WHAV (https://whav.net/category/business/)
The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Paint & Create with Pixie Yates” night next week with a take-home decorated pillow cover. Each participant will paint a snowy New England evergreen tree on a cotton throw pillow cover that can serve as a holiday charm at home or a handmade gift. The pillow-cover painting project uses acrylic paints with a touch of shimmery gold for extra holiday sparkle. No experience is necessary. Paint & Create with Pixie Yates takes place Thursday, Nov.
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.
The board of Haverhill-based Museum of Printing last month promoted Miranda “Mindy” Mitrano to the post of museum director. Mitrano, a longtime volunteer at the museum, was named museum manager last February. “As the museum continues its transition into the next phase of its growth and development, Mindy has played a central role in ensuring day-to-day operations of the museum run smoothly and that the museum continues to grow,” said Jim Hamilton, chairman of the board of directors. “This promotion is recognition by the board of Mindy’s exceptional performance as manager, positioning her to take on even more responsibility as we work to ensure the future of the museum as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2029.”
Mitrano, of Haverhill, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Museum of Printing, supporting the people who make the museum’s work possible and helping put the board’s plans and policies into practice. “I am pleased to be able to expand my role and take on even more responsibility for making sure the Museum continues to be an interesting and educational destination for individuals and groups interested in the rich story of print and other forms of communications,” said Mitrano.
Alison Sekelsky was recently appointed chief nursing officer of Anna Jaques Hospital, part of Beth Israel Lahey Health. Sekelsky has spent her 27-year nursing career to Anna Jaques Hospital, most recently serving as director of maternal child health since 2014. In that role, officials said, she provided strategic and operational leadership for the hospital’s maternal-child program and led numerous initiatives aimed at advancing patient safety, quality outcomes and the patient experience, while fostering a culture of collaboration and professional excellence. “Alison is a trusted and accomplished leader whose nearly three decades of service to Anna Jaques Hospital exemplify her commitment to clinical excellence, patient-centered care and nursing leadership,” said Megan Gray, president and chief operating officer of Anna Jaques Hospital. “Her deep understanding of our organization, proven leadership and steadfast dedication to our mission make her exceptionally well suited to guide our nursing teams and support their continued success.”
Sekelsky began her career at Anna Jaques as a medical-surgical nurse in 1999 and joined the Birth Center as a staff nurse in 2001.
Stacey Bennett and Renata Dragomaretski have joined River Run Services as vice president, performance marketing manager and assistant vice president, commercial loan servicing manager respectively. River Run Services is under the umbrella of River Run Bancorp and supports affiliated banks Newburyport Bank, Pentucket Bank and Rollstone Bank & Trust. Bennett, of Ipswich, brings more than 20 years of experience in digital marketing, performance strategy and measurement and client and team leadership to her role. She will lead integrated marketing campaign planning and execution, overseeing project management, marketing collateral and creative partner relationships across River Run’s affiliated banks. Dragomaretski brings to her new role 17 years of experience in retail banking and more than five years of experience in commercial loan servicing.
A coalition of city and regional leaders and business groups plan two focus group sessions to, in organizers’ words, “open up the discussion to build momentum in our downtown.”
Downtown business focus groups take place Wednesday, Nov. 4, at noon, at the offices of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, 29 Washington St., and, 4 p.m., at The Hill Downtown Tavern, 35 Washington St. Discussions are under the auspices of Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett and the Economic Development Task Force and involve the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, Greater Haverhill Foundation and Merrimack Valley Planning Commission. Those wishing to learn more or reserve a seat at one of the focus group sessions are asked to call Haverhill’s Economic Development and Planning office at 978-374-2330.
Downtown Haverhill’s Hidden Pig restaurant, which “lightly” reopened without fanfare last month in time for River Ruckus, is moving toward a full schedule. Owner and Manager Phillip C. Bentham II tells WHAV, “We wanted to slowly get it back and see where we’re at.” After the restaurant closed briefly, Bentham notes, he reopened it with a refreshed menu. “We’ve just been slowing opening, Wednesdays to Sundays. We’re trying to find a little more consistency in downtown hours because, during the week, it has been so abysmal. It’s a weird economy right now.
Haverhill’s Jimmy Carbone is bringing CiderFeast to the South Boston Lithuanian Citizens’ Association for its fifth year, the final stop of the 2026 CiderFeast East Coast Tour. This year’s lineup of hard cider with cideries from Massachusetts and beyond brings together Cape Cod’s Sandy Neck Cider Co., Long View Ciderhouse from Rogers Orchards, Absolem Cider Company, Citizen Cider and others. Attendees can compare pours; meet participating cidermakers; and learn how fruit varieties, growing regions and production methods shape each cider. They can also pair their pours with foods from Mei Mei Dumplings, Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar, Craic Sauce and Tipsy Scoop, plus cider doughnuts from Hilltop Orchards. CiderFeast Boston takes place Saturday, Nov.
Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce plans a Business Networking Mixer at The Beck, the new 290-unit housing complex on the Merrimack River in Bradford. Besides networking, the event, co-hosted by Studios 15, gives Chamber members and guests time to gather for complimentary appetizers and drinks and opportunities to win door prizes. The Business Networking Mixer at The Beck takes place Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 5-7 p.m., at 39 Railroad Ave., Haverhill. Registration takes place at MerrimackValleyChamber.com or by calling 978-686-0900.
