The Eagle-Tribune
---- — The 26th annual Bobby Bell 5-Mile Road Race, held downtown Oct. 7, raised $8,517 — a record amount for the event.
This year’s race drew 223 runners, while the 18th annual Joyce Moriarty Memorial Fitness Walk the same day had 55 participants. Former Haverhill High School cross country standout Jefferson Welch finished first in the race with a time of 28:01. Officers from the Haverhill Police Auxiliary maintained traffic control, while the Andover Striders and Winners’ Circle Running Club provided race management.
The Lasting Room Grille, Krueger’s Flatbread, Cedar’s, Haverhill Beef Company and Fantini Bakery provided food and drink for the runners, walkers, and volunteers. This year’s proceeds were distributed as follows: $4,000 to the Sapienza Scholarship Fund; $1,592 to the Joyce Moriarty Scholarship Fund; $400 to Haverhill’s Brightside; $200 to the Haverhill Police Auxiliary; $125 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; $500 to the Haverhill High School Cross Country Team; $50 to the VFW Santa Parade; and $1,650 to the Andover Striders Running Club.
Organizers want to thank all of the event’s sponsors and volunteers, and its host, The Lasting Room Grille. The top three financial sponsors — Rice Brouillard Electric, Yankee Timing Company and Magellan Aerospace Corp. — are thanked for their continued generosity, especially in these economic times. More information is available from David LaBrode, race director, at ickylabrode@verizon.net.
Donations sought
for Festival of Trees
The Buttonwoods Museum will accept donations of decorated trees and wreaths between Oct. 31 and Nov. 11 for its 11th annual “Christmas at the Buttonwoods: A Festival of Trees.”
The event runs from Nov. 23 to Dec. 9 and will be open for viewing Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays. You may also support the Buttonwoods Museum by buying advertising space in the Festival of Trees program booklet. Deadline for advertising is Nov. 11.
Donated trees and wreaths will be raffled off at the conclusion of the event, with proceeds going to the Buttonwoods Museum. For more information or to download a form to donate visit haverhillhistory.org.
Medicare presentation Oct. 31
Elder Services SHINE representatives will be at the Citizens Center on Wednesday at 10 a.m. to discuss re-enrollment options for Medicare recipients.
Information on deadlines and options will be presented. This event is open to the public and reservations are not required. More information is available by calling 978-374-2390 and speaking with Kathy Bresnahan, ext. 11, or Rita LaBella, ext. 16.
Girls Inc. celebration features attorney general
U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz will speak at the first annual “Girls Have a Dream and Birthday Bash Celebration’’ presented by Girls Inc.
The event is Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. at the Renaissance Golf Club, 377 Kenoza St. Since 2009, Ortiz has served as Massachusetts’ first female U.S. Attorney. She is the lead attorney prosecuting James “Whitey’’ Bulger on behalf of the federal government.
“Attorney Ortiz, with her background, hard work and success, epitomizes what our mission is — to create an environment where girls can learn to see their true potential through education and experience,” said Robin Whitson, executive director of Girls Inc.
The event will honor three local women: Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien, a registered nurse/case manager for Merrimack Valley Hospital and Haverhill’s only female city councilor; Molly Sullivan Sliney, a two-time Olympic winner and educational/motivational speaker to school-aged children; and Penelope Guerrero Perez, a member of the Girls Inc. community and a designer for the successful brand Timberland. The event will include a sneak preview of pictures taken by girls at Girls Inc., which will be available for purchase in mid-November at the Shops@90 Washington St. This event is supported by Pentucket Bank, Haverhill Bank and King Graphics. Tickets or sponsorship information are available from Robin Whitson at 978-372-0771, ext. 225.
NECC student honored for
military service
Northern Essex Community College student Erik Syvertson, a freshman majoring in physical education, exercise science, and sports studies, was honored for service to his country at the opening session of the American Association of Community College Trustees national conference held in Boston on Oct. 12.
As part of the Salute to the Armed Forces, Syvertson was recognized before an audience of 1,600 community college trustees and presidents from across the country. A resident of Merrimac and 1997 graduate of Pentucket Regional High School, Syvertson served in the Air Force for 14 years until February. While in the Air Force, Syvertson served twice in Kuwait and also in Iraq and South America. He enrolled at Northern Essex in the fall and plans to transfer to Salem State University, with the goal of becoming a physical education teacher.
Library wins $15,000 Teens & Tweens grant
The public library will receive a piece of a $1.4 million dollar pie from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for a teens & tweens grant, funded by the Library Services and Technology Act.
The $15,000 grant aims to teach information literacy skills to young people ages 9 to 18 through online multimedia software. Rooted in the new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) educational initiative, the proposal includes new computers in the Teen Lounge, a suite of software and hardware, and teen-designed classes and workshops designed to translate to job and life skills. More information is available from Sam Sednek, teen services librarian, at 978-373-1586, ext. 650.
