Friday, October 30, 2009
Essex Heritage Long Range Planning Process Continues
In the decade or so since Essex Heritage was first formed much has been accomplished and in general the mission remains the same. The Commission is committed to the preservation and promotion of the historic, cultural and natural resources of Essex County. In many ways the strategies to accomplish this task have changed over the years, and at the present time the leadership team of Essex Heritage is participating in a series of meetings to review and refine those strategies for the decade ahead. We still believe that the concept of using the collaborative building capabilities of a strong regional network of partners to encourage regional participation is critical and must be enhanced. But across time the strategies and tactics to accomplish these ends must be refined. Over the last couple of months and continuing through the end of the year, meetings of the Essex Heritage Trustees will continue to address these critical issues. We are pleased that participation in this effort has been so complete. The support offered by the Board members to insure that all opportunities are considered and every option is considered has been most gratifying. This is a process that is essential to the long tern future of the Commission and the expectations remain high that a vision for the future will be in place in the near term.
North Shore Medical Center Annual Community Meeting
On Wednesday evening, October 28, 2009 I participated in the annual meeting of the Board of Overseers and annual report to the community from the North Shore Medical Center. The meeting was held at the Peabody Marriott Hotel, and the setting and the accommodations at that facility were wonderful. I sat with Wayne Marquis the Town manger of Danvers, who was in attendance representing that community that became a host community for NSMC this tear.
The chairman of the Board of Overseers, Stan Lukowski the former CEO of Eastern Bank welcomed all to the meeting and then introduced Bob Norton the President of North Shore Medical Center. President Norton provided a report on the last year of operation of NSMC and reported on some real success in both physical plant improvements and how the hospital handled patients. The major improvement this year was the opening of the new facility on Endicott Street in Danvers, and I was astonished to learn that in just the four short months that Endicott Street had been open over 17,500 patient interactions had already taken place at that location. A wonderful presentation by Dr. Jefferson Prince focused on the work being done in the area pf ADD and ADHD was provided and the meeting ended with a brief reception.
I have served as an Overseer for many years, after taking a turn on the NSMC Board, when I was still in the employ of the Salem Five Bank. I was also the volunteer chairman of the NSMC Cancer Walk, that I was astonished to learn will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of that endeavor in 2010. I have enjoyed my many years of association with the NSMC, and am pleased to be connected to an organization that is so important to the wellbeing of this entire region.
Election Day for 2009 is Next Tuesday
Next Tuesday, November 3, 2009 is Election Day. While there are no federal or state races to be decided this year, there are still many municipal elections of importance in the region. The special primary election for the open Senate seat in Massachusetts will not be held until early in December, but if your community is holding an election, we urge you to get to the polls and vote. There are several hotly contested races for Mayor in Lynn, Beverly, Newburyport, Haverhill and Lawrence and many of those communities have City Council or Alderman races as well. Going to the polls and picking a candidate to run your community for the next two years is an important task of every American citizen. Essex Heritage urges you to cast a ballot in your community
Halloween Celebrated Tomorrow
One of the biggest nights of the year for children in this region is Halloween and on Saturday evening of this weekend, the neighborhoods where you live will be alive with children and parents celebrating the holiday. Please take special care to be watchful as you drive through those neighborhoods for the youngsters who will be in costume and only thinking of the next treat they will receive at the next doorstep. Special care should be taken to drive safely and keep an eye out for all who will be out and around this weekend.
We also hope that all of the precautions and advance planning that the City of Salem Police department and other City officials have taken will pay off in a safe and fun filled event for the thousands that will likely show up in the Witch City to take part in the annual celebration of Halloween. If you or family of friends are planning to travel to Salem this weekend get there early, travel by public transportation if possible and most of all be civil and considerate of others, and have a fun time.
Daylight Savings Time Adjustment Needed this Weekend.
This weekend marks that end of daylight savings and on Saturday night we turn back our clocks and get an extra hour of sleep. We will all know that daylight saving time is ended late on Sunday afternoon when sunset takes pace at about 4:30 p.m. I know that the start of winter is still 6 weeks away, but when it gats dark so early it certainly seems that winter is not far away. This is also a great time to check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
As always we value your comments, questions and observations about the work of Essex Heritage. Please contact me with your thoughts at www.essexheritage.org. Thanks. Tom Leonard
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