Community Spotlight

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill Plan Second Alumni Weekend

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The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill hosts its second annual Alumni Weekend later this month, inviting former “Club kids” of all ages to reconnect with old friends and reminisce about their time at the Club. To help former members engage and remember, the club says, a trio of activities are planned Saturday, Sept. 26, at the familiar clubhouse, 55 Emerson St., Haverhill. It begins with a networking breakfast at 9 a.m., followed by a 100s and 21 Basketball Tournament at 11 and alumni basketball game at 1 p.m.

The Boys & Girls Club says alumni are welcome to attend one, some or all of the activities and may sign up to either play or be a spectator in the basketball events. It’s all free to attend, but pre-registration is required by signing up online at haverhillbgc.org/alumni or by calling 978-374-6171.

Community Spotlight

Trails & Sails: Open House This Weekend in Rocks Village

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As part of Essex National Heritage Area’s Trails & Sails, nonprofit Rocks Village Memorial Association is hosting an open house this Saturday and Sunday at the Hand Tub House and Toll House Museum in Rocks Village. Organizers say visitors may enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the Merrimack River and then visit the Hand Tub House and museum for informal tours. The museum is open Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1 River Road in the Rocks Village Historic District in Haverhill. There’s more information at rocksvillage.org.

Haverhill

Grace Potter, Crooked Coast, Classic Cars, Fireworks Saturday at Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus

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Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus, featuring classic cars, live music, kid’s activities and capped by fireworks on the river, is back for its 15th year this Saturday. The free community festival also features the Community Corner, local food and a beer garden and concludes with a headlining performance by four-time Grammy nominee Grace Potter before the fireworks show over the Merrimack River. The day kicks off at noon with the classic car show in the Riverfront Cultural District with hot rods and classic, muscle and specialty cars lining up on Washington Street for three hours. At Riverfront Park, the Haverhill High School Chorus sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” and performs three songs by Michael Jackson. The day also begins with the Haverhill High School Crew team finishing their exhibition rowing race in front of the festival on the Merrimack River.

Community Spotlight

Wildflower Montessori Schools Offer Saturday Haverhill Block Party

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Note: The date has been corrected. A magic show and live performances are among the highlights of Wildflower Montessori schools’ community block party Saturday, Sept. 19, in downtown Haverhill. Free entertainment includes a magic show, dance performances and live music by Be Imagine Music Studio youth bands. Activities include balloon twisting, tie-dye T-shirts, henna tattoos, face painting, arts and crafts and slime bar, while community organizations planning activities include Buttonwoods Museum, Hillview Montessori and Haverhill Promise.

Business Bulletin

Merrimack Valley Chamber Fall Expo Sept. 15

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A daylong business expo features breakfast and lunch speakers, free browsing at about three dozen exhibitor booths and business networking next Tuesday. The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce says the public is welcome free with no pre-registration to the annual exposition Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at DoubleTree by Hilton, 123 Old River Road, Andover. Exhibitors include businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, health care firms, Merrimack Health, Northern Essex Community College and others. Besides the exhibitor hall, Eduardo Crespo of Hispanic Solution, discusses “Communications and Engagement with the Latino Market,” at a breakfast from 8:30-10 a.m., free to exhibitors or $10 per person for Chamber members and $20 for non-members.

Haverhill

Haverhill Police Evacuate Residents While Safely Dealing with Person Making Threats

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Haverhill Police say there were no injuries Sunday and Monday as officers safely dealt with a lone individual who was barricaded in a Cottage Place home, while reportedly making threats. Police confirm late Monday officers evacuate some residents from their home Sunday, Sept. 6, around 1:30 p.m. as a “precaution.”

“Officers remained on scene throughout the evening and into the early morning hours of Monday, Sept. 7, while efforts were made to bring the incident to a safe resolution,” police said in a statement, adding, “The incident ended peacefully and safely, with no reported injuries to members of the public or responding personnel.”

Upon arrival, the statement said, “officers established a perimeter and began working to safely resolve the situation. The individual was the only person inside the apartment.”

Police thanked Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations, known as STOP, Team for its assistance and residents “for their cooperation, patience and understanding while officers worked to resolve the situation.”

Police said no information about the individual will be immediately released.

Haverhill

Cogswell Club Opens Grant Round for 2027 Nonprofit Projects and Programs

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Members of Haverhill’s Cogswell Club are getting ready to again advance a worthwhile community project in 2027. The Cogswell Club, which recently gave boosts to Urban Bridges’ “Food Forward” project and a barn restoration effort at Whittier Birthplace, is seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations with ideas for projects or programs that can completed next year and be completed with a donation of between $50,000 and $75,000. Founded by City Councilor Timothy J. Jordan in 2021, the group of local philanthropists pool their donations together in support of a local organization seeking help with a major project. The Cogswell Club has gone on to distribute about $364,300 to four Haverhill-based nonprofits. Besides the calendar-year completion deadline and amounts, applicants must be Internal Revenue Service-recognized, 501 (c) (3), charities and eligible projects or programs must be specific in nature.

Community Spotlight

Chromatic Wood Type Rediscovery Topic of Museum of Printing Talk

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Geri McCormick and James Grieshaber give an explanation of chromatic wood type and how they have recreated the production process to revive historic chromatic fonts during an upcoming talk at Haverhill’s Museum of Printing. McCormick’s and Grieshaber’s rediscovery of the process led to an all-new design, called “Marquee,” that debuted earlier this year. There will be an informal activity following the talk where attendees will be able to pull a proof of a historic William H. Page chromatic wood type from around 1849 and the new Marquee font from their company, Virgin Wood Type of Rochester, N.Y.

The talk, “Chromatic Wood Type—Old and New,” takes place Saturday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m., at Museum of Printing, 15 Thornton Ave., Haverhill. General admission to the museum is $15; children and seniors, $10; and members of military, Haverhill Public Library card holders and Museum members, free.