Haverhill in a minute

By Mike LaBella
mlabella@eagletribune.com

September 04, 2008 02:02 am

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Merrimack Valley Hospice and H.L. Farmer and Sons Funeral Homes will host a free presentation titled "Living with Our Losses: Understanding and Coping with Our Grief," on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., at DiBurro's in Ward Hill.

The keynote speaker will be Carol Wogrin, director of the National Center for Death Education at Mount Ida College. She will touch on the challenges of putting together a "new world" after a significant loss, said Beth Dimitruk, external relations manager for Merrimack Valley Hospice.

"She emphasizes that grief does not necessarily stop, but instead you learn to manage it," Dimitruk said. "She will be offering tips for individuals to go on, despite their grief."

Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Registration is required. Please contact Nancy Thornton at 978-374-9257.

Merrimack Valley Hospice is a not-for-profit agency affiliated with Home Health VNA and HomeCare Inc. Together, the agencies serve more than 80 communities throughout the Merrimack Valley, northeastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Details, visit www.merrimackvalleyhospice.org.

Chamber golf tourney slated for Sept. 8

The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce will host its 17th annual golf tournament Monday at Renaissance Golf Club. Registration is at 11 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at noon.

Participants who arrive with promotional items such as pencils, magnets or notepads will see them added to the chamber's golf goody bags.

The chamber is looking for volunteers to help with registration and contest activities.

Businesses that sign up to be a sponsor will have their names displayed at the golf course.

Information, call 978-373-5663.

Tots n' Tykes meets on Sept. 9

Winnekenni Castle's next Tots n' Tykes will be Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to noon.

This month's special guest is Mad Science, who will present a fun and educational program for young and very young children. It features activities, experiments and indoor and outdoor fun, such as the castle's annual Kite Fly. Each child will receive a kite, while they last, to fly on the castle lawn as a group. The sprinkler will be on if it is a hot day, so bring your bathing suits and towels. Refreshments are included. Older siblings are invited, too. Admission is $5 per child. Grown-ups are admitted free. Call Tricia McNeil at 978-521-1230 for more information.

The event is being presented by the Winnekenni Foundation and, in part, by the Haverhill Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. For details, e-mail winnekenni@yahoo.com or visit www.winnekenni.com.

YMCA child care offered

The Haverhill YMCA now offers after-school child care at Rockingham Athletic Club in Plaistow, N.H.

The program is for children in grades one through five and operates weekdays until 6 p.m. Transportation from the Pollard and Plaistow Middle schools is available. Children can participate in activities such as sports, art and KidzLit (a YMCA literacy program) as well as YMCA-based activities, such as gymnastics, swim lessons and rock climbing. The program includes homework tutoring, a snack, and enrichment activities. Children may participate in instructional karate, MCAS prep and more. Financial assistance is available and the child-care center accepts vouchers. For information, contact Colette Farina at 978-374-0506, ext. 117 or farinac@northshoreymca.org.