WHAV (https://whav.net/category/communityspotlight/page/10/)
Haverhill’s Museum of Printing is offering art workshops for kids Thursdays in August. The series kicks off with a paper-making workshop Thursday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m. and again at noon. Parents are welcome to stay and assist. The series continues with foam hand printing Thursday, Aug.
Joni and Friends New England, an organization that seeks to “bring practical help and Gospel hope to people with disabilities around the world,” is holding its annual Golf Invitational fundraiser at Renaissance Golf Club. According to its website, “Each golfer is invited to approach the day not simply as a tournament, but as an opportunity to make a significant and generous investment in transforming lives with the hope of Christ. After your round of golf, we will kick off the evening with dinner followed by an inspiring program featuring stories of families whose lives have been forever changed through this ministry.” Joni and Friends New England Area Director Maria DeGenova describes the organization. “Joni and Friends New England is an area office of a larger international organization called Joni and Friends,” DeGenova said. “It’s our vision to see a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity and their place in the body of Christ,” she tells WHAV.
Bestselling author Michael Blanding discusses his new book, “The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby: Inside A Billionaire Family’s Quest to Craft a Christian Nation,” this Thursday, at Nevin’s Memorial Library. Blanding is an investigative journalist based in Boston whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Wired, Smithsonian, Slate, The Nation and Boston Globe Magazine. He won the International Book Award for his previous 2021 book, “In Shakespeare’s Shadow: A Rogue Scholar’s Quest to Reveal the True Source Behind the World’s Greatest Plays” and the NES Book Award from the New England Society of New York for his 2014 book “The Map Thief: The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps.”
Blanding has also taught journalism and creative nonfiction at Tufts University, Emerson College, Northeastern University and GrubStreet Writers. “The Gospel According to Hobby Lobby” discusses the religious history behind the family of Hobby Lobby and how they rose to political prominence. Blanding’s talk takes place Thursday, Aug.
Haverhill YMCA’s second annual golf tournament takes place later this month place with fundraising goals of transforming the lives of children, delivering on the promise of educational programs and building confidence, connection and memories that last a lifetime. Every dollar raised goes directly to the Haverhill YMCA, the Y emphasizes, saying, “When you tee off, you are giving kids the gift of growth, fun and unforgettable memories, making an impact far beyond the course!”
Golf will be played in a scramble format, along with on-course games. The tournament is set for Friday, Aug. 28, beginning at 6:45 a.m. with check-in and breakfast, playing starting at 8 and continuing through 3 p.m., at Bradford Country Club, 201 Chadwick Road, Haverhill. There will also be a raffle, mulligan sales and a welcome by YMCA leadership and host pro and a 1:15 p.m. reception with appetizers, cash bar, lunch, awards and networking.
Bluebird expert Roger Montbleau will talk about strategies to attract and support eastern bluebirds in a talk sponsored by the Atkinson Garden Club. The free lecture is Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 10:30 a.m., at the Atkinson Community Center, 4 Main St., Atkinson, N.H. The meeting is open to the public. Montbleau talks about the kind of nesting boxes the birds prefer and well as the behavior patterns the birds exhibit throughout the year. Refreshments will be available.
Haverhill artist Mindy Mitrano will lead a workshop in papermaking for teens at the Haverhill Public Library. The hands-on craft class will be offered Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 1-2 p.m., in the Cavallaro Room at the library, 99 Main St., Haverhill. The event is open to youths ages 11-18. Mitrano will help participants turn recycled paper into new sheets in the shapes of flowers and leaves.
National Beat Poet Laureate Mark Lipman will make the final stop of his Vagabond Poetry Caravan Sunday at Haverhill’s Whittier Birthplace. Lipman launched his 6,500-mile journey around the United States with an appearance at Creative Haverhill in April 2025. He received a $2,000 grant from the Haverhill Cultural Council towards his adventure. Lipman’s Whittier Birthplace appearance will be Sunday, Aug. 2, at 2 p.m. Appearing on stage with him will be Dan Speers, Haverhill’s poet laureate; Lee Eric Freedman, a past poet laureate of Swampscott; Bob Whelan, poet laureate of Rockport; and Jac-Lynn Stark.
Amanda Levy is offering her hands-on tie dye class for adults at Haverhill Public Library twice in August. The first session of Adult Tie Dye with Amanda is Saturday, Aug. 1, from 2-3:30 p.m. The second session is Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m. Classes are open to those 18 and over and will be held outside on the lawn at the library at 99 Main St., Haverhill. Participants are advised to bring a T-shirt or another small fabric item to dye.