Merrimack Valley Magazine

Little Bits Meets Eight Great! Christmas Edition

December 16, 2021 by Digital Manager

Through the years, mvm has published a Christmas edition of Little Bits in which we take a look back at fun and interesting bits of lore from our region’s past. Here’s some highlights. Take a moment to take a trip down memory lane and reflect on the world that was.

ONE: A Christmas Boxing Tradition
In the early 1900s, unmarried mill workers became holiday orphans when Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled around. Lodgings for single men didn’t supply holiday meals, and restaurants were closed, forcing the workers to turn to the one place they would be guaranteed a cheerful spread: the local bar. Here, Christmas loners could dine with like-minded company and escape the seclusion of their rooming houses. After their meals, men from our local mill cities attended Christmas boxing matches. A rare occurrence in fistic annals, Christmas Day boxing was popular in Lawrence, Lowell, Haverhill and Nashua, N.H.

TWO: The First Christmas Tree in Andover
We owe our traditional Christmas tree to Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of the anti-slavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Stowe may have stunned her neighbors in 1854 when she invited them to her cheerfully decorated Andover home for a gala Christmas party with a Christmas tree and humorous gifts for guests.

Christmas trees were almost unheard of in America at that time. Stowe, however, was a world traveler and an avid reader who had likely seen or read about the German Christmas tradition of lighting candles and placing them on the branches of a small tree set inside the house.

THREE: Oh Christmas Stack, Oh Christmas Stack
While you might not think of mill edifices as festive, a pair of local companies prove that even smokestacks can become symbols of light and hope.

Lowell’s Wannalancit Mills is currently co-owned by UMass Lowell and Farley White Interests, the latter of which decided in 2000 to offer the city a Christmas present. That year, Boston Chimney & Tower Co. transformed a refurbished smokestack into a 256-foot Christmas tree by stretching 5,440 green lightbulbs over 32 cables anchored to a ring at the base that measures 102 feet in diameter. The “tree” is topped with a 19-foot star.

FOUR: All Sports Is Local
Before television, area football games featuring well-established rivals, such as the annual Thanksgiving matchup between Lowell and Lawrence high schools, were always sold out.

At these games, top colleges sent scouts to our cities to recruit much needed muscle. Each city high school developed close relationships with select colleges and, for a time, the top scholar-athletes from Lawrence attended Columbia, while Lowell’s best went to Harvard.

FIVE: Ymittos Candle Company
Ymittos Candle Manufacturing Co., named after a suburb of Athens, Greece, employs a small group of Old World-style candle artisans who handcraft their waxy wares behind the brick walls of their storefront on Dutton Street in Lowell. Ymittos provided candles for nearly all of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, as well as “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” and Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln.”

SIX: Christmas at Sea
The Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport is home to a rich collection of historic artifacts, including logs kept by ship captains, captains’ wives and their children. Some of the most treasured log entries describe Christmas at sea.

In one example, Charles Brown, son of the captain of the “Agate,” was bound for Shanghai on Dec. 25, 1876, when he wrote: “Today is Christmas, to all outward appearances the same as any day to us, but we all seem to think of the past on such days as these. They are the milestones of our existence, and better thoughts and feelings animate us today than commonly. ‘Peace on Earth, good will toward men’ has the same signification to us as to others who are in a position more to be enjoyed.”

SEVEN: Nathaniel Currier
It might be the carol “Sleigh Ride” that reminds us of the famed prints and engravings created by Nathaniel Currier and James Merritt Ives — famously known as Currier & Ives. Their images of horses, landscapes, historic scenes and, most memorably, winter “stories,” have a special place in our hearts, especially during the holiday season. Many Currier & Ives images were inspired by Currier’s time in Amesbury, where he kept a vacation home on Lions Mouth Road.

EIGHT: The Disappearance and Re-creation of Haverhill’s Christmas Bell
From 1949 to the early 1980s, the arrival of a huge Christmas bell was a signal to Haverhill’s citizens that the holiday season had begun. The bell hung above the plaza in Washington Square. Built by a metal fabrication instructor at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, it featured a horn speaker inside that produced ringing sounds. The fate of that original bell remains unknown. Various Haverhill residents who were around when it disappeared cite wildly different stories: that it fell off the truck on its way to Washington Square and shattered; that it was stored at Winnekenni Castle and was stolen from there; and even that it had been taken and buried in someone’s driveway in Pelham, N.H.

We may never know for sure what happened to the old bell, but thanks to the hard work of some dedicated community members, and with the help of his students, current Whittier metal fabrication instructor Stephen Palmer created a new bell that made its debut at the annual Lorraine Post 29 VFW Santa Parade downtown. Due to changes in building and safety codes, the bell could no longer be hung at its old location over Washington Square, so a new home was found suspended above Washington Street between Casa Blanca Mexican Restaurant and the now-defunct Haverhill Music Centre.

Revolving Test Kitchen Reopens with New Focus

September 16, 2021 by Digital Manager

Earlier this week business, civic and education leaders celebrated the reopening of the Revolving Test Kitchen on Northern Essex Community College’s (NECC) Lawrence Campus.

In existence since 2016, the Revolving Test Kitchen is transitioning from an incubator and pop-up restaurant serving one entrepreneur at a time to a shared commercial kitchen and food business incubator that will accommodate a wide range of food businesses, including food trucks, catering companies, small batch manufacturers and food delivery companies. The space also offers members access to culinary and business experts in the food industry. Food entrepreneurs are now being recruited to join as members.

The leaders enjoyed a buffet prepared by two RTK member entrepreneurs, Danny Torres of El Encanto, who runs a food truck featuring Puerto Rican foods, and Jessy Melo, owner of Jessy’s Clean Meals, a weekly meal prep service (read our story on Jessy here) . There was also a short program emceed by Wendy Estrella, Lawrence Partnership board chair and featuring remarks by Lane Glenn, president of NECC, Mike Kennealy, secretary, executive office of housing and economic development, Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez, and George Ramirez, executive director of the Lawrence Partnership.

Jessy Melo and Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez — Jessy Melo (left) of Jessy’s Clean Meals shows Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez (center) the dishes she prepared for the reopening. Jessy is a member entrepreneur of the RTK. Courtesy photo.

“Lawrence is emerging as a growth area for food-based businesses…” said Ramirez. “This new approach to the RTK offers serious entrepreneurs an important hand up through experts and facilities that make it possible to bring their idea to life and sustain it for the long term.”

RTK members pay a $350 refundable deposit and a monthly base rent of $350 that includes 10 hours of kitchen time as well as well as facility costs, food safety auditing, member meetings and roundtable discussions, and promotion. The facility will be open for food production from 4 a.m. to midnight with 24-hour access for its members.

To learn more, more or access the application, visit here.

RTK Ribbon Cutting photo at top of page: (Left to right) Jessy Melo, Jessy’s Clean Meals; George Ramirez, Lawrence Partnership; Theresa Parks, MassDevelopment; Lane Glenn, NECC; Wendy Estrella, Lawrence Partnership; Mike Kennealy, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development; Mayor Kendrys Vasquez, Lawrence; Senator Barry Finegold; Representative Marcos Devers; Danny Torres, El Encanto; Hilton Torres, El Encanto.

Helping the Children – YMCA Assists Families in Times of Need

September 13, 2021 by Katie Lovett

Ten years ago, Merrimack Valley YMCA staff began serving breakfast and lunch to the participants in their child care programs. Though the agency received U.S. Department of Agriculture reimbursements for families who qualified for meal assistance at school, it chose to provide the meals to all the children who attend the program.

From there, another need was uncovered. Many families relied on the Y to feed their children during the week; but on weekends, those kids struggled to find food in their cabinets. So the YMCA stepped in again.

A program was started in which child care clients went home every Friday with a backpack full of provisions to make weekend meals.

In the decade since those programs began, the organization has continued to add services when food insecurity needs arise, says Merrimack Valley YMCA President and CEO Francis Kenneally. Around 2014, staff began to serve meals to teens in the after-school or evening programs, he says. The YMCA has partnered with Methuen Public Schools’ food services department, which prepares and delivers the meals to the YMCA locations, where they are distributed by staff.

Five years ago, the YMCA found a way to further assist the community when it opened a food pantry at the Lawrence location. The service was used by people coming into the YMCA, and by the men living on the top floors of the building. Still today, clients can pick up a bag of food.

“It was a nice program — it was a modest program,” Kenneally says. Members of the community donate food items such as canned goods, and the YMCA works with the Merrimack Valley Food Bank to secure milk, perishable items and proteins.

MV YMCA Food workers — Merrimack Valley YMCA Executive Director Joe Agosto (right) stands with Vidal Dominguez and Ana Molina.

When a crisis strikes

In September 2018, when the Merrimack Valley was hit by explosions and fires from pressure in the gas lines, the humble food pantry suddenly was in great demand.

Once again, the YMCA staff thought about how it could help.

The organization’s locations in Andover, Lawrence and Methuen were opened to residents without heat and in need of shower and bathroom facilities. The pantry began distributing food twice a week. At its peak, it was serving about 500 people, a sharp increase from the 50-200 it helped before the gas explosions.

When the pandemic arrived in March 2020 and the YMCA saw a spike in the need for assistance, it implemented lessons learned during the 2018 crisis.

With regular operations closed, the YMCA supplemented other meal programs in the area by also providing food to people impacted by COVID-19.

The Merrimack Valley YMCA also opened space in its facilities for children needing a place to complete remote learning.

At the Lawrence location, staff began offering “grab-and-go” meals each weekday. At the height of the pandemic, a line circled around the building.

A couple hundred visitors were able to get a meal each weekday, as well as groceries from the pantry, which staff stocked with increased donations. The YMCA held “pop-up food drives” as neighborhoods rallied to fill vehicles with food.

“It was a huge success,” Kenneally says.

The daily meals still continue and will for the foreseeable future. “Right now,” he says, “we have no intention of stopping them.”

The Merrimack Valley YMCA in Methuen serves as a distribution site for the Greater Boston Food Bank’s mobile food market. Since May 2020, the food bank has dropped off 11,000 pounds of food once a month that staff organizes into grocery bags for members of the public to come and take. The groceries include fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and dry goods.

Hundreds of cars line up on distribution day, Kenneally says. The program is scheduled to continue until the end of the year, but Kenneally says the YMCA would certainly be willing to continue serving as a drop-off site if the food bank chooses to do so.

A weekday hot meals program is currently being offered at the Andover location through a grant from Groundwork Lawrence.

“We are looking for additional funding to be able to keep that going,” Kenneally says.

MV YMCA Food Bank recipient — During the pandemic, the organization shifted to help provide food services to vulnerable area populations. This follows a long tradition of serving meals to the children who attend their program.

Remote learning space

As the 2020-2021 school year began and many students were heading back to class in a remote or hybrid environment, the Merrimack Valley YMCA repurposed portions of its facilities in Andover, Lawrence and Methuen for use by students who needed a place to go during the school day.

About 250 children took advantage of the setup, Kenneally says. Staff was present to help proctor students and troubleshoot technology problems.

Like every other organization, the YMCA was impacted financially when the pandemic struck and its operations stopped, Kenneally says, but staff are proud of how they were able to continue to meet its mission.

“We’re really proud of being able to do that,” he says.

Merrimack Valley YMCA
Andover, Lawrence and Methuen
(978) 725-6681
MVYMCA.org

NECC Student Accepted into the Culinary Institute of America

September 7, 2021 by Merrimack Valley Magazine

Timing is everything when it comes to cooking. That’s especially true for Lawrence’s Mercedes Rodriguez — both in the kitchen and in life. The Northern Essex Community College (NECC) culinary arts certificate 2021 graduate was just accepted for transfer to the prestigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA), where she will begin classes this fall.

After graduating from Whittier Tech in 2014 in graphic communications, Rodriguez, unsure of what she wanted to do, began working in restaurants. “I came in as a server. I would just watch things happen. I remember thinking this is a great job as 19-year-old,” Rodriguez said. Eventually she realized she preferred being in the kitchen. She had just learned about the new Lupoli Family Institute of Culinary Arts at NECC, when her restaurant suddenly closed due to the pandemic. “Literally, I lost my job in March, and the program started in September.”

Rodriguez took that as a sign, and enrolled in the culinary arts certificate program. She first heard about the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) through NECC culinary program coordinator Chef Denis Boucher, who is an alum of the Hyde Park, N.Y. school. She decided to apply after the CIA sent her a voucher to cover the $100 application fee. For the required essay, she wrote about her grandmother, who emigrated to the U.S. from Cuba in the 1960s. She settled in Lawrence and ran a Cuban food truck, which was a novel idea at the time. “It was all Italians, she used to be the only Cuban woman,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez found out she was accepted into the CIA in June, just days before her 25th birthday. She credits her teachers at NECC for helping her achieve this goal. “The teachers are the biggest resource,” Rodriguez said. “All you have to do is ask. I bother them all day with questions.” Rodriguez will join the associate program in baking and pastry this month. The program takes two years to complete, and she is working with counselors at both NECC and the CIA to transfer her credits.

As a vegan and a bread-lover, she thinks that one day she might open a vegan bakery. But for now, she’s focused on getting ready to live away from home for the first time. “This is the best school in the world, I’m going to do it. I’m going to do my own thing. I swear I was never ready — and then it all happened at once.”

Eight Great Things To Do This Labor Day Weekend – 9/2/21

September 2, 2021 by Kristin Cole

ONE: Join St. Anthony Maronite Church in Lawrence for the 49th annual Lebanese Mahrajan Festival taking place from this Friday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 5. The festival will feature cultural meals including stuffed grape leaves, kafta, beef and chicken kabobs, vegetables, homemade bread and more, as well as a Mahrajan raffle, basket raffles, and more exciting activities. Click here for more details.

TWO: The 37th annual Bread & Roses Festival will take place on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6. Taking place in the Campagnone Common, the event will honor Lawrence’s multicultural roots and rich labor history, commemorating the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike. There will be live performances, a tribute at the 1912 Textile Workers’ Strike Monument, a literary lounge, Lawrence History Live speakers’ tent with Aviva Chomsky, and a community forum discussion on essential workers. Visit here for more on the festival.

THREE: Head over to the Newburyport Art Association and check out one of their latest exhibits “Flowers – Near & Far” featuring the work of local photographer Sam Davis. According to Davis, quarantine offered an opportunity to experiment with the geometrical beauty and color in flowers using normal and macro photography. The gallery will be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hurry, the last day to view this exhibit is this Sunday! Visit here to learn more.

FOUR: This weekend’s Lowell Summer Music Series line-up features talented acts you won’t want to miss. On Friday, catch singer-songwriter John Hiatt, “long celebrated as a skilled storyteller and keen observer of life’s twists and turns.” Saturday’s concert will feature Rhiannon Giddens and friends. Giddens is a musician who is known for using her art to reveal truths about the past and present. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets and be sure to take note of COVID-19 guidelines before heading to the show.

FIVE: Looking for a great date night idea? Head over to Tupelo Music Hall this Saturday for Tupelo Night of Comedy. The comedians of the night will be Jim Colliton, Jason Merrill, and Jeff Koen, and the show begins at 8 p.m. Click here to get tickets.

SIX: Kicking off this weekend, Haverhill’s Multicultural Festival will take place virtually every Sunday throughout September. Each week’s programming will feature music, cooking, dancing, storytelling, and information about the various cultures that make up and surround Haverhill. Cultural foods presentations will include recipes for Italian, Jamaican, Moroccan, Puerto Rican and Greek cuisines. Access the online festival through HC Media, YouTube, Facebook, and by following the Multicultural Festival’s other social media channels. Visit here for more details.

SEVEN: Support a local cause by participating in the Newburyport Lantern Festival for Ovarian Cancer Awareness this Sunday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants will decorate and light floating GNOCA lanterns and release them over Frog Pond. Money raised for the event will support local women undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer and funding for ovarian cancer research. Click here for more info.

EIGHT: Looking to enjoy the summer weather before we transition to fall? Join the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for a tour of Plum Island by boat. Attendees will not only enjoy gorgeous views, but learn the history of Plum Island and the Great Marsh and how important they are as the world’s second most productive ecosystem. The tour is happening this Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Visit here to reserve your spot.

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BONUS: The Luna is back! The Luna Theater, located in Lowell’s Mill No. 5, announced that they will be reopening on Wednesday, Sept. 8. Popular programs such as Luna Sessions, Mondo Comedy, and UML Philosophy and Film are all returning as well as a new Secret Satellite Society Movie Night. September’s film line-up includes new movies like “The Green Knight” (2021) and “The Year of the Everlasting Storm” (2021); as well as classics such as “Alien” (1979), “The Fifth Element” (1997) and more. Visit their website here for more details.

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Happening in Haverhill

In this special section, we bring to you the latest happenings from in and around the Haverhill area. Stay posted to learn about fun events happening in the coming weeks.

Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus

Join Team Haverhill for this annual festival featuring live music, a classic car show, kids zone, beer and wine garden, local eats, and spectacular fireworks over the Merrimack River. Follow River Ruckus on Facebook for the latest news and announcements about the band lineup and set schedule. Click here to learn more.

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Get Ready for Labor Day

This year, there will be plenty of events on Labor Day weekend, including three venerated Lawrence traditions.

The Bread and Roses Heritage Festival takes place Sept. 6 on Campagnone Common and honors Lawrence’s multicultural roots and labor history, commemorating the 1912 Bread and Roses Strike. There will be music performances, speakers, and a community forum. For more information, visit BreadAndRosesHeritage.org.

Friday through Sunday, visit St. Anthony Maronite Church for the 49th Annual Lebanese Mahrajan Festival, which features cultural meals including stuffed grape leaves, kafta, beef and chicken kabobs, vegetables, and homemade bread. To learn more, visit StAnthonyLawrence.org/annual-mahrajan-festival.

And, of course, Lawrence hosts the annual Feast of the Three Saints. This year’s event is abbreviated to Saturday and Sunday, and will still present the processionals, live music and fireworks that keep visitors coming back every year. Head over to ThreeSaintsInc.org for a full schedule.

Not enough? How about a Sunday night fireworks celebration at Hampton Beach? Find out more at HamptonBeach.org.

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Farmers Market Spotlight

Farmers markets provide perfect ways to support local, independent producers while getting out into the community. Here are some we know you’ll enjoy. If you’ve been reading our weekly Wellness Wednesdays newsletter, you’re aware of the benefits derived from eating fresh produce.

Know of a farmers market that didn’t make our list? Shoot us an email: editor@mvmag.net.

Andover Farmers Market

The Andover Farmers Market, open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is a vibrant event that connects local farmers and artisans with the surrounding community through the joy of local food. Featured vendors include Andover Bees & Honey, Daisy Jane’s Flowers, Pleasant Valley Gardens, Willow Spring Vineyards, Craic Sauce, and more. Click here to learn more.

The Farm Market

The Farm Market outside Mill No. 5 in Lowell is now open on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors include North of Boston (veggies, fruit, beef, pork), Neighbor’s Acre (microgreens & mushrooms), Bread Obsession, Samira’s Homemade (Lebanese hummus & spreads), Grateful Tastes (jams, jellies & spreads), KRM Chocolates and more. Visit here for details and directions.

Groundwork Lawrence

From June 16 through October 30, the Groundwork Lawrence market is expanding and will be open in Lawrence and Methuen locations on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, click here.

Haverhill Farmers Market

The Haverhill Farmers Market opens on Saturday, June 26! Located at 51 Merrimack Street in Haverhill, the market is celebrating their 43rd season in providing the Merrimack Valley with fresh and local fruits, vegetables, baked goods, local wine, handmade soaps and lotions, maple syrup, and much more. The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until October. Visit here for more information.

Downtown Manchester Farmers Market

In addition to fruits and veggies, flowers, maple products, baked goods, meat, fudge and certified organic products, the Downtown Manchester Farmers Market also features weekly demonstrations, music, children’s events and cooking. The market is open through October on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Visit here for details.

Methuen Groundwork Farmers Market

Visit the Methuen Groundwork Farmers Market at Nevins Memorial Library to find fresh and local produce, baked goods, honey, eggs, and crafts. The festive market celebrates the community with concerts, cultural and educational activities, and more. The market is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October. Click here for directions.

Mill City Grows

Based in Lowell, Mass., visit Mill City Grows throughout the summer at any of their outdoor markets, which take place at the Lowell Community Health Center, the Lowell Boys & Girls Club, the Lowell Senior Center and more. Visit here for details on market dates and locations.

Nashua N.H. Farmers Market

Visit the local farmers and vendors at the Nashua N.H Farmers Market, located at Nashua City Hall. Spend time outdoors and peruse fresh produce, meats, seafood, honey, and much more. The market is open Sundays from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. through Oct. 17. Visit here to learn more.

Newburyport Farmers Market

The Newburyport Farmers Market, located at the Tannery Marketplace on Water Street, is open every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market features products from local farms, fine food purveyors and artisans, with vendors including Heron Pond Farm, Farmer Dave’s, Simple Sips, Cookie Jar Kitchen, Everything Alpaca, Curious Owl, and many more. Visit here to learn more.

North Andover Farmers Market

This year, the North Andover Farmers Market has over 20 vendors, including Farmer Dave’s, Botanical Alchemy, Everything Alpaca, Happy Cat Gourmet Granola, Purple Carrot Bread Co. Red Antler Apothecary, and much more. The market is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Click here for details and directions.

Salem N.H. Farmers Market

The Salem, N.H., farmers market opens up Sunday, May 16, in the new Tuscan Village on South Village Drive. They will be open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click here for contact information and to learn more about the vendors involved.

Tewksbury Community Market

The Tewksbury Community Market is open every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Sept. 30. The market features 30 vendors including Gaouette Farm, Green Hollow Orchard, Mill City Cheesemongers, Tewksbury Honey, and more, plus dessert food trucks, artisans, crafters and more. Visit here for more information.

Wilmington Farmers Market

The Wilmington Farmers Market features fun for the whole family, with a children’s craft table, dance and musical performances, hula hoops, ring toss, cornhole and more. The market includes local New England farmers, bakers, meats and seafood, prepared foods and artisans including Lowell’s own Red Antler Apothecary. The market is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit here for more information.