Haverhill

Hockey, Racing Hall of Famer Russ Conway Salutes Ken Smith

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Russ Conway, a motor sports enthusiast, journalist and author who joined the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, saluted his late friend Ken Smith during Monday night’s Open Mike Show over WHAV. Conway reflected on his years as a race director, owner, promoter and working with Smith. Conway told guest host Marc Lemay how he met the future Pentucket Bank chairman who died in February. “He actually worked for the Haverhill Gazette. He was writing automobile racing at the Pines Speedway in Groveland.

Open Mic Show

Brothers Goudsward Discuss Whittier Book Series

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Monday’s WHAV Open Mike Show featured authors David and Scott Goudsward discussing two anthologies inspired by the works of Haverhill poet John Greenleaf Whittier. The latest, “Murder Among Friends,” debuted last Sunday during an author’s day at Whittier Birthplace, Haverhill. Contributors include Amesbury’s Edith Maxwell, “Murder in the Summer Kitchen;” Pete Rawlik, “On the Black Ice;” Victoria Weisfeld, “The Flock;” Ken Faig, “The Goodwife and the Bookseller;” David Bernard, “The Death Clock;” Susan Oleksiw, “Miss Larcom Meets the Neighbors;” Kristi Petersen Schoonover, “Cricket in the Wall;” Gregory L. Norris, “Antiques;” Rock Neelly, “Cane Fishing;” Judi Calhoun, “Exposed for Murder;” and D.G. Critchley, “Skeleton on the Ski Lift.”

Last year’s “Snowbound with Zombies” featured new works by Calhoun, Roxanne Dent, Suzanne Dent, David Goudsward, Scott Goudsward, John McIlveen, Norris, Faye Ringel and Schoonover. Other contributors include bestselling novelist Christopher Golden, former local writer Tracy L. Carbone and Vermont folklorist Joseph A. Citro. Both books were edited by David Goudsward and all sale proceeds benefit Whittier Birthplace.

Haverhill

Open Mike Lends an Ear to Haverhill’s Busy Weekend

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First Fridays Schedule Below

Three guests on 97.9 WHAV’s Open Mike Show helped illuminate what appears to be one of Haverhill’s busiest weekends ever. Karren McCabe and Gerrie Maffris, associated with the Art Market, discussed Creative Haverhill’s new “First Fridays” initiative. Plans call for night time store openings, walking tours and entertainment in downtown Haverhill on the first Friday of every month through the fall. It kicks off Friday, May 5. A schedule of activities appears below.

Open Mic Show

Andover Community Support Team Discuss Addiction Relief Effort

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Sgt. Gregory Scott, Andover Community Support Coordinator Sobhan Namvar and WHAV’s Frank Komola in WHAV’s Edwin V. Johnson Newsroom. Andover Police Sgt. Gregory Scott, responsible for community support, and Andover Community Support Coordinator Sobhan Namvar appeared on Monday’s WHAV Open Mike Show to discuss efforts aimed at educating and supporting families and providing a novel new approach to addressing addiction. The program, based at the Andover Community Drop-In Center, began about a year ago at the suggestion of Cormier Youth Center Executive Director William Fahey, Police Chief Patrick Keefe and Town Manager Andrew P. Flanagan.

Local News

Open Mike Covers Earth Day Cleanup, Timberlane Community Band

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David LaBrode on 97.9 WHAV’s Open Mike Show. Community-building events from Haverhill’s Earth Day Cleanup to a concert benefitting Timberlane students were the focus of Monday’s Open Mike Show. David LaBrode, who has been working with Haverhill’s Brightside since 2000, called attention to Haverhill’s Earth Day Clean Up, Sat. April 22, between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. He noted incentives for those pre-registering online as volunteers include a chance to win one of two entry-level trail bikes from Riverside Cycle. Other raffle prizes include bike helmets.

Local News

Open Mike Show Monday Reviews Earth Day, Spring Pops Concert

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David LaBrode organizing another of his favorite events, the Frozen Shamrock road race. WHAV’s Open Mike Show tonight looks at what’s in store at Haverhill’s Earth Day plans as well as plans by the Timberlane Community Band for its 17th annual Spring Pops concert. David LaBrode, an organizer of Haverhill’s Earth Day Clean Up, Sat. April 22, is expected to discuss arrangements for the event and incentives for participants. Kathleen McGuirk, Timberlane Community Band president, and conductor John Mainella discuss “Through the Decades,” featuring music from the 1950s to the 80s.

Haverhill

Economist Reviews Haverhill School Woes; Solutions Elusive

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Dr. Thomas Grannemann and Tim Jordan, of the new Haverhill Education Coalition, on the Open Mike Show. Economist Thomas Grannemann pointed to several lagging measures of Haverhill school performance during 97.9 WHAV’s Open Mike Show Monday night. Grannemann, joined by Haverhill Education Coalition’s Tim Jordan, presented data showing that Haverhill families with students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 have a somewhat lower federal poverty rate than other former industrial cities—known as Gateway cities. However, the average poverty rate is still higher than the state as a whole and higher than similar income communities. “I think we’re identifying issues that needs to be addressed.