Business Bulletin

Haverhill, Southern New Hampshire Chambers Plan Joint Business After Hours

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The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is joining with the Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce for Business After Hours next week at Wicked Sticky Designs. Members of the two chambers will network; get a behind-the-scenes look at Wicked Sticky Designs, producer of wide format printing, vehicle wraps, fleet graphics, banners and decals; and enjoy food and drinks. Business After Hours takes place Thursday, Oct. 29, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Wicked Sticky Designs, 12 Industrial Way, #1, Atkinson, N.H. The gathering is free to members of either Chamber. Registration takes place at HaverhillChamber.com.

Community Spotlight

Haverhill Plans ‘Hill-O-Ween’ Jack-O-Lantern Contest Oct. 30

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Haverhill is planning its second annual “Hill-O-Ween” jack-o-lantern contest. The city invites residents to enter their carved pumpkins, to be displayed in Washington Square, into the contest, taking place Friday, Oct. 30, where volunteers will light and display pumpkins. Winners of the “Spookiest” pumpkin, judged by artist and Creative Haverhill Programs and Operations Manager Josh Salad, receives a gift card to Evens & Oddities; “Most Vintage” pumpkin, judged by Time Machine co-owner Jay Ferrandini, receives a gift card to the store; and “Most Creative” pumpkin, judged by Winged Rabbit owner Patricia Bruno, receives a gift card to that store. Jack-o-lantern drop-off runs from 5-6 p.m., judges arrive at 6 and winners announced at 6:30 There is no cost to participate and everyone who participates will be entered to win a gift card to The Charcoal Pit.

Education

Barrett Expresses Hope After Northern Essex, Whittier Tech Cease Working Together

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Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett expressed hope Wednesday plans to locate a new Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School at Northern Essex Community College can be salvaged after the two schools stopped working together. The gulf between the schools became apparent Wednesday when Northern Essex President Lane A. Glenn sent a letter to communities, saying “we no longer see a viable path forward for the project as currently envisioned.”

Barrett, who conditioned any changes to the regional agreement between the 11 member communities on cooperation between the schools, said a renewed path forward is crucial. “I don’t see an immediate resolution, but I think this is almost too big to fail. It’s so important,” Barrett told WHAV. She said she will call for the communities to get together to try to put the project back on track.

Haverhill

Haverhill Councilors Kill Plan for 3 Condo Homes on Marshland St.

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Haverhill city councilors Tuesday night killed a developer’s request to replace a single-family house on Marshland Street with three condominium units, with most members saying the plan would upset the character of the neighborhood. The “Marshland Commons” proposal from Matt Silva of Sterling Commonwealth Builders called for demolishing a single-family house at 27 Marshland St. and replacing it with three, three-bedroom townhouses—each with separate driveways to the street. Mark Dickinson, who said he has owned the nearby 30 Marshland St. property, was among those who spoke against the plan.

Haverhill

Holmes Joins Northern Essex Knights as Baseball Coach, Assistant Athletic Director

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Mitchell Holmes is the new baseball coach and assistant athletic director of the Northern Essex Community College Knights. Holmes most recently spent the previous two seasons as lead assistant coach at Babson College where he oversaw hitting and catching and helped lead the recruiting efforts for the Beavers who captured the 2026 NEWMAC championship and earned the third seed in NCAA Division III Southern Maine regional. Prior to his time at Babson, Holmes spent three seasons on the staff at Holy Cross. Athletics Director Dan Blair said Tuesday Holmes officially begins his duties next Monday. “I’m pleased to welcome Mitch to Northern Essex.

Community Spotlight

Greater Haverhill Arts Association Plans Holiday Show Nov. 13-15

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The annual Greater Haverhill Arts Association Holiday Show opens this year in the heart of downtown Haverhill. The exhibition takes place Friday through Sunday, Nov. 13 through 15, in collaboration with Creative Haverhill in the Cogswell Artspace Incubator gallery at Creative Haverhill, 43 Washington St. Greater Haverhill Arts Association members are invited to exhibit up to two framed works and up to 24 additional, smaller and unframed items. Organizers suggest smaller, reasonably priced work, including prints, notecards, ornaments, calendars and magnets. Other criteria, fees and registration are online at haverhillartassociation.org.

Haverhill

Pre-Season Poll Puts Northern Essex Knights’ Basketball on Top

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Northern Essex Community College men’s basketball team was selected Monday as the number one team in the national pre-season poll as announced by the NJCAA Basketball Committee. The Knights, who captured the program’s first-ever national championship back in March, are coming off a 33-3 season and will have a fresh look for the 2026-27 under head coach Darren Stratton who enters his 24th season with a record of 384-213. With four starters from last year’s national championship game moving onto to the four-year scholarship level, the Knights say they will rely heavily on sophomores Jay’von Depina and Jacob Mercedes, who both played significant roles a season ago. Xavier Rivera, who was a member of the Knights program in in 2024-25, returns to the program after taking a year off. Expected to make an immediate impact on the court this season, the team adds, are newcomers Rolky BreaArias, Isaiah Bean Britain and Martin Drejaj who will all provide significant minutes in the frontcourt.

Haverhill

Haverhill Readies for Veterans Day with a Month of Events

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Haverhill plans a variety of observances and ceremonies as the nation gets ready to honor veterans before, on and after the Wednesday, Nov. 11, holiday. Patrick Menzie addresses Haverhill city councilors Tuesday night, inviting the public to the annual pre-election Veterans Alliance of Greater Haverhill breakfast Nov. 1. The breakfast was inaugurated in 2017, taking over a standing, pre-election breakfast former Rep. Brian S. Dempsey held for years.