Coastal Improvements, Haverhill Project, Regional Holiday Events, Good Luck to Region's High Schools,

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2009

Coastal Improvements Scheduled in the Northeast Corner of the Region

There was some most welcome news reported recently for the communities of Newbury and Salisbury. The Army Corp of Engineers has opened bids to complete a major dredging project that will both improve access to Newburyport Harbor and to also replenish sand on two local beaches. The Corp will remove over 150,000 cubic yards of sand from the channel leading to the mouth of the Merrimack River, and then redeposit that valuable sand on the badly eroded beaches of Plum Island and Salisbury Beach. Dredged material is usually disposed of off shore, but in this case, the decision to move the material to locations where it is needed most, is a most wise decision. The decision to deposit the sand in much needed beach locations is a critical one. Over that last several years the beaches along Plum Island have been devastated by northeast storms and in the recent past several houses have been destroyed due to undermining caused by the storms. The cost of this project will exceed $3.2 million and the Federal Government will provide the majority of the funding, but the State and the local communities will also participate in the funding. The timetable for the project is also most welcome as plans call for the dredging to be completed by late winter and the sand moved by very early spring due to certain environmental issues. This is a project that has been a long time in the planning and Essex Heritage congratulates all of the regional and local officials who have worked on this project.

The City of Haverhill Continues to Receive Good News

The city of Haverhill has been the recipient of many recent federal grants including a grant to begin planning for a bike path, and now funds have been allocated for a restoration project. This grant that totals $7.4 million will be used to begin restoration work on historic Hamel Mills Lofts, a historic shoe factory in the downtown. The project when completed will produce over 300 units of housing, and some of those units will be considered affordable. This a wonderful reuse project and Essex Heritage is very supportive of projects like this one that help preserve some of historic fabric of this region.

Holiday Concerts and Events Happening all over the Region

This is certainly a wonderful time of the year and the communities of the region from one end of the region to the other are offering celebratory events. Just to list a few events:

• The Essex Holiday Festival begins on Thursday, December 3rd with tree lighting at the Town Hall, and Santa will arrive by boat on the Essex River.
• Santa will arrive by boat next Saturday at Popes Landing in Danvers from noon until 4:00 pm and rides and refreshments will be available. This is an event sponsored jointly by the Danvers Recreation Department and the River Committee.
• Holiday music will be featured at the Methuen Music Hall on the weekend of Dec 4-6. There will be free event of Friday evening followed by organ concerts on Saturday and Sundays. Tickets for these concerts can be obtained by visiting www.mmmh,org or by calling 603-898 5702
• Merchants in Rockport will celebrate a milestone this year with the 25^th annual Christmas in Rockport program. A calendar of activities in Rockport is available at www.rockportusa.com.
• Danvers Historical Society will be offering holiday events this coming weekend and next. On December 4^th the Society will offer its annual soiree and on Sunday Dec 6^th a Christmas Tea. The following weekend a choral presentation will be offered by Essex Harmony. All events will be held at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers. Reservations for all of these events can be obtained by contacting www.danvershistory.org

North of Boston Convention and Visitor Bureau to Temporarily Close Salisbury Visitor Center

We are very sorry to report that the North of Boston Convention and Visitor Bureau has been forced to temporarily close the Maria Miles Visitor Center on Route 95 in Salisbury due to State funding cuts. This visitor center that is closely associated with Essex Heritage has had to severely limit its hours between now and the Christmas Holiday, and then unless other funding is obtained will have to remain closed through the winter months. This center that receives some of its annual funding through the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program is not the only State Visitor Center in the region that has been affected by the current State budget crisis, as the center on Route 495 in Chelmsford is also closed. We will continue to monitor this situation as the Salisbury Visitor center is one of the most visited centers in the Commonwealth, and provides wonderful support to Essex Heritage as we welcome visitors to this region.

Town of Danvers Party with a Purpose

On Sunday evening, my wife and I attended a wonderful event held every year on Thanksgiving weekend. The event is held in the lobby of Danversbank and local merchants donate all of the refreshments. The party kicks off the Danvers Community Council’s annual fundraising event for those in need in this community and as in other years was a very big success. I am certain that there are many events like this one held all over this region, and if you have a chance to attend a similar event this holiday season or make a donation to help support community causes please do so. You will certainly feel better after you participate

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK

As in almost every recent year, Essex County is well represented in the MIAA Football Tournament. Several local schools completed successful regular seasons on this past Thanksgiving and will now represent this region on Tuesday night in the first round of the annual playoffs, Games will be played in Lowell, Reading and at the recently refurbished Manning Field in Lynn. Gloucester, Lynnfield, Masconomet and Marblehead High Schools will proudly represent this region in the first round of playoff games. We wish all the schools well; and certainly expect that some of the schools will find their way into the next round of the playoffs next weekend.

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

Thanksgiving Greetings, Lynn Election Complete, Music Theatre Rumors, North Shore Alliance, Green Note, and High School Football

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday Greetings

As we get ready to celebrate one of the most American of all Holidays tomorrow, all of us at Essex Heritage want to offer our best wishes for a Happy Holiday to all. On behalf of the staff, our Executive Director Annie Harris and I and our senior partner in this work, the National Park Service, Essex Heritage has much to be thankful for in November 2009. Over the past dozen years we have developed a number of wonderful and fruitful partnerships with dozens of highly committed not-for- profit community based organizations and the leadership of thirty-four communities in this region. This includes not just the local leadership of those communities, but also the regionally elected officials that work so diligently for this region on Beacon Hill. Together this consortium has made wonderful progress in organizing regional initiatives that have benefited the entire region. We have truly learned that so much more can be accomplished be working together towards common goals than can ever be done working separately. We pledge to continue to organize programs and associations in the region that provide lasting benefits to all of residents of the region. All of our efforts as we continue this work will be to insure that all who want to participate in the mission of Essex Heritage will have a seat at our table, Essex Heritage continues to develop long tern relationships across the region as we work on scenic byways, bicycle trails, educational initiatives and programs for our “friends” group the Essex Heritage Explorers. We certainly hope that the holiday will be a pleasant one for all of our friends and contemporaries, and we look forward to continuing to work together to make the region we all call home a better place to live and work in the future.

Lynn Mayoral Recount Complete

We want to offer Essex Heritage’s belated congratulations to the recently elected Mayor of the City of Lynn. Mayor elect and former ten year City Councilor Judith Flanagan Kennedy was recently confirmed as Mayor of the City of Lynn after a recount of the voting earlier this month confirmed that she has won the election. Essex Heritage is pleased to welcome her to the group of municipal officials in the region, and look forward to working with her as she establishes a new administration in the City of Lynn. Her experience in the city as a five term city councilor should be an advantage to her as she begins her work for the City in this new capacity. The city is most important to the work of Essex Heritage as its location is at the southern gateway of the region and its population at almost 90,000 residents remains the largest community if the region. We also want to take the opportunity to thank, former Mayor Edward “Chip” Clancy for his years of service to the region first as a senator and then as the mayor of the City of Lynn. We were privileged to work with him in both of his capacities over the last dozen years.

Rumored Reopening of Theater in Beverly Good News

Recently, several media sources indicated that a deal may be announced soon that would herald the re-opening of the now closed North Shore Music Theatre. That news if correct work be good news for the arts community in this region, as the old theatre before its closing was the center of much of the arts activity in this region. The current news indicated that interests the own and operate a similar facility in Rhode Island is close to an agreement with the bank that currently owns the Beverly facility, and would hope to see the theatre opened again for business as early as the spring of 2009. That would be good news for the region as a whole and for the art community specifically.

North Shore Alliance for Economic Development Offers a Position

Several months ago, the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development was created by a group of interested North Shore business and regional leaders. The Alliance was begun and is hosed at Salem State College and is headed by Mr. William Luster, a former Salem and Boston municipal official and has about 125 participants from business, governments and not-for-profit organizations, including the Essex National Heritage Commission. The organization has as its goal the economic revitalization of the region. The organizations that has previously recommended the expediting of regional transportation projects, recently weighed in on the gaming issue that may be before the Massachusetts legislature. The group without providing support for or against gaming presumed that if there were gaming legislation passed that there may be some kind of operation at Suffolk Downs and that would require more improvements for roads in that area that leads in and out of the North Shore. The organization proposed that some portion of any future state revenues from expanding gambling activities be set aside in a fund that would assist regional municipalities in paying for the design costs of such road improvement projects. At present, municipalities are required to pay for the design costs of such improvements. The alliance also weighed in on any opportunities for new jobs that might come out of any new gambling facility and urged the local people from the North Shore be considered for these opportunities.

One Green Note

Essex Heritage continues to pay particular attention to projects that will have an effect on the “greening” of the region. One such project is a wind turbine project in Newbury. The Town is seeking grant money to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best possible location for a wind turbine in Town. There are several sites in Town under consideration, and this seems to be a most worthwhile project to study.

Thanksgiving Day Football

In this region on Thanksgiving there a number of traditional high school football games and we wish all of the participant’s good sports, good health and good conduct. The weather this season looks like it will be reasonable and big holiday crowds are expected across the region. Just considering the public schools rivalries, there are traditional games between; Salem and Beverly, Swampscott and Marblehead, Danvers and Gloucester, Lynn Classical and Lynn English, Peabody and Saugus, North Andover and Masconomet, Pentucket and Triton, Amesbury and Newburyport, Hamilton/Wenham and Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Georgetown. We wish all of the players, coaches, bands and cheerleaders well.

Essex Heritage Office Closed on Friday, November 27, 2009

Since our office will be closed on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I do not intend to publish a post on Essex Happenings that day. See you all on Monday.

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

Northeast Harvest Newsletter, Regional Vocational Technical School Update, Friendship Back in Salem and New Celebrity Server Date Set

MONDAY, November 23, 2009

Northeast Harvest Newsletter

Essex Heritage is very pleased to be associated with a number of agricultural resources in this region so that through our efforts we can produce a monthly newsletter that focuses on farming activities in this region. Northeast Harvest is the result of collaboration between Essex Heritage, the Essex Agricultural Society, the Topsfield Fair, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and local farming resources in Essex and Middlesex County’s. This month’s communication focuses on the numerous Christmas Tree Farms in the region, and at this time of the year that certainly seems appropriate. This month’s newsletter provides some wonderful information on how to select a proper tree, and then how to care for one once it is up in your home. In addition to the specific information about agricultural crops the monthly communication focuses on a specific farmer from each of the two regions served, and provides some information to help identify how to access these resources. We certainly hope that you find this information helpful and we encourage you to sign up for the newsletter by contacting Essex Heritage at www.essexheritage.org. This is a wonderful relationship that gets stronger each month and that is important, as these resources are so critical to the long-term economic wellbeing of the region

Regional Vocational Technical High School Presentation

When a new Regional Vocational Technical High School was first proposed for this region, the Essex National Heritage Commission was one of the first regional organizations to offer an endorsement of the concept. It became very clear to the leadership of Essex Heritage that if there was a chance to have a new modern, spacious school replace the current facility that this would be a superb idea. Essex Heritage saw the possibility of a new facility that would offer substantially more opportunities for the young men and woman in this region as a wonderful option for this region. We saw more trained workers as a critical component of any regional economic recovery. We also viewed the opportunity to train more young people in the skills needed to continue to restore historic resources in this region as a most positive step. Essex Heritage offered its early endorsement of the new regional school concept and it now seems more and more likely that a new school will be built at a site in Danvers near the Middleton town line in the not too distant future.

At a recent meeting of the Salem Partnership at the Salem Five Bank Community Room, Danvers Town Manager, Wayne Marquis provided that group with an update on the progress of the approval process across the region for this project. Just before we provide the update to you, I want to take a moment to comment on the work of Wayne Marquis relative to this project. Wayne has been the Chairman of an Advisory Committee that has taken on the responsibility of managing the approval process for this regional effort. This effort has consumed a great deal of his time and energy and it appears that his effort is about to be fruitful. Through all of the time and commitment to this project, the Danvers Town Manager has also continued to take exceptional care for the fiscal and management concerns of his Town. These are difficult times for local communities with bad news on State cuts being delivered far too regularly. Through all of these trying times, Wayne Marquis has balanced his many responsibilities as he has had his hand on the many controls he manages without slippage. As a long time resident and volunteer in the Town of Danvers, I want to say thank you to Wayne Marquis for an exceptional job of keeping all of his Town and regional priorities properly balanced and focused on success.

The news that was delivered about the Regional Vocational Technical School at the Salem Partnership meeting was most positive. On the pervious night, the Peabody City Council agreed to join the consortium, and a similar vote is scheduled soon in both Beverly and Salem. It appears that this exceptional regional educational concept is getting closer and closer to becoming reality.

Friendship Returns to Salem

Early on Sunday afternoon, the Friendship made her return to the National Park site in Salem. The ship that Essex Heritage has long considered to be the flagship for this region returned after a long stay in Maine where she underwent extensive repairs. The ship was greeted by a large group of well wishers as she was steered back into her home port in Salem. She was missed during her time away, and several visits to both local and international ports had to be cancelled, and now maybe in 2010 she can once again take her place as the Flagship for the region. After her long stay away from the region it is nice to have her back, and after the repairs have been completed she is better than ever.

Celebrity Server at Brother’s Restaurant in Danvers

A week or so ago, because of a personal commitment, I was forced to cancel an appearance as a celebrity server at Brother’s in Danvers. That very popular restaurant and deli is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Danvers and is using that opportunity to offer some different and unusual programs to bring attention to its celebration. I am pleased that I have been able to reschedule my time behind the lunch counter with the affable and hard working owner, Kary Andrinopoulos to lunchtime on December 3, 2009. I will be standing next to Kary and offering him whatever support I can muster from about 12: 15 that day until about 1: 30. Please consider coming in to eat that day. I look forward to seeing the many friends of Brother’s and some of my friends and associates on that day, and I promised Karry to stay out of his way as best as I can during that lunch. I will have several of my associates at Essex Heritage with me that day, and we would welcome your comments and questions about our work.

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

Essex Heritage Scenic Byway, Photo Contest Winners, Newburyport Trail, and Salem Success

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Essex Heritage Scenic Byway Planning Advances

Over the last several months Essex Heritage along with the consulting team that have been brought in to help manage this process has conducted informational meetings in all 13 communities where the Scenic Byway will be shared. The “byway” that was the result of the planning process established at Essex Heritage will add a substantial regional asset when completed. The 64 mile trail that has gateway communities in Lynn and Newburyport will pass through Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Beverly, Manchester-By-The-Sea, Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich, Essex, Rowley and Newbury and will ultimately assist travelers discover the regions rich heritage. Essex Heritage applied for and received grant funding from the National Scenic Byway Program and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to help bring together the coalition that has been developed with the thirteen communities. The goal of the plan that was outlined along with the broad participation that was offered from the cooperating communities is the development of a corridor management plan and an ultimate National Scenic Byway designation. The support and the advice offered at the meetings that have been held across the region have gone a long way to bringing the coalition managed by Essex Heritage to a successful achievement of the established goals. These 13 communities share parts of this regions spectacular shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean coastline, and collectively the “trail” will include 8700 properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places as well as several National Historic Landmark properties. From the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway, wonderful beaches, nature trails, and parcels of conservation land as well as five Essex Heritage Visitor centers can be accessed. When the plan is in place slightly over a year from now, Essex Heritage will lead an effort to begin to secure additional funding to carry out the plans that will be outlined in the management plan.

Special Note: We were very pleased to see the editorial that was printed in the November 19, 2009 edition of the Salem News that highlighted the essence of the work being done to deliver a Scenic Byway to this region. Editorial Page Editor, Nelson Benton has always had a wonderful understanding of the work that is required to complete a wide ranging regional project and we appreciate the Salem News endorsement of our work.


Essex Heritage Announces Photo Contest Winners

Essex Heritage is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Photo Contest sponsored by Hunts Photo and Video and Definitely Digital. This year the contest drew more entries than in any other previous year, with over one hundred images submitted by 35 contestants. The winners of this year’s Essex Heritage Photo Contest are:

Grand Prize Winner; Edmund Prescottano who submitted a photo of “Old Glory” with the Friendship in the background” at the Salem Maritime Historic Site

Category- On a Photo Safari1st Prize: Dana Dinatale, Halibut Point State Park"Three Wishes: Strength, Courage, and Perseverance"2nd Prize: Nadine Mitchell, Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site"Water Wheels"3rd Prize: Sandy Peacock, Halibut Point State Park, "Star & Friends"

Category-National Historic Landmarks1st Prize: June Rhodes, Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, "Windows"2nd Prize: Amanda Levy, Derby Summer House, Glen Magna Farms, Danvers3rd Prize: Tammy Tolosko, Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, "17th Century Jewel"

Category- My Space 1st Prize: Gregg Mazzotta, Crane Estate, Ipswich2nd Prize: Jesse Redlener, Weir Hill, North Andover3rd Prize: Susan Plutsky, Hospital Point Lighthouse, Beverly

Category- General Images of the Essex National Heritage Area1st Prize: Trish McGregor, Herrick's Dairy Farm, Rowley, "New England Farming"2nd Prize: Joseph Carlin, Eagle Hill River & Clam Flats, Ipswich, "Sunrise"3rd Prize: Elinor Teele, Essex, MA, "Yellow Boat"

We are pleased to also announce that the award winning photos will be on display at a public reception on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at the National Park Service Regional Visitor Center in Salem at 5:30 pm. Please come and join us and enjoy the wonderful winning photos and some light refreshments at the reception...


Daily News of Newburyport lauds Progress on Tri-Community Rail Trail

Essex Heritage who is an active partner in the efforts to develop the Clipper City Rail Trail was very pleased to see a most complimentary editorial in the local Newburyport Newspaper lauding the progress being made on that trail in the City of Newburyport. The editorial pointed out that even though the trail is not yet complete and in some areas, is still under construction, more and more folks are taking advantage of the trail. The trail is expected to be nearly completed by next spring, and as we head into the nicer weather more and more residents will be able to take advantage of this exceptional new community asset. In neighboring Salisbury the Old Eastern Marsh trail follows the same railroad right of way, but offers a much different view for users as the trail passes through salt marshes along the banks of the Merrimack River. When the two trails are fully completed, it will be possible to ride a bicycle from downtown Amesbury to Newburyport, over about five miles of rail trails. Bill Steelman, the Director of Heritage Development for Essex Heritage continues to play an important role in this regional project and Essex Heritage is particularly pleased to have played a part in this effort. Essex Heritage is either leading or participating in dozens of regional projects all designed to make this area a better place for all of us to either live or work.

Haunted Happenings Turns a Profit for the City of Salem

It wasn’t too long ago that many residents in Salem were lamenting the crowds of holiday revelers that descended on the City every year during the month of October. The crowds and the parking woes that made many residents unhappy were compounded by the fact that the Halloween events usually wound up costing the City money to manage. All of that has changed under the current city administration when Mayor Kim Driscoll and her team took over the management of the events celebrated on the 3oth of October each year, In the current year the city has recognized a healthy profit from the late fall events and showed net revenues slightly in excess of $270,000. The revenue for this past October was up almost $66,000 from the period one year ago. The Halloween Holiday this year concluded on a weekend and that coupled with better than average weather contributed too much larger crowds and increased revenue for the City. Increasing revenue for any municipality is most critical in these days of ever decreasing State aid. Just a few short years ago, the City of Salem was facing a financial crisis with a school funding issue added to an already challenged municipal budget, and expanding the Halloween experience in Salem might have been the last thing residents were thinking about at that time. The events scheduled around this holiday were always a positive to many merchants in the city, but the cost of the program when added to the inconvenience for residents made expansion a difficult decision for the City leadership. Under the leadership of Mayor Driscoll she has constructed a program that has most everyone happy. Parking revenue is way up for the city, vendors pay a reasonable amount for the right to participate in the events and for the most part residents at least feel that the City is compensated for the efforts that go into the events and the planning for them. .Congratulations to the City leadership for a safe and successful event that not only provided a fun experience for many, but that also paid its way and even adding a little to the city coffers to help pay for some of the other City needs.

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

CPA Gains Legislative Support, Danvers and Swampscott Approve Projects, Beverly Mayor Supports School, and Willowdale Visit

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

Community Preservation Act Bill Gains Legislative Support

Communities in this region that have adopted the Community Preservation Act have been the beneficiary of matching funds from the Commonwealth that have allowed many worthwhile projects to be completed. The preservation of many important buildings of historical significance along with the acquisition and protection of many critical parcels of land in the region has been achieved with this funding. In addition several communities in the region have also addressed affordable housing needs that today seem even more important than in the recent past. Essex Heritage has always supported the efforts to increase the number of communities in the region who have enacted the Community preservation Act as the funding can be put to such positive uses, virtually all of which focus on the mission of Essex Heritage. At this time about half of the communities in the region served by Essex Heritage have access to state funding through the adoption of this act and we have always encouraged additional communities to consider the benefits of enacting the legislation. We certainly understand the difficulty that communities face when considering measures that call for new taxes to be imposed on already hard pressed residents, but the benefits of passage are so positive that we continue to urge communities that have not enacted the legislation to consider the potential uses of the funding.
In a recent report in the newspapers it was pointed out that in the most current year the average state match to participating communities has fallen to 40% and that is the lowest match since the program began eight years ago, The match is down from 100% just two years ago before the current financial crisis hit the Commonwealth. Even though the match is down substantially most communities expected the reduction and are generally pleased with any level of funding as the funding can be put to so many positive uses.
We are also pleased to report that legislation supported by the Community Preservation Coalition to sustain CPA funding has recently cleared an important legislative hurdle. The bill, SB 90, an act to Sustain Community Preservation was approved with a favorable recommendation by the joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business. This bill that would broaden participation in CPA by making it easier for communities to join and would guarantee a minimum annual CPA trust fund match of 75% for each community participating in the program,. The bill still has many hurdles to overcome before becoming law, as it must gain the approval of other legislative committees and also win passage by the full Massachusetts House and Senate. We congratulate Essex Heritage Commissioner Stuart Saginor, the Executive Director of the Community Preservation Coalition for all of his hard work to date, and assure him of the continuing support of Essex Heritage as he moves forward with his activities. We also encourage any community leaders and any others in the region we serve, who want to learn more about this financially rewarding community program to contact Stuart directly at stuart.saginor@communitypreservation.org.

City of Peabody to Hold Open House at Leather Workers Museum

This Thursday evening, November 17, 2009 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm the City of Peabody will be holding an Open House at its recently completed Leather Workers Museum at 205 Washington Street just to the rear of the George Peabody Visitor Center. The new Museum contains 1,000 square feet of exhibit space and a room for multi media presentations and lectures. The Open House is an opportunity for former leather industry workers and their families to reconnect with other former industry workers and to take the opportunity to revisit an industry that in Peabody employed thousands. In fact for one summer in my youth, I spent time working in that industry, and look forward to visiting the exhibits. The museum is located adjacent to the Peabody Visitor Center that has long had a working relationship and financial support from Essex Heritage. I hope that some of you will find the time to join me in a visit to the past.

Danvers and Swampscott Approve Major Municipal Projects

Last night was an important evening in two local communities. The Town’s of Danvers and Swampscott both approved major community improvement projects. In Danvers the Town Meeting body approved the High School building project, and in Swampscott that Town Meeting approved and sent to the general electorate a new police station project. Both projects are important to the communities involved and will make a major difference to the residents of those two communities. Congratulations to all in the two communities who took the time and the effort to see these important projects through to this stage.

Mayor Bill Scanlon Weighs in on New Regional Vocational Technical School

Recently re-elected, Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon, long an ardent supporter of the planned regional Vocational Technical School offered his open endorsement to the Beverly City Council relative to that City’s participation. Before the end of this year a presentation will be made to the Beverly City Council seeking their official endorsement to have Beverly join that regional initiative. We are confidant that that the Mayor’s endorsement will help carry that day, and Beverly will join the growing list of communities lining up to support this critical regional effort. Each week we see additional endorsements of this regional concept, and Essex Heritage was pleased to be one of the first regional organizations to offer its unqualified support to this initiative.

Bradley Palmer and Willowdale Hosted the Essex Heritage Explorers

Last Sunday morning just before the start of the weekend clearing settled in, forty one intrepid Essex Heritage Explorers braved the rain and the chill to tour Bradley Palmer State Park. The tour finished with a visit to Willowdale Estate where the group enjoyed refreshments and the hospitality of that organization’s staff... The Essex Heritage coordinator of all Explorer activities, Elizabeth Rankin asked me to remind all who might be interested that Willowdale Estates will be hosting its 3rd annual Christmas Concert on December 6, 2009 at 3:00 pm that afternoon. Selections that day will include excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and the singing of traditional Christmas Carols. A reception will follow the concert. Advance reservations and required and tickets are priced at $15.00 each and may be purchased at info@willowdaleestate.com.

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

Votes in Peabdy and Danvers School Projects, Rep. Grant to Step Down, Essex Heritage Grant Pogram

MONDAY. November 16, 2009

Peabody School Committee Votes to Join Vocational School District

Late last week the City of Peabody School Committee cast a positive vote to join the new regional Vocational school coalition. The next step for the City of Peabody will come late this week when the measure comes before the City Council for passage. It is that group that will have the final vote on this measure. Essex Heritage was an early supporter of the new school, and the vote in Peabody will be an important one as that City weighs the benefits to the citizens of Peabody. The regional coalition that has been formed to bring the necessary State funding to this region to accomplish the building of a new expanded North Shore Vocational Technical High School has worked hard to get to this point, and a positive vote by the Peabody City Council would be a big step towards a final resolution of this initiative. Essex Heritage quickly recognized how a new school would benefit the region and issued its early support for the project. The hundreds of additional future students from this region who would gain the opportunity to learn a valuable trade will certainly, in both the short term and well into the future, provide a wonderful benefit to the entire region. We certainly hope that the vote later this week brings the City of Peabody into the coalition as the new school can continue to expand the economy of the region, and that will be most positive.

Town Meeting in Danvers to Consider Funding for a Renovated High School

Another important vote that will have a bearing on education in the region will come before the Danvers Town Meeting body tonight. After a long period of debate and positive endorsements by the Danvers Board of Selectmen and the Town’s Finance Committee the vote to appropriate substantial Town funding to both renovate and build new sections of the High School will be brought before the Town Meeting body. The plan as conceived by a broad coalition within the Town of Danvers is a good one, and the funding commitment obtained from the Commonwealth is fair, and the plan should be approved. We urge members of Town Meeting to act accordingly, and approve the municipal funding required to begin this program. A most reasonable funding plan has been created and it certainly appears that the Town can afford the costs associated with the project, and the vote tonight should be to proceed.

Representative Mary Grant of Beverly to Step Down

Essex Heritage was sorry to learn late last week that Representative Mary Grant of Beverly has decided not to stand for reelection as the State Representative for the City of Beverly. Representative Grant has been a positive voice in the Massachusetts Legislature and she will be missed in the future. Ms. Grant has always been a wonderful supporter of the work of Essex Heritage and was one of the first Representatives in this region to support the regional Essex Heritage Scenic Byway now in the planning stage. We wish retiring representative Grant all the best as she takes on new challenges in the private sector going forward, and can only hope that her successor has the vision she has exhibited for regional projects.

Commonwealth to Invest in Cultural Facilities in Lynn

A recent announcement by the Massachusetts Cultural Council contained good news for nine communities across the State. Awards that will total $177,375 from the Commonwealth’s Cultural Facilities Fund will support Massachusetts non-profit cultural organizations in increasing tourism, creating new jobs, leveraging private funding, and expanding arts and cultural activities in communities across the state. In making these awards the Massachusetts Cultural Council evaluated eighteen requests that totaled almost a half a million dollars and picked nine for funding. An organization representing the Lynn Memorial Auditorium was the only group from this region to receive funding and that award was the second highest granted at $26,250. In recent years there has a resurgence of cultural opportunities offered in Lynn at its auditorium and this funding will allow a continuation of new offerings to the citizens of Lynn.

City of Salem to Offer Residents the Opportunity to Participate in Parking Study

Tonight from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the old Town Hall, the City of Salem will be offering residents the opportunity to identify parking issues in a Downtown Parking Survey and to offer potential solutions. This will be the first of several workshops to be held between now and March 2010. Residents can also offer their thoughts on the cities web site at www.salem.com

Essex Heritage to Restore Partnership Grant Program in 2010

Plans are now being formulated to restore critical funding for the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program. This program that was curtailed in 2009 has been responsible for a substantial amount of community grant funding since its inception a half a dozen years ago. The program has made almost 300 grants to not-for-profit organizations and municipalities that total $1.5 million and has seen that investment in the region matched by an additional $15 million in other matching regional investments. The program in 2010 will offer $25,000 in grants and Essex Heritage is currently designing a streamlined application process that will not cause substantial administrative paperwork for either the applying organization or for Essex Heritage. Final plans on the restored program will be available soon, and announcements will be made through this medium, the Essex Heritage electronic newsletter, the web site at www.essexheritage.org and other usual communication vehicles

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

Essex Heritage Long Range Planning, Trustee Emeritus Meeting, Heritage Hero Location and Date Announced, Local Events and a Personal Note

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2009

Essex Heritage Long-Range Planning Process Continues

Earlier this week, under the capable direction of President Kevin Tierney and Immediate Past President Nancy Stager another long planning session was held in the Essex Heritage offices. As with all of the past sessions we had a wonderful representation from the members of the Commission’s Board of Trustees and as in the past we had a spirited discussion about the proper path or paths for the Commission in the future. It is clear that in the future we need to continue to build greater awareness and create continuing collaborative opportunities throughout the region we serve. It will also be important for the Commission to” speak” in a clear and articulate voice on issues of importance to the region in areas like quality of life, education, green issues, smart growth and regional alternative transportation issues. The relationship that has been built with the National Park Service over the last decade needs to be expanded, and Essex Heritage will work even closer with the Park Service to create collaborative programs in the region that benefit more of the residents of the region. Essex Heritage works cooperatively with dozens of partners throughout the region and in some cases plays a lead role to insure that a project is completed quickly, and in other cases works more cooperatively on longer range issues that when completed will have lasting, quantifiable benefits to the region. In either case the work being accomplished by Essex Heritage is always designed to provide support for the region as a whole. The long range plans that are currently being developed will enhance those efforts in the years ahead.

Essex Heritage Trustee Emeritus Meeting

Since its inception, the Essex Heritage Commission has been served by a wide range of Trustees many of whom served Essex Heritage for a maximum of three, multi year terms. When those terms were completed and individuals were then required to step down from the Board, it was decided to keep them involved in the work of Essex Heritage by naming them as Trustee Emeritus. This coming Tuesday at noon, we will be gathering these committed volunteers for a meeting to continue to lean on them and to gain from their knowledge and wisdom. This group of individuals has much to offer and is always will provide us with guidance and it will be pleasant to share a meeting with them to hear their opinions on the direction of Essex Heritage.

Essex Heritage Announces Date and Location of Heritage Hero Event

On May 20, 2010 at the recently opened Tupelo Music Hall on Salisbury Beach, Essex Heritage in conjunction with the National Park Service will present its 2010 Heritage Hero Awards to three wonderful awardees from the communities of Amesbury, Newburyport and Salisbury. The event will be a spectacular event in an equally spectacular venue. If by then you will not have had the opportunity to visit the recently opened Tupelo Music Hall and the accompanying Seaglass Restaurant on the beach in Salisbury. this will be an event that you can not miss. Watch this space and other communications for more detail.

Several Regional Events of Note Scheduled in North Andover and Danvers

The North Andover, and Andover Historical Societies in conjunction with the Essex Chamber Music Players and the North Parish Church in North Andover will hold a performance to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the birth of poet Anne Bradstreet,. The event scheduled for this Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 2:00 pm will be held at the at the North Parish Church in North Andover. The event will feature a presentation by the Essex Chamber Music Players and readings of the poetry of Anne Bradstreet who spent most of her life in Andover and is widely believed to be the first North American poet. Tickets for the event are priced at $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door the day of the event. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Andover Bookstore or at either of the two sponsoring Historical Society websites.

The Danvers Historical Society is now taking reservations for their Annual Soiree at Glen Magna Farms on Friday December 4, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and for the Christmas Tea and Fashion Show scheduled for Glen Magna on Sunday December 6, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ticket prices range from $65.00 to $85.00 for the Soiree and $30 to $40 for the Tea depending on if one is a member of the society or not. Tickets are available now in advance at the Society headquarters on 11 Page Street in Danvers, but both events are usually sold out so one should act quickly to secure a reservation.

Closing Today with a Personal Note

Earlier in this weekly communication I noted that I had to make a change in my appearance at Brother’s Restaurant in Danvers due to a personal schedule conflict. Yesterday and today, my wife Marge and I paid our final respects at a wake and a funeral service to a very dear friend who passed away rather unexpectedly. We met Michael Sullivan of Hampton New Hampshire several years ago during our winter visit to Florida and continued the friendship until the present. Mike and I had much in common both medically and socially, and we enjoyed each others company during log discussions about Essex County and particularly the two High Schools where we attended and served well into our adult life. Mike served and loved Central Catholic High School in Lawrence with all of his heart and soul. He was a teacher, a coach, an administrator and the Athletic Director at Central Catholic and he reveled in that school’s successes and lamented at their defeats. The school he served for so long will miss him dearly as will we. Rest in Peace, Michael. We will miss you and I will never ever attend another event between Central Catholic in Lawrence and St John’s Prep in Danvers without fondly remembering you and your passion for high school sports.

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

Veterans Day, Boys and Girls Club Event, Recent Lecture, Canceled Appearance at Brother's in Danvers

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Veterans Day

Today is November 11^th and is the day that the country sets aside to both celebrate and to remember veterans. I suspect that at this time Veterans Day might take on a little more meaning as we are in the middle of two world conflicts and in the just recent past we have learned of a couple more deaths of Massachusetts military personnel, and we all grieved over the senseless shame of the Fort Hood massacre. I take great pride in my service to my country, as back in the days of the so called ”cold war” I served four years in the United States Air Force with tours of duty both in this country and abroad. When I was growing up this day was called Armistice Day and at that time we took a moment to remember the conflict that was called the “War to End All Wars”, World War 1. That was a bitter conflict but since that war ended almost a century ago we have seen a half dozen other world conflicts that were at least as severe and as devastating as that war. It seems that no mater how civilized we try to become, there are still conflicts all over the globe where men challenge other men for supremacy and power. We can only hope that in the future we can all find a way to resolve conflict without more senseless deaths of the young men and woman of this country.

Saluting 140 Years of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem.

This Thursday evening, Salem Five Bank and specifically it’s CEO. Joe Gibbons and Senior Vice President John Hall will host a reception in the bank’s Community Room to help celebrate the 140^th Anniversary of the founding of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem. The reception will feature remarks and conversations with Mayor Kimberly Driscoll and State Representative John Keenan, who have both been staunch long time supporters of the club and its mission. On the front cover of the invitation to the event, the Bank notes that “Salem Five invites you to celebrate the wonderful work of the club in serving the needs of youth in our community. Enjoy an evening of networking with colleagues and friends from throughout the Greater Salem business community”. .

I served for about a decade on the Board of the club both while I worked at the Bank and after my retirement. I still serve on the Club’s Advisory Board and have continued to provide support for the club. Essex Heritage through our relationship with the National Park Service has developed several recent collaborative programs with the Club, and we continue to look for new ways to offer continuing support. When Essex Heritage first established the Tom Leonard Partnership Grant program for Youth grant, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem was the inaugural recipient of the grant. I am personally committed to the support of the club that has accomplished to much good in this community and encourage broad based support of their commendable work.

Lecture by Bonnie Hurd Smith

Shortly after the Essex Heritage Annual Meeting, I noted in this presentation the support that Ms. Bonnie Hurd Smith had provided to a wonderful Anniversary project in Ipswich. At the Essex Heritage staff meeting on Monday, our Links Coordinator Rebecca Zimmerman at Essex Heritage spoke of a lecture that she attended on last Sunday by Ms. Smith. I asked her for some details and she provided the following that I print as Rebecca provided it to me.

Recently Bonnie Hurd Smith has published a second volume of letters of Judith Sargent Murray. On a sunny Sunday in Salem, Hurd Smith spoke eloquently about this fascinating woman, her connection with the North Shore and her place in 18^th and early 19^th century literature. Interspersing her talk with illustration and quotations from these letters, Hurd Smith brought this fascinating woman to life. She spoke of the places Judith lived, the famous people she knew, the historical events she witnessed, and her passionate promotion of the causes of women’s rights and Universalism. Smith has spent many years transcribing and promoting these letters. We are fortunate to have such devotion to a ground-breaking author such as Judith Sargent Murray. Hopefully Ms. Hurd Smith will continue to share with us her expertise and understanding of this subject.

More information on Judith Sargent Murray and Ms. Hurd Smith’s new book can be found at the Judith Sargent Murray Society - http://www.jsmsociety.com/

Danvers Finance Committee

On Monday evening the Danvers Finance Committee voted unanimously to support the new High School building project. This is the final vote needed before the issue is addressed by the Town Meeting body next Monday evening. If the project is approved, preliminary planning work will begin very soon to undertake the largest single project in the history of the Town.

Canceled Appearance at Brother’s Restaurant

Due to an unavoidable personal conflict in my schedule, I will not be able to keep my scheduled appointment as a guest server at Brother’s Restaurant in Danvers this Friday. Look in this space for a re-scheduled date in the very near future.

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

Danvers School Project, Methuen Festival of Trees, Topsfield Historical Society Thanksgiving Event, John Goff Publishes a Book

Monday, November 9, 2009

Danvers Finance Committee to Address New High School Project Tonight

This evening at 7:00 pm the Danvers Finance Committee will meet to consider all the facts before voting on the proposal to fund the construction of a new High School project in Danvers. The meeting will be held in the Holten-Richmond middle school all purpose room and this public hearing will be the last meeting before a final vote on the new High School project at Town Meeting in a week. There have been numerous meetings on this project over the last several months and as a member of the Finance Committee, I look forward to casting my vote in favor of this project. The many town officials who have developed this plan and managed the public process have done a wonderful job of bringing all of the facts to everyone in the Town of Danvers who wanted to have information about the project. The cost of this project at just under $80 million dollars is very expensive, but the working groups that have managed this project have made many adjustments to make certain that the project is utilitarian, without frills, and will serve the citizens of Danvers well for the foreseeable future. The Town has negotiated a substantial commitment from the Commonwealth that will reduce the Town’s final costs to just short of $38 million. In this plan, the Commonwealth’s funding will be provided during construction rather than over time, and that will help the project financially. The Town has also established a funding plan that will include the issuance of long-tern bonds that will be paid over a thirty year term at more than likely some of the most favorable long term rates in recent history. As always the Town has completed its do diligence on this project and it appears that this much needed project can be favorably accepted at the Town meeting scheduled for November 16, 2009, and then the project can begin in earnest.

Methuen Festival of Trees

One of the most successful events in this region that benefits the preservation effort takes place annually in one of the most northerly communities in Essex County. For many years a hard working committee in the City of Methuen has organized a wonderful event called the Festival of the Trees. The proceeds from this event that runs from late November through the first week of December are allocated to a series of grants that are offered to enhance the historic preservation effort in that community. A couple of Trails and Sails weekends ago, I spent a wonderful day in Methuen participating in a tour expertly provided by Commissioner Joe Bella that opened my eyes to the depth of he historic fabric of this border community. The Festival of Trees this year is “kicking off” with a gala opening night on November 20t, 2009. Tickets for that event and all other viewing sessions can be purchased now by calling 978 685-8878 or by e-mailing info@methuenfestivaloftrees.com. The opening night of this wonderful event is on sale now and is limited to the first 300 attendees. Opening night will feature guest appearances by celebrities as well as a sampling of specialty dishes from that communities finest eating establishments. At the opening there will 200 decorated trees on display and at the end of the Festival those trees will be auctioned off to benefit the preservation effort in Methuen, This year the Festival runs from November 20th through December 5, 2009, and more information on schedules and ticket acquisition can be obtained at the phone number and e-mail address noted above. This is wonderful event and certainly worthy of regional support.

Topsfield Historic Society Thanksgiving Event

I saw an announcement recently offered by the Topsfield Historical Society about a Thanksgiving morning event that certainly looks like it would fun. Essex Heritage has a wonderful relationship with the Topsfield Historical Society, and over the years we have held many wonderful regional events in their Gould Barn. We had one of our Annual Meetings in the Society’s barn, and just last tear when we had the National Park Service’s Second century Commission visit the region for a hearing on the future of the Park Service; once again the venue was the famous Gould Barn. We have several hard working Commissioners at Essex Heritage who represent the Society on the Commission.
On Thanksgiving morning, the Topsfield Historical Society will hold its annual Thanksgiving Open House at the Parson Capen House on Howlett Street in Topsfield. From 10:00 a.m. until noon. The Bartlett family will be dressed in period clothing and will greet guests, roast a turkey in an open fireplace, and offer hot and cold cider and popcorn as refreshments to their guests. Admission to the event is free, and is offers for a great cause and deserves regional support. Donations to support the work of the Society will be accepted. I know that this seems to be a bit early to make this announcement over two weeks before the holiday, but that day is a day filled with family visits and good times, and an event like this one needs to be place on a family schedule early to be sure to take in the experience. To learn more about the event, call Allison D'Amario days at 978-508-641-8814 or evenings at 978-887-8321.

Essex Heritage Commissioner Publishes Book about Salem

One of Essex Heritage’s most energetic Commissioners, John Goff has written a book about one of Salem’s most famous historic houses. The book titled, Salem’s Witch House: A Touchstone to Antiquity has been published by The History press located both in Salem and in Charleston, South Carolina. The book is a 128 page paperback and is illustrated and takes a special look at the 400 year history of one of Salem’s most historic landmarks. John has also become an expert on the Indian history of this region, and also writes a weekly column for the local Salem weekly newspaper. It is clear that John is a busy guy, and we are so pleased to have him as an active Commissioner at Essex Heritage.

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

Guest Server at Brother's in Danvers, Lt. Governor in Salem, Yankee Clipper Boy Scout Awards, Salem Partnership Outreach Effort

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

Serving as Guest/Celebrity Server at Brother’s Restaurant in Danvers

One week from today on Friday, November 13, 2009, I have been asked and have agreed to be a celebrity/guest server at Brother’s Restaurant in Danvers. You can feel very comfortable that if you come to the very busy downtown Danvers location that day that you will be in no danger of having me apportion your food or even handle it except to pass you the plate with the meal of your choice. I will stand by or rather stand comfortably behind the very capable and hard working owner/chef Kary Andrinopoulos at his incredibly active lunch counter from noon until about 1:30 that day and help him meet and greet his many guests. I look forward to greeting those of you who come through that I know and those that I will meet for the first time, and can only hope that I can come through the experience unscathed. I will be in attendance at Brother’s that day representing the Essex National Heritage Commission and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about how and why we “preserve and promote the historic, cultural and natural resources of Essex County”.

Lt. Gov. Murray Visits Salem to Conduct a “Seaport Advisory Council” Meeting

This morning, Lt. Governor Tim Murray will be visiting Salem to both conduct a regular meeting of the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council and to help in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Harbor Walk project. The Salem Harbor Walk project when completed will run along the South River from the intersection of New Derby and Lafayette Streets down to Congress Street where it will connect to the sea walk that the Salem Five bank helped to construct along the perimeter of Pickering Wharf when that project was built in the late 1970’s. This walkway will then allow visitors to continue onto the National Park Service’s Salem National Maritime Historic Site and walk through the history of the region that is depicted at that site. The National Park Service site includes a replica sailing ship, Friendship” that is due to return from an overhaul in Maine sometime later this month, and a replica period warehouse that is now almost complete.

The ground breaking ceremony will be followed by a regular meeting of the Seaport Advisory Council that will conducted on the second floor of FINZ restaurant directly on the water front on Pickering Wharf. The funding for the sea walk that will be celebrated today is a result of an earlier grant from the Council. In addition to Salem several other seaside communities in the region served by Essex Heritage has been the beneficiary of grants devoted to other water front projects. During FY 09, in addition to the grant in Salem, grants from the Seaport Advisory Council were provided to Lynn. Marblehead, Gloucester, Newbury and Newburyport and Saugus for waterfront related projects.

Yankee Clipper Boy Scout Council

I am sorry that I was not able to be in attendance last night at the Danversport Yacht Club when the Yankee Clipper Boy Scout Council honored two of Essex Heritage’s hardest working Commissioners with their 2009 Distinguished Citizen Awards. The honorees last night were Kevin Bottomley, the CEO of Danversbank and Patricia Zaido, the Executive Director of the Salem Partnership. Both individuals who have also been wonderful supporters of the work of Essex Heritage have as the promotional brochure for the events outlines, “Made numerous contributions as professional and volunteers through their personal involvement and caring for the well being of our neighbors.” Both Kevin and Patricia are people who I know well, and I can attest that the previous quote is certainly true. We congratulate both Patricia and Kevin on the awards presented last night and note that they join a long and illustrious list of previous award winners, including yours truly, awarded a Boy Scout designation a decade and a half ago. The Yankee Clipper awards have been provided since 1981 and is one of the longest standing such awards given to individuals in the region.

Salem Partnership Reaching Out for New Members

On Wednesday evening at the world famous Peabody-Essex Museum, the Salem Partnership, a community advocacy group that partners with the City of Salem to improve conditions in the City held a reception for potential members. The Partnership has played a most important role in development activities in the City over the last 22 years that the group has been in operation. The Partnership can take joint responsibility for the successes of the revitalized National Park Service presence in the City, and has played a major role in the progress towards a new court complex and the work that has been accomplished to put Salem on the map again as a port complete with ferry service to Boston. In recent years the organization has become very prominent with its work with the Creative Economy. Current Partnership President Attorney George Atkins who provided some opening welcoming remarks managed the event. Recently re-elected Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, Salem State Representative John Keenan, and former Presidents Sumner Jones of Eastern Bank, and this writer representing Essex Heritage made appeals based on the organizations economic achievements to guests at the reception to consider joining. A final appeal was made by Richard Pabich the owner/operator of the Salem Inn, who noted the success that the Partnership has achieved in the development of a tourist base for the economy in recent years.

As always your comments, questions or observations about the work of Essex Heritage is appreciated. I can be contacted at www.essexheritage.org. Thanks. Tom Leonard

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009

Boston Globe Reports Congressional Passage of National Park Service Funding Bill

We were very pleased to see an Opinion Page column in the November 3, 2009 edition of the Boston Globe that focused on funding for National Parks. The report offered by Derrick Z. Jackson noted that in the last week the Congress passed bipartisan legislation that calls for a broad spending measure for the county’s National Parks and other related projects. It is certainly hopeful that the Congress acted in such a bipartisan manner and that this might be the beginning of recognition that adequate funding for the National Parks, Refuges and Forests could be a proper national priority. The recent Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks, America’s Best Idea that appeared on PBS, brought new found interest in the parks and showcased the assets under the control of the National Park Service. The parks across the country will receive funding increases that are more reasonable than at any time in the recent past, but the funding levels are still too low based on the accumulated needs in areas like deferred maintenance and acquisition of key properties to enhance the park experience.

The National Parks that are such an important resource to so many residents of this country are funded currently at about $2.5 billion each year, and that represents a paltry one tenth of one percent of the entire federal budget. The level of funding has never seemed commensurate with the value of the Parks. The current level of funding that increases to $2.7 billion is certainly not enough to make up for some of the shortfalls in funding of recent years but it is a positive start. The recent Second Century Report offered by a national blue ribbon panel reported that the nation’s parks have been operating at an annual deficit of $750 million a year in recent times. The Second century Commission in the same report strongly recommended that Heritage Area program’s like Essex Heritage be embraced by the Park Service in the future. In addition to funding for National Park Service units, other preservation based organizations like The Forest Service, The Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System also received increases in the recent congressional funding. The budget for next year has increased for all units of the National Park Service so the two units (Salem Maritime National Historic Site and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site) that exist within the boundaries of the Essex National Heritage Area will be positively affected, and for that we are pleased. Any measure that provides more resources to the senior partner of Essex Heritage can only be thought of as a positive action,

Essex Heritage Planning Continues

I recently reported on a meeting at the Ipswich Town Hall that the coalition that has been organized by Essex Heritage to help create a Scenic Byway in this region that was held to focus on progress to date. That session was the last in the current round of meetings and great progress was made during this first phase of the planning process that brought professionals together from the affected communities to begin to outline pertinent issues. The next set of meetings that will begin to consider more details on the specific improvements that can be made along the proposed route will begin again just after the start of New Year. The plans for this effort remain quite fluid and input from all the communities and residents and other interested entities will be considered as the project moves forward... The ultimate plans call for the designation of the Byway nationally and efforts to seek funding and to “flesh out” some of the ideas that will be developed during this process, The wonderful collaborative efforts that have been mounted by all of the participants in this effort is a classic example of how Essex Heritage works best. The Commission since its earliest days has been all about bringing disparate groups together to accomplish common goals. The Essex Heritage Scenic Byway is a wonderful example of this process in action.

Local Election Results

` Yesterday was Election Day in many communities in the Essex Heritage Area, and now that the results are all counted, Essex Heritage wants to offer congratulations to the winners of the local mayoral races in the area. In some cases the wins were hard earned, and in every case we also want to take a moment to acknowledge that for every winner in an election race there is a contestant that finished second. We also congratulate those participants for their effort. The local winners, subject to a possible recount in Lynn that we congratulate and look forward to working with in the future are:

Amesbury Thatcher W. Kezer
Beverly William F. Scanlon Jr.
Gloucester Carolyn A. Kirk
Haverhill James J. Fiorentini
Lawrence William Lantigna
Lynn Judith F. Kennedy
Methuen William M. Manzi
Newburyport Donna D. Holaday
Peabody Michael J. Bonfanti
Salem Kimberley Driscoll

North Shore Chamber Breakfast

This morning I attended the monthly breakfast meeting of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce at the Marriott Hotel in Peabody. Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll who was elected yesterday to a second four-year term provided an update on the new MBTA garage and waiting area that will also service the new courthouse currently being constructed in Salem That project is on a short deadline and must be designed accepted and build by year end 2011. The primary speaker to the usual full house of attendees was Judge Robert Cornetta who is the presiding justice in the Salem Court system. He provided an update on the new Superior Court project currently underway in Salem that is “on schedule and under budget”. He indicated that the project will have a substantial impact on the economic future of Salem and is expected to be complete and ready for use in mid 2011. The judge who in a former life served as the Town Manager of Saugus also provided an update on the court system in general. He indicated that recent State budget cuts have had a substantial negative effect on the system, and future cuts will even deepen to a greater degree the difficulties of the state court systems. He indicated that progress is being made to automate civil court procedures in the system, but that the criminal process is becoming more and more difficult to administer. A change in the way sentencing is handled is a must if the system is to continue to operate efficiently in the future.

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

Apology for a Poorly Presented Posting

Monday, November 2, 2009

Today, we had way too much on our plate at Essex Heritage. We had one meeting after to other today, and I did not have enough time to properly develop and edit a posting for the Essex Happenings BLOG. I rushed through a posting and then “botched” an attempt to post an apology. In the future, if I can not devote enough time to properly develop and edit a posting I will delay the posting until the next day. Sorry for rushing through a posting and producing a less than acceptable product. I will not let that happen again.

Tom Leonard, President Emeritus
Essex National heritage Commission

I must apologize for a posting todat that happened before I could edit the posting. I went out to quickly and I ask you to ignore the previous posting and look at this edition of Eseex Happenings. Thank you.

Heritage Hero Event to Head North
The annual Essex Heritage Hero event is still over a half a year away, but plans for the 2010 event have already begun, and we are confidant that the 2010 will be bigger and better than the previous two events. The first two events held in 2008 and 2009 were special events and the two gentlemen who were honored were wonderful choices. Jim McAlister, the regional historian and ultimate storyteller and Thomas P. Costin Jr. Jr, the consummate collaborative organizer were incredibly worthy recipients and the evenings to honor them were both critical successes for the award winners, the organizers and the attendees.

The 2010 event now tentatively scheduled for late May or early June will be held in new meeting facility under construction in Salisbury. We are not prepared at this time to announce the 2010 Heritage Hero award winners, but we say that the event will honor recipients from the three-community area of Amesbury Newburyport, and Salisbury. We think that this is most appropriate; as since the time that Essex Heritage was first conceived these three communities located in the far northeastern corner of the region have been unified in their support of this initiative. In recent months these three communities have demonstrated a willingness to work together for the betterment of the three communities and the entire region. Health and recreational programs have been considered and implemented that make this region one to be admired. We can certainly state that our recipients are wonderful representatives of this part of the Essex Heritage region. Stay tuned for more information on this evening that will be a wonderful experience like the other events have been in the past,

North Shore Community College Ground Breaking

Late last week the North Shore Community College executives along with a group of Commonwealth officials broke ground for a “ground breaking technological facility” on the Danvers campus. Over the next year and a half construction will continue so that as classes open in September of 2011 the building will be ready for student use. This new facility will be a wonderful addition to the Danvers campus as the building will be developed so that when complete it will be one of the first sites built on an educational facility in the Commonwealth that will be environmentally friendly. The new building will be three floors high, and will contain almost 60,000 sq ft of space that will be able to accommodate five general academic instruction and general student spaces. Over the next several decades thousands of North Shore students will receive instruction in health care related programs at this wonderful new addition. When completed this facility will be a most important resource for the entire region and will be particularly important to the numerous hospitals and other medical facilities.

Essex Heritage Annual Fund Mailing

Over the last couple of days, Essex Heritage has mailed an Annual Fund appeal to hundred of friends of the Commission seeking continuing support. This initiative is a very important activity as without the support of the residents and other interests in the communities that we serve it is difficult for Essex Heritage to continue the many programs that it offers across the region. We certainly hope that you will look for the mailing piece that outlines the successes of Essex Heritage and seeks support. Your continued support of the mission is essential, and we thank everyone in advance for your consideration of this request.

Upcoming Events this Week

On Wednesday of this week, I will be attending two regional events sponsored by two of our strongest supporters. In the morning at the Marriott Hotel in Peabody, the North Shore Chamber will hold its regular monthly breakfast meeting. The subject of that meeting will be the new Salem Court House facility and how it will affect this region. In the evening of the same day, the Salem Partnership that helped to form Essex Heritage will be holding a new member event at the Peabody Essex Museum. I will be attending both of these events and will make a presentation at the Salem Partnership event. Later in the week, I will provide some additional details about the substance of those two meetings.

Essex Heritage Continues to Consider Changes to the 2010 Trails and Sails Events

Trails and Sails the signature event for Essex Heritage has been completed now for almost a month, and the leadership team for ENHC continues to review what went right in 2009, and how the program can be improved in 2010. Printing brochures and reservations for more and more of the vents are two of the areas where it is believed that improvements in the operation can be made. This past year nearly 4000 residents of the region took advantage of the series of free events and plans are already underway for the 2010 edition of Trails and Sails. We will certainly keep you posted as we consider how to make this premier regional event even more entertaining and informative in the future.

Northeast Harvest Program

In conjunction with the Essex Agricultural Society, Essex Heritage continues to help the local agricultural industry in this region by helping to produce a monthly newsletter. The most recent edition of the newsletter focused on turkeys that seem appropriate in this month of Thanksgiving. Next months edition of the newsletter will feature information on the many Christmas Tree Farms in the region. If you are not already signed up to receive the newsletter contact www.essexheritage.org to sign up. The monthly articles are most informative and instructional and thee is certainly material in the letter for nearly everyone in the region.
One Last Reminder to Vote

Tomorrow is Election Day in many communities in the Essex Heritage region.

If you have a chance to vote in your community don't forget to get to the pooling place and cast your vote.

Heritage Hero Event to Head North

The annual Essex Heritage Hero event is still over a half a year away, but plans for the 2010 event have already begun, and we are confidant that the 2010 will be bigger and better than the previous two events. The first two events held in 2008 and 2009 were special events and the two gentlemen who were honored were wonderful choices. Jim McAlister, the regional historian and ultimate storyteller and Thomas P. Costin Jr. Jr, the consummate collaborative organizer were incredibly worthy recipients and the evenings to honor them were both critical successes for the award winners, the organizers and the attendees.

The 2010 event now tentatively scheduled for late May or early June will be held in new meeting facility under construction in Salisbury. We are not prepared at this time to announce the 2010 Heritage Hero award winners, but we say that the event will honor recipients from the three-community area of Amesbury Newburyport, and Salisbury. We think that this is most appropriate; as since the time that Essex Heritage was first conceived these three communities located in the far northeastern corner of the region have been unified in their support of this initiative. In recent months these three communities have demonstrated a willingness to work together for the betterment of the three communities and the entire region. Health and recreational programs have been considered and implemented that make this region one to be admired. We can certainly state that our recipients are wonderful representatives of this part of the Essex Heritage region. Stay tuned for more information on this evening that will be a wonderful experience like the other events have been in the past,

North Shore Community College Ground Breaking

Late last week the North Shore Community College executives along with a group of Commonwealth officials broke ground for a “ground breaking technological facility” on the Danvers campus. Over the next year and a half construction will continue so that as classes open in September of 2011 the building will be ready for student use. This new facility will be a wonderful addition to the Danvers campus as the building will be developed so that when complete it will be one of the first sites built on an educational facility in the Commonwealth that will be environmentally friendly. The new building will be three floors high, and will contain almost 60,000 sq ft of space that will be able to accommodate five general academic instruction and general student spaces. Over the next several decades thousands of North Shore students will receive instruction in health care related programs at this wonderful new addition. When completed this facility will be a most important resource for the entire region and will be particularly important to the numerous hospitals and other medical facilities.

Essex Heritage Annual Fund Mailing

Over the last couple of days, Essex Heritage has mailed an Annual Fund appeal to hundred of friends of the Commission seeking continuing support. This initiative is a very important activity as without the support of the residents and other interests in the communities that we serve it is difficult for Essex Heritage to continue the many programs that it offers accross the region. We certainly hope that you will look for the mailing piece that outlines the successes of Essex Heritage and seeks support. Your continued support of the mission is essential, and we thank everyone in advance for your consideration of this request.

Upcomming Events this Week

On Wednesday of this week, I will be attending two regional events sponsored by two of our strongest supporters. In the morning at the Marriott Hotel in Peabody, the North Shore Chamber will hold its regular monthly breakfast meeting. The subject of that meeting will be the new Salem Court House facility and how it will affect this region. In the evening of the same day, the Salem Partnership that heped to form Essex Heritage will be holding a new member event at the Peabody Essex Museum. I will be attending both of thos events and will make a presentation at the Salem Partnership event. Later in the week, I will provide some aditional details about the substance of those two meetings.

Essex Heritage Continues to Consider Changes to the 2010 Trails and Sails Events

Trails and Sails the signature event for Essex Heritage has been completed now for almost a month, and the leadership team for ENHC continues to review what went right in 2009, and how the program can be improved in 2010. Printing brocures and reservations for more and more of the vents are two of the areas where it is believed that improvemnets in the operation can be made. Thgis past year nearly 4000 residnets of the region tollk advantage of the series of free events and plans are already underway for the 2010 edition of Trails and Sails. We will certainly keep you posted as we consider how to make this premier regional event even more entertaining and informative in the future.

Northeast Harvest Program

In conjuction with the Essex Agricultural Society, Essex Heritage continues to help the local agricultural industry in this region by helping to produce a monthly newletter. The most recent edition of the newsletter focused on turkeys, that seems approriate in this month of Thanksgiving. Nect months edition of the newletter will feature information on the many Christmas Tree Farms in the region. If you are not already signed up to receive the newletter contact www.essexheritage.org to sign up. The monthly articles are most informative and instructional and thee is certainly material in the letter for nearly everyone in the region.

One Last Reminder to Vote

Tommorow is Election day in many communites in the Essex Heritage region. If you have a chance to vote in your community don't forget to get to the pooling place and cast your vote.