Merrimack Valley Newsmakers

Political newcomer Brandon F. Burns is challenging incumbent Melinda E. Barrett for mayor of Haverhill in the city’s general election Tuesday, Nov. 4. A small business owner for 23 years, Barrett, 62, served on Haverhill’s City Council for 10 years before making history when she became the city’s first female chief executive. Burns, 23, graduated from Haverhill High School in 2020 as part of the classical academy program. He currently works as an accountant in Boston. Both Barrett and Burns sat down in separate, live WHAV interviews during WHAV’s morning program, “Win for Breakfast.” Each answered five questions on major issues facing the city. These are their answers in the order their names will appear on the ballot. Why do you want to be mayor? “Well, we have done a lot and we’ve made a lot of progress. But there is so much more to do. Two years for a mayoral role is rather short. All our surrounding communities have gone to four years. We have a lot of things in the pipeline. We’ve accomplished a lot. I’d like to see them through,” Barrett said. “I want to make sure I serve the community and I think the status quo isn’t working for many individuals anymore. And we really need to see some new leadership from the top down and make sure that we accommodate to everybody in the city,” Burns said. Is it ever appropriate to use free cash to avoid tax hikes? “It can be. But right now, we are in such a deficit. When I came into office, we were well over 60% using free cash, which by our financial rules we are only supposed to have 20% being used for continuing funding of operations. Right now, we are making strides, but we’re still well above where we should be. We are down to 2%. Every year we are going to chip away with that. So, we are in a position to do something like that,” Barrett said. “I think that using the surplus to your advantage, I mean that’s kinda of the way accounting works is you make sure you have a safety net, for example, and if ever times were to get tough, you should be able to use any resources available to alleviate the stress from homeowners and your residents,” Burn said. Do you support raising taxes closer to the city’s Proposition 2 ½ cap and, if not, what spending would you cut? “Well, the goal from this last two years is to get into a position where we are living within our means for a long-term period. We have to be disciplined, keep our costs below 2 1/2%. Some departments may edge up a little, but that we will take from others. So, 2 1/2% is where we have to be per Mass. state law so that where we are going to be. We just had to correct some major financial problems the last two years,” Barrett said. “I believe that the budget was very firm under Fiorentini. I’m sure that there are those that say we kicked the can down the road. But, after the recent override, we’ve increased the budget over the past two years by $30 million when under the previous administration it was only projected to increase by $16 million. So, we have an additional $14 million now annually within our budget. I think there is plenty of money. So, my first thing is that I think we need to start with a zero budget. That means we are going to perform an audit first. That is going to be one of my first actions,” Burns said. Would you favor a debt exclusion to build a replacement John Greenleaf School? “I believe that’s probably the way it will have to go, up or down. If it goes down, we’ll figure out another way to do it because those children definitely need a newer facility to learn in. I think J.G. Whittier, some argued at the time, would have been the next school to do. Former Mayor Fiorentini chose to do the Consentino first. Both were in need, no denying that,” Barrett said. “My big question to everybody on City Council and Support the show

Sheriffs in other counties are drawing scrutiny for their spending and other practices, but Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger appeared live on WHAV to demonstrate how Essex County shines. This week, the legislature withheld $162 million request from county sheriffs following complaints in Norfolk, Hampden and Suffolk counties. Coppinger, who stopped by WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program last Friday, discussed instead how his office prepares inmates for re-entry and helps correctional staff stay on top of mental health. Among the job training and re-entry programs the Sheriff’s Department runs is the farm at the Pre-Release and Re-Entry Center in Lawrence. “We average about 3,600 pounds of produce. This is our time of year. That’s one of the things we do. We teach the inmates also vocational skills. The farm is incredible. We hire an actual farmer to come in and teach the inmates, but the inmates do all the cleaning of the fields in the spring. They plant them. They take care of them all summer. Then they harvest them and we take the harvest. We take some of it to feed our inmates in all our facilities. We also donate a lot of it to charities and non-profits,” Coppinger explained. The department also has a partnership with Northern Essex Community College which runs classes for inmates. “Our philosophy is, while they are in there, no pun intended, we have a captive audience. Let’s do what we can and we partner with President (Lane A.) Glenn and the staff at Northern Essex to come in and teach the inmates, whether it is high school equivalency or maybe a college level course. It’s amazing when you see the inmates transition to a learning environment,” Coppinger said. Finally, the sheriff talked about an initiative to help relieve his staff’s stress level—a comfort dog. “His name is Pasky. Pasky was named after Officer Anthony Pasquarello, who was one of our correctional officers and it’s a sad story. But, at the age of 37, he passed away during the peak of Covid. He was a great officer. He just caught COVID, got a bad case of it and we lost him and it was troubling. So, in his memory in cooperation with his family we got our first comfort dog and we named it Pasky in honor of Officer Pasquarello. It just kind of keeps his memory alive with our officers. He’s there for the staff,” Coppinger said. The former chief of the Lynn Police Department with 40 years in law enforcement, Coppinger was first elected Essex County Sheriff in 2016 for a six-year term. He is currently serving his second term. Support the show

When signing up for a website or cell phone app Massachusetts consumers in the future would be able to decide how much of their personal information they want to share under a data privacy and security bill being sponsored by state Sen. Pavel M. Payano. Payano discussed the importance of the legislation being debated by the state Legislature during a recent interview during WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. The senator said even when consumers are careful, their personal data and even their precise GPS location can be shared and sold to third party vendors without their knowledge. “We are not aware of the type of data we are constantly sharing with these apps. We think we might be sharing it with the app that connects you to a dog walker. But then app goes in and they sell the data to a bunch of third-party folks and God knows what they do with that data,” Payano said. The legislation, which will be taken up next by the state House of Representatives, would give broad enforcement powers to the state attorney general, Payano said. The bill would put even tighter controls on data sharing by minors and would allow consumers to opt out of ads that target them based on their personal preferences. “You’d be surprised how they are able to target these ads and manipulate you into choosing something that maybe you wouldn’t have chosen, or how a bad actor can get this information and then use that information maybe to hack you,” Payano said. Payano also discussed the importance of the $234 million emergency medical package recently passed by the state Legislature. It is expected to bring much-needed relief to Merrimack Health, the new name for Lawrence General Hospital and its sister hospitals in Methuen and Haverhill, as well as the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center by supporting efforts to provide services to low-income patients. Support the show

The newly renamed Merrimack Health Haverhill Hospital could soon be home to the healthcare system’s expanded state-of-the art sleep study center. Diana L. Richardson, interim president and CEO of Merrimack Health, formerly Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospitals, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast,” discussed what will stay the same at Haverhill’s hospital and what services are expanding. As of Oct. 1, any patient who comes into the emergency department and needs to be admitted will be transported to another healthcare center— most likely to its sister Merrimack Health Methuen Hospital, formerly Holy Family Methuen, as the few in-patient beds in use will be shut down, Richardson explained. Services provided by the stand-alone emergency department, however, will not change, she said. “The actual services are the same. You have an ambulance that needs to get you care in Haverhill, you come to our emergency room. You have a condition at home you want to come into the emergency room, we are there. Full service, lab, radiology, all the things you are used to today will not be any different come Oct. 1,” Richardson added. Because so few in-patient beds were occupied in recent years, an average of nine a day, Richardson said this change will impact few of the hospital’s patients. “Every hospital has different capabilities. Sometimes you need the really advanced services of some of our academic partners in Boston. So there could be times when you come into an emergency facility and your are transported there or transported to another facility in the region that has services that are only available in a few locations,” Richardson said. Richardson added the local healthcare center has an upgraded wound management center and that hospital officials are considering making its Haverhill location the headquarters for a state-of-that-art sleep study center. “So one thing we’ve already done is we’ve put in new hyperbaric chambers and really expanded our wound care service there. And the next service we’re looking at. . . there is a small sleep center there in Haverhill now. But we have the opportunity to really make it a showcase for our system and make it a much larger system-based sleep center that provides all services so we are going through that process now,” Richardson said. Lawrence General Hospital, now Merrimack Health, purchased the two Holy Family campuses in Haverhill and Methuen from bankrupt Steward Health Care last year for $28 million with state assistance. In May the new owners announced plans to close Haverhill’s general in-patient beds and keep its emergency department as a free-standing service. Haverhill has had a hospital since City Hospital opened in 1887. It was renamed Hale Hospital in 1898 and moved to Buttonwoods Avenue in 1901. The city acquired it in 1931 and built a modern hospital at its current location in 1984. By 2001 the hospital was insolvent so the city sold it to Essent Health Care but kept most of its debt. The city finally paid off all but pension liabilities in 2021. Support the show

Area nonprofits are looking for helping hands and the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is acting as matchmaker Tuesday. The 2025 Volunteer Fair showcases a variety of nonprofit organizations dedicated to almost every imaginable cause. Potential volunteers are invited to peruse the needs, ask questions and consider hoe they may help. Chamber President and CEO Katie Cook, who appeared last month on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, explained how it works. “What a volunteer fair is. It’s at the Riverside Church here in Haverhill and it’s Sept. 16, from 4 to 7, and you just come. We have about 30 nonprofits that are going to be there and have tables set up. And you can come. Please bring your children. and you go around to each of the tables, learn about the nonprofits, who they are and what they do and how you can volunteer your time,” Cook said Riverside Church is located at 278 Groveland St., Haverhill. Among those expected to participate are AgeSpan, Bread and Roses, Common Ground, Department of Children and Families, Debbie’s Treasure Chest, Emmaus, Essex County CASA, Family and Community Resource Center, Haverhill City Clerk’s office, Hill View Montessori Foundation, MakeIT Haverhill, NEET, NFI, Open Hand Pantry, Opportunity Works, Pregnancy Care Center, Saint Vincent de Paul Conference, Salvation Army, TEK Collaborative, Tufts Medical Care at Home and WHAV. Another way the Chamber seeks to help nonprofits is by helping them avoid scheduling competing events. Cook said the Chamber launched a unified city calendar of events. “I know a lot of time people are like, ‘I want to host an event in November, some Saturday in November. I wonder if anything else is going on,” Cook explained. The calendar can be found on the chamber’s website at HaverhillChamber.com. “Our public events calendar is ready to rock and roll. So we are super excited. So anyone who is interested in putting in an event. If you are not a Chamber member can reach out to me directly,” Cook said. Cook’s email address is President@HaverhillChamber.com. Support the show

Three candidates are facing off in Ward 4 for two spots on the ballot in the general election Nov. 4. Incumbent Melissa J. Lewandowski is being challenged by Guy E. Cooper and Kenneth E. Quimby Jr. Lewandowski and Quimby are lifelong Haverhill residents. Cooper moved to Haverhill as a child and graduated from Haverhill High School. He is retired Haverhill police office. Quimby works for Bethany Homes in Haverhill and Lewandowski is an attorney who represents children in neglect and abuse cases in juvenile and probate court. Each candidate appeared on WHAV’s morning show and answered five questions about issues specific to their ward, Ward 4. Answers are presented in the order candidates appear on the ballot. Ward 4 is home to Holy Family Hospital Haverhill. What services would you like retained or brought back? What services would you add? Would you convert part of the complex for housing? First, Quimby responds, “As far as the housing there, I would vote no. We need to keep that hospital. I was one of the persons that went to Boston, brought petitions to Gov. Healey to fight to keep it open. But I am disheartened. I am really still upset about it. When Lawrence General bought them, I thought it was going to be a full -capacity hospital. We need to have that hospital full.” Cooper gave this response, “Well, I can certainly say that I would like to see Haverhill, being such a big city, I’d like to see that hospital up and running a little bit more fuller than what it is. The services a little bit more. It’s a great location. We have a lot of cities and towns. And I really think Haverhill needs to keep a hospital there. For part housing for that? I think we really need to take a long look at our infrastructure and what we can sustain at this time before we start adding,” he said. Lewandowski said, “Ideally, I would like to see geriatric services there, a geriatric ward, particularly geriatric and mental health. I would like to see prenatal brought back because I think that’s obviously a very important aspect that people need access to. It would be great to have a breast imaging lab as part of some women’s healthcare. I think that the radiology department, while it is intact, my understanding from talking to some nurses that are boots on the ground, is that a lot of time what primary care physicians are finding is they’re sending tests there, whether it be for x-ray, CT scans, blood work, and they don’t get them back within a timely period of time to be able to make a diagnosis so I would like to see that particular area which is intact there enhanced. If housing was proposed there, I think that it would have to be senior housing,” she said. What traffic and sidewalks improvements do you believe are needed in Ward 4? Quimby said, “Some of the traffic lights, when you push the walk signal, people are still taking a right turn even though it says ‘Yield to pedestrians.’ And it’s not enough time for them to walk.” Cooper responded, “Well, Ward 4, I know it came up down on Amesbury Line Road at Merrimac Road that there was an issue with a stop sign, wide roads, people running it and accidents. And being a police officer patrolling that area for several years I think maybe a little bit more enforcement if we could get it down there. On top of that people really need to pay attention. There are stop signs. They do need to stop and pay attention.” Lewandowski offered, “This is very timely because I just had an agenda item on about Amesbury Line Road because there were a lot of complaints about people going too fast. The way that the intersection is configured makes it very confusing for folks. There have been accidents there, etc. We put it on the agenda and had a very robust discussion involving the city engineer as well the police department and the mayor’s office. They were Support the show

Voters in two Haverhill wards cast ballots Tuesday to narrow the field of City Council candidates in those neighborhoods. Three candidates are squaring off for two spots on the final ballot for Ward 6 city councilor in the general election in November. Incumbent Michael S. McGonagle and one of his challengers, Timothy F. Carroll Jr., appeared on WHAV’s morning show and answered questions about specific issues in Ward 6. The third candidate, Oliver Aguilo, did not respond to telephone, email and social media requests for an interview. McGonagle and Carroll are Haverhill natives. Carroll is a Haverhill firefighter and former president of firefighters union local 1011. McGonagle is retired. Answers are presented in the order candidates appear on the ballot. Ward 6 faces traffic disruptions due to the Rosemont Street and Snows Brook bridge replacements? Do you plan to take steps to influence detours, ease congestion or something similar? “The reality of that is that is it is only going to get worse with those bridge changes coming up. So I think a lot of signage, I think a lot of working with the traffic and safety department,” McGonagle said. Carroll responded, “So, living up in that area, it is very difficult to detour around anything going on up there. The only thing I can say right now is that you got to be patient up there when they are doing roadwork up in that area. It’s traffic from noontime to 7 p.m. on 125. You can’t get up there without sitting in traffic.” For many years there has been talk of a Route 125 bypass directly into Plaistow, N.H., to avoid the bottleneck at the New Hampshire line. Do you see traffic as a concern especially as it might influence emergency vehicles? McGonagle replied, “I think from a public safety standpoint, these are all the considerations that will be talked about on a weekly basis as these projects move forward.” “The thing you can do on Route 125 is you can widen it to two lanes. That’s about the only option you have. You would have to take some of the sidewalks away and some of the property going down 125 away which then you would have to fight with the homeowners going down on 125,” Carroll said. Ward 6 has an industrial section, Hilldale Avenue, near the New Hampshire border. It’s been described as a wild west with mixed uses and few amenities for bicyclists. What improvements, if any, would you push along that corridor? “Should that road at some point be looked at? I believe it should. I just don’t know where that money would come from right now and, with the bridge work going on now, I think the best thing we can do is monitor the speed,” McGonagle said. Carroll said, “We need more businesses in the community. That’s where the money comes from. That’s where we are going to keep the taxes down on our residents if we get more industrial space and more companies coming in and spending tax dollars and getting the revenues from those tax dollars.” What is Ward 6’s best feature? “What I love about Ward 6 is its well-established neighborhoods,” said McGonagle. Carroll mentioned the businesses, saying, “All the restaurants on 125. I am right there. I can walk to several so I’ll use that as the answer,” Carroll said. Interviews with Ward 4 candidates, Kenneth Quimby, Guy Cooper and incumbent Melissa Lewandowski are heard during the next WHAV newscast. Support the show

If you suspect a local or state official is on the take or see another example of potential fraud or abuse in state or local government, Jeffrey S. Shapiro wants to hear about it. Shapiro is the Commonwealth’s inspector general and, in that role, oversees a department of 100 who make sure state and local officials follow proper procurement regulations and good governance practices. Shapiro recently stopped by the WHAV studio and appeared live on “Win for Breakfast” as part of a listening and education tour in Eastern Massachusetts. He explained the role of his office and its power. “I really think it is incredibly important for the public to know what we do because, in essence, we are their eyes and their ears within government. And if they see something, we certainly are interested to have them notify us,” Shapiro said. In a recent example Shapiro’s office ordered the Town of Barre to tighten its timekeeping and payroll practices after receiving a tip that its director of Department of Public Works, Jason Pimental, was working a full-time job for the state during the same hours he had been hired to work for the town. In another case closer to home, Shapiro’s office handled an extensive investigation of the Methuen Police Department after questions were raised over former Police Chief Joseph E. Solomon’s high salary and his handling of promotions outside civil service rules, among other issues. Shapiro encouraged the public to call his office’s fraud hotline at 800-322-1323 or to email IGO-FightFraud@Mass.gov with tips, which can be left anonymously. Shapiro explained the state inspector general is appointed jointly by the governor, state attorney general and state auditor for a five-year term which can be renewed once. Shapiro will mark his third year in the post next month. Once appointed, state officials have no oversight over the inspector general’s office, making the inspector general’s office a non-partisan, independent agency. While investigations are his office’s bread and butter, he said, he is encouraging education to prevent fraud in the first place. “I think the better way to do it is to focus on engaging with our stakeholders, educating them on what it is that they can do correctly and how to do things correctly with procurement, governance and the other kinds of things that we are concerned with and then, as a last resort, we do investigations and compliance,” Shapiro said. To help educate public officials, the Inspector General’s office offers certification classes through its OIG Academy for public employees as well as private workers who bid on state and municipal jobs. Currently school districts are offered free tuition for one employee to take its classes to be certified as a Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official. While his office has limited enforcement powers, he said, just making sure the public and city and town officials are aware of fraud and abuse as well as good governance practices is a powerful tool. “Really bringing something to light, writing about it, making sure the public is aware of it, making sure the local officials and those who oversee those areas of government. It matters,” Shapiro said. Support the show

Registered voters in Haverhill’s Wards 4 and 6 will go to the polls Tuesday, Sept. 9, to whittle down the number of candidates in each ward from three to two. Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. She discussed the various deadlines facing voters. “We have an upcoming preliminary election on Tuesday, Sept. 9, but this preliminary is only for voters that are in Wards 4 and 6. So what that means is if you go to vote at the Nettle Middle School, NECCO, Kennedy Circle, Haverhill High, Ward 6 only at Haverhill High, J. G. Whittier Middle School and Pentucket Lake, that means you have an election on Sept. 9. Everybody else? You don’t have to worry about voting until Nov. 4, which will be our general election,” Wright said. Running for Ward 4 councilor are incumbent Melissa J. Lewandowski, former City Councilor Kenneth E. Quimby and former Patrolman Guy E. Cooper. Running for Ward 6 councilor are incumbent Michael S. McGonagle, firefighter Timothy Carroll and Oliver Aguilo. Wright said voters who want to get a jump on the election or will be out of town on election day may either vote early in person or request a mail-in ballot. Early voting takes place at Haverhill City Hall in the clerk’s office, Wright explained. “Yes, we will have early voting but a small change in it. Due to the reduction of voters with only two wards, we will be having it in our office instead. So that’s Room 118 of City Hall. Early voting will occur from Tuesday, Sept. 2, until Friday, Sept. 5, and we’ll be hosting early voting during our open office hours which are 8 to 4 every day,” Wright said. Those who wish to vote by mail can request a ballot no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29. The request form is available at the city clerk’s office or online at the city clerk’s website. The online form must be printed and signed. Voters can return the request in person at the clerk’s office or mail it in time to meet the deadline. The last day to register to vote in the Sept. 9 preliminary is Friday, Aug. 29, Wright said. Support the show

Upwards of 200 bicyclists will hit the road in September to help raise money to help prevent homelessness in Haverhill. Al Hanscom, president and CEO of Emmaus House in Haverhill, was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. Hanscom chatted with host Win Damon about Emmaus programs to prevent homelessness and its major Cycle for Shelter fundraiser Sunday, Sept. 14, at Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill campus. “We have several rides that they are going to be riding and helping to raise money for homeless families and individuals,” Hanscom said. Individuals pay a $35 registration fee and asked to raise a minimum of $200. The event, in its 37th, year and has raised more than $2.2 million for homeless prevention programs, Hanscom said. “We have five different routes for them to be able ride. We have the 100-mile, the 62, the 35. We have a 15-mile family ride with a nice ice cream stop and everything on the way and then we actually have virtual rides for those who want to ride virtually,” Hanscom said. Hanscom said the day begins at 6 a.m. when riders begin to register. The 100-mile rides leave at 7 a.m. and follow a route out to the North Shore and up the coast to North Hampton, N.H. Volunteers and riders will be offered onsite entertainment including a cookout, Hanscom said. Hanscom said Emmaus placed 132 families in permanent homes last year. The organization operates both family and individual shelters as well as manages 100 units of supportive housing. “From July 1, 2024 to June 20, 2025, we were able to place 52 families out of our family shelter right into housing. We also run a diversion program where we have families who are homeless about to enter into family shelter. We were able to place another 72 families directly into housing. So, that’s 132 families in 12 months that we ended their homelessness including into apartments,” Hanscom said. There’s more information about Cycle for Shelter online at EmmausInc.org. Support the show

To help promote the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and Haverhill itself, the organization is making sure business owners and their employees know they may attend functions without being a member. The reminder came from Katie Cook, new Chamber president, during a recent appearance on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. Cook shared some of the initiatives and upcoming events on the Chamber’s calendar. “You don’t have to be a member to attend any of our events. We are really trying to do the next year with open events to draw attention to the Chamber and have people connecting. We want to help all businesses in the city,” Cook said. Among the more popular events this month is the Chamber’s eighth annual Restaurant Week which is moving back to August this year. It runs from Friday, Aug. 15, through Monday, Aug. 25. Participating restaurants will offer specials rather than a fixed priced item, Cook said. “Fortunately for Haverhill, we don’t just have dinner-style restaurants. We’ve got a ton of cafes in the area. We’ve got ice cream stands and dessert places that want to participate,” Cook said. So far 12 eateries have signed on. They are Aroma Joe’s, Barrio, Bosa, Bradford Village Square, Casa Bianca, Dominic’s, Drop Café, G’s Texas Southern Fare, Joseph’s Trattoria. Peddler’s Daughter, Roma Ristorante and The Tap Brewing Co. The Chamber is also offering the chance to win prizes for eating at least four establishments. Diners can pick up a passport at their first stop and then get stamps during visits to other restaurants. Another event Cook is excited about is the Harbor Tours Back to Business networking mixer on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Haverhill Municipal Dock off Washington Street. Yankee Clipper will offer three 30-minute boat rides on the Merrimack. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. with networking, and open bar and snacks. The boat tours will leave at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m. Cook highly recommends the river cruise. “It is such a different view of the city. It is gorgeous,” Cook said. There’s more at the Chamber’s website, HaverhillChamber.com. Support the show

Haverhill community activist Kalister Green-Byrd was a reluctant writer prodded to pen a memoir by friends. The 91-year-old’s book, “Overcoming the Odds,” relates her experiences from being raised in segregated Decatur, Ala., and coming to Massachusetts at 18. Green-Byrd, 91, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, shared the experience of writing a memoir. “I kept saying, ‘No, no I am not a writer. I don’t want to talk about it.’ I just played the hand that life dealt me. Just like playing cards whatever hand is dealt to you. They were just supportive, very helpful and said we will help you. And so I thought about it. I prayed on it. I cried about it and they kept encouraging me. That’s how it initially got started,” Green-Byrd said. Friends found her story fascinating, Green-Byrd said. Upon coming to Massachusetts, she spent eight years on the Cape and migrated to Haverhill at the suggestion of a friend. In Haverhill she discovered a challenging housing situation for her growing family. Her solution was to get involved with Community Action. She eventually became a member of the Community Action board of directors and then won an appointment to the Haverhill Housing Authority as its first African-American woman. She also served on the board of directors for the YWCA and Latino Coalition and was a founding member of the League of Women Voters of Haverhill. Green-Byrd also had a more than 20-year career as an administrator for Title 1 programs with the state Department of Education. Green-Byrd’s book tells her story from her childhood through her adult life as an activist and mother of seven. She writes about her faith in God as a primary source of consolation and strength. Green-Byrd said writing the book was an emotional rollercoaster as she had to relive events she would have preferred to forget. “You have to tell it all, the good, the bad, indifferent. There are things that happen in life we can’t change that we’re not proud of but they did happen. So, if you are going to talk about it and tell the story, you have to tell it all,” she said. Proceeds from the sale of the book, available from the publisher West Bow Press and elsewhere, will be split between the Riverside Church’s Kalister Green Education Fund and Calvary Baptist Church. Support the show

Shaq is back with help from Haverhill’s BC Media Productions in a new Netflix docu-series, “Power Moves With Shaquille O’Neal.” The series, which focuses on Shaquille O’Neil’s recent appointment as president of the footwear and athletic brand, Reebok, was filmed partly in Boston, where Ben Consoli and his team of producers and videographers aided in shooting interviews and “b-roll,” an industry term for supplementary shots that enhance the main story. BC Media Productions got its start filming commercials and videos for academic institutions. The company was founded by Consoli, a lifelong Haverhill resident who attended Emerson College for videography. His firm made connections with industry members through their past work and were approached by a partner media production company with this opportunity. When asked if they wanted to participate, the answer was a resounding yes. The production had to be kept secret until it was completed and confirmed for release. In an interview with WHAV, Consoli discussed how many projects never make it to viewers. “When you work on projects like this you never quite know if it’s going to happen because you’re doing these a year or so ahead of release day. So, we got the word it’s finally coming out. We’re like ‘Oh wow.’ A: We can actually talk about it now and B: it will be out there in the world.” Consoli’s team got to enjoy a meal with the gargantuan basketballer at the close of their Boston shooting days. They reported that for lunch, O’Neil had a special lunch order. “Shaq had ordered two sandwiches and everyone just thought, ‘Okay, it was him and for his son.’ But no, they were both for him. And we’re kinda like okay, this is exactly what you would expect from a man that large—he’s gotta eat a lot to keep himself going,” he said. Despite having their company name attached to a prominent, globally streamable project, Consoli said his company will continue representing Haverhill with pride. He mentioned he loves bringing working partners to their Haverhill offices. “I’m proud to have the business here and to say like, ‘No, this company is in Haverhill and you should come on by. Come in for a meeting, grab something to eat, hang out.’ Like every client that comes to my office is like, ‘This town is awesome,’” Consoli added. BC Media Productions is located at 21 Wingate St, Suite 102, in Haverhill. “Power Moves With Shaquille O’Neal” is now streaming all episodes on Netflix. Support the show

The chief of emergency medicine at Lawrence General Hospital appeared on WHAV last week to allay public concerns over plans to reduce services at Holy Family Hospital Haverhill. Lawrence General has applied to change its state license to allow it to close in-patient medical and surgical beds as well as the intensive care unit at Holy Family Hospital Haverhill, but retain the emergency department as a free-standing, or satellite, operation. Under the plan, the emergency department would remain staffed and opened 24 hours, seven days a week, according to Dr. Jeremiah “Jay” Schuur, head of emergency medicine at the three hospitals. Schuur said the main reason the hospital is seeking to close down the in-patient beds is only eight to 10 beds of the hospital’s 59 are used on a regular basis. Most patients who must be admitted are already being transferred to Holy Family Hospital Methuen. That practice would continue, he said. “It means the emergency department in Haverhill will continue to taking ambulances, will continue to be open 24/7 staffed with experiences physicians for emergency medicine. The same technology we have now, CT scanners, ultrasounds, lab test. That’s really the main question that I think people have. Are those services changing? Our message is we are going to be continuing those services,” Schuur said. Schuur was a guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program Thursday, July 17, and outlined the hospital’s plans. Lawrence General Hospital bought the two local hospitals for $28 million from bankrupt Steward Health Care last fall. Residents have two chances this week to make comments and ask questions about the proposal which would go into effect Oct. 1. The state Department of Public Health has scheduled the formal public hearing Wednesday, July 23, at 6 p.m. at Northern Essex Community College’s David Hartleb Technology Center in room 103AB, 100 Elliott St., Haverhill. Lawrence General officials have also scheduled their own “listening session” the following day, Thursday, July 24, at 5:30 p.m. in Johnson Auditorium at Haverhill Public Library, 99 Main St., Haverhill. Support the show

The Verge Youth Center at Somebody Cares New England is offering a basketball program this summer as part of expanded programing. Marlene J. Yeo, founder and executive director of Somebody Cares New England, and Lori Jane Simmer, director, were guests recently on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. Simmer explained the program’s mission. “So our youth center really focuses on life skills, really equipping the youth of our community with skills to overcome life’s challenges. And especially this summer we have all sorts of fun things in place for the kids to give them structure,” Simmer said. Yeo said she was inspired to open the youth center six years ago after a gang-related shooting happened outside the Somebody Cares building. Simmer said the basketball program aims to inspire confidence and sportsmanship while at the same time teaching basic basketball skills. The free program runs Mondays through Fridays, from 2 to 5 p.m., rain or shine at Somebody Cares, 358 Washington St., Haverhill. It is open to middle and high school students. The center also offers games such as pool, air hockey and PlayStation 4. Teens interested in art may also participate in an art activity each Monday and Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. In addition to weekly basketball and art activities, Somebody Cares offers a free art and basketball camp for three days in August which includes lunch, dinner and a backpack. The program runs Aug. 7 through Aug. 9 from noon to 7 p.m. In addition to its summer youth center programming, Somebody Cares offers year-round after-school activities for elementary school children ages 7 to 11 every Wednesday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and for youths 11 to 18 every Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Teens choose their own goals, earn points for attendance and progress and redeem them monthly for field trips to area entertainment venues. (CUT: simmer-both-parties-win.wav) “Our teenagers right now are teaching from the curriculum of “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” So right now we are just wrapped up number four, think win-win. Really teaching the teenagers that when you have conflict it doesn’t have to be you and them, one side wins over the other but really finding a compromise when both parties win,” said Simmer. Two summer block parties for the neighborhood with games and summer treats are planned for Saturday, July 26, and Saturday, Sept. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. Somebody Cares also offers a mobile food pantry for seniors on the second and third Thursdays of the month and a family pantry at the Washington Street headquarters on the last Thursday of the month. Support the show

Lifeguards are back at Plug Pond this summer. The Haverhill Recreation Department revived its guard program after it was abandoned for lack of staff following the COVID-19 pandemic. To make sure the city has enough certified lifeguards to call on, the Recreation Department ran two well-attended lifeguard certification training programs in the last year—one in December and one in May. The training was offered by Wicked Safety Training. Recreation Director Benjamin Delaware, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win For Breakfast” program, said, “People don’t realize that lifeguard training requires 35 hours of classroom study and several in-water tests.” The move comes after the city suffered three drownings last year, one at Plug Pond, though in a deep area outside the roped swimming area. Two guards will be on duty at all times. Delaware said the city also hired security guards and adult site directors to help with management and crowd control. He noted some of his staff are fluent in Spanish as well as English. He added, “In the past we have relied on college students as park ambassadors. We really felt we needed a more mature adult staff.” Towards that end the city hired security guards, many of whom work during the school year for the Haverhill Public Schools. The site managers will deal with administrative tasks such a checking in those with day passes, Delaware said. “I am very excited about the staff I have this year. We have definitely a more diverse staff than we have had in many years both in terms of background and skills. It is a great group. So, we’ll have a lot of fun and they always usually enjoy working there,” Delaware said. Delaware noted the day pass system for vehicles has changed this year. Residents can still order a day pass on the day they plan to visit during the week up until 5:30 p.m. However, weekend and holiday passes must be purchased at least a day in advanced so that the staff has a better idea of attendance. Passes are $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents and can be ordered at HaverhillRec.com. “Weekends and holidays we are asking people to register days prior so we have an idea of head count before the day starts,” Delaware said. Walk-ins are still free. Prior registration is not required during the week but is necessary for the weekends. Register at HaverhillRec.com. Senior lifetime passes for those 62 and over are $5 for residents and $10 for non-residents. Plug Pond, also called Lake Saltonstall, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., off Sanders Road, near Mill Street. The swimming area can accommodate 250 people. Support the show

The newly formed Haverhill Performing Arts Workshop is looking for young actors and a place to perform. Bobby Gariepy and Maddie Hanson launched the venture after their successful association with drama programs at Haverhill High School. Gariepy, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, outlined the plan for the new group. “The Haverhill Performing Arts Workshop… our main vision, our goal, our mission statement really is to provide equitable access to performing arts opportunities for the youth, the children, the teens, the young adults in the Haverhill and Merrimack Valley region. So it’s a broad statement. With that what we want to do is provide as many opportunities for these underserved youths in our community to learn how to perform and to perform successfully on the stage and to have fun doing it,” Gariepy said. The group’s first show will be “Disney’s Descendants the Musical” with performances set for Friday, Aug. 22 through Sunday, Aug. 24. Auditions are being held Sunday, June 29, at the East Parish Meeting House, 150 Middle Road, any time after 1 p.m. Performers are asked to prepare a monologue from a favorite Disney movie or musical or 30 seconds of a song to sing. Those who cannot attend the in-person auditions may send a video to Gariepy at bobbydg99@gmail.com by July 3. The cost to participate is $100 for an individual or $175 for two members of the same family. Rehearsals will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 2 to 5 p.m., Gariepy said. Gariepy said as far as performance venues, they are making inquiries and hope to have a location selected soon. Support the show

Haverhill’s first Pride Parade kicks off the Fifth Annual June Art Walk this Saturday. Art Walk runs in downtown Haverhill on Washington and Wingate Streets, between Washington Square and Railroad Square. As WHAV has reported, it will be proceeded by the annual Pride Flag raising at Haverhill City Hall at 12:30 p.m. The Pride Parade will then form across the street at the Grand Army of the Republic Park and step off at 1:30 p.m., down Bailey Boulevard to Emerson Street and then into Washington Square. Downtown Events Coordinator Hailey Pearson, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win For Breakfast” program, discussed various artists and performers who are part of this year’s Art Walk. “We are really excited to be incorporating the first Pride Parade to kick off Art Walk this year. So, it has been about a year in the making from the time that we starting talking about this idea of bringing in a parade and it has just been an incredible experience to witness the support from the community, the people who came together to really make this happen.” The Haverhill Art Walk, which is a project of Creative Haverhill, is bigger than ever, Pearson said. The free event will run Saturday, June 7, from 2-6 p.m., rain or shine. “We’re going to have over a dozen businesses participating in activities so everything from live music to family-friendly interactive activities in both Railroad Square, the Columbia Park area to Washington Square. So those squares bookend the activities,” Pearson said. She added a Pride Resource Fair will be set up at the top of Wingate Street. “We’ve got our Alley Art Market in the alleyways along Washington Street. We’ve got Punctuate4. That’s a theater group that is hosting the “Abolitionist’s Refrain.” So that’s a theater performance in the empty space at 90 Washington St. We really love utilizing these vacant storefronts to show people what could be and invite people to step into these spaces that are transformed for the weekend,” Pearson added. Performances of the Abolitionist’s Refrain are at 3 and 5 p.m. The play, written by Michael Cormier, features Haverhill native John Greenleaf Whittier as he comes to terms with what freeing of slaves following the Civil War means to a divided nation and the new challenges the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution brings. The River Bards, a local group of poets, will be reading the works of Whittier. Yankee Clipper Tours will offer cruises down the Merrimack River and the staff from the Buttonwoods Museum will lead a “Pentucket on the Merrimack walking tour. Live music performers include Fake Leather Jacket, Liz Bills and The Change and The Party Band. The Irise Dance Program from Lawrence will present a dynamic performance that includes an interactive drumming session. Family-friendly art projects include masking making, rock painting and zine making. The Museum of Printing is offering hands-on screen printing and the Haverhill Studio will offer complimentary portraits. Pearson said there is still a need for volunteers. Those interested may visit CreativeHaverhill.org or email Pearson at HaverhillArtWalk@gmail.com. Besides WHAV.net, WHAV’s “Merrimack Valley Newsmakers” podcasts are available on your favorite platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeart, Support the show

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