Veterans Day, Boys and Girls Club Event, Recent Lecture, Canceled Appearance at Brother's in Danvers

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Happy Veterans Day

Today is November 11^th and is the day that the country sets aside to both celebrate and to remember veterans. I suspect that at this time Veterans Day might take on a little more meaning as we are in the middle of two world conflicts and in the just recent past we have learned of a couple more deaths of Massachusetts military personnel, and we all grieved over the senseless shame of the Fort Hood massacre. I take great pride in my service to my country, as back in the days of the so called ”cold war” I served four years in the United States Air Force with tours of duty both in this country and abroad. When I was growing up this day was called Armistice Day and at that time we took a moment to remember the conflict that was called the “War to End All Wars”, World War 1. That was a bitter conflict but since that war ended almost a century ago we have seen a half dozen other world conflicts that were at least as severe and as devastating as that war. It seems that no mater how civilized we try to become, there are still conflicts all over the globe where men challenge other men for supremacy and power. We can only hope that in the future we can all find a way to resolve conflict without more senseless deaths of the young men and woman of this country.

Saluting 140 Years of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem.

This Thursday evening, Salem Five Bank and specifically it’s CEO. Joe Gibbons and Senior Vice President John Hall will host a reception in the bank’s Community Room to help celebrate the 140^th Anniversary of the founding of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem. The reception will feature remarks and conversations with Mayor Kimberly Driscoll and State Representative John Keenan, who have both been staunch long time supporters of the club and its mission. On the front cover of the invitation to the event, the Bank notes that “Salem Five invites you to celebrate the wonderful work of the club in serving the needs of youth in our community. Enjoy an evening of networking with colleagues and friends from throughout the Greater Salem business community”. .

I served for about a decade on the Board of the club both while I worked at the Bank and after my retirement. I still serve on the Club’s Advisory Board and have continued to provide support for the club. Essex Heritage through our relationship with the National Park Service has developed several recent collaborative programs with the Club, and we continue to look for new ways to offer continuing support. When Essex Heritage first established the Tom Leonard Partnership Grant program for Youth grant, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem was the inaugural recipient of the grant. I am personally committed to the support of the club that has accomplished to much good in this community and encourage broad based support of their commendable work.

Lecture by Bonnie Hurd Smith

Shortly after the Essex Heritage Annual Meeting, I noted in this presentation the support that Ms. Bonnie Hurd Smith had provided to a wonderful Anniversary project in Ipswich. At the Essex Heritage staff meeting on Monday, our Links Coordinator Rebecca Zimmerman at Essex Heritage spoke of a lecture that she attended on last Sunday by Ms. Smith. I asked her for some details and she provided the following that I print as Rebecca provided it to me.

Recently Bonnie Hurd Smith has published a second volume of letters of Judith Sargent Murray. On a sunny Sunday in Salem, Hurd Smith spoke eloquently about this fascinating woman, her connection with the North Shore and her place in 18^th and early 19^th century literature. Interspersing her talk with illustration and quotations from these letters, Hurd Smith brought this fascinating woman to life. She spoke of the places Judith lived, the famous people she knew, the historical events she witnessed, and her passionate promotion of the causes of women’s rights and Universalism. Smith has spent many years transcribing and promoting these letters. We are fortunate to have such devotion to a ground-breaking author such as Judith Sargent Murray. Hopefully Ms. Hurd Smith will continue to share with us her expertise and understanding of this subject.

More information on Judith Sargent Murray and Ms. Hurd Smith’s new book can be found at the Judith Sargent Murray Society - http://www.jsmsociety.com/

Danvers Finance Committee

On Monday evening the Danvers Finance Committee voted unanimously to support the new High School building project. This is the final vote needed before the issue is addressed by the Town Meeting body next Monday evening. If the project is approved, preliminary planning work will begin very soon to undertake the largest single project in the history of the Town.

Canceled Appearance at Brother’s Restaurant

Due to an unavoidable personal conflict in my schedule, I will not be able to keep my scheduled appointment as a guest server at Brother’s Restaurant in Danvers this Friday. Look in this space for a re-scheduled date in the very near future.

As always we value your comments, questions and observations about the work of Essex Heritage. Please contact me with your thoughts at www.essexheritage.org. Thanks. Tom Leonard

Danvers School Project, Methuen Festival of Trees, Topsfield Historical Society Thanksgiving Event, John Goff Publishes a Book

Monday, November 9, 2009

Danvers Finance Committee to Address New High School Project Tonight

This evening at 7:00 pm the Danvers Finance Committee will meet to consider all the facts before voting on the proposal to fund the construction of a new High School project in Danvers. The meeting will be held in the Holten-Richmond middle school all purpose room and this public hearing will be the last meeting before a final vote on the new High School project at Town Meeting in a week. There have been numerous meetings on this project over the last several months and as a member of the Finance Committee, I look forward to casting my vote in favor of this project. The many town officials who have developed this plan and managed the public process have done a wonderful job of bringing all of the facts to everyone in the Town of Danvers who wanted to have information about the project. The cost of this project at just under $80 million dollars is very expensive, but the working groups that have managed this project have made many adjustments to make certain that the project is utilitarian, without frills, and will serve the citizens of Danvers well for the foreseeable future. The Town has negotiated a substantial commitment from the Commonwealth that will reduce the Town’s final costs to just short of $38 million. In this plan, the Commonwealth’s funding will be provided during construction rather than over time, and that will help the project financially. The Town has also established a funding plan that will include the issuance of long-tern bonds that will be paid over a thirty year term at more than likely some of the most favorable long term rates in recent history. As always the Town has completed its do diligence on this project and it appears that this much needed project can be favorably accepted at the Town meeting scheduled for November 16, 2009, and then the project can begin in earnest.

Methuen Festival of Trees

One of the most successful events in this region that benefits the preservation effort takes place annually in one of the most northerly communities in Essex County. For many years a hard working committee in the City of Methuen has organized a wonderful event called the Festival of the Trees. The proceeds from this event that runs from late November through the first week of December are allocated to a series of grants that are offered to enhance the historic preservation effort in that community. A couple of Trails and Sails weekends ago, I spent a wonderful day in Methuen participating in a tour expertly provided by Commissioner Joe Bella that opened my eyes to the depth of he historic fabric of this border community. The Festival of Trees this year is “kicking off” with a gala opening night on November 20t, 2009. Tickets for that event and all other viewing sessions can be purchased now by calling 978 685-8878 or by e-mailing info@methuenfestivaloftrees.com. The opening night of this wonderful event is on sale now and is limited to the first 300 attendees. Opening night will feature guest appearances by celebrities as well as a sampling of specialty dishes from that communities finest eating establishments. At the opening there will 200 decorated trees on display and at the end of the Festival those trees will be auctioned off to benefit the preservation effort in Methuen, This year the Festival runs from November 20th through December 5, 2009, and more information on schedules and ticket acquisition can be obtained at the phone number and e-mail address noted above. This is wonderful event and certainly worthy of regional support.

Topsfield Historic Society Thanksgiving Event

I saw an announcement recently offered by the Topsfield Historical Society about a Thanksgiving morning event that certainly looks like it would fun. Essex Heritage has a wonderful relationship with the Topsfield Historical Society, and over the years we have held many wonderful regional events in their Gould Barn. We had one of our Annual Meetings in the Society’s barn, and just last tear when we had the National Park Service’s Second century Commission visit the region for a hearing on the future of the Park Service; once again the venue was the famous Gould Barn. We have several hard working Commissioners at Essex Heritage who represent the Society on the Commission.
On Thanksgiving morning, the Topsfield Historical Society will hold its annual Thanksgiving Open House at the Parson Capen House on Howlett Street in Topsfield. From 10:00 a.m. until noon. The Bartlett family will be dressed in period clothing and will greet guests, roast a turkey in an open fireplace, and offer hot and cold cider and popcorn as refreshments to their guests. Admission to the event is free, and is offers for a great cause and deserves regional support. Donations to support the work of the Society will be accepted. I know that this seems to be a bit early to make this announcement over two weeks before the holiday, but that day is a day filled with family visits and good times, and an event like this one needs to be place on a family schedule early to be sure to take in the experience. To learn more about the event, call Allison D'Amario days at 978-508-641-8814 or evenings at 978-887-8321.

Essex Heritage Commissioner Publishes Book about Salem

One of Essex Heritage’s most energetic Commissioners, John Goff has written a book about one of Salem’s most famous historic houses. The book titled, Salem’s Witch House: A Touchstone to Antiquity has been published by The History press located both in Salem and in Charleston, South Carolina. The book is a 128 page paperback and is illustrated and takes a special look at the 400 year history of one of Salem’s most historic landmarks. John has also become an expert on the Indian history of this region, and also writes a weekly column for the local Salem weekly newspaper. It is clear that John is a busy guy, and we are so pleased to have him as an active Commissioner at Essex Heritage.

As always we value your comments, questions and observations about the work of Essex Heritage. Please contact me with your thoughts at www.essexheritage.org. Thanks. Tom Leonard

Guest Server at Brother's in Danvers, Lt. Governor in Salem, Yankee Clipper Boy Scout Awards, Salem Partnership Outreach Effort

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2009

Serving as Guest/Celebrity Server at Brother’s Restaurant in Danvers

One week from today on Friday, November 13, 2009, I have been asked and have agreed to be a celebrity/guest server at Brother’s Restaurant in Danvers. You can feel very comfortable that if you come to the very busy downtown Danvers location that day that you will be in no danger of having me apportion your food or even handle it except to pass you the plate with the meal of your choice. I will stand by or rather stand comfortably behind the very capable and hard working owner/chef Kary Andrinopoulos at his incredibly active lunch counter from noon until about 1:30 that day and help him meet and greet his many guests. I look forward to greeting those of you who come through that I know and those that I will meet for the first time, and can only hope that I can come through the experience unscathed. I will be in attendance at Brother’s that day representing the Essex National Heritage Commission and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about how and why we “preserve and promote the historic, cultural and natural resources of Essex County”.

Lt. Gov. Murray Visits Salem to Conduct a “Seaport Advisory Council” Meeting

This morning, Lt. Governor Tim Murray will be visiting Salem to both conduct a regular meeting of the Massachusetts Seaport Advisory Council and to help in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Harbor Walk project. The Salem Harbor Walk project when completed will run along the South River from the intersection of New Derby and Lafayette Streets down to Congress Street where it will connect to the sea walk that the Salem Five bank helped to construct along the perimeter of Pickering Wharf when that project was built in the late 1970’s. This walkway will then allow visitors to continue onto the National Park Service’s Salem National Maritime Historic Site and walk through the history of the region that is depicted at that site. The National Park Service site includes a replica sailing ship, Friendship” that is due to return from an overhaul in Maine sometime later this month, and a replica period warehouse that is now almost complete.

The ground breaking ceremony will be followed by a regular meeting of the Seaport Advisory Council that will conducted on the second floor of FINZ restaurant directly on the water front on Pickering Wharf. The funding for the sea walk that will be celebrated today is a result of an earlier grant from the Council. In addition to Salem several other seaside communities in the region served by Essex Heritage has been the beneficiary of grants devoted to other water front projects. During FY 09, in addition to the grant in Salem, grants from the Seaport Advisory Council were provided to Lynn. Marblehead, Gloucester, Newbury and Newburyport and Saugus for waterfront related projects.

Yankee Clipper Boy Scout Council

I am sorry that I was not able to be in attendance last night at the Danversport Yacht Club when the Yankee Clipper Boy Scout Council honored two of Essex Heritage’s hardest working Commissioners with their 2009 Distinguished Citizen Awards. The honorees last night were Kevin Bottomley, the CEO of Danversbank and Patricia Zaido, the Executive Director of the Salem Partnership. Both individuals who have also been wonderful supporters of the work of Essex Heritage have as the promotional brochure for the events outlines, “Made numerous contributions as professional and volunteers through their personal involvement and caring for the well being of our neighbors.” Both Kevin and Patricia are people who I know well, and I can attest that the previous quote is certainly true. We congratulate both Patricia and Kevin on the awards presented last night and note that they join a long and illustrious list of previous award winners, including yours truly, awarded a Boy Scout designation a decade and a half ago. The Yankee Clipper awards have been provided since 1981 and is one of the longest standing such awards given to individuals in the region.

Salem Partnership Reaching Out for New Members

On Wednesday evening at the world famous Peabody-Essex Museum, the Salem Partnership, a community advocacy group that partners with the City of Salem to improve conditions in the City held a reception for potential members. The Partnership has played a most important role in development activities in the City over the last 22 years that the group has been in operation. The Partnership can take joint responsibility for the successes of the revitalized National Park Service presence in the City, and has played a major role in the progress towards a new court complex and the work that has been accomplished to put Salem on the map again as a port complete with ferry service to Boston. In recent years the organization has become very prominent with its work with the Creative Economy. Current Partnership President Attorney George Atkins who provided some opening welcoming remarks managed the event. Recently re-elected Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, Salem State Representative John Keenan, and former Presidents Sumner Jones of Eastern Bank, and this writer representing Essex Heritage made appeals based on the organizations economic achievements to guests at the reception to consider joining. A final appeal was made by Richard Pabich the owner/operator of the Salem Inn, who noted the success that the Partnership has achieved in the development of a tourist base for the economy in recent years.

As always your comments, questions or observations about the work of Essex Heritage is appreciated. I can be contacted at www.essexheritage.org. Thanks. Tom Leonard

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009

Boston Globe Reports Congressional Passage of National Park Service Funding Bill

We were very pleased to see an Opinion Page column in the November 3, 2009 edition of the Boston Globe that focused on funding for National Parks. The report offered by Derrick Z. Jackson noted that in the last week the Congress passed bipartisan legislation that calls for a broad spending measure for the county’s National Parks and other related projects. It is certainly hopeful that the Congress acted in such a bipartisan manner and that this might be the beginning of recognition that adequate funding for the National Parks, Refuges and Forests could be a proper national priority. The recent Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks, America’s Best Idea that appeared on PBS, brought new found interest in the parks and showcased the assets under the control of the National Park Service. The parks across the country will receive funding increases that are more reasonable than at any time in the recent past, but the funding levels are still too low based on the accumulated needs in areas like deferred maintenance and acquisition of key properties to enhance the park experience.

The National Parks that are such an important resource to so many residents of this country are funded currently at about $2.5 billion each year, and that represents a paltry one tenth of one percent of the entire federal budget. The level of funding has never seemed commensurate with the value of the Parks. The current level of funding that increases to $2.7 billion is certainly not enough to make up for some of the shortfalls in funding of recent years but it is a positive start. The recent Second Century Report offered by a national blue ribbon panel reported that the nation’s parks have been operating at an annual deficit of $750 million a year in recent times. The Second century Commission in the same report strongly recommended that Heritage Area program’s like Essex Heritage be embraced by the Park Service in the future. In addition to funding for National Park Service units, other preservation based organizations like The Forest Service, The Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System also received increases in the recent congressional funding. The budget for next year has increased for all units of the National Park Service so the two units (Salem Maritime National Historic Site and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site) that exist within the boundaries of the Essex National Heritage Area will be positively affected, and for that we are pleased. Any measure that provides more resources to the senior partner of Essex Heritage can only be thought of as a positive action,

Essex Heritage Planning Continues

I recently reported on a meeting at the Ipswich Town Hall that the coalition that has been organized by Essex Heritage to help create a Scenic Byway in this region that was held to focus on progress to date. That session was the last in the current round of meetings and great progress was made during this first phase of the planning process that brought professionals together from the affected communities to begin to outline pertinent issues. The next set of meetings that will begin to consider more details on the specific improvements that can be made along the proposed route will begin again just after the start of New Year. The plans for this effort remain quite fluid and input from all the communities and residents and other interested entities will be considered as the project moves forward... The ultimate plans call for the designation of the Byway nationally and efforts to seek funding and to “flesh out” some of the ideas that will be developed during this process, The wonderful collaborative efforts that have been mounted by all of the participants in this effort is a classic example of how Essex Heritage works best. The Commission since its earliest days has been all about bringing disparate groups together to accomplish common goals. The Essex Heritage Scenic Byway is a wonderful example of this process in action.

Local Election Results

` Yesterday was Election Day in many communities in the Essex Heritage Area, and now that the results are all counted, Essex Heritage wants to offer congratulations to the winners of the local mayoral races in the area. In some cases the wins were hard earned, and in every case we also want to take a moment to acknowledge that for every winner in an election race there is a contestant that finished second. We also congratulate those participants for their effort. The local winners, subject to a possible recount in Lynn that we congratulate and look forward to working with in the future are:

Amesbury Thatcher W. Kezer
Beverly William F. Scanlon Jr.
Gloucester Carolyn A. Kirk
Haverhill James J. Fiorentini
Lawrence William Lantigna
Lynn Judith F. Kennedy
Methuen William M. Manzi
Newburyport Donna D. Holaday
Peabody Michael J. Bonfanti
Salem Kimberley Driscoll

North Shore Chamber Breakfast

This morning I attended the monthly breakfast meeting of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce at the Marriott Hotel in Peabody. Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll who was elected yesterday to a second four-year term provided an update on the new MBTA garage and waiting area that will also service the new courthouse currently being constructed in Salem That project is on a short deadline and must be designed accepted and build by year end 2011. The primary speaker to the usual full house of attendees was Judge Robert Cornetta who is the presiding justice in the Salem Court system. He provided an update on the new Superior Court project currently underway in Salem that is “on schedule and under budget”. He indicated that the project will have a substantial impact on the economic future of Salem and is expected to be complete and ready for use in mid 2011. The judge who in a former life served as the Town Manager of Saugus also provided an update on the court system in general. He indicated that recent State budget cuts have had a substantial negative effect on the system, and future cuts will even deepen to a greater degree the difficulties of the state court systems. He indicated that progress is being made to automate civil court procedures in the system, but that the criminal process is becoming more and more difficult to administer. A change in the way sentencing is handled is a must if the system is to continue to operate efficiently in the future.

As always we value your comments, questions and observations about the work of Essex Heritage. Please contact me with your thoughts at www.essexheritage.org. Thanks. Tom Leonard

Apology for a Poorly Presented Posting

Monday, November 2, 2009

Today, we had way too much on our plate at Essex Heritage. We had one meeting after to other today, and I did not have enough time to properly develop and edit a posting for the Essex Happenings BLOG. I rushed through a posting and then “botched” an attempt to post an apology. In the future, if I can not devote enough time to properly develop and edit a posting I will delay the posting until the next day. Sorry for rushing through a posting and producing a less than acceptable product. I will not let that happen again.

Tom Leonard, President Emeritus
Essex National heritage Commission

I must apologize for a posting todat that happened before I could edit the posting. I went out to quickly and I ask you to ignore the previous posting and look at this edition of Eseex Happenings. Thank you.

Heritage Hero Event to Head North
The annual Essex Heritage Hero event is still over a half a year away, but plans for the 2010 event have already begun, and we are confidant that the 2010 will be bigger and better than the previous two events. The first two events held in 2008 and 2009 were special events and the two gentlemen who were honored were wonderful choices. Jim McAlister, the regional historian and ultimate storyteller and Thomas P. Costin Jr. Jr, the consummate collaborative organizer were incredibly worthy recipients and the evenings to honor them were both critical successes for the award winners, the organizers and the attendees.

The 2010 event now tentatively scheduled for late May or early June will be held in new meeting facility under construction in Salisbury. We are not prepared at this time to announce the 2010 Heritage Hero award winners, but we say that the event will honor recipients from the three-community area of Amesbury Newburyport, and Salisbury. We think that this is most appropriate; as since the time that Essex Heritage was first conceived these three communities located in the far northeastern corner of the region have been unified in their support of this initiative. In recent months these three communities have demonstrated a willingness to work together for the betterment of the three communities and the entire region. Health and recreational programs have been considered and implemented that make this region one to be admired. We can certainly state that our recipients are wonderful representatives of this part of the Essex Heritage region. Stay tuned for more information on this evening that will be a wonderful experience like the other events have been in the past,

North Shore Community College Ground Breaking

Late last week the North Shore Community College executives along with a group of Commonwealth officials broke ground for a “ground breaking technological facility” on the Danvers campus. Over the next year and a half construction will continue so that as classes open in September of 2011 the building will be ready for student use. This new facility will be a wonderful addition to the Danvers campus as the building will be developed so that when complete it will be one of the first sites built on an educational facility in the Commonwealth that will be environmentally friendly. The new building will be three floors high, and will contain almost 60,000 sq ft of space that will be able to accommodate five general academic instruction and general student spaces. Over the next several decades thousands of North Shore students will receive instruction in health care related programs at this wonderful new addition. When completed this facility will be a most important resource for the entire region and will be particularly important to the numerous hospitals and other medical facilities.

Essex Heritage Annual Fund Mailing

Over the last couple of days, Essex Heritage has mailed an Annual Fund appeal to hundred of friends of the Commission seeking continuing support. This initiative is a very important activity as without the support of the residents and other interests in the communities that we serve it is difficult for Essex Heritage to continue the many programs that it offers across the region. We certainly hope that you will look for the mailing piece that outlines the successes of Essex Heritage and seeks support. Your continued support of the mission is essential, and we thank everyone in advance for your consideration of this request.

Upcoming Events this Week

On Wednesday of this week, I will be attending two regional events sponsored by two of our strongest supporters. In the morning at the Marriott Hotel in Peabody, the North Shore Chamber will hold its regular monthly breakfast meeting. The subject of that meeting will be the new Salem Court House facility and how it will affect this region. In the evening of the same day, the Salem Partnership that helped to form Essex Heritage will be holding a new member event at the Peabody Essex Museum. I will be attending both of these events and will make a presentation at the Salem Partnership event. Later in the week, I will provide some additional details about the substance of those two meetings.

Essex Heritage Continues to Consider Changes to the 2010 Trails and Sails Events

Trails and Sails the signature event for Essex Heritage has been completed now for almost a month, and the leadership team for ENHC continues to review what went right in 2009, and how the program can be improved in 2010. Printing brochures and reservations for more and more of the vents are two of the areas where it is believed that improvements in the operation can be made. This past year nearly 4000 residents of the region took advantage of the series of free events and plans are already underway for the 2010 edition of Trails and Sails. We will certainly keep you posted as we consider how to make this premier regional event even more entertaining and informative in the future.

Northeast Harvest Program

In conjunction with the Essex Agricultural Society, Essex Heritage continues to help the local agricultural industry in this region by helping to produce a monthly newsletter. The most recent edition of the newsletter focused on turkeys that seem appropriate in this month of Thanksgiving. Next months edition of the newsletter will feature information on the many Christmas Tree Farms in the region. If you are not already signed up to receive the newsletter contact www.essexheritage.org to sign up. The monthly articles are most informative and instructional and thee is certainly material in the letter for nearly everyone in the region.
One Last Reminder to Vote

Tomorrow is Election Day in many communities in the Essex Heritage region.

If you have a chance to vote in your community don't forget to get to the pooling place and cast your vote.

Heritage Hero Event to Head North

The annual Essex Heritage Hero event is still over a half a year away, but plans for the 2010 event have already begun, and we are confidant that the 2010 will be bigger and better than the previous two events. The first two events held in 2008 and 2009 were special events and the two gentlemen who were honored were wonderful choices. Jim McAlister, the regional historian and ultimate storyteller and Thomas P. Costin Jr. Jr, the consummate collaborative organizer were incredibly worthy recipients and the evenings to honor them were both critical successes for the award winners, the organizers and the attendees.

The 2010 event now tentatively scheduled for late May or early June will be held in new meeting facility under construction in Salisbury. We are not prepared at this time to announce the 2010 Heritage Hero award winners, but we say that the event will honor recipients from the three-community area of Amesbury Newburyport, and Salisbury. We think that this is most appropriate; as since the time that Essex Heritage was first conceived these three communities located in the far northeastern corner of the region have been unified in their support of this initiative. In recent months these three communities have demonstrated a willingness to work together for the betterment of the three communities and the entire region. Health and recreational programs have been considered and implemented that make this region one to be admired. We can certainly state that our recipients are wonderful representatives of this part of the Essex Heritage region. Stay tuned for more information on this evening that will be a wonderful experience like the other events have been in the past,

North Shore Community College Ground Breaking

Late last week the North Shore Community College executives along with a group of Commonwealth officials broke ground for a “ground breaking technological facility” on the Danvers campus. Over the next year and a half construction will continue so that as classes open in September of 2011 the building will be ready for student use. This new facility will be a wonderful addition to the Danvers campus as the building will be developed so that when complete it will be one of the first sites built on an educational facility in the Commonwealth that will be environmentally friendly. The new building will be three floors high, and will contain almost 60,000 sq ft of space that will be able to accommodate five general academic instruction and general student spaces. Over the next several decades thousands of North Shore students will receive instruction in health care related programs at this wonderful new addition. When completed this facility will be a most important resource for the entire region and will be particularly important to the numerous hospitals and other medical facilities.

Essex Heritage Annual Fund Mailing

Over the last couple of days, Essex Heritage has mailed an Annual Fund appeal to hundred of friends of the Commission seeking continuing support. This initiative is a very important activity as without the support of the residents and other interests in the communities that we serve it is difficult for Essex Heritage to continue the many programs that it offers accross the region. We certainly hope that you will look for the mailing piece that outlines the successes of Essex Heritage and seeks support. Your continued support of the mission is essential, and we thank everyone in advance for your consideration of this request.

Upcomming Events this Week

On Wednesday of this week, I will be attending two regional events sponsored by two of our strongest supporters. In the morning at the Marriott Hotel in Peabody, the North Shore Chamber will hold its regular monthly breakfast meeting. The subject of that meeting will be the new Salem Court House facility and how it will affect this region. In the evening of the same day, the Salem Partnership that heped to form Essex Heritage will be holding a new member event at the Peabody Essex Museum. I will be attending both of thos events and will make a presentation at the Salem Partnership event. Later in the week, I will provide some aditional details about the substance of those two meetings.

Essex Heritage Continues to Consider Changes to the 2010 Trails and Sails Events

Trails and Sails the signature event for Essex Heritage has been completed now for almost a month, and the leadership team for ENHC continues to review what went right in 2009, and how the program can be improved in 2010. Printing brocures and reservations for more and more of the vents are two of the areas where it is believed that improvemnets in the operation can be made. Thgis past year nearly 4000 residnets of the region tollk advantage of the series of free events and plans are already underway for the 2010 edition of Trails and Sails. We will certainly keep you posted as we consider how to make this premier regional event even more entertaining and informative in the future.

Northeast Harvest Program

In conjuction with the Essex Agricultural Society, Essex Heritage continues to help the local agricultural industry in this region by helping to produce a monthly newletter. The most recent edition of the newsletter focused on turkeys, that seems approriate in this month of Thanksgiving. Nect months edition of the newletter will feature information on the many Christmas Tree Farms in the region. If you are not already signed up to receive the newletter contact www.essexheritage.org to sign up. The monthly articles are most informative and instructional and thee is certainly material in the letter for nearly everyone in the region.

One Last Reminder to Vote

Tommorow is Election day in many communites in the Essex Heritage region. If you have a chance to vote in your community don't forget to get to the pooling place and cast your vote.