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CHURCHES
Ham and Bean Supper: St. James Parish is hosting a Ham & Bean Supper on Saturday, March 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.. The dinner will be held at the St. James School at 415 Primrose Street, Haverhill and entertainment will be provided by The Crossroads of Tyme "Rock, Roll & Remember". Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children or a family ticket for $15. Tickets can be purchased after all weekend Masses or can be purchased at the St. James Rectory at 6 Cottage Street. For more information please call 978-372-8537.
Choir Performance: The Houghton College Choir will perform March 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the King of Grace Church, 28 Chadwick St., Bradford. This concert is free and open to the public. The Houghton College Choir is acclaimed for its artistry and sensitivity, and embraces a diverse range of music, from the Renaissance Mass setting to the baroque motet and African American spiritual. The Houghton College Choir has performed in America's most prestigious halls and churches of all denominations. In addition, the choir has performed in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Spain and the former Soviet Union. The choir is preparing for its next international tour in May to South Korea. For more information, visit kingofgrace.org or Houghton.edu/Music.
Electronics Recycling: Boy Scout Troop 27 is having an electronics recycling day on March 31 at All Saints Church on 120 Bellevue Ave. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pickup is available by calling 978-609-0710 or 978-314-1972.
Rose Tea: The fifth annual Rose Tea is coming to the Haverhill Universalist Unitarian Church, 15 Kenoza Ave., April 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. Enjoy dainty delicacies, delicious desserts, fun and fellowship, with musical entertainment, raffles and a door prize included. Be waited on in style by the gentlemen of the congregation who will be offering tea, coffee and juice. Donation is $15 and tickets are available from Patricia Feller at 978-372-3622 or berry39@verizon.net.
FAMILIES AND KIDS
HHS Play: Haverhill High School students will take center stage when they present the popular Steven Sondheim musical, "Into the Woods," March 29 through March 31. Drawing from classic children's tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Cinderella, "Into the Woods" blends them into an entertaining story about a childless baker and his wife, who try to reverse a curse on their family so they can have a child. Performances are March 29 and March 30 at 7 p.m., and March 31 at 2 and 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium, 137 Monument St. General admission is $8. Students and seniors pay $5.
YMCA Easter Egg Hunt: The Haverhill YMCA will hold a free Easter egg hunt and scramble March 31 at 9 a.m. at Pentucket Lake Elementary School, 252 Concord St. Activities include a Kiddie egg scramble, egg search and rescue, egg relay and youth scavenger hunt. An Easter bunny will be available for pictures and greetings. More information is available from Ryan Allen at allenr@northshoreymca.org or 978-374-0506, ext. 1604.
Free Easter Egg Hunt: King of Grace Church will host a free Easter egg hunt for children ages 6 and under on April 7 at 11 a.m. on the Bradford Common. Rain location is at King of Grace Church, 28 Chadwick St. There is no charge to attend this event, however, seating is limited. To make a reservation call 978-372-7700.
Open House: The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill will hold an open house for the general public on April 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 55 Emerson St. Tours of the club and information on both the after-school and summer camp programs will be available. Light refreshments will be served. More information is available by calling 978-374-6171.
Author visit: Haverhill Public Library is celebrating National Library Week with a visit from illustrator and author Lisa Greenleaf at the Haverhill Public Library on Saturday April 14, at 2 p.m. in the Johnson Auditorium. Greenleaf will present her new award-winning book, John Greenleaf Whittier's The Barefoot Boy. For more information, contact Carol Verny, Library Director, 978-373-1586, ext. 621
Soap Box Derby: The Pentucket Kiwanis Club is looking for students ages 8 to 13 to participate in its annual Soap Box Derby, to be held June 2 at Bradford Elementary School, 116 Montvale St. Check in is at 9 a.m., and parents or guardians must accompany each team member. Practice runs are from 10 to 11 a.m. The race starts at 11 a.m. The awards ceremony is at 2 p.m. There is a $5 refundable registration fee per team member and one member of each team must weigh under 85 pounds. There will be food, prizes and raffles. Money raised supports local programs such as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill, Community Action Inc. and scholarships. More information is available by contacting Nathan Webster at 978-204-4692.
Sign language: Northern Essex Community College provides sign language instruction for families with a deaf or hard-of-hearing child. Information, contact Glenys Crane-Emerson, Family Sign Language Program coordinator, at fslp@necc.mass.edu, 978-556-3701 (voice/tty), 978-556-3703 (fax), and 978-241-7057 (VP/VRS).
Reading Buddy Program: The public library is offering a Reading Buddy Program in partnership with Zion Bible College Work Study program. Reading Buddies Nicole and John are available to help your child practice reading skills, provide encouragement and support when he or she is stuck on a word, and help show how much fun reading can be. Sessions, 30-minutes, are available after school on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., and from 5 to 6 p.m., and Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. To make an appointment, call 978-373-1586, ext. 626.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES
NECC Performance: Northern Essex Community College's Top Notch Players, featuring Haverhill residents Geehae Moon, Rebecca Salib, Will MacDonald, and Katelyn Demers, will perform in an original adaptation of "American Gothic; The Poems of Edgar Lee Masters," in the Chester W. Hawrylciw Theater on the third floor of the Spurk Building on the Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, March 29, 30, and 31. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m., except for the Thursday performance which will begin at 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and senior citizens and $10 general admission.
Commerce Speaker Series: The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce will hold its next speaker series event Friday from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. at Michael's Function Hall, 12 Alpha St. Featured speaker is Mary Sutor, data solutions manager from The Warren Group. Sutor will talk about economic and real estate statistics for the region. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. More information is available from Jen Cantwell as 978-373-5663 or jen@haverhillchamber.com
Kick Off Breakfast: The Haverhill YMCA will hold its Y For All Kick Off Breakfast March 30 at the Haverhill Country Club. Honorary chairman is state Rep. Brian Dempsey. Guests include Fred Battistini, Bernie Clohisy, Scott Cote, Sandra Kerwin, Mary O'Neil and Marielly and DeShawn Troncoso. The breakfast is free and is sponsored by Pentucket Bank, Haverhill Bank and Lowell Five Bank. Attendees will learn about how the Y impacts the community. The Y For All Campaign raises the funds necessary to serve local Haverhill children and families in need of essential Y services. Please RSVP to Tracy Fuller at 978-478-5011 or fullert@northshoreymca.org.
Relay for Life Fundraiser: The Pink Pitchers are hosting their annual "Adult Night Out" at the Hamel Mill Lofts on March 31 from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Tickets are $10 and include food, a DJ and over 40 raffle items. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. If not able to attend, tickets may still be bought to be entered into a drawing for a night away in Boston at The Hilton Hotel. To RSVP call Allison Cunningham-Simpson at 978-460-2809.
Bowling Fundraiser: The Relay For Life of Haverhill team, Peggy's Promise will host its first bowling tournament April 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Academy Lanes. There will be raffles and relay donation tables. Food will be provided and drinks can be purchased. The team plans to hold this event annually. A minimum of $100 must be raised per five-member team in order to register for the tournament. All money raised goes to the American Cancer Society. More information is available by contacting Kaitlyn at 978-383-0936.
Free Workshop: The public library will host a free monthly workshop on eBooks & eReaders on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the GHALP Computer Lab on the second floor. The next session is April 2. Additional sessions will be held May 7 and June 4. Bring your Kindle, Nook, or Sony eReader, or just watch the demonstration. Learn how to search for eBooks, how to place holds for and borrow eBooks, and how to download eBooks to an eReader. Classes are limited to six people. For more information or to register call 978-373-1586, ext. 608.
Senior Breakfast: Wingate at Haverhill invites seniors in the community to a complimentary Healthy Senior Breakfast, where coupon expert Kathy Spencer will show you how to shop for free. The event is April 3 at 9 a.m. at 190 North Ave. The breakfast features heart healthy choices such as homemade yogurt parfaits, seasonal fruits, and freshly squeezed juices. Every senior who attends will also be entered into a door prize raffle. Spencer is a nationally recognized coupon expert who combines coupons, store sales and promotions. She is the author of "How to Shop for Free," a guide of shopping secrets for smart people who love to get something for nothing, and the founder of howtoshopforfree.net, an online community that helps others find and share money-saving deals.
Chamber of Commerce Networking Event: The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours networking event April 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the new Archie's Little River Ale House at Lafayette Square. The event will feature free food, a cash bar, raffle prizes, including a gift from Archie, and networking with fellow Chamber members. Cost to attend is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. More information is available from Jen Cantwell as 978-373-5663 or jen@haverhillchamber.com. VIP members are asked email her to register.
Relay for Life Fundraiser: Pillars for Life and the 1971 Haverhill High School Relayers are hosting a fundraiser on April 28th from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Garibaldi Club. Tickets are $10 per person and all proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1 each. Prizes include gift baskets, gift certificates, artwork, home decor, games and more. For more information please call Nathan Webster at 978-204-4692.
Change of Location: For the next four months the Greater Haverhill Landlord's Guild will hold its monthly meetings at the Victor Emanuel Lodge, Sons of Italy, 124 Washington St. Meetings are March 27, April 24, May 22 and June 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. Parking is behind the Tap Restaurant. At each meeting there is information intended to help you become a better manager of your property. Whether you own many units or are just thinking about buying your first rental property, this is the place to gain and share knowledge and wisdom. This knowledge will translate into making all of us much more professional in the way that we run our business benefiting both the landlord and the tenant. For more information contact Michael Schroth at 978-376-5492.
Disabled American Veterans seek new members: Disabled American Veterans Hannah Duston Chapter 20 is looking for new members. Benefits of joining the chapter include free assistance with opening and/or reopening claims, free legal advice regarding service-connected disabilities, referrals to agencies that provide assistance to those with physical and/or emotional issues and more. Starting in March, the chapter will meet the second Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. in the veterans room in the basement of City Hall, 4 Summer St. Meeting agendas typically include planning visits to patients in VA hospitals and veterans in retirement homes as well as planning social events. For more information contact Gerard Boucher at 978-521-3982.
Fundraiser to feature popular comedians: A benefit for the Haverhill Clubhouse will be held March 22 at Maria's Restaurant and will feature comedian/impressionist Bob Gautreau, comic Amy Tee, along with host Steve Gamlin, a motivational speaker and humorist. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. Maria's is at 83-85 Essex St. A private nonprofit group, the Haverhill Clubhouse provides support to adults with mental illness and is funded by the state Department of Mental Health., under the auspice of Mental Health Resources Plus in Lawrence. At 100 Locust St., the Haverhill Clubhouse operates under guidelines set forth by the International Center for Clubhouse Development. For more information call 978-521-6957.
Genealogy class: This spring, Northern Essex Community College's Life Long Learning Program will offer a Genealogy 101 course with Marcelle Greenbaum of Haverhill. Class meets Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon, from March 26 through May 7 in the Hartleb Technology Center, Room 205 on the college's Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St. Cost of the class is $25. Participants will be shown how to construct a family tree, keep important information organized, find ancestors in other countries, and preserve family history and heritage. Life Long Learning is a program of lectures, study groups and trips for adults. All programs are open to the public. For more information or to receive a free calendar of upcoming events contact Charlene Boucher at 978-556-3825 or cboucher@necc.mass.edu.
Palliative care presentation: A free presentation on palliative care and how it differs from hospice will be held March 29 in Merrimack Valley Hospital's first floor auditorium at 140 Lincoln Ave. The presentation will be lead by JoAnne Nowak, MD, medical director of Merrimack Valley Hospice. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. The program is from 8 to 9 a.m. One contact hour is awarded for nursing and social work and one CME for physicians. A continental breakfast will be served. Registration is required. For more information or to register contact Jean at 978-420-1168 or jean.macdougall-tattan@steward.org.
Relay For Life Fundraiser: Relay For Life of Haverhill to hold its second annual "Paint The Town Purple" campaign the week of May 2 through May 6. Businesses that donate $25 will receive a purple bow and a "Proud Purple Ribbon Supporter" poster to display in their windows. Businesses are also encouraged to decorate their shops and storefronts during this campaign. Other sponsorship levels are available starting at $250. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. More information is available by contacting Nate Webster at 978-204-4692.
Relay For Life Golf Tournament: Relay for Life team to hold golf tournament June 2. The Relay For Life of Haverhill team, Team Turner will hold its first Dave Turner Memorial Golf Tournament on June 2 at the Bradford Country Club, 201 Chadwick Road, Bradford. The team plans to hold this event annually. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Shotgun start is at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per golfer and $500 per team. There is also a $100 hole sponsorship opportunity. Dinner is after the tournament. More information is available by contacting Ryan Turner at 978-478-8225.
New Moon Coffeehouse concert series: The New Moon Coffeehouse will host monthly concerts through May 21. The coffeehouse is located in the Unitarian Universalist Church, 16 Ashland St, Haverhill MA. Admission to the show is $20; $10 for those ages 18 and under. For more information check out newmooncoffeehouse.org.
Free Preschool Screenings: The city's public schools will hold free screenings for an integrated preschool program at the Moody School through March 30. The program is open to all Haverhill preschool children ages 3 to 4 and is for the 2012-2013 school year. Children will be randomly chosen for the program based on a lottery system. If you are interested in your child becoming an applicant for an integrated classroom, contact the Moody School at 978-374-3459 to schedule an appointment. Speech only screenings are offered throughout the school year. Preschool screenings will be held at the Moody School, 59 Margin St.
Baseball League seeks nominations: The Riverside-Bradford Baseball League is accepting nominations for membership to its Board of Directors for the 2012 season. Members are expected to perform their duties and functions so as to continually improve the league and uphold its objectives at all times. All directors, officers and members shall bear in mind that the attainment of athletic skill or the winning of games is secondary, and that the molding of future citizens is of prime importance. The league teaches good sportsmanship and the fundamentals of hitting and fielding while building a positive self-image in a healthy competitive environment. For more information contact Craig Nealon at cnealon@rbbaseball.org or 978-373-4323.
Free Tax Preparation: Community Action Inc. at 145 Essex St. is offering free tax preparation services through IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers now through April 14. Community Action services Haverhill and other towns in the Merrimack Valley in providing low- to moderate-income taxpayers with free tax return preparation. Federal and Massachusetts state returns will be E-filed. Appointments are being scheduled for Monday and Saturday mornings and Wednesday and Thursday evenings. For more information, to learn if you qualify for free help, or to schedule an appointment call Marilyn Luther at 978-373-1971, ext. 340 during business hours.
GIVE, GET HELP
Seeking donations: The Buttonwoods Museum is seeking Civil War artifacts and stories pertaining to Haverhill's women both from local families and famous icons. The museum wants to hear your stories and possibly borrow your artifacts for an exhibit planned for this summer focusing on the role of Haverhill's women during the Civil War. More information is available by sending email to info@haverhillhistory.org or by mail to: The Buttonwoods Museum, 240 Water St., Haverhill, MA 01830. Visit online at haverhillhistory.org or call 978-374-4626.
Donations sought: Ruth's House, a non-profit thrift store located at 111 Lafayette Square is in need of all sizes of warm winter clothing, all sizes. All donations are tax deductible and donors will be issued receipts for their gifts. We are also looking for volunteers - donate as little or as much time as you are able. For more information call 978-521-5575 or visit online at www.ruthshouse.org. Donations may be dropped off during store hours on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Tax prep volunteers: Community Action Inc., which serves the Haverhill, Amesbury and Newburyport areas is seeking volunteers to provide low-income taxpayers with free tax return preparation services. Initial training can be done online at home this month and next, followed by additional in-house training in January at Community Action, 145 Essex St. in Haverhill. This is an IRS sponsored program and volunteers will need to be certified. Tax preparation begins at the end of January and extends through mid-April. Interested parties should contact Marilyn Luther at 978-373-1971, ext. 340 or Marge Hooper at 978-373-1971, ext. 227 or mluther@communityactioninc.org.
northeast@horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.
Tag days: The officers and members of the Amvets Ladies Auxiliary say the generosity of people in Haverhill helped make their recent Tag Days fundraiser a success. Proceeds will help support a variety of projects, including the Auxiliary's "Adopt a Platoon" program, which provides active members of the military with personal items, the Auxiliary's Bingo and refreshment parties at local nursing homes, veterans hospitals and coffee hours at the Bedford VA and donations to two annual scholarships at Haverhill High School. The Auxiliary meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Post Quarters, 576 Primrose St.
Art Fundraiser: The Haverhill Cultural Council and Haverhill Art Association will hold their second annual ART-rageous Art Exhibition and Silent Auction fundraiser April 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Hamel Mills Lofts Community Room, 40 Locke St. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or online at http://artrageous.eventbrite.com. Area artists and galleries are invited to participate. All submissions are due by April 2. Works of emerging artists, mid-career, market works and established artists are encouraged. Proceeds benefit the Haverhill Cultural Council's summer performing arts series, "Make Some Noise!" and the Haverhill Art Association's Thursday evening artist demonstrations. For more info visit HaverhillCulturalCouncil.com or contact Don Herook at don5753@aol.com or Leota Sarrette at lsarrette@aol.com.
PLACES TO VISIT
Haverhill Public Library, 99 Main St.: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sundays. For more information, call 978-373-1586 or visit haverhillpl.org.
Haverhill Firefighting Museum, 75 Kenoza Ave.: Open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Weekday and group visits are available by appointment. For more information, call 978-372-4061.
John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace, 305 Whittier Road: Open Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m.; Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m.; Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Closed major holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for students under 18 and a $10 maximum for a family. For more information, call 978-373-3979.
Buttonwoods Museum/Haverhill Historical Society, John Ward Avenue: Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Tours by appointment only. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for ages 7 to 17 and free for children 7 and under. For details, call 978-374-4626.
COUNCIL OF AGING
The Council on Aging is offering the following upcoming trips:
For more information contact Kathy Bresnahan or Rita LaBella at 978-374-2390.
May 2: Vicki Lawrence at Foxwoods.
May 6: Loretta LaRoche at the North Shore Music Theatre.
June 7-13: San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.
June 12: The Hit Men at Mohegan Sun.
June 18-19: Indian Head Resort.
June 27: Tribute to Dean Martin.
July 2: Tall Ships.
July 8: Tanglewood and The Pops.
Aug. 5-6: Tanglewood.
June 7 to 13: San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.
Oct. 18: Italian Festival.
Oct. 24: Foxwoods.
Nov. 13: Kings of Country at Mohegan Sun.
For more information contact Kathy Bresnahan or Rita LaBella at 978-374-2390.
