Haverhill

PHOTOS: Hillies Dedicate Friday’s Football Game to Late Senior Jordan Rankin

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Haverhill High football players carried a banner in memory of Jordan Rankin during the September 28 varsity game against Methuen. (Marilyn Caradonna courtesy photograph)

The Haverhill High Hillies are doing it all #forjordan. In the wake of the sudden passing of 17-year-old senior Jordan Rankin after a Sept. 24 car accident, her peers remembered the teen in a series of events over the weekend. Chief among them was Friday’s varsity football game in Methuen, where players hit the gridiron wearing decals with Rankin’s initials on their helmets and spectators swapped their usual brown and gold to wear red for Rankin.

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PHOTOS: Winnekenni Foundation Celebrates 50th Anniversary

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The Winnekenni Foundation marked 50 years at a Castle gathering on August 23. (Jay Saulnier photographs for WHAV News)

Local leaders, city residents and members of the Winnekenni Foundation came together for a really big party on August 23—to mark the 50th anniversary of the Foundation and honor three very special guests. City Council Vice President Thomas J. Sullivan, who serves as the Vice President of Development for the Winnekenni Foundation, emceed the event, which featured appearances by state Reps. Andy Vargas and Diana DiZoglio and Sullivan’s Council colleagues Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien and Joseph J. Bevilacqua, among others. Over dinner and drinks, guests reminisced about the Castle’s storied past—built in 1873, it was sold to the City of Haverhill for $30,000 in 1910!—and feted those closest to the Kenoza Avenue landmark.

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PHOTOS: Haverhill Students Celebrate First Day of New School Year

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Haverhill Public Schools students headed back to class Tuesday for the start of a new year in the city, and WHAV tagged along as Mayor James J. Fiorentini greeted children and families ahead of the first bell at Walnut Square Elementary School. As is tradition, Fiorentini greeted first and second graders and handed out his “magic pencils,” which—as WHAV has exclusively learned—have the potential to help students recall the right answers if children spend lots of time on their homework each night. “We have an exciting new year this year, with a lot of new energy and enthusiasm. I like the new superintendent’s vision and goals that she outlined. I’m looking forward to great things in the Haverhill Public Schools.”

Given the threat of extreme heat this week, Haverhill Schools Superintendent Margaret Marotta made the decision to dismiss students early on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

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PHOTOS: Haverhill Police, Residents Celebrate National Night Out at Swasey Field

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Haverhill Police Deputy Chief Anthony Haugh (left) and Captain Robert Pistone chatted at Tuesday’s National Night Out. (Jay Saulnier photograph for WHAV News)

Haverhill’s Swasey Field was the place to beat the heat Tuesday night, with the Blaisdell Street park playing host to the National Night Out community policing effort. Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro and his department’s officers and employees joined Mayor James J. Fiorentini, state Rep. Andy Vargas and city residents to celebrate summer with free food, music and family-friendly fun. DeNaro told WHAV he was thrilled with the turnout for the annual event—his 16th since becoming police chief in 2002. As the department head explained, the community policing effort allows for trust to be built between his officers and residents.

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PHOTOS: Emmaus Raises $140K at 30th Anniversary Cycle for Shelter Ride

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More than 150 Merrimack Valley-area cyclists battled torrential downpours to help raise more than $140,000 for the Haverhill-based nonprofit Emmaus during the 30th anniversary Cycle for Shelter bike ride on July 22. Riders of this year’s Cycle for Shelter rode one of four routes—100, 62, 40, or 20 miles—starting and ending at the Haverhill campus of Northern Essex Community College. Ahead of the ride, WHAV profiled several participants, including this year’s youngest rider, 7-year-old Bradford resident Cora Seferlis. Enrolled at Bradford Elementary School, Cora role 20 miles along with her dad, Chris Seferlis, who captains the 3 Flat Tires Team. Cora’s reason for participating in the ride is simple, she told WHAV.

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Haverhill Celebrates Superintendent Scully at Retirement Party

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Haverhill Superintendent James F. Scully addressed the crowd at his retirement party June 11 at Bradford Country Club. (WHAV News photographs)

Eight years and memories to last a lifetime. Educators, former students and community members from across the Merrimack Valley came out to salute Haverhill’s outgoing Superintendent James F. Scully Monday at a retirement party at Bradford Country Club. Kicked off with a performance by Haverhill High’s chorus of Josh Groban’s
“You Raise Me Up” and the Irish blessing “May the Road Rise to Meet You,” Scully’s send-off featured remarks from Mayor James J. Fiorentini, Assistant Superintendent Jared Fulgoni and members of Haverhill’s Statehouse delegation, among others. Haverhill’s longest-serving mayor had nothing but kind words for the education chief, declaring Scully “one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever met.” Above all, Fiorentini praised his colleague’s work ethic, caring and compassion.

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PHOTO GALLERY: Haverhill Chamber Celebrates Local Business Leaders

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The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce honored Thomas J. Sullivan, Eva Monitbello, Eric LaFleur and Jason Petrou for their service to the community at a June 7 dinner attended by Paul A. Magliochetti (third from left) and Dale Rogers (right). (Jay Saulnier photograph for WHAV News)

Haverhill small business leaders came together to celebrate their own June 7 at the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s 102nd annual gala dinner. Honored at the Bradford Country Club dinner were four local leaders who put the “made in Haverhill” mantra into practice through their community outreach efforts. Haverhill City Council Vice President Thomas J. Sullivan received the Chamber’s Community Leadership Award. In an acceptance speech that doubled as a tribute to his parents, John T. Sullivan and Lorraine Pauline Levasseur, the city attorney said their legacy as public servants inspired his own efforts.

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Haverhill High Graduates 396 With Class of 2018

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Haverhill High’s Class of 2018 received diplomas Friday, June 1 at Trinity Stadium (Jay Saulnier photographs for WHAV News)

Nearly 400 Hillies were celebrated with pomp and circumstance Friday, June 1 as they accepted their Haverhill High School diplomas from Mayor James J. Fiorentini at Trinity Stadium. Here, WHAV News presents a photo gallery slideshow of scenes from the Stadium, including the class of 2018’s final sendoff to retiring Superintendent James F. Scully.