WHAV (https://whav.net/category/communityspotlight/)
The Merrimack Valley String Orchestra is offering a free Winter Concert Dec. 6 in Haverhill. The multi-generational orchestra conducted by Joy Schuetze, plans to perform a wide variety of music of different eras, featuring Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four Solo Violins, Solo Cello and Strings. There are also arrangements of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Dvorak, Rimsky-Korsakov and Stephen Foster as well as Christmas and Chanukah music. The Winter Concert takes place Sunday, Dec.
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.
The Haverhill Council on Aging’s annual Craft Fair is less than two weeks away. The Council and its vendors invite the public to take part in holiday shopping. There will also be raffles and free admission. The Craft Fair takes place Sunday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Haverhill Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., Haverhill.
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Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul Haverhill Greek Festival returns this Friday and Saturday with homemade Greek food and pastries, music, Greek products, raffles and more. One of the festival organizers, Ted Vathally, gave WHAV listeners a preview during Monday’s “Win for Breakfast” program. “The food is just spectacular. It’s all homemade. Nothing’s bought,” he said.
Haverhill Pride is spending Saturday afternoon at Crescent Farms for Pride of the Patch. The Halloween fundraiser, in support the 2027 Pride Parade and Celebration and year-round queer programming, features a 7.5-acre corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, a costume contest and music from DJ PJ. Pride of the Patch takes place Saturday, Oct. 31, from noon to 5 p.m., at Crescent Farms, 140 Willow Ave., Haverhill. The schedule calls for exploring the farm, taking hayrides, navigating the corn maze and pumpkin picking, noon to 2 p.m.; costume contest check-in and lineup, 2:30-3 p.m.; costume contest, 4 p.m.; and raffle drawings and wrap-up, 4-5 p.m.
Admission is $40 per person and tickets are available online via givebutter.com.
The Haverhill Police Department will be out in force during its 10th Stuff a Cruiser Day, Saturday, collecting food donations for area food pantries. Officers will station cruisers between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, at Market Basket locations at Westgate Plaza, Central Plaza and Rivers Edge Plaza in Haverhill. Residents are asked to contribute such non-perishable items as canned fruits, vegetables, soups and hams; frozen turkeys and chickens; paper goods; cranberry sauce: potatoes: yams: boxed stuffing mix: pasta: pasta sauce; baked beans; and cereals.
The Sixth Annual Pentucket Kiwanis Club Wine Tasting brings out French and Italian wines and returns the Nate Perry and Connor Milligan Duo to entertain. There will also be light appetizers and a buffet. The wine is uncorked Thursday, Nov. 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at Maria’s Galleria Banquet Room, 81 Essex St., Haverhill. Admission is $50 per person or a table of eight for $375.
The Haverhill Public Health Department is planning a School Age Flu Clinic during the afternoon of Nov. 10. The clinic is intended for those ages 5 to 18 in advance of the flu season. It takes place Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 2-6 p.m., at Haverhill Citizens Center, 10 Welcome St., Haverhill.
Jon and Li Waterman will present “Popular Music and Veterans,” featuring traditional songs and accompanying slideshow about the history of veterans in America, Nov. 6. Songs and history revolve around subjects ranging from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam and touch on figures such as James Reese Europe, Glenn Miller and Elvis, along with such events as the Bonus Army and the sinking of the Civil War steamship, Sultana. The Watermans have performed their music and history programs in venues throughout New England as part of a series called Live Music Making History Live, designed to encourage celebration and exploration of history through music. They perform regularly as the duo Sultana.
