Local activities
Hospital lunch, speaker series: Peter Frye, rehabilitation specialty director for Amedisys Home Health Care, will talk about preventing falls at a March 1 lunch for local seniors at 1 p.m. in the Merrimack Valley Hospital auditorium. The cost for the meal and program is $5. Menu includes corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, baby carrots, salad, dinner roll, dessert, tea and coffee. To register, call Kathy at 978-521-8140. Merrimack Valley Hospital is at 140 Lincoln Ave.
Scholarship available: Community Action Inc. is offering a $1,000 Goldman Scholarship to an area resident who is enrolled in a full-time college or other post secondary program. College students from Haverhill, Amesbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, Groveland, Georgetown, Boxford, Rowley, Newbury, West Newbury and Merrimac are eligible. Applications are available at Community Action's main office, 145 Essex St., Haverhill. Completed applications are due by March 4. Applications are also available online at www.communityactioninc.org. For more information is available from Marge Hooper at 978-373-1971.
Computing skills for the elderly: The Learn About computers Everyday program of Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley Inc. is offering a variety of computer workshops in March and April at 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence. Classes are based on the Windows Vista operating system. Classes run from March 8 through April 15. Morning workshops are 9 to 11 a.m. and afternoon workshops are 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $15 for a one-day workshop and $30 for a two-day workshop. Advanced registration is required by March 2. For more information call 800-892-0890, ext. 1516 and leave a message or e-mail lace1050@yahoo.com. Visit online at http://elderservices.tripod.com.
Council on Aging
Shoveling Help: Seniors who need assistance with snow shoveling should contact Director Brian Thierrien at the Haverhill Boys and Girls Club, 978-374-6171 after 2:30 for details.
Interactive support group: Rabbi Allan Press will lead an interactive support group "The Challenges and Opportunities of Aging," which will meet at the Council on Aging, 10 Welcome St., Haverhill, beginning Thursday, March 10 at 1:30 p.m. Topics include illness, loss, loneliness and isolation and discovering new paths to happiness. For information or to register, call 978-374-2390.
These day trips are scheduled
April 8: Yakov Smirnoff at Foxwoods Theater, $59 per person.
April 27: "Estrogen and Tonic" at Angelica's Ballroom, $46 without transportation.
May 25: "Shaw Brothers" at DiBurro's, $48 per person without transportation.
July 20: "A Bit of Tuscany" at Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, N.H., $40 per person without transportation.
These overnight trips are scheduled
March 24-27: Washington, D.C. for Cherry Blossom Time, $595 per person.
April 7-14: London and Paris, $2,799 per person.
April 10-16: Southern Charm, Charleston, Savannah and Jekyll Island, $2,149.
Sept. 13-19: South Dakota Black Hills and Badlands, $1,899.
August 29-Sept. 5: Pacific Northwest and California, $2,299.
Oct. 13-21: Southern California and Vegas Adventure, $2399
March 17-25, 2012: Tropical Costa Rica.
Details on all trips and activities are available by contacting Kathy Bresnahan (ext 11) or Rita LaBella (ext 16) at 978-374-2390 or kbresnahan@cityofhaverhill.com.
Give, get help
Big Brother Big Sister: Local nonprofit collects donations of lightly used clothing and small household items curbside. To schedule a free at-home pick up, call 1-800-483-5503 or schedule online at www.bbbsfoundation.org. Donations help support the children involved in the Big Brother Big Sister mentoring organization.
Donations are tax-deductible.
Memorial blood drive: Precious Angels Memorial Drive and Marrow Donor Registration, sponsored by the American Red Cross, is in memory of local children, including Diamond Tincher, who lost her battle with cancer in March 2009. Drive is Saturday, Feb. 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lowell Elks Lodge, 40 Old Ferry Road, Lowell. Sign up by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or at RedCrossBlood.org, sponsor code 8297. Appointments are recommended.
Cancer fundraiser: The 9 Free Kick Cancer celebration will take place on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 6 p.m. to midnight at JP McBride's in Lafayette Square. Business sponsors are welcome. This is the fourth annual celebration for Tara Ryan Byrne of Bradford, who began the fundraiser to celebrate her fifth year cancer-free, a milestone for those recovering from the disease. This year, Byrne is hoping to raise enough to pass the $100,000 mark in donations over the past four years. Information is available by e-mailing Carma Rorke at carmarorke@yahoo.com.
Ruth's House: Greatest need: men's winter coats and jeans in all sizes; children's clothing, including tops and jeans, in sizes 4 through 18. Donations can be dropped off on Thursdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Store hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday. 111 Lafayette Square, Haverhill. For more information, call 978-521-5575.
Book fundraisers: Several local agencies and organizations are collecting new and used videos, books, CDs, DVDs and audio books using "Got Books?" containers, including:
The First Church of Christ Bradford, 10 Church St., Bradford.
Haverhill High School, 137 Monument St., Haverhill.
Hill View Montessori School, 75 Foundation Ave. (in the Ward Hill Industrial Park).
Haverhill YMCA, 81 Winter St.
Help homeless children: Horizons for Homeless Children seeks energetic and enthusiastic volunteers to play with children living in family homeless shelters in Northeastern Massachusetts, including Haverhill. Those with two hours a week to spare and a desire to make a difference in the lives children are encouraged to fill out an application. Attendance at a training session and six-month commitment are required. Contact Brittany Pyle at 978-557-2182 or northeast@horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.
Help sick or injured pets: Donate to Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley to replenish its fund to save sick or injured cats and dogs. Visit insiderpages.com/fundraisers/Animal-Rescue-Merrimack-Valley. Restaurant reviews result in donations to animal charity. Donations can also be made online at armv.org or by mailing a check to ARMV, P.O. Box 8006, Bradford, MA 01835.
Host families needed: Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange seeks community representatives and host families. Information, Anne Ring, 866-462-3423 or visit afice.org.
Volunteers needed: The Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge needs volunteers to help staff The Plover's Nest gift shop and bookstore at the Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. The store is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteers needed to help customers and act as cashiers during those times. Training will be provided. For more information or to volunteer, call Kate Toniolo at 978-465-5753.
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).
Grief workshops: Beacon Hospice offers bereavement support groups in Newburyport, Methuen and Dracut. Eight-week support group to help with loss of a loved one meets Jan. 27 to March 10 at Anna Jaques Hospital, 25 Highland Ave., Newburyport, 6 to 7:30 p.m. An eight-week group for those who have lost a spouse meets at St. Monica's Parish, 112 Lawrence St., Methuen, from Feb. 9 to March 30, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Six-week support group meets at Dracut Council on Aging. Contact Lu Bonnano, 978-372-4211 for more information or to register for any of these groups.
Healing retreat: For children and families on Saturday, Jan. 29, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. John's Preparatory School, 72 Spring St., Danvers. Run by the Bertolon Grief and Healing Center, a program of the Hospice of the North Shore. Children will meet others who have experienced a loss, share stories and enjoy activities. Adults will have a chance to talk with other grieving parents. Space is limited and registration of $20 per family is required by Jan. 21. Call 978-774-5100 or e-mail grief@hns.org.
Places to Visit
Public Library: 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.
The 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: 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.
The Buttonwoods Museum/Haverhill Historical Society: 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.
Other
Dog licences: Dog licences are available in the City Clerk's Office in City Hall. The fee for all male and female dogs is $20 and the fee for all spayed female and neutered male dogs is $15. Application forms are available online at ci.haverhill.ma.us. Click on the link to "Departments" and then "City Clerk." Please provide a current rabies vaccination record and spaying/neutering certificate when licensing your dog. Late fines will be charged for the time the dog is not licensed starting at $10 after May 31, $15 after June 30 and $25 after July 31. For more information, call 978-374-2312.
Cultural events: The Haverhill Cultural Council invites all Haverhill arts organizations to submit notice of events to the council's website: ci.haverhill.ma.us, under "Human Services Department." To submit events or for information, call 978-374-4500, ext. 31, or e-mail culturalcouncil@cityofhaverhill.com.
Affordable housing: Contact Richard Lynch, Community Action, 978-373-1971.
