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November 19, 2009

The Lamp Post, published Nov. 19

The Lamplighter wishes to thank all the Gazette readers who have passed along get-well thoughts for writer and historian Barney Gallagher, who continues to recuperate from heart surgery. Barney is back in Haverhill, at Penacook Place, where he is receiving short visits from friends and fans. He is sorely missed at The Gazette/Eagle-Tribune office downtown and at his many haunts around the city.

The board of directors at Rebuilding Together could use the help of professional contractors in the areas of general construction, electrical and plumbing as the time has come to visit the homes of those who have applied for assistance in the organization's springtime home repair effort. According to program manager Lynn Murphy, the organization has received a flood of applications this year and could use the extra help to determine what repairs are needed at which homes. To contact Rebuilding Together, call 978-469-0800 or e-mail rtogether@verizon.net.

Haverhill is home to a national champion. City firefighter Paul Weinburgh and David Bowman of Charlotte, N.C., won the 2009 U.S. Firefighter Combat Challenge National Championship on Oct. 31 in Arlington, Texas. The ALFA DOGS won the Over 40 Tandem Division by beating 15 other teams. Weinburgh, who is president of the local firefighters union, and Bowman will compete in the World Championship on Friday night, Nov. 20, in Las Vegas. Check the Nov. 26 print and online editions of The Haverhill Gazette for an update.

The Haverhill Gazette will adopt the lamp post outside its office — how fitting! — as downtown Haverhill prepares for the Christmas Stroll on Friday, Dec. 4. The Lamplighter is eager to see how the paper's staff will decorate its new "baby." If you have any ideas for appropriately festive decorations, e-mail them to editor@hgazette.com.

The Lamplighter was stunned when passing by the Comcast cable office on Emerson Street recently. There was such a crowd waiting for the new digital transformer boxes that security guards were posted in the waiting room and on the sidewalk. The run on boxes came as customers all over Haverhill lost their ability to watch a number of channels on their nondigital televisions. Despite months of warnings in bills and on the TV screens, the lack of a specific date for the changeover caught many off-guard.

H1N1 flu vaccine clinics have begun sprouting up in communities around Greater Haverhill, but none has been scheduled in the city, as of yet. Salisbury, Newburyport and Amesbury have teamed up to offer H1N1 shots to residents of the three communities only. Haverhill will offer vaccinations for seasonal flu on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at the Citizens Center.

The Gazette so appreciates the help it receives from the Salvation Army in its Gazette Santa program that we've decided to try to return the favor. When you visit the Gazette office at 181 Merrimack St. you can purchase a "red kettle" for $1. The paper kettles have space for the name of the donor and will be hung around our office to demonstrate the generosity of our friends and neighbors. Please ask about purchasing a kettle at the front desk the next time you visit The Haverhill Gazette.

Friend of the Haverhill Gazette Arthur Vekos recently wrote that he and his family visited Seaport Village in San Diego, Calif., and had the pleasure of seeing Salisbury's flying horses carousel in all its restored glory. Readers of a certain age may remember that when the rides were dismantled in Salisbury Center, the carousel was sold. Vekos said he and his wife rode the carousel in their younger days, and took their children to ride on the carousel before it was shipped away. He was thrilled to have his granddaughter carry on the family tradition of riding on the old merry-go-round.

Haverhill High School Athletic Director Garin Veris said he'd like folks to know that there are many ways they can help Hillie athletes in these times of financial cutbacks. Veris said he is grateful for a recent $5,000 donation that will be placed in a fund to reduce next year's user fees. "But our needs are not just user-fee reduction. Aid to help with transportation and equipment would be welcome, too," he said. Donations of any amount will help to defray the cost of fuel for away-games and for uniforms and other equipment needed by Hillie teams. For more information about how to donate, contact Veris at the school at 978-374-5732.

The Lamplighter wishes all readers of The Haverhill Gazette a Happy Thanksgiving.

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