Education

Northern Essex Athletics Leads Region 21 in Academic Honorees

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For the third consecutive year, Northern Essex Community College’s athletic department led all Region 21 schools as it accumulated 10 National Junior College Athletics Association All-Academic honorees. Individuals earn All-Academic status by earning a GPA of 3.60 or higher for the academic year while completing at least 24 credits, or by successfully completing degree requirements if less than 24 credits are required. First Team All-Academic honors are awarded to those who achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA, while second team honors are awarded to those who achieve a GPA of 3.80 to 3.99 and third team recognition goes to those who have earned a GPA of 3.60 to 3.79 for the academic year. The Knights had a pair recognized on the first team in Franchesca Karam of the women’s volleyball team and Rebecca Heathman from the women’s basketball team who both achieved a perfect 4.0 for their work in the classroom over the year. Heathman was also named the college’s Female Scholar Athlete of the year in May with overall GPA of 3.97.

Haverhill

MassDevelopment Names Haverhill’s Padilla and Vargas to Work as Urban Fellows

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Two with Haverhill connections are among the latest cohort of Transformative Development Initiative—or TDI—fellows who will work in Gateway cities for three years to help accelerate economic growth within designated downtown neighborhoods and commercial districts. Erin Padilla, who recently said she is stepping down as executive director at Creative Haverhill, will serve within the Cambodia Town Neighborhood in Lowell, while Rikelma Vargas, a dean at an alternative high school in Lawrence and wife of state Rep. Andy X. Vargas, will work in Peabody’s Foster Street Corridor. “MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative has helped Gateway Cities strengthen local businesses, revitalize commercial districts and create new economic opportunities,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s board of directors. “The fellows are at the heart of that work, bringing dedicated capacity to help local partners coordinate efforts, connect with resources and pursue opportunities for growth.”

Earlier this year, MassDevelopment established TDI districts in Lowell and Peabody as well as Chelsea, Fitchburg, Holyoke and Malden. TDI fellows, employees of MassDevelopment, will work in these cities beginning in August to provide, what is described as, “on-the-ground economic development organizing expertise and collaborative leadership.”

MassDevelopment said Padilla and Vargas “will have access to a range of tools to help accelerate development, including technical assistance, grants and more.

Education

Haverhill Reading Support Program Seeks Volunteer Book Buddies

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Haverhill’s Book Buddies program is recruiting volunteers for the next school year. Matt Webel, an organizer with the reading support program, appeared before Haverhill City Council Tuesday, noting 290 adults have already signed up for this September, but the program needs twice that many. Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Book Buddies matches one adult volunteer with a single third grader in one of seven Haverhill Public Schools. Adults purchase three books throughout the year for their buddies as well as a reading journal and then write personal notes to their assigned student. The books are then integrated into the classroom curriculum by the teachers, who have the students write thank you notes back.

Election Central

Haverhill Democrats to Honor Rep. Hamilton at Aug. 29 Breakfast

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The Haverhill Democratic City Committee plans to honor state Rep. Ryan M. Hamilton as its 2026 Distinguished Democrat on Aug. 29. Hamilton will be honored during the Committee’s Annual Roz McKeon Breakfast Saturday, Aug. 29, from 10-11:30 a.m., at Maria’s Restaurant, Galleria Banquet Room, 85 Essex St., Haverhill. U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey and 6th District Congressman Seth Moulton, both candidates for U.S. Senate, were invited to speak, along with other Democratic candidates on the Tuesday, Sept.

Beacon Hill News

Immigrant Protection Accord Includes State, Local Enforcement Rules

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Lunn Decision Codified in Agreement Designed to Keep ICE Away from Newly Designated ‘Sensitive Places’
By Sam Drysdale

Legislative negotiators this week unveiled a compromise on the closely watched bill that would broaden protections against federal immigration enforcement, while preserving one key area of cooperation with federal authorities—the Department of Correction’s existing partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Rep. Andy X. Vargas said keeping the (Department of Corrections) agreement was consistent with the original proposal developed by the Black and Latino Caucus after hearing concerns from immigrant communities. “We heard feedback that, hey, they were coming to look for some guy that we knew committed a serious crime, but in looking for him, they picked up all these other people that just happened to be in the vicinity,” Vargas said. Asked why the existing corrections department agreement remains intact, Rep. Daniel Cahill said lawmakers thought it reduced the likelihood that ICE would conduct enforcement operations in neighborhoods while searching for people already facing deportation after serving felony sentences. The conference committee was tasked with reconciling differences between bills the House and Senate approved this spring.

Haverhill

I-495, Ward Hill Connector Bridge Work to Bring Nighttime Detours

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Drivers driving through Haverhill’s Ward Hill Business Park Friday night and most nights next week will be detoured as the Interstate 495 southbound exit closes for work on a replacement Ward Hill Connector bridge. Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials said Thursday there will be overnight closings of the I-495 southbound Exit 106 off-ramp to the Ward Hill Connector, formally known as Industrial Avenue, in Haverhill. The off-ramp will be closed Friday, July 31, and from Tuesday, Aug. 4, to Friday, Aug. 7, from 9 p.m. to 5a.m. the following morning.

Community Spotlight

Poet Mark Lipman Returns to Whittier Birthplace Sunday

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National Beat Poet Laureate Mark Lipman will make the final stop of his Vagabond Poetry Caravan Sunday at Haverhill’s Whittier Birthplace. Lipman launched his 6,500-mile journey around the United States with an appearance at Creative Haverhill in April 2025. He received a $2,000 grant from the Haverhill Cultural Council towards his adventure. Lipman’s Whittier Birthplace appearance will be Sunday, Aug. 2, at 2 p.m. Appearing on stage with him will be Dan Speers, Haverhill’s poet laureate; Lee Eric Freedman, a past poet laureate of Swampscott; Bob Whelan, poet laureate of Rockport; and Jac-Lynn Stark.

Crime

Man, 32, Faces Murder Charge in Connection with Haverhill Man’s Death Last Week

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A 32-year-old is scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon for the alleged murder of a 44-year-old Haverhill man, a week ago in Lawrence. Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office said Thursday Edgar Morales will be arraigned for the fatal shooting of Domingo Rivera of Haverhill early Thursday morning, July 23, on Bay State Road in Lawrence. The district attorney’s office said Massachusetts State Police detectives, obtained an arrest warrant Thursday for Morales. He is expected to be arraigned Friday, at 2 p.m., in Lawrence District Court. The circumstances behind the alleged murder were not immediately released.