Merrimack Valley Newsmakers

Beginning in July the frequency of bus service between Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen and Lowell will increase during the week.Merrimack Valley Transit, or MeVA Administrator Noah S. Berger, a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast program,” said beginning Monday, July 7, the bus will run every 20 minutes. Currently, service is provided every 30 minutes to Methuen, Lawrence and Lowell from its hub in Washington Square, Haverhill. Berger said he is excited for the service improvement.“Frequency makes all the difference. You don't have to fumble through a schedule to figure out when the next bus is. You just literally go out to where the bus is and know that at the very worst you will have to wait 19 minutes, but most of time it will probably be five or 10 minutes,” Berger said.As reported by WHAV in December 2024, the increased service is made possible through at $1.2 million “connectivity” grant the transit authority received from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The bus, which originates as Route 1 in Haverhill, makes one more stop at Lowell and River Streets and then four stops in Methuen before arriving at the McGovern Transportation Center in Lawrence 45 minutes later. The bus then becomes Route 24 and proceeds to Lowell which takes about 40 minutes. It then makes the return trip.“What that does is tie the four gateway cities of Haverhill, Methuen, Lawrence and Lowell together with really robust service so we couldn't be more excited,” Berger added.Berger said Route 24 has the second highest ridership of all the routes in the system.Berger also said four new “low floor” 12-passenger vans will go into service this month as part of MeVa's on-demand service. The low floor design allows those who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters to roll right onto the van rather than having to negotiate steps. The design accommodates strollers as well. Five more vans will be added to the fleet in July allowing the transit authority to remove older vans from service. Then an additional six will arrive next year.Finally, Berger asked for the public's help in finding a new location for MeVa's bus hub. He pointed out Haverhill's hub in Washington Square has never worked well because the site is too small to accommodate buses and passengers comfortably.Berger said he is working with the city to find a location, and that two possibilities are Bailey Boulevard near the Haverhill Police Station and the Granite Street garage the transit authority already owns.“It's got to be a central location. It has got to have enough space for the buses and enough space to have that welcoming environment for passengers.” Berger said.Berger said that while there is no timeframe associated with the hub relocation, he believes with the various redevelopment projects going on in downtown Haverhill, the time is ripe for finding a better, more welcoming location for a new central bus depot.Support the show

If state Rep. Ryan M. Hamilton has his way four local groups will receive $375,000 in earmarked grants in the next state budget.Hamilton, whose district includes parts of Haverhill and Methuen, was a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast.” Hamilton told listeners he has been successful in adding money for Creative Haverhill, Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, Historic New England and Methuen's 300th birthday celebration.“I was able to secure four earmarks—one being for the Cogswell Art Center. It has been a recurring one for me and something I care about very much. Creative Haverhill is doing a great job when it comes to restoring Cogswell and its eventually going to turn it into one of the premier art installations in the Merrimack Valley if not the Commonwealth,” Hamilton said.If the funding holds, Creative Haverhill would get $50,000; Greater Haverhill Chamber, $25,000; and Historic New England $200,000. The Methuen Tricentennial Celebration would receive $50,000.Hamilton said the potential grant for Historic New England is significant as the nonprofit seeks to renovate its 151 Essex St.building into a tourist attraction for the region.“My friends at Historic New England who, as we know, are trying to pursue a project that is going to once again transform the downtown for the better and really connect the entirety of downtown together which I am extremely excited for.”Historic New England was also the recipient of the legislature's generosity during the last two years.Hamilton said the Methuen Birthday Celebration Committee is planning a series of large and small events beginning in December 2025 through June 2026. The celebration marks the anniversary of Methuen's separation from Haverhill and its incorporation on Dec. 8, 1725.The budgeting process now moves to the Senate for debate. Then, the House and Senate must reconcile their spending plans before a final budget proposal is sent to the governor.The new state budget would go into effect July 1.Support the show

Haverhill Public Schools would receive an additional $6 million in state aid if a House of Representative proposal to increase state support for schools makes it into the final state budget.State Rep. Andy X. Vargas, whose district encompasses a portion of Haverhill, was a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast.” He made note of the additional school spending proposal.“So, it's about a $6 million increase for Haverhill Public Schools in Chapter 70 funding. Now there is always more needed but a $6 million increase in this environment is certainly notable,” he said.The proposed funding is part of an initiative to raise the state's per pupil spending from $30 to $150.Vargas said the city would receive about $12.5 million in unrestricted funds in the House's fiscal plan. He said the House proposal also includes a $75,000 allocation for the Pinnacle co-working space, formerly the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, at Harbor Place on Merrimack St.; $25,000 to the Greater Haverhill Foundation for help; to manage the co-working space and $15,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill's new building.The budgeting process now moves to the Senate for debate. Then, the House and Senate will need to reconcile their fiscal plans before a final budget proposal is sent to the governor.The new state budget would go into effect July 1.Support the show

Essex County Habitat for Humanity, currently in the midst of one Haverhill homebuilding project, is moving on to another in the city's Mount Washington neighborhood.The nonprofit recently agreed to purchase a single-family home and property at 512 Washington St. for $650,000 and has the city's blessing to convert it into seven affordable housing units. Director of Charitable Giving Kevin Hudson made the revelation while a guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program.“We are currently raising funds to acquire property on Washington Street where we  plan to build seven new homes,” Hudson said, noting that in addition to the purchase price, Habitat must raise about $2 million to fund the renovation and construction.Hudson later explained the plan is to renovate the current house on the property, owned by Keith Boucher, to create three units and then build two duplex houses.Andrew K. Herlihy, division director for the city's Community Development Department, said the city has committed $149,173 from federal HOME Program funds to help Habitat with the purchase of the property.“It is a proposal we support in part because home ownership in the Mount Washington neighborhood, where this property is located, is the lowest in the city,” Herlihy said, adding that the project would most likely have to come before City Council for a special permit.Hudson said Habitat hopes to have the project funded by the fall of 2025 and that groundbreaking would then follow in 10 to 12 months.Habitat already has one duplex under construction at 41 Curtis St. in Haverhill. This Thursday, May 8, some 40 women—wielding hammers, screwdrivers and saws—will descend on the site for a Habitat Women Build event.“It started as an opportunity for women who wanted to volunteer and to be able to do so in an unintimidating environment with other women who don't have any or as much experience in construction and it has really grown from there across the country,” Hudson said.Among the women volunteering that day are a crew from the North Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in North Andover. The Curtis Street project is Habitat's fourth in Haverhill. The public is invited to view the progress of the Curtis Street house at a Hard Hat Tour and reception on Thursday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m.., Hudson said.A crew of women are also volunteering next week at a Habitat site in Hamilton where five duplexes are currently under construction. Habitat expects to break ground on a duplex in Ipswich and one in Wenham soon and is currently in the process of permittingSupport the show

The new 69-acre Sweet Paws Rescue pet sanctuary scheduled to open later this summer plans to offer space for abandoned dogs and cats to roam.But, Cynthia Sweet, founder and executive director of the local animal rescue group, says it won't change the focus of local animal rescue organization as a foster care group.“We are still going to be a foster organization. Dogs and cats do best when they are in people's homes. And we are not going to be a shelter. So, this is going to be a layover if you will,” she explained recently on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program.She discussed how the farm purchase will stabilize the organization, but not change its mission. As WHAV reported last month, Sweet Paws is in the midst of a $4.6 million campaign to purchase and equip a 69-acre farm in Bradford as it has outgrown its Groveland location.Sweet founded her animal rescue group in 2011 to help address the overpopulation of dogs and cats in two poor counties in Alabama and Mississippi. To date the group has placed some 22,000 animals in new “forever homes” in New England. Recently, though, the agency has seen an uptick in the number of animals surrendered locally.“There is a huge increase of local dogs and cats in need basically since the last few years. It's sort of a result of COVID. We went from 2019 to about 3% of our dogs were coming from Massachusetts. Not it is about 45% of our animals are coming from our own backyard.”Sweet said the farm will allow space and time for her 350 volunteers to get to know animals left for adoption. She said eventually her group is planning to open walking trails to the public.“Basically it will continue to be a space for our southern animals that are coming into the state. They have to be quarantined for 48 hours. And then it will also be a space for our local animals where we will be able to get them exercised and really get to know them. But it's really for growth. The other thing that's going to be great for Haverhill residents is that it will be 70 acres of preserved open space,” she said.Sweet also said she is in talks with the City of Haverhill to provide shelter space for animals picked up by the city's animal control unit.Support the show

To help local high school students imagine the wider world of opportunities after graduation, the Haverhill High School guidance department is hosting its first Post Secondary Expo next during school hours.Representatives from nine apprenticeship and trade programs, four branches of the military, six community-based workforce agencies and local unions will join 30 two- and four-year colleges to showcase their offerings. The expo is the brainchild of Megan Arivella, supervisor of school counseling K-12 for Haverhill Public Schools, and her team of high school counselors. Arivella, a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, explained why offering more options is important to today's high school students.“We're looking to shift the narrative a little bit from students who may choose a college or university for their future plans, but also provide other opportunities for students. So, the typical college fair that a school might host we wanted to think bigger and better beyond that,” she explained.Arivella said that while college remains a strong option for many graduating seniors, particularly with the new option of free tuition at community colleges and some state institutions, she said more and more young people are seeking alternatives. With that in mind, the Expo will be open to all grade levels, freshman through the senior class. Tables will be set up in the school's mall area and in the school library so students can walk through during their lunch hour and see what intrigues them.“We'll be showcasing a wide range of experiences. Workforce pathways, two- and four-year colleges, apprenticeships, trade programs, military service, even gap year experiences for students.”Among those taking part are the Haverhill Fire Department, Northern Essex Community College, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School's adult evening program, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Rutgers University, Rochester Institute of Technology, MakeIt Haverhill, City Year New Hampshire, New England Tractor Trailer School, Empire Beauty School and PetSmart.Arivella said the idea is to help students answer the question, “What excites them?” rather than just “Where are you going to college?”Haverhill High Schools' Post Secondary Expo takes place Tuesday, April 29Support the show

Two weeks after celebrating her successful finish of the 2018 Boston Marathon Kim Dahn was stricken with debilitating stomach pain, ongoing and acute discomfort not readily recognized by her doctors. It turns out she suffers from a rare genetic condition that caused her lower intestinal tract to compress and twist. The condition is called superior mesenteric artery syndrome.Even after over 60 trips to the emergency department and multiple surgeries, her long-term outlook looked bleak until she discovered the possible availability of an international expert. The person who regularly treats the condition through a complicated surgical procedure was expected to visit with another physician expert at a hospital in remote western Virginia for just three days in February. The problem for Kim was getting there and back again since the closest commercial airport was a 40-minute car ride in Roanoke, the weather along the northeast corridor was iffy and she knew she couldn't stand waiting in airport security lines, particularly post-surgery.Haverhill couple Kim and her husband David turned to Angel Flight NE, a charity headquartered at Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover, which matches volunteer pilots from across the country with patients in need of medical transport. The service is free.David Dahn was a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” show along with Jonathan Campbell of Angel Flight. The pair explained how the medical transport service was able to get Kim to her surgical appointment and, more importantly, home to complete her recovery in less than half the time of a commercial flight.“We could get there. The logistics weren't too bad getting down, but coming back after surgery was going to be very difficult because there a 40-minute drive when you are post-surgery, trauma and so forth. So, we would we have had to wait not only in the car but at the airport and we would have had go through security lines. There were layovers so what would have been a 10-hour flight we didn't think it was feasible,” Dahn said.Campbell, a retired air traffic controller who “knows how to talk to pilots,” said he has nearly 400 pilots, all instrument rated with over 500 hours of flying time prepared who have access to a variety of aircraft ready to volunteer their time and planes to provide transportation, often at very short notice. He wasn't put off when David Dahn inquired shortly before the trip was to take place.“It was a challenge because, as David touched upon, there were weather issues, there was a relatively short amount of time to arrange things but when he first contacted us we got onto the task at hand and sent our emailed to a lot of our pilots who have longer distance airplanes who can make this trip, hopefully with non-stop. We had a great response from our pilots,” Campbell said.Once the trip dates were set, Kim and David headed to Lawrence Municipal Airport. Pilots, though, are always in charge of trip details because safety is the first priority, Campbell said. Due to a winter storm front, David and Kim and their pilot ended up overnighting in a hotel in Philadelphia so their trip down to Virginia was longer than anticipated.Fortunately, the trip home was a breeze and also was arranged on short notice once Kim's doctors cleared her to leave the hospital following her successful surgery.Campbell said that in addition to his email list of volunteer pilots from around the country, Angel Flight also works with JetBlue and Cape Air when it makes sense to send a client on a commercial flight. He also noted patients must be in stable condition because Angel Flight doesn't provide nursing care. If someone makes an inquiring for a patient who needs medical monitoring, Campbell said he refers them to an air ambulance service.With travel arrangements in another's hand, Support the show

Parents traveling with children in strollers will be allowed to drive their children onto buses operated by MeVa Transit beginning Sunday, April 13, instead of having to break down and fold the unit, in a policy change meant to make the free transit option more attractive.Currently parents must take their child out of their stroller along with any belongings, fold the unit up and then carry the stroller, child and other items onto the bus, explained Noah Berger, MeVa's administrator, during a recent appearance on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. Then once aboard, the parents must stow the stroller under their seat.He said his agency's current policy is enough to discourage the most ardent supporter of public transportation who travels with small children.Just ask Betsaida Jarvis who is the inspiration for the change in policy and an employee of the Haverhill-based bus system. She is also the mother of a toddler.Jarvis found herself on the subway in Boston last summer when an announcement came over the public address system saying that passengers would have to disembark and take a bus because the system wasn't running as far as her stop due to a maintenance issue. She said she started to panic because she knew what was required for riders of her home MeVa system.After negotiating her way out of the subway station to the waiting bus, she tentatively inquired of the bus driver what she should do. He saw the stroller and asked what was the problem. It was in that moment she discovered open strollers are permitted on buses operated by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Because entrances are at street level to accommodate wheelchairs and others with mobility issues, parents with strollers can also come aboard without struggling.“You can bring it open and you can just park it in a designed area that they have and then it was like this is the best thing ever. That's when I spoke to Noah and said ‘We need to implement this in our system because it is just so much easier for mothers,'” she said.As in Boston, MeVa's fixed route buses have entrances designed at street level for easy access for everyone, Berger said. Because MeVa's smaller “on demand” buses have steps, strollers will still have to be folded for those using that option.“I think this is really important because this is us listening to our customers, making sure that we are as welcoming, as accommodating, as enjoyable experience as we possibly can.,” Berger said.Berger said there are some limitation and safety guidelines incorporated in the new policy. For instance, you can't sneak a dog onto a bus in a stroller nor can you bring a load of packages in a stroller and expect to be accommodated. Additionally, wheelchair riders will have priority since the strollers will be parked in the same spaces the open strollers will use, he said.“Once we see how this new policy goes, I'd like to look into expanding it for shopping carts, he said.To make sure the ride is safe for everyone, children will have to be secure in the stroller and won't be allowed to get out while the bus is moving, Berger said. Parents must put the brake on the stroller so it won't roll away.The policy took seven months to formulate because the agency's safety officer, Jessenia Fernandez, needed a chance to research what other systems do and to think through all the bad things that could happen, Berger said. He is confident the new policy will be popular and safe.Support the show

A planned freeze of payments toward previously approved federal programs was rescinded Wednesday by the White House Office of Management and Budget after public outcry.CongreA planned freeze of payments toward previously approved federal programs was rescinded Wednesday by the White House Office of Management and Budget after public outcry.Congresswoman Lori Trahan, appearing live Wednesday on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, was one official who criticized what would have been an abrupt halt in food, rent, energy and childcare assistance, among other programs.“It's a reckless, unprecedented power grab by Donald Trump. The consequences have already been swift and severe for the most vulnerable families in our country,” Trahan said in a live interview Wednesday morning.Before the freeze could take effect, Judge Loren L. AliKhan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered a halt until a hearing Monday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the court ruling Wednesday in announcing the White House would end the proposed freeze.“In light of the injunction, OMB has rescinded the memo to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage,” said. “The executive orders issued by the president on funding reviews remain in full force and effect and will be rigorously implemented by all agencies and departments. This action should effectively end the court case and allow the government to focus on enforcing the president's orders on controlling federal spending.”Trahan, however, told WHAV listeners, the freeze order “revealed the money they're going to come after.” Pointing to a grant Haverhill received to hire firefighters and staff a Bradford ladder truck, Trahan noted why local officials are concerned.“They're, of course, concerned about federal firefighter and police officer hiring programs. They've been awarded SAFER grant programs on their merits. They were delivered $4.1 million to hire 16 new firefighters and permanently staff a ladder truck at the Bradford Fire Station. That money is at risk.”The congresswoman said her office received calls came from new moms who “went into a panic” over how they would afford their groceries, parents worried about facing eviction if they lost rent assistance and state officials who, at first, couldn't access the Medicaid portal to draw down money for MassHealth. She said similar calls came from community health centers, Head Start programs, child care centers and those relying on home heating assistance, nursing home reimbursements and money for some teacher salaries. Trahan said the amounts represents $20 billion in the Massachusetts state budget alone.Trahan drew another local parallel—one that threatened the loss of Holy Family Hospitals in Methuen and Haverhill.“Medicaid is not a program that we can seek cuts to, especially when new consider how fragile the hospital infrastructure is in our state after Steward ripped off patients and left town.”She added the president does not have authority under the U.S. Constitution to make unilateral cuts of programs approved by Congress. Trahan suggested Trump needs the money to give the additional tax breaks to billionaires.Trahan plans a press conference Thursday at Greater Lawrence Community Action Council with Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña, Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, Methuen Mayor David P. “D.J.” Beauregard Jr., Greater Lawrence Community Action Council Executive Director and CEO Vilma Martinez-Dominguez, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center interim President and CEO Steven Paris and Community Action CEO Kerri Perry.Support the show

In concert with Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, the oldest black church in the Merrimack Valley this Saturday offers its third annual celebration of the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader.Haverhill's Calvary Baptist Church holds “Sounds of a Movement,” featuring music, history, services and the awarding of the Drum Major for Justice award to Dennis D. Everett Jr. Rev. Kenneth Young of Calvary Baptist Church, who recently appeared on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, says Everett is being honored for his work in prison reform, youth empowerment and restorative justice.“The award is someone who is doing either social justice work in the community or racial justice working in the community. Trying to uplift people living in the margins. We know that Dennis has work not only in Haverhill but in the Merrimack Valley for some time and we appreciate the work that he has done, and wanted to highlight the things that he's doing and make sure he knows that someone is appreciative of the work that he's doing.”Young notes the afternoon program involves singers Christina DeVaughn, who has a master's in opera performance from the Boston Conservatory, gospel singer Kylisha Farris and actress Remani Lazana.“One thing you're going to hear about is Mahalia Jackson—someone who not only he collaborated with, but she collaborated with him. When you hear ‘I have a dream,' speech she's the one you hear in the background who yells out to him ‘tell them about the dream,' and then he starts the repetition of ‘I have a dream today.' So, we want to highlight her in the songs they were singing and those who were participating, whether they were younger or were older. That's the theme for this year,” he adds.“Sounds of a Movement” takes place this Saturday, Jan. 18, opening at 2:30 p.m. and program at 3, at Calvary Baptist Church, at 13 Ashland St., Haverhill.An offering will take place with proceeds going to the Church's scholarship fund and outreach program.Support the show

It may be just the start of the new year, but for the thousands of people planning to run in the 2025 Boston Marathon in April, the season is already here.One of the Marathon participants will be Haverhill native Jillian Lemieux. For her, running the Marathon means more than finishing the 26.2-mile course, it's means raising money to help find a cure for cancer. Lemieux, a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program explained she ran cross country and track at Haverhill High School, but was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma just before graduation in 2016. Her coach, Mike Maguire, helped her through those times“When I was getting diagnosed, he was big support for me. I remember when it was right around this big meet that we were going to, it was a big exciting meet, but I had gotten a biopsy right before that, so basically, he allowed me to do whatever I could. He didn't push me. He said ‘I want you to be comfortable and be good.' He's just always been a support, and even during my treatments he would text me and wish me good luck for the next treatment. He even allowed me to run with the team on weeks that I felt good, which gave me such a sense of normalcy,” she said.Because of her illness, Lemieux delayed entering UMass Lowell, where she majored in psychology with a minor in public health. She now works in administration at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Lemieux's mother also had the same diagnosis when she was teenager in the 1980s. Her treatment was successful but, due to the limited medical knowledge at the time, her mother received too much radiation and eventually developed breast cancer, from which she passed away.“I was treated at Dana Farber for six months and I received chemo, and the care that I received there was really exceptional. My doctor went above and beyond just treating me. She really cared deeply about treating me as a person and me as a young adult. She took all of my own adolescent concerns about my hair falling out, and everything, it was as important to her as it was to me.”Lemieux is looking to raise $10,000 for her Boston Marathon run, and is slightly more than a quarter of the way to her goal, which also includes training for the race with the help of Maguire who has developed a program for her. It's a program that, on some days, would qualify for a half marathon, covering 13.1 miles.“I haven't signed up for a half (marathon) to do during my training but there are some training days where it is going to come out to a half marathon, so I guess I might as well sign up for one,” she says.And even though it has been eight years since high school, Lemieux still remembers her time for the mile—5:31.Lemieux will run the Boston Marathon April 21. Donations may be made online here.Support the show

Those looking for a different way to dispose of a Christmas tree, have some fun with goats and help the homeless at the same time, Goats to Go in Georgetown has a solution.As WHAV reported earlier, Goats to Go is collecting Christmas trees and making a party of it for the seventh year on Saturday, Jan. 11.Michelle Aulson of Goats to Go last week visited WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, and noted how goats and Christmas trees are good for each other.“So goats, especially if they are eating, they are staying warm. Think about fueling a fire. Their little bodies will stay warm if they have a warm place to eat. We give them free range hay all winter and minerals, but the Christmas trees, goats need excitement. They need something fun to do. They use as scratching, rubbing their fur, rubbing their horns on it and nibbling. They nibble on the greenery of the trees, and the greenery is actually a natural dewormer,” she explained.Aulson says the goats like Douglas Fir trees the best.There is a suggested donation of $20 per family or tree that will go to Emmaus, a Haverhill based charity helping adults and children transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency, while the tree goes to the goats.The goats actually have a pretty busy schedule.“It started back in 2017, with the small goats coming home for the summer, and we thought we'd like to do a class with the yoga teacher. Goats like to jump on things, so they jump on people during classes—babies only we use because they're small and they learn to jump right up there with some goat treats, just like a dog. We kind of train them a little bit. And, everyone loves it. The smiles on the goats' faces—oh wait, maybe that's the smile on the people's faces, a little bit of both. Goats actually like people who are smiling and that definitely rings true when you see the classes,” she explained.But, when it's time to work, Aulson says the goats and sheep at the farm, have their grazing specialties.“They do. I like to say goats like to jump up and eat things that are high off the ground. The goats have a little bit more fun with what they eat. Stonewalls are a specialty. They can get in hillsides where people can't really mow. Sheep, on the other hand, eat grasses mostly, but they will eat poison ivy if it's on the ground cover. Sheep won't eat off a tree, they won't eat brush and shrubs. They mostly will eat the ground. So, depending on that, they're really good with our solar field grazing, where they have panels that goats have a reputation of jumping up. That's why goat yoga is so good.”Aulson says their sheep and goats also enjoy working at the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill, as well as a number of backyards and cemeteries around the area.Goats to Go seventh annual Christmas tree drop off takes place Saturday, Jan. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Great Rock Farm, 201 Pond St., Georgetown. There is a reservation fee of $5 per car and suggested donation of $20 per family or tree cash or check. Venmo is available in advance. Checks may be made out to Emmaus. More information is available at GoatsToGo.farm.Support the show

State Sen. Bruce E. Tarr says there are many positives in the recently approved $4 billion economic development bill, but there's more ahead in January that will shape how the borrowing bill takes effect.Making an appearance on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, Tarr explains the next move is that of Gov. Maura T. Healey.“What I often say is that the legislature writes the menu and the governor decides what she wants to eat, so it's a two-step process.”Tarr, who serves as senate minority leader and whose district includes such area towns as Groveland, North Andover and West Newbury, also delivers a word of caution.“I would remind people that a lot of the money we passed in that bill is bond money, which means that the legislature passing the bill is the first step and the administration deciding which things to spend on is the second step. So, we'll be looking forward to working with the administration on that. Spending money is part of the equation but cutting costs is another part of the equation, and we'll be looking in the new year to once again make Massachusetts more competitive so that the investments we make from the bond bill are going into a more competitive and fertile environment for job growth and economic development.”Tarr recently took part in celebrating the 65th anniversary of Merrimack Valley Planning Commission and 50th anniversary of what has become Merrimack Valley Transit, or MeVa. He notes the Commission and state and federal governments have been working with the Merrimack River Watershed Council.“To improve the quality of the Merrimack River. Particularly in light of the untreated discharge of effluence from wastewater treatment plants up and down the river. While we've made a lot of progress, we still have a lot of distance to go before we get that water quality to where we want it to be reliably, every day, without the episodic influence of those untreated discharges.”Tarr served in the state House of Representatives from 1991-1995 before being elected to the state senate where he will be starting his 30th year in January. He's been the senate minority leader since 2011 and says he as seen many changes in the local news landscape.“You know, it's unfortunate that we're seeing a lot of local news outlets succumbing to the changes in the market. We don't see as many local newspapers, we don't see as many local radio stations and I, for one, think that's unfortunate because it is important to have a medium of communication that responds to local priorities. Win, I know you've been in the business a long time and I appreciate that you always prioritize that, and that's why I was so happy to come on this morning.”Support the show

The Haverhill Fire Department hockey team is preparing for this Saturday's charity game in support of veterans.Haverhill Deputy Fire Chief Gregory R. Roberts, a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, says the contest supports the Skate for 22 Foundation, which was founded to help veterans adjust to civilian life after getting out of the service“As you know, about 22 veterans take their lives per day. So, they started an organization back in 2017 to try to bring a lot of the veteran community together into that locker room facility where they had the teamwork and comradery they had while they were serving our country, and try to get everybody to talk,” he explains.Roberts says the hockey rink, game, and locker room itself prove to be a very helpful setting.“We're a different generation of veterans where we don't typically go to the VFW or the AmVets. We don't gather like that. So, this was a way to bring everybody together, have everybody vent and have their time together and that comradery that we are so used to.”Roberts spent 12 years in the Army before becoming a member of the Haverhill Fire Department. He says he has a lot of friends afflicted with post-traumatic stress and issues of that nature. He also mentions he didn't play hockey as a youth or in High School.“I picked it up with I was in my mid-40s, believe it or not. That organization, Skate for 22, I had heard about and I went out there and just started playing for them. We've been playing with them since 2017 and it's been going strong since then. The Haverhill Fire Department one is fairly new. It's probably about two or three years old.”And concerning the Haverhill Fire Department hockey team, Roberts says they have been organized to help.“What the Haverhill Fire Department club, as a charity, is we raise money and all that money we keep in Haverhill. We give, whether it's for the high school sports teams or some of the youth sports programs, to help offset some of the costs.”The game between the Haverhill Fire Department hockey team and the Skate For 22 Foundation is Saturday, Nov. 30, at 4 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Rink behind Haverhill High School, 137 Monument St. Donations of any amount are requested and a 50/50 raffle will also be conducted. There's more about Skate for 22 Foundation at skateforthe22.org.Support the show

Major milestones are taking place for Haverhill Public School students with integration of modular classrooms at John Greenleaf Whittier School and steel reaching its peak at the new Dr. Albert B. Consentino School.During an appearance this week on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, Superintendent Margaret Marotta paid special attention to the $160 million replacement Consentino project and $3 million temporary Whittier additions.“If people take a ride by the Consentino, the steel is up. It's looking like a building. It's pretty exciting, and the modulars are up over at Whittier, so we have a lot going on,” she explained.Marotta says a “beam signing” for the last piece of steel going up at Consentino School is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Nov. 22. Besides Whittier, on Concord Street, and Consentino, on Washington Street, the construction list also includes indoor tennis and pickleball courts at Haverhill High School. Marotta estimates both of those projects will be completed early next year.Championed by the School Committee last year, the modular units then under consideration were to bring six classrooms and two bathrooms to the school. Last December, the Massachusetts School Building Authority voted to invite the school into an eligibility period that involves a feasibility study and later steps to determine whether the school should be renovated or replaced and the amount of state reimbursement. The modular classrooms could then be used at any other school that would benefit from additional space.The superintendent also expressed pleasure with school sports programs as the season winds down.“Our girls soccer team was the Merrimack Valley Champion. We had three athletes from the volleyball team go all conference and three golfers, and our Cross-Country Coach Mike Maguire was named coach of the year for Merrimack Valley, and I don't think that's the first time for Mike either. He's a pretty darn good coach,” she said.Support the show

Haverhill has been home to a few major league baseball players, most recently Carlos Pena, and the late Mike Ryan, and there is another talented ball player in the wings. It's 8-year-old Mollie MacIntosh, a third grader at the Caleb Dustin Hunking School.Mollie was a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. As she explains, she won the regionals, in her age group, for Major League Baseball's Pitch, Hit and Run competition.“I had to hit the ball in the air, as far as I could. You get more points the further you hit the ball in the air. Then, you run as fast as you can, three times, your best score gets you more points for that. For pitching, there's a target. You hit a small circle you get 100 points, and if you hit around it you get 50 points. I got two 50s—it wasn't the best score I could do.”MacIntosh plays locally in the Cal Ripken League. She went to Fenway Park to compete and, because she won her age group, Mollie and her family are now in Los Angeles for the World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees, where there will be another competition with all of the other regional winners. Mollie is also competitive off the baseball field and is an avid Candlepin bowler.“My high single is a 123 game. I beat one of the 14-year-olds in the league. She hasn't even made it that high in the game,” she said.Support the show

The election season is in full swing at the Haverhill City Clerk's office even though final election day is two weeks away.Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright, a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, explained why the window for early voting seems longer than usual. In-person early voting started this past weekend.“In regular elections, like the September primary or maybe a municipal election, you would see one week of early voting, but the Vote Act that was passed by the legislature requires that for the November election you have two weeks of early voting.”For citizens requesting a mail-in ballot, Wright noted an important step voters must take.“When you're requesting a vote by mail ballot and filling it out, it's really important that you sign that manila ballot envelope. If it's unsigned, we are going to have to reject your ballot. So, your signature matters. Please sign that inner ballot envelope.Wright has also noticed some voters in requesting a mail-in ballot express confusion when they see the “State Election” label.“This is a state election because we're electing state representatives, members of Congress, things of that nature. But it is also a federal election where we have the president on the race. So, if you are feeling a little confused because it says State Election, please just look at the race in the upper left-hand corner, you'll see that it's the presidential race and know that you have the right ballot. Also, keep in mind that the ballot is two-sided with questions as well, so make sure once you fill out the first page that you are flipping over and completing the second page as well.”And when it comes to returning mail-in ballots, there are options.“If somebody is to hand deliver it to our office, or use our drop box, is has to be delivered by 8 p.m., Nov. 5. Alternatively, if it's mailed, it has to have a postmark of Nov. 5 and we can accept those for three days. So, if there is no postmark, we cannot accept it. It has to have a postmark of at least Nov. 5, then we can accept it for three days after the election,” she explained.Early voting continues today. Dates are Mondays through Wednesdays, Oct. 21, 22 and 23 and 28, 29 and 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours Thursdays, Oct. 24 and 31, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Wright also suggests voters become familiar with the ballot before voting. A sample is located on the Haverhill City Clerk's web page.Support the show

If there was any reason to doubt it, the upcoming Topsfield Fair is a sure sign of fall.America's oldest county fair, having started in 1818, opens Friday, Oct. 4, and runs through Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 14. Although he hasn't been around since the beginning, Bill Fitzgerald of Methuen's Mann Orchards is as knowledgeable as anyone about the longtime tradition.“I actually have my 50-year pin being involved with the Topsfield Fair. Started as quite a young guy, displaying apples and whatnot in the fruit and vegetable building.”Fitzgerald sits on the Topsfield Fair board of directors and previously served as its president. He was a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program and said Mann Orchards will again have a display, but he's also looking forward to some of the other attractions.“Well let me tell you, does it get any better than Three Dog Night and .38 Special, right in our own back yard? Honestly, and what we need is great weather those nights. And, then on Friday night that week, we have a couple of young ladies, Maddie and Tae. I think that will be an interesting show as well,” he explains.One of the highlights at the beginning of the fair is the Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off, Friday, Oct. 4, at 4 p.m. Fitzgerald says it is not uncommon to find pumpkins exceeding 2,000 pounds. “Now, with the summer we've had, hot dry weather, a little bit more of a challenge, I think, for these big pumpkin growers. It's going to be very interesting to see how they've put their minds together and what they're going to have for a big pumpkin this year. I think we might be surprised with what we see for a great big pumpkin.”Many days at the Fair have their own theme, including Monday, Oct. 7, which actually has two major features. “Senior Day and also, at the same time, we have what we call Sensory Day, and that is for people who like things a little bit quieter. A lot of the sound systems are turned way down, the lighting is dimmed a little bit, so people who like things a little bit calmer can come to the fair and enjoy that as well,” he points out.The Topsfield Fair is owned and operated by the Essex Agricultural Society, a nonprofit which states its purpose as “encouraging, promoting and preserving Essex County agricultural activities, and to educate the general public regarding their importance.” There is more at TopsfieldFair.org.Support the show

The banking business in Greater Haverhill has seen a many changes over the years and, similar to the person hawking programs at a sporting event, Haverhill Bank President and CEO Thomas L. Mortimer knows “you can't tell the players without a program.”Serving as a local banker for more than 40 years, Mortimer is the “go-to” historian for the local banking scene, you can't tell the banks without a seasoned veteran. He shared some of his memories recently with listeners of WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. He starts with Haverhill Bank, which will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in a couple of years.“Haverhill Bank was founded on Aug. 13, 1877 and the very first meeting was at the Good Templar's Hall at 53 Merrimack St., and, also at the very first meeting, the first loan was made to an F.S. McKenny for the sum of $400. Back then, when they used to make loans, they would discount the loans, so you would ask for a loan of $400 but you get $320, but you would have to pay back $400. Those are usury type interest rates that are not allowed today,” he explained.Mortimer quipped he has been involved with Haverhill's banking landscape “so long that he can give directions by referencing landmarks that no long exist.” He named some of the other financial institutions while speaking of the growth of Haverhill Bank.“Haverhill Bank in the 70s merged with Citizens Cooperative Bank. In 1982, they merged with Whittier Cooperative Bank. In 2008, they merged with Northeast Community Credit Union and then in 2012 they merged with Economy Cooperative Bank in Merrimac. And, all that today is Haverhill Bank.”Mortimer also explained that in the early days, bank presidents usually had other full-time jobs, considering the bank as a part-time position. They also took great pride in having modest working conditions.“I think at one time Haverhill Bank shared office space with Haverhill National Bank. Haverhill National Bank was where Bank of America is today, right at the corner of Merrimack and Emerson. And, then the Gleason Law Offices, that was Bay Bank Merrimack Valley on Merrimack Street right across from Haverhill Bank. Back in the 70s, I believe, the former CEO, chairman and president of Pentucket Bank, Ed Cote, was the president of Bay Bank Merrimack Valley. When they were consolidating Bay Bank, he became president and CEO of Pentucket Bank.”Mortimer's first job in Haverhill was in 1985, at Family Bank, formerly Haverhill Savings Bank and now TD Bank on Merrimack Street, across the street from where he works today.Support the show

Those who expect Haverhill's annual Restaurant Week this time of year are in for a treat if their taste buds can hold out.Up until now, Haverhill's Restaurant week immediately followed L'Arche Boston North's Longest Table event, which took place last week. During a recent appearance on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, Haverhill Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Alex Eberhardt says Haverhill restaurant operators says resident most need a treat in the winter.“So, it'll be in February, during the slower season, to really help boost attendance in restaurants during the winter months and really start showing how amazing it can be to go and eat special awesome warm food and drink delicious drinks in February when we aren't sure if there will be a blizzard or not,” she explains.Eberhardt says the exact start of Haverhill's Restaurant Week hasn't been decided, but the concept remains the same.“I tell people, please be as creative as possible, because having the same burger special that you typically have a few times a year, or every week, isn't as enticing as having something really whacky and fun, or just a really great special for that week, that entices people to come and try new things, because you want them to choose you even over the other restaurants,” she adds.Eberhardt says having Restaurant Week in February help keeps the attention on Haverhill's food scene, following a busy summer and fall season.Support the Show.

Greater Haverhill service clubs help a variety of organizations, individuals and causes, but one is paying particular attention to older residents taking on unexpected tasks and responsibilities.Judith Riopelle, president of the Breakfast Exchange Club of Greater Haverhill, recently told listeners of WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program about the club's work with grandparents who find themselves raising their grandchildren.“They're so used to having things a certain way, and now they have this young child with them. Not only do they have to take care of them, they have to feed them, they have to put clothes on them, and we know how kids can grow. So, it makes it more difficult for them. It's been a really great thing we've done to help them,” Riopelle says.She adds it's a situation that is often overlooked. “Especially one thing that is truly near and dear to my heart are the grandparents that have been tasked with raising their grandchildren. They need a lot of help sometimes, because we usually have children when we're younger. They are on a fixed income. We help them financially, we've sent kids to summer camp, we've bought school supplies.”Riopelle says the Breakfast Exchange Club also helps with buying grandparents gift cards that can be used for purchasing snacks for the youngers during school vacation in February and April. They also lend a helping hand in assisting the elderly in signing up for fuel assistance, and they help with veterans' support.“And the other thing, a new initiative that we've begun, is a thing called Happy Rides, where we provide taxi vouchers for folks to help get over the social isolation from the Covid crisis. They get these taxi vouchers to go do something fun, not a doctors appointment, not going to the hospital, but maybe going to the beauty salon to have their nails done, or to go shopping or to the library, and it's become very successful, and we're in the process of expanding that to the Groveland community as well.”The Breakfast Exchange Club of Greater Haverhill meets on the second and fourth Tuesday mornings at the Citizens Center on Welcome Street in Haverhill, and new members are welcomed. There is more on its website at becgh.org.Support the Show.

Haverhill police and schools and health representatives are among those joining Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett Tuesday for a free community dinner focused on available mental health resources.Mental wellness professionals will be available to answer questions about help and support available for adults, young adults, children and teen. YMCA Regional Executive Director Tracy Fuller told listeners of WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program how the event came about and what to expect.“Earlier this spring, the mayor had a community breakfast over at Somebody Cares to really look into identify pockets in neighborhoods of those that may need some support. So, she had identified and asked if the Y was willing to host, kind of, in the Acre neighborhood. We'd love to have people come and have some dinner. We've asked a few mental health professionals to come. Haverhill Public Schools will be there, Beth Israel Lahey Health will be there, NFI will be there, and a few others will be there as well.”Fuller said the free event takes place Tuesday, Aug. 13, starting at 5:30 p.m., at the YMCA, 81 Winter St., Haverhill.“I think it's one of the things we hear often at the Y, and we want to make sure we connect the constituents of Haverhill and the resources together and make sure for those that have questions and are looking for support can get them. This is the mayor's initiative. We are just happy to be a host for this and we're hoping lots of people come and take part and, if they have questions, feel like they can get some answers, and have a little dinner too.”Fuller says the YMCA will have a bouncy house and other activities for children, to allow adults time to get the mental wellness information they are seeking.Support the Show.

The new MassReconnect program, which encourages students 25 and up to complete their degrees for free, is credited with increasing community college enrollment. One local student taking part tells WHAV about how going back to school shattered some myths and gave him confidence.Thirty-nine-year-old Pedro Rentas is taking advantage of the program to attend Northern Essex Community College and was surprised to learn there are students older than him taking part.“Yes! I was happy about it. When I got to my first class, accounting, I was surprised. I wasn't expecting that, I was afraid of my age, and being around kids and teenagers, but not at all. It was pretty good. It was comfortable,” he says during a recent appearance on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program.A recent report on MassReconnect, introduced by Gov. Maura T. Healey's administration, shows enrollment by students ages 25 and older increased nearly 45%, and pushed overall enrollment up 8% during its first year, reversing a decade of decline.Rentas, who moved here from the Dominican Republic nine years ago years, says Northern Essex Community College makes it easy for people going back to school.“People like me, that are coming from different countries, maybe you need your high school diploma. They also have a system that they can get your diploma from your country. So, it's not excuse for you to not go back to school. They are doing everything, and helping in every way for people to come back to school, and be part of the community, and bring more to the community,” he explains.Rentas had some college experience in the Dominican Republic, but was not able to complete his degree. He says he wouldn't have gone back to college without the MassReconnect program.“The school is really good. Northern Essex Community College, and I know for a lot of people my age going back to school is a little bit scary, but not at all. They make you feel comfortable. The whole staff at Northern Essex is great.”Rentas made the Dean's List last semester and has one more to go before he earns his associate degree in Business. He's doing more than just taking classes. He's enjoying the complete college experience. He was elected to serve on the Student Government Association, assuming the marketing chair.“Right now we are taking classes. They're getting me ready. So, I'm going to be supporting the students with all the events—all programs they have. Sharing all the information on social media. Sharing pictures, sharing stories about all our students,” he notes.Support the Show.

Essex County Habitat for Humanity is at work developing a duplex with affordable three-bedroom units in Haverhill's Mount Washington neighborhood, but has hope for another local project as well.Habitat for Humanity's Director of Charitable Giving Kevin Hudson appeared Monday on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program to discuss plans for the 41-43 Curtis St., Haverhill site.“We will start excavation over the summer and get the foundation in and, once we do that, we'll start building the home and volunteers can help us frame,” he says.Both units, valued at $245,000 each, have approximately 1,200 square feet with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and a single-car garage. Those interested in getting one of the sets of keys must be first-time homebuyers, have a qualifying household income and be willing to contribute 240-360 hours of “sweat equity.” Applications are due by Friday, Aug. 16, at noon. There will be both an in-person and a remote information session for those interested and wish to learn about the Habitat Homebuyer program process. The in-person session takes place Thursday, July 18, 6 p.m., at Haverhill Public Library's Johnson Auditorium 99 Main St. A remote session takes place Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m., via Microsoft Teams. More information is available at essexcountyhabitat.org/applying.Hudson adds the search is on for more land in Haverhill.“We are currently looking at a couple of properties in the Mount Washington-area. Stay tuned. The site is secured for one of them, and we are just trying to figure out if it's monetarily feasible and if we can afford it.”Habitat for Humanity relies on donations. Stepping up for the Haverhill project is Reworld, formerly Covanta. Area Asset Manager Mark Van Weelden says, “The Essex County Habitat for Humanity has many home projects planned in and around Haverhill this year. These underfunded projects deliver positive results in our community and are most worthy of our participation and financial support. I encourage others to work alongside a future homeowner and to financially support these projects.”Hudson says volunteers are also critical for success. He credits students from Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School.“Absolutely, you have to be 16 to be on the job site and then you have to be over 18 to use any of the power tools, but we definitely welcome them. There's plenty of other stuff to do.”Hudson finds he doesn't have to start from the beginning when he talks about his organization.“I think the Habitat for Humanity name is well known. A lot of people associate it with (former U.S. President) Jimmy Carter. Our vision is that someday everyone will have a safe place to live. It had been around, but Jimmy Carter really put it front and center. He was a volunteer up until about two years ago.”Support the Show.

Clean River Project founder Rocky Morrison seeks to redouble his organization's efforts to keep the Merrimack River free of discarded mattresses, syringes, cars and mountains of trash.Appearing last week on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, Morrison says his group is the only one undertaking this kind of work below the water's surface and communities should help pay for it.“We started 20 years ago cleaning up the Merrimack River, back in Methuen, as a scavenger hunt and it grew into a nonprofit. Here we are 20 years later. We pull about 100 tons a year. We have 86 vehicles pulled from the Merrimack River so far—our goal is 100. We've been in Haverhill waterways for several years and we are hoping to get a contract back with the City of Haverhill,” he tells listeners.Morrison says the Clean River Project had a contract with Haverhill in the past, but was unable to reach a renewal agreement. Morrison points to a federal government settlement with pharmaceutical companies that gives communities a source of money to attack the job.“Lawrence, Haverhill and Lowell and the cities and towns that are receiving this opioid money settlement, and it's supposed to be going towards cleaning up the hypodermic needles, parts, stuff like that. I know Lawrence is using it to clean up the Merrimack River. Methuen is looking at it. Haverhill received over $400,000 for the past four years, combined. So, they could actually use some of this money to clean up the Merrimack River, and Haverhill really needs it.”Besides government grants, Morrison gets volunteer help from small civic groups as well as large corporations such as Watts Water Technologies of North Andover, 3M and Keurig Coffee. Morrison says Haverhill is at the receiving end of items put into the Merrimack from upriver. Longtime sponsor Reworld, formerly known as Covanta, recently pledged continuing support.“Rocky Morrison and his crew are relentless each year in their commitment to keep our Merrimack River watershed free from trash. We look forward in expanding our partnership and participation in the river clean ups each year,” said Reworld Area Asset Manager Mark Van Weelden.“Basically anything that comes out of Lawrence, like the Spicket River in Lawrence, they throw everything down there—tires, TVs, mattresses, and it washes to Haverhill. It goes onto the shoreline and sits there. We had the booms out there and were collecting all that. Then, we had the boat with the hydraulic arm that would grab the mattresses off the bottom. They weigh 1,000 pounds when they are on the bottom of the river. You have to have the right equipment, and that's what we are doing out here. We are putting the booms in and collecting the stuff,” Morrison says.There's more information about Clean River Project online at CleanRiverProject.org.Support the Show.

The Groveland Council on Aging's “EngAGEment Celebration and Symposium” this Saturday, features an address by Dr. Katharine Esty, author of “Eightysomethings,” workshops and connections to community resources.Groveland Council on Aging Director Alyssa Lee visited WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” show recently to welcome attendance at the free event and explain its purpose.“That is an opportunity to celebrate and promote community engagement and well being among older adults. It's an opportunity for the community to connect with local organizations as well as community members and just have general resources of the wealth of information that is around in our community to support our older adults in our community as well as care partners,” she said.Lee emphasizes the event is not just open to seniors and Groveland residents, but also to caregivers and those in surrounding communities.Esty talks about finding unexpected happiness in aging. Conversations and interactive workshops also center on aspects of aging, including community living, caregiver support, understanding Alzheimer's and dementia and exercise.The EngAGEment Celebration and Symposium takes place Saturday, June 29, from 10:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Pentucket Regional High School, 24 Main St., West Newbury. Lunch will be provided.After the event, Groveland's Council on Aging won't be slowing down this summer. Lee encourages everyone to read its newsletter online.“So in July and August, our newsletter comes out next month, which is on the town of Groveland website, there are lots of great trips, we have a van trip going out, we have lots of educational programs, including a transportation seminar where there's an opportunity to learn about all of the free, and paid for, services to make sure older adults can stay connected to their community.”Staying active is another important aspect to aging. She said there is a yoga program held outdoors on days when the weather is nice. There is also an exercise program that is a little more active, in addition to some social activities.“We do have cornhole and ping pong and we will have those as drop in opportunities starting in July, I think 11 a.m. to  1 p.m.”Before becoming Groveland's Council on Aging Director, Lee was involved on the arts. “Before that my professional career was focused on arts administration in the classical arts world. I had spent my career in Boston, most recently as executive director of Project Step, located in Symphony Hall, which was an amazing experience. Also, there is a big overlap between the classical music constituents and older adults, and I'm really glad to be where I am now.”Those interested in attending Saturday's EngAGEment Celebration and Symposium are advised to register by calling 978-372-1101 or visiting here.Support the Show.

School graduation season offers a time for reflection, planning and often some heartwarming stories, but it was considerably more for 82-year-old Jean Spurr of Groveland.Spurr was awarded an honorary diploma June 1 from Georgetown High School where she was a member of the class of 1959 at graduation ceremonies on Saturday morning. She recently told WHAV listeners the unusual and heartfelt experience of how she came to finally don cap and gown and participate in high school graduation.Spurr and her companion, Steven D. Sardella of Haverhill, were guests on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. Earlier this year, Sardella had an idea about a special birthday gift for Spurr. He asked the Georgetown School Committee to grant her an honorary diploma based on her life experience. The School Committee unanimously agreed and everything fell into place.“They gave me a cap and gown and a flower. The superintendent, everyone, was just so nice to me there. They treated me with so much respect. They were just awesome,” she said. “(The ceremony was) in back at the Perley High School—the Perley Elementary now, but it was the Perley High School where I went to school.”Spurr explained how she had an excellent attendance record, but fell just a few credits short of graduating. Instead of attending an extra year of school, as was the case back then, she married and moved to Groveland where she raised a family, waitressed for 30 years and eventually came to own the Groveland Square Diner. She also drove a school bus for nearly 20 years, worked for the Groveland Highway Department and currently volunteers at the town clerk's office.Spurr earlier considered attempts at earning her diploma earlier. “I had all my books for the GED, and I tried at different times during my years to try it. For some reason, I just couldn't do it. I couldn't do it!”She said the diploma will have a special spot in her home.“Yes I do, I have it home. I'm going to put it right in my living room where everybody can see it and I can look at it every day. It's beautiful. I can't describe how I feel! It's just mind boggling to me how nice everyone was. My family was there. I'm very grateful.”Spurr was joined by family as School Committee Chairman Michael Hinchliffe presented her with a diploma during this year's Georgetown graduation ceremonies. Spurr strode across the stage to accept her diploma, share hugs with School Committee members and administrators and briefly thanked all those in attendance.“Jean your journey is one of unwavering spirit and love for your community. You have served with grace, faced life's challenges head on, and now you come before us a graduate,” Hinchliffe said in remarks during the ceremony. “This diploma is a symbol of your life long journey of learning and service.”Support the Show.

When it comes to reaching out with a helping hand, a Haverhill church is reaching out halfway across the world to help orphaned children.West Church is sending 15 people today on a mission trip to Moldova, a small country sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine. Leading the group is church Director of Outreach Mark Cottrell. Speaking recently on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, he explains how the 767 Broadway church became involved.“For a number of years we've supported a ministry in Moldova, a gentleman named Oleg Reutki—he's a pastor over there—and he runs a number of orphanages. They call them transition homes, mostly young girls being ministered to them.”Cottrell adds Oleg runs an organization called New Hope Eurasia. “He has invited us to come over and serve in the orphanages. We'll actually be staying right in the transition homes. We'll be bringing all sorts of different supplies. We'll be bringing clothing and shoes, and all sorts of needed things that he would like to have us bring to the orphans. We will be running a Bible school for them in two different locations.”Cottrell also says the West Church group will be doing some outreach, and serving Ukrainian refugees in the country. When asked about the safety of making the trip to Moldova, Cottrell had these words.“We're warned, but we are relying on our host Oleg to know the lay of the land and, if anything was bad, I trust him to say ‘please don't come.' But, there have been rumors and rumors of war for Moldova since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine two years ago, and really the news hasn't changed too much.”To help with the trip, Cottrell says they received a generous donation from Reworld, formally known as Covanta. Reworld Haverhill's Area Asset Manager Mark Van Weelden told WHAV the company is “pleased to be able to support the activities of these dedicated volunteers.  Hopefully, the kids impacted by these acts of kindness can see a world reimagined.”West Church also received help with supplies, including from a dentist who donated 200 toothbrushes and toothpaste. West Church normally runs missions every year, mostly to Latin America for construction projects, but the trip to Moldova, working with orphans and refugees, is bringing in people who wouldn't normally make a missionary trip.Support the Show.

If you are looking to show off your creativity in the kitchen, you may be interested in using a “secret weapon” to make it easier.This Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Carolyn's Farm Kitchen hosts an open house at the new storefront location. Owner Carolyn Grieco was a guest this past Wednesday on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, where she announced she will be opening a location at 800 Broadway in Haverhill.“A lot of my customers know me for baking at the market, as well as the products, but it is not a bakery. I used to own a bakery many years ago in Middleton. It was great, we ended up selling it. It was a lot. I was at a point where either I had to move into a larger space and grow, and at that time we decided to sell it. That was probably 25 years ago we sold it. So, as I get a little bit older, being in the food business beats you up physically, for sure, and I'm finding that. I feel that this next phase is really sustainable for myself,” she explains.Over the years, Carolyn's Farm Kitchen has been a mainstay at the Haverhill Farmer's Market and other markets in the area. Though she is known for her baked goods, Grieco says her passion is making the mixes that make it easier for people to make their own baked goods.“These are all original tried and true recipes I've developed over the years, over my career. I went to culinary school well over 30 years ago. These are all my babies! They are all original recipes, all tried and true, and I really designed them for simplicity. My tag line, if I had one, would be ‘simple seasonal scratch baking' and that's it. They are meant to be simple, one bowl assembly. You add a few additional ingredients, especially local farm fruit you can get at the farmers market or one of the local farms here in Haverhill, and they are package to oven in five minutes.”There's more at CarolynsFarmKitchen.com and on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.Support the Show.

The next time you have a chance to hear someone play the piano, just remember that instrument had its beginnings years earlier in a factory that could put it all together, piece by piece. It comes as a surprise to many people that such a place exists in Haverhill—the Mason & Hamlin Piano Co.The company's creative director, Nathan Mabanglo-Burgett, whose family owns the on Duncan Street business, was a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program“Yeah, we are kind of a hidden gem in Haverhill—not many people know that there is a piano factory located in Haverhill. We started in 1854 in Boston, Massachusetts, had a couple of different homes, but in 1980 we relocated to Haverhill, Massachusetts.”When it comes to making a piano, he says many steps must be taken.“One part is woodworking. Other parts are you need to be able to make a plate, you need people to press a lot of different parts of the piano into different forms. There's a lot that goes into the piano making process, and it takes over one year to make one piano,” he explains.And then to make it look as good as it sounds“We do all the finishing in Haverhill. We have a whole floor dedicated to polishing, spraying, sanding the finishes”Inside the piano are the strings, that Mabanglo-Burgett says are purchased from the Mapes Piano String Company in Elizabethton, Tenn. To make those strings “sing” they are struck by a hammer, covered with felt.It's quite interesting. They take a long roll of felt and they need to condense down to the size of those inch, or two inch, hammers that strike the strings, and that really controls the tone of the piano, in many ways. We don't make them in Haverhill. There are many specialties, that one, I forget the exact name of the company, but we have a specialty blend, a special recipe for our hammers. A lot of R & D went into making them, a special order just for making Hamlin pianos.”And talking about research and development, Mason & Hamlin Pianos are created first in the mind of a designer.“There aren't many piano designers left in the world but our piano designer has been with the company for over 40 years. His name is Bruce Clark. He's very skilled and he really understood what Mason Hamlin pianos were in the 1920s and took all of those features and started incorporating into every single piano we have.”With the amount of thought, time and craftsmanship going into each piano, Mabanglo-Burgett says pricing can vary widely.“Usually pianos are kind of broken into three different categories. One is more in the beginner area, that might be around $10,000-$20,000; then you kind of a mid-grade between $20,000 and$60,000; and then you have the premier pianos of the world, and that ranges from $80,000 to $200,000 depending on the piano maker. Our pianos range in that premier piano area.”Mabanglo-Burgett says tours of the Mason & Hamlin Piano Company on Duncan Street in Haverhill are available, and information may be found at MasonHamlin.com.Support the Show.

A blend of historic firefighting equipment and the love of horses, comes together this Saturday at the Haverhill Firefighting Museum.Local author Jean MacDougall-Tattan, a former member of the museum's board of directors, will be reading aloud and signing copies of her new book “Biz's Journey Home,” a story she says is for people who love horses and wonder what they are saying. MacDougall-Tattan was a recent guest on WHAV's Win for Breakfast program, and says it took a time to find a publisher.“When the book was first written, and rejected so many times by publishers, it was all written from the horses' perspective, to give people an understanding of how horses might think about us and the way we treat them. Back in those days, which was about 19 years ago, I couldn't get any publishers who wanted talking horses in a book,” she explains.MacDougall-Tattan says the story revolves around a real-life situation.“I was a horse massage therapist, and I would be in and out of barns massaging horses. I just started to notice that people were not treating their horses as kindly as I do, treating them more like they were possessions than they were living creatures. That kind of goes against the grain of me. So, the novel, it's fiction, but then there are some real life events that are woven into it.”She said she was saved by a horse that she, herself, saved.“When we took our horse in, he was about 15 years old, and he wasn't in the best of shape. He was under weight. He was completely unfit. It didn't seem like he had anybody in his life for a very long time. So, we took him into our home and made him a part of our family, and he protected me.”MacDougall-Tattan's book, “Biz's Journey Home,” was originally around 100 pages. However, after working with the publisher, All Things That Matter press in Maine, the book grew to over 500 pages. It is being turned into a trilogy with the second book to be released this fall.The book will be available, Saturday, June 1, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at the Haverhill Firefighting Museum, 75 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill, for $17 with 20% of the proceeds going to the museum.Support the Show.

For those who love a good mystery, the Langley-Adams Library in Groveland is co-hosting a Mystery Book Con this Saturday.The library will be joined by Kensington Publishing, an independent, family-owned book publisher based in New York City that is celebrating its' 50th anniversary. Langley Adams Senior Library Assistant Lauren Towler, a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, said Kensington Publishing features a number of mystery writers, but “They do other things as well. We've hosted their non-fiction authors and even some of the people coming here. One of the authors is a toxicologist; she teaches at Tufts. One of them is a neurologist, so it's not necessarily who would think of writing mysteries.”The Mystery Book Con is a free event, but “swag bags” are limited. She said the day's events are well planned and cover all types of mysteries.“There is going to be a meet and greet with the authors, initially, and then we have a Thriller panel. We have a Cozy panel and we have a Wicked authors panel and then an Art of Cozy panel. There are different authors participating in each one, and you can do any, or all—it's the same registration. We are asking people to register just so we have an idea of who is coming in, so we can get the right number of swag bags packaged up.”Mystery writers are coming from near and far.“Several of the authors are local. Vincent Donovan is going to moderate one of the panels even though he is not a Kensington author, so he will be there as well. But, we've already hosted a lot of these people, some in person but mostly through Zoom. We have Terri Parlato who is coming from Georgia. We have a couple of people coming from Canada, Michael Falco, who I think we hosted last month, is coming from New York, so we have people coming from a distance,” Towler said.The Mystery Book Con takes place Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the library and next door at the Groveland Town Hall, at 185 Main St., Groveland. The event includes breaks between panel discussions when raffle prizes will be drawn. The Fat Belly Food Truck will be available for people looking to buy lunch, and the Jabberwocky Bookshop, of Newburyport, will be on location, selling copies of the authors' books. To register for the free Mystery Book Con at the Langley Adams Library in Groveland you may visit the LangleyAdamsLib.org and click on the calendar of events.Support the Show.

Groveland voters go to the polls Monday to choose two candidates from a field of five for Groveland's Board of Selectmen.Edward H. Watson is seeking re-election to one of two available seats. Daniel MacDonald holds the other seat, but does not appear on the ballot. Challengers are, in ballot order, Steven F. Baker, Rebecca Megan Beaucher, William F. Dunn, Adam J. Haywood and William G. O'Neil.All but Dunn talked live during WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program and their interviews are available on the “Merrimack Valley Newsmakers” podcast. Other town posts either have no candidates and subject to write-in votes or are uncontested. There are also two ballot questions. The first asks Should the town have its elected Board of Assessors become an appointed Board of Assessors? The second asks Should the town repeal its acceptance of the Community Preservation Act—as approved in a vote May 3, 2004—and no longer collect a surcharge imposed upon real estate within the town to be placed in a Community Preservation Fund.Support the Show.

The sky is still dark when Larry Corcoran, a bus driver for Merrimack Valley Transit, starts his route outbound from Haverhill at six a.m. For the few who ride this early in the morning, the transportation is essential.When MeVa leaders went before state lawmakers to request more money early this month, Chief Communications Officer Niorka Mendez said, for some of the people they serve, “This is the only way to get to food access, to get to medical care—even in the social aspect of visiting friends. On the bus, as a bus driver, I used to talk to them, and maybe we are the only people they talk to during the whole day. They don't have a family member to talk to or vent [to].”Corcoran, the most senior MeVa driver, said his job requires multitasking. He has to be “an expert motor vehicle operator, and also a personality. Truck drivers wouldn't have to deal with passengers. They would just drive the truck, and maybe they'd listen to a radio and just concentrate on the controls of the truck.”“Everybody on legs and everybody on wheels around you, you have to know where they are, what they're going to do, and you have to be prepared to just deal with it, avoid a collision,” he added.Jonathan Kay, a machinist, said he takes the bus to work every day.He said, “I've always relied on the bus for transportation. I don't have a vehicle, so it's the best way to get around. It being free is an amazing help. If you have the time, you can get from Lawrence to Salisbury beach.”On the podcast, hear more of Staff Writer Jacob Posner's conversations with Corcoran and the people who rely on buses like his.Support the show

When it comes to making an impact in the world of music, it often takes a lot of time to become an “overnight” success, and success knows no zip code. But, when you love to play, you play!Haverhill native Brian McGravey has released his new album “Feather in the Wind.” McGravey was a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. McGravey has been playing in bands and composing music for the past 20 years—some of his work is in the form of production music that can be heard on dozens of TV channels including HBO, Nickelodeon and the History Channel.“It's really kind of a dream come true, and it's usually not that I go and listen, or I just hear it randomly, ‘cause I usually don't know ahead of time when it's going to be used, or where, but I use the website called TuneSat, and basically it will detect any music that's used. I can later go in and watch the episodes, so I found out. I'm on some Netflix things. I could go through the big list of it, but it's quite a big list,” he says.McGravey has been playing the piano since he was 10 years old when he strung together a few notes from “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” before taking lessons and eventually majoring in music at college.“I studied music business at UMass Lowell—great, great school. I learned all kinds of stuff about classical music, jazz and music theory and did a lot of writing, a lot of ensembles, jazz, big bands, orchestras.”McGravey found himself as a busy musician while he was in high school, but was able to make a few school events.“My senior year was the only time I could fit it into my schedule, but I was in the jazz band and we kind of combined with the concert band that year, part of both of those. I was always doing the talent shows every year. Funny story, my old band Paradox, two times during talent shows, I was a bass guitar player. I wasn't even a piano player of that band. You know how back in the days those old classic rock things like Jimi Hendrix smashes his guitar. So, two different times in my high school talent shows I smashed my bass guitar. That's a little bit of a claim to fame there.”McGravey isn't smashing bass guitars these days. He's a member of two busy bands and writing music. Hear the music at BrianMcGraveyMusic.com.Support the show

In a wide-ranging interview with WHAV this week, Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett took listeners behind the scenes on recent moves affecting the futures of both the “big” and “little” Whittier schools.Barrett, in her fourth month working out of the corner office at City Hall, took some time Wednesday to appear on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. The mayor said she spoke with Gov. Maura T. Healey recently as plans took shape to explore a shared campus for Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community College.“So, the idea would be to build a Whittier Vo-Tech and align it with NECCO so they could capture some different dollars rather than just the 11 communities relying on (Massachusetts School Building Authority) and their own tax levy capacities. This would open up even more grant opportunities, some federal funding, take advantage of job training monies that might be out there from both the state and federal government to try to reduce the cost to the communities and produce a school that will produce workers for the future,” she said.During January's vote of Whittier Tech communities, only Haverhill supported plans for a $445 million replacement school.As WHAV reported first, Barrett recently met with other communities and made clear the city's opposition to reopening the 1967 Whittier Tech agreement.“I don't know the motivation behind the other communities as far as how they feel. We had a meeting last week with all 11 communities and many of them want to open up the charter and basically shift the cost burden to Haverhill more than it already is. I told them I would not approve opening the charter due to that fact.  I won't vote for that. When I did tell them that, one of the town managers from a different community said ‘Of course you wouldn't. If I were in your shoes I wouldn't either.'”The mayor also related the backstory about how the John C. Tilton School came to be considered as part of the replacement of the John Greenleaf Whittier School on Concord Street.“When they came to tour, I guess last year at some point, they toured the J. G. Whittier and they also looked at the Tilton. Initially, we only put in for the J. G. Whittier, and they let us know that if we wanted to consider a combined school, similar to what (Caleb Dustin) Hunking is, that we would have to put in a statement of interest for Tilton also, so that they could, in their concept, consider doing a combined school. Without our application for Tilton, they would not have considered it,” Barrett explained.She said the J.G. Whittier middle school application has already been accepted by the state, but she doesn't have a timeline for the Tilton application.The mayor also previewed a lead hazard reduction grant the city received which she called, a “whopper.” It will, in part, benefit families in older housing.Support the show

From firefighters to fresh lettuce, Congresswoman Lori Trahan discussed local advances made possible with federal dollars on the 50th anniversary of Community Development Block Grants.During a visit Wednesday to WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, she told listeners she is impressed with how the YMCA used CDBG funds to help with its Freight Farm project, saying it's helping young students develop unexpected skills at school.“Highly interactive, experiential learning, biology, chemistry and business all in real time, and it's just great to see this program getting support from private sector partners like Beth Israel Lahey and the city in the form of nearly $33,000 in funding from the city's Community Development Block Grant award,”  she said.Trahan says she is a big fan of Community Development Block Grants, because of their flexibility.“So, it is a vehicle for federal funds to make their way directly to cities and towns. They don't go through the state, so they can use those funds on local initiatives, local projects. They can help nonprofits with capacity building. It's true that a city and town is closest to where the gaps are.”To emphasize her point, Trahan says cities and towns can make better decisions on how to dispense the money to address local needs. “Obviously a project like the Y's Freight Farm, providing students with such a cool interactive learning experience is just a great example of those funds at work.”Trahan told listeners she was given some lettuce and kale from the Freight Farm to take home to her family.As WHAV previously reported, Trahan is the Northern Essex Community College commencement speaker Saturday, May 18.“It's always an honor to go to speak to graduates as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. For me, it's so motivating and energizing to see the future of our country kind of move onto the workforce with all their aspirations,” she said.Support the show

Small business owners from around Massachusetts are making plans to attend the annual National Small Business Week Awards ceremony, which is coming this year to the Merrimack Valley.This year, Merrimack Valley Chamber member Stephanie Vanderbilt, owner of Coastal Windows and Exteriors in Beverly will receive the Massachusetts Small Business Person of the Year award, earning her an invitation to the White House with other winners from around the country. The awards breakfast is being hosted by the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Vice President Michael Bevilacqua spelled out the details this week on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program.“There will be businesses coming in from all across Massachusetts. We have the Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao will be attending as well. We'll also have people from Washington, from the White House, from the Presidents' Cabinet, will be at this program as well,” he said.Bevilacqua says the “Washington connection” is Marlene Cintron, appointed by the White House to be regional administrator, overseeing U.S. Small Business Administration programs in the Atlantic Region, and also currently serving as acting administrator for programs in New England. Representing the Massachusetts Small Business Administration will be District Director Robert Nelson.The breakfast takes place Friday, May 10, from 8 to 11 a.m., at DoubleTree by Hilton, 123 Old River Road, in Andover. Tickets are $45 per person, $450 per table, and may be purchased by calling the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce at 978-686-0900 or online at merrimackvalleychamber.comThe entire interview may be heard on WHAV's Merrimack Valley Newsmakers podcasts on WHAV.net and also available via Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeart, Google Podcasts, TuneIn and Alexa.Support the show

Federal and state tax returns are due in a little more than a month, and for people with retirement accounts, such as a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA, it also means a deadline is approaching for making contributions that count for the 2023 tax year.It also means, for some, a deadline to start taking money out. The heads up comes from Haverhill Bank Assistant Vice President and Mortgage Officer and Originator Sherry L. Temple Pruyn, who stopped by WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. She spoke about people with a traditional Individual Retirement Account. The traditional IRA is funded with pre-tax money, unlike the Roth IRA which is funded with money already taxed, and the federal government requires taking distributions by a certain age.“Essentially the deadline to take your first required minimum distribution, which is often known as an RMD, is usually April 1 of the year after you turn 73, and then Dec. 31 each year after that, your RMD for the account balance as of the end of that prior calendar year. It is a big deal because if you don't do this the IRS does penalize you, and the penalty is steep, it's 25% of your balance,” she explains.Individuals have until the tax deadline to make contributions to their IRA. For people under the age of 50, they can contribute up to $6,500 and for people 50 years of age and older, the amount is $7,500.“I always advise people to either go to the IRS website, IRS.gov, take a look at the calculator to see how much they need to take for their minimum distribution. Reach out to a financial advisor because these are personal decisions based on your own balances in your 401Ks. You can't just do carte blanche, okay I'm only going to do ‘X.' You really do have to take in consideration the calculator based on how much money you do have,” Pruyn says.This year, the deadline for filing 2023 taxes in Massachusetts is Wednesday, April 17 because April 15 is observed as Patriots Day in Massachusetts and April 16 is observed as Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C.Support the show

The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for its 26th annual Winning Opportunities for Women conference in April.Chamber President and CEO Alex Eberhardt said the conference—called WOW, for short—is expected to draw more than 200 people and feature speakers discussing professional and personal development. Speaking on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast,” Eberhardt said this year's venue takes place at a woman-owned business in Lawrence.“This year it is at a new event space, owned by Wendy Estrella out of Lawrence, called The Vault. If you have not seen it yet, it is breathtaking. It's a breathtaking new event space. It is beautiful, and we are very, very excited to host WOW there this year.”The Vault is located in the former Bay State Merchants National Bank, built in 1927.Eberhardt gave a preview of topics to be covered by the speakers. “I've got an international businesswoman from a Fortune 500 Company here in America, but also down in Mexico City. I've got a DISC-certified trainer who is going to be talking about personalities and communication, and how to build these really amazing teams, for those of us who work in the professional development, education space. DISC is a really awesome way in order to understand yourself, so that way you can connect, with no problem, in working relationships with others. I'm so excited,” she says.Eberhardt says speakers include Ilhianna Rojas-Saldana of BeLIVE Coaching and Consulting and Michelle Saunders, a certified trainer in the Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance assessment, which is a global professional personality development program. Eberhardt says other speakers are expected to be added to the roster.The 26th annual Winning Opportunities for Women conference takes place Tuesday, April 26, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at The Vault, 238 Essex St., Lawrence. Early bird tickets are $179, and will increase to $199 per person as the conference nears. Admission includes a continental breakfast and full lunch. Questions, including those about sponsoring the event, may be directed to Eberhardt by calling 248-881-0487 or emailing president@GreaterHaverhillChamber.com.Support the show

Pentucket Bank closes its main branch today and opens a temporary downtown office as well as a revamped Riverside branch—all in preparation for a $160 million downtown Haverhill redevelopment.The long-considered plans, first reported by WHAV more than two years ago and confirmed last year, are now taking shape following developer Salvatore N. Lupoli's closing on city and bank land. The mixed-use housing and retail project covers White's Corner through the entirety of what is known as the Herbert H. Goecke Jr. Memorial Parking Deck. Pentucket Bank CEO Jonathan H. Dowst and President Eric G. Leuteritz detailed the plans Monday morning for WHAV listeners.“We've been planning our stadium branch renovation for quite some time. It was a little bit delay in construction but it will be opening this week. Related to that, really choreographed, we will also be also be closing our Merrimack Street, Main Street branch at One Merrimack Street and opening a temporary branch across the street at HC Media,” Dowst explained.Dowst and Leuteritz appeared live on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. While there will be a full-service branch nearby with the reopening of the Pentucket Bank branch on Lincoln Avenue, Leuteritz says a temporary branch will hold the bank's place at White's Corner.“It will be a cashless branch, so you won't be able to take cash in, but you'll be able to do most of the transactions. You can get a new debit card, you can open an account, you can get inquiries, there will be somebody staffed there basically 40 hours a week. Then, any other type of transaction, we have a new ATM over next to Barrios. We've had an ATM there for awhile, but this one will take deposits as well rather than just dispense cash,” he said.Dowst noted Lupoli's forthcoming a 600-car parking garage, food pavilion and housing., but emphasized Pentucket Bank will return to One Merrimack St., but in a new building. “So, that entire building is being demolished as part of the redevelopment. When we build it back, though, we'll have safe deposit boxes, a vault. It will be a full-service branch and that's probably 12 to 15 months away,” he said.Dowst went on to give a bit of history.“It's really important to us to take a community leadership role and invest in the downtown. We've always done that. We did it at Harbor Place. We did it at One Merrimack Street when we bought that branch—it was originally doctors' offices, if you go way back, part of Pentucket Medical—and we have invested in that over time, and now it's time to give way. If you notice, the Merrimack Street intersection there narrows, and it really is a traffic choke point. The town has wanted to redevelop that and widen that intersection for years. Without our offices being sold into the development, they couldn't do that. This allows for the redevelopment they way the town would like to redevelop it,” Dowst explained.Lupoli's kicked off the five-acre redevelopment in December with a groundbreaking ceremony in front of the parking deck—a project former Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini described as the capstone of his career.Support the show

Crossing guards in Haverhill will receive a wage increase from $15 to $17 per hour effective Feb. 5.Thanks to the raise, crossing guard Debbie Mason told WHAV she will not have to find more hours as a lunch monitor or a similar position in the district. It would have been disruptive to work more because, on top of the 15 hours a week at an intersection near the Golden Hill and Dr. Paul C. Nettle Schools, she said she spends the bulk of her time taking care of people.“I take care of my husband all the time,” she said. “My sister-in-law doesn't drive so I drive her where she needs to go. And, you know, you just need the money coming into the house,” she said.She added that much of her time has gone to getting her father's affairs in order after he recently passed away. Along with a general increase in prices and property taxes in recent years, she said her father's death meant the taxes on his house no longer receive his senior's and veteran's discounts.The Committee voted unanimously on the change after a guard approached Vice Chair Paul A. Magliocchetti while he was checking out at Market Basket.“He was not completely satisfied, and he was concerned because he didn't feel we had enough crossing guards, and he informed me that part of the reason was the pay,” Magliocchetti said. “They're among the lowest paid in the district.”The pay bump will not impact negotiations with other low-paid employees, according to Magliocchetti. Assistant Superintendent Michael J. Pfifferling told the committee the $2 per hour increase will cost the district just under $31,000, money already available in the budget.While the city's 18 crossing guard positions are currently full, Pfifferling told WHAV a new hire would receive training and join the substitute list. They could then receive a permanent posting if a slot opened up in the future.“People get ill or need time out for certain reasons, so even if your flexibility is not five days a week, get on our substitute list, and [you'll] see different kids every day,” he said.Member Mikaela D. Lalumiere encouraged residents to take the job. “Anybody who has time in the morning, in the afternoon, you're retired, you have any kind of flexibility in your schedule, and you want to do something really meaningful, that's tangible, that can help our kids, this is a great way to help keep our kids safe,” she said. “It's one of the only jobs you're ever going to have where everyone who sees you is going to be really happy to see you.”Mason would be the first to agree. She joked she almost got a bumper sticker saying she has 500 children. Over the past 11 years she has worked this intersection, she said she has become a “fixture,” with many commuters, parents and children all waving to her as they pass in cars.“Sometimes I dance with them. Sometimes I sing with them. Friday is happy dance Friday for me and my kids,” she said, demonstrating the dance and laughing. “One kid used to come down skipping all the time, so I started trying to skip, and I almost broke my neck.”In an ideal world, Mason said she would have appreciated $20 per hour. Not only would it help with her own expenses, but she said it would allow her to buy kids sneakers, jackets and backpacks, which she has done in the past.“It's going to help. You know, anything will help at this point,” she said. “It would've been nice to be more, but I'll take what I can get when I can. Because we've always been one of the lowest paid, and we're out here in the middle of the street with all of the drivers that are already aggressive.”She continued, “I love my job. I don't want to lose it. I don't want people to get mad at me, so I'd be happy with it, as it is, for now.”Standing at the edge of the crosswalk, commuters blow by. She often has to walk out into a steady stream Support the show

It won't be long before members of Haverhill High School's 1973-74 hockey team gather for the 50th anniversary of the program and one of the organizers is revealing decades-old details.The celebration takes place Saturday Feb. 17, at Haverhill High School's Veterans Memorial rink with a game against Shawsheen. Richard “Spike” Sprague, who scored Haverhill High's first varsity goal, gave away some secrets during a visit last week to WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program.“I guess you're going to find out why I scored the goal, because he went into emergency duty because the starter was out. He was in net with a pair of pads and regular skates on. Basically, he fell down and I put it in the net. I don't think it was the hardest goal in the world to score,” he explained.Sprague said that wasn't the games' only historical mark.“There's also a first, my good friend the goaltender, Ted Vathally. He was the goalie, he got the first shutout, we won 9-0 that game.”Sprague has been working for months to get all of his teammates to the celebration.“We had 22 players, unfortunately two passed away. These five players I'm looking for, Mark Roy, Tom Lloyd, John Purcell, Rich Cook and Joe Parker. If you're out there, I'd appreciate you getting in touch with me, we'd like to have you there,” he asked.Players who have moved to California, Texas and Florida will be coming back to town. Even though the 73-74 Haverhill High hockey team is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Sprague said there was a short-lived effort years earlier.“They did have a hockey program back in 1929, I researched it. It was more of a club team. They went on for three years and disbanded. So, it had been 40 years before Haverhill started it back up, which was our team,” Sprague noted.The Haverhill High School 50th hockey anniversary, Saturday, Feb. 17 starts at 3 p.m. with a gathering of the first varsity team in school history followed by a ceremony at 3:30 p.m. and the start of the game at 4 p.m. against Shawsheen After the game, Sprague says anyone who has been involved with the Haverhill High School hockey program over the past 50 years is invited to the American Legion Wilbur M. Comeau Post 4, at 1324 Main St., to “talk hockey.”  For more information, Sprague can be reached at 978-994-4463 or by email at richsprg@aol.com.Support the show

This week's observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day brought back memories for some and reinstilled long held values motivated by the slain civil rights leader.Among them, Keith Boucher, founder of MakeIt Haverhill, who first became aware the concept of equity when he was a child.“When I was young, back in the early 60s, we used to eat a lot of grapes during the summer, I don't know why, but my mother, one time just said we can't have grapes. We said ‘Why, where are the grapes?' She said because there's a gentleman out in California, Cesar Chavez, who is organizing people because they aren't getting paid enough to pick those grapes, so we are going to support those people. And, that just started for me the whole issue of diversity, equity and inclusion that everybody has the right to a decent wage and a decent life, so that's kind of how we got started,” he told WHAV listeners.Boucher was a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, and said that as a member of the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Haverhill, he enjoyed a “distant” connection to King through another member of the church who used to live Boston as a child.“She, back in the early to mid-50s, her family used to entertain Dr. King while he was getting his Phd., used to come over to eat, just being a poor student at the time. She said she could barely remember, being three, four or five years old at the time, but she said ‘Yeah, he used to come to our house.' I said ‘Wow. Can I shake your hand?' Just another connection to Dr. King.”Boucher also made several trips to Haiti follow the earthquake in 2010. In 2014, on a mission trip to South Africa, sponsored by a Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., that was given $100 by Abraham Lincoln to buy the land for the church, Boucher roomed with a 90-year-old pastor, whose grandfather had been a slave, and shared those stories. He was also able to visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. He described Mandela's cell.“It was very small, very dim. To think about how many years, maybe 25 or more. To think that somebody of that intellect, and somebody that forward thinking and just willing to put his life on hold all those times. I don't even have words for it.”Mandela later became South Africa's first Black president, after spending nearly 30 years in prison after being convicted of plotting to overthrow South Africa's racist apartheid system.Support the show

Community colleges are seeing enrollment growth with new state initiatives and are poised for more if the state Senate is successful in providing free community college for everyone.Northern Essex Community College Vice President of Institutional Advancement Allison Dolan-Wilson, a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, is delighted with the focus.“First and foremost, community colleges are so hot right now. I love that. I love any attention because it is absolutely well deserved. And, where you decide to go for higher education is an important decision and we are very lucky to have Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill,” she said.As WHAV reported last week, Senate President Karen E. Spilka said to “Keep your eyes peeled” for free community college funding in the Senate's version of the budget for the year that begins July 1. The Boston Consulting Group estimated the cost to be about $170 million.Dolan-Wilson says there is some experience with free community college tuition because of MassReconnect that started last fall for adults 25 and older who haven't finished their college degrees. She told the story of a mason in his late 30s and his young daughter.“But, with his work, when it's cold outside, he doesn't work. If he's injured, he doesn't work. If he's injured, he doesn't have insurance. There's no one putting anything into his 401k and for a while he's been saying ‘I need to go back to school.' He's a citizen, he's an immigrant from Mexico, and bilingual, he's an amazing human being and because of this program, he's now Computer Science at Northern Essex, he has an amazing future ahead of him and he's going to be able to provide for his family and the main reason he's able to make that decision is because of MassReconnect being here,” she explained.Dolan-Wilson went on to talk about a new transfer agreement with Regis College and the new program offering scholarships to top community college graduates who go to UMass Amherst, Lowell, Boston or Dartmouth to get their bachelor's degrees.She added the new Promise program at Haverhill High School offers even greater financial assistance thanks to a generous donor.“College isn't getting cheaper. I'm proud to say that almost 80% of our students graduate without debt. If you come to Northern Essex and do your two years and then again finish in the top 10% to be able to get that additional aid out of UMass, and if you really want to do it the best way, thinking about Haverhill, if you attend Early College at Haverhill High and you decide to go on and get your associates degree at Northern Essex, we have a Promise program, which means we cover tuition and fees entirely for your associates. So, you've now already entered community college with some credit because of Early College. You've now gotten your associates degree for nothing and, if you graduate in the top 10% and you want to go onto UMass, now you're getting an additional at least $5,000. So, you could be walking out with your bachelor's degree with absolutely no debt for a very, very small cost,” she said.Dolan-Wilson says community support makes these programs possible.“We actually just hit our fundraising goal of $1 million thanks to Pentucket Bank which recently got us over the top with a recent $50,000 gift. And, coming soon, we will have you guys break the news, we actually got some wonderful pledge money to create a new Promise program in the area, which is coming soon,” she added.Support the show

A new theatrical season is about to open at the John Greenleaf Whittier School in Haverhill with the production of Disney's “Descendants: The Musical.”Music teacher and JGW Drama Club Executive Director Robert D. “Bobby” Gariepy III explained how to audition for a part during a recent appearance on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program.“Jan. 8 is vocal audition. Come prepared to sing 30-seconds of your favorite song. Tuesday, Jan. 9, is acting auditions. So be prepared to read from the script, and Wednesday, Jan. 10, that will be group dance auditions. We will teach you a small dance, and you will dance on stage in small groups in front of kids auditioning for the show. Everyone who tries out for our show is accepted into the performance. Whether or not they get a role, like a solo role, whether they sing or they have a couple of lines, that's one thing, but everyone is invited to participate no matter what. We always do that to keep the door open for everybody,” he said.Gariepy said auditions are open to students throughout the district, from Grade 3 to Grade 12, and the show is a blend several stories.“Similar to how, when I spoke with you about, ‘Into the Woods' over the summer with the different fairy tales coming together in one place. Now, this is kind of like the Disney side of the villains and their children, and how that comes together. The kids are absolutely obsessed. They know almost every song. They know almost all the dances. I have taught them nothing. So, it's quite impressive to be at the caliber already. I think it's going to be a fantastic production.”Gariepy went on to talk about some of the songs.“'You Want to be Evil,' There's that one. There's ‘Rotten to the Core,' ‘If Only' is another really popular one that the kids like—it's a slower song. We sang a couple of these at our winter concert on Dec. 15. The kids insisted on giving a little bit of a representation of their spring musical in their winter concert, and I said ‘okay we can do that.'”Gariepy said he is thrilled with the public support the group receives, adding that royalty fees for the shows are quite steep—leading to the need to fundraise and to make sure the shows themselves make a profit.“When we did ‘Matilda' in the spring, it net profited thousands of dollars for us to continue to do the things that we do. We did ‘Into the Woods' over the summer. We did the ‘Addams Family' this fall. Every performance has been a major fundraiser for us and' in-between, we've been awarded some grant money as well, which has been really nice—one from the Haverhill Cultural Council. We're really grateful for the momentum, for the representation, for the support for our kids because the kids need it. Kids really do need theater and show who they truly are, to be able to be comfortable with themselves.”Gariepy said rehearsals for “Disney's Descendants the Musical” begin Tuesday, Jan. 16. Additional information is on the JGW Drama Club web page.Support the show

The potential for fraud, especially around the holidays, is a prime concern and a local banker recently provided tops on staying safe.Haverhill Bank Vice President of Compliance Liz Cronin appeared recently on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program.“Most importantly, my message today is to put everyone on awareness that especially during the holiday season—in particular, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the fraudsters really amp up their efforts to scam us all out of money,” she said.Support the show

This season represents a milestone for the Haverhill High School hockey team.It was 50 years ago that the first Haverhill High Varsity team hit the ice. For those oldest enough to remember, Gerald Ford was sworn in as vice president in December, the film “The Exorcist” made its debut and Richard “Spike” Sprague scored the first goal for the Haverhill Hillies hockey team.“I was fortunate enough to be on the ice for the first shift, and I got lucky enough to score the first goal, and the only thing that upset me the whole time was my coach said whoever scored the first goal would get a cigar. I never got the cigar,” he said.Sprague told the story recently when he appeared on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program. Following high school, Sprague went on to a long coaching career that included three stints with Haverhill High School and 11 years coaching Newburyport, eventually being inducted into the Massachusetts High School Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame. With all that ice time, he shared fond memories of his start as a Haverhill High School hockey player. Playing conditions were much different 50 years ago.“Well, it's kind of funny. They opened the Haverhill rink in 1971 or 72, I believe, and at the time there were intramurals from the high school. Then, they started the hockey program. We had no ice time at the rink, we had to practice in Amesbury, Andover, Billerica and actually the first Haverhill game against Lawrence was played at our home rink in Amesbury. Kind of comical that first year we had to travel every day after school for practice. We had a rink behind our high school but it was all tied up with gym classes and the intramurals.”As for the 50th anniversary of the Haverhill High School hockey program, Sprague is hoping for a good turnout during a celebration in mid-February.“Feb. 17, there's a game—Haverhill vs. Shawsheen, and Shawsheen is coached by a former Hillie, Chuck Baker, at 4 o'clock that day. They'd like to have all alumni come to the game—they'll be honoring that first hockey team, '73-'74, and then afterward we are going to be having a celebration at the Legion farm in Haverhill, inviting any former Hillie who played, coaches, trainers, etcetera and let's talk hockey,” he said.The game takes place Saturday, Feb. 17, 4 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Rink, behind Haverhill High School, 137 Monument St. Following the game, around 6 p.m., a celebration takes place at American Legion Wilbur M. Comeau Post 4, 1314 N. Main St., Haverhill.Those with questions may email Sprague at richsprg@aol.com.Support the show

Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini was sworn in almost 20 years ago against the backdrop of the largest municipal debt in state history, downtown buildings that had been mostly vacant for decades, the recent layoffs of 43 city workers and even a ragged carpets in City Hall held together with duct tape.The downtown commercial district had been in decline for decades, worsened by such efforts to prop it up as the federal urban renewal demolition program. It was the financial collapse of the city-owned Hale Hospital, part of a national trend, however, that turned simmering hopelessness into full-blown panic.As he prepares to leave office, the mayor detailed during an extensive WHAV interview how the city turned around. During a live appearance on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, Fiorentini said, for example, downtown's renaissance came down to parking, but not in a conventional sense.“The key to redeveloping a downtown—now I can tell it—is parking, but not the way people think. People think it's to have more parking. The key to re-developing a downtown, and we're the leader on this, is less parking—not more parking. If you take up your retail space, the prime spots, for parking, you're never in a million years going to redevelop your downtown. The downtown has to be a destination that people want to go to. If they want to go there, they will find a place to park,” he said.The mayor's view was shaped years before his foray into politics by City Councilor Joseph P. Willette, also a former mayor under a different city charter. Fiorentini had been hired more than 40 years ago by former WHAV owner Edward I. Cetlin to represent the Haverhill Downtown Merchants Association. The merchants advocated for the construction of what became the Herbert H. Goecke Memorial Parking Deck. Councilor Willette, however, schooled him on the absurdity of the idea.“‘This doesn't make any sense to me at all. You're taking buildings that people want to go to. You're knocking those buildings down so when they go there, they'll have a place to park. But, they won't go there anymore—you're taking the buildings down.' And, the smart architects and planners from Harvard got up and said there will be other buildings that will come up in front of them. That never happened. Downtown was languishing anyway because of the competition from New Hampshire, because people were leaving downtowns to go to the malls. There are lots of reasons, but urban renewal, the building of the deck, made it worse and accelerated it,” Fiorentini explained.The mayor also took another lesson from his grandparents, who owned the Roma restaurant when it was located downtown. Contrary to conventional thinking, his grandmother wanted additional competitors to drive people downtown and to all of the restaurants.“If they want to go there. they'll find a place to park. If you take up the prime spot—this is the mistake we made 50 years ago. We took up our prime spot and made it into the Goecke parking deck. No, that was a mistake, you want your prime space to be a destination and then you want to build your parking offsite. People will find a way to get there. They'll find a place to park. If there's no reason to get there, the parking lots will be empty.”Besides parking, Fiorentini shared his philosophies and lessons learned while converting shoe shops into housing, attracting big names to the city's business parks and creating a downtown skyline. He also warns Haverhill must complete the new business park at the former Dutton Airport as the city has run out of places to grow.Support the show

The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, begins Thursday.Rabbi Ashira Stevens, of Haverhill's Temple Emanu-El, speaking on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, discussed the historical significance of the holiday.“When the Jews won against their enemies, back in those days, back in the days of the Maccabees, they then rededicated their temple. The word Hanukkah itself actually means dedication, or rededication, and when they did that, they cleaned everything up. The temple had been made into a complete mess, and they shined the menorah and they looked around for oil to light it, and they only found one cruise of oil, one small container. They thought it would only last for one day, and by some great miracle it lasted for eight days,” she explained.Stevens says services at Temple Emanu-El use prayer books written in Hebrew, but include English transliterations for those who don't know how to read Hebrew.“People often know the prayers because they've grown up with them, so they know them by memory. Some people, because they know them by memory can follow along in the text. Some people know the language, absolutely. I don't think it's the majority of my congregation. I think a lot of people appreciate having the transliteration. A lot of people appreciate when we are doing the same prayers with the same melodies, because they can follow along. And, people like to have a mix of Hebrew and English because then it's in their language as well and we all speak English around here and we can talk to God in whatever language we need to. Having a little mix like that helps people feel more connected,” she added.Earlier this year, Stevens came to Temple Emanu-El as its rabbi. Her installation ceremony takes place Saturday, Dec. 16, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at 514 Main St., Haverhill.Support the show

A retirement is on the horizon one of the beloved members of the Pentucket Regional High School staff, who offers comfort to both students and staff.Pentucket Regional School Superintendent Justin Bartholomew, a recent guest on WHAV's “Win for Breakfast” program, talked about the service dog named Dice, who is coming up on his 10th birthday.“That is about the age when you retire a service animal from a public space like this, so we have spent, at the end of last year and this summer, we have spent quite a bit of time trying to determine how do we replicate what Dice has brought to the students, what Dice has brought to the adults in that building as well,” Bartholomew says.Dice is a black lab that started going to Pentucket Regional High School in 2018.“Dice was originally—we have one of our teachers, Pam Shedd, her daughter had diabetes and because of certain situations, her daughter couldn't have a pump. So she looked into it and Dice was actually an alert animal, a medical assistance animal where Dice would alert the daughter to any diabetic stress,” he explains.Bartholomew says Dice has been a calming influence for both students and adults, and school officials want to keep that going, by working with a group in Concordia, Kansas.“We, and the School Committee, and certainly Pam and I, are spearheading Dice's replacement. You can't replace one with one. We are actually going to get five service animals, five dogs, with this partnership we have with this group in Kansas, and this is going to be a great opportunity for each school building to have a dog like Dice,” he says.Support the show