Community Spotlight

Friends of Plaistow Rec Stage Musical Laser Show Tonight

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Families looking for a fun activity near the end of New Hampshire’s school vacation week can take in a laser concert. Lasermania, by Prismatic Magic, will feature current musical hits and colorful lasers that appear to react to the sound. The show is tonight, April 25, from 4 to 5 p.m., at the Timberlane Performing Arts Center, 40 Greenough Road, Plaistow, N.H.

Doors will open at 3:45 p.m., but cash raffle sales will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the lobby. Raffle prizes will be drawn right after the show. Tickets are $8 when bought in advance online or $10 at the door on the day of the show.

Crime

Police Arrest Six, Including 22-Year-Old Methuen Man, For Alleged Theft of $50,000 in Lottery Tickets

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Six people, including a 22-year-old Methuen man, were arrested Wednesday after 121 indictments were handed down related to alleged break-ins at various convenience stores where about $50,000 lottery tickets were stolen. Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said indictments charged “known” gang members and associates with breaking and entering in the night for felony, larceny in excess of $1,200, larceny from a building, wanton destruction of property over $1,200, receiving stolen property less than $1,200, common and notorious thief, money laundering and improper use of credit card less than $1,200. “These indictments and arrests are a reflection of the tremendous partnerships between state and local agencies and represent how law enforcement and prosecutors from my office work tirelessly and side-by-side to solve and prosecute crimes perpetrated by criminal networks,” Tucker said in a statement. Tucker’s office said it was involved in a three-month, multi-agency effort they called “Operation Smash & Cash” where at least 12 convenience stores throughout Essex and Middlesex counties in Massachusetts and four New Hampshire communities were struck February, March, and April of this year. Search warrants were used in Methuen, Lawrence, Revere, Swampscott and Lynn.

Education

North Andover School Committee to Discuss Placing School Superintendent on Paid Leave

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The North Andover School Committee is scheduled Thursday to discuss placing the school superintendent on paid leave, but an official would not confirm the circumstances giving rise to the item. A new business agenda item referenced two items, “Placing the superintendent on paid administrative leave pursuant to Section D of his employment contract” and “Process for selecting and naming an acting superintendent during the paid leave period.”

North Andover Chair School Committee David Brown told WHAV that he “cannot comment on personnel matters” regarding Superintendent Gregg T. Gilligan. The School Committee meets in public session tomorrow night, 7 p.m., in the Superintendent’s Conference Room, School Administration Building, 566 Main St., North Andover. According to a meeting notice, the School Committee amended its outline at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, to include the additional items related to the superintendent. Gilligan first became superintendent July 1, 2018.

Haverhill

Haverhill Councilors Call For Revival of Forest Stewardship Program; Mayor Agrees

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As Haverhill completes its Open Space and Recreation Plan, City Councilors Devan M. Ferreira and Melissa J. Lewandowski advocated at last night’s meeting for a revival of the forest stewardship program, which was created in 2009 but has since become inactive. Ferreira said of Haverhill’s residents, “As much as they like the heart of the city, they like the country, they like the woods, they like everything that offers us. It’s an important step for addressing some urgent climate issues that we have, as well as biodiversity in our community.”

Mayor Melinda E. Barrett said she supports bringing back the forestry program, “which we had for many, many years with some real high-quality people on it who knew and cared about keeping our forests healthy, keeping invasives out of our forests and keeping our natural trees.”

Barrett continued that an already-established committee focused on urban trees could add forest stewardship to its responsibilities. Though forest fires may seem a remote possibility in Massachusetts, city American Rescue Plan Act Project Manager Kathleen Lambert, who heads the group, said proper forest management is necessary in the face of climate change. Funded by grant and state money, Lambert told councilors she is seeking five to seven commissioners to guide the city’s approach.

Education

Haverhill Candidates Vie For Whittier Tech Seat; Appointment Policy May Change Following Monday Vote

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Amid a rocky selection process, the Haverhill School Committee will again hear candidates for one of the city’s two seats on the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Board, as well as vote Thursday on a proposed change to the policy governing how it fills those positions. It appears the body will choose between member Gail M. Sullivan and incumbent Richard P. Early Jr., though the agenda did not specify which candidates will be heard at the meeting. If the committee adopts a change to the Whittier Tech appointment policy, it may be required to provide notice and a hearing before removing one of its members from the vocational school’s board for policy violations or an unspecified “other cause.”

“Basically, the city solicitor said that she believed that there needed to be cause and notice and hearings,” member Richard J. Rosa told WHAV. He said this was the only proposed change to the policy at a subcommittee meeting Monday

The amendment follows the body’s abortive attempt to remove former School Committee member Scott W. Wood Jr. from the Whittier Tech board. After initially announcing candidates could run for two seats, the Haverhill committee later declared only Early’s open, causing four people to drop out of the race.

Haverhill

Haverhill Republicans Urge Support for Israel After Iranian Drone and Missile Strike

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The Haverhill Republican City Committee says it is standing firm in support of Israel following the recent Iranian-launched drone strike on the country. In a statement released by Jeri Levasseur, Haverhill Republican City Committee chair and State Committeewoman for Second Essex and Middlesex Senatorial District, the group cited Iranian aggression in the form of a barrage of 300 drones and missiles fired at Israel. “At the same time, the terrorist group Hamas rejects any peace talks or negotiations while they continue to hold Israeli and U.S. citizens hostage. We stand in solidarity with our Israeli allies and Jewish citizens in our city and across the region, and support their inherent right to self-defense under all circumstances,” the statement reads

Region

Groveland, Chesterton Company to Offer Free Small Business Workshop May 15

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The Groveland Economic Development Committee and Chesterton Company are inviting business owners and residents to a free small business workshop featuring a panel of experts discussing how to start, expand, grow and recover businesses. U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Development Specialist Lisa Gonzalez Welch, Northeast SCORE Mentor and Beverly Branch Manager Michael Thompson, and Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Regional Director Nancy Gerardi will discuss opportunities, outreach, loans and more. The workshop takes place Wednesday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, at A.W. Chesterton Company, 860 Salem St., Groveland. Registration takes place online here.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Firefighting Museum Plans Raffle with $3,500 Cash Top Prize, $1,000 Second Prize

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The Haverhill Firefighting Museum is offering $3,500 in cash as its first prize during its spring raffle fundraiser to support its mission. A second prize of $1,000, third prize of a book of scratch tickets valued at $750 and five chances to win $100 will also be offered with tickets selling at $100 each before the drawing Saturday, June 8. Winners will be drawn that day, beginning at 8 p.m., during the Scottish vs. Irish Whiskey and Beer Tasting, taking place from 6-8 p.m., at the museum, 75 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill. Tickets to the tasting at $35 each.