NORTH ANDOVER — The Friends of Merrimack College will host its annual dinner Nov. 6, at the Andover Country Club in Andover. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased by calling 978-837-5117 or e-mailing joanne.mermelstein@merrimack.edu.
Diane Coletta of Haverhill will be honored as Friend of the Year by the nonprofit organization, founded 60 years ago to raise scholarships for college students.
Coletta has been a member of the Friends of Merrimack board of directors for 10 years and was co-chairwoman of the President's Cup Golf Tournament.
Last year, the group awarded more than $205,000 in scholarships, touching the lives of 97 college students.
Service planned to pray for the election
NORTH ANDOVER — Lay and ordained ministers are hosting an ecumenical prayer service for peace before the national and local elections in November.
The service is Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Collegiate Church at Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St.
The service begins with giant dove peace puppets from the Kids as Peacemakers initiative. It is modeled after Taize singing, prayer, silence and reflection. Candles will be placed throughout the church as a hallmark sign of a Taize-style service.
"Worshipping together with a focus on peace before our national elections can help us rediscover an inner peace and nurture a desire to discern God's call," the Rev. Marya DeCarlen said in a statement.
YMCA Halloween parties for local youngsters
Come in costume and enjoy games, treats, hauntings and more at the Merrimack Valley YMCA's Halloween celebrations happening this month at:
Andover/North Andover, 165 Haverhill St., Andover: Saturday, Oct. 25, 1 to 4 p.m. Games, arts and crafts, a bounce house, an inflatable slide, pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating. Cost per family is $8 for YMCA members, $12 for nonmembers. Details, call Mary Ann Roman, 978-685-3541.
Methuen, 129 Haverhill St., Methuen: Saturday, Oct. 25, 3 to 6 p.m. Party with carnival games, crafts, a moon bounce, snacks and prizes. Each activity is one ticket and the cost is $5 for 10 tickets. Details, call Heidi Gebhardt, 978-683-5266.
Lawrence, 40 Lawrence St., Lawrence: Saturday, Oct. 25, 6 to 8 p.m. The party will have a haunted basement, carnival games, crafts, snacks and prizes. Each activity is one ticket and the cost is $5 for 10 tickets. Details, call Julissa Alfonzo, 978-686-6191.
Camp Otter, 66 Hooker Farm Road, Salem, N.H.: Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25, 7 to 9 p.m. A haunted camp, featuring a one-way guided tour of the grounds and the cabins of the creepies. Cost is $4 for children and $5 for adults. Details, call John Goudreau, Camp Otter associate director, 978-975-1330.
Grant helps with challenges of parenting
Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities has received a $5,000 grant from Children's Trust Fund of Massachusetts to fund The Latino Outreach Program.
The program, which offers a parenting education and support program series with topics ranging from family stress to child behavior management skills, is for Latino mothers with children ages birth through 6 years living in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover.
For details about the program, contact Ayda Diaz at 978-685-5930 or by e-mail at ayda_diaz@ccab.org.
