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.

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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.

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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,

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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.

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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.

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Haverhill Public Schools would receive an additional $6 million in state aid if a House of Representative proposal to increase state support for schools makes it into the final state budget.

State Rep. Andy X. Vargas, whose district encompasses a portion of Haverhill, was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast.” He made note of the additional school spending proposal.

“So, it’s about a $6 million increase for Haverhill Public Schools in Chapter 70 funding. Now there is always more needed but a $6 million increase in this environment is certainly notable,” he said.

The proposed funding is part of an initiative to raise the state’s per pupil spending from $30 to $150.

Vargas said the city would receive about $12.5 million in unrestricted funds in the House’s fiscal plan. He said the House proposal also includes a $75,000 allocation for the Pinnacle co-working space, formerly the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, at Harbor Place on Merrimack St.; $25,000 to the Greater Haverhill Foundation for help; to manage the co-working space and $15,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Haverhill’s new building.

The budgeting process now moves to the Senate for debate. Then, the House and Senate will need to reconcile their fiscal plans before a final budget proposal is sent to the governor.

The new state budget would go into effect July 1.

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Essex County Habitat for Humanity, currently in the midst of one Haverhill homebuilding project, is moving on to another in the city’s Mount Washington neighborhood.

The nonprofit recently agreed to purchase a single-family home and property at 512 Washington St. for $650,000 and has the city’s blessing to convert it into seven affordable housing units. Director of Charitable Giving Kevin Hudson made the revelation while a guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program.

“We are currently raising funds to acquire property on Washington Street where we plan to build seven new homes,” Hudson said, noting that in addition to the purchase price, Habitat must raise about $2 million to fund the renovation and construction.

Hudson later explained the plan is to renovate the current house on the property, owned by Keith Boucher, to create three units and then build two duplex houses.

Andrew K. Herlihy, division director for the city’s Community Development Department, said the city has committed $149,173 from federal HOME Program funds to help Habitat with the purchase of the property.

“It is a proposal we support in part because home ownership in the Mount Washington neighborhood, where this property is located, is the lowest in the city,” Herlihy said, adding that the project would most likely have to come before City Council for a special permit.

Hudson said Habitat hopes to have the project funded by the fall of 2025 and that groundbreaking would then follow in 10 to 12 months.

Habitat already has one duplex under construction at 41 Curtis St. in Haverhill. This Thursday, May 8, some 40 women—wielding hammers, screwdrivers and saws—will descend on the site for a Habitat Women Build event.

“It started as an opportunity for women who wanted to volunteer and to be able to do so in an unintimidating environment with other women who don’t have any or as much experience in construction and it has really grown from there across the country,” Hudson said.

Among the women volunteering that day are a crew from the North Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in North Andover. The Curtis Street project is Habitat’s fourth in Haverhill. The public is invited to view the progress of the Curtis Street house at a Hard Hat Tour and reception on Thursday, May 15, at 5:30 p.m.., Hudson said.

A crew of women are also volunteering next week at a Habitat site in Hamilton where five duplexes are currently under construction. Habitat expects to break ground on a duplex in Ipswich and one in Wenham soon and is currently in the process of permitting

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The new 69-acre Sweet Paws Rescue pet sanctuary scheduled to open later this summer plans to offer space for abandoned dogs and cats to roam.

But, Cynthia Sweet, founder and executive director of the local animal rescue group, says it won’t change the focus of local animal rescue organization as a foster care group.

“We are still going to be a foster organization. Dogs and cats do best when they are in people’s homes. And we are not going to be a shelter. So, this is going to be a layover if you will,” she explained recently on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program.

She discussed how the farm purchase will stabilize the organization, but not change its mission. As WHAV reported last month, Sweet Paws is in the midst of a $4.6 million campaign to purchase and equip a 69-acre farm in Bradford as it has outgrown its Groveland location.

Sweet founded her animal rescue group in 2011 to help address the overpopulation of dogs and cats in two poor counties in Alabama and Mississippi. To date the group has placed some 22,000 animals in new “forever homes” in New England. Recently, though, the agency has seen an uptick in the number of animals surrendered locally.

“There is a huge increase of local dogs and cats in need basically since the last few years. It’s sort of a result of COVID. We went from 2019 to about 3% of our dogs were coming from Massachusetts. Not it is about 45% of our animals are coming from our own backyard.”

Sweet said the farm will allow space and time for her 350 volunteers to get to know animals left for adoption. She said eventually her group is planning to open walking trails to the public.

“Basically it will continue to be a space for our southern animals that are coming into the state. They have to be quarantined for 48 hours. And then it will also be a space for our local animals where we will be able to get them exercised and really get to know them. But it’s really for growth. The other thing that’s going to be great for Haverhill residents is that it will be 70 acres of preserved open space,” she said.

Sweet also said she is in talks with the City of Haverhill to provide shelter space for animals picked up by the city’s animal control unit.

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