Merrimack Valley Newsmakers
237 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsThought-provoking words from the Merrimack Valley's most influential voices in education, politics, environment and more, as heard exclusively over 97.9 WHAV FM.
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Episodes
WHAV Goes ‘Behind the Mic’ with Community Spotlight’s Jenifer Cosgrove
May 18, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBThe announcing staff at WHAV is more than a collection of voices. They are a gathering of individuals who care about serving the community. On a recent “Win for Breakfast” morning segment—the first of series featuring those “Behind the Mic—Jenifer Cosgrove stopped by to share her story. She began volunteering at WHAV in 2019, reading Community Spotlight messages, heard at quarter past every hour, 24-hours a day. Hearing Cosgrove’s voice over the radio still catches some of her Holy Family H...
Organizers of Cogswell ArtSpace Plan 21+ Party to Light up the Building From the Inside Out
May 08, 2023 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.3 MBIt’s not finished yet, but those working to transform the former George F. Cogswell School into Cogswell ArtSpace plan to bring the property alive and celebrate anyway. The creative community and friends alike plan a party to, as organizers say, literally light up the building from the inside out! Creative Haverhill Operations Director Erin Padilla gave a sneak preview of the upcoming event during an interview last week on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. “We’ll have live music, cocktai...
Haverhill Firefighting Museum’s Annual Kentucky Derby Gala Fundraiser this Saturday
May 01, 2023 04:00 - 11 minutes - 7.97 MBThe Haverhill Firefighting Museum is at the starting gate for a new season and holding its annual Kentucky Derby Gala Fundraiser this Saturday. Co-chair Cynthia Graham gave a preview on WHAV’s “Win For Breakfast” program. “We have a lot of fun surprises this year, but we are sticking with some of the tried and true things like a nice Southern styled dinner. The Chicken Connection in Plaistow caters that and it’s always delicious. We have a live streaming of the Derby. It starts at 5. We ha...
Local Banking Picture Thankfully Differs Greatly From National Attention-Getters
March 28, 2023 04:00 - 13 minutes - 9.08 MBWhile problems at a few high-profile national and international banks have garnered attention lately, it is quite a different story locally. Haverhill Bank President and CEO Thomas L. Mortimer, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, points out the differences between the national and local stages. “It appears that Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in New York were the canaries in the coal mine. So, you had the rise in interest rates that basically pointed out the weakne...
Groveland Native Says Her Oscar-Winning ‘Navalny’ Aims to Bring Justice
March 17, 2023 04:00 - 11 minutes - 8.19 MBA Groveland native, who picked up an Oscar Sunday for the documentary “Navalny,” said her larger goal is to help secure justice for the Russian dissident who survived state-sponsored poisoning and now is jailed in solitary confinement. Geralyn White Dreyfous, who went to Pentucket Regional High School before attending Harvard, was part of the team that won an Academy Award for the film Navalny. Appearing Wednesday on WHAV’s morning show, “Win for Breakfast,” she says the film tells the stor...
Howard Details Plans to Merge Merrimack Valley and RTN Credit Unions; March 29 Vote
March 16, 2023 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.56 MBMerrimack Valley Credit Union members are being asked to vote in about two weeks to approve a merger with RTN Federal Credit Union. Members will cast votes at a special meeting to approve the merger and update the bylaws to reflect RTN’s field of membership, which covers those who “reside, work or attend school in Worcester County…and immediate family members.” Merrimack Valley Credit Union President and CEO John J. Howard, appearing last week on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, said the...
In Time for St. Patrick’s Day, Haverhill’s O’Malley Discusses ‘So Far from Home…’
March 09, 2023 05:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBSt. Patrick’s Day is a day of celebration, but many arriving Irish in the late 19th century had to cope with loneliness. Retired professor Patricia Trainor O’Malley, who spent years teaching at the now-closed Bradford College in Haverhill, reflects on the times in her book, “So Far from Home: Letters from Ireland to Family in America.” It is based on more than 200 letters sent to her grandparents in the 1880s and 90s when they first emigrated to Haverhill. The letters tell wonderful stories...
Haverhill Chamber’s Eberhardt Says Getting Down to Business Means Able to Get to Work
March 03, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 8.75 MBThe business of “taking care of business” is wide ranging and one aspect is actually getting to the workplace. Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Alexandria Eberhardt said businesses are on the same page as employees when it comes to making sure people can get to their jobs. Eberhardt, a guest this week on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, said she found Congressman Seth Moulton in agreement during a recent business summit at Salem State University Enterprise Center. ...
One Month Left to Order During Third Annual Hometown Heroes Banner Program
March 01, 2023 05:00 - 14 minutes - 9.95 MBThe third annual Hometown Heroes banner program is underway with a request residents identify and honor loved ones and friends who served their country. The program, organized by the Exchange Club of Haverhill, places two feet wide by four-feet tall banners on poles throughout the city’s central business district. Last year, 156 banners appeared along Essex, Washington, Merrimack, Main, Water and South Main Streets; Bailey Boulevard; and Basiliere and Comeau Bridges. Hometown Heroes Banner...
Haverhill Exchange Club Plans 21st Annual Rick Barry St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast
February 22, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 7.12 MBThe wearing of the green and all things Irish will be on display when the Haverhill Exchange Club holds its 21st Annual Rick Barry St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast. Exchangites Ron Carpenito and Kerrianne Petalidas discussed the upcoming fun for a good cause during a live appearance last week on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. Carpenito says a lot of work goes into the event. “Probably the biggest highlight of this event is the continuing saga of St. Patrick’s and this special super-secret ...
Former Fiorentini Rivals Turn His Refusal to Seek Re-Election Into Roast, of Sorts
February 15, 2023 13:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBHaverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini’s remarks last weekend that he will not seek another term came as little surprise to those that attended his breakfast, but did bring out an impromptu and good-natured roast by those who have worked for, or competed against, the man. Former Mayor James A. Rurak observed the presence of many of Fiorentini’s past political rivals, including himself, former Mayor William H. Ryan and retired Sen. James P. Jajuga. “First time we competed, I beat him. That was...
Job Interviews Underway for Next Haverhill High School Principal
February 09, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 8.06 MBMore interviews are scheduled this week in the search for the next Haverhill High School principal. The person chosen will replace interim principal Kevin Soraghan, who took the job when the previous search was called off when only a small number of candidates showed interest. Haverhill school Superintendent Margaret Marotta, a guest this week on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” show, said the search committee reviewed 14 resumes before beginning the current interview process. “We have some goo...
Tzitzon Details Little-Known Story of the Former Job of Registry of Motor Vehicle Inspector
February 01, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 8.48 MBThose Massachusetts residents securing driver’s licenses prior to 1992 may remember having a state Registry of Motor Vehicles inspector as a passenger. Haverhill native James Tzitzon, who started his career as an inspector before becoming a state police trooper, tells the little-known story of how and why that position was eliminated in a consolidation with the Massachusetts State Police. His new book, “The History of The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicle Inspector,” details the insid...
Bergeron Returns to WHAV Studio Where Career Began; Reflects on Meeting His Idols
January 27, 2023 14:00 - 9 minutes - 6.86 MBWHAV’s recent move back to its original building in downtown Haverhill has brought back pleasant memories for many people, including Tom Bergeron, who made his way back to the very studio where he began his broadcasting career in 1972, while still attending Haverhill High School. Bergeron, who in the meantime has hosted “Hollywood Squares,” “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and “Dancing with the Stars,” among other shows, sat down with me and his former WHAV co-worker Tim Coco. He was asked ...
Couple Quietly Saves the Haverhill Southwick Clothing Legacy and Creates New Jobs
January 20, 2023 05:00 - 14 minutes - 9.95 MBThe high-profile shuttering of Haverhill-based Southwick Clothing in 2020 was well known, but not so the story of how the company’s legacy was rescued and put people back to work—some as owners. Closing the maker of Brooks Brothers clothing meant not only the loss of 400 jobs, but an end to the only job some workers ever had since moving to the United States. May Tan, Southwick’s then-chief financial officer tasked with closing the factory, and her husband Ed Pap, told the story during a li...
Hobbs-Everett to Receive Special Drum Major for Justice Award at Rev. King Celebration
January 10, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 8.95 MBKatrina Hobbs-Everett will be presented the “Special Drum Major for Justice Award” this Saturday when Haverhill’s Calvary Baptist Church hosts its first Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Calvary Baptist Church, the oldest African-American Church in the Merrimack Valley, celebrates King’s life and legacy with a program called “Lifting as We Climb,” presented through song, dance and speech. During a recent appearance on WHAV’s morning program, Calvary Baptist Church Rev. Kenneth M....
Whittier Tech to Spend the Next Year Deciding Between Renovation or Building New
December 28, 2022 05:00 - 11 minutes - 8.15 MBCities and towns making up the membership of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School won’t be asked for at least a year to sign off on whatever plans emerge for a renovated or replacement school. During 2023, the School Building Committee will review what approach is most feasible, while following the process set down by the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, said there are three options—r...
Santa Claus is Coming But Many Children Already Met the Jolly Man Thanks to the Haverhill Lions Club
December 20, 2022 05:00 - 11 minutes - 7.81 MBWhen Christmas Eve rolls around this weekend, many children will find themselves nestled all snug in their beds, satisfied they already saw Santa without his sled. The Haverhill Lions Club, for example, recently provided a stop for Santa during its Breakfast with Santa. Haverhill Lions Club Past President Laurie Cantwell, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning show, and said the event was well attended. “Oh yes, it was such a great day. It was so much fun to see all the smiles on the faces of ev...
Haverhill School Supt. Marotta Looks to Expand University Relationships for Student, Staff Benefit
December 14, 2022 05:00 - 13 minutes - 9.22 MBHaverhill school students and staff are the beneficiaries of expanded relationships underway with area universities. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, said efforts are aimed at delivering a better experience for teachers and employees. Overall, she said, school is better this year for the students despite a high-profile incident. “There’s still a lot going on. Social media doesn’t help. We had the hazing event. It was really hard. W...
Community Action Sees Sharp Increase in Fuel Assistance Requests; Here’s Where to Find Help
December 12, 2022 05:00 - 10 minutes - 7.12 MBAlthough winter doesn’t officially begin until the 21st, heating bills are already arriving and families are asking for help. Kerri Sheeran Perry, president and CEO of Haverhill’s Community Action, told WHAV listeners recently that as of the last week of November, heating assistance applications are up 148% over last year. “What’s remarkable about that is it’s been a fairly warm fall. So, it’s really, really important that community members learn about our program at Community Action, that...
Salvation Army of Haverhill Plans Focus on Teen Depression, but Kettle Collections Fall Behind
December 06, 2022 05:00 - 11 minutes - 8.14 MBThe Salvation Army in Haverhill finds itself behind this year in raising money for its donations to families—particularly important this year as the charity turns its attention to a rise in teenage depression. Major Lynnann Rivers, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, says, to date, collections are about a third of normal are at this point in the season. “We’re doing more services with less available resources. The cost cuts just aren’t just rising for residents, they’re rising for bu...
Haverhill Hometown Holiday Celebration Tonight with Tree Lighting, Santa, Entertainment
December 02, 2022 05:00 - 10 minutes - 7.46 MBDowntown Haverhill springs to life tonight with holiday spirit as the Haverhill Hometown Holiday Celebration kicks of the season. The event, formerly known as the Christmas Stroll, runs between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. One of its volunteers, Melissa Seavey of Bethany Communities, gave an overview for WHAV listeners during an appearance on WHAV’s morning show. “It’s a little different from past strolls. This year, we are calling it the ‘Haverhill Hometown Holiday Celebration.’ This is being hoste...
Haverhill Lions Club Brings Back Breakfast with Santa...and Mrs. Claus Dec. 10
December 01, 2022 04:00 - 11 minutes - 7.72 MBThe Haverhill Lions Club is bringing back Breakfast with Santa after a three-year-hiatus. Past President Laurie Cantwell, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning show, said the breakfast has always been a popular event with kids and adults alike. “They love bringing their little ones, and having them have that breakfast and visit with Santa and, like I said, Mrs. Claus should be making an appearance. We might have Mr. and Mrs. Lion there too,” she said. The breakfast takes place Saturday, Dec. 1...
Community Action Offers Help with Home Heating Costs This Winter
November 08, 2022 04:00 - 13 minutes - 8.99 MBWith cooler weather coming—and energy costs on the rise—more homeowners are expected to seek home heating help this season. Community Action CEO Kerri Perry, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning show, wants to help. She encourages households—even those who think they are not eligible—to submit applications to the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, known as LIHEAT “There is certainly an eligibility requirement, but don’t presume that you don’t qualify. It’s a really a smart idea to reach ou...
Whittier Tech’s Open House Looks to Future as Haverhill Population Climbs, Others Shrink
November 03, 2022 04:00 - 8 minutes - 6.15 MBThis year’s fall open house at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School has a new twist. Sunday’s open house follows the usual course of showcasing the school to potential students and their families, but this time there will be a session discussing plans to renovate or build a new school. Superintendent Maureen Lynch, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, spoke about putting the brakes on any talk of expanding the school. “We’re looking at that. I think we’re leaning toward ...
School Administration Seeks Property Lease Bids for Haverhill’s Gateway Academy
October 07, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.35 MBHaverhill school officials are seeking larger space for the city’s Gateway Academy, a smaller alternative for those struggling at conventional middle and high schools. Superintendent Margaret Marotta told WHAV listeners last June the new Gateway School at Crowell School is limited to around 120 students, but she always expected it to grow. Appearing on WHAV’s morning show his week, she explained why the school is soliciting bids for a three-year lease. “We knew we would immediately grow ou...
Haverhill Health Dept. Plans Flu, COVID-19 Booster Clinics; Expects Shots to Become Annual
October 03, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 4.39 MBHaverhill’s public health chief says consensus is building around updated COVID-19 vaccinations becoming as common as flu shots each year. During a recent interview on WHAV’s morning program, Haverhill Public Health Director Mary Connolly said yearly coronavirus inoculations would target various strains similar to formulas used in flu shots. “We were speaking with the state yesterday regarding that. It does seem like this is probably going to turn into an annual type of vaccine, yes,” she ...
Methuen Welcomes Wall That Heals, Vietnam Memorial Replica, Thursday-Sunday
September 28, 2022 04:00 - 11 minutes - 7.85 MBThe Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is in Methuen this week and open to the public 24 hours a day starting Thursday Morning. The Wall That Heals also features a mobile Education Center, telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the divisive era in American history. The exhibit is on display from Thursday, at 9 a.m., through 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, at Pfc. Richard E Potter Field on Pelham Street. Methuen Veterans S...
Preview of Trails and Sails Final Weekend
September 20, 2022 17:00 - 10 minutes - 7.06 MBEssex County Ghost Project spokesman Tom Spitalere. Support the Show.
Basiliere on the Radio Tuesday Says Help Available to Veterans This Weekend
September 09, 2022 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.76 MBThis weekend, military veterans may receive free peer support, suicide prevention counseling and other mental health help as the Warrior Support Task Force again sets up shop at Haverhill’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Services for area veterans will be made available Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial at Millbrook Park, 111 Mill St., near the entrance of Plug Pond, in Haverhill. Former interim Haverhill Veterans Services Officer Ralph T. Basiliere, ...
Saturday’s Performance of ‘The Abolitionist’s Refrain’ Tells Another Side of Poet Whittier
September 08, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.71 MBThe aftermath of Haverhill poet John Greenleaf Whittier’s contributions to ending American slavery is the subject of “The Abolitionist’s Refrain,” to be performed Saturday, with the stage being Whittier Birthplace in Haverhill. “The Abolitionist’s Refrain” was created by playwright Michael Cormier, who recently appeared on WHAV’s morning program. “Most people don’t realize that he was an abolitionist and a very prominent one in earlier part of his life, and in 1865 that all changed, obviou...
Rep. Vargas Enjoyed a Front-Row Seat Watching EforAll Help Haverhill Startups
September 06, 2022 04:00 - 11 minutes - 8.19 MBLowell-based Entrepreneurship for All, which is opening a Haverhill office, has already helped launch Haverhill startups. As only WHAV reported last week, the group plans to celebrate Thursday its receipt of a $242,779 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for its Haverhill satellite. State Rep. Andy X. Vargas, a former employee of EforAll, told WHAV he had a front row seat to observe the group’s successes. “I was fortunate enough out of college to have worked for them, f...
Methuen Readies for the Sept. 27 Arrival of the Wall That Heals
September 05, 2022 04:00 - 11 minutes - 7.66 MBPreparations are well underway in Methuen for the arrival of The Wall That Heals, honoring those that served and sacrificed in the Vietnam War. Methuen Veterans Services Officer Paul Jensen, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, says The Wall arrives Tuesday, Sept. 27, in Methuen. “The Wall That Heals is a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Its 375 feet in length and stands seven and a half feet high at its tallest point and it’s the same d...
September Muck March in Haverhill to Benefit Veteran Trauma Relief Programs
August 22, 2022 04:00 - 11 minutes - 8.17 MBTrauma relief programs for veterans and their spouses will benefit from a 24-hour fundraising Muck March next month. The event supports Mission 22, a nationwide nonprofit with a goal of helping and supporting, veterans and their families and raising awareness of veteran suicide. U.S. Air Force veteran Jim Taylor, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, said Recover Resiliency is the organization’s biggest program. “We have a 12-month program for combat veterans, and then we have a six-mo...
Haverhill’s 5th Annual Restaurant Week Sprinkled with Special Events and $20.22 Prices
August 15, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.68 MBHaverhill’s Fifth Annual Restaurant Week will again be bookended by a sold-out, under the stars eating event and a capstone awards night. In between, more than a dozen local dining establishments are celebrating the year with appropriately priced $20.22 specials. The kickoff is L’Arche Boston North’s Longest Table Thursday, Aug. 18, on the Rep. Brian S. Dempsey Boardwalk. Haverhill Chamber President and CEO Alex Eberhardt said Restaurant Week kicks off in earnest the next day. “Every singl...
Gariepy Provides Sneak Preview of ‘The Lion King Jr.,’ Presented Wednesday and Thursday
August 03, 2022 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.77 MBIt’s show time for the John Greenleaf Whittier Drama Club in Haverhill. For the past several weeks about 35 students have been working on their theatrical skills and will debut their version of The Lion King Jr. tonight. Bobby Gariepy, drama coach and music teacher at John Greenleaf Whittier School, appeared live over 97.9 WHAV this past Monday. “We’re doing the Lion King Jr at Consentino Middle School right now as our summer program through the Discovery Club of Haverhill,” he said. Perf...
Ambitious Groveland Plans Include Fiber, Dog Park and Public Art
July 26, 2022 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.79 MBNew infrastructure, a dog park and public art are among the items on the Groveland town administrator’s agenda. Town Administrator Rebecca Oldham, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, talked about the Uptack Road Culvert Replacement Project, plans to bring in fiber connecting Groveland Town Hall with the Public Safety Building and Langley-Adams Library, a $25,000 grant from the Stanton Foundation to develop plans for a new dog park and a state Shared Streets grant resulting in a mural ...
‘Moments of Bravery’ Exhibit Features Local Firefighters and First Responders Protecting Others
July 13, 2022 04:00 - 13 minutes - 9.05 MB“Moments of Bravery,” a 50-photograph exhibit of local firefighters and first responders risking their lives to protect others, goes on display next week at the Haverhill Firefighting Museum. Taken by Mike Jarvis, the photographs feature firefighters and other first responders from Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, Amesbury, Merrimac, West Newbury, Newburyport, Newbury, Plaistow, N.H., and other communities. Haverhill Firefighting Museum Board member Dave Shultz, a recent guest on WHAV...
Rep. Campbell Says Civics Law Helps Young People Check Their Sources of Information
July 04, 2022 04:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBLearning the basics of how government works is a lesson that state Rep. Linda Dean Campbell wants to make sure is taught in the schools. Campbell, who represents Methuen and Haverhill and not running for re-election this fall, recently worked with Haverhill state Rep. Andy X. Vargas to advocate for support to further the state’s nearly four-year-old civics education requirement “It was fantastic because you had the older person, like myself, and you had the younger person, like Andy, reall...
Haverhill City Council Again Considers Fate of City Spending Plan Tonight
June 21, 2022 04:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBInterviews with both Haverhill Firefighters Local 1011 President Timothy Carroll and Mayor James J. Fiorentini may be heard back-to-back on WHAV’s “Merrimack Valley Newsmakers” podcasts. Haverhill city councilors meet again tonight to decide whether to approve a city spending plan for the year that starts July 1. One of the sticking issues is fire department staffing levels. Both Mayor James J. Fiorentini and Haverhill Firefighters Local 1011 President Timothy Carroll both pitched their p...
Old Pentucket Regional Middle/High School to be ‘Recycled’
June 17, 2022 04:00 - 13 minutes - 9.04 MBWith the school year now complete, the old Pentucket Regional Middle/High School has been turned over to the construction management company for environmental abatement, then demolition. A new building replaces the Pentucket Regional Middle and High Schools. The School District Building Committee said the 66-year-old middle school and 55-year-old high school suffered from cracks in its foundation, corroded plumbing and a maxed out electrical system. Pentucket Regional School Superintendent ...
Haverhill Schools Prepare to Close Current Year, Start Summer Programs and Expand in the Fall
June 09, 2022 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.59 MBHaverhill Public Schools are getting ready to close the current year, but planning ahead for summer school and expansion and improvements in the fall. The School District is expanding enrollment at its Gateway Alternative School next year and will holding a cookout this afternoon for parents, guardians and students to meet the staff and ask questions. School Superintendent Margaret Marotta, a guest Tuesday on WHAV’s morning program, said the Gateway School has been a small program for stude...
215th Army Band of the Massachusetts Army National Guard Performs July 7
May 31, 2022 04:00 - 11 minutes - 8.06 MBResidents have a rare opportunity to hear the 215th Army Band of the Massachusetts Army National Guard perform in early July at Haverhill’s Riverside Park. Haverhill Veterans Services Officer Jeffrey C. Hollett, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, says a free concert takes place Thursday, July 7, thanks to the efforts of Veterans Northeast Outreach Center and the city. “The VENOC reached out to us because they were in contact with the commander of the 215th Army Band, and the Army Ba...
Haverhill’s New Veterans Services Officer At Work Building Bonds With Organizations
May 05, 2022 04:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBHaverhill Veterans Services Officer Jeffrey C. Hollett now in his fourth week on the job, has been busy building relationships with are organizations helping and supporting veterans. A recent guest on WHAV’s morning show, Hollett says, working collaboratively is very important. “The game in Veterans Services today is really about building those relationships with as many resources that are available out there. Some people like to consider a veterans services officer as a one stop shop, and...
Pentucket Towns Brace for Override Votes that Supt. Blames on State’s ‘Disturbing Trends’
April 15, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.29 MBResidents in two of the three towns making up the Pentucket Regional School District are being asked to consider overriding the state’s tax limiting law to pay for the school district’s nearly $50 million spending plan for next year Groveland and Merrimac voters will consider what’s called an “operational budget override,” while West Newbury officials believe the added amount can be accommodated in the town’s planned budget. School Superintendent Justin Bartholomew told WHAV this week this ...
J. G. Whittier School Talent Show Today Helps Pay for Upcoming Moana JR.
April 08, 2022 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.42 MBHaverhill’s John Greenleaf Whittier School Drama Club is preparing for its upcoming production of Disney’s Moana JR. in June, but the club must raise money first with donations and its fourth annual talent show this afternoon, April 8. J.G. Whittier music and drama teacher Bobby Gariepy appeared live over WHAV last week, talking about the talent show taking place at 3:30 p.m. in the John Greenleaf Whittier School auditorium. “We have some fifth and sixth grade girls who have fantastic sing...
Haverhill Police Relief Association Hockey Team Takes on Bruins Alumni Saturday
March 31, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.29 MBMembers of the Haverhill Police Relief Association hockey team are sharpening their skates and preparing for their upcoming game with the Boston Bruins Alumni this Saturday. The game, whose proceeds help provide support for the officers of the Haverhill Police Department and their families, takes place this Saturday, April 2, at 2 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Rink, 137 Monument St., Haverhill. Sgt. James B. Keenan, president of the Haverhill Police Relief Association, a recent guest on WHAV’s...
Wall That Heals, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica, and In Memory Honor Roll Comes to VA Bedford
March 23, 2022 04:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBThe Wall That Heals, three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, is coming to Massachusetts in September with local Vietnam veterans who died eligible to be honored as part of the In Memory Honor Roll in the mobile Education Center. The Wall That Heals will be open Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 22-25, at the Veterans Administration Edith Norse Rogers Hospital in Bedford, part of the VA Healthcare System. Kat Bailey, VA Public affairs officer, was a recent g...
Haverhill’s Griffin LaMarre Competes in Paralympics Underway in Beijing, China
March 11, 2022 05:00 - 13 minutes - 9.41 MBA Haverhill native is participating in the Paralympics currently underway in Beijing, China. Twenty-five-year-old Griffin LaMarre is a goalie on the Team USA Sled Hockey Team. In a WHAV interview with his mother, Donna, it was revealed Griffin, born with hereditary spastic paraplegia, entered hockey only as a second choice. “We are a skiing family. We ski up at Sunday River, and they have the only free adaptive ski program in the country. So, my husband and my son were involved with that. ...
Local Business Confidence Up, But Finding Workers Remains a Challenge
March 03, 2022 05:00 - 14 minutes - 9.75 MBLocal businesses, recently surveyed by the Haverhill-based Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, are reporting confidence levels back to pre-pandemic levels, but note challenges to overcome. Community and Economic Development Planner Nate Robertson, a recent guest on WHAV’s morning program, said there is still some wobbling. “We see that, though labor force participation is up, we have historic job openings. We also have historic quit rates, increased early retirements, people switching jo...