411 Cares serving lunch to Haverhill firefighters during the last year. (Courtesy photograph.)
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Haverhill’s 411 Cares achieved an important milestone this week distributing 13,000 meals to needy residents and veterans.
The nonprofit organization that formed last year to address shortages stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic delivers fully prepared meals daily to 120 veterans, elderly and low- and moderate-income residents. These include YMCA residents and veterans at Veterans Northeast Outreach Center homes on Cedar and Temple Streets.
By John Lee Grant |
Haverhill City Councilor John A. Michitson. (WHAV News file photograph.)
City Councilor John A. Michitson has a plan to address the growing inequality between high and low paying occupations and the “shrinking of middle tier jobs.”
His colleagues Tuesday night endorsing his call to schedule a Citizens Outreach Committee meeting to start by identifying and cataloging problems and available resources to help. The councilor said one way to help low wage earners is to provide on-the-job training and educational opportunities.
“Kick it off with a Citizen Outreach Committee hearing. Invite citizens, academia, all levels of government, industry, anybody that can help us,” he suggested.
(WHAV News file photograph.)
Haverhill and Lawrence Police are again receiving state staffing grants to support public safety and emergency response services.
Haverhill receives $255,200, while Lawrence garnered just under a million from the Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Grant program. The money may be used to restore, retain, or hire police and fire personnel or for overtime, if needed to provide adequate shift coverage and maintain appropriate staffing levels.
“Now more than ever, as the Commonwealth continues to battle the COVID-19 public health emergency, our administration remains committed to directing state resources in ways that empower local leaders,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “These grants provide an immediate solution for staffing shortages, which could exacerbate a dangerous public safety situation.”
January 15, 2021
Northern Essex Community College now has a state-of-the-art lab for its dental assisting program. (Courtesy photograph.)
Northern Essex Community College is expanding its health care programs with a night Dental Assisting Program as well as offering micro-credentials for area health workers thanks to a $400,000 state grant.
The money is part of $11.7 million distributed this year under the Massachusetts Skills Capital Program. Grants help high schools, colleges and other educational institutions invest in the most up-to-date training equipment in such fields as construction, engineering, hospitality and health.
“This is great news for the college, our community partners and anyone who accesses health services in the Merrimack Valley,” said Scott Lancaster, interim dean of health professions. “Our facilities for training health care workers are the best. That, combined with the quality of our faculty, means our students are getting the best preparation for f
The Merrimack River from Haverhill to Newburyport. (Creative Commons.)
The Merrimack River Watershed Council is hailing a new law that requires residents be quickly alerted when untreated sewage enters the waterway
Gov. Charlie Baker signed the measure that is expected to have a public alert system in place by this summer when people will be boating, fishing and swimming in the Merrimack River. Council Executive Director Matthew Thorne said the bill was first proposed nearly a decade ago, but failed to attract momentum.
“We’ve heard many comments from the state house that the Merrimack Valley was the squeaky wheel that got this legislation passed,” said Thorne. “The MRWC took a leadership role in pushing for this legislation, and we are so happy to see that it’s finally become law.”