To help promote the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and Haverhill itself, the organization is making sure business owners and their employees know they may attend functions without being a member.

The reminder came from Katie Cook, new Chamber president, during a recent appearance on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program. Cook shared some of the initiatives and upcoming events on the Chamber’s calendar.

“You don’t have to be a member to attend any of our events. We are really trying to do the next year with open events to draw attention to the Chamber and have people connecting. We want to help all businesses in the city,” Cook said.

Among the more popular events this month is the Chamber’s eighth annual Restaurant Week which is moving back to August this year. It runs from Friday, Aug. 15, through Monday, Aug. 25. Participating restaurants will offer specials rather than a fixed priced item, Cook said.

“Fortunately for Haverhill, we don’t just have dinner-style restaurants. We’ve got a ton of cafes in the area. We’ve got ice cream stands and dessert places that want to participate,” Cook said.

So far 12 eateries have signed on. They are Aroma Joe’s, Barrio, Bosa, Bradford Village Square, Casa Bianca, Dominic’s, Drop Café, G’s Texas Southern Fare, Joseph’s Trattoria. Peddler’s Daughter, Roma Ristorante and The Tap Brewing Co. The Chamber is also offering the chance to win prizes for eating at least four establishments. Diners can pick up a passport at their first stop and then get stamps during visits to other restaurants.

Another event Cook is excited about is the Harbor Tours Back to Business networking mixer on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Haverhill Municipal Dock off Washington Street. Yankee Clipper will offer three 30-minute boat rides on the Merrimack. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. with networking, and open bar and snacks. The boat tours will leave at 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m. Cook highly recommends the river cruise.

“It is such a different view of the city. It is gorgeous,” Cook said.

There’s more at the Chamber’s website, HaverhillChamber.com.

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Haverhill community activist Kalister Green-Byrd was a reluctant writer prodded to pen a memoir by friends.

The 91-year-old’s book, “Overcoming the Odds,” relates her experiences from being raised in segregated Decatur, Ala., and coming to Massachusetts at 18. Green-Byrd, 91, a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program, shared the experience of writing a memoir.

“I kept saying, ‘No, no I am not a writer. I don’t want to talk about it.’ I just played the hand that life dealt me. Just like playing cards whatever hand is dealt to you. They were just supportive, very helpful and said we will help you. And so I thought about it. I prayed on it. I cried about it and they kept encouraging me. That’s how it initially got started,” Green-Byrd said.

Friends found her story fascinating, Green-Byrd said. Upon coming to Massachusetts, she spent eight years on the Cape and migrated to Haverhill at the suggestion of a friend.

In Haverhill she discovered a challenging housing situation for her growing family. Her solution was to get involved with Community Action. She eventually became a member of the Community Action board of directors and then won an appointment to the Haverhill Housing Authority as its first African-American woman. She also served on the board of directors for the YWCA and Latino Coalition and was a founding member of the League of Women Voters of Haverhill. Green-Byrd also had a more than 20-year career as an administrator for Title 1 programs with the state Department of Education.

Green-Byrd’s book tells her story from her childhood through her adult life as an activist and mother of seven. She writes about her faith in God as a primary source of consolation and strength.

Green-Byrd said writing the book was an emotional rollercoaster as she had to relive events she would have preferred to forget.

“You have to tell it all, the good, the bad, indifferent. There are things that happen in life we can’t change that we’re not proud of but they did happen. So, if you are going to talk about it and tell the story, you have to tell it all,” she said.

Proceeds from the sale of the book, available from the publisher West Bow Press and elsewhere, will be split between the Riverside Church’s Kalister Green Education Fund and Calvary Baptist Church.

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Shaq is back with help from Haverhill’s BC Media Productions in a new Netflix docu-series, “Power Moves With Shaquille O’Neal.”

The series, which focuses on Shaquille O’Neil’s recent appointment as president of the footwear and athletic brand, Reebok, was filmed partly in Boston, where Ben Consoli and his team of producers and videographers aided in shooting interviews and “b-roll,” an industry term for supplementary shots that enhance the main story.

BC Media Productions got its start filming commercials and videos for academic institutions. The company was founded by Consoli, a lifelong Haverhill resident who attended Emerson College for videography. His firm made connections with industry members through their past work and were approached by a partner media production company with this opportunity. When asked if they wanted to participate, the answer was a resounding yes.

The production had to be kept secret until it was completed and confirmed for release. In an interview with WHAV, Consoli discussed how many projects never make it to viewers.

“When you work on projects like this you never quite know if it’s going to happen because you’re doing these a year or so ahead of release day. So, we got the word it’s finally coming out. We’re like ‘Oh wow.’ A: We can actually talk about it now and B: it will be out there in the world.”

Consoli’s team got to enjoy a meal with the gargantuan basketballer at the close of their Boston shooting days. They reported that for lunch, O’Neil had a special lunch order.

“Shaq had ordered two sandwiches and everyone just thought, ‘Okay, it was him and for his son.’ But no, they were both for him. And we’re kinda like okay, this is exactly what you would expect from a man that large—he’s gotta eat a lot to keep himself going,” he said.

Despite having their company name attached to a prominent, globally streamable project, Consoli said his company will continue representing Haverhill with pride. He mentioned he loves bringing working partners to their Haverhill offices.

“I’m proud to have the business here and to say like, ‘No, this company is in Haverhill and you should come on by. Come in for a meeting, grab something to eat, hang out.’ Like every client that comes to my office is like, ‘This town is awesome,’” Consoli added.

BC Media Productions is located at 21 Wingate St, Suite 102, in Haverhill.

“Power Moves With Shaquille O’Neal” is now streaming all episodes on Netflix.

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