Talk all over the Haverhill Fire Department on Monday was that the mayor was not going to appoint a permanent chief. He had previously promised the department would have a new permanent chief by May 1. When the Gazette called to ask if that was correct, the mayor said no, he would have an announcement soon. Talk in the department is that his choice is acting Chief Richard "Rick" Borden — not the popular choice within the department.
Don't forget KidsFest is Saturday in downtown Haverhill, from Railroad Square to Washington Square. Sponsors say there will be fun and good times for all who attend. To clarify last week's story about KidsFest, only children who participate in the doll parade will be eligible to win the American Girl Doll, not everyone who enters Candy Land.
The unveiling of new murals painted by Haverhill children and Newburyport Copley Artist Susan Decker will begin at 1:45 p.m. at the main stage during KidsFest, then proceed to the wall of Surplus Office Supply on Washington Street. What's next? A playground project headed by none other than Dan DeRoche.
Weird international coincidence: Haverhill, this city, which is in Essex County, has a boy under treatment for severe dog bites and the dog is being tested for rabies. In England, in the town of Essex, a boy is in the hospital being treated for dog bites and the dog that bit him is being tested for rabies, according to reports on the BBC news programs.
Remember that next Monday, a good greeting will be "Buenos dias," for Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May, a major holiday for Hispanic readers and friends.
Advice to residents: If a wild animal gets into your house, garage or barn, don't try to trap it. Encourage it to leave. Conservation Officer Mark Sheehan says "We don't relocate wild animals. Let them go."
Keep an eye out for some movie people around the city, at a time and place not yet decided.
How about the man walking around downtown carrying a large bright green bird — a live one — on his left arm.
Police on patrol are being asked to pay special attention to houses that have been closed due to foreclosure. There are signs these empty buildings are becoming targets of thieves.
Was councilor Mary Ellen Daly O'Brien intentionally making a pun when during discussion about water, she said she wanted to "Flush it out?"
It just might have been a mistake a few days ago when an electronic thermometer at the lower end of High Street read 102 degrees. It was warm that day, but certainly not that hot.
The Book Cellar in Railroad Square will be open during KidsFest, so be on the lookout for high school students walking through the crowd handing out coupons for one free children's book. The store is at Wingate Street and Moulton Way.
Yankee Magazine has Haverhill's Bistro 45 as an editor's pick in its most recent publication. It calls it a little charmer with beamed ceilings that exudes the warmth of a neighborhood eatery while serving fare that goes well beyond traditional bistro comfort food. It advises diners to save room for the chocolate terrine for dessert.
A reader appreciated the April 24 Gazette story on the reactivation of the Marine Corps League William Glynn Detachment that gives support to returning Marines and their families, and mentioned that Marines are the first to get hit to ensure the safety of all other divisions of our armed forces — a hard job in unsafe situations — and they need more support.
When a woman answered the Gazette's call for questions for the mayor, she asked why swings in Riverside Park were unsafe and in such disrepair. The mayor responded saying they had been fixed thanks to her inquiry. Later, when asked, the mayor said the money was in the budget and it cost only about $100 to fix them.
Space is still available in the teen hip-hop class at the Haverhill YMCA, taught by Laura Goldbaum and Cara Spilsbury. The class is Monday nights from 6 to 7. The cost is only $10 for the entire eight-week session, which began April 28, because it is funded by a grant. The class is for community members in grades 9 through 12.
Pear Tree Lane Stables owner Mike Veves hosted a free equestrian training for Girls Inc. over school vacation. Girls from Haverhill schools spent two hours and learned everything they ever wanted to know about horses. They learned how to groom, about common veterinary problems, and had a riding demonstration from Abby Skinner of Bradford Elementary School and Megan Daggert of Golden Hill School. To bring the love of horses to Haverhill's youth, Veves offered the girls who attended a series of free riding lessons.
Rep. Brian S. Dempsey secured $2.4 million from the state to help Haverhill with Hale Hospital debt — $1.4 million more than what was originally in the governor's budget — bringing the total amount of state assistance to date to over $9 million. Dempsey said that since the sale of the city-owned hospital, the state has continuously shown support, and he will continue to work at the state level to secure more financial assistance.
Get ready: Letter carriers will be collecting nonperishable foods when they drop off mail on Saturday, May 10. All food goes to local food pantries.
So few showed up for the first all-city talent show auditions that a second date was set up for April 30. The show itself is May 17 in GAR Park.
Pentucket Bank is going green: The bank will have a shredder come in on May 17 from 9 a.m. to noon for Haverhill residents and people from surrounding communities who need important documents shredded. They are allowing two boxes of paper per person, and will also shred CDs and credit cards. It's free, plus free gifts and refreshments.
Ahead of the game: Haverhill just passed its parking plan and the civilian parking clerks who will be enforcing the downtown parking limits have yet to be hired, but nevertheless, on eBay, Haverhill, Massachusetts parking enforcement patches are for sale — selling at $5.50 each.
The TREBEK band from Fitchburg, which produces a blend of rock, funk and R&B, will take part in this year's HaverhillRocks concert. They will record an appearance on Haverhill Community Television on June 7.
Kurt Hayes, an Independent who ran against Niki Tsongas in last year's 5th Congressional District race, thought about running against Tsongas again this year, but decided instead to run for the 37th Middlesex state representative seat to replace Jamie Eldridge.
In May there will be three master's degree expos in the Merrimack Valley. The first one, on May 6, is at Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliott St. with graduate schools there to speak one-on-one with graduate school candidates. For information, visit www.mastersdegreeexpo.com.
