Pentucket Regional Middle High School’s fall athletics season is wrapping up. According to the school, “Pentucket’s nine fall teams have shown exemplary sportsmanship and enthusiasm throughout the season.”
The football team, 1-6, defeated its rival Newburyport 35-25, Oct. 9. Quarterback Dempsey Spring rushed for a touchdown and threw for two more. Braylon Leonard caught one touchdown pass and intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown.
North Andover Police Chief Charles Gray said Tuesday he will retire, following a period that saw a town police officer shot by a fellow officer, face trial on a charge of assault and ultimately be acquitted. Gray gave notice after reaching a voluntary separation agreement with the town. He will remain on leave, using his accrued earned sick time while a retirement application is processed. “The town appreciates Chief Gray’s service to the town of North Andover both as chief and in his various other roles, including as a K-9 officer. Under his leadership, the department created the Community Impact Unit, saw the first increase in staffing in two decades, improved its equipment and evolved away from Civil Service,” said North Andover Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues.
It’s Election Day Tuesday for those who didn’t vote early or cast ballots by mail, with few local races garnering much attention. Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright Esposito reported 2,766 residents took advantage of early voting over a two-week period. She warns anyone who hasn’t returned a vote-by-mail or absentee ballot should bring them to her office in city hall or use the drop-box on the main Street side of City Hall by 8 p.m. Otherwise, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
All eyes are on the national congressional midterm elections where Democrats are seeking to take back control of both the Senate and the House. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey, a Democrat, faces John Deaton, a Republican. The 6th district House seat vacated by Seth Moulton brings Democrat Dan Koh against Republican Micah Quinney Jones, while 3rd District Congresswoman Lori Trahan, a Democrat, faces Republican Gary J. Grossi and unenrolled candidate Dennis R. Conlon.
Two efforts to resurrect a partnership between Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community are taking shape, both locally and at the State House. In a recent email to the Whittier Tech Building Committee, Whittier Business Manager Angus G. Jennings said he expects Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll to convene a meeting later this month between the administrations of both schools. “We expect this will restore clarity regarding the (Massachusetts School Building Authority) process, and the Commonwealth’s commitment to pursue this opportunity,” Jennings wrote. Meanwhile, Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch, said in a letter Monday to Northern Essex Community College President Lane A. Glenn that “Whittier Tech remains committed to a partnership with Northern Essex Community College, and I hope the NECC site will remain one of the options in our feasibility study.”
The letter was widely circulated, going to community leaders, Whittier Tech School Committee, Regional Agreement Amendment Committee and Whittier School Building Committee. The initiatives follow an Oct.
They may have been made of rigid metal, but some still swore they saw tails wagging as awards were handed out Saturday, capping Haverhill’s Big Dog Show. Hunking School PTO’s pet won the popular vote for Best Dressed Big Dog with its Pablo Picasso-inspired “Dog Casso.” Waystone Health and Human services won the Haverhill BrightSide Award: Best Use of Natural Materials for its dog, emphasizing trust, integrity, respect, growth and belonging, while Nunan’s Florist & Garden Center and Haverhill Garden Club won for Best Collaboration. Big Dog artist Dale Rogers chose Haverhill Bank’s patriotic red, white and blue bog for his honorable mention. The Big Dog Show is the signature public art exhibition of Haverhill-based artist Dale Rogers with charitable proceeds for the exhibition going to Haverhill’s Whittier Birthplace. Twenty of Dale Rogers’ “American Dogs” were assembled for a fifth year on Bradford Common from Friday through Monday.
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.
Alison Sekelsky was recently appointed chief nursing officer of Anna Jaques Hospital, part of Beth Israel Lahey Health. Sekelsky has spent her 27-year nursing career to Anna Jaques Hospital, most recently serving as director of maternal child health since 2014. In that role, officials said, she provided strategic and operational leadership for the hospital’s maternal-child program and led numerous initiatives aimed at advancing patient safety, quality outcomes and the patient experience, while fostering a culture of collaboration and professional excellence. “Alison is a trusted and accomplished leader whose nearly three decades of service to Anna Jaques Hospital exemplify her commitment to clinical excellence, patient-centered care and nursing leadership,” said Megan Gray, president and chief operating officer of Anna Jaques Hospital. “Her deep understanding of our organization, proven leadership and steadfast dedication to our mission make her exceptionally well suited to guide our nursing teams and support their continued success.”
Sekelsky began her career at Anna Jaques as a medical-surgical nurse in 1999 and joined the Birth Center as a staff nurse in 2001.
