Haverhill

Haverhill Boys and Girls Club Receives Unusual Gift from Man who Sparked Wonder

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A well-recognized Haverhill bicyclist, often the subject of curiosity and who died in 2024, will now be long remembered by youth who take part in activities at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill. Dennis E. Babbitt who died at age 81 in January of 2024, left $25,000 in an unusual way that will now be used to support Boys and Girls Club programs. Club Executive Director Javier Bristol told WHAV the man’s heirs reached out several weeks ago by telephone and told his remarkable backstory. “They grew up in Haverhill and the story behind Dennis, how he had and left some money in a backpack and that they would get that money and they just wanted to be able to pay it forward,” he said. Bristol explained Babbitt’s brother Richard and his wife Kathleen inquired about programs and needs at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill. They chose to have the money go to programs that directly serve members.

Haverhill

State Grants $3.5M for Varied Haverhill Downtown, Well Water, Café Projects

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Methuen, North Andover, Groveland Projects Also Win Grants
Haverhill is receiving nearly $2 million from the state to rebuild the Washington Square pedestrian plaza along with $1 million for its planned Merrimack River radial collector well and $568,853 for L’Arche Boston North’s planned redevelopment of the former A-1 Deli. The projects were among those named Thursday in sweeping $330 million economic development and housing awards statewide that will also bring planning for starter home zoning in the city, street improvements in Methuen, sidewalk work in North Andover and zoning to advance redevelopment of Groveland’s Strawberry Fields. Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett told WHAV she is pleased the city’s grant applications made it past the finish line. “The City of Haverhill is pleased to have been once again awarded MassWorks funds to make our historic city center, Washington Square, safer for pedestrians and elderly residents, more welcoming for tourists, events and visitors and a more inviting place in which to conduct business. Our Washington Square Enhancements project will provide connectivity that ties in our historic Washington Street Shoe District with MassWorks-funded initiatives along our Merrimack Street Riverfront in order to create a more cohesive, attractive, walkable and vibrant Downtown,” she said.

Election Central

Haverhill Democrats Take Positions on Ballot Questions: Endorsing 6, Opposing 3

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The Haverhill Democratic City Committee is taking positions on all nine binding statewide ballot questions voters will decide in November. Committee members are endorsing six questions and opposing three. In summary, it backs the expanded public records law, election day registration, conservation funding and firearms law, while opposing all-party primaries and a ban on recreational marijuana sales. “With so much at stake in this year’s elections, we felt it was important not only to call attention to these nine ballot questions, but also to make clear where the Haverhill Democratic City Committee stands,” said William D. Cox Jr., committee chairperson. “These questions address issues that will have a real impact on people across Massachusetts, and we hope our positions will encourage voters to learn more about what is on the ballot and make informed decisions when they vote on Nov.

Haverhill

Local Sports Roundup: Knight’s Volleyball, Soccer on Hot Streaks, Local Football Struggles Persist

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(Additional photograph below.)

Northern Essex Community College volleyball is on a four-game win streak. Tuesday night, it defeated Quinsigamond Community College in a 3-0 set sweep. Sophomore and Knights captain Rachelle Torres collected 26 assists along with a season best 11 service aces. This game saw Torres pass the 500-assist mark for her career at Northern Essex. Sophomore and Knights captain Faith Martin added six kills as the Knights hit a season high .415 kill percentage in the match.

Business Bulletin

River Run Elects Yadav President; Will Become CEO Next July

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Sujata Yadav has been named president of River Run Bancorp, MHC, parent of Newburyport Bank, Pentucket Bank and Rollstone Bank & Trust and will become chief executive office next July. Yadav will work closely with Chief Executive Officer Lloyd L. Hamm Jr., River Run’s board of directors and executive leadership team as she begins her transition into the leadership of River Run and its three affiliated community banks. River Run said its board of directors elected Yadav following a comprehensive national search. She will succeed Hamm as chief executive officer effective next July 1. At that time, Hamm will transition to executive chairman for a two-year period, working alongside Yadav, River Run’s boards and executive leadership team.

Community Spotlight

West Church Plans Showing of ‘Meet John Doe’ Oct. 9

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West Congregational Church’s WestArts is presenting the movie, “Meet John Doe,” during its Friday Free Movie Night. Organizers say, “Meet John Doe” is a 1941 Oscar-nominated film directed by Frank Capra, featuring themes of social responsibility and the impact of media on public perception artfully woven into a crackling comedy-drama that feels relevant today. “A penniless drifter is recruited by an ambitious columnist to pretend to be John Doe, a fictitious citizen venting his frustration about society’s woes in her newspaper column. The prank launches a grassroots community movement that sweeps the nation, until the newspaper’s owner tries to usurp the movement for his political gain.”

They add, “Even if you don’t like black and white movies, this one will win you over!”

“Meet John Doe” will be presented Friday, Oct. 9, 7-9 p.m., at West Congregational Church, 767 Broadway, Haverhill.

Haverhill

Plans Call for Early 19th Century Haverhill Home to Return to Residential Use

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(Additional photographs below.)

A Haverhill family has plans to return an early 19th century home to residential use after the building served for many years as commercial offices. The 1810-era, brick, Federalist-style house at 780 Main St., at the corner of Baltimore Street, most recently served as a real estate office. A developer, known as 424 Main Street, operated by Meenu and Sohan Saini, bought the property a little more than three years ago. The Sainis plan to restore the stately home on a .41-acre lot and convert it into two apartments. “I’ve already spent a lot of money, hired an architect and engineer and done floor plans,” Sohan Saini told WHAV.

Haverhill

Haverhill Officials Credit Team with Writing Winning Fed Grant

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Haverhill credited its team yesterday with winning an $813,000 federal grant, and detailed how new fire equipment will be used following last Friday’s announcement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Fire Chief Christopher Cesati credited Deputy Fire Chief Richard Shellene, the department’s grant team and outside consultant Merchant McIntyre Associates for their work in preparing and submitting the successful application. Cesati and Mayor Melinda E. Barrett noted the bulk of the grant will be used to buy new Scott Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus systems, including air packs and cylinders. They added the new equipment replaces aging systems, providing firefighters with modem, reliable respiratory protection when operating in hazardous environments. “Investing in the safety of our firefighters is an investment in the safety of our entire community,” said Barrett.