Education

Haverhill Considers Steps to Tackle Students Evading E-Bike Rules

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Haverhill’s school year has gone smoothly so far, but the administration told the School Committee last week some students have found a way around restrictions on electric bicycles and scooters. Superintendent Margaret Marotta said the opening of the new school year has gone smoothly with few unanticipated incidents. She said most students are abiding by new safety restrictions, but some students are riding the so-called micromobility devices to school, but parking them just off campus. Marotta said she is working with the Haverhill Police Department to form a solution. Haverhill Police Lt. Kevin Lynch told WHAV after the meeting his department is aware of the student “workaround” and warned that if the devices are chained to a tree or pole on public land, they could be confiscated.

Education

Northern Essex Knights Men’s Soccer Overtakes Quincy 9-1

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Northern Essex Community College men’s soccer team, ranked #10 in the week one NJCAA poll, opened the region portion of their schedule Saturday afternoon with a rout of Quincy College by a 9-1 final score. The win was the Knights fourth straight and improved the overall record to 4-2. Northern Essex saw eight different players score as they outshot the visiting Granite 41-9 in the game. Thomas Kotas of Methuen got the Knights on the board in the 11th minute with a header that beat the keeper into the lower left corner of the net on an assist from Cristian Lopez of Chelsea. The goal was his team leading fifth of the season.

Business Bulletin

Institution for Savings, Baez Law, eXp Realty Offer Homebuyer Seminar

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Institution for Savings, Baez Law, eXp Realty Offer Homebuyer Seminar

Institution for Savings, working with Baez Law Group and eXp Realty, plans a free First-Time Homebuyer Seminar early next month. The seminar covers such topics as the Home Buying Process, Determining How Much You Can Afford, What Loan is Right for You, Grants and Special Programs and Closing, Fees and more. Participants may raise questions and also be entered to win Boston Bruins tickets with a drawing the same night. The free First-Time Homebuyer Seminar takes place Wednesday, Oct. 7, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Salvatore’s Restaurant, 354 Merrimack St., Lawrence.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill YMCA Seeks Nominations for Educator and Teen of the Year

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Haverhill YMCA says it’s time to submit nominations for Educator of the Year to be honored at a November celebration that also recognizes a Teen of the Year and grants the Commitment to Community Award to Dianne Connolly. The 18th annual Educator of the Year committee is looking for names of Haverhill educators, why the person is outstanding, how he or she nurtures youth potential and healthy living and how the educator is involved in the community. The Teen of the Year recognizes high school teens who exemplify what the YMCA is and represents its core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Nominations for both Educator of the Year and Teen of the Year will be accepted through Oct. 15 online here or can be sent to Regional Executive Director Tracy Fuller, Haverhill YMCA, 81 Winter St., Haverhill, MA 01830 or via email to [email protected].

Education

Northern Essex Production of ‘Steel Magnolias’ Serves to Honor Parton

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Northern Essex Community College Theater presents Steel Magnolias, the comedy-drama by Robert Harling, next month. Set in a close-knit Louisiana beauty salon, “Steel Magnolias” follows a circle of Southern women who lean on humor, gossip and each other through life’s biggest joys and hardest losses. The play’s title captures its heart: characters as delicate as magnolias, yet as resilient as steel. The production is directed by national award-winning Director and Northern Essex Professor Brianne Beatrice, with student Jay Ouellette serving as assistant director. The cast is led by national award-winning actor Naima Eve as Truvy, alongside Katherine Caulfield, Rachael Knipe, Tawny Marshall, Gianna Proia and Laurille Wirling, an Excellence in Performance nominee for her portrayal of Harper in NECC Theater’s “Angels in America.”

Beatrice said the show’s themes feel especially timely and wasn’t chosen because of Dolly Parton, who played Truvy in the 1989 film adaptation of the play, she said the country icon’s passing last month gave the production a new resonance.

Education

Whittier Tech Seeks Land Option at Northern Essex Community College

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The Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee will formally ask the state for an option on about 13.5 acres on the Northern Essex Community College campus in Haverhill as part of the process of potentially siting a new school building there. Angus G. Jennings, new Whittier Tech business manager, recommended Wednesday that Whittier Tech School Committee members take out an exclusive right to the land before any money is spent on hiring a project manager or architects. “You know we would hate to see the School Committee spend quite a bit of public money only to find this site is not going to happen,” Jennings explained. Jennings noted that while the trustees and administration at Northern Essex have been on board with a shared campus idea from the start, college trustees do not have the authority to commit the land. “As much as Northern Essex has been a great partner and very fully engaged and fully supportive, and on the front end of this idea, with all due respect, it’s not their land.

Education

Whittier Tech Considers Bringing Two Courses to Northern Essex

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A plan by Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School to add three new courses and expand enrollment by 80 students received the cold shoulder Wednesday from Whittier School Committee members. Principal and Assistant Superintendent Christopher Laganas, along with several of his administrators, gave an overview of the cost to add criminal justice, facility maintenance management and information support services networking and locate two of them at the Haverhill campus of Northern Essex Community College. Laganas estimated the cost to open the programs at $830,000. Haverhill would bear the highest cost at $304,000 with West Newbury’s share at the low end of $3,808. Groveland would pay $11,469; Merrimac, $13,574; and Amesbury, $13,587.

Region

State Declares Area Improves to ‘Mild Drought,’ Still Urges Conservation

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The state said Thursday drought conditions have improved locally, dropping to a “mild drought,” and in most of the state, but officials are still advising conservation. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Northeast and Connecticut River Valley regions improved to the lowest level, mild drought, while Central Region has returned to normal conditions and the Western region and Dukes County remain at normal conditions. Cape Cod and Nantucket County continue to endure a significant drought. “The rain we saw this summer is helping, and we’re encouraged to see conditions improve across the state,” said Tepper. “We need more steady rain over the long-term, and we’re asking everyone across the state to conserve water and to help protect local water supplies and ensure enough water for fire protection.”

Following a wet July, August was drier than normal, with 1.5 to four inches of rain across Massachusetts.