FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

Trails and Sails Weekend

It is certainly not too late to enjoy the Essex Heritage Signature Event, Trails and Sails. There are multiple events this weekend, and you can still sign up at www.essexheritage.org.

Essex Heritage Commission Names New Trustee Emeritus

The Executive Board of the Essex Heritage Commission at its most recent meeting added four long term Trustees to Emeritus status. These individuals have all played an important role in the advancement of the ENHC mission over the life of their participation in this regional effort. Many of the Trustee emeritus that were named have served the Commission almost since its founding in 1998. They have had, during their participation substantial impact on the preservation and promotion of the historic, natural resources of the region. In their new role as Trustee Emeritus they will join five previously named trustees who also serve to guide and provide council to the Commission. The full group of Emeritus Trustees meet annually to hear reports on the work of the Commission, and to offer advice on how ENHC can continue to serve the thirty-four communities in the region and to provide the leadership to advocate for regional cooperation and participation as a way to accomplish more for the region as a whole. The newest additions to hold the title of Trustee Emeritus are:

• Dr. Wayne Burton, President of North Shore Community College
• Mr. Robert Halpin, President, Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council
• Mr. Lawrence Harrington, Past president of ENHC, and Senior Vice President, Bank of America
• Mr. Richard St. Pierre, Former Guidance Counselor, and Librarian at St. John’s Preparatory School

Essex Heritage Organizing a Series of Scenic Byway Informational Meetings

Essex Heritage and its consultant team have scheduled a series of regional meetings focused on bringing together the members of the Scenic Byway Local Advisory group to gain input on the process. These local meetings held with local participants are a key component of the nearly two year process that will be undertaken to create a participatory corridor management plan for the 64 mile Essex Heritage Scenic byway that will link 13 coastal communities from Lynn to Newburyport. Each community that is part of the process will have representatives participate in three public planning meetings over the next several months. The first local meetings that have just been set are designed to gather information from area representatives on the roadway as it passes through a community and to discuss what travelers, both residents and visitors, using the byway should see, or know about when they arrive at a site on the byway. The first round of meeting will include six meetings that have been scheduled at convenient locations along the proposed scenic byway. These meetings started Wednesday of this week in Gloucester and will conclude on October 13, 2009 in Lynn. The second round of meetings that will be scheduled during November and December will have a public component and will be announced in advance so that anyone who wishes to participate can choose the best location for their attendance.

Marblehead Museum and Historical Society Reception

The Marblehead Museum and Historical Society invite and all interested parties to join them for a special reception on Sunday, September 20, 2009. The purpose of the reception is to welcome the descendants of Jeremiah Lee to the famous Lee Mansion on 9/20/09 from 4-6 p.m. This reception will be a unique opportunity to enjoy the Lee mansion and to meet Lee Family members who are traveling to this region for a reunion.

Mass Humanities Grant Awards

The Mass Humanities organization recently announced several financial awards to organizations in this region. Those awards are as follows:

• $9,750 to Documentary Educational Resources for a trailer, and script for Down the Fort, a multi media project documenting the Sicilian fishing community in an area called “the fort” adjacent to Gloucester Harbor.
• $2.025 to the Peabody Institute Library for In These Imperiled Times: the civil war correspondence of men of South Danvers, and to support public programming to accompany the exhibit.
• $1,500 to the Methuen Historical Society to inventory and catalogue the Civil War related material in the city’s historical collection.

We are always pleased to see investments and grants made to organization in this region and will report those financial rewards when we can

City of Salem to Honor Retiring Chief of Police

I recently received an invitation to a well deserved retirement celebration for the Police Chief of the City of Salem. Robert St. Pierre will celebrate 36 years of service to the city when he is honored at a reception on September 30, 2009 at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Chief St. Pierre has been an exemplary public servant and recognition of his many achievements are well deserved. For more information about the reception contact Ellen Talkowsky at Salem City Hall.

As always, we welcome your question, comments and observation about this information and the work of Essex Heritage Tom Leonard