Essex Happenings October 4, 2011

Essex Happenings October 4, 2011

TRAILS & SAILS! For 2011 is over

Hopefully you were able to get out on one or both of the last two weekends and enjoyed some of the wonderful event offerings available during the 10th annual TRAILS & SAILS. The weather held up reasonably well and if for some reason you did not get to enough events, save the Essex Heritage brochure and visit the sites that participated all through the year. We are still gathering information on attendance and will report those numbers to you as soon as we collect all of the data from the dozens of participating sites.


Trails & Sails 2011 is generously sponsored by TD Bank and Eastern Bank with additional support from REI and regional sponsors:


It seems appropriate to provide you with pertinent information relative to three of our most important partners, who have new programs that might be on interest to you. The following information may be helpful and provide some valuable assistance to you,

North of Boston CVB Announces NEW Electronic Seafood App!

Got Seafood? There's an app for that!
The Seafood Trail application has arrived! If you own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you can download the NEW Seafood Trail app from the Apple iTunes Store. Use the app to discover great seafood gems throughout the North of Boston region, find free events and activities, and enjoy reading about culinary experiences from the North Shore Dish blog. The Seafood Trail can also be accessed here.

Essex County Greenbelt Working to Close the Gap in Campaign to Save the Lower Green

Essex County Greenbelt, working in conjunction with local historic preservation advocates, is close to the finish line in a campaign to purchase and permanently protect a parcel of land abutting Newbury's historic Lower Green on High Road (Route 1A) in Newbury. This parcel is under imminent threat of development. In 2010, the Green and its surrounding pastoral landscape were listed as one of the state's 10 most threatened historic sites by Preservation Massachusetts.

Campaign Status

The Campaign is in its final weeks. The 18-month option agreement held by Greenbelt expires in late September, 2011. As of September 8, 2011 the campaign had raised nearly $445,000 toward the $500,000 goal. If successful in raising the funds to purchase the property, the land will be owned by Essex County Greenbelt, a regional land trust, which will open the property to the public, and manage it for its scenic and historic values. Read more about why conserving Newman Farm Meadow is so important...

The Salem Partnership, a classic public/private organization that helped to create and then supported the mission of Essex Heritage in its formative years has a number of active initiatives that it manages to help improve the economy of the host city and the region in general. One of the most important of those is the Creative Economy initiative that it has been fostered to support that community and this region. The recent announcement by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that they will provide much needed ongoing support to that effort, the recent press release that follows outlines that announcement.


Mass Secretary of Economic Development Greg Bialceki NAMES NEW Creative Economy Industry Director

Experienced leader charged with creating jobs, growing $1 billion industry BOSTON - Thursday, September 22, 2011 - Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki today appointed Helena Fruscio, an experienced creative economy leader in Berkshire County, to the position of Creative Economy Industry Director for the Commonwealth. Fruscio will help advance the state's $1 billion creative economy industry, which currently employs over 100,000 Massachusetts workers, according to a New England Foundation for the Arts study.
"The creative economy is an economic engine for the Commonwealth and Helena has the necessary vision and experience to ensure this vital industry continues to grow and create jobs," said Secretary Bialecki. "We are fortunate to have her expertise and look forward to the progress she will make."

Downtown Peabody Traffic and Beautification Plan Well Received.

The consultants who have been retained to complete a new traffic plan complete with pedestrian safety measures have presented a “final” plan on their effort. The presentation was first provided to a group of interested residents and provided additional updates after their initial meeting last month. The plan will focus on the reduction of traffic lanes running through the Peabody Square area from four to two and will provide turning lanes that will benefit the merchants in this part of the region. There will also be improvements provided that will more clearly provide pedestrians with more opportunities to cross Main Street safely. The plans call for additional extensive landscaping and lighting improvements. At the same time that this traffic corridor plan is progressing, on a separate but complimentary track an additional plan is being prepared that will address the long-time flooding problems that have impacted that area for years. The two planning teams on the projects will work together to insure that the two programs are complimentary when construction issues that could case traffic concerns as the two plans progress in the future. These plans are long overdue and those who travel around the North Shore and at times move through the Peabody Square, Main Street area in Peabody are looking forward to an easier more attractive travel experience.



For all of the seniors that read this offering, I thought that I would reprint two items of interest that appeared in the Danvers Council on Aging monthly newsletter.
Town of Danvers Open House

On Thursday, October 13th the Town of Danvers will hold a Town Wide Open House from 4pm-7pm. The Danvers Senior Center will be highlighting various classes and activities available at our facility. Our Triad group will be distributing “Emergency Grab and Go Bags” in recognition of the upcoming 5 year anniversary of the Danversport Explosion. Freshly made Cider Donuts and Apple Cider from local Brooksby Farm will be provided. Come by and learn more about what the Danvers Senior Center has to offer you or a family member! We have ample parking at the site, so the Senior Center might be a place to start your tour, as a shuttle to other sites will be available.

Flu Shot Update


According to Peter Mirandi, Director of Public Health for the Town of Danvers, there is plenty of flu vaccine available; however, the State has yet to release the vaccine to Municipalities for the annual DCOA Flu Clinics servicing senior citizens. The council is recommending individuals see their primary care physicians for all of their health care needs, including flu shots. A second option available to you is your local pharmacies that are also authorized to vaccinate for the flu. Seniors with Medicare Part A & B should be able to receive the shot at no cost. Please call your local pharmacy for more information. Remember it is still early in the flu season. Stay tuned for updates as they become available to us on our website and in our next newsletter. Good advice that should be considered.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Golf Event

Earlier this week I was pleased to present some after dinner thoughts at this fundraising event for the hospital. My wife and I spent the evening at a most congenial table, that included Maureen Banks, the President of the Hospital and my old friend and hospital Trustee Stan Lukowski, former CEO of Eastern Bank, I was very pleased to receive several visits from participants after my remarks thanking me and wishing me well in the future. One of the highlights of the evening was an oral auction presided over by Chris Collins a TV sports anchor for New England Cable News who was most entertaining and kept the proceedings light hearted.

Finish with Some Sports Thoughts

It certainly appears that some body had to be “THROWN UNDER THE BUS” when the Red Sox baseball season ended abruptly last week, and Terry Francona became the sacrificial lamb. During his time in charge, he did an above average job considering the many pressures he was under. He will survive nicely in another big league position and will be better off away from the media and fan pressure in this city,

The New England Patriots came away on Sunday with an important win starting the season with three wins in four games with three of those games on the road. The defense is still suspect, and in the long run, might be the weak spot of this team. The noise and hype around here should start soon with the next game against the dreaded New York J-E-T-S. on next Sunday at home.

Sports of all kinds are important to me and late last week the undefeated Girls Field Hockey teams from Danvers and Beverly met in Beverly and the girls from the Garden City came away the win, by a score of 3-1. The loss was made a little easier for us as our granddaughter Kate Leonard scored the only goal for Danvers to avoid the shutout. The next time the two teams meet will be the second last game of the season and could have title ramifications