The Lamplighter is breathing a sigh of relief along with a Haverhill dad, William Girouard of Emerson Street, that his son, Army National Guard Sgt. William C. Girouard is returning stateside after a deployment to the Middle East. Girouard, a combat engineer and team leader, is a member of the 211 Military Police Battalion in Lexington. He has served in the military for nine years. He will return to Fort Dix in New Jersey for debriefing and then return to his home base with his wife, Michelle.
Haverhill's horror honcho, Rob Zombie, stays busy in show biz, but you won't see him in his latest movie, "Super." That is because only his voice is included. Biggest role of all, though. He is the voice of God.
BERGERON BULLETIN: Been missing Haverhill's other home-town entertainer? The next season of "Dancing With the Stars," which Tom Bergeron hosts, can't be too far off. The roster of celebrity dancers will be announced Monday night on ABC, "DWTS" home network.
What could a lovely couple from Norway possibly have in common with Haverhill's most famous — or infamous, depending on your sympathies — woman, Hannah Duston? Berte and Fred Olson visited Haverhill this week to see the Hannah Duston statue in GAR Park, which also bears the figure of Berte's ancestor, Mary (Corliss) Neff, who was Hannah's maid. According to the Duston legend, Neff was captured along with Duston and Duston's 6-day-old daughter and helped to slaughter as many as 10 Abenaki in an escape. The Olsons met Mayor James Fiorentini and traded gifts with him. They planned to visit New Hampshire, where another Duston statue marks the area where the small Haverhill band was held captive after their abduction.
Angelo Petrozzelli, chairman of the Washington Street Historical District Commission, is recovering from heart surgery but there has been much action for his commission. Richard "Rick" Swain, former city planner, has been appointed to the commission, following the resignation of member Kathleen Rice, who moved to Connecticut. Rick lives in an apartment in one of the buildings he helped to design on that street.
Lafayette Square is anticipating some beautification. Word is that a hair salon is moving into the former Herb's fish market. It's the second new business to sprout in the last few weeks. Jayla's Party Store is sharing the Pare's Liquor building across the street.
Have you noticed how much more open the bottom of Mill Street has become with the removal of several trees from Linwood cemetery property?
The ice cream store at Columbus Square is closing when it runs out of ice cream, but across the street. Sweet Things bakery and café© is close to opening.
Assistant City Clerk Rick Barber could give the bakery a run for its money with his berry scones. Lucky visitors to the city clerk's office earlier this week received a taste before they ran out. The Lamplighter was among those lucky enough to snag a sample. Mmmmmmm.
Haverhill Mayor James Fiorentini was among the gallery in Haverhill District Court Tuesday morning at the drunken-driving arraignment of former Big Dig manager Matt Amorello, who was charged after losing control of his car on River Street earlier this month. Fiorentini said his presence was a signal of support for Haverhill police, who came under fire for their handling of Amorello's arrest. Some observers questioned whether police should have sought medical help for Amorello, who appeared inebriated to the point of lost consciousness in his booking photos. Fiorentini said the criticism was unfounded. "Our police officers are professionals who did their job in this case and acted professionally," he said. Amorello pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.
The Lamplighter wonders if the supporters of various New Hampshire candidates lost sight of the state line when they were placing campaign signs recently. A bunch of signs have sprouted at the end of Cushing Avenue on Route 121, clearly within the city limits.
A Haverhill resident was lucky enough to meet Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice recently. John Ferrera, a manager for Town Fair Tire, got to shake hands with Rice and hear a motivational talk from one of the Red Sox all-time greatest hitters.
