Region

Firefighters Knock Down Two-Alarm West Newbury House Fire

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West Newbury Fire Department, with the assistance of mutual aid partners, extinguished a two-alarm fire in a single-family home Thursday afternoon on Main Street. Fire Chief Michael Dwyer said West Newbury Public Safety Dispatch received a 911 call at about 1:57 p.m., reporting a house fire at 598 Main St. Upon arrival, West Newbury Police reported heavy smoke showing from the rear of the building. First-arriving firefighters from Newburyport began aggressively attacking the fire. A second alarm was transmitted to bring additional resources to the scene.

Business Bulletin

8th Annual Dodgeball Tournament at Haverhill Chamber Business After Hours

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Members of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce will soon gather for the eighth Annual Business After Hours Dodgeball Tournament. What has become tradition—and legend—Chamber members and guests in teams of at least six members compete for bragging rights in the competition benefitting the Haverhill YMCA. The tournament takes place Wednesday, Dec. 2, starting at 5:30 p.m., at Haverhill YMCA, 81 Winter St., Haverhill. Registration is $60 per team, with additional donations welcome, at HaverhillChamber.com.

Community Spotlight

Registration Open for Rocks Village 6th Annual Holiday Wreath Decorating

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Rocks Village Memorial Association is planning its sixth annual holiday wreath decorating event, where patrons are provided with materials to create and take home their masterpieces. Participants will receive a 24-inch, double-sided Balsam wreath and choose a handmade fabric bow of their choice and an assortment of natural flora and holiday decorations. Registration is open for the holiday wreath decorating fundraiser to support ongoing preservation of the historic Hand Tub House in Rocks Village. Available times are Saturday, Nov. 21, at either 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m., at the Hand Tub House, 1 River Road, in Haverhill.

Crime

Federal Grand Jury Indicts Methuen, Manchester Residents on Drug Dealing Charges

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Residents of Methuen and Manchester, N.H., were recently indicted by a federal grand jury on drug charges. Albert Marino Fortuna Escalante, 30, of Methuen, and Bresley Beatriz Castillo Taveras, 27, of Manchester, N.H., face charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to New Hampshire U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. Court documents allege Fortuna Escalante trafficked more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, while Castillo Taveras trafficked 40 grams or more of fentanyl. New Hampshire’s FBI Major Offender Task Force led the investigation with assistance provided by the Manchester and Methuen Police Departments, U.S. Marshals Service and Internal Revenue Service. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Anderson is prosecuting the case.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Curbside Leaf Collection Saturday

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Haverhill’s first leaf pickup of the season takes place this Saturday. The collection also includes grass clippings, pumpkins, mums, gourds, corn stalks and hay bales bagged or in open barrels. Brush, branches, loose leaves, plastic bags and trash are not allowed. Bags and barrels must be under 40 pounds each. Curbside pickup takes place Saturday, Nov.

Haverhill

Haverhill Native St. Louis Receives Honors for Contributions to LGBTQ Health

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Dr. Joshua St. Louis, a Haverhill native and primary care physician at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, is this year’s winner of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Health Award. St. Louis was presented the award two weeks ago in Boston. The honor recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to LGBTQ health.

Business Bulletin

Chamber Honors Haverhill’s Malvers with Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo Memorial Award

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Haverhill’s Michael Malvers was awarded the U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo Memorial Award Wednesday during the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Veterans Recognition Breakfast. Malvers, owner of Haverhill Steel & Salvage and One Ten Towing Co. Malvers, is a veteran of the U.S. Army and Massachusetts National Guard. He was recognized for his military service and continued dedication to the Merrimack Valley community.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill School Plans Anti-Bullying-Themed Contest that Also Grows Library

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The Haverhill public is being invited to take part in Walnut Square School’s “Grow Your Community, Grow Your School Library Contest.”

School Principal Jen Rubera explained the recent success of the elementary school’s pumpkin decorating contest inspired staff to bring its November anti-bullying challenge, “Grow Our Community by Letting Gratitude Grow!” to the entire Haverhill community. The contest invites local organizations, alumni, neighborhood businesses and community groups to decorate a small tabletop tree that includes a clean copy of the book providing inspiration for the tree’s theme. The combination forms the school’s “Gratitude Forest” and books will be raffled off to a student on the early release day before Thanksgiving break. Besides the raffle, a Community Favorite Award will be voted on by families, friends and followers. An added bonus, organizers said, is to grow the school’s library by accepting donations of a second copy of each book.