Community Spotlight

Greater Haverhill Arts Association Invites High and Middle School Student Art for May Show

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Students from high and middle schools have an opportunity to display their artwork—whether made at home or in school—and receive awards when the Greater Haverhill Arts Association presents its Student Art Exhibit 2025. Students have until Tuesday, April 29, to register and must be able to deliver their works May 2 in time for the exhibit, which runs Saturday, May 3, to Saturday, May 10, at Buttonwoods Museum, 240 Water St., Haverhill. There is a $5 entry and registration fee to cover up to a limit of three submissions. A registration form and guidelines is available online at ghaa.art. There will be a public reception and presentation of awards Sunday, May 4, from 2:30-4 p.m., at the museum.

Business Bulletin

The Savings Bank Hosts Merrimack Valley Chamber Members April 15

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Members of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce will gather Tuesday night for a Business Networking Mixer at The Savings Bank in Andover. Besides exchanging business cards, Chamber members may sample appetizers and have chances to win door prizes. The Business Networking Mixer takes place Tuesday, April 15, from 5-7 p.m., at The Savings Bank, 84 Main St., Andover. Admission is $10 each for members and $20 each for non-members and may be reserved online at MerrimackValleyChamber.com or by calling 978-686-0900.

Crime

Judge Sends North Andover Man, 65, to Prison Five Years After Explosion Last Summer

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A 65-year-old North Andover man was recently sentenced to a little more than five years in prison, stemming from an explosion last July near the man’s home. Daniel Medina was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 63 months in prison which is to be followed by three years of supervised release. Last December, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosive materials and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Last July 1, police were dispatched to the area of Medina’s home after receiving a report of an explosion. Upon arrival, police found damage to two vehicles and a piece of mail addressed to Medina beneath the damaged rear passenger door of one vehicle.

Education

Northern Essex Community College Celebrates Free Speech with ‘Speechapalooza’ April 24

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It’s the 10th anniversary of Northern Essex Community College’s Speechapalooza 2025, an event celebrating free speech. The college’s Principles of Public Relations class puts on Speechapalooza and gives participating students an opportunity to present speeches on whatever topics they want. “The beauty of this event is that it allows students to express themselves and their interests freely. We are fostering community, connection and conversation,” says Professor Mary Jo Shafer, who currently teaches the Principles of Public Relations class. “This is a great event because it allows us to celebrate student voices.

Education

Whittier Tech Adopts $32.4 Million Budget; All 11 Communities Agree to Study New School

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Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School will operate on a $32.4 million budget next school year, 3.29% higher than the current budget, after its School Committee approved it Wednesday without any formal public comment. Chair Scott W. Wood Jr. opened the required public hearing, held as a special meeting prior to the regular School Committee session, and then a minute later called for a vote to close the hearing after no one stepped up to the microphone with questions or comments. The Committee then voted unanimously to adopt the budget as presented by school Superintendent, Maureen A. Lynch. Business Manager Kara Kosmes explained the budget is split into a $31.7 million operating budget and $695,000 for capital expenses with the total about $1.1 million higher than this year’s budget. That breaks down to a per pupil cost of $24,675 for the 2025-2026 school year placing the school at fifth from the bottom in spending compared to other vocational technical schools in the state, she said.

Community Spotlight

Northshoremen Perform Barbershop-Style Benefit for Friends of Groveland Council on Aging

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The Northshoremen, described as an a cappella group singing in Barbershop-style, close four-part harmony, perform in a benefit Friday night for the Friends of Groveland Council on Aging. The local, acapella men’s chorus sings Friday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m., at Elmer S. Bagnall School, 253 School St., Groveland. Tickets are $15 per person and will be sold at the door.

Haverhill

District Attorney Releases Name of 71-Year-Old Found Dead Last Week in Merrimack River

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The dead man recovered last week from the Merrimack River in Haverhill has been identified as a 71-year-old Lowell man, but no theories have yet been released publicly about what may have happened. As WHAV reported previously, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said North Andover Fire Department launched a boat and recovered the man a week ago Wednesday from a section of the Merrimack River believed to be in Haverhill. Tucker’s office said Wednesday the man is Leon Langlais of Lowell. According to the district attorney’s office, Lawrence Police Department received a call April 3, at about 6:35 p.m., from a resident of the 50 Island Street Apartments with a view of the Merrimack River, reporting a person was being carried downriver by the current. North Andover Fire launched a boat and, less than an hour later, recovered Langlais from the river north of the Amazon distribution center in North Andover.

Crime

Judge Sends Former North Andover Man to Prison 15 Years; Ran Drug Business From Jail

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A former North Andover man was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Boston for his role in a, what prosecutors described as, a “large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl, cocaine and other controlled substances that spanned across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and Puerto Rico.”

Thirty-four-year-old Elvis DeJesus was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 15 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Last June, DeJesus pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine and other controlled substances. DeJesus was charged along with 20 other individuals in December 2021. In May of 2020, an investigation began into a network of Lawrence-based drug traffickers. From December 2020 through December 2021, intercepted communications between targets of the investigation and their associates revealed they distributed fentanyl and cocaine in and around the Lawrence area.