All posts by Observer Staff

Campus Life, Slider

Students connect with virtual debate watch party

and  
Vote button

On October 22nd the final presidential debate took place. Students gathered and watched on, connecting through the tool called Zoom, that has aided us through the pandemic.

The event was hosted by Professors Stephen Slaner and Stephen Russell, with the help of Coordinator of Student Activities, Stephanie Haskell and the Coordinator of Civic Engagement, Janel D’Agata-Lynch.

Before and after the event, students and faculty were given a chance to speak about their expectations and reactions. All throughout the debate, the students used to chat as well.

D’Agata-Lynch shares what it was like for students to connect in terms of such events before the pandemic.

“In the past during election years we often watched these debates after the fact  We streamed them on campus maybe the next day, and had a discussion about it,” she said via Zoom.

Due to the pandemic, the format of such events has had to be rethought in order to follow social distancing guidelines.  However she did express that it was exciting to watch the debate all together, considering that people could react as they watched together.

Students seem to agree.

Kim Louge from Lowell, 48, majoring in Human Services at NECC shares their response via email to the online format. “This is my first year at NECC and since we are dealing with the pandemic, I am extremely grateful that we are able to have events like this online,” Louge said. They go on to say that through events like this they can interact with other students.

Andrew Venditti, 21, majoring in Journalism and Communications at NECC says, “I still got some much-needed intellectual stimulation from classmates and professors even though the event was online.”

Arts and Entertainment, Slider

Time management: How creatives are coping with COVID-19

and  

Since Covid-19, young artists have dealt with managing their time evenly and balancing out their work life while staying inspired and driven to continue working on their personal craft.

Young artists have struggled to maintain focus and find inspiration as they deal with the repercussions of the pandemic. Virtual courses have also interfered with their ability to create content.

Students at NECC have shared their artistic processes and the effects that COVID-19 has had on them.

Art & Design major Susan Elias shares that since the pandemic she has had little to no time to work on her personal craft outside of immediate course assignments. Virtual courses have also hindered Elias from dedicating time to her hobby.

She states, “When it comes to schoolwork, I do mostly design work because that’s what I work on. As for, personally driven work, I really haven’t had the time for that at all.”

In terms of balance, Elias has found a way to incorporate her personal artistic endeavors within her lifestyle. She says, “I’ve had like a couple freelance jobs outside of school. It’s client work, but still creative.

Despite the inability to dedicate time into her artistry, she has not lost motivation or inspiration.

“If I can’t fit it into my schedule, I’ll avoid it until I have more time. Any free time that I currently have is to relax or catch up with work,” she says.

However, Elias finds some positivity amongst the difficulties stating, “I think I’ve been kind of benefiting from being home, I think I like it better,” she says.

NECC student Mirrorajah Metcalfe is a Journalism major. In her free time, she likes to create personal videos.

“Eventually I want to make a movie/short film. Corona definitely affected it. I have less people to work with,” she says.

For Metcalfe finding the time and motivation is a lot more difficult because of the change in environment.

“I think it’s a lot easier to stick with your craft if your environment is full of things to have to do with your craft. It has both its positives and negatives as well. It’s positive because I’ve had more time to be alone and focus on things, but negative because I have less people to reach out to. I rely heavily on people and my interactions with them. Since I have no people around me, I have less stimulation, thus less inspiration,” she said.

 

 

Home Page Featured News, News

Our civic duty: An overview of the 2020 election

and  
Vote button

The long awaited election of 2020 is finally upon us. This election is high stakes, and many substantial changes could result from it. While the official Election Day is on Nov. 3, due to the pandemic there has been an influx of mail-in voting and early voting at the polls. With many important concepts on the ballot this election, many people have been trying to get their vote in as soon as possible. President Donald Trump is running for the second time, but former Vice President Biden, his Democratic challenger, has been topping the polls. Despite the consequentiality of this election, there are still Americans who are unsure if they should vote.

But others see this as an extremely important moment. Nancy Montello, Erik Terrio, and Stephen Russell all agree that voting is necessary in order to move forward and come together as a country.

Nancy Montello, 70, from West Newbury, can’t remember the first election she voted in. But she does know that she has been voting diligently since she turned 18. This upcoming election is a bit scary for her, however.

“I’m scared,” she admits. “I’ve heard a lot about issues with voting. People are worried to vote, or just don’t want to.”

Montello is also worried about acts of voter suppression that have been occurring. She said she doesn’t like that the media perpetuates a toxic view of mail-in voting.

“I went into the polls for early voting, because I like the experience. But I know plenty of others who have used mail-in ballots as well,” she said.

Montello said that early voting would be a good option for those who do not want to mail-in their ballot, but are worried about going to the polls on Election Day. There are plenty of polling places that are already open and ready for voters. She went to the West Newbury Town Hall to cast her ballot.

“Everything was spaced out for social distancing. It only took a few minutes.” Montello recalls. “I’ll miss the normal experience of going to the polls, but obviously it’s important to stay safe during this time.”

Montello also has a message for younger voters. She knows many are on the fence about voting, but she wants them to know that it is important for them to take part. They are the next generation, and the outcome of this election will be shaping their future.

“It’s our civic duty to vote,” Montello said. “People have been fighting for the right to vote for such a long time. It’s definitely a right worth exercising.”

Erik Terrio, an NECC student from Haverhill, also believes that voting in this election is crucial. He’s been doing his best to stay up to date with all that is going on, and he’s hoping that people are doing their best to actually cast their vote. He himself has already voted, in both the presidential election, and the state government elections, and he opted for the mail-in ballot.

“I registered to vote in 2014 when I turned 18, and I voted for the first time in the 2014 gubernatorial,” Terrio recalls. “I think it’s very important for people to vote, especially students, and even more so, all young people.”

Terrio feels that the younger people are when they get involved in political discourse, the more likely it is that they will stay engaged in politics when they are an adult. He also thinks that it’s specifically important for students to vote, as so many things surrounding education can be affected by the outcome of the election.

“If you are on the fence about voting, remember it is one of the best tools we have as citizens to create a government that acts within the public’s better interest,” Terrio said. “The more people we have vote, the more likely it is that we have government officials who act within the public’s best interest.”

Stephen Russell, a professor at NECC is worried that people do not understand the consequences that could result from this election. He is especially worried about the potential outcome. His main concern is that the outcome of this election could be detrimental to things like racial justice, and our country’s democracy.

He himself has made sure to cast his ballot early, and he, like Erik Terrio, chose mail-in. Russell, like Terrio, and Montello, believes that it is extremely important for students, and everyone else to vote.

“For someone who is on the fence about voting, I guess I would have to ask why that person has doubts about voting.” Russell said.  “I understand that no candidate is perfect, but this time there is a substantial difference between them and a lot is at stake in the U.S. right now.”

News, Uncategorized

How working students have adapted to online schooling and learned to balance their schedule

and  

Studies such as one from  the American College Health Association state that 45% of college students feel like they experience “more than average” stress reveals the mindstate that many college students are in now.

Students from all different years in school share advice on how they balance their lives while also highlighting that they too feel occasional waves of stress or uncertainty, which is completely normal for all students who are busy with work and adapting to a new way of learning.

Litzie Alvarez, a freshman at Northern Essex Community College, works as a medical assistant at a chiropractor’s office and as a PCA for a boy with Down Syndrome. Her take on her online schooling is that it gives her more flexibility: “My schedule is really hectic, so when it comes to online classes, I’m allowed to push school aside when I’m doing things such as work while also allowing me to find an allotted time for me to sit down and give my all to school.”

According to an NYU study, 53% of students report having felt so stressed they didn’t want to hang out with friends on one or more occasions.

Keila Santana, a junior at Umass Lowell and a Universal Banker at Align Credit Union, added a point that greatly complemented Litzie’s statement as well as revealing how she balances her personal time with her work and school schedule:

“I have done a class online before the mandatory online schooling that has happened due to coronavirus, but it couldn’t have prepared me for having all of my classes online,” she said. “One way that I was able to adapt was when I realized that online school makes my school work more portable, so I can do my work anywhere. I take my laptop to my job, my parent’s home, or my boyfriend’s home, and that way I can tend to my school work and do my leisurely activities. I try to multitask whenever I can.”

Interestingly, all three students that were interviewed confirmed that they use a planner to organize their due dates. Both Alvarez and Santana said they find that using paper planners have helped them because they get to color-code their important assignments.

Kyara Cruz, a senior at Greater Lawrence Technical School within a Work-Study program, also has begun using a paperback planner, however, she gave advice to anyone who doesn’t want to buy a planner or someone who benefits from a digital approach:

“I have also used Google Calendar in the past as well as using the Notes App on my phone to create weekly to-do lists to keep up on my assignments and tasks from school,” she said.  “I find that both have helped me greatly. I think that the most important thing when it comes to creating a planner for yourself is to keep up with the work that you have and personalizing it so it fits you best. If you don’t like doing paperback planners, try planning on your phone and vise versa. Find what works for you.”

The top three things that each student mentioned when advising anyone who is struggling to balance their schedule were to organize themselves, prioritize their work, and take advantage of the time that they have.

Alvarez also added a more personal piece of advice to her peers: “Every student gets stressed at least once within their academic career, but it’s important to not let things overwhelm you and keep you stressed. Take a deep breath, write a list, and take it one step at a time.

 

 

 

Home Page Featured News, News, Uncategorized

NECC students get out (or mail in) the vote

and  
Vote button

With Election Day near, voting is especially critical. If you’ve already voted, whether you mailed it in or went to the polls, you’re good to go. But, if you haven’t it should be your top priority. 2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year, what with the global pandemic and our country’s two political parties being more divided than ever. It can be hard to decide how you are going to vote, who you are going to vote for, and when. Some people write off voting completely, but this is not a good idea.

The upcoming election arguably, has very high stakes, no matter which side you support. So far, this election has sparked many different reactions in citizens.

Many peoples’ first words when talking about the election run along the lines of worried or scared.

But, Janel D’Agata-Lynch, the director of Civic Engagement here at NECC, says otherwise.

“Well, I’m excited. You know it’s a really exciting time for people like me who are really into civic engagement and politics,” she said.  “There’s always a lot of information coming your way, you know, leading up to the election.”

She also spoke about the general excitement surrounding the actual day of the election, “I actually really look forward to Election Day and kind of watching what’s happening around the country and seeing results come in. It’s exciting,” she said.

If you’ve been keeping tabs on this Presidential Race, you may have tuned it to the recent debates. There have been three, one for the Vice-Presidential candidates and two for the Presidential candidates, the last of which took place on Thursday, October 22nd.

Some argue that the debates mean nothing, while others swear by them. D’Agata-Lynch sees merit on both sides.

“I think it’s important because the debates give insight to, you know, the candidates that are there. I wouldn’t say it should be the only information you get about the candidates, that’s for sure. Because sometimes, as much as I think the questions adhere to getting to understand more about the candidates positions on topics, their answers don’t always get there,” she said.  “Sometimes I think it actually gives you more insight to the personalities of the candidates than the content that you’re looking for. I think it’s great to learn about the candidates when they are able to put forward what their thoughts and opinions are on the issues at hand, but it also kind of gives you a sense of who they are as a person.”

She doesn’t think the debates should give you all your information though, “Then I also think it’s important to go to their campaign websites and read reliable news sources to learn more about the issues that you care about and where they stand on those issues.”

No matter who you want to cast your vote for, it’s important that you do. Some people are not totally sold on either candidate and therefore choose not to vote. Others just avoid voting all together. This doesn’t really get anything done. D’Agata-Lynch wants students at NECC to know why she personally finds voting so important.

“Well, you know, voting is something that a lot of people in the past fought for our right to have, for women, for people of color,” she said. “People labored to be able to get us this right to vote, to be able to weigh in and help decide how our society will function. So part of it I feel is sort of an obligation, for those who came before us and fought so hard for this and the other piece is I feel like we are very fortunate to live in a society that is a democracy in which our voices can be heard through voting. I want my voice to be heard. I want to weigh in on the issues that are important to me and of course, the Presidential Election is very important, but there’s a lot of other things on the ballot that are also very important this year. Some of which might even affect us more immediately than maybe even the Presidential Election, some of the ballot questions. I want to weigh in on that, I want to be able to put what I think out there. I know my votes may not win, but at least I know I tried to help weigh in on what I think would be best for us.”

Still, many citizens, young people especially, still seem very disinterested or are on the fence about voting. Some may be worried that with the pandemic and the many controversies surrounding this election, their vote may not really count. D’Agata-Lynch voiced her thoughts to these people.

“As far as the votes not counting I know that’s something that people struggle with, but ultimately if you vote the vote will be entered in. It will count on some level. Absolutely, they are going to count your vote.”

Sports

Esports flourish in a virtual world

and  

During the pandemic we have had a significant lack of sports due to social distancing. Golf courses where shut down, basketball and, football. Only recently we’ve had a return of some sports. During the lock down there has been a sport that took place in a virtual world and wasn’t affected by the lockdowns or social distancing at all.  Esports, esports has been the only sport that has managed to stay open during the pandemic do to the fact it doesn’t strictly require face to face interaction.

Ever since the rise of the medium there has been a debate between whether it is a sport or not. Some people believe it is because it requires focus, strategy, and determination. While others don’t think it is because they believe it only requires minimum effort.

When asked about this question David Arivella  the coach of the NECC Esports team said “Honestly in the beginning I did feel as though it wasn’t a real sport, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Even though you’re not physically moving your body the same as traditional sports, the amount of hand eye coordination, mental preparation, and skill required to excel in anything at a high level is tremendous.”

After getting over the argument of whether esports are a sport or not more, more people are seeing how lucrative the industry really is.

The highest paid team according to Statista is team Liquid whose total prize money comes out to 35 million dollars.

When asked on how profitable the industry is Arivella said “Extremely. Esports at the professional level will be in the billions in the coming years,”  because of the high demand and high prize pools and high demand we have seen some mainstream celebrities invest into Esports teams. According to looper, athletes and sports teams’ owners like Steph Curry, Michele Jordan and Robert Kraft have all invested into the industry.

The pandemic has caused the major problems logistically for most sports teams.

During a normal tournament for the pros they play in an arena with one team on one side and one team on the other. However, the pandemic has caused them to have to play from home.

However, this is fine because with a good Wi-Fi connection anything is possible. When asked about how the pandemic has affected practice for the NECC team Arivella had to say this, “The pandemic has not hampered NECC that much in terms of being able to play. Thankfully everyone has still found a way to play together. We all communicate over Discord (a messaging and voice chat app) almost daily. As for the industry, I think it is finding new ways to overcome the challenge.”

With most sports there is a separation of men and women, men in basketball compete in the NBA and women compete in the WNBA. This separation has caused a divide in viewership. However, in esports gender isn’t a divider, Women are fully able to compete in the pro leagues with the men.

When asked if gender plays a role in esports, Chris Long, captain of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate team had this to say “It doesn’t at all. Gender doesn’t have anything to do with eSports at all, just performance and results,” what also make esports a viable sport is how inclusive it is. Since it mostly relies on mental  skills most people can play and get good, when asked about this Chris said “Everyone can do it as long as they have the will to practice, learn, and have fun with it.”

If you look online, you can see a ton of people who want to go pro. From all age ranges man or woman people want to reach that level but only few do. When asked to give advice on how to compete at the pro level Long had this to say “I’m not a pro, but if you really want to get good at something be passionate about it. Put time and practice into something you enjoy. This applies to any game or hobby.”

Esports has a overcome a lot of hurdles to get to this point. It still has ways more to go before its fully excepted as a legitimate sport by the masses.

Overall, the future of the sport look bright. When asked about the future Arivella said this: “The future of esports is only growing as video games are continuing to grow in popularity. Someday it may even overshadow traditional sports in the United States as it already has in countries like South Korea.”

Just like esports, football started as a game that was played amongst children. But as adults started to notice it intermural teams where formed and overtime it gained more and more of a following. So who’s to say that Esports won’t follow the same path as football or other mainstream sports.

 

 

Home Page News Bytes, News

Credibility, the seemingly lost art form

and  

In the case of the last couple of weeks we have seen headlines suggesting Osama Bin Laden is still alive, that there is a cabal of Democrat pedophiles running Washington D.C, and lastly the controversial Hunter Biden emails.

Headlines such as these have been causing NECC students to be wary of the media and some to even reevaluate their definitions of credibility and their thoughts on what the criteria for fake news is. Some students have even proposed ideas as to combat it.

When asked what consists as fake news, 22-year-old North Andover resident and full time NECC student Nisaly Gonzalez said, “Fake news really lacks data, they lack credible sources, and they tend to have conflicting facts.”

Gonzalez enjoys watching both Fox News and CNN to get a good balance of the facts.

Mirrorajah Metcalfe is a 19-year-old part time NECC student from Haverhill, who recently moved from Las Vegas, NV. When asked about how she determines credibility, she had this to say, “In order to determine credibility one must do their own research, form their own opinion, and try to steer clear of the influential narratives.”

Metcalfe also said when asked about the dangers that fake news impose on our society, “Fake news makes you start to not trust the media, which is alarming because that is where we go for our information on the world.”

Amesbury resident and part time NECC student Paige Bateman just got done celebrating her 19th birthday when the Hunter Biden emails surfaced.

Bateman when asked about her ideas on how to combat fake news had this to say, “I feel like there could have been more education in school on identifying the source of the story and really doing your due diligence on checking out the story’s claims and the story’s sources motives.”

Bateman also said that the news sources she typically turns to when she does read the news is The New York Times.

Fake news seems to be like a computer virus, we cannot always easily identify it, but we are able to remove the virus once it has done its damage. In this day and age, a verification of the facts is evermore important for a functioning democratic society.

News, Slider

Students face difficulties while studying at home

and  

College life has been turned upside down since the pandemic struck. Rather than sitting at classroom desks many students are learning from their bedrooms or kitchen tables. There are thousands of college students not able to go anywhere to study in a quiet environment during the pandemic. There are some Northern Essex Community College students facing this as well and they are having to adjust in many ways to this new learning approach.

Marriam Saldivar is a student from Northern Essex Community College. Her major is journalism/communications and she is from the Domincan Republic. Saldivar states how she focuses while studying at home. “I make sure to sit at my desk. It’s always been my space for productivity, so it just makes my mind instantly go into that mode. I also music jazz in the background,” she said.

Saldivar states that the most difficult part about studying at home is  that “there are way too many distractions. I’m not in the environment that I’ve always been used to when it comes to doing what students do.”

Not being in a traditional college environment can make students lose focus and not concentrate as well.

Many things can distract students in their environment. Saldivar said, ‘My phone, to be specific I get distracted by YouTube videos and my friends texting.”

Electronic devices can cause a major distraction while studying as well social media.  Being focused is important while studying. It can increase your knowledge while working.

“I always write a to-do list every day of the assignments I gotta do and the jazz music just helps with allowing my mind to stay clear. Without it, I just get a headache,” she said.  Having a clear brain can help students stay focused better during these trying times.

Another student from Northern Essex Community College, Erik Terrio who majors in journalism/communications and comes from Haverhill shared how he focuses while being at home.

“I usually put my headphones on and listen to some music. I block out the distracting noises and it energizes me,” he said. Music can help many students stay focused and help stay on track while doing work.

The most difficult part of studying at home for Terrio is the change in setting. He explains, “I would say the hardest part is that it is a distracting environment. There are too many things around that take me out of school mode and put me into relaxation and chill.”

The environment can make a big impact on how students concentrate while studying. Terrio states what gets him distracted when he is studying. “Could be the dog barking or a family member asks me something. Or it could be something that I think of and start doing. Like, I remember that I have laundry that needs to be turned over, or I get hungry and cook something, or I start web surfing and get distracted with that.”

Distance learning can come with many distractions that students wouldn’t face in the classroom.

Terrio states what helps him stay focused while studying at home. “I think music makes sure that I am staying healthy, like eating enough and staying hydrated and getting enough sleep. Also making to-do lists helps keep me track and snacks.”

It is very important to stay hydrated to eat well, study helps your brain not lose focus. Students are finding new ways to keep their focus and boost their mental health during this challenging time.

A Northern Essex Community College student Bryan Fernandez, whose major is Journalism/communications and is from Bronx NY, but currently lives in Lawrence.

Fernandez states how he focuses while studying at home. “I have to be at my desk if I’m on my bed or in my living room, or anywhere else. I feel like physically placing myself in my work area is the only way I can do my work. It is all a mindset.’’

Doing work on your desk can help people pay attention to them and keep them concentrating and not getting distracted. Fernandez states where he prefers to study at home or school. “Definitely at school. It is a mindset for me. So physically being in a place where I have no choice but to study is really what works best for me. No distractions or temptations.”

Some people prefer to work in school because they have more support around, such as teachers and tutors than at home. Fernandez states what time of day he prefers to study at night or earlier than the day. “putting my phone on and playing music on my Air pods loudly. Somehow I focus better.”

Not paying attention to your phone and not focusing on any electronics can help is good for your mind.

A lot of NECC students have difficulties focusing while studying at home. All these students faced difficulties in many ways and did many different things to help solve their distractions. This pandemic has forced NECC students to find creative ways to stay on track and keep focused on their work so they don’t fall behind and continue to find success.

Home Page News Bytes, News

Students find ways to work with the pandemic

and  

During COVID-19 especially at the start, 22 million jobs were lost which made it all around hard for many people. We even came to the point America started cutting stimulus checks. This can be hard for many adults most clearly but wha tabout college students?

Many young people have simple first jobs like working afast-food joint or a target. This means many of the jobs come to find out are non-essential.

Looking at some college students we will see if we can find advice through their situations.

First interviewed was Brian Benjamin. He had worked part time for Panera Bread and had worked there throughout all high school.

“It was an easy and simple job that worked for the time being,” he said. When corona had hit, and the country startedto shut down he realized how dangerous working a food chain might be during apandemic. Panera had shut down and he decided to leave it at that along with few coworkers. He stayed home often afterwards like everyone else but as normal heneeded to work again to keep an income.

“I debated going back to Panera but didn’t really want back in the food business and didn’t want to wait. So instead Itook up landscaping with my Dad,” he said.

He then explained that he and his family believed it was a safer route working there instead of up close with hundreds of people even with the precautions.

This way it was a smaller group with his father and him being able to work safely the way they wanted. This job has also been considered essential which was a huge plus that led to his friend Danny Wezeza, a fellow NECC student to join along in the work.

Kolbe Powell has been an assistant manager for years at Market Basket and has loved it, making friends and new relationships. He took a year away due to going to Umass Lowell for his freshman year but is coming back and going to NECC due to the pandemic. When COVID-19 hit it was different for him because Market Basket did not close but rather cut down onhours. He found himself working less then he used to with this and fear of the pandemic due a close person he lives with having heart issues.

He stuck it up and has been focusing on towards school even more then he was with freed time and has been doing well.

But as others such as Benjamin, he knows you should start saving money when you are young without many bills.

“I think I’m going to be taking off the following semester to start building up again at my savings account especially with the need of a new car and my future. Whether it is at Market Basket or elsewhere I have to figure out,” he said. Without corona, taking time away from school would not have been necessary.

The last person interviewed was Sara Levesque. Before coronavirus, she had worked at Plaistow Pizza and as a home health aide.

When corona kicked in the pizza restaurant  shut down and cut down on hours big time due to having way less people work at once, so she quit.

She did not want to take the big cut on hours or run the risk of the virus with having a rare heart problem herself.

She began working as a home health aid full time all summer and even throughout school.

Working this job was perfect for her because it was with one person who does not leave her family or home health aide.

Also, it gave her plenty of time for schoolwork with having free time on the job to do all her online work. “I found the perfect opportunity for me during these hard times and I’m glad I did,” she said.

People have struggled during these times but it is not about being knocked down its about getting back up.

These college students have found their own ways to work with the pandemic and you will find yours if you have not yet.

 

Features, Slider

A Halloween like no other

and  

Now ten months in, it is no secret that the year 2020 has been anything but traditional for the entire country in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With Massachusetts deemed an initial hotspot for the virus, towns within the state have come well acquainted with the prohibition of large gatherings.

As October arrived, people in Haverhill, initially considered one of the state’s danger zones, began to raise the question as to whether or not another tradition in both the state and throughout the country, Halloween, would also be heavily altered.

Associated side by side with Halloween, Haverhill citizens raised concern about trick or treat before October even arrived. Mayor Jim Fiorentini initially reassure his town there would in fact be a trick or treat, quoted in a Haverhill Gazette article on Sept. 17 that “Trick-or-treat is a wonderful time for kids, and whether it be car parades, leaving out candy without contact, each neighborhood organizing on their own, or something else” finishing with “”Unless our community spread gets worse and we have to cancel everything, it is our intention as of now to do something, so have those costumes ready.”

That enthusiasm would not last very long. On October 1st, Fiorentini would inform citizens that trick or treat would in fact not be a city-wide trick-or-treat, following Haverhill Board of Health’s advisory against the celebration,  according to 97.9 WHAV.

Lifelong Haverhill resident Christine Benjamin, 46, expressed her sorrow for the Haverhill children being robbed of what to them is the most appealing aspect of the holiday, “I feel really bad for the kids and parents. I did trick-or-treat as a parent for twenty-six years between my two children and my nephew when I was a teenager. It’s got to be so hard to tell your kids they won’t get to go out this year” said Benjamin. She says with her children now well past the trick-or-treat days, she still feels the spirit of Halloween in the excitement she gets from decorating the lawn, and the movies on TV.

Connie and Robert Smith, residing in Haverhill for north of seventy years, were also disappointed in the city’s cancellation of the event. “We understand that they’re worried about safety. It’s probably the right thing to do, but I can’t think of a way you can really explain to a little kid” said Connie. “I get a sense of joy out of answering the door and seeing the costumes, so I’ll miss it too”.

Robert favored the idea of leaving a bowl of candy out, stating “It doesn’t seem like that would be a super spreader. Leaving a bowl out at least just for the kids in the neighborhood, wipe it down once it needs to be filled back up. But even then you’ve got a number of kids all touching the same surface, there really isn’t any way to avoid all contact, but I don’t know, it seems like they can come up with something better than nothing”.

This idea has not yet been ruled dead, as individual neighborhoods may be allowed to host only their own residents.

In an interview with Alicia Russell, NECC student and mother of three, says she planned on sitting this one out even before Fiorentini cancelled the event. “Only one of my kids is in the age range that he wanted to go. But working in the hospital, I never wanted to take a chance of getting it from my son or anyone else and then putting the people at work or the patients at risk.”

Russell is working hard o become a nurse through the NECC program.

She added “we plan on coming up with an idea like Easter, hiding Candy around the house or outside if the weather is nice. We don’t want him to keep having things taken from him from this whole thing that he, or any kid for that matter, can’t fully understand.”