Updated
Haverhill
Podcast: Proposed House Budget Sets Aside Another $200,000 for Historic New England Plan
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If state Rep. Ryan M. Hamilton has his way four local groups will receive $375,000 in earmarked grants in the next state budget. Hamilton, whose district includes parts of Haverhill and Methuen, was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast.” Hamilton told listeners he has been successful in adding money for Creative Haverhill, Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, Historic New England and Methuen’s 300th birthday celebration. “I was able to secure four earmarks—one being for the Cogswell Art Center. It has been a recurring one for me and something I care about very much. Creative Haverhill is doing a great job when it comes to restoring Cogswell and its eventually going to turn it into one of the premier art installations in the Merrimack Valley if not the Commonwealth,” Hamilton said.
Haverhill
Podcast: House Budget Includes More For Haverhill Schools and Money for Pinnacle, GHF
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Haverhill Public Schools would receive an additional $6 million in state aid if a House of Representative proposal to increase state support for schools makes it into the final state budget. State Rep. Andy X. Vargas, whose district encompasses a portion of Haverhill, was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast.” He made note of the additional school spending proposal. “So, it’s about a $6 million increase for Haverhill Public Schools in Chapter 70 funding. Now there is always more needed but a $6 million increase in this environment is certainly notable,” he said. The proposed funding is part of an initiative to raise the state’s per pupil spending from $30 to $150.
Haverhill
Podcast: Habitat for Humanity Plans 7 Affordable Housing Units in Haverhill’s Mount Washington
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Essex County Habitat for Humanity, currently in the midst of one Haverhill homebuilding project, is moving on to another in the city’s Mount Washington neighborhood. The nonprofit recently agreed to purchase a single-family home and property at 512 Washington St. for $650,000 and has the city’s blessing to convert it into seven affordable housing units. Director of Charitable Giving Kevin Hudson made the revelation while a guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. “We are currently raising funds to acquire property on Washington Street where we plan to build seven new homes,” Hudson said, noting that in addition to the purchase price, Habitat must raise about $2 million to fund the renovation and construction.
Haverhill
Podcast: Sweet Paws Rescue Says Haverhill Farm Expansion Won’t Alter Foster Focus
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The new 69-acre Sweet Paws Rescue pet sanctuary scheduled to open later this summer plans to offer space for abandoned dogs and cats to roam. But, Cynthia Sweet, founder and executive director of the local animal rescue group, says it won’t change the focus of local animal rescue organization as a foster care group. “We are still going to be a foster organization. Dogs and cats do best when they are in people’s homes. And we are not going to be a shelter.
Haverhill
Music Alliance Says CPB Cut Threatens Use of Music on WHAV, Many Radio Stations
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“I saw Satan laughing with delight…The day the music died.”
— from Don McLean’s “American Pie”
WHAV is defined by its commitment to original, comprehensive local news reporting, but those who enjoy its unique, locally curated selection of classic hits from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s should know this music could go away. WHAV does not receive any grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but listeners do benefit from broadcast and internet music license agreements CPB has negotiated on behalf of all nonprofit broadcasters. The noncomMUSIC Alliance says a plan to rescind funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting “will devastate the public media system.”
“Without federal funding for CPB and CPB’s management of these music rights, public radio stations will not be able to play any music of any genre on the radio or stream on the internet. Noncommercial music in broadcast could vanish, unless the music rights organizations renegotiate in some way to allow these uses for hundreds of public radio stations nationwide. The effects on public radio music stations—which predominantly play noncommercial music on the air and serve nearly 24 million listeners weekly—would be devastating.”
The noncomMUSIC Alliance is asking those who love music and support artists to communicate directly with lawmakers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire before May 2 about the importance of public radio to your artists and their development.
Haverhill
Podcast: Trahan Notes Haverhill Firefighter Grant, Steward Failure in Ripping White House Freeze
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A planned freeze of payments toward previously approved federal programs was rescinded Wednesday by the White House Office of Management and Budget after public outcry. Congresswoman Lori Trahan, appearing live Wednesday on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, was one official who criticized what would have been an abrupt halt in food, rent, energy and childcare assistance, among other programs.
“It’s a reckless, unprecedented power grab by Donald Trump. The consequences have already been swift and severe for the most vulnerable families in our country,” Trahan said in a live interview Wednesday morning. Before the freeze could take effect, Judge Loren L. AliKhan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered a halt until a hearing Monday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the court ruling Wednesday in announcing the White House would end the proposed freeze.
Haverhill
Congresswoman Trahan Plans to Discuss Trump Spending Freeze in WHAV Interview
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Congresswoman Lori Trahan plans to address WHAV listeners live Wednesday morning to highlight her concerns about President Donald Trump’s plan to freeze trillions in federal money for local and state assistance programs.
Trahan is scheduled to appear on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program around 8:15, Wednesday morning. In what could be a preview of her concerns, Trahan said in a video posted to social media Tuesday that “our community health centers are grappling with accessing funds that they need to make payroll this week.” She added childcare and Head Start centers are wondering if they will be able to pay the caretakers who watch the children so parents can go to work, and families have called her office expressing fears about nutrition, rental and heating assistance. Judge Loren L. AliKhan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has already prevented the order from taking effect, at least until next Monday,
Meanwhile, state Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said Tuesday the new policy could jeopardize funding for health, education, law enforcement, disaster relief and other essential state programs. Campbell is co-leading a coalition of 23 attorneys general in a separate case suing the Trump administration. The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Rhode Island. Republicans are being wined and dined at Donald Trump’s Florida golf resort while his administration pulls the rug out from underneath families simply trying to put food on the table.
Haverhill
Podcast: Haverhill’s Calvary Baptist Church Pays Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Saturday
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In concert with Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, the oldest black church in the Merrimack Valley this Saturday offers its third annual celebration of the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader. Haverhill’s Calvary Baptist Church holds “Sounds of a Movement,” featuring music, history, services and the awarding of the Drum Major for Justice award to Dennis D. Everett Jr. Rev. Kenneth Young of Calvary Baptist Church, who recently appeared on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, says Everett is being honored for his work in prison reform, youth empowerment and restorative justice. “The award is someone who is doing either social justice work in the community or racial justice working in the community. Trying to uplift people living in the margins. We know that Dennis has work not only in Haverhill but in the Merrimack Valley for some time and we appreciate the work that he has done, and wanted to highlight the things that he’s doing and make sure he knows that someone is appreciative of the work that he’s doing.”
Young notes the afternoon program involves singers Christina DeVaughn, who has a master’s in opera performance from the Boston Conservatory, gospel singer Kylisha Farris and actress Remani Lazana.