Essex Heritage
Events
Essex Heritage Annual Meeting in Haverhill
Some items
that follow were taken from an Essex Heritage press release:
April 11,
2013 (Salem, MA) – The Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage)
welcomed over 150 community and business leaders from around Essex County to
its Annual Spring Meeting held at Winnekenni Castle in Haverhill earlier this
spring. The business portion of the session focused on the success of regional
partnerships, the need for ongoing preservation and sustainability and ongoing
efforts to promote the region through collaborative events. Members elected new
members to the Commission and announced the recipients of the 2013 Partnership
Grant Awards.
Attendees
were welcomed by Mayor of Haverhill James Fiorentini who thanked attendees for
joining Essex Heritage at the Annual Meeting and remarked upon his efforts to
promote parks, trails and sustain historic resources. Thomas J. Sullivan, Esq.,
Vice President of Development, Winnekenni Foundation and City Councilor of
Haverhill and also a newly appointed Commissioner of Essex Heritage gave a
brief history of Winnekenni Castle and welcomed Essex Heritage members and
friends to the Castle. Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives also welcomed the group
to Haverhill and spoke on the importance of tourism to the regional economy
mentioning the “gems right here in the City of Haverhill” as examples of
regional assets.
Essex
Heritage is supported by a 150 member Board of Commissioners who live and/or work
within the area and who serve as representatives of the communities,
businesses, community organizations, educational institutions and historic,
cultural and natural resources of the region. The following eight new
individuals were nominated to be added to the Commission and will serve as
Commissioners for a three-year term:
• Thomas Alexander, Alexander &
Femino, Beverly
• Tim Coco, Coco & Co., Haverhill
• Lawrence Morse, Lawrence B. Morse
& Associates, Danvers
•
Beth Anne Bower, Salem State University, Salem
•
Thomas J. Sullivan, Attorney at Law, Haverhill
•
Timothy Felter, Newburyport Five Cent Savings Bank, Newburyport
•
Michael Spanos, Business Systems Consultants, Beverly
•
Kristin Zampell Noon, Wenham Museum, Wenham
Essex
Heritage President Richard Yagjian of Hunts Photo and Video presided over the
meeting and provided a report on Commission activities from his
perspective. The Audit Report for the
previous fiscal year was also offered
for approval by Treasurer John Meserve the CEO of Merrimack Savings
Bank.
Ms. Annie
Harris the Chief Executive Officer of Essex Heritage provided a State of the Union
Address to the meeting.
An
introduction by CEO Harris of Ms. Joanne Patton as the honoree for the annual
Heritage Hero Award for 2013 to the Commissioners and other guests at the
annual meeting was a highlight of the event.
Ms. Patton and her entire family will be recognized this fall at
Willowdale for their commitment to the military support of this country and her
personal interest in the improvements and the preservation to many aspects of
the valuable assets of this region.
Ms. Harris
concluded the morning’s business thanking Winnekenni Castle Foundation for
their hospitality and encouraging attendees to join the Essex Heritage
membership program.
2013 Essex Heritage Partnership Grant
Program Recipients
At the
Annual Essex Heritage Meeting Director of Heritage Development William Steelman
announced grants to the following recipients of the 2013 Partnership Grant
awards. Over the next year ten nonprofit organizations will be working to
implement a diverse range of educational, interpretive, and preservation
projects.
The Essex
Heritage’s Partnership Grant Program is a matching grant program created to
foster and support the stewardship activities of municipalities and
organizations that share its mission to preserve and promote the historic,
cultural and natural resources of the Essex National Heritage Area. Impacting many in the region, the 12-year old
program has provided more than $1.5 million in grants to its network of visitor
centers. Essex Heritage has awarded more
than $1.8 million in support of the region’s nationally significant heritage.
The award winners are as follows:
·
Andover Historical Society: Weaving
together the threads of fashion, industry, clothing construction and local
history, “Behind the Seams Exhibition: Stories of Clothing, 1790-1920” will
draw from the historical society's 3,400-piece costume collection to present
stories about social customs, economics, and style preferences in Andover and
beyond. www.andoverhistorical.org
·
Danvers Alarm List Company: The nonprofit
steward of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead will create a new permanent exhibit
featuring some of the 5,000 artifacts unearthed on the grounds by archaeology
field school participants. The artifacts, such stone points, glassware,
buttons, buckles, medicine bottles, nails, ceramics and smoking pipes, will
help visitors learn about the everyday lives of those who inhabited the area
from the pre-historic Native American era through the early 20th century. www.rebeccanurse.org
·
Essex Historical Society &
Shipbuilding Museum: In a novel strategic initiative to expand public access to
an understanding of its core interpretive programming, the shipbuilding museum
will feature free seasonal exhibits “re-presenting” four key, long term
programs and one-day events focused on the Essex’s history (boats, gravestones,
canines at sea) and coastal ecology (river and marsh). www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org
·
Rocks Village Memorial Association in Haverhill:
With the goal of sustaining the 1840 Rocks Village Hand Tub House (fire
station) as an educational resource and community activity center, the
association will engage a qualified contractor to restore the roof of the
city-owned historic building. The hand tub house is located on the banks of the
Merrimack River in the Rocks Village section of Haverhill’s East Parish.
·
Ipswich River Watershed Association: With
the goal of introducing audiences to recreational paddling as well as the
watershed’s remarkable natural and cultural resources, the association will
produce an updated map and guide to the Ipswich River. The river, a source of
drinking water for 330,000 residents and businesses, is widely recognized as
one of the premier canoeing and kayaking destinations in the state and is one
of the most utilized recreational resources in Essex County. www.ipswichriver.org
·
Friends of Lawrence Heritage State Park: Recognized
as the work of an important American folk artist, Ralph Fasanella’s paintings
of the 1912 Bread & Roses Strike are among the most famous images of
American labor history, and helped to put Lawrence and the strike on the world
map. Presented at the Lawrence Heritage
State Park visitor center, the exhibition of Fasanella’s artworks and related
activities will introduce a newer, predominantly Latino audience to the
widespread impact of his vision. www.lawrenceheritage.org
·
Lawrence History Center: The story of
Lawrence is one of immigration and few historical collections document the
story of new immigrants better than that of Alice O'Connor (1887-1968). A
single woman born and raised in Lawrence, Miss O’Conner dedicated her life to
improving the lives of working families in the city and beyond. The archival
processing project involves digitizing Miss O’Connor’s diaries, photographs and
professional work into a searchable database that can be accessed by
researchers, students and teachers of all ages. www.lawrencehistorycenter.org
·
Nahant Preservation Trust: A source of
regional pride, the town-owned Nahant Lifesaving Station was built in 1900 and
is one of a few surviving buildings designed to house ocean rescue crews. The
project entails the creation of an interpretive plan for exterior wayside
signage and an interior exhibition that will help educate the thousands of
beach goers and event attendees about the station and community’s unique role
in the regions maritime history. www.nahantpreservationtrust.org
·
Thacher Island Association in Rockport: Drawing
upon its experience with the twin lighthouses on Thacher Island, the
association will undertake the early stage stabilization of the historically
significant Straitsmouth Island Light located off the coast of Rockport. Built in 1898 and owned by the Town of
Rockport, the lighthouse has been a watch list of endangered lighthouses since
1990. The project entails major structural steel and brickwork. www.thacherisland.org
·
Essex County Greenbelt Association: Due in part
to the stewardship efforts of Essex County Greenbelt, ospreys have expanded
their presence in Essex County and become a dramatic expression of the regions
natural heritage. The grant will help Greenbelt expanded its interpretative
program through the fabrication and installation informational kiosks at three
osprey viewing sites where the public can learn about the bird's history, habitat
and behaviors. www.ecga.org
Medical, Seniors
and Disability Matters
Executive Summary Provided by Lahey Health
Beverly
Hospital in Beverly, Massachusetts and Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester,
Massachusetts are two of the North Shores leading health care facilities and
are dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of those living in North Shore
and Cape Ann communities. The hospitals are part of Lahey Health System, Inc.
(LHS), a vertically and horizontally integrated network of hospitals, long-term
care facilities, assisted living facilities, health and social service
agencies, and community-based primary care and specialty care. LHS is recognized for the care and services
it provides to residents throughout the North Shore and Cape Ann area and is
committed to ensuring that a full continuum of high-quality, coordinated health
and human services available to those who live in its primary and secondary
service areas. The hospitals in close
partnership with its affiliates, other health-related service organizations,
and the community at large strive to develop programs and services that address
community need and improve the areas overall health status.
To support
this commitment, LHS hired John Snow, Inc. (JSI), a nationally recognized
public health consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive community health needs
assessment for the communities on the North Shore / Cape Ann and particularly
those that are part of Addison Gilbert and Beverly Hospitals primary service
area. The overall goals of the assessment were to identify the major health
care needs, service gaps, barriers to access, and health priorities for those
living in the region. As part of the
assessment, JSI compiled quantitative and qualitative information from a broad
array of sources which will be discussed in more detail below. By informing and
motivating the communities involved in the assessment, LHS is eager to build
collaborative relationships, leverage existing community resources and
encourage community dialogue.
Ultimately, the purpose of the assessment was to facilitate the
development of short and long-term strategic plans to guide the health
investments for the North Shore and Cape Ann communities.
North Shore Elder Services
NSES provides
a radio show on Radio Show on North Shore 104.9 FM. The most recent interviews
with Dana Hersey on The Retirement Radio Show are now available on Dropbox.
Topics
include:
• Over the Rainbow Coalition
• Safety Modifications
• Needy Meds
• Carroll Center for the Blind
• Volunteers
• Nutrition Program
Dozens of Blast Victims Lose Limbs through
Amputation
We have
heard of a number of amputations that have taken place since the Patriot’s Day
bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon, a heinous act of senseless violence. Amid this tragic event, there is one positive aspect comes to my
mind. Because of the numerous funds that
have been established to help the victims, it seems likely to me that this will
allow them to receive state of the art prosthetic limbs. There have been substantial gains in the
development of artificial limbs due in part to progress in this field because
of the US participation in recent war actions.
With the potential of substantial additional assets to assist the
victims, the people that have been impacted by the recent bombing should be
able to receive the most current and effective artificial limbs without concern
for the costs of such implements.
The healing
service offered recently at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross was most moving and
the presentations made most of us proud to be both an American and a
Bostonian. I found the presentations
most personal and they were particularly personal to me who has previously lost
a limb and have found a way to continue to find a way to ‘Finish the Race”.
Regional Matters
The Salem
Partnership recently held an Annual Meeting at Salem State University. I was unable to attend the meeting and was
most pleased to recently receive a message about the meeting. The Partnership is an excellent example of
how a local organization made up of the leadership of the business community in
Salem and the Municipal Government can work together to achieve common
goals. I am unhappy that I was not able
to attend the meeting and as a former President continue to follow the work of
the Partnership and wish the Partnership well. Here is a report on the 26th Annual Meeting
of the Salem Partnership:
A huge thank you to all who attended the
26th annual meeting of The Salem Partnership. 75 members and guests enjoyed
seeing the beautiful new Marsh hall on Central Campus at Salem State
University. Many commented on the excellent presentation by historian, Jim
McAllister. Jim provided insight into economic development in Salem during the
20th Century. For some, this was all new, for others, a trip down memory lane.
As reported by President Meservey and me, all goes well with the Partnership,
thanks to you, our loyal members.
Early Reports on Wind Turbines Performance
in Gloucester Positive
The two
large wind turbines erected by the City of Gloucester in Blackburn Industrial
Park have shown much early success in a report offered by Mayor Kirk in a
presentation before municipal residents.
The report presented indicated that the results for the first quarter of
2013 and projections for the first year appear to be on schedule and the city
feels most comfortable that the early projections expect to be attained and are
most positive. There are still
doubters of every such wind turbine projects where ever they are erected. Residents are concerned with the size of the
turbines, the noise and shadows created by the fast moving paddles, but the
concept of providing a renewable, clean resource seems to be a good one
wherever they are erected. The elected
officials and the community leadership in the City of Gloucester should be
commended for their efforts to be forward thinking. I expect that there are other communities in
this region that are following the Gloucester project carefully to before
decisions are made about other similar community project.
Two Incumbent Selection were re-elected in
Andover
Paul Salafia
and Alex Vispoli were elected to the position of Selectmen in the Town of
Andover. There was one other candidate for the position, but they finished in
third place. Essex Heritage is pleased
to work with the Town of Andover, the Historical Society and other
organizations in that community interested in the preservation of historical,
cultural and natural resources in this region.
As you can see in the report on the recent awards, a grant has been made
this year in Andover to the Historical Society. Just recently we were pleased that one of
the premier meeting locations in that town, The Andover Country Club, became a
member of our Corporate Membership Program.
If anyone is seeking a location to hold a business meeting in the
northern part of this county, contact the Andover Country Club to learn if they
can fulfill your needs.
Plum Island Residents Seeking Help
A coalition
of homeowners in the Plum Island area that has seen many properties severely
damaged by a long succession of storms has banded together to seek governmental
help. A representative group of
homeowners recently gathered to make a presentation to both Federal and State
resources seeking both short and long-term programs to assist their efforts to
save both their homes and the beach in that community
DEEP to provide Teacher Awards in Danvers
The Danvers
Educational Enrichment Partnership (DEEP) recently presented its annual 2013
grant awards to Danvers Teachers in the school system at a School Committee
meeting at the Community’s Town Hall to support special projects. The mission of DEEP is to enrich Danvers Public
Schools’ educational process through a unique partnership comprised of schools,
community volunteers and businesses. One
can directly enhance the Danvers school system’s curriculum by sharing your
time and expertise on our executive committee or by supporting their work by
becoming a member.
Northern Essex Community College Opens Camp
Signup Period.
Since we
recently provided some detailed information about the North Shore Community
College and a unique program they have created, it seems appropriate to provide
information about an initiative of the Northern Essex Community College. That school is currently seeking applications
for a summer program offered on the Haverhill campus. The program is named STEM Camp. In addition to the usual fun and games of
summer camp programs, the program offers an added emphasis on Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math. The
name STEM camp comes from the first letter of each of the identified
disciplines. For more information or
to sign up for the camp contact Mary Shattuck at 978-659-1237 or visit
www.necc.mass.edu/stem-college-for-kids.
Newburyport Seeks Diversity Candidates
The City of
Newburyport has established a Commission for Diversity and Tolerance and is
seeking nominations for its 18th Annual Peace Award. The Commission usually
honors one man and one woman each year.
Nominations for the award must have been received by the end of last
month. Candidates for the award must be
a Newburyport resident and have contributed to the mission of the organization.
News from Danvers Historical Society
I received
the following listing of events at the Danvers Historical Society in April 2013:
Hello
Members,
Happy
Spring!! It’s so nice to say Spring
isn’t it? There’s some wonderful
programs being offered this month and you are all invited.
Thursday April 18, Society Trustee
Sharon Taskey presents “Americas First Ladies”. A fascinating inside look
at “the hardest unpaid job in the
world”. 7 PM in Tapley Memorial Hall, 13
Page St. Free to members, $5.00 not-yet
members. Bring along a friend to join to
Society. Light refreshments will be
served following the program. Parking on
Page St. or in the Community Lot at the corner of Elm & Page Streets.
Reservations appreciated.
Sunday April 28, Our Tea and History
series continues at the Jeremiah Page House with special guest Capt. John
Putnam. Capt. Putnam will bring us all
the details of last week ….. April 19, 1775.
1 PM and 3 PM seatings.
Confections and teas of the period will be served. $20. p/p members, $25. p/p not-yet members.
Call today, this popular series fills up quickly.
Sunday April 28, The Essex Harmony, our
Artists-In-Residence, presents “Music in Times of War”, The American
Revolution. 3 PM in Tapley Memorial
Hall, 13 Page St. Free admission to all, reservations a must! Light
refreshments following the concert.
Donations gladly accepted to help defray the costs of audio -visual
equipment.
People in the News
Ron Supino Wins Community Council Special
Award
The Danvers
Community Council has named their Citizen of the year and presented a special
award to Ron Supino. I am proud to call
Ron a friend and totally endorse the decision of the Community Council.
Saint John’s Prep Names Basketball Coach
St John’s
Prep has named Mark Dullea of Peabody the Varsity Basketball Coach at the Prep,
where he served as the Assistant Coach and coached the Junior Varsity for the
past five years. He knows the system
installed by his predecessor and the mission of the school. He played college basketball at the
University of New Hampshire and is a teacher in the Peabody School System. All
of those issues made him the perfect candidate for the vacant position.
Personal
Observations
Manchester By-The-Sea becomes the first
Essex County Community to Ban Plastic Bag Usage
The Town of
Manchester-By–The-Sea and the members of that Town Meeting recently followed a
movement that is gaining traction across the State of Massachusetts and has
voted to ban the use of plastic bags in establishments in that community. The residents of the town sees this action as
being most sympathetic to attempts to preserve the environment of the
region. This decision could have a long-
term impact on the community and could be followed by other municipalities in
the region. They also became the second
coastal community to adopt the ban following the Island of Nantucket two
decades ago. The proponents of the ban
noted that bags that find there way to the ocean do great harm to water life. There are a couple of other communities in
the eastern part of the state, Cambridge and Concord that are also considering
the ban.
Message from St John’s Prep about Marathon
Madness
Dear
Trustees Emeriti and Trustee Advisors,
Today we
join you in prayer for those injured and killed in the explosions that took
place in Boston yesterday. We remember their families, friends and the first
responders and volunteers who tended to those in need.
Yesterday, we posted a
note of prayer and solidarity on the Prep Facebook page. Through that post we
learned that a member of our freshman class was injured. When Dr. Crowley
followed up on the post, we learned that David Yepez '16 was injured in the
explosion, and that he will have surgery at Tufts-New England Medical Center
this afternoon. Dr. Crowley has spoken with David's mom twice, and he will
continue to be in contact with her. David's injuries are serious, but non-life
threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery.
As we
journey through the next few days and weeks, please keep David, his family and
friends and everyone else you know that has been impacted by the tragedy on
Marathon Monday in Boston and keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. Let
us also remember our call to always be people of peace and prayer.
Signed: The Leadership of St John’s
Preparatory School
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