Business Bulletin

Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospitals Honor Fisher, Foley with Excellence Above All Awards

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(Additional photograph below.)

As part of National Hospital Week, Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospitals recognized two employees last week for their commitment to the organization with Excellence Above All Awards. Lawrence General nurse Kristin Foley and Holy Family nurse Ari Fisher, were nominated by their peers and chosen by a selection committee to receive the awards based on their outstanding professionalism, attitude, performance, achievement and customer service. In a nomination letter, Foley of Methuen, was described as “a veteran RN who has devoted 28 years of exceptional service.”

“She consistently maintains the highest standards of patient rapport, professionalism and safety—a testament to her enduring passion for nursing excellence. Her ability to sustain this level of performance over such an extended period represents an extraordinary achievement that has positively impacted countless families during one of life’s most significant moments for our patients,” the nomination continues. Fisher of Bedford, N.H. is Holy Family Hospital’s emergency room clinical leader.

Business Bulletin

MassCPAs Award Scholarships to Three Area Students

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Note: This story has been updated to reflect a note from Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants, correcting its original release about one student’s hometown. Two students from Haverhill and one from Methuen are among scholarship winners named this week by the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Educational Foundation’s 2025 Scholarship Program. Haverhill’s Patricia Pham, attending UMass Lowell, was awarded the Johnson O’Connor Feron & Carucci Scholarship, while Kayden Nephew of Haverhill, attending Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, was granted the Emerging Scholar Award. Methuen’s Osman Chacon, also attending UMass Lowell, was awarded the PKF O’Connor Davies Firm Named Scholarship. “The passion and expertise of this year’s scholarship recipients is truly inspiring,” said Zach Donah, president and CEO of MassCPAs.

Beacon Hill News

Buyers Brokers Only Supports Rules to Ensure Homebuyers May Have Home Inspections

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Haverhill-based Buyers Brokers Only this week reiterated its support for proposed state regulations that would make it illegal for home sellers to require or encourage buyers to waive a home inspection as a condition of purchasing a property. Richard J. Rosa, co-founder of Buyers Brokers Only, called the problem an affordability issue, especially for first-time homebuyers. “They save for a down payment, they save for closing costs, but it’s just still a bridge too far when you then feel pressured to waive a home inspection not knowing what costs you’re not going to know about,” he explained. Buyers Brokers Only emphasized that while the regulation protects a buyer’s right to inspect a home, it does not obligate sellers to make repairs or concessions following the inspection. The proposed regulation from the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities stems from legislation passed in August 2024 as part of a housing bond bill.

Business Bulletin

Pentucket Bank Donates $10,500 to Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill

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Pentucket Bank has donated $10,500 to Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill in support of a number of the Club’s initiatives including being lead sponsor of the Annual Golf Tournament, Casino Royale fundraiser and gymnasium floor logo. The bank has been a top sponsor of the annual Casino Royale fundraiser, the Club’s largest fundraiser for 10 years and running. In addition, several bank employees have served in board seats and as volunteers for several events and programs.

“Pentucket Bank has a long history of supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill, and with good reason,” said bank President and CEO Steve Jaskelevicus. “From youth development, academic support and so many other positive programs, the Boys and Girls Clubs help strengthen communities by investing in the next generation’s success and well-being. There is perhaps nothing more important than that.”

Pentucket Bank has also supported the Boys & Girls Club with contributions to renovating the Club’s computer lab, along with continued maintenance of that space and its equipment.

Business Bulletin

Greater Haverhill Chamber to Award Top Honors to WHAV, Bevilacqua, Murphy and Joy June 5

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WHAV, Francis J. Bevilacqua III of Bevilacqua Builds, Kristin M. Murphy of Bradford Country Club and Realtor Michael Joy will be receiving top honors of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce when the organization celebrates its 109th Annual Dinner and Wine Tasting. WHAV, to be represented by President and CEO Tim Coco and “Win for Breakfast” host Win Damon, is receiving the Charles E. Billups Award, the Chamber’s most prestigious honor since 1985. Bevilacqua will be honored with the Jerry Loy Outstanding Director Award, Murphy for Community Leadership and Joy for Chamber Service. “The awarding of the Charles E. Billups Award has special significance for me,” said Coco. Billups was the epitome of public service, not only holding leadership roles at Essex County Gas Co.

Business Bulletin

Power of Self-Education’s COCO Brown in Haverhill Receives Barr Foundation Grant

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Haverhill-based Power of Self-Education’s COCO Brown initiative was recently named as one of 55 grassroots arts organizations across the state to receive a Catalyzing Vitality grant from the Barr Foundation. COCO Brown, at 143 Essex St., is described as helping to sustain and expand “culturally vibrant, community-centered programming for artists and creative entrepreneurs north of Boston.” For more than six years, it has offered open mics, storytelling events, wellness workshops, youth and adult programming, civic and social events, entrepreneurial support and space for collective reflection, celebration and learning. “POSE Inc. is a powerful example of how community-rooted creativity can spark healing, connection and opportunity,” says Francisco Torres, program officer for arts and creativity at Barr Foundation. “We’re proud to support COCO Brown through the Catalyzing Vitality initiative as it continues to build a space that nurtures artists and fosters a deep sense of belonging in Haverhill.”

Katrina “Kat” Hobbs Everett, co-founder of POSE and director/curator of COCO Brown, adds “Here we are healing from scarcity mindsets and fear of money. We are reimagining what thriving looks like for our communities, and then pursuing what we dream up!”

Catalyzing Vitality addresses longstanding disparities in arts funding by investing in smaller, grassroots organizations that have historically lacked access to long-term, flexible resources.

Business Bulletin

U.S. SBA’s Spahiu and Steele to Address Merrimack Valley Chamber at Annual Awards Breakfast

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U.S. Small Business Administration’s Ili Spahiu, acting Massachusetts district director, and Peter A. Steele, regional administrator, will be on hand to congratulate a wide variety of local businesses during the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming Annual Small Business Awards. The awards breakfast takes place Friday, June 6, from 7:30-9 a.m., at Renaissance Country Club, 377 Kenoza St., in Haverhill. Winners include, in Business assistance, MakelT Haverhill and MassDevelopment; Discovery/Education, Mass, School of Law at Andover and Merrimack College; Environmental, G. Mello Disposal, NRGTree and Revise; Healthcare, Comfort Home Care and Spectrum Adult DayHealth; and Innovative, Factorial Energy and STEMspot. In addition, Longevity, Haffner’s, Michaud Insurance Agency and Raymond’s Turkey Farm; Manufacturing, Edwards Vacuum and Helfrich Brothers Boiler Works; Cultural/Tourism Duston-Dustin Garrison House and North Andover Historical Society; Diversity, Top Notch Scholars’ Joanna De Pena and New York Life’s Lisanny Richiez; and Media Advocate, Andover Living and Merrimack Valley Eats. Also, Nonprofit, Community Teamwork and Lazarus House; Perseverance, X-Golf Methuen; Retail, Harrows Chicken Pies and Little Giant Comics; Service, A.D. Parkside West and Servpro of Lowell; Veteran, Clear Path for Veterans; Wholesale, Bigbelly Waste Solutions and Shaheen Bros.; and Family-Owned Businesses, Joseph’s Trattoria Pest-End, Shadi’s Restaurant, Silverio Insurance Agency and Wang’s Table.

Business Bulletin

Merrimack Valley Chamber Members to Network Monday at Barrio in Haverhill

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Barrio of Haverhill will host members of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce after work Monday. The Business Networking Mixer provides opportunities for business people to meet and mingle, nibble on appetizers and possibly win a door prize. It is scheduled for Monday, May 12, from 5-7 p.m., at Barrio, 2 Merrimack St., Haverhill. Admission is $10 each for members of $20 each for non-members. Reservations may be made at MerrimackValleyChamber.com or by calling 978-686-0900.