WELCOME!
Welcome to the Essex National Heritage Area - 500 square miles of
historic, cultural, and natural sites... unique and irreplaceable treasures
that tell our history.
Join us on a journey through magnificence!
Press Release -
Essex Heritage Launches New Website
May 8, 2013
Essex Heritage has launched the redesign of its website,
www,essexheritage.org to provide visitors, members and partner organizations
with even more relevant and easy-to-find information on the historic, cultural
and natural resources in Essex county.
Visit the revamped web site at www.essexheritage.org. You will have
substantial information at your fingertips about numerous activities of the
Essex National Heritage Commission.
Essex County
Featured on WCVB Chronicle
Twice this past week Iconic Essex County Sites Featured
The first of these two Essex County sites that were noted and
encouraged a visit were sites connected to the United States Coast Guard. Wonderful photographic visits to the main
base of the Coast Guard off Atlantic Avenue in Boston’s North End were
presented. That facility is not available
to usual tours. The one on the Boston base on the news program was revealing as
the operation of the Coast Guard and its mission to protect people from the
ocean and to protect the ocean from people was visually articulated and
outlined many of their everyday functions.
From there, Boston’s Chronicle cameras headed to Essex County and
visited the Coast Guard base in Newburyport, the community where the Coast
Guard service was founded. At last year’s
Essex Heritage’s Trails and Sails, two weekends of walks and water the USCG base
at Newburyport was on the agenda for residents to visit.
The WCVB Chronicle program went on to visit the still operating
Light House at Hospital Point in Beverly.
The show made a point of pointing out that the facility at that location
will be available for tours at the Beverly Homecoming session in the summer and
at the two weekends of the Essex Heritage Trails and Sails Festival in
September.
The second show in that same week followed with a most photogenic
visit to the Trustees of Reservations National Historic Place, the Crane Estate
in Ipswich. We trust that the scenes
showed at that presentation will encourage residents of Essex County and
visitors to the area to put the Crane Estate on their must visit locations
during the Essex Heritage Trails and Sails weekends during the last two weekend
in September. The numerous rooms, the
two hundred acres, the Grand Alley, the plantings and the world famous beach is
very worthy of a visit. To get more
information on these events visit www.essexheritage.org
Become an Essex
Heritage Member. Your Support Matters!
The Essex National Heritage Commission Membership program offers
unique opportunities to explore this Heritage Area. Members are the first to
hear about exciting events, receive discounts to attend these events and
receive the quarterly invitation highlighting them. In turn, supporting Essex
Heritage through our membership program means you embrace and champion our
mission to preserve, promote and enhance the historic, cultural and natural
resources of the Essex National Heritage Area. Our power comes from the power
of our supporters – people like you who commit to protecting our region and our
resources. We can't do it without you! Thank you!
• Learn more about member benefits and what it
means to be a member
• Become a member
Questions? For more information, email or phone Essex Heritage at
978-740-0444.
Thank you to our Corporate Members!
Essex Heritage is grateful for the generous support of our
Corporate Members! Corporate Members enjoy unique visibility opportunities and
privileges. Visit our Business Partnership Opportunities and Corporate Sponsors
page to find out more.
Regional
Events
Salem Ferry
announces Waterfront Dining Program
Boston Harbor Cruises that runs the Salem to Boston ferry trips
has applied for a food and beverage license.
The ferry trips that are expected to begin on May 23rd has applied for
and has been awarded a seasonal license to operate a waterside eatery at the
ferry launch site on Blaney Street in Salem.
The location will serve light food fare and alcohol similar to a facility
operated in Boston by the Cruise Company at their location in that city on Long
Wharf. The City of Salem has approved a
seasonal license that will valid from April 1st through January 15th. It is expected that the new operation will
be available sometime around the 4th of July.
This extra service will most certainly enhance the boating experience
from Salem to Boston and make the trip more enjoyable.
Danvers Group
that Created Swampwalk To Hold Open House
The Swampwalk development team has completed their work and invite
interested residents of Danvers and the region to an OPEN HOUSE scheduled for
Saturday. May 18th at 10:00 AM at the North Entrance in Wenham to the walk from
the Danvers Rail Trail. If you can’t make the open house you can plan a visit
at some time soon.
There will be a ribbon cutting and a few short speeches. Additionally,
'work-crew' food from Supreme's will be served and guided environmental tours
will be offered by Wetland Scientists.
The work has been a labor of love for many and is much appreciated as it
opens a section of Danvers previously not accessible. In short, it will be
festive & fun for the whole family.
Of special note, Bob Osgood, currently residing at the Tapley
School, will be there to check-out 'Osgood Island'. Bob is mobility impaired but is looking
forward to being dropped off at the Rte. 97 parking lot & then being van-transported
down the Rail Trail and then personally-transported onto the Observation
Platform.
Long term Salem
Restaurant to Close
The Salem Restaurant”‘43 Church” has announced its near term
closing in June 2013. The local eatery
owned by the family of old friend and community benefactor George Harrington
that has owned and operated the facility under several names for a number of
years. George has been a wonderful
supporter of many local initiatives, and we certainly wish him well in the
future. The location has some wonderful long-term history as when it was first
rehabilitated and opened by Joan Boudreau, It was the very first building and
business operation opened in the famous Salem Redevelopment activity. The new operation was financed then by the
Salem Five Bank, where I worked at the time, and was the first new operation
started in Salem’s overall successful redevelopment effort. The restaurant has had several successful
runs with various owners and there was for a time a business club on the top
floor of the facility. The location in
the past was made famous as the place where a successful early telephone call
was made by Alexander Graham Bell to an assistant so there is much history that
goes with the location. There is a
persistent rumor that the location may be transferred to a regional entity with
a history in the area. The City of Salem
has long and well deserved reputation as the home of many fine restaurants are we certainly hope
that an arrangement can be made that keeps this location open as a prominent
restaurant in a community with a history in that field
The City of
Peabody Institutes a tree planting Program
The City of Peabody is planting two and one half dozen trees in
the City this spring, in front of resident’s homes. The trees come in numerous species. For more information about this program,
contact Tree Warden Brian Grant at 978 356 7134
Town Meetings
scheduled in the next weeks
Spring is the time for town meetings, and both Ipswich and Danvers
along with others will hold meeting in the next few weeks.
The City of
Newburyport has scheduled a half marathon
The event will produce revenues that will be donated to the One
Fund to help repair the damages done at the recent Boston Marathon Bombings.
Medical,
Senior and Disability Matters
Update on COPAA
Efforts to Assist Boston Marathon Bombing Victims
I want to bring all of you up to date on what COPAA is doing as a
partner of the Amputee Coalition of America. As previously related, Rose
Bissonnette has been asked by the ACA to be the Peer Visitor Facilitator for
Massachusetts to coordinate visits to help the victims of the bombings last Month
who lost limbs. She contacted COPAA quickly after the attack and she asked if
we would be one of those who would help. We immediately contacted our
membership and I have tried to keep you all informed as we go along and as I
hear from Rose.
First of all, we have had an outpouring of offers from many
members. We do so appreciate how many have asked how they can help these latest
victims of limb loss. I know we all feel helpless, but also we each share
something with each of these folks. We want to reach out, to help, to tell our
story and to let them know that there is hope after amputation. Many of us have
gone on after our amputation to return to activities we did before we lost our
limb. Many are as active if not more now. We know how important we feel to let
others know that, and it is going to be helpful as time goes on even more. Right now, of course, though, it's not about
us, but about the victims and their story and the best thing we can do is be
there for them, listen and help them with their first step in their
journey.
That will be the first step that we need to take as we try to help
these folks who have lost limbs so catastrophically and so tragically. Helping
them find their way on their journey will be a delicate and sensitive task, but
I think we have some pretty incredible members of our Association and I know
Rose will have others who will be just as incredible. For most of us, we are
giving these bombing victims more help and better information than any of us
received when we lost our limbs. Be proud of the work we have done in our COPAA
to get to that point! For your
information, COPAA organized by the professionals at Cornell Brothers is a
couple of years old and is now in the process of organizing with a formal
board, By-Laws, contributors and a formal organization. I expect that as in the past, I will
participate in the new formal organization that provides so much for so
many. This update was prepared and
presented by Director “Posie” Mansfield of COPAA.
We want to thank all of you who responded and have submitted and
assure all of you that a list of volunteers has been offered to help this
issue. She will then sort through them, take the information, and notify us
when we will be needed. It won't be right away, as this has been a traumatic
event, which the victims need to deal with before anything else. Their road to
recovery will begin once they get sent to rehabs or when they are settled in
the hospital awaiting other medical issues to heal. That is when they will most need us. We will
wait until the time is right, when some healing has started. For some, the
healing will require a lifetime.
The plan is to pair a current civilian amputee peer with Veteran
amputees from the military who have also volunteered to help. Both will be with
one patient to give two unique perspectives.
So far they are reporting
14 amputations, with more anticipated in the coming days/weeks.
I am incredibly proud to represent this wonderful Association. I
want to thank every one of you who have made an offer to help. I can assure you
we are all being considered based on ACA criteria. The process will also
include a CORI check, of course, and so a lot of paperwork will need to be done
early. If you volunteered you will probably hear from Rose directly, but she
may contact me. I have forwarded all your contact information to her for her
consideration.
Thank you to all who stepped up. To the rest of you, I hope you
all are doing the best you can in your own daily lives. I will keep you all
posted. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Also, you should know that not only am I keeping Keith Cornell up
to date on what I know, but also he is in the loop with many others in his
field. He is also very busy doing his part to help, and he is grateful as well
to all of you who have volunteered.
Our sister group at Whittier may see an increase in their patient
load with Boston Marathon Bombing victims. We send along to them our thoughts
now as they gear up to prepare to take patients at some point along the way. As
you may or may not know, Whittier is an excellent wound care facility as well
as having Keith and his lab there on site. Needless to say, they also are a
fantastic, multi-faceted hospital and rehab. Any patients who go there will
receive the best of complete patient care.
Thank you all again, and I am here for anyone who wishes to talk
or has questions. For those who cannot volunteer to go in, please know that
your thoughts and prayers for the victims and for those of us who are going in
will be greatly appreciated as we find the right words for these difficult
times.
News from North
Shore Elder Services and its subsidiary program, the Longevity Connection
One of the most important committees that I serve on at North
Shore Elder Services headquartered in Peabody is the Longevity Connection. This service is focused on potential clients
that require services offered by North Shore Elder Services that do not qualify
for government assistance. This program
could be very valuable to an ever expanding segment of the region served by
North Shore Elder Services. The goal
of the Longevity Connection is to provide clients of the Longevity Connection
with the best insights and information available, as well as goods and
services-pre approved. Reasonably priced and delivered seamlessly.
Some of the services provided are:
• Longevity Liaisons
• Professional Services
Provided by Affiliates
• Private Care
Management
• The Longevity Store
• The Longevity Library
and Bookstore
For more detailed information about any of the services listed
above call 978 538-8254 to set up an appointment and the conveniently located
and accessible facility at the North Shore Elder Services office or visit the
Longevity Connection web site at www.longevityconnect.org.
The agency is awaiting word if a grant they have applied for from
Tuffs Health Care and their marketing programs will be provided. If successful
electronic and informational Kiosks will be crated and delivered to public places
like libraries and Senior Centers to help spread information about
services. The Longevity Connection is
ready and willing to speak to local groups to provide information. If you wish more details on this program or
wish to make an appointment for a public presentation contact Manager Eileen
Lubas at Eileen@longevityconnect.org.
New Rehabilitation
and Care Center opens
A new and well-appointed 140 bed rehabilitation center called
Hawthorne Hill appears to be one of the final pieces of the development of the
old State Hospital in Danvers. This
facility is on the lower section of the Danvers Hill and is located adjacent to
the Beverly Hospital in Danvers facility.
The first patients in this new facility were moved from the now closed
Cedar Glenn Nursing home on Summer Street in Danvers. Cedar Glen is now closed and certainly some
reuse must be expected. That facility
was built on the site of a popular restaurant and bar called Putnam Lodge that
was a great spot in its day for banquets and other social functions. This
location was a popular spot for Danvers residents and regional events.
Spaulding Hospital Adaptive Sports spring Newsletter is now
available and for those disabled individuals in this region can be accessed for
information Click here to view.
People
in the News
Former Arizona
Congresswoman Honored
Former Arizona Congresswomen Gabriel Gifford who two years ago,
was almost assassinated at a public meeting by a mentally unbalanced gunman was
recently presented a profile in Courage Award by Kennedy Library Trustee and
daughter of slain U S President John F. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, for her
continuing and courageous recovery from the gunshot to her head and the
perpetual fight that she has been waging along with her former astronaut
husband for tougher and stricter gun control measures. She indicated in her remarks that the fight
will continue in the future, and she wished that more people that could
influence the changes has more courage to institute the needed reforms. She also wants to leave the world better than
she found it.
Two Selectmen
named in Swampscott
Former Selectman Mathew Strauss along with John Callahan were
elected to Selectmen seats in Swampscott.
They were elected from a field of four candidates
Anderson Elected
in West Newbury
The Town of West Newbury has a new selectman, Joseph Anderson who
previously served the community as a member of the Town’s Finance Board.
Unscheduled Space
Walk
One of the Astronauts that recently completed an unplanned space
walk to repair a leak in the space station was a Salem native, Chris Cassidy
who is presently living in nearby York, Maine with his wife and three children
is a graduate of both the United States Naval Academy and Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
Two Local Bankers
Honored with Salem Chamber Awards
Two regional bankers from this region that are both friends and
fellow Salem Rotarians were recently honored by the Salem Chamber of Commerce
at their annual event. Michael Wheeler,
President of the Beverly Cooperative Bank was named Businessman of the Year,
and John Hall Senior Vice President at Salem Five Bank received the Community
Service award for 2013. Congratulation
to both of their well-deserved awards.
Personal
Observations
Current Reading
Project
From time to time, I have shared some of my current reading
material with all of you. I have
recently completed of a new book by a favorite author. The book written by
Nathanial Philbrick who previously wrote books about, the Voyage of the Mayflower and a story about General Custer’s Last Stand and In the Heart of the Sea. Having
read all of those presentations and completely enjoyed them, when his present
book about the City of Boston, the siege of that City by the English and the
battle for Bunker Hill that helped drive the English from the City, and started
a national revolution, I jumped at that purchase.
The treatise begins with explanations and the situations that led
up to the Revolutionary War such as a standoff in Salem called Leslie’s Retreat
and the first battles in Concord and Lexington.
The book contains numerous references to Salem, Danvers and other
eastern Massachusetts communities. The
people from those communities who participated in the early hostilities of that
period were developed most effectively as the story continued. The book was most enjoyable and on page
after page, I learned new facts about the event of that time. The book concluded with the evacuation of
Boston by the English prior to a planned attack on Boston by General Washington
and his army on March 17th. It is very evident from the presented facts of the
time, why the celebration of the evacuation of Boston, the departure of the
English for Halifax, Canada along with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day is so
important to Bostonians. As with his
other literary works, I endorse his present offering Bunker Hill, A City, a Siege and a Revolution as a wonderful read,
and is made even better for those of us that live or have lived in this region.
Boston Sports Update
The Boston Bruins closed out its series in a contentious seventh
game with a surprising Toronto team. In
a surprise, to go along with other upsets, Boston arch-rival the Montreal
Canadian’s were eliminated. Now the
Bruins have the dangerous New York Rangers to contend with in the next series
as they move toward the possible winning of the Stanley Cup. So the New York rivalry with Boston with the
Yankees, the Knicks, the Jets and the Giants continues.
