Merrimack Valley Newsmakers

Those visiting downtown Haverhill have likely noticed an addition to many of the utility pole— banners honoring Haverhill Veterans. The Haverhill Exchange Club, with the help of Haverhill Veterans’ Services Officer Luis Santiago and the Haverhill Public Works Department, are installing banners honoring local Veterans. Santiago, a guest recently on WHAV’s morning program, says the original plan was...

The arrival of the coronavirus last year brought worries of deep cuts in state aid, but Haverhill state Rep. Andy X. Vargas said the recently approved House spending plan neither cuts services nor raises taxes. The nearly $48 billion budget proposal is possible, Vargas said, because of strong state revenue collections, increased federal reimbursement and by using the state’s rainy-day fund. Appear...

Merrimack Valley Hope Mission, a humanitarian project, is partnering with two local nonprofit organizations to again provide fishing trips for homeless and transitional veterans. The Fourth Annual Veterans’ Fishing Trip is being planned by the coalition, which now includes support from Common Ground Ministries, headed by Ron Mills, and 411 Cares, founded by Dee Jacobs O’Neil. They are notifying ve...

Haverhill is closer than ever to “bridging the digital divide” with a New Jersey-based developer of fiber optic networks backing its Haverhill plans with private investment. Haverhill City Councilor John A. Michitson, who has warned for the past five years that the city risks being left behind unless it can bring in affordable, high-speed data networks, says SiFi Networks has time-sensitive plans...

L’Arche Boston North is making plans to bring back the Longest Table in August, a kicking off the Greater Haverhill Chamber’s Restaurant Week with a boost for local eateries. Last year’s plans were scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the group that helps adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities is bringing it back with only minor changes. L’Arche Boston North Executive Director J...

Signs that life is not quite back to normal are the many nonprofit organizations at work on variations of their signature fundraising projects, while eyeing normalcy just ahead. Among them, the Haverhill Firefighting Museum’s Kentucky Derby Gala for 2021 is still a little different than previous years where people dressed up while enjoying a catered event and live entertainment. Cynthia Graham, a...

Haverhill students are taking their seats once again in public school classrooms. Kindergarten and first graders were the first, returning to in-person attendance Monday. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta tells WHAV listeners responses were overall positive. “Inside schools, everything went really smooth. The kids were adorable. I was in quite a few schools and the kids were happy t...

The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill is facing a fundraising challenge. Throughout the pandemic, the nonprofit has provided additional support for its members, including a full-day learning program, allowing teens and pre-teens to participate in remote learning instead of being isolated at home. To support these efforts, Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Javier Bristol is asking the p...

Local poet Karen M. Kline, discusses the latest efforts of The Valley of the Poets. Support the show

Problems receiving the COVID-19 vaccine have been well documented, and right now the focus is on individuals age 75 and older, but many military veterans qualify right now. Haverhill’s Veterans Service Officer Luis Santiago, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, said veterans may be able to get vaccinated sooner. “If you’re a veteran and you’d like to get the vaccination and you are 50 plus, t...

With the global pandemic entering a second year, it’s not just students having to cope with new school realities. Administrators are likewise finding themselves facing challenges such as the prospect of another unusual graduation day. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta, a guest recently on WHAV’s morning program, says with Haverhill High School’s graduation coming up in less than fou...

Despite changing state rules throughout the pandemic, Haverhill’s Community Action has been able to continue serving homeless and near-homeless residents with its Drop-In Center inside Haverhill’s Universalist Unitarian Church. Longtime Drop-in Center Director Pat Dennehy says the early days of the pandemic created great difficulties because of the then-state limitation of serving just 10 individu...

The new president and CEO of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce will be “Guest of Honor” at tomorrow’s Virtual Leads Lunch hosted by the organization. Irene Haley took over job last month. Speaking recently on WHAV’s morning program, Haley praised her predecessor Dougan Sherwood “Dougan did some excellent work with support, of course, of the board and I am very interested in keeping a lot o...

Monday marks the opening of the Haverhill veterans clinic’s new downtown Haverhill location. In the first of a two-phase plan, primary care associated with the VA Bedford Healthcare System’s Haverhill Community Based Outreach Clinic moves from Merrimack Street to the Medical Arts Center building at 209 Summer St. Chief of Public Affairs Kat Bailey says phase two comes later this year when addition...

The Merrimack Valley Planning Commission is looking at how COVID-19 is impacting businesses and internet usage. Nate Robertson, a planner with the Haverhill-based agency, is working with the Essex County Community Foundation. He says the pandemic has forced more businesses to rely on the internet, but some need added help. “We’ll be setting up our Small Business Technical Assistance Program over t...

Haverhill’s Ruth House is reminding residents that free new clothing is available for seniors and others in need. Recently, the Lafayette Square nonprofit began a streamlined clothing referral program, allowing persons to obtain help directly rather than having to go through a social service agency. With photo identification and proof of receiving assistance, residents may receive up to 10 article...

Scott Forbes has been named interim director of Haverhill-based Veterans Northeast Outreach Center. Forbes takes over from Executive Director Edward V. Mitchell. He is no stranger to the organization, as he explained in a recent appearance on WHAV’s morning program. “Five years ago I kind of lost my way in terms of being able to figure some things out and I came to VNOC for support and services, a...

The grade level reading program known as Haverhill Promise is promoting good school attendance habits as a means to bolster all forms of learning. Haverhill Promise Campaign Director Jenny Arndt, who recently appeared on WHAV’s morning show, said attending every day of school is critical. “Good attendance habits, and this is something we are trying to help parents of young children understand. The...

The year 2020 was a good one for a relatively new, independent, social service organization focused on helping Haverhill youth at risk. Leaving the Streets Ministry, founded by Chaplain Jesus Ruiz and his wife Wanda, is working to redirect young people in danger of becoming high school drop outs, or choosing a life of gangs and drugs that could lead to prison. “All we really want to do is serve th...

Affordable housing is one of Kerri Perry’s top priorities as she takes the helm of Haverhill’s venerable Community Action. Perry recently succeeded John Cuneo as chief executive officer of the anti-poverty agency. Perry, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, says the need for affordable housing is an issue that has been around for many years—and one that continues to outgrow the supply of publ...

Congresswoman Lori Trahan says she is looking beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, working to expand worker training opportunities. Trahan, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, discussed the National Apprenticeship Act she helped pass in the House. She calls it a framework to restart the economy. “The passage of this legislation will expand access to apprenticeships and will definitely aid in our ec...

With guidance urging people not to congregate this holiday season, the Haverhill Garden Club has found a socially distant way for people to enjoy each other’s creativity. The Club’s first “Holiday Doors of Haverhill” celebration encourages residents to decorate their front doors and then send in photographs for online sharing. Haverhill Garden Club member Kathy Fitts, a recent guest on WHAV’s morn...

With poverty rates climbing in Greater Haverhill, the Merrimack Valley Hope Mission is partnering with Community Action of Haverhill to put grocery gift cards in the hands of families that need help most. The Christmas project, says Merrimack Valley Hope Mission founder Joseph D’Amore involves collecting donations of $25 Market Basket gift cards from that are then distributed by Community Action....

For those that need health insurance in 2021 or already buy from the state’s marketplace for health and dental insurance, the open enrollment period is ending shortly. A recent guest on WHAV’s morning program was Audrey Morse-Gasteier, who serves as chief of policy and strategy for the Massachusetts Health Connector. She reports many people are looking to pick up, expand or replace coverage due to...

The holiday season brings out the best in people and organizations who are interested in helping others. Among the many groups in Haverhill is Common Ground Café and food pantry at 194 Winter St. Founder Ron Mills, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, says Common Grounds’ plan for Christmas is to provide homeless individuals a gift, along with a meal. The women will be getting a purse, while...