Several
weeks ago, I produced what I thought was the final entry of a several year old
BLOG called Essex Happenings. But I am
now planning to resurrect the presentation although not with the same
frequency, length and primary focus. I
will report, if appropriate, on the work and mission of Essex Heritage even
though I want to make it very clear that I am only a volunteer member of the
various Boards and not a contract employee of any of the following
organizations. I will also offer
observations on the work of other regional organizations where I have either
historic or ongoing relationships. The
local organizations whose work will be profiled will be, but not limited to,
St. John’s Preparatory School, St. Richards Church, North Shore Elder Services,
Danvers Council on Aging, The Danvers Finance Committee, Danvers Historical
Society, the Salem Partnership, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem and
numerous other groups, where from time to time I have a connection like former
employers and occasional City of Salem connections. The reports that will be offered will be as a
board member or as an interested observer and not as a policy maker or
management participant. I intend to
continue to report on interesting and pertinent information on regional
activities. I certainly hope that you
will enjoy my thoughts and observations on matters in this critical part of
Massachusetts.
Current
Regional Events
Essex Heritage Events
My first
item to be commented on is connected to the work of Essex Heritage that plays
such a critical role in the region with its charge to preserve and promote the
historical, cultural and natural resources of the region.
I recently
received a SAVE THE DATE notification from Essex Heritage. On October 16, 2013 at the Willowdale Estates
in Topsfield, where Joanne Holbrooke Patton and the Patton Family will be honored
by the Essex National Heritage Commission and the National Park Service. They will receive the Annual Heritage Hero
Award that has been awarded to other regional leaders and a most enjoyable
evening with many of the leaders of this region. For additional information on the event that
serves as a major fund raising event for
ENHC visit www.EssexHeritage.org.
Featured Partner Event:
Seven
Lectures at The Seven Gables: Seven Lectures at The Seven Gables: Hank Phillipi
Ryan. August 21, 2013 • The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street, Salem,
MA, 01970
How does an
Emmy winning reporter become a best-selling author of fast-paced murder
mysteries? Hank will share how she went from a reporter at Rolling Stone
Magazine to the US Senate and then to under-cover investigations for NBC to
following her dreams.
Essex Heritage Annual Fall Meeting
On September
5, 2013 • at the Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, MA, 01930
The Essex
National Heritage Commission invites you to attend its Annual Fall Meeting from
8-10AM!
National Park Service Festival
Salem
Maritime Festival - August 3, 2013 • Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 193
Derby Street, Salem, MA, 01970. Celebrate
Four Centuries of Salem's Maritime Heritage
Summer Board Meeting of North Shore Elder
Services will be held on August 1st at the New England Home for the deaf in
Danvers. The event will include a tour
of the regional facility, a board meeting and a cookout with the residents of
the facility
FUNDRAISER FOR NSES
SAVE THE
DATE: The Concert that Never Was. A sensational tribute to Sinatra and
Streisand!
Starring Sharon
Owens & Sebastian Anzaldo on Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:00PM at the North Shore Music Theater. To order tickets: www,nsmt.org
Note:
I HAVE PURCHASED TWO TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT AND I HOPE YOU WILL FOLLOW SUIT AND
SUPPORT THIS MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR THE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES SO MUCH
SUPPORT TO THE ELDER CIITIZENS OF THIS REGION.
Note:
More information is being provided on the Commonwealth’s monetary budget and
how it will impact North Shore Elder Services in a report from NSES Executive
Director Paul Lanzikos. It appears that all the line items of interest to us
have been approved in full by the Governor.
Danvers Recreation Concert sponsored by St.
Richard’s Church
Each summer
the Danvers Recreation Department offers a series of concerts. This year for the second year, on August 8th,
the St. Richard’s church will once again sponsor a concert. The volunteers from the church will offer
hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza and baked goods for sale. They will also sell raffle tickets for a 50 inch
HD TV SET offered at a pre-game cook out before the Patriots first game to be
viewed in the church hall. Put the
date on your calendar and support the parish with your attendance.
Danvers historical Society Fundraiser
SAVE THE DATE!!!
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 at 8:30 AM. Shot Gun Start at Black Swan Country Club,
Georgetown. Scramble format, $125 includes golf, cart, contests, lunch and lots
of fun and laughs. All abilities
welcome. Proceeds benefit the
restoration of the National Historic Landmark Derby Summerhouse at Glen Magna
Farms, Danvers. Check back often for updates, more info. to follow or call the
Society office at 978.777.1666. Dust off
the clubs and get ready for a fun day on the links. Location: Black Swan C.C.
Georgetown, MA
Regional News
Town of Danvers Electric Official moves to
new position in another Community
Colleen
O’Brien, the Utility Director of the Town of Danvers Electric Company, has made
wonderfully thoughtful and complete reports to the Finance Committee of the
Town of Danvers for as long as I have
severed on that Board, Her competence
has been identified by others as well,
and she was offered a position with the Town of Reading with more
responsibility. She has held the job in
Danvers for almost two decades and will be a hard person to replace. The Town
has agreed to conduct a complete search to find a replacement and the position
will likely be filled by the fall. Until
that time an interim director will be appointed to continue the excellent
service regularly provided to Danvers residents.
City of Peabody to Offer Adult Reading
Program to Residents.
The Peabody
Public Library in the ‘leather city’ has created a summer reading program for
persons over the age of 18yr. To enter the program, sign out a book or two and
you will be eligible for a raffle with excellent prizes. The library already offers youth programs
and this program was designed to round out the library program for all persons
in the city.
Town of Danvers Rail Trail to Receive Final
Stone Dust Surface
During the
first two weeks in August, the Danvers Rail Trail will receive its finish coat
of stone dust to complete this community project. Work will begin at the Swamp Walk end of the
project and proceed towards the Peabody connection of the project. While the work is being done, portions of
the trail will be closed to the use by the public. The work that will completed is a major
piece of the Border to Boson Trail that has been a general project of Essex
Heritage that is being completed through the award of a $50,000 grant from the
State Department and Recreation made to the Towns of Danvers and Wenham.
Saltonstall School Schedule Adjusted
Several
years ago, the City of Salem offered a school concept at one elementary school
in Salem with an extended school year.
In an effort to balance things around the entire system the school board
made changes in system and for many that decision was not well received. Two of
the School Board that voted to change the well operated program will have to
stand for election in the next election and the voters could take their vote
personally.
Warwick Theatre Complex to open in
Marblehead
It was nice
to see that the theatre and entertainment center in Marblehead will feature a
Palmer’s Restaurant. We have been
fortunate to dine at their Andover location on a couple of occasions, and
southern Essex County will be pleased to have such a fine establishment at this
end of Essex County.
Personal
Observations
New England Patriots Need Player Evaluation
Changes
The New
England Patriots have a great deal of soul searching to consider in light of
the Hernandez and Dennard situations that have received substantial negative
comments from the very public relations conscious sports team. Their evaluations of athletes to draft and sign
needs to be evaluated and their need to win at any cost needs to be
reconsidered. Having morally good
people seems to be less important right now.
Winning the AFC East title at any cost seems more important.
Famous Pakistani youth considered for award
A Nobel
Peace Prize Award for sixteen year old Pakistani girl Malala Yousafzai is being
considered. The young girl that was
shot by the Taliban for her outspoken views on education for females has
already has won numerous awards for her courageous stand and she is now up for
the top award. She is most qualified for
the award, and would be a great choice.
Innovative and very safe proposal offered
for hockey
I recently
read of a most innovative and safety concern offered for hockey rinks. The idea that was proposed is most well
thought out and could have a marked impact on the prevention of serious
injuries from crashes into the board that surround rinks and are such an
integral part of the game. The idea that
was outlined was conceived by Tom Smith. I have never met him but feel as if I know him
well from the difficulties he has endured and how well I know his family. Tom came up with a sensational idea to
paint what might be considered a warning track called ‘A head’s up zone to
alert players that they were about to encounter the hard boards that encircle
hockey rinks and are such an important element of the game. This small improvement could be a god’s send
in the curtailment of injuries suffered when players are sent into the boards
as Tom was hurt himself in a couple of instances.
I was most
fortunate, that when I was employed by Salem Five before my retirement from
Salem Five Bank, to be assisted by an administrative assistant by the name of
Dianne Smith. Who now serves as a bank as a Vice President in the Human
Resources Department of the Bank, and is
Tom Smith’s mom. She and the rest of
his family plus his own incredible perseverance were a real part of his
recovery from his hockey injuries Tom
spent time in a wheelchair until he willed himself to become able to get around
without his chair. Tom’s injuries are
not the only ones that could have been avoided by safety improvements. There
have been others like Travis Roy who was injured after an eleven second career
and a crash into the boards while playing for Boston University.
I coached
youth hockey in Danvers for about a decade and can attest that many boys and
girls may be saved from a disaster by this proposed innovation. Let’s hope that rink owners around the region
embrace the idea and it works as well as warning tracks have worked in baseball
and served to correct fence crashes.
