Haverhill

Haverhill News in Brief


Published: November 29, 2008

Session planned for adults mulling return to school

The sad state of the economy has a lot of adults thinking about higher education. People who are employed want to make sure they have the credentials to hold onto their jobs, while those who are unemployed are looking for the skills to get a new job.

Tuesday evening, Northern Essex Community College will partner with the Haverhill YMCA to offer a free information session for adults who are thinking of returning to college. The information session will be held at the Haverhill YMCA at 81 Winter St., beginning at 6 p.m.

At the session, participants will get an overview of the programs Northern Essex offers and information on the application process, financial aid, academic and career planning.

"Northern Essex is the upside of a down economy," Charles Diggs, director of enrollment services, said. "The economy is what prompts some adult learners to come in our doors but once they're here, they discover they can be successful in college and there's a great deal of satisfaction connected with pursuing a college education. We felt that the Haverhill Y, a gathering place for the community, was a perfect place to deliver this message."

Northern Essex offers day, evening, weekend and online classes and certificate and associate degree programs in a wide variety of fields including health, criminal justice, computer technology, engineering, deaf studies, business, early childhood and elementary education, graphic design, human services and others.

For more information, contact Diggs at 978-556-3608 or cdiggs@necc.mass.edu.

First-time homebuyer training offered

Community Action Inc. will offer a first-time homebuyer education workshop for area residents beginning Dec. 1, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., in the Presidential Gardens Community Room, 140 Evergreen Drive, Bradford.

Participants receive:

Comprehensive information offered by housing professionals including bank lenders, buyer/seller real estate brokers, housing attorneys, insurance agents home inspectors and credit counselors;

Individual household mortgage pre-qualification;

Information regarding foreclosure sales;

Information regarding area affordable housing lotteries and services of a buyer broker;

Information about down payment assistance programs and reduced interest loans.

A state-approved certificate is awarded after completion of the four-night course, said Richard Lynch, housing development director at Community Action.

The dates for the course are Monday, Dec. 1, Wednesday, Dec. 3, Monday, Dec. 8 and Wednesday, Dec. 10. The cost is $50 per household. There are no income requirements to take the training.

For more information, call Lynch at 978-373-1971 or Susan Collins Hanley at 978-317-8998.

Latin band to perform at community college

The Latin band Manguito will perform Dec. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Sport and Fitness Center at Northern Essex Community College, Elliot Way.

Manguito, Spanish for Little Mango, is an offshoot of the critically acclaimed Mango Blue. The group plays everything from folkloric Afro-Latin music to Latin Jazz and salsa, merengue, cumbia and cha-cha-cha.

The show is free.

Knight of the Year Award goes to Euele

On Saturday, Nov. 22, at St. John the Baptist Church, Grand Knight Deacon Thomas Anthony of Bishop Minihan Council 202 of Greater Haverhill presented the council's Knight of the Year Award to Francis Euele.

Many of council and church members attended the annual Knight of the Year dinner.

Euele joined the Knights in 1949 and held many positions. He is a fourth-degree Knight and just recently resigned from the financial secretary position in Council 202 after many years of service. His service and dedication to the Council and the K of C were outstanding. Euele will continue to be an active member of Council 202.

K of C State Advocate Thomas McGinn presented the Supreme Columbian Award to Anthony and members of the council for their sponsorship of service-oriented program accomplishments. This award involves performing at least four activities in each of the five programs: Church, community, council, family and youth.