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NECN meteorologist and Haverhill resident Matt Noyes shares a viewer's secret for telling temperature without a thermometer: Count cricket chirps.
Count the number of chirps in 15 seconds, then add 40. Works down to 58 degrees, then the insect goes silent ...
Libraries once were big on silence, so patrons could read and browse in peace nd quiet. No longer. Even the Haverhill Public Library is humming and sometimes rumbling with voices on cell phones, like almost all other public places.
BERGERON BULLETIN: Watch for Tom on the Jerry Lewis telethon next weekend. He has been on most of the recent shows and appeared to be quite friendly with Jerry, but his name was not among the cohosts listed in a recent news release, It will be interesting to see if he has a hosting slot this year.
Speaking of Tom, it appears chances are good that the ratings for his show, "Dancing With the Stars," will at least hold steady in the coming season. On Monday it was revealed that former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol, will be among the cast. Best known for her tumultuous relationship with former fiance Levi Johnston, the younger Palin said she accepted the "DWTS" gig to get out of Alaska for a while. The speedboats in last weekend's 2010 Haverhill River Run speedboat races left more than visual memories. People who had not experienced them before were impressed with the noise they created.
According to a website dedicated to those who race the Roundabout and Hydroplane boats, the first racer to in the pits for last weekend's speedboat races at the Crescent Yacht Club was Al MacKenzie of Darmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.
And don't think the racers don't appreciate the support they get from those watching from the shore. Here's a note from one of the competitors: "This is one of the best spectator crowds in stock outboard racing. Nothing like hearing air horns and cheering at the end of each heat. The crowd on the end of the dock shaking their fists and waving beers is what gave me the motivation to finish the marathon. Thanks also to the Haverhill community and yacht club; you were great!"
Merrimack Valley Hospital likes to be known by its full name, but firefighters and ambulance drivers refer to it simply as "The Valley."
Is Haverhill fortunate to have TWO "restaurant rows" or is it in competition with itself?
Is Mother Nature a Republican? How else to explain the anticipated arrival of what will remain of Hurricane Earl on Friday night, just in time for The Haverhill Gazette's debate among the four GOP candidates seeking the 5th District seat in Congress now held by Niki Tsongas. The rain expected to fall that night gives Greater Haverhill residents an excuse to put off their Labor Day departure until clearer skies on Saturday morning and attend the debate, which starts at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Room 202 in Haverhill City Hall. Haverhill is one of 29 cities in the district, which stretches all the way west to Ayer.
Speaking of Labor Day, don't forget that City Hall, the library, most banks and The Haverhill Gazette office are closed on Monday, and trash pickup will be backed up one day during the week of Sept. 6.
A reminder for parents: Most schools have policies that limit use of cell phones and other electronic devices. After the freedom of the summer, many teens and tweens are going to have to give them up cold turkey if they haven't already started weaning off them by now.
