The Lamplighter noticed a couple of new storefronts in and around the downtown. One of them — River City Variety and Ice Cream — is next to Boston Pizza on Washington Street. The other — Common Ground Cafe at 125 Winter St. — is an outreach of Common Ground Ministries of Groveland. Funded by a network of 13 churches in the Merrimack Valley, including the Christian Missionary Alliance Church on Kenoza Street, its services include a food pantry, ministry opportunity for Zion Bible College students, after-school outreach to young children, and clothing and housewares for families in need.
For some time now, Haverhill police Traffic Safety Officer Edward Watson has been keeping an eye on the morning traffic along Route 110 where it meets Elliott Street, leading to Northern Essex Community College. That stretch of road can get busy on mornings when the college is open. Recently, Watson has had company in the form of a state trooper who parks his cruiser next to Watson's. When passing by, the Lamplighter usually waves to Watson, which brings a smile to the officer's face.
The new Market Basket at Westgate Plaza made a surprise announcement on Saturday evening that got customers running. Just before 7 p.m., the store announced it had just cut the price of $3 bags of Easter candy to just 50 cents a bag. It was the good stuff too, customers said, including M&Ms, Hershey miniatures and York peppermint patties. Customers left the store with bags full of sweet delights.
Haverhill Gazette reporter Alex Lippa was a little embarrassed as a Haverhill High teacher mistook him for a high school student prior to the Human Rights Forum on Monday. When Lippa entered the auditorium along with the students, one of the teachers asked him for a permission slip, thinking he was a student.
The Lamplighter was a little frustrated by the lack of access to the baseball field at Whittier Regional High. Parking was far away from the field, forcing the Lamplighter to trek through the woods and down a steep hill to reach the field. Hopefully there is a better way for people to reach the field so no one gets hurt.
