Merrimack Valley Newsmakers

When Christmas Eve rolls around this weekend, many children will find themselves nestled all snug in their beds, satisfied they already saw Santa without his sled. The Haverhill Lions Club, for example, recently provided a stop for Santa during its Breakfast with Santa. Haverhill Lions Club Past President Laurie Cantwell, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning show, and said the event was well attended....

Haverhill school students and staff are the beneficiaries of expanded relationships underway with area universities. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, said efforts are aimed at delivering a better experience for teachers and employees. Overall, she said, school is better this year for the students despite a high-profile incident. “There’s s...

Although winter doesn’t officially begin until the 21st, heating bills are already arriving and families are asking for help. Kerri Sheeran Perry, president and CEO of Haverhill’s Community Action, told WHAV listeners recently that as of the last week of November, heating assistance applications are up 148% over last year. “What’s remarkable about that is it’s been a fairly warm fall. So, it’s rea...

The Salvation Army in Haverhill finds itself behind this year in raising money for its donations to families—particularly important this year as the charity turns its attention to a rise in teenage depression. Major Lynnann Rivers, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, says, to date, collections are about a third of normal are at this point in the season. “We’re doing more services with less a...

Downtown Haverhill springs to life tonight with holiday spirit as the Haverhill Hometown Holiday Celebration kicks of the season. The event, formerly known as the Christmas Stroll, runs between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. One of its volunteers, Melissa Seavey of Bethany Communities, gave an overview for WHAV listeners during an appearance on WHAV’s morning show. “It’s a little different from past strolls....

The Haverhill Lions Club is bringing back Breakfast with Santa after a three-year-hiatus. Past President Laurie Cantwell, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning show, said the breakfast has always been a popular event with kids and adults alike. “They love bringing their little ones, and having them have that breakfast and visit with Santa and, like I said, Mrs. Claus should be making an appearance. We...

With cooler weather coming—and energy costs on the rise—more homeowners are expected to seek home heating help this season. Community Action CEO Kerri Perry, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning show, wants to help. She encourages households—even those who think they are not eligible—to submit applications to the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, known as LIHEAT “There is certainly an eligibility...

This year’s fall open house at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School has a new twist. Sunday’s open house follows the usual course of showcasing the school to potential students and their families, but this time there will be a session discussing plans to renovate or build a new school. Superintendent Maureen Lynch, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, spoke about putting the bra...

Haverhill school officials are seeking larger space for the city’s Gateway Academy, a smaller alternative for those struggling at conventional middle and high schools. Superintendent Margaret Marotta told WHAV listeners last June the new Gateway School at Crowell School is limited to around 120 students, but she always expected it to grow. Appearing on WHAV’s morning show his week, she explained w...

Haverhill’s public health chief says consensus is building around updated COVID-19 vaccinations becoming as common as flu shots each year. During a recent interview on WHAV’s morning program, Haverhill Public Health Director Mary Connolly said yearly coronavirus inoculations would target various strains similar to formulas used in flu shots. “We were speaking with the state yesterday regarding tha...

The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is in Methuen this week and open to the public 24 hours a day starting Thursday Morning. The Wall That Heals also features a mobile Education Center, telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in American history. The exhibit is on display from Thursday, at 9 a.m., thro...

Essex County Ghost Project spokesman Tom Spitalere. Support the show

This weekend, military veterans may receive free peer support, suicide prevention counseling and other mental health help as the Warrior Support Task Force again sets up shop at Haverhill’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Services for area veterans will be made available Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial at Millbrook Park, 111 Mill St., near the entrance of P...

The aftermath of Haverhill poet John Greenleaf Whittier’s contributions to ending American slavery is the subject of “The Abolitionist’s Refrain,” to be performed Saturday, with the stage being Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill. “The Abolitionist’s Refrain” was created by playwright Michael Cormier, who recently appeared on WHAV’s morning program. “Most people don’t realize that he was an abolition...

Lowell-based Entrepreneurship for All, which is opening a Haverhill office, has already helped launch Haverhill startups. As only WHAV reported last week, the group plans to celebrate Thursday its receipt of a $242,779 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for its Haverhill satellite. State Rep. Andy X. Vargas, a former employee of EforAll, told WHAV he had a front row seat to ob...

Preparations are well underway in Methuen for the arrival of The Wall That Heals, honoring those that served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War. Methuen Veterans Services Officer Paul Jensen, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, says The Wall arrives Tuesday, Sept. 27, in Methuen. “The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Its 375...

Trauma relief programs for veterans and their spouses will benefit from a 24-hour fundraising Muck March next month. The event supports Mission 22, a nationwide nonprofit with a goal of helping and supporting, veterans and their families and raising awareness of veteran suicide. U.S. Air Force veteran Jim Taylor, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, said Recover Resiliency is the organization...

Haverhill’s Fifth Annual Restaurant Week will again be bookended by a sold-out, under the stars eating event and a capstone awards night. In between, more than a dozen local dining establishments are celebrating the year with appropriately priced $20.22 specials. The kickoff is L’Arche Boston North’s Longest Table Thursday, Aug. 18, on the Rep. Brian S. Dempsey Boardwalk. Haverhill Chamber Preside...

It’s show time for the John Greenleaf Whittier Drama Club in Haverhill. For the past several weeks about 35 students have been working on their theatrical skills and will debut their version of The Lion King Jr. tonight. Bobby Gariepy, drama coach and music teacher at John Greenleaf Whittier School, appeared live over 97.9 WHAV this past Monday. “We’re doing the Lion King Jr at Consentino Middle S...

New infrastructure, a dog park and public art are among the items on the Groveland town administrator’s agenda. Town Administrator Rebecca Oldham, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, talked about the Uptack Road Culvert Replacement Project, plans to bring in fiber connecting Groveland Town Hall with the Public Safety Building and Langley-Adams Library, a $25,000 grant from the Stanton Founda...

“Moments of Bravery,” a 50-photograph exhibit of local firefighters and first responders risking their lives to protect others, goes on display next week at the Haverhill Firefighting Museum. Taken by Mike Jarvis, the photographs feature firefighters and other first responders from Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, Amesbury, Merrimac, West Newbury, Newburyport, Newbury, Plaistow, N.H., and ot...

Learning the basics of how government works is a lesson that state Rep. Linda Dean Campbell wants to make sure is taught in the schools. Campbell, who represents Methuen and Haverhill and not running for re-election this fall, recently worked with Haverhill state Rep. Andy X. Vargas to advocate for support to further the state’s nearly four-year-old civics education requirement “It was fantastic b...

Interviews with both Haverhill Firefighters Local 1011 President Timothy Carroll and Mayor James J. Fiorentini may be heard back-to-back on WHAV’s “Merrimack Valley Newsmakers” podcasts.  Haverhill city councilors meet again tonight to decide whether to approve a city spending plan for the year that starts July 1. One of the sticking issues is fire department staffing levels. Both Mayor James J. F...

With the school year now complete, the old Pentucket Regional Middle/High School has been turned over to the construction management company for environmental abatement, then demolition. A new building replaces the Pentucket Regional Middle and High Schools. The School District Building Committee said the 66-year-old middle school and 55-year-old high school suffered from cracks in its foundation,...

Haverhill Public Schools are getting ready to close the current year, but planning ahead for summer school and expansion and improvements in the fall. The School District is expanding enrollment at its Gateway Alternative School next year and will holding a cookout this afternoon for parents, guardians and students to meet the staff and ask questions. School Superintendent Margaret Marotta, a gues...