WHAV (https://whav.net/category/localnews/haverhill/)
A bill, requiring all public schools with 60 percent or more low-income student to offer breakfast after the school day starts, has passed both houses of the legislature and is before Gov. Charlie Baker. Haverhill Rep. Andy X. Vargas championed the bill, which provides meals at students’ desks. “Pre-pandemic, this bill made a lot of sense,” Vargas said. “In many ways, Breakfast After the Bell makes even more sense now. There are more families and students in need.
“The Longest Table,” described as an event where “neighbors come together to share a meal and discuss the community,” won’t be taking place in Haverhill next month because of coronavirus concerns. Organized by Haverhill-based L’Arche Boston North, “The Longest Table” stretched along Wingate Street in downtown Haverhill last summer. Coordinated with Haverhill’s Restaurant week, 250 people sampled food from more than a dozen restaurants, while enjoying live music by local bands and a silent auction. The virus that caused the event’s cancellation is similarly having a harmful impact worldwide on organizations serving adult children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. L’Arche Boston North Executive Director Jen Williams, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, said L’Arche is raising money for its larger network of 150 communities in 37 countries, where support has been suppressed due to the problems of COVID-19.
An 84-year-old East Broadway man is in the hospital after being struck by a hit-and-run driver while walking his dog in front of his home. Angelo Magliocchetti was struck around 9:30 on East Broadway while walking his dog Rosco, according to his son, Haverhill School Committee member Paul A. Magliocchetti. “As he was on the ground, Rosco ran to the house for help. He kept barking to get my mother’s attention,” Magliocchetti said. He added his father will remain at Anna Jaques Hospital overnight for evaluation. The Magliocchetti family says they hope the driver “does the right thing and comes forward.”
Haverhill Police are investigating.
Tonight is the night Haverhill unveils and debates its school reopening plans. The Haverhill School Committee, during a special meeting to be broadcast live over WHAV beginning at 7 p.m., hears what the administration has come up with for three options that must be submitted to the state tomorrow. Superintendent Margaret Marotta recently gave WHAV listeners a preview of those efforts. “We don’t have any official decisions yet for the fall, but we do have to make three plans. And one of them is to see if we can fit all of the students back in the building at three feet social distance, and we can, in fact, do that.
She has been deceased for nearly 300 years, still Hannah Duston’s statue in Haverhill’s GAR park continues to raise the ire of some local residents who believe it should be taken down. Tuesday night, for the second time in a month, a Haverhill resident brought an impassioned plea to the City Council to find another home for the statue. Ben Roy requested the mayor and Council reconsider their neutral stance on the subject. “While there has been much debate over how much we should judge someone who has lived so long ago, there are some things that are not up for debate. Hannah Duston murdered several indigenous men, women and children in their sleep.
The 413 laid off Brooks Brothers’ Haverhill workers will receive vacation and sick time owed to them and the company will pay for health insurance until the end of August. Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini said he received confirmation of the vacation and sick time yesterday afternoon from the office of Attorney General Maura Healey. The mayor, Sen. Edward J. Markey, Congresswoman Lori Trahan, Rep. Andy X. Vargas and others have been calling on Southwick Clothing—the local division of Brooks Brothers—to pay severance pay. The mayor added the union is reporting the company has agreed to pay for health care. “I congratulate the union and the Southwick workers,” Fiorentini said.
Haverhill Police say no injuries were reported, but a home and two cars were damaged after an apparent shooting incident last night on Seventh Avenue. Captain Stephen J. Doherty Jr. said police received calls reporting “several shots fired” around 9:21. Neighbors reported police closed the street to traffic following the shots. Doherty said the incident is still under investigation and asked that anyone with information contact Detective Matthew Woodman at 978-373-1212, ext. 1575.
A 19-year-old Haverhill man was ordered held without bail yesterday after allegedly elbowing a police officer in the face and threatening him and a detective with a knife Monday when they tried to arrest him for car theft. Haverhill District Court Judge Patricia Dowling yesterday ordered Joshua Morley, 890 Amesbury Road, held without bail. His next court date takes place via Zoom Aug. 28. Morley was arrested Monday night, just before 8, and charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, receiving a stolen vehicle and driving with a suspended license.
It took an extra month to work it out, but the City of Haverhill has a budget for the year that began July 1. The City Council last night approved the same budget they rejected a month ago. Their previous refusal came when the mayor would commit only to buying one new fire truck instead of two to replace a pair of 33-year-old engines. As a result, the Council passed a 1/12 budget to keep the city operating through the end of this month. During that time, Mayor James J. Fiorentini and Haverhill Fire Chief William F. Laliberty delivered an alternative plan to purchase two new trucks this year by moving next year’s scheduled purchase of a pumper truck to 2024.