Essex Heritage October 2010 Awards and Halloween

ESSEX HAPPENINGS, OCTOBER 29. 2010

Special Awards Offered at Essex Heritage Annual Meeting

Last Tuesday morning, at a very well attended meeting at the recently rehabilitated Carriage House at Lynch Park in Beverly, Essex Heritage conducted its Annual Meeting for 2010. In addition to some opening remarks by both Congressman John Tierney and Beverly Mayor, Bill Scanlon a series of reports were offered that outlined recent success and plans for the future. One of the highlights of this meeting is the presentation of Pioneers in Partnership and Special Recognition awards that are one of the staples of the Essex Heritage October meeting. The Pioneers in Partnership Awards are designed to recognize those in this region who work with others and Essex Heritage to make this region a better place to live and work. The Special Recognition Awards are provided annual to an individual who distinguishes themselves by their actions acting in a regional capacity. In my role as President Emeritus, of Essex Heritage I have been privileged for a number of years to announce these award winners and the following are the citations offered at the meeting.

• Karen Kline, Founder of the American Community Think Tank

Karen Kline of North Andover has been nominated for a Pioneer in Partnership Award for the many initiatives that she has fostered that enhance and highlight the heritage of the Towns of Andover and North Andover. The nominations stated that “Ms. Kline embodies the concept of the phrase co-operation among the various resources and organizations of the area. She is a cheerleader for the culture of the Andover’s and exemplifies the spirit of working together to highlight the incredible cultural and environmental advantages to living in Essex County”. Ms Kline has been responsible for many programs in the region including, the creation of a program to recognize and honor the work of Anne Bradstreet, the seventeenth century poet and America’s first female poet. Karen helped honor the poet by organizing a concert featuring the Essex Chamber Music Players which was supported by the North Andover Historical Society and the Andover Cultural Council. She also successfully advocated for the adoption of a Poet Laureate for the Town of North Andover. In addition, Ms. Kline is a longtime participant in Essex Heritage Trails and Sails Weekends, for which she has organized numerous events in the Merrimack Valley region. We are pleased to present a 2010 Essex Heritage Pioneer in Partnership award to Karen Kline.

Ingrid Barry, of the Danvers Bi-Peds....In the Town of Danvers there have been a number of people who have advocated for the creation of safe bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in that community, but when one asks around the one name that rises to the top of the list is Ingrid Barry. Ingrid is the founder and president of the Danvers Bi-Peds, a nonprofit organization that focuses on making walking and biking safer in the Town of Danvers. Through her vision and leadership the Bi-Peds advocate for better sidewalks, organize bike rack installations and bike helmet give-aways, and participate in public awareness activities such as Essex Heritage’s Trails and Sails Weekends. But first and foremost Ingrid is a vocal proponent for development of the 4.3-mile Danvers Rail Trail that is currently being developed in the town. The trail is part of the 28-mile, eight-town Border to Boston Trail alignment. It was Ingrid who first introduced the Iron Horse Preservation Society and its unique “no cost” business proposal to the Town. The Nevada-based company recently cleared the entire corridor of its iron rails and wooden ties - at no cost to the town - and is now working to complete the trail’s natural surface. In addition to serving as the Bi-Peds president, Ingrid also serves on the Town appointed Danvers Rail Trail Advisory Committee and is playing an important role in the work of that group. We congratulate Ingrid Barry for her advocacy and efforts to make walking and biking safer in the town of Danvers and are pleased to award her a 2010 Essex Heritage Pioneers in Partnership Award

Coastal Trails Coalition.....Founded in 2004 with assistance from Essex Heritage, the National Park Service, and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, the Coastal Trails Coalition has been the driving force behind a successful regional effort to create a 30-mile system of on- and off-road bicycle and walking trails linking the communities of Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport and Salisbury. Marshalling the imagination and energies of municipal officials and hundreds of volunteers, over four miles of rail-trail and seven miles of bike lanes have been completed to date. A notable milestone was reached on May 23 of this year when two spectacular new rail-trails were opened in Salisbury and Newburyport. The grand opening event drew 4,000 people and a host of local, state, and federal officials, including Lt. Governor Timothy Murray and Congressman John Tierney. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony the work of the CTC was recognized with a citation from the Massachusetts legislature. The two new trails are also part of the Border to Boston Trail. These efforts have resulted in the creation of safe and healthy recreational and commuting options for thousands of residents in the northeast region of the Essex National Heritage Area. Today we applaud the many long standing leaders of the Coastal Trails Coalition: Jerry Klima, Bob Straubel and Shelley Sheridan of Salisbury, Tom Horth and Elizabeth Marcus of Newburyport, Tracey Chalifour and Essex Heritage Commissioner Deb Carey of Amesbury, and Dan Streeter and Essex Heritage Commissioner David Hall of Newbury. We’d also like to recognize Essex Heritage’s own Bill Steelman who has helped make this truly effective regional partnership a reality. And lastly, we particularly thank Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington for his support of the CTC, the trail network, and for nominating the group for the award.

Special Recognition Award

• Retiring State representative Mary Grant of Beverly

Mary Grant’s decision not to seek election in 2010 to the Massachusetts House of Representatives will impact more than those in her legislative district of Beverly. Since her election to the House in 2003, Representative Grant has been a staunch advocate for access to better health care, housing for the homeless, workforce development, and improved transportation.Mary has also been a vocal supporter of Essex Heritage, both on Beacon Hill and in the region at-large. She was a key legislative leader for the emerging Essex Heritage Scenic Byway that will positively impact the area for years to come. We are aware that Mary is planning to return to her roots in the health arena and use her training as a nurse to continue to serve this region. We congratulate state representative Mary Grant for her years of service and recognize her with a 2010 Essex Heritage Special Recognition award.

Halloween Weekend Upcoming

For many in this region the holiday that will be celebrated this weekend has become in many cases the second most important celebration on their calendar. We certainly hope that all who enjoy the parties and dressing in costume to assume another role will take great care to be safe and sane throughout the weekend. We urge everyone to take great care as they drive around this weekend, as there likely will be many youngsters out and about, Trick or Treating. It gets dark so early these days that it will be important to stay alert and keep a watchful eye out for revelers of all ages. For many merchants in Salem and other parts of this region, a very successful month of October will come to a close with the end of the month this weekend. We are pleased that so many will benefit from the Halloween season in both Salem and the region, but we are also pleased that on Monday, a new month will begin and Salem may return to a more normal time.

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