ESSEX HAPPENINGS, AUGUST 6, 2010
Friendship Sails to Gloucester
I want to take a moment to point out that tickets are for sale now for the inaugural public sail of the National Park Service ship Friendship. On Saturday, September 4, 2010, Friendship will leave her home berth at the Salem Maritime Historic Site and head out on a five-hour sail to the Coast Guard base in Gloucester. On the way to the historic port of Gloucester the passengers on this first ever-public sail will participate in maritime exercises on board and will be have the benefit of interpretive commentary along the way. Food and refreshments will be served just before docking in Gloucester and a wonderful overall trip is planned. To be a part of this once in a lifetime experience, tickets can be purchased through Essex Heritage who is acting as an agent for the National Park Service.
Tickets are priced most moderately at $250 and $185 (members price) for this extraordinary experience and the discount is applied if you are member of a local Rotary club or a member of the Essex Heritage Membership Program. In this case it will really pay to become a member of the Essex Heritage membership program right away as the cost of an individual annual membership is $40.00 and by signing up one would immediately qualify for the discount on the Friendship trip.
On Sunday, September 5, 2010 a second sail from Gloucester into the famous outer harbor to watch the annual schooner races will also be held. Tickets for both of these sails are available by contacting Essex Heritage at www.essexheritage.org or by calling Mary Williamson at 978 740 0444. Space is limited for both sails and it is certainly not too early to reserve your spot for this unique experience.
Salem Maritime Festival
Speaking of the Friendship calls to mind an event that I may be a little late reporting on in this format. Today and on Saturday, August 8, 2010 the Salem Maritime Festival will be held in Salem on the waterfront at the National Park Service site. Tours of the Friendship will be available and two other ships will be at the site and will be available for tours and some opportunity for a sail on the Thomas E, Lannon and Fame will be available. There will be entertainment, house drawn carriage rides and games and activities for children. At this event participation in the new National Park Service Junior ranger Program will also be available, This weekend’s activities in Salem kicks off the annual Heritage Days celebrations that are such an important part of Salem’s summer.
Salem Heritage Days and Beverly Homecoming
In the note just above, I briefly noted Salem’s Heritage Days by reporting on the initial event of that ten-day festival. During the period in early August over forty events have been scheduled including concerts, kite flying, a car show, a triathlon, road races, a bike race and the famous ice cream scooper bowl on the common. For a complete listing of all of the Heritage Day events and for more detailed information go to www.salem.org. These events tied to together under the Heritage Days theme and banner have been offered in Salem for almost a half-century and is certainly one of the premier community summer celebration events in the region. The event has been a success for almost as long as can remember and was a staple celebration for almost the entire time that I was employed at Salem Five.
In addition to the events in Salem, Beverly Homecoming that is as important event to that community as Heritage Days are to Salem will wrap up this weekend. I am sorry that I did not get a chance to add this information earlier but there are still some important events to be offered this weekend in that community. The events in the Garden City are winding up, but there are still concerts and tennis tournaments to finish up and a spectacular fireworks display on the waterfront tomorrow evening.
Congressman Tierney to Speak at Danvers Senior Center
It is never to early to make plans to attend an important presentation in Danvers relative to senior services. On August 17, 2010 in conjunction with the Senior Center and North Shore Elder Services Group, Congressman John Tierney will appear at the Danvers Senior Center on Stone Street in Danvers to both listen to concerns of seniors and to provide information on issues of interest to seniors. I have had a long time relationship with the senior center and have recently been exposed to the wonderful programs of the North Shore Elder Services Group and I applaud these two organizations for their effort to put this program together for the seniors in this region. The Congressman has long been an advocate for senior services in this region, and this will be a wonderful opportunity for local seniors to engage in a one-on-one conversation with the Congressman on issues of importance to seniors in this region. Unfortunately I will be able to attend the session, but I am certain that it will be well attended and many of my Danvers Council on Aging Board member friends will be in attendance.
In my other role as President Emeritus of Essex Heritage, we have consistently seen that the Congressman has exhibited a real concern for the issues of this region, and it has been a pleasure to work with him these last several years Our experiences over the years that we have worked with the Congressman and his staff here in the region and in Washington is that he particularly cares for the issues that effect the health and well being of his constituents and is always ready to address difficult issues. I encourage all seniors in the region who want to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to air any concerns to the Congressman to plan on being at the Danvers Senior Center on August 17, 2010 from 1:30 to 3:00 that afternoon.
Cape Cod Baseball League Winding Down
As those of you who have read this BLOG know, I am a big fan of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The competition all summer is great and the players are playing for a professional contract, and the level of play is energetic and the players are most aggressive. The team that I follow, the Yarmouth/Dennis Red Sox, have finished first in the eastern division of the league and will open the playoffs tonight at home against Harwich. I am sorry that the season is coming to an end, but as in other years, I enjoyed the play in 2010, and will continue to track this year’s group of players to follow their progress towards advancement to the professional major leagues of baseball.
As always we value your comments, questions and observations about the work of Essex Heritage. Please contact me with your thoughts or any questions you may have at www.essexheritage.org. We are always striving to make Essex Heritage work as effectively as possible and your input and suggestions are always welcome. We can always provide more information and better communication, and one of the goals of these postings on Essex happenings is to provide that opportunity. Thank You. Tom Leonard
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