Haverhill

Public Meetings This Week: Haverhill Historic Commission to Hear Elks Lodge Plans

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The Haverhill Historic Commission is expected to review demolition and reconstruction plans for the former Haverhill Lodge of Elks No. 165, at the corner of Summer and Newcomb Streets when it meets Wednesday night. As WHAV reported last March, Bethany Communities of Haverhill is eying the former clubhouse at 24 Summer St. for senior affordable assisted living apartments. According to the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bethany purchased the property last April 30 for $900,000 and secured a mortgage through Boston-based Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.

Business Bulletin

Andover Firm Receives $1.9M Tax Incentive to Create 62 Jobs

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An Andover company will receive a $1.9 million state tax incentive in exchange for creating 62 life science jobs. TransMedics Group was one of 38 firms to share Monday in $40 million in tax incentives through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. The program is intended to support companies that are expanding research, development and manufacturing operations in Massachusetts. Thirty one of the 38 companies receiving awards are expanding outside of Boston and Cambridge and account for 71% of new jobs expected to be created through this round of awards. Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley joined the Center’s Interim CEO Liz Graham and local officials to announce the awards at SMC in Devens.

Community Spotlight

Historic Printing Talk, Demo with Odd Mark Twain Link Comes to Haverhill Oct. 10

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Author, journalist and media scholar Jeff Jarvis is coming to Haverhill for a celebration of his new book, “Hot Type: The Magnificent Machine That Gave Birth to Mass Media and Drove Mark Twain Mad.”

In Hot Type, Jarvis tells the story of the Linotype, the groundbreaking typesetting machine that upended more than 400 years of setting type by hand. He also explores the people behind the technology—including Mark Twain, whose fascination with a competing typesetting machine led to one of the most disastrous investments of his life. Historic New England Center and the Museum of Printing plan a day of exploration Saturday, Oct. 10, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. It begins at Historic New England Center, 143 Essex St., Haverhill, with coffee and conversation with Jarvis, followed at 10:30 by a Hot Type lecture, question and answer time and book signing. Books will be available for purchase.

Haverhill

National Grid Plans Open House Wednesday to Detail Line Project Centered in Haverhill

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National Grid takes time to meet with residents and answer questions Wednesday night on its plans to refurbish a 32-mile corridor of electric lines stretching from Haverhill’s Ward Hill Substation on Cross Road (National Grid filings say Cross Street) north to the New Hampshire border and south to Tewksbury. According to the utility, the work involves installing new access roads and work pads, replacing 345 kilovolt wood poles with new light duty steel H-frame and monopole structures, replacing 345 kilovolt wood and steel structures with engineered steel monopole structures and installing new optical ground wire to improve reliability and enable troubleshooting between substations. Work is planned in Andover, Dracut, Methuen, Haverhill, Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, West Newbury, Merrimack and Amesbury. What National Grid is calling an Asset Condition Refurbishment Project will be discussed during an open house Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 6-7:30 p.m., at Andover Municipal Services Building meeting room, 5 Campanelli Drive, Andover.

Crime

Two Plead Guilty in 2025 Armed Robbery at North Andover Jewelry Store

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Two of six people involved in an armed robbery last year at a North Andover jewelry store pleaded guilty Monday in Essex County Superior Court and were sentenced to seven to 12 years in prison. Yire Abreu, 25, of the Bronx and Wilfred Mordan, 23, of Hazelton, Penn., pleaded guilty to armed and masked robbery, five counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing a large-capacity-feeding device and possessing a loaded firearm. As WHAV reported, the robbery took place July 3, 2025, just before 10:30 a.m., at Milos Joyeria, 563 Chickering Road, North Andover. Abreu and Mordan admitted to their role in the robbery, including wearing masks and threatening employees and one customer inside, including, in Abreu’s case, with a firearm in hand. They also admitted to switching vehicles and leading police on a chase on Route 125 in North Andover, continuing on Interstate 495 into Lawrence before being arrested.

Haverhill

Haverhill Looks to Bring Consistency to Winter Parking Rules

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As winter approaches, Haverhill city councilors are expected Tuesday to consider changes that would bring greater consistency to overnight parking rules. As proposed, the new rules begin a month later than previously, starting Dec. 15 with even-side-of-the street parking, alternating sides monthly without exceptions, and concluding March 15 unless snow conditions dictate otherwise. When deemed warranted, the proposed rules allow the mayor to change start and end dates of all-night parking bans and exceptions with final approval by the City Council. Rules won’t apply to any automobiles with handicapped or veteran license plates, except during snow removal or active snow plowing, and to residents of narrow Marble Street.

Education

Absent Graduation Requirement, More Haverhill Students Show MCAS Apathy

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Haverhill Public Schools is facing a new challenge in its efforts to raise the district’s MCAS scores: IDK. IDK is texting shorthand for “I don’t know,” in the sense of not caring. Of the 441 Haverhill High School 10th graders who took the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test last spring, 103—or 25%—received a zero on the essay portion because they did not attempt to provide a writing sample, Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta told the School Committee last Thursday. “There were 822 essays. Each one had to write two essays.

Haverhill

Haverhill Fire Receives $813,000 Federal Grant for Breathing Equipment

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The Haverhill Fire Department is receiving nearly $813,000 for firefighter breathing equipment—one of the largest awards in the state in this year’s round of federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday the money is part of $11.7 million distributed in Massachusetts in the award category. Grants are intended to be used to “outfit responders with compliant personal protective equipment, acquire emergency response vehicles, and develop health, wellness and resiliency initiatives to prepare responders for incidents.”

Officials added, “FEMA disburses this money to support firefighters and other emergency personnel because they are often the first ones on the scene when disaster strikes. They play an essential role in keeping American communities safe.”

The agency noted it made $48 million available nationwide for three fire grant programs, which also include Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, known as SAFER, and Fire Prevention and Safety grant program.