Business Bulletin

Greater Haverhill Chamber Awards Top Honor to Team Haverhill

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Team Haverhill—celebrating its 20th anniversary transforming Haverhill—is taking home the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s top honor next month. The Charles E. Billups Award, the Chamber’s most prestigious honor since 1985, goes to the nonprofit civic organization during the Chamber’s 110th Annual Dinner. Team Haverhill is the brainchild of Sally Cerasuolo-O’Rorke, who was the president of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce when the group was founded. It has since become its own all-volunteer, independent nonprofit. Charles E. Billups served Essex County Gas Co., a natural gas utility, for 35 years, retiring as chairman of the board.

Region

North Andover Democrats Honor Fresen; Elect Delegates at March Events

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Jenn Fresen was named the 2026 North Andover Democrat of the year last month by the North Andover Democratic Town Committee. Fresen most recently organized the North Andover Pride Project. She accepted the plaque from Executive Board Member Hillary Stasonis during the March 9 Annual Scholarship Breakfast. It also featured remarks from federal, state and local Democratic leaders, as well as candidates for Massachusetts’ 6th Congressional District. Organizers said, the breakfast raises money for a scholarship awarded to a graduating North Andover High School senior who demonstrates a commitment to positive political change.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill River Bards Celebrate with 10th Anniversary Celebration, Release of Anthology

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Creative Haverhill and the Haverhill River Bards are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the local poetry group at a free celebration this month, highlighted by the release of “Voices of the River Bards, a 10th Anniversary Anthology.”

Haverhill River Bards, formed with support from Creative Haverhill, has been able to spotlight over 50 poets and hundreds of community members through open mic readings. “We’re proud to celebrate not just a publication, but a decade of poetry nights highlighting the talent and range of our local poets,” said Creative Haverhill Director Erin Padilla. “This anthology is a testament to the many voices that have shaped the River Bards community and the power of poetry to bring people together.”

The anthology was curated by Andrea Blackington, Daniel Speers and Thomas F. Wylie, with Padilla serving as artistic director, Carol Crowell of Crowell Editing and Publishing as consulting editor and cover art, “Heart of the Valley,” was painted in 2015 by local artist Mark Hayden. Besides release of the anthology, the Celebration and Poetry Night features poetry and an open mic with contributing poets

The free event is open to the public and will take place on Wednesday, April 15, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Creative Haverhill, 43 Washington St., Haverhill.

Haverhill

Legislators Honor Thenor with Black Excellence on the Hill Award for Volunteerism

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Widnay Thenor of Haverhill was among those honored earlier this month with the Black Excellence on the Hill award. Thenor was nominated for stepping up as a volunteer for Make It Haverhill by Rep. Andy X. Vargas, chair of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. “He first began as a resident participating in Make It’s programs and job fairs which led him to a great job, where he has since been promoted into a supervisor role. Instead of saying thanks and moving, he turned around and began volunteering at the very place that opened doors for him. This spirit is what Haverhill is all about,” says Vargas.

Business Bulletin

MassHire Merrimack Valley Haverhill Career Center Moves Temporarily to City Hall

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MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center’s Haverhill office is temporarily located in Haverhill City Hall. The office provides assistance for both individuals seeking job opportunities and employers looking for workers. Limited aid with unemployment insurance is also be provided. “The MassHire Merrimack Valley Career Center is a one-stop career center, providing a wide range of services to job seekers and businesses, youth to adults, in the Merrimack Valley,” the state agency says. The city hall office is expected to remain open through June 30.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill’s First Full Earth Month Commences Next Wednesday, April 1, with Array of Activities

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The city is collaborating with organizations, artists and businesses for its inaugural “Earth Month” lineup. Activities begin next Wednesday, April, 1 and include three Team Haverhill Clean & Green cleanups, a week of Quick Eco Crafts for April school vacation, educational workshops at the library, trail building and “Earth Music” Youth Band Concert, all culminating in the city’s annual Earth Day cleanup Saturday, April 25. Downtown Events Coordinator Hailey Pearson has pulled together the disparate events into a unified Earth Month calendar. The Haverhill Public Library, for example, will be hosting events comprising of educational lectures and youth creative activities. In addition, there will be free drop-in “Quick Eco Crafts” sessions at Creative Haverhill, upcycling art with Historic New England, recycled paper making with Mindy Paper and bead and book making throughout the month.

Education

Area Students Up for Scholarships at Valley Patriot Newspaper’s Bash Friday

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Students from Haverhill High, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High, Methuen High and Greater Lawrence Technical Schools are among those being recognized and receiving scholarships at the Valley Patriot newspaper’s 22nd annual Bash Scholarship and Award night Friday. Haverhill High’s Kayley Shapiro is nominated for the Dan Strange Memorial Scholarship, while Whittier Tech’s Yeselin Alvarado is up for the scholarship established by Whittier alum Al Veilleux; Methuen High’s Kellen Ste. Marie, Phil Glendye Memorial Special Needs Scholarship; and Greater Lawrence Tech’s Isabel Dupuis of Methuen. Donations to each scholarship may be made by clicking on the names. “Each Valley Patriot scholarship was established by someone in the community for a specific school and/or for a student going into a certain field of study.