(Additional photographs below.) Joseph’s Trattoria restaurant plans to return to Ward Hill by late next spring—starting a $5 million portion of what will be “Oxford Crossing,” a new neighborhood village with retail spaces and 270 apartments. Owner Deanna Faro Gaiero and her family participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning at the site off Route 125. She explained the project has been in the works longer than most realize.

(Additional photographs below.) Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said Friday he will not seek a third, four-year term, presuming he is re-elected during the November general election. Tucker, who was first elected to the county’s top law enforcement post in the November 2021 general election following a lengthy career in law enforcement and as a state representative, is running unopposed for his second term this November.

Haverhill city councilors are expected to consider a request Tuesday night to demolish a single-family house at 27 Marshland St. and replace it with three, attached three-bedroom townhouses. Deliberations on the proposal, called “Marshland Commons,” from Matt Silva for Sterling Commonwealth Builders were postponed from last month. According to plans, each unit of about 1,700 square feet would have three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and an attached two-car garage.

A new club at Pentucket Regional High School is having a free Community Clothing Swap to help the public save money, connect with their community and reduce consumption and textile waste. Founder Henry Smith, a senior from Groveland, said the Neighbors United Social Action Club will also be sponsoring other community events also seeks volunteer opportunities where club members can take part.

Michael McCarthy, executive vice president and chief financial and operating officer at Northern Essex Community College, was recently appointed to the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center statewide Advisory Council, a new group of business, government, economic development and community leaders helping guide the future of small business support in the state. The Advisory Council was established as part of the Council’s five-year strategic plan, which is focused on strengthening the organization’s ability to help entrepreneurs build and grow sustainable businesses that drive economic growth and innovation across Massachusetts.

(Additional photograph below.) The city celebrated the Atlantic shortnose sturgeon, which has been making its way up the Merrimack River to spawn in what we now call Haverhill for centuries, during the dedication of First Nations Park Saturday. At Saturday’s ceremony, Larry Spotted Crow Mann, an enrolled citizen of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe of Massachusetts and executive director of the Ohketeau Cultural Center in Rowley, explained the park’s significance to indigenous people, who consider the sturgeon sacred.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill is receiving a $100,000 boost in its plans to build a modern and expanded club on a 6.5-acre parcel near Interstate 495. The Club said Friday Rep. Andy X. Vargas delivered a $100,000 state earmark—to support the current capital campaign for a new building. It is Vargas’ third legislative allocation for the project. As WHAV reported, …

The Haverhill, Methuen, Lawrence and Merrimack College police departments saw their newest recruits graduate Friday from the Municipal Police Training Committee-Northern Essex Community College Police Academy. New, full-time officers are, in Haverhill, Luis Cortes, Colin McMahon and Jordyn O’Boyle; Methuen, Brian Belen, Darren Bistany, Nestor Garcia, Laura Medina and Amanda Saba; Lawrence, Joseph Carroll, Justin Crow, Axel De Leon and Sheralee Hernandez; and Merrimack College, Abaigeal Gilman.

AHEPA Acropolis Chapter 39 of Haverhill recently awarded a total of $10,000 in 2026 scholarships, divided among eight graduating students. Each recipient was given a check $1,250 for towards college. Students were Ellie Dimopoulos of Haverhill, attending Endicott College, majoring in Exercise Science; Victoria Syniotis of Methuen, attending San Diego University, majoring in Business and Marketing; Lila Tzitzon of Andover, attending Boston College, majoring in Nursing; Mikayla Tzortizs of Haverhill, attending Merrimack College, majoring in Nursing; Nektarios Tzortzis of Haverhill, attending UMasss Lowell, majoring in Accounting; Melina Panagiotakopoulos of Haverhill, attending UMass, majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management; Amalia Panagiotakopoulos of Haverhill, attending George Washington University, majoring in Political Science; and Angelica Pricone-Mallous of Manchester, N.H., attending Manchester School of Technology, majoring in Design Communication.

Haverhill Public Schools are starting a middle school Field Hockey program next spring. Haverhill High School varsity field hockey Coach Samantha Shea is running the new program. She said they’ll need to determined how many people are interested in playing. If the numbers are high enough, the program will be able to run full games between the different Haverhill middle schools, but if the numbers are too low, the program will run scrimmage matchups instead.

The Atkinson Women’s Civic Club Indoor/Outdoor Fall Artisan Market in bringing the wares of 70 local artisan vendors along with food, music and raffles to its Oct. 17 annual tradition. Items from local crafters, food vendors will be available along with raffle baskets and a 50/50 raffle prize with all proceeds going back to the Atkinson, N.H., community. The Atkinson Women’s Civic Club Indoor/Outdoor Fall Artisan Market takes place Saturday, Oct.

A well-recognized Haverhill bicyclist, often the subject of curiosity and who died in 2024, will now be long remembered by youth who take part in activities at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill. Dennis E. Babbitt who died at age 81 in January of 2024, left $25,000 in an unusual way that will now be used to support Boys and Girls Club programs.

Methuen, North Andover, Groveland Projects Also Win Grants Haverhill is receiving nearly $2 million from the state to rebuild the Washington Square pedestrian plaza along with $1 million for its planned Merrimack River radial collector well and $568,853 for L’Arche Boston North’s planned redevelopment of the former A-1 Deli. The projects were among those named Thursday in sweeping $330 million economic development and housing awards statewide that will also bring planning for starter home zoning in the city, street improvements in Methuen, sidewalk work in North Andover and zoning to advance redevelopment of Groveland’s Strawberry Fields.

The Haverhill Democratic City Committee is taking positions on all nine binding statewide ballot questions voters will decide in November. Committee members are endorsing six questions and opposing three. In summary, it backs the expanded public records law, election day registration, conservation funding and firearms law, while opposing all-party primaries and a ban on recreational marijuana sales. “With so much at stake in this year’s elections, we felt it was important not only to call attention to these nine ballot questions, but also to make clear where the Haverhill Democratic City Committee stands,” said William D.

(Additional photograph below.) Northern Essex Community College volleyball is on a three-game win streak. Tuesday night, it defeated Quinsigamond Community College in a 3-0 set sweep. Sophomore and Knights captain Rachelle Torres collected 26 assists along with a season best 11 service aces. This game saw Torres pass the 500-assist mark for her career at Northern Essex. Sophomore and Knights captain Faith Martin added six kills as the Knights hit a season high .415 kill percentage in the match.

Sujata Yadav has been named president of River Run Bancorp, MHC, parent of Newburyport Bank, Pentucket Bank and Rollstone Bank & Trust and will become chief executive office next July. Yadav will work closely with Chief Executive Officer Lloyd L. Hamm Jr., River Run’s board of directors and executive leadership team as she begins her transition into the leadership of River Run and its three affiliated community banks.

West Congregational Church’s WestArts is presenting the movie, “Meet John Doe,” during its Friday Free Movie Night. Organizers say, “Meet John Doe” is a 1941 Oscar-nominated film directed by Frank Capra, featuring themes of social responsibility and the impact of media on public perception artfully woven into a crackling comedy-drama that feels relevant today. “A penniless drifter is recruited by an ambitious columnist to pretend to be John Doe, a fictitious citizen venting his frustration about society’s woes in her newspaper column.

(Additional photographs below.) A Haverhill family has plans to return an early 19th century home to residential use after the building served for many years as commercial offices. The 1810-era, brick, Federalist-style house at 780 Main St., at the corner of Baltimore Street, most recently served as a real estate office. A developer, known as 424 Main Street, operated by Meenu and Sohan Saini, bought the property a little more than three years ago.

Haverhill credited its team yesterday with winning an $813,000 federal grant, and detailed how new fire equipment will be used following last Friday’s announcement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Fire Chief Christopher Cesati credited Deputy Fire Chief Richard Shellene, the department’s grant team and outside consultant Merchant McIntyre Associates for their work in preparing and submitting the successful application. Cesati and Mayor Melinda E.

The First Presbyterian Church of Haverhill earlier this month completed the sale of its church building at the corner of Broadway and Carleton Street, noting proceeds will be used to benefit charitable efforts locally and within the region. The church, 346 Broadway, was sold last week to Merrimack Valley Presbyterian Church, previously of North Andover. Officials said, “While both Presbyterian churches, our congregations hail from different denominational entities and have no ties to each other.

Haverhill’s Driscoll Funeral Home is again treating first responders and city workers to a cookout Friday. Owner Pat Driscoll said the sixth annual First Responders and City Workers Appreciation Cookout takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the funeral home parking area, 309 S. Main St., Bradford. It features meal raffles provided by local restaurants and businesses “If you are a current or former City of Haverhill worker, you are invited,” Driscoll said.

Methuen Mayor David P. “D.J.: Beauregard Jr. and City Councilor Mike Simard followed up Wednesday on the mayor’s recent call for U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley to reopen a federal investigation into former Methuen Police Chief Joseph E. Solomon. Beauregard and Simard are asking Methuen councilors to approve a joint resolution next Monday, telling Foley that Solomon’s recent guilty plea and jail sentence do “not answer the full set of questions surrounding the 2017 police contracts, the favors that preceded or followed the approval of those contracts, (Sean) Fountain’s appointment and continued service or the conduct of others who have never faced charges.”

National Grid is receiving about $49 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for a project which will use advanced transmission technologies to help improve grid reliability, increase system efficiency and support growing electricity demand. Officials said, what is called the Dynamic Rating Enhancement Advancements and Modernization, or DREAM, project will improve visibility into transmission line performance, enabling National Grid to make smarter operating and planning decisions and obtain more value from existing infrastructure across the company’s transmission network in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The Haverhill City Council is poised to increase the number of outdoor food vendors next summer, but reject a suggested location. While councilors took no votes Tuesday night, they heard Ward 4 City Councilor Melissa J. Lewandowski’s summary of where members of the Council’s Natural Resources and Public Property Committee are leaning in response to Ward 3 Councilor Devan M. Ferreira…

Hospitals Financials Improved Ahead of ‘Most Disruptive Wave’ By Alison Kuznitz The former Holy Family Hospital and its new parent, Merrimack Health, showed improved profitability during the last fiscal year. It was among a majority of Massachusetts hospitals that boosted their profitability, but a trade group offered a cautionary note this week due to federal policy changes that could upend the gains.

The Massachusetts attorney general’s office said Tuesday it reached a $525,000 settlement agreement with a trash hauler that it said repeatedly failed to empty overflowing trash dumpsters and recycling containers across the Lawrence Public School system, delayed or disregarded residential trash pickups and left yard waste uncollected. State Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s said JRM Hauling and Recycling Services, a subsidiary of Republic Services, failed to honor its waste and recycling contract with Lawrence, leading to uncollected trash that caused unsanitary conditions across the city.

Bradd Timm, nature author and wildlife ecologist, tells the stories of everyone’s backyard visitors when he discusses “Wildlife Out Your Window” during the Haverhill Public Library’s Climate & Community Series. Timm tells the stories and uses photographs and videos from his book, “Wildlife Out Your Window,” to bring common backyard species to life with stories described as fun, memorable, and often surprising.

PrideStar Trinity EMS’ Communications Center has again earned designation as an Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. Originally achieving ACE Accreditation in 2017, PrideStar Trinity EMS became the first emergency medical dispatch center in Massachusetts to receive the designation. Today, it remains one of only two accredited Centers of Excellence in the Commonwealth and joins a group of just 300 accredited communications centers worldwide.

Downed tree limbs and power outages over the last few days highlighted Haverhill’s experience with the season’s early nor’easter, but an official said, the rain hasn’t done enough to dramatically change local drought conditions. Officials starting receiving calls of power outages, downed tree limbs and business alarms being set off beginning about 12:45, Saturday afternoon. Public Works Director Robert E. Ward told WHAV the wastewater treatment plant on S.

The Haverhill Historic Commission is expected to review demolition and reconstruction plans for the former Haverhill Lodge of Elks No. 165, at the corner of Summer and Newcomb Streets when it meets Thursday night. As WHAV reported last March, Bethany Communities of Haverhill is eying the former clubhouse at 24 Summer St. for senior affordable assisted living apartments. According to the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds, Bethany purchased the property last April 30 for $900,000 and secured a mortgage through Boston-based Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation.

An Andover company will receive a $1.9 million state tax incentive in exchange for creating 62 life science jobs. TransMedics Group was one of 38 firms to share Monday in $40 million in tax incentives through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. The program is intended to support companies that are expanding research, development and manufacturing operations in Massachusetts. Thirty one of the 38 companies receiving awards are expanding outside of Boston and Cambridge and account for 71% of new jobs expected to be created through this round of awards.

Author, journalist and media scholar Jeff Jarvis is coming to Haverhill for a celebration of his new book, “Hot Type: The Magnificent Machine That Gave Birth to Mass Media and Drove Mark Twain Mad.” In Hot Type, Jarvis tells the story of the Linotype, the groundbreaking typesetting machine that upended more than 400 years of setting type by hand. He also explores the people behind the technology—including Mark Twain, whose fascination with a competing typesetting machine led to one of the most disastrous investments of his life.

National Grid takes time to meet with residents and answer questions Wednesday night on its plans to refurbish a 32-mile corridor of electric lines stretching from Haverhill’s Ward Hill Substation on Cross Street north to the New Hampshire border and south to Tewksbury. According to the utility, the work involves installing new access roads and work pads, replacing 345 kilovolt wood poles with new light duty steel H-frame and monopole structures, replacing 345 kilovolt wood and steel structures with engineered steel monopole structures and installing new optical ground wire to improve reliability and enable troubleshooting between substations.

Two of six people involved in an armed robbery last year at a North Andover jewelry store pleaded guilty Monday in Essex County Superior Court and were sentenced to seven to 12 years in prison. Yire Abreu, 25, of the Bronx and Wilfred Mordan, 23, of Hazelton, Penn., pleaded guilty to armed and masked robbery, five counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing a large-capacity-feeding device and possessing a loaded firearm.

The Haverhill Fire Department is receiving nearly $813,000 for firefighter breathing equipment—one of the largest awards in the state in this year’s round of federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday the money is part of $11.7 million distributed in Massachusetts in the award category. Grants are intended to be used to “outfit responders with compliant personal protective equipment, acquire emergency response vehicles, and develop health, wellness and resiliency initiatives to prepare responders for incidents.”

As winter approaches, Haverhill city councilors are expected Tuesday to consider changes that would bring greater consistency to overnight parking rules. As proposed, the new rules begin and end a month later than previously, starting Dec. 15 with even-side-of-the street parking, alternating sides monthly without exceptions, and concluding April 15 unless snow conditions dictate otherwise. When deemed warranted, the proposed rules allow the mayor to change start and end dates of all-night parking bans and exceptions with final approval by the City Council.

Haverhill Public Schools is facing a new challenge in its efforts to raise the district’s MCAS scores: IDK. IDK is texting shorthand for “I don’t know,” in the sense of not caring. Of the 441 Haverhill High School 10th graders who took the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test last spring, 103—or 25%—received a zero on the essay portion because they did not attempt to provide a writing sample, Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta told the School Committee last Thursday.

The Haverhill Fire Department is holding a “Run for Tommy,” a 5-kilometer race to help pay for a fellow firefighter’s expenses while being treated for a serious medical condition. Three weeks after getting married, Haverhill firefighter Tommy Quinlan was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Despite Quinlan being at the department for only a few years, organizers said, “he’s part of our Haverhill Fire family, and we want to do everything we can to support him, his wife Tasha and their son Callum through treatment and the road ahead.”

Drivers can expect lane closings along Interstate 495, between Haverhill and Methuen, over the next two weeks as steel goes up on the first of two replacement bridges over the Merrimack River. Temporary nightly lane closings begin Monday, Sept. 28, as needed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., between Exit 105, Route 213 in Methuen, to Exit 106, Ward Hill Connector.

Damark Woodcraft of Haverhill is the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s September business of the month. The company, formed more than 35 years ago, makes hand-built custom furniture, kitchens, doors and more. It helps clients design homes, offices, restaurants and other settings. Mark Brady, owner and president, incorporated the business with his father in 1991. Damark Woodcraft is located at 115 Hale St., Haverhill.

Stormy weather is giving a bit of a reprieve to those who drive over the Pfc. Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge, along Route 125 over the Merrimack River. The state Department of Transportation says it is delaying planned single lane traffic, alternating between northbound, toward downtown Haverhill, and southbound, toward Bradford, that was to begin Monday, Sept. 28. The temporary configuration now is scheduled for Thursday, Oct.

(Additional photograph below.) When the final group of Haverhill High School students, taking part in an assembly to show off their summer work, prepared to step onto the stage, they realized their “show and tell” prototype had mysteriously gone missing. Turns out, their “enhanced” cardboard box, which students in the Lemelson-MIT internship program hoped to use to explain their efficiency idea for HVAC units, had been scooped up by a too-efficient custodian during a rogue fire alarm minutes earlier.

(Additional photograph below.) Haverhill Youth Football and Cheer are in the fourth week of the season and ready for what this weekend has to offer. On the football side, the senior team, grades seven and eight, is currently 2-1 on the year. Director of Football Operations Christian Foresta said that after beating Amesbury 34-6 last week, he predicts league administrators will rank the team as third or fourth place.

The Haverhill Hound, Rod and Gun Club is planning its annual, drop-in open house. The Club invites the public to see its property that offers rifle, archery and indoor ranges, along with monthly safety classes, kayak access for fishing in Chadwick Pond and other activities. There will be hot dogs and other refreshments. The free open house takes place Sunday, Oct.

Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña’s legal troubles are growing with word Thursday a statewide grand jury returned 15 indictments against him in connection with the use and distribution of surveillance footage at Lawrence City Hall. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s office said DePeña is charged with 14 counts of distribution of a wiretapped communication and one of witness intimidation. He will be arraigned in court at a later date.

BrightBridge Credit Union staff supported two causes last weekend—the 2026 Walk for Hope Fall Festival, benefiting Lazarus House Ministries, and Walk for Sickle Cell Disease, benefiting the Massachusetts Sickle Cell Association. On Saturday, the credit union was a $2,500 Walking Partner Sponsor of the Walk for Hope Fall Festival, an annual fundraiser supporting the work of Lazarus House Ministries throughout the Merrimack Valley.

A 22-year-old Haverhill man faces assault and battery and other charges after allegedly hitting a man’s hand with a bat, threatening another and damaging a glass door at a downtown Haverhill restaurant and lounge early last Saturday morning. Frantzdley Jean was arrested by Haverhill Police and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property following an encounter just before 1:30 a.m., at Afro-Infused, 30 Emerson St., not far from Washington Square.

(Additional photograph below.) Haverhill’s new Rosemont Street bridge with classical features opens to traffic Thursday after workers completed installation of guardrails Wednesday. As WHAV reported this week, City Engineer Lisa E. DeMeo said the bridge could open as soon as guardrails were attached. She noted, however, riverbank restoration underneath can continue without disturbing traffic, but eventual relocation of electric wires to overhead poles will require a future closing when National Grid work takes place.

Area state representatives are asked to weigh in on current issues when the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce holds its Annual State Representatives Luncheon in October. The lunch kicks off with state Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Among those invited to attend are Reps. Andy X. Vargas, Ryan M. Hamilton, Frank A. Moran, Tram Nguyen, Francisco E.

Jonathan Machado, Karen Murphy and Joseph Pelich recently joined the Northern Essex Community College Foundation Board, which helps the college and students with additional resources. Machado, of Melrose, is a senior vice president and commercial lending manager at Rockland Trust. As a board and executive committee member of Lawrence Community Works, he has also been actively involved with the Lawrence Partnership and the Lawrence Venture Loan Fund.