WHAV (https://whav.net/category/localnews/haverhill/)
Market Basket supermarkets is gradually expanding its hours, while still keeping its senior shopping hours. Back in March, the grocery store chain added senior shopping hours, but curtailed its days in response to restrictions surrounding the coronavirus. Beginning Sunday, however, all locations open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., each day. Market Basket has set 6-7 a.m., daily, special senior shopping hours at all locations for those above the age of 60.
This week marks the beginning for some businesses and government buildings to open to the public, including the Haverhill Public Library. Library Director Sarah Moser, a guest Wednesday on WHAV’s morning program, said the first phase of the reopening allows for curbside pickup. “It’s a lot like doing something like DoorDash, or Instacart, where you’re calling us and you’re telling us what books you want, and we’re getting them ready for you. We have some designated spaces in our parking lot, and you call us when you get here and we run the books out to you. So, there’s very little interaction between us and the public and the staff will have a mask and gloves on, so we don’t have to worry too much about cross contamination,” she said.
The $5.3 million reconstruction of a mile-long section of Route 97, between Research Drive and Silver Birch Lane, is nearing completion after almost two years. Mayor James J. Fiorentini said Wednesday the project, intended to make the stretch safer for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists—is about 90% complete and on schedule to wrap up in late August. Fiorentini said he put the project together after people complained for years about traffic on Broadway. He noted the state and federal governments paid most of the tab with Haverhill paying about a half-million dollars to design the project. The roadway is wider and features granite curbing, concrete sidewalks, bicycle lanes, trees, new drainage and new traffic lights at the Broadway intersections with Forest Street and Lake Street are up and running.
A 29-year-old recruit at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department’s Basic Training Academy at Northern Essex Community College died during physical fitness exercises Tuesday. Anish Khalifa, of Woburn, started the academy in April as a member of BTA Class 20-01. He also served as a reserve officer with the Woburn Police Department since March 2019, Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger said today. “Our hearts are heavy with the unexpected passing of this fine young man,” Coppinger said. “Our training officers were with him at the time and immediately began to perform CPR and other life-saving measures, but tragically were unable to revive him.
What could be Haverhill’s fifth adult-use marijuana store—proposed for 1181 Boston Road in Ward Hill—goes before the public next Monday night. The developers of what would be called “Frosty Nug” plan a required community outreach meeting June 1 at 6 p.m. Unlike others who pitched proposals before the current health pandemic, the hearing will take place online. The Boston Road site has been used for many years as a used car dealership. This is the first step in the process and no approvals will be requested or granted at the meeting. The company must obtain a special permit from the Haverhill City Council, a host agreement from Mayor James J. Fiorentini and permission from the state Cannabis Control Commission before it may begin operating.
The Haverhill City Council and Mayor James J. Fiorentini agreed on one thing at a conference held last night to discuss the upcoming city budget. It is going to be a tough one. The mayor began the discussion by acknowledging everything is still a guess at this point, but he believes revenue drops will likely be substantial because the state is predicting a huge decrease in its revenue income. “The state had a budget estimate that the best budget experts estimated at $4 billion and they’re now up to $6 billion. There is no way the state can get by without cutting things, including local aid.
A UMass Lowell biology major from Haverhill is one of 15 recipients of the university’s Chancellor’s Medals for Community Service, Student Service and Diversity and Inclusion. Dorothy Nankanja is one of six graduating seniors to receive a community service medal and will be highlighted during a virtual commencement Friday at 5 p.m. Other recipients of the Chancellor’s Medal for Community Service are Michael Johnston of Dracut, master’s in mechanical engineering; Oritsegbemi Mene Ejegi of Lowell, master’s in public health; Andrea Patino Galindo of Chelmsford, business administration major; Nicole Haas of Nashua, N.H., master’s in public health; and Samuel Munnelly of Litchfield, N.H., mechanical engineering major. A local winner of the Chancellor’s Medal for Student Service is Kellsie Howard of Georgetown, a business administration major in the university’s Manning School of Business. “UMass Lowell provided me with a lot of mentors and gave me a really great platform to land co-op positions and other opportunities,” said Howard. She responded in kind, founding and serving as president of the Manning Women in Business, a student club that offers participants networking, internship and job opportunities.
One of Haverhill’s favorite sons, Tom Bergeron, is among those appearing tomorrow night in a livestream video to promote the Amazon Emergency Fund, launched last month to respond to the urgent needs of indigenous peoples of the Amazon threatened by COVID-19. The two-hour event, “Artists United for Amazonia: Protecting the Protectors” airs from 8-10:30 p.m., Eastern time. It is hosted by activist, actress and “Game of Thrones” and “Avatar” sequel co-star Oona Chaplin. Others appearing are Barbra Streisand, Jane Fonda, Morgan Freeman, Carlos Santana, Jane Goodall, Jeff Bridges, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock, Cara Delevingne, Brazilian Grammy winners Ivan Lins and Luciana Souza. Spokeswoman Julia Jaye Posin told WHAV Bergeron will “express his advocacy for the Amazon Rainforest.” Bergeron, host of ABC’s popular “Dancing with the Stars” launched his career at WHAV in 1972.
How much money will Haverhill bring in during the upcoming budget year and how much can it afford to spend? These are the questions before Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini and members of the Haverhill City Council tonight when they have a special workshop. Last Tuesday, Fiorentini told councilors answers are elusive—especially as they relate to education. He explained the state is suffering a staggering drop in tax revenues due to COVID-19-related business closures. “The big unknown is state aid—particularly Chapter 70—which makes up a large portion of our budget.