The Lamplighter congratulates the McNamara family, who won the Pasta with the Pastor raffle at the recent Sacred Hearts holiday open house. Six members of the family, or a combination of family and friends, will dine with the Rev. Robert Conole at a later date. The prize of dinner with the pastor was a fundraiser for the church.
Before Haverhill was plunged into the deep freeze last week, the Lamplighter noted a strange phenomenon in his neighborhood: a blooming forsythia bush. Never has he seen the bright yellow blossoms at the same time that homes were sporting holiday decorations. A few houses away, a rose bush was still in bloom and around the corner, the tender green shoots of spring-flowering bulbs were peeking through the frosty ground.
Northern Essex Community College is in the midst of its 50th anniversary celebration. Word is that the NECC Foundation is working on signing a show-stopper for the annual signature fundraising event to mark this important milestone.
Speaking of NECC, the panel appointed to choose a replacement for President David Hartleb, who is retiring at the end of this academic year, will no doubt have a tough time choosing from the three finalists. Those who have met the candidates say each is impressively qualified to steer the school into its next half-century of preparing students for the future. The finalists are NECC Vice President Lane Glenn; Stark State College President John O'Donnell of Ohio and vice president and provost for Maryland's Montgomery College, Brad Stewart. Public interviews of the candidates end just as this edition of the Gazette hits the streets.
Quick! What's the capital of North Dakota? Bet students at Sacred Hearts School know that one, and many more. They've been preparing for the school's annual Geography Bee.
Looking for a special gift item or stocking stuffer at an affordable price? Try the Friends Shop at the Haverhill Public Library. Just arrived is the new Friends calendar, which has become a collectable for many over the past 24 years. Also in stock are the new Hannah Duston ornaments. Proceeds from sales help the library with supplies and equipment. The Lamplighter reminds you that in this day of economic cutbacks, every little bit helps the library meet the needs of Haverhill residents.
Passers-by might be wondering about the big, gray bin on the front lawn at Haverhill High School. The "Got Books?" sign affixed to the container gives it away. The bin is used to collect books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, records and audio books that are repurposed while providing the school with a way to raise money for student projects and activities. The bin is outside the school at 137 Monument St. and items can be dropped in at any time. For more information about Got Books, call 978-284-2500 or visit GotBooks.com.
Local supporters of the arts are celebrating the word that the state will provide financial assistance for a summer concert series in the city. Watch the print and online editions of the Gazette for more information coming soon.
A web-hosting company just over the border is making it clear that it is not affiliated with the firm that recently blocked access to Wikileaks, which has been in the news of late for its release of secret and sensitive government documents. James Dogopoulos, CEO for Salem, N.H.-based Dynamic Internet says the company has received questions and complaints regarding the Wikileaks domain name being shut down by another New Hampshire-based business with a similar name, Dynamic Network Services.
Perhaps it's time to start thinking about repainting the train trestle over Winter Street. The faded advertisement on the bridge is for Arlington Trust Co., a bank that vanished from the local scene decades ago.
