Haverhill

New Haverhill Snow Plowing Plan Wins Praise, Aims to Solve Longtime Complaints

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Haverhill city councilors this week granted a number of items on residents’ wish lists for overnight winter parking. As WHAV reported first last month, new rules, aimed at ensuring more efficient snow plowing and removal, start overnight winter parking restrictions later, on Dec. 15, and bring greater schedule consistency. Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett told councilors the new approach builds on lessons learned and public feedback. “We tried this last year, we’re kind of codifying it this year.

Education

Haverhill High Wins $3.2M State Grant to Expand Career Programs

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Haverhill High School was awarded $3.2 million Wednesday to expand its Health Assisting and Information Support Services and Networking programs.

The school was one of six statewide to share in $14.5 million in grants, awarded through the state’s new Career and Technical Education Annex Pilot Program. Haverhill High School plans to add approximately 3,828 square feet of new instructional space, including a health care simulation center and technology innovation laboratory. The expansion will create approximately 140 additional vocational seats and support a satellite technology repair program where students gain experience maintaining municipal technology. Officials said grants will help comprehensive high schools add career technical education programs, increase enrollment capacity and partner with vocational schools, employers and colleges to provide students with career-connected learning opportunities, particularly in communities where access has been limited. “Students across Massachusetts want more opportunities to learn a trade, gain hands-on experience and prepare for good-paying jobs, and we are delivering,” said Gov. Maura Healey.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill High Class of 1996 Reunion Nov. 27

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Haverhill High School’s Class of 1996 is having its 30th anniversary reunion, with special emphasis on the class’s theme, “Turn! Turn! Turn!”

“Turn! Turn! Turn!,” taken from the words from the Book of Ecclesiastes, is a song written by Pete Seeger and originally released as “To Everything There Is a Season,” notes class member Megan Arivella, now supervisor of school counseling for Haverhill Public Schools.

Business Bulletin

Haverhill, Southern New Hampshire Chambers Plan Joint Business After Hours

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The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is joining with the Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce for Business After Hours next week at Wicked Sticky Designs. Members of the two chambers will network; get a behind-the-scenes look at Wicked Sticky Designs, producer of wide format printing, vehicle wraps, fleet graphics, banners and decals; and enjoy food and drinks. Business After Hours takes place Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Wicked Sticky Designs, 12 Industrial Way, #1, Atkinson, N.H. The gathering is free to members of either Chamber. Registration takes place at HaverhillChamber.com.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Plans ‘Hill-O-Ween’ Jack-O-Lantern Contest Oct. 30

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Haverhill is planning its second annual “Hill-O-Ween” jack-o-lantern contest. The city invites residents to enter their carved pumpkins, to be displayed in Washington Square, into the contest, taking place Friday, Oct. 30, where volunteers will light and display pumpkins. Winners of the “Spookiest” pumpkin, judged by artist and Creative Haverhill Programs and Operations Manager Josh Salad, receives a gift card to Evens & Oddities; “Most Vintage” pumpkin, judged by Time Machine co-owner Jay Ferrandini, receives a gift card to the store; and “Most Creative” pumpkin, judged by Winged Rabbit owner Patricia Bruno, receives a gift card to that store. Jack-o-lantern drop-off runs from 5-6 p.m., judges arrive at 6 and winners announced at 6:30 There is no cost to participate and everyone who participates will be entered to win a gift card to The Charcoal Pit.

Education

Barrett Expresses Hope After Northern Essex, Whittier Tech Cease Working Together

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Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett expressed hope Wednesday plans to locate a new Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School at Northern Essex Community College can be salvaged after the two schools stopped working together. The gulf between the schools became apparent Wednesday when Northern Essex President Lane A. Glenn sent a letter to communities, saying “we no longer see a viable path forward for the project as currently envisioned.”

Barrett, who conditioned any changes to the regional agreement between the 11 member communities on cooperation between the schools, said a renewed path forward is crucial. “I don’t see an immediate resolution, but I think this is almost too big to fail. It’s so important,” Barrett told WHAV. She said she will call for the communities to get together to try to put the project back on track.

Haverhill

Haverhill Councilors Kill Plan for 3 Condo Homes on Marshland St.

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Haverhill city councilors Tuesday night killed a developer’s request to replace a single-family house on Marshland Street with three condominium units, with most members saying the plan would upset the character of the neighborhood. The “Marshland Commons” proposal from Matt Silva of Sterling Commonwealth Builders called for demolishing a single-family house at 27 Marshland St. and replacing it with three, three-bedroom townhouses—each with separate driveways to the street. Mark Dickinson, who said he has owned the nearby 30 Marshland St. property, was among those who spoke against the plan.

Haverhill

Holmes Joins Northern Essex Knights as Baseball Coach, Assistant Athletic Director

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Mitchell Holmes is the new baseball coach and assistant athletic director of the Northern Essex Community College Knights. Holmes most recently spent the previous two seasons as lead assistant coach at Babson College where he oversaw hitting and catching and helped lead the recruiting efforts for the Beavers who captured the 2026 NEWMAC championship and earned the third seed in NCAA Division III Southern Maine regional. Prior to his time at Babson, Holmes spent three seasons on the staff at Holy Cross. Athletics Director Dan Blair said Tuesday Holmes officially begins his duties next Monday. “I’m pleased to welcome Mitch to Northern Essex.