Election Central

Primary Election Day Focus on Regional Races; Most Local Races Uncontested

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Greater Haverhill voters who did not take part in in-person early voting or vote-by-mail options have a chance to take part Tuesday in a primary election where most attention will be on a contested U.S. Senate election and one or two regional state House races. Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright Esposito said late Monday afternoon the city has already experienced an 8% turnout through early or mail voting options and she expects in-person voting to bring the total to 12 or 14% of registered voters taking part. She explained 595 people cast ballots during early voting and 3,918 voted by mail. “If you have the ability to use our drop box or bring it (inside) to City Hall, that’s a sure-fire way to make sure it gets back to us,” Wright Esposito told WHAV. The races garnering the most attention are Congressman Seth Moulten’s challenge to incumbent Sen. Edward J. Markey and the battle among of, what are now, five Democratic contenders to replace Moulton in the 6th District congressional race.

Election Central

Democratic City Committee Straw Poll Puts Markey on Top, Approves Most Questions

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If Haverhill Democrats, taking part in an informal straw poll last Saturday, are any indication, incumbent U.S. Edward J. Markey will take 60% of the primary vote Tuesday against opponent 6th District Congressman Seth Moulton at 40%. The unscientific results came from those attending and casting ballots at Saturday’s Democratic City Committee’s annual Roz McKeon Breakfast and also looked ahead to November’s final election. The results found most of the nine ballot questions will pass. They pointedly showed opposition, however, to three questions. They said no to all-party primary elections, 73% to 27%; no changing the current method of calculating the state’s tax revenue limit, 55-45%; and no to a law to repealing the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana, 78-22%.

Business Bulletin

Tasty Awards Recognize Behind-the-Scenes of Haverhill Restaurant Week

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(Additional photographs below.)

Haverhill’s restaurant week concluded this weekend, but it was Monday night’s Sixth Annual Tasty Awards that put the spotlight on those who made it a success. Destination Downtown Haverhill, G4 Tequila and the Greater Haverhill Chamber presented awards at downtown’s Joseph’s Trattoria, celebrating owners, chefs, bartenders, servers and local establishments. “The Tasty Awards are about more than great food—they recognize the people, relationships and community spirit behind Haverhill’s restaurants,” said Jimmy Carbone, founder of Destination Downtown Haverhill and the Tasty Awards. “Our restaurants create gathering places, support local causes, employ our neighbors and help make Haverhill a vibrant and welcoming destination. The record response this year demonstrates how deeply the community values them.”

Dave Schultz of HC Media and North of Boston, served as master of ceremonies of the awards night that recognized 27 winners and runners-up across categories ranging from Best Chef and Best Pizza to Best Vibe, Favorite Cultural Restaurant and Bar Stool Hero.

Education

Hill View Montessori Launches ‘The Hive,’ After-School Caretaking Option

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With kids returning to their classrooms this week, Hill View Montessori Charter Public School in Haverhill says is stepping up to meet families’ after school caretaking needs at a low cost. “The Hive: Montessori Explorations,” named in spirit of the school’s honey bee mascot, was launched as an affordable after-school caretaking option that also fosters student learning and connections. “The Hive” offers a total of 42 different after school clubs. Each club, grouped by grade level, runs for five weeks, every day, from when the school day ends to 5 p.m. Once each five-week club is completed, families may register for another club of their choice. These include Spanish, STEAM-related activities, creative writing, tutoring, arts and crafts, sports, cooking, sewing and others.

Education

Haverhill Schools Appeal to Parents to Press Bus Pass Usage

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The Haverhill School Department is appealing to parents of pre-kindergarten, elementary and middle school students to urge their children to use their bus passes when getting on and off city school buses so their whereabouts can be tracked. The voluntary bus pass system began three years ago for all but high school students as a safety measure. However, the system’s new transportation guru, Chief Financial Officer Clancy D. Main, told the Haverhill School Committee Thursday, last year’s bus swipe compliance was low. He said he hopes by making the passes available by the first day of school for first grade through senior year Wednesday, Sept. 2, students will form better habits.

Haverhill

Basiliere Bridge Work This Week to Force Daytime Lane Closing

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Work continues this week on relocating electric and telephone utility cables and prepping for gas line moves as part of the Pfc. Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge replacement project. State transportation official say the right southbound lane, heading towards Bradford, will shift and the left northbound lane, going towards downtown Haverhill, will be closed Monday through Friday, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

In addition, the bridge’s western, or upstream, sidewalk will become part of the work zone Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Pedestrians will be directed to the use the eastern sidewalk and may request assistance from the police detail when crossing the street at either end of the bridge. All businesses accessed by the western sidewalk will remain accessible to pedestrians. Relocation of Verizon telephone and National Grid electric cables is said to be at 55% complete.

Education

Haverhill School Committee Signs Off on Immigrant Student Protections

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The Haverhill School Committee suspended its rules last Thursday to adopt an emergency measure, strengthening protections for immigrant children and staff faced with arrest by federal officials. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta told the board the district already has a policy in place that requires administrators to contact the school department attorney should an agent from Immigration and Custom Enforcement show up at one of the public schools. “We would not allow the student to go at that point until we had assurance through our attorney’s office that it was the proper warrant and that we had no other options, Marotta said. Committee members voted unanimously to adopt the version of the policy offered by the Massachusetts School Committee Association which makes clear arrests are not allowed on school property without a valid judicial warrant. The vote was taken so the new policy is in place in time for the start of the new school year Wednesday, Sept.