Community Spotlight

Haverhill Yoga Studio Hosts Makers Market Saturday with Gifts for Mom

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Wellness Hot Yoga will host a fundraiser for Emmaus House in which shoppers can find handmade items to give as Mothers Day gifts. The yoga studio incorporates charitable giving in its regular business model, hosting fundraisers like the one for Emmaus House, which provides services to the city’s homeless, as well as weekly community hot yoga sessions where the only fee is a donation to a nonprofit or organization that provides a service. More than 10 vendors, each of whom creates a unique set of items, will showcase their talents and offer items for sale. A raffle of items donated by the artisans is also planned. Children are welcome, and will have the opportunity to try their hand at arts and crafts at a special table set up for them.

Obituaries

Today’s Obituaries: Sandra J. (Pike) Faraci, Formerly of Haverhill

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Sandra J. (Pike) Faraci, 68, of Salisbury, formerly of Haverhill, beloved wife of Attorney William S. Faraci passed away last Saturday morning, April 27 at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Born in Haverhill, she was the daughter of Patricia A. (O’Neil) Pike and the late William C. “Bill” Pike. She attended Haverhill public schools and was a graduate of Haverhill High School, class of 1975. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she was a homemaker. Along with her husband, she raised four loving children.

Haverhill

MBTA Hears Concerns Over Downtown Haverhill Train Station Closing; Could Allow Some Service

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The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority—or MBTA, responding to public outcry over the planned closing of the downtown Haverhill train station, could allow some commuter rail trips or provide busing to the Bradford stop. As WHAV reported first two weeks ago, MBTA officials confirmed plans to shutter the Haverhill station for 10 to 12 months to commuter rail passengers as part of replacement of the South Elm Street bridge across the river. They did not explain why it would remain open only for freight service and Amtrak Downeaster service between Boston and Maine. Haverhill mayoral Deputy Chief of Staff Josselyn De León-Estrada said this week a meeting with city officials helped spur reconsideration and officials expect a report back in about a week. “They are looking at alternative service over the original self-diversion plan.

Education

With More English Learners Than Ever, Haverhill Schools Brought on More Staff in Recent Years

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With the growing number of non-native English speakers in Haverhill Public Schools, director of multilingual learning Heidi Perez says her department has increased in size to meet the greater need. She told School Committee members last week, “It’s been a change [for] the teachers and the school community, so we’ve been trying to stay up-to-date, to give our students what they deserve.”

In her six years at the helm, Perez said the proportion of ML students grew from 9.5% to 13%, while the state average went from 10.5% to 13.1%. The surge accelerated particularly in the last three years, according to slides Perez shared. As of last September, 1,037 of 7,882 students were English learners. In the same period, the district increased the number of ML teachers from 19 to 38, bilingual parent liaisons from two to 16 and testers to assess incoming ML students from two to four.

Education

HHS Assistant Principal Peralta to Become Bradford Elementary School Principal July 1

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Dinorah Peralta, an assistant principal at Haverhill High School, becomes the new principal of Bradford Elementary School July 1. In an email to staff, Superintendent Margaret Marotta wrote, Peralta was one of 19 applicants in the initial pool of administrators, one of eight invited to interview and among five finalists. She succeeds retiring principal Diane Seibold. “Dinorah is no stranger to our community, having served as a longtime teacher and assistant principal in Haverhill. Her journey in education began right here in our district after she obtained her bachelor’s degree,” the superintendent wrote.

Region

AgeSpan Celebrates 50th Birthday with Tributes, Talk by WCVB’s Harvey Leonard

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(Additional photograph below.)

AgeSpan celebrated its 50th anniversary with a lunch Thursday honoring 53 people over the age of 60 and presenting a talk by WCVB-TV’s Chief Meteorologist Emeritus Harvey Leonard. AgeSpan CEO Joan Hatem-Roy was brought to tears herself discussing milestones over the past 40 years she has served with the organization formerly known as Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore. One particularly emotional moment for her was saluting her predecessor Rosanne DiStefano who retired in 2017. “Roseanne was my mentor. She’s the one who paved the way and made my path so much easier.

Election Central

Podcast: Groveland Voters Go to the Polls Monday, Decide Which 2 of 6 Should be Selectmen

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Groveland voters go to the polls Monday to choose two candidates from a field of six for Groveland’s Board of Selectmen. Edward H. Watson is seeking re-election to one of two available seats. Daniel MacDonald holds the other seat, but does not appear on the ballot. Challengers are, in ballot order, Steven F. Baker, Rebecca Megan Beaucher, William F. Dunn, Adam J. Haywood and William G. O’Neil. All but Dunn talked live during WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program and their interviews may be heard on the “Merrimack Valley Newsmakers” podcast.

Haverhill

After 40 Years of No New Properties, Housing Authority Has Plans For Hilldale Avenue, Groveland Street

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After 40 years of no new properties, the Haverhill Housing Authority aims to bring 34 apartments to Hilldale Avenue by 2028. Although in the earliest stage, the quasi-public agency plans to spend $28 million on land it owns at 230 Hilldale Ave. Executive Director Clara Ruiz Vargas detailed the plans recently for WHAV. There are preliminary “plans that have been drawn up, of the idea of what we would like to have done in that area.”

The site held the authority’s offices decades prior and currently has a daycare run by Community Action. Vargas said the daycare will remain and plans to include a community room as well.