One of the more amazing feats at Sunday's VFW Santa parade? Fox TV news anchor Maria Stephanos of Groveland walked the entire parade route wearing 4-inch heeled boots, showing no sign of discomfort, even at the very end.
The Lamplighter wishes to thank the Greater Haverhill Korean War Veterans Association, Chapter 288, whose members will collect for the Gazette Santa Fund on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 and 28. Please give as generously as you can when you encounter one of the organization's tagging stations. One-hundred percent of the donations to The Gazette Santa Fund benefit needy families in Haverhill.
So many people and organizations in Haverhill are offering to help Gazette Santa fill his sack this year. The Essex County Ghost Project has planned a Winnekenni Castle Ghost Hunt on Saturday, Dec. 19, from 7 to 11 p.m. All proceeds from the event will benefit Gazette Santa. Entry fee is $15 for one; $20 for a family up to four. Watch for additional details about the evening in upcoming editions of the Gazette and on our Web site, hgazette.com.
It was great to see a group of 12 City Hall retirees and guests at a luncheon at the Roma Restaurant last Tuesday. They will meet again in the spring and hope that Haverhill Gazette contributor Barney Gallagher will drop in as he has done in the past. The group sends best wishes to Barney for a speedy recovery.
Margot's Gallery was a hopping spot on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 19, as members of the Haverhill League of Women Voters gathered for their holiday party.
The Lamplighter wonders what the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate possibly could have found more interesting than a visit to Haverhill on Sunday morning for our annual Santa Parade.
Speaking of candidates, The Lamplighter hears that a handful of Valley politicians — at least one or two from Haverhill — are thinking about a run for state Sen. Steven Baddour's seat if the Methuen Democrat makes a bid to be the state's next attorney general. AG Martha Coakley is the favorite to win the Democratic primary for the seat previously held by U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School has built quite a reputation for the floats it enters in the Santa Parade. Says Whittier carpentry instructor, the anticipation is sometimes too much for parade spectators to wait until the float goes by. "People at the parade pump you for information about what it's going to be."
The Lamplighter understands that Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce President Jim Jajuga was showing off his dance moves while marching in the Santa Parade in nearby Methuen, his hometown. Perhaps he will give a repeat performance at the Dec. 4 Christmas Stroll? On the Washington Square stage, of course!
Soon, the plant hooks on downtown telephone poles and lamp posts will hold those evergreen spheres known hereabouts as "kissing balls," thanks to Team Haverhill, which will provide the decorations for the holiday season.
