COVID-19

Haverhill Offers Permanent, Daily COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Beginning Friday

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Haverhill begins operating a permanent, daily COVID-19 vaccination clinic starting Friday. The state vaccination site operates Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the AmVets function hall, 576 Primrose St., Haverhill, according to Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini. The mayor said the new clinic is opening in conjunction with the start of universal vaccinations on Monday, April 19, when everyone in Massachusetts age 16 and up is eligible to receive the vaccine. “The plan is to ramp up from 100 to 200 doses per day of the Pfizer vaccine as soon as possible,” a statement from the mayor’s office said. Friday’s and Monday’s clinic offers walk-in registration, but vouchers will be required beginning next Tuesday, April 20.

Haverhill

Despite Traffic Worries, Haverhill City Council Grants Special Permit for 18 Condominium Homes

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The Haverhill City Council last night approved a special permit to construct six triplex condominium homes on a new subdivision at 1240 Boston Road. Currently, that three-acre site is occupied by a single-family home owned by David W. O’Leary. Development plans would keep O’Leary’s home on the property, while moving it back 240 feet. Attorney Paul A. Magliochetti, representing development company Boston Haverhill told the Council this is a well-thought-out plan. “This is a project that actually started well over a year ago.

COVID-19

Haverhill, Area Communities Alter Plans Following ‘Pause’ in Use of J and J Vaccine

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Area communities are making adjustments following the “pause” in use of the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, but all are vowing to continue protecting residents. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called for the halt early Tuesday morning to study rare blood clotting issues occurring in six people out of nearly seven million vaccinated. Methuen cancelled a planned clinic Tuesday at the Loop, advising residents to watch for future Moderna clinics. Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini said Haverhill was administering mostly Moderna second doses this week at the Citizen’s Center, but did have a small number of J and J scheduled Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. “We fully expect that we will be able to resume these vaccines shortly.

Haverhill

Plan for 18 Two-Bedroom Condominiums off Boston Road Before Haverhill City Council

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The public has opportunities to shape policy this week as various Haverhill boards meet. In the interest of transparency in government, WHAV provides this list of upcoming meetings every week. The Haverhill City Council hears a proposal tonight to permit 18 two-bedroom condominium homes and relocate an existing single-family home off Boston Road. Boston Haverhill’s plan for six tri-plex buildings was originally planned to be heard last month, but was postponed. If approved, a subdivision would be created on the three-acre site while keeping the single-family home of David W. O’Leary, according to documents filed with the city by attorney Paul A. Magliochetti of Sheehan, Schiavoni, Jutras and Magliocchetti.

Crime

Methodical and Patient Haverhill Police Surveillance Nets Three on Fentanyl-Related Charges

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A methodical and patient police surveillance effort netted a Haverhill man and woman and a Lowell man on drug and other charges. Haverhill Police arrested 43-year-old Juan M. Rodriguez of Lowell; 33-year-old Matthew Robbins, 215 Hilldale Ave., Haverhill; and 23-year-old Emma Kerivan, 225 Hilldale Ave., Haverhill, after an investigation three days in the making. Each pleaded not guilty to fentanyl-related drug charges last week before First Justice Cesar A. Archilla at Haverhill District Court. It began Last Monday, April 5, when Haverhill Detective Sean Harrison arrested Robbins on an outstanding warrant after first seeing him meet someone in a Jeep outside his Hilldale Avenue home. In a police report, Harrison noted a pattern of narcotics deliveries.

Education

Haverhill Public Schools Restore WiFi, HHS Seniors Return to In-Person Classes Tuesday

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Haverhill High School seniors have a chance of ending their final semester in a relatively normal manner as they return to in-person learning Tuesday. School Superintendent Margaret Marotta said Monday night that WiFi is expected to be restored at all school buildings Tuesday following a devastating ransomware attack that took out internet, telephone and other services last week. “While we will be up and running, we will not be at full network capacity for some time. Email is not yet up consistently,” Marotta wrote. Haverhill School Committee members had accelerated seniors’ back-to-school schedules late last month only to have Monday’s planned return thwarted by the cyberattack.

Education

Cyberattack at Haverhill Schools Keeps Seniors from Returning Monday; Educators Tentatively Reach Return Pact

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Haverhill High School seniors will continue to learn remotely Monday as the effects of last week’s ransomware attack linger. School Committee members accelerated seniors’ return in a vote last month, expecting them back to in-person classes Monday, April 12. However, in an email to families Sunday night, Superintendent Margaret Marotta wrote, “the limited internet access in the schools makes wide-spread synchronous teaching impossible. As such we have made the difficult decision that Haverhill High School will be fully remote tomorrow…”

“Our IT team has worked diligently all weekend on recovery efforts, however despite their long hours we hit a snag and are not able to have internet access available in our schools tomorrow as hoped. The lack of internet access will impact synchronous learning across the school district,” Marotta explained.

Homepage Featured

West Newbury Fire Reports No Injuries From Saturday’s Four-Alarm Single-Family Home Blaze

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No injuries were reported following a four-alarm fire Saturday afternoon at a single-family home in West Newbury. West Newbury Fire Chief Michael Dwyer said residents of the home at 2 Reeds Lane were able to safely escape prior to firefighters’ arrival. Damage to the home, however, displaced the family. Firefighters were initially dispatched at about 12:15 p.m. for a report of a lawnmower fire near the home. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames fully engulfing the side of the home and an attached deck.