haverhill Reach Agreement on Extending Disposal Pact; Note Imminent Closing of Ash Landfill

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Covanta will continue taking Haverhill’s trash for up to another decade on terms favorable to the host city even as the energy-from-waste company makes plans to close its ash landfill. The Haverhill City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to extend its solid waste host agreement with Covanta Haverhill that dates back to the 1980s. The most recent contract expired about a year ago and the two sides continued negotiating under a one-year extension. Attorney Michael A. Leon of Nutter McClennen & Fish, representing the city, told councilors an agreement was reached a few weeks ago. “The new agreement is now good for 10 years.

Haverhill

Haverhill Police Chief Candidates Come from Nine States with Variety of Educational Degrees

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When Haverhill’s two police chief interview panels meet, they’ll discover interest from candidates spread across nine states with educational degrees ranging from bachelor’s to doctorate. According to Mayor James J. Fiorentini’s office, the city received resumes from 27 prospective police chiefs and preliminary interviews by telephone are underway with the top 10 candidates. “We are dedicated to getting the best and most professional police chief, the person best suited for this city,” Fiorentini said in a statement, naming two interview panels—one comprised of those familiar with police hiring and one made up of community leaders. Among those seeking the top local law enforcement job are 14 applicants from Massachusetts including an undisclosed number of Haverhill officers; three each from Connecticut and Texas; two from New York; and one each from Michigan, Washington, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Oregon. Of these candidates, two have doctorates, one has both a law and master’s degree, two have law degrees, 16 have master’s and five hold bachelor’s degrees.

Haverhill

Haverhill Spends $100,000 to Discourage Intruders at Abandoned Mill, Site of 2015 Blaze

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Haverhill is taking steps to protect remaining Lafayette Square-area mill buildings to prevent a repeat of a seven-alarm blaze that tore through the Stevens Street complex in 2015. LCBS of Wilmington is currently boarding up 490 windows using reinforced plywood to further discourage intruders. The boards are to be painted dark red to match the brick buildings and a six-foot-tall chain link fence will next be erected around the perimeter of the property. Mayor James J. Fiorentini said he is using $100,000 in federal grant money after failing so far in prodding the current owner to do the work. Police and fire officials have expressed increasing concerns over intruders, including squatters, gangs and other troublemakers, breaking into the long-abandoned buildings.

Community Spotlight

Northern Essex Presents ‘Reclaiming Black Identity on Juneteenth’ Online Tonight

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Northern Essex Community College presents “Reclaiming Black Identity on Juneteenth,” a free online webinar, tonight at 6:30. Edward Carson, Governor’s Academy dean of multicultural education and a member of the History Department, explores how the many achievements of Afro-connected peoples have disrupted the patterns of racism that persist. The talk introduces the audience to recent scholarship regarding Black progress, and addresses age-old narratives about Black people and Juneteenth. Juneteenth, celebrated Saturday, June 19, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, slaves were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. Joining Carson is Northern Essex alum Michael Bastien, an entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist from Lawrence.

Haverhill

Baker Signs Late Legislation Extending Certain Pandemic-Related Measures Through Next Spring

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Remote public meetings, to-go cocktail sales, eviction protections and other pandemic-related measures will remain in force through next April and May after Gov. Charlie Baker signed the Senate- and House-approved measures into law yesterday. Senate President Karen Spilka thanked Baker by tweet for signing the legislation about 13 hours after it passed, but not before Baker’s state of emergency expired. House and Senate lawmakers say they plan to keep negotiating on some of the COVID-19 policy measures. The bill they passed Tuesday night, which represents areas of common ground between the two branches, would extend the eviction protections and permission for virtual public meetings through April 1, next year, and keep special permits for expanded outdoor dining in place through that same date. It also allows restaurants to sell beer, wine and cocktails to-go until May 1, and temporarily extends the authorization for representative town meetings, notary services and reverse-mortgage loan counseling to occur remotely.

Going Out

Tawa Tandoor Restaurant Celebrates Opening on Haverhill’s Northern ‘Restaurant Row’

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Tawa Tandoor Restaurant, offering Himalayan, north Indian and Nepali Ayurvedic cuisines, formally opened last Saturday on Haverhill’s northern “Restaurant Row” on Route 125. The Greater Haverhill Chamber helped Tawa Tandoor celebrate the opening at 36 Plaistow Road with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Tawa Tandoor’s dishes are based on the principles of Ayurvedic, a tradition that dates back thousands of years and incorporates a wide variety of medicinal, herbal and aromatic spices. The menu offers options for vegetarians, and vegans. Items may also be specially prepared for diners that have dietary restrictions or are gluten-free.