Delivery of cannabis to Haverhill homes from out-of-town is allowed under state law, the city solicitor says, but local stores may not make such deliveries until they first negotiate terms in their host community agreements with the city. At least that appears to be the opinion of City Solicitor Lisa L. Mead in a letter to the Haverhill City Council dated last Thursday. Councilors will formally hear the view during talks tonight on a state-mandated “social equity” policy that promises added benefits for shop applicants “disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.” The state requires the city to have a policy in place by May 1 or face penalties. Councilors are expected to hear recommendations from its Administration and Finance Committee that suggested changes to a draft policy during a meeting last week.
Advocates and survivors discussed life after lead exposure at a Haverhill panel last week. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, who introduced the event, said the city meets state and federal standards. She added that the city will be removing lead from at least 75 houses in the next three years after receiving a $2.4 million federal grant, the only grant of its kind in New England and the largest nationwide, as WHAV reported.
Haverhill is one of only five communities statewide where Red Cross volunteers and members of the Fire Department will work together to “Sound the Alarm and Save” a Life by helping families develop escape plans, install smoke alarms or both in local homes. To participate, either by volunteering or by registering to receive up to three residential smoke alarms and/or training on how to respond if a smoke alarm sounds, visit SoundTheAlarm.org/ma or call 800-564-1234. Deliveries and home visits to devise escape and safety plans will take place Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Akira Matos of Haverhill will be the featured student speaker for the 62nd annual commencement exercises at Northern Essex Community College. Matos says she was not a good student in grade school and bounced around to a few local schools as a result. When it came time for high school, her mom pushed for her to go to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, even though she might not have had all her facts straight. “My mom tricked me,” Matos says.