Community Spotlight

Emmaus Pulls up Kickstand for Annual Cycle for Shelter

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Emmaus is planning its 38th annual bicycling fundraiser. The 2026 Cycle for Shelter ride takes place Sunday, Sept.13, beginning at 7 a.m., at Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliot St., Haverhill. Six routes are offered this year, from 15 to 100 miles. A barbeque lunch will be served following cycling, and games and wellness stations will be set up. Individual cost is $35 per rider and rider commits to raising a minimum of $250.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Pride Starts Thursday with Flag Raising, Continues with Parade, More

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Jim Moser of Lynn, author of the recently released “Queer Heroes of the North Shore: Four Centuries of Love, Rebellion, and Survival,” kicks off Haverhill Pride Month with a flag raising Thursday. This year’s flag will be raised on a pole on the grounds of Winnekenni Castle, near the Carriage House off Castle Road, in Haverhill Thursday, June 4, at 4 p.m. The raising, organized by Haverhill Pride Collective, will be followed by a reception at Roma Restaurant, 29 Middlesex St., Haverhill, sponsored by Haverhill Bank. Haverhill Pride Collective’s Second Annual Pride Parade is Saturday, June 20. The parade steps off at 12:30 p.m., from Grand Army Park on Main Street and proceeds down Main Street, takes a right on Merrimack Street and continues down Washington Street to Railroad Square. Parade day celebration continues with a family-friendly block party including craft vendors, food trucks, resource fair and drag festival on Haverhill’s waterfront.

Community Spotlight

Feline Rescue Holds Fundraising Walk and Festival

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Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society’s Strut For Strays walk and festival is this weekend at Winnekenni Park in Haverhill. The annual, family-friendly walk takes place Sunday, June 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and ends with lunch on the grounds of Winnekenni Castle, 347 Kenoza Ave. In addition to the hike, live music, face painting and lawn games are offered. This year’s fundraising goal is $60,000. Those who raise at least $50 will receive a commemorative walk T-shirt.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Art Walk Brings Art, Music, Shops Saturday

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Haverhill Art Walk features local artists, pop-up shops and alleyway art markets and “Postcards from Haverhill,” among other attractions, when the seasonal attraction returns Saturday. “Postcards from Haverhill,” a collection of photographs donated by Edward Boches to support Haverhill Art Walk, are available at the Art Walk headquarters at Creative Haverhill, 43 Washington St. Boches is a Boston and Cape Cod-based documentary photographer who grew up in Haverhill. While there, visitors can take in “Connected by Light and Texture,” paintings by Mark Hayden, and sculptures by Tim Chouinard. The artists will be on hand for a reception all day long during Haverhill Art Walk, from 2-6 p.m., throughout the downtown Riverfront Cultural District along Washington, Wingate and Essex Streets.

Community Spotlight

Chandler Discusses Defense of Fair and Free Elections Saturday Night

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Alexandra Chandler speaks Saturday night about defending fair and free elections, protecting equal rights and understanding how the two are connected in preserving democracy and freedoms.

Chandler is director of Impact Programs at Protect Democracy and a policy strategist and national security/intelligence leader. Previously she was a career intelligence community professional 13 years, including roles at the Office of Naval Intelligence and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In 2018, she was the first openly transgender candidate to run for Congress from Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University and Brooklyn Law School. The free talk by Greater Haverhill Indivisible takes place Saturday, May 30, 7 p.m., at Pinnacle’s Merrimack Room at Harbor Place, 2 Merrimack St., third floor, Haverhill.

Community Spotlight

‘Miscast Mayhem’ Friday Night as Stageworks Opens Dinner Cabaret

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Actors with Merrimack Valley Stageworks show off their singing ability at “Miscast Mayhem,” a cabaret dinner Friday night. The cabaret is a celebration of inclusion, creativity and the magic that happens when people come together to tell stories. The format allows local performers the opportunity to sing songs from roles in which they might not be traditionally cast. The 19 participating actors are Julia Arey, Shannon Bolser, Will Caswell, Brendan Fournier, Katie Galvin, Ilaisa Garcia, Nadia Gemma, Becky Gregg, Dale Knowles, Ryan LeBlanc, Stephen Matthews, Emily O’Connor, Lex Rage, Colin Malette, Ted Rusomanis, Joey Thordarson, Jessica Wells, B.C. Williams and Kayla Marquis Williams.

The dinner theater takes place Friday, May 29, at 7 p.m., at Maria’s Restaurant, 81 Essex St.  Tickets are $50 and include a buffet dinner.

Community Spotlight

Methuen’s Tenney Gatehouse War Reenactment Moves to Sunday

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Methuen’s Day of History, with both Civil War and World War II re-enactments, has been moved from Saturday to Sunday. Historical reenactors will now set up Sunday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the grounds of Tenney Gatehouse on Pleasant Street. Besides costumed historical interpreters, the Methuen 300 Celebration features family-friendly, hands-on activities that focus on Methuen’s history. A shuttle bus will also take passengers on a guided tour of Methuen’s storied landmarks. Local businesses, many with deep roots in the city, will offer refreshments.

Community Spotlight

Updated: Haverhill’s Cultural Treasures Celebrate Nation’s 250th with ‘Month of Museums’

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The Haverhill Cultural Treasures, a group representing the city’s historic sites and museums, kicks off a “Months of Museums” next month with chances to win a gift. Beginning Saturday, June 20, the historic 1697 Duston-Dustin Garrison House launches the celebration, in concert with the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, with colonial militia reenactments. It continues Tuesday, June 23, at Whittier Birthplace; Saturday, June 27, Museum of Printing; Sunday, June 28, Tattersall Farm; Saturday, July 11, Haverhill Firefighting Museum; Sunday, July 12, Hand Tub House; Wednesday, July 22, to Sunday, July 26, Buttonwoods Museum; and, throughout the month, selfie views of Winnekenni Castle. Each treasure will be distributing their museum card and an envelope for visitors to collect cards. Those who collect all seven cards, include a selfie photograph at Winnekenni Castle, can receive a gift from the Cultural Treasures.