MHS Band alums invited to perform

It’s curtain-call time for Methuen High Band alums! You’re invited to perform “Sleigh Ride” with the current MHS Ranger Band on Dec. 19 during their holiday concert. Rehearsal is Dec. 16 from 5:30-8:30pm in the MHS Band Room. The Dec 19 show starts at 6pm. Info: bnmcgonagle@methuen.k12.ma.us.

Youth center lease OK’d

City councilors recently approved a 10-year lease of the top floor and gym of the former Central School, at 10 Ditson Place, to the nonprofit Leadership and Literacy Foundation Inc. While the Methuen Adult Learning Center and some city offices remain on the building’s first floor and basement, the remainder will be occupied by the forthcoming center with “youth and workforce programming” geared toward middle schoolers and high schoolers. The city continues to own the property. 

CCHS duo named Commended Students

Central Catholic High School seniors Brady Barry and Joseph Palmisano, both of Methuen, were two of only five CCHS students to be named Commended Students by the 2024 National Merit® Scholarship Program. CCHS Principal Andy Murray presented the students with a Letter of Commendation for their academic accomplishments.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2025 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2025 competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). The program is offered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation – a not-for-profit organization that recognizes academically talented high school students.

“The entire Central Catholic community is incredibly proud of the academic success of these talented students,” said Murray. “We are confident that they will all achieve amazing accomplishments moving forward.”

Raiche was CGS’ 1st supervising principal

Richard C. Raiche, 77, of Bradford, died Oct. 7 at High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill.

“He was a passionate educator his entire professional life, teaching at several schools in Haverhill, then serving as assistant principal at the Consentino and Whittier Middle Schools and was the first supervising principal of the Comprehensive Grammar School in Methuen until his retirement,” according to his obituary. “He was a lifelong student of history, part-time philosopher, full-time sports fan, and an avid lover of nature, spending countless hours by Chadwick Pond in Bradford, his home away from home.”

Arrangements were handled by Farmer Funeral Homes.