Community Spotlight

Historic Printing Talk, Demo with Odd Mark Twain Link Comes to Haverhill Oct. 10

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Author, journalist and media scholar Jeff Jarvis is coming to Haverhill for a celebration of his new book, “Hot Type: The Magnificent Machine That Gave Birth to Mass Media and Drove Mark Twain Mad.”

In Hot Type, Jarvis tells the story of the Linotype, the groundbreaking typesetting machine that upended more than 400 years of setting type by hand. He also explores the people behind the technology—including Mark Twain, whose fascination with a competing typesetting machine led to one of the most disastrous investments of his life. Historic New England Center and the Museum of Printing plan a day of exploration Saturday, Oct. 10, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. It begins at Historic New England Center, 143 Essex St., Haverhill, with coffee and conversation with Jarvis, followed at 10:30 by a Hot Type lecture, question and answer time and book signing. Books will be available for purchase.

Haverhill

National Grid Plans Open House Wednesday to Detail Line Project Centered in Haverhill

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National Grid takes time to meet with residents and answer questions Wednesday night on its plans to refurbish a 32-mile corridor of electric lines stretching from Haverhill’s Ward Hill Substation on Cross Road (National Grid filings say Cross Street) north to the New Hampshire border and south to Tewksbury. According to the utility, the work involves installing new access roads and work pads, replacing 345 kilovolt wood poles with new light duty steel H-frame and monopole structures, replacing 345 kilovolt wood and steel structures with engineered steel monopole structures and installing new optical ground wire to improve reliability and enable troubleshooting between substations. Work is planned in Andover, Dracut, Methuen, Haverhill, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, West Newbury, Merrimack and Amesbury. What National Grid is calling an Asset Condition Refurbishment Project will be discussed during an open house Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 6-7:30 p.m., at Andover Municipal Services Building meeting room, 5 Campanelli Drive, Andover.

Haverhill

Haverhill Looks to Bring Consistency to Winter Parking Rules

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As winter approaches, Haverhill city councilors are expected Tuesday to consider changes that would bring greater consistency to overnight parking rules. As proposed, the new rules begin a month later than previously, starting Dec. 15 with even-side-of-the street parking, alternating sides monthly without exceptions, and concluding March 15 unless snow conditions dictate otherwise. When deemed warranted, the proposed rules allow the mayor to change start and end dates of all-night parking bans and exceptions with final approval by the City Council. Rules won’t apply to any automobiles with handicapped or veteran license plates, except during snow removal or active snow plowing, and to residents of narrow Marble Street.

Education

Absent Graduation Requirement, More Haverhill Students Show MCAS Apathy

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Haverhill Public Schools is facing a new challenge in its efforts to raise the district’s MCAS scores: IDK. IDK is texting shorthand for “I don’t know,” in the sense of not caring. Of the 441 Haverhill High School 10th graders who took the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test last spring, 103—or 25%—received a zero on the essay portion because they did not attempt to provide a writing sample, Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta told the School Committee last Thursday. “There were 822 essays. Each one had to write two essays.

Haverhill

Haverhill Fire Receives $813,000 Federal Grant for Breathing Equipment

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The Haverhill Fire Department is receiving nearly $813,000 for firefighter breathing equipment—one of the largest awards in the state in this year’s round of federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday the money is part of $11.7 million distributed in Massachusetts in the award category. Grants are intended to be used to “outfit responders with compliant personal protective equipment, acquire emergency response vehicles, and develop health, wellness and resiliency initiatives to prepare responders for incidents.”

Officials added, “FEMA disburses this money to support firefighters and other emergency personnel because they are often the first ones on the scene when disaster strikes. They play an essential role in keeping American communities safe.”

The agency noted it made $48 million available nationwide for three fire grant programs, which also include Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, known as SAFER, and Fire Prevention and Safety grant program.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Fire Department to Hold ‘Run for Tommy’ 5K Race

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The Haverhill Fire Department is holding a “Run for Tommy,” a 5-kilometer race to help pay for a fellow firefighter’s expenses while being treated for a serious medical condition. Three weeks after getting married, Haverhill firefighter Tommy Quinlan was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Despite Quinlan being at the department for only a few years, organizers said, “he’s part of our Haverhill Fire family, and we want to do everything we can to support him, his wife Tasha and their son Callum through treatment and the road ahead.”

To support the Quinlan family, Haverhill firefighters are holding a 5-kilometer race Saturday, Nov. 14, beginning at 9 a.m., at Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliot St., Haverhill. All proceeds will go to the family.

Haverhill

I-495 Bridge Replacement Project Prompts Nightly Lane Closings

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Drivers can expect lane closings along Interstate 495, between Haverhill and Methuen, over the next two weeks as steel goes up on the first of two replacement bridges over the Merrimack River. Temporary nightly lane closings begin Monday, Sept. 28, as needed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., between Exit 105, Route 213 in Methuen, to Exit 106, Ward Hill Connector. Long steel beams have appeared in the median between the northbound and southbound lanes in anticipation of construction. Current activities include bridge substructure construction on the Ward Hill Connector, formally, Industrial Avenue, over I-495, and structural steel erection at the I-495 stage one bridge.

Business Bulletin

Haverhill Chamber Names Damark Woodcraft Business of the Month

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Damark Woodcraft of Haverhill is the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s September business of the month. The company, formed more than 35 years ago, makes hand-built custom furniture, kitchens, doors and more. It helps clients design homes, offices, restaurants and other settings. Mark Brady, owner and president, incorporated the business with his father in 1991. Damark Woodcraft is located at 115 Hale St., Haverhill.