Community Spotlight

Early Family Issues Ruth’s House Donation Match Challenge

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Haverhill’s Ruth’s House is moving forward with its second annual Changing Season, Changing Lives Fashion Show in November, but a local family seeks to defray the event’s expenses and give the effort a leg up by matching donations ahead of time. At this time, Dick and Mary Rose Early of Early Contractors are matching donations, dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000 recorded ahead of the show at RuthsHouse.org. The theme of this year’s second annual Changing Season, Changing Lives Fashion Show is “Color My World.” It takes place Thursday, Nov. 5, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and show taking place from 6-9 p.m., at Salvatore’s Riverwalk Lawrence, 354 Merrimack St., Lawrence. Ruth’s House Treasurer Ben Graves says the Early’s generous challenge helps ensure expenses are fully covered and ticket sales proceeds all go to the charity.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Cultural Council Accepting 2027 Grant Applications

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The Haverhill Cultural Council is accepting applications for the next grant cycle now through Thursday, Oct. 15, at midnight. The Council, which awards the city’s share of state arts funding, gave out $52,881 this past year. Projects ranged from several performances at Haverhill Citizens Center and Haverhill Public Library to a bus station mural project and support for Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus. Grants are awarded to individuals and nonprofit organizations planning projects that provide cultural enrichment to the city.

Community Spotlight

Golden Hill Community Playground Starts Next Month with Volunteers

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Construction of a $400,000 community playground at Haverhill’s Golden Hill Elementary School could begin next month if organizers can get 815 volunteers to help build it. The playground, brainchild of Brittany Safy, is intended to serve Golden Hill students during the school day and provide a community gathering space for families during non-school hours. As WHAV reported at the time, the project began to take shape last winter. “This incredible project has relied on parents who won’t give up, raised the money and are very close to realizing their vision for our kids. Now we need volunteers who can help be a part of something special.

Community Spotlight

Groveland Church Celebrates 300 Years with Block Party

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Groveland Congregational Church is celebrating its 300th birthday with a block party Saturday. The celebration takes place Saturday, Sept. 5, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the church, 4 King St., Groveland. Costumed volunteers will tell stories and explore the events that shaped the church’s history. Refreshments will be served throughout the day and live music, hands-on activities, games and an arrowhead dig for young explorers will be offered.

Community Spotlight

Chang Offers Tips to Avoid Reverse Mortgage Surprises

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Realtor Paul Chang offers Haverhill Council on Aging members with reverse mortgages options if they expect to outlive the mortgage or learn how to capture the equity in their homes and avoid surprises. The presentation also seeks to help people understand their options if they plan to stay in their homes over the long term. The talk takes place Friday, Sept. 4., 10 a.m., at Haverhill Citizen Center, 10 Welcome St., Haverhill. The Haverhill Council on Aging requires reservations by calling 978-374-2390, ext.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Woman’s 6th Annual Pink Party Seeks Sponsors

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The Sixth Annual Pink Party art show and auction to benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, founded by a Haverhill woman who benefited from new research and treatment, is set for Saturday, Sept. 26. Event Manager Muriel Lee Boles, who was diagnosed with Stage 4, or metastatic, breast cancer in 2013, has raised more than $65,000 since launching Pink Party show and auction in 2021. To keep up the progress, sponsor, artist and prize donations are still needed and accepted through the first week of September. There are a variety of ways sponsors can help and options are online here.

Community Spotlight

Soup-er September Food Drive Aims to Collect 5,000 Cans and Packages

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A coalition of city officials, businesses and nonprofit aid groups say they will be “warming hearts and homes, one can at a time” with a Soup-er September food drive to restock food shelves before winter. Soup-er September Food Drive, organized in partnership with Somebody Cares New England, has set a goal of collecting 5,000 cans and boxes of soup to help those in need. Donations, which may be made at community events and locations throughout the city, will be distributed by Somebody Cares, 411 Cares, All Saints Parish, Emmaus, Common Grounds, Sacred Hearts, Liz Murphy Open Hand, Calvary Baptist Church and Veterans Outreach Center. At-large City Councilor Thomas J. Sullivan outlined the concept Tuesday night before his colleagues. “The reasons we’re doing soups—actually, and chilis and chowders—during the month of September is we’ve come to find out that food pantries in the area have a hard time getting volumes of soup and chilis and chowders for the winter months.

Community Spotlight

Groveland Library Showcases Plaistow Artist Kneeland

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Works by Plaistow artist Susan Kneeland are on display at the Langley-Adams Library in Groveland through the end of the month. Kneeland is professional artist and teacher. Her work is regularly displayed at galleries through the country. Every week, Susan teaches an art therapy program benefitting residents of nursing homes and Alzheimer’s units in the Merrimack Valley. She is a member of Newburyport Art Association, Greater Haverhill Arts Association and Pastel Society of America.