Senator Kennedy, Jimmy Fund Baseball and Bill Howard

Senator Kennedy Memorialized in Boston and Washington

What a wonderful weekend tribute to Senator Edward Moore Kennedy. In a previous posting to this blog, I commented on Senator Kennedy's importance to Essex Heritage, and the support that he offered during the life of this imitative. Clearly, what the Senator offered to this region as we began and fostered the Essex Heritage activities were extraordinary. It is fair to say that without his unique support from the outset, much of what has been accomplished in this region would never have been possible. During the life of this activity we have received commitments of support from dozens of local elected officials, and the support that was obtained from others in the Washington delegation over the years that has been exemplary and has allowed much to be accomplished in the region and for that support we will always be grateful. 

It is clear that, Senator Kennedy became the point person in Congress on so many occasions, and his special brand of "participatory politics" was evident time after time as we sought support in Washington. During the time that I have participated in the work of Essex Heritage we hosted the Senator on numerous visits to the region, I have introduced him to crowds on several occasions, and I have had the good fortunate to have several more personal experiences in his Washington office as we sought support.

All of that said, I thought after those experiences that I knew the depth of the man and his importance to the State of Massachusetts. I would have to say that during this weekend my eyes were opened even wider to his accomplishments for this Commonwealth and the Country. As the weekend progressed and more and more of his accomplishments were outlined during his nearly half century of service, I became more and more in awe of what he accomplished for all of us, and even more importantly for the "least of us." The social legislation that was fostered by Senator Kennedy is legendary, and the laws he helped enact have impacted civil rights, and the health and economic well-being of so many Americans. I was particularly struck by a quote during the weekend that noted that President Kennedy inspired America, Bobby Kennedy challenged America, and Ted Kennedy changed America. I am proud to say that I have always been a supporter of the work of the Senator, and am confidant that, as he said so many times,most recently in Denver at the Democratic Convention one year before he died, that "the cause endues, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die".

Jimmy Fund Event in Peabody on Labor Day

In my lifetime one of the causes that have the largest impact on health in this region is the Jimmy Fund that fights cancer in children. The Jimmy Fund has long been the favorite cause of the Red Sox, and in the last couple of days they have in conjunction with WEEI radio and NESN television have run a very successful telethon. If you did not get the chance to contribute to that cause, next weekend on Labor Day morning at 10:00 AM at Perkins Park in Peabody, the annual baseball game will be played. The game is between the Peabody police, and a team of local sports stars including some former Red Sox players and many former Bruins and Celtics players. Before the game a clinic for youngsters will be held at 8:00 AM. This event is a wonderful experience and is a way to contribute to one of the best charities in the region. Take a moment if you have no plans that morning and stop at Perkins Park for a great cause.

Beverly Rotary Citizen of the Year

Congratulations to Bill Howard of the Beverly Cooperative Bank for being named the Citizen of the Year by the Beverly Rotary Club. Bill is a long time Commissioner of Essex heritage and also serves the Salem Partnership as its Treasurer. Bill serves many other charitable endeavors and his choice by the Rotarian's is an excellent one.

Best Idea Program, Fall Explorers Program, Trails & Sails and Thacher's Island

National Park Service Best Idea Event

The National Park Service/Essex Heritage event at the Salem Visitor Center yesterday to close out the summer camp program with the Boys and Girls Club was a great success. The program that was funded by the National Park Foundation was both a critical success and a "lot of fun" for the youngsters. There were about a hundred campers and several officials from the Boys and Girls Club as well as a number of National Park Service and Essex Heritage officials The campers showed off exhibits that they had prepared and demonstrated some of the skills that they learned during the camp sessions. The video preview of the documentary by Ken Burns that will show soon on PBS, was compelling and made you want to pack up for a trip to a number of National parks right away. Watch for the show when it airs on a local Public broadcasting System station in this area. You will enjoy the work, as Burns is a wonderful visual story teller and his work is first class,

Essex Heritage Trails & Sails Weekends

It truly seems that summer has just begun, and with the warm weather only arriving in early August, the summer season was late in arriving. With that thought in mind, strange as it may be, the fall season is soon upon us. The official start of fall in now less than a month away, and one of the best events of the fall season is scheduled just after the start of the season. This year on the weekends of September 18-20 and September 26-27 Essex Heritage will once again present Trails & Sails. This year there is a completely new twist, and participants can sign on to a newly created web site, www.trailsandsails.org and review the entire listing of one hundred events and prepare you own personal itinerary and schedule. Essex Heritage is indebted to our presenting sponsors for this annual event and we thank TD Bank, and Northeast Health Systems, and their two medical facilities, Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital for their support. Join us during the final two weekends in September and participate. We are certain that you will be glad you signed up.

Essex Heritage Fall Explorers Activities

As you may know, Essex Heritage has a wonderful membership program called the Explorers. Throughout the year, Events are offered that allow the members to access some of the wonderful resources that are not always available to the general public. This has been a program that has been well received by the many friends of Essex Heritage who have signed up to participate. Membership in the program has been growing year to year, and the currents membership numbers in the hundreds. Information on the program and the opportunity to sign up can be found on the Essex heritage web site at www.essexheritgae.org. The fall program this year will focus on visits to some of the great estates in this region. Visits are planned to the Stephens Coolidge Estate in North Andover, The Tenny Gate House in Methuen and Willowdale Estate. I am certain that you will enjoy the fall program and all of the other events planned for 2010.

Thatcher’s Island and the Twin Lights

In a recent edition of the Boston Globe North, there was a wonderful story about the historic island in the harbor of Rockport, Ma. The story focused on the volunteers who keep the island and its twin lighthouses in as good shape as is possible in these difficult economic times. Several years ago, Essex Heritage provided a series of Partnership Grants to the association that manages the island, and we know first hand the work that has been accomplished to keep the facility in workable condition. The Essex Heritage Partnership Grant program was temporarily suspended this past year when we lost state funding, but certainly hope to restore that program as soon as possible, as we recognize the importance of the program to the region. In the years that the program was operating, Essex Heritage provided over $1.7 million in grants to over 200 not for profit organizations and municipalities. Grants are more and more difficult to obtain in these times and the volunteers that are helping out, on the island are even more important than ever. Essex Heritage is now taking on maintenance responsibilities at Baker’s Island in Salem, and can certainly understand the challenges that are faced by the Thatcher Island Association. We wish them continuing good luck, as they address their “labor of love”.

Senator Kennedy, Long Term Planning, Financial Support and a Positive Vote for the Vocational School Merger

Passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy

The Essex National Heritage Area lost a real champion and friend last evening. I will not try to complete here with the experienced eulogists who will write of his many accomplishments, but I will say that without his help we would not have what we have today in Essex County. Two decades ago, Senator Kennedy took a particular interest in the work of the Salem Partnership, and then helped the leadership of that group along with other leaders in Essex County to establish the Essex National Heritage Commission. He later became the glue the held the efforts to build the Friendship together, and was present and presided over the dedication of that ship years ago. Annie Harris and I met with the Senator on numerous occasions both in the region and in Washington, and he was always most gracious and committed to the mission of Essex Heritage. We and the Commission will miss his advice and friendship. He will be missed desperately by this region, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts this country and the world.

Essex Heritage Planning Session

Earlier this week, the volunteer leadership of Essex Heritage met in a strategy session to help develop a long-term plan to assure the continuing success of this initiative. It now seems most appropriate that this task was undertaken on the same day that Senator Kennedy passed away. He was our champion and his help was critical to our decade of success. During the first decade that the Essex Heritage has been providing services and helping to build collaborations in the region numerous programs and outreach efforts have been offered that help build awareness and help to educate the residents of the area. It was agreed that over the next several months an examination of all offered regional programs must be undertaken, to be certain that they are continuing to serve the region and helping to achieve the goals of the organization. The strong relationship that exists between the Commission and the National Park Service continues to be wonderful asset, and that partnership needs to be expanded and we must continue to use the relationship to expand the reach of the National Park Service to an even larger percentage of the region’s population. Over the life of Essex Heritage working relationships have been built between the Commission and the municipal leadership that run the thirty-four communities that make up the Essex National Heritage Area. It is very clear that in the future, the Commission must continue to offer and develop programs and initiatives that enhance the municipalities we must continue to serve. All of the participants in the recent session pledged to work over the next several months to develop strategies that will enhance the value of the Essex Heritage to the region, and to the elected leadership of the area, and most importantly to the residents who live and work here in this area.

Continue to Diversify Fundraising Efforts

We have been most fortunate to have received funding to help operate Essex Heritage from a wide variety of sources. The wonderful relationship we have maintained with the National Park Service has allowed us to receive federal funding to help support the effort. Until just this last year, when the local economy worsened, our local Commonwealth of Massachusetts Legislative delegation had helped obtain funding from the Commonwealth. That funding has been temporarily suspended, but as he local economy rebounds we are confidant that with the continuing support of local legislators that funding will be restored. Dozens of local business organizations have been most generous with their support, and we are most appreciative of their support even when times have been difficult. We have also received a continuing level of support from the wonderful residents of this region, and we encourage all of you to continue to provide support so that Essex Heritage can continue to grow the services offered to this region. In the new plans now being formulated we anticipate seeking support from some of the generous foundations that operate in and around this region. Support at that level would add substantially to our capabilities and allow us to expand produce offering and services to the region. For more information on how you can support the work with a contribution of Essex Heritage, check the ENHC web site at www.essexheritage.org Your support is appreciated and it will allow us to continue to advance our work to preserve the historic, natural and cultural resources of Essex County.

Important Vote Taken by Danvers Town Meeting

On Monday evening the members of the Danvers Town Meeting body unanimously approved a warrant article that approved a merger of several school organizations and the funding to build a new Vocational Technical School in that Town. The vote was the first of many such votes that must be taken in the other sixteen communities that are part of the school district. The Danvers vote was important as it was the first community to vote for the plan, and as the host community this was an important and critical first step. Essex Heritage was one of the first community organizations to recognize the importance of the plan to the region, and offered immediate support. We are very pleased that the Town of Danvers offered such complete and substantial support for this plan. Town Manager Wayne Marquis and Selectman Dan Bennett have been instrumental in the planning for the both the Town of Danvers and the region, and those efforts have been substantial and are now showing up as the plan moves towards completion.

Editorial Note: I am pleased to try to be a “reporter” regarding some of the activities in this region that positively affect the mission of Essex Heritage. Towards that end, I would welcome your comments about these presentations, and would also encourage you to contact me with questions, concerns or observations. I can be reached at Essex Heritage at tleonard@essexheritage.org or at tml58@comcast.net. Please consider providing your observations

TOM LEONARD, PRESIDENT EMERITUS, ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE COMMISSION

Correction

I wanted to make a correction to the blog posting I sent out this morning. I noted that the hurricane took a westerly course to avoid making a land fall here in new England. I do know East from west, and I noted the wrong direction in my entry. Clearly the storm went east to avoid us not west as I stated, Sorry for the missed direction. Tom Leonard

Eastern Bank, City of Peabody Planner, Bike Path Opening, North Shore Vocational School Vote and Seeking Comments

Eastern Bank Provides Financial support to Peabody Little League

The West Peabody Little League organization received a nice financial gift from Eastern Bank to help out the families of the Peabody Little League as they headed for Williamsport. The unexpected costs associated with an unplanned trip to the World Series can be daunting, and I am certain that the support from the bank was much appreciated. Eastern Bank has long been recognized as one of the premier community supporters in this region, and they regularly come to the aid of not for profit groups of all kinds all over this region.

Thankfully Hurricane “Bill” took a More Westerly Course and Missed New England

We certainly received a substantial amount of advance notice of the arrival of “Hurricane Bill” from the local media over the last week or so, but thankfully it seemed to slip by New England without much impact. The Insurance Companies have been predicting that this area is due for a “Hurricane Hit” for several years now, and one always wonders when and if that might happen. Thankfully, Hurricane Bill was not the one to deal the region a blow, and we seemed to escape with not more than some high seas, and a little wind. Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket seemed for a while to be a possible target of this storm, but as the storm approached the area it thankfully took a slight westerly turn and seemed to pass us without major concerns. We received a little rain in Essex County, but no real damage.

City Planner Leaves Peabody

Jean Dellios, who has been the Municipal Planner for the City of Peabody for the last seven years, has left that post to take a similar position with the Town of Reading. During her tenure in Peabody, she has been a good friend of Essex Heritage and has accomplished a great deal for the city. Under her direction, bike paths have been built and opened, open space acquired, and just recently a new museum that celebrates the history of the leather industry in Peabody was opened. Prior to Jean’s service with the City of Peabody, she served in a similar position in the Town of Saugus. In that role we interacted with Jean as well, so the relationship with Essex Heritage goes back almost to our creation. We are truly sorry to see Jean leave Essex County, but we certainly wish her all the best in her new role in the Town of Reading.

New Bike and Recreation Trail to Open in Chelmsford

This past weekend, a portion of the twenty-five mile long Bruce Freeman Recreational Trail that will connect parts of Lowell, Chelmsford and Westford was dedicated and was declared ready for use. We are pleased to see new recreational trails opening all over the State, and those successes continue to encourage Essex Heritage as we work towards the building of the Border to Boston trail for Essex County. The leadership of the commission continues to work towards a solution that will bring our regional trail closer to reality. There are dozens of committed supporters of this effort across the region, and we will do all in our power to keep this initiative moving. The Commission has played a role in this initiative since its inception and will continue to focus our efforts on seeing the project through to an opening.

Important Vote Tonight at the Danvers Town Meeting

This evening, the Danvers Town Meeting will consider the merger of the North Shore Vocational Technical School, Essex Agricultural School, and the Peabody Vocational School. In addition to the merger, the need to fund this initiative will also be considered; I will attend the meeting as a member of the Danvers Finance Committee, and look forward to a positive disposition of this issue. The merger and the creation of a new vocational school facility in this region is critical and needs broad based support

Editorial Note: I am pleased to try to be a “reporter” regarding some of the activities in this region that positively affect the mission of Essex Heritage. Towards that end, I would welcome your comments about these presentations, and would also encourage you to contact me with questions, concerns or observations. I can be reached at Essex Heritage at tleonard@essexheritage.org or at tml58@comcast.net. Please consider providing your observations

TOM LEONARD, PRESIDENT EMERITUS, ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE COMMISSION

North Shore Vocational School, Essex Heritage Photo Contest and America's Best Idea

Danvers Finance Committee Meeting

Last Tuesday evening the Danvers Finance Committee conducted a hearing to consider several issues that will come before a special Danvers Town Meeting on Monday, August 24, 2009. The hearing was scheduled to present two proposals that will seek the approval of the Town Meeting body to adopt local options that would allow the Town to impose tax increases on local restaurant meals and on stays in Danvers hotels or motels. After a spirited debate, both proposals were recommended for positive action at the Town Meeting. While both of these issues can be important to the Town, the last item on the agenda that night, in my mind was the most important matter. A proposal to merge the present North Shore Vocational School and the Essex Agricultural School is to be considered by Town Meeting. The new school that, if approved, will be built in Danvers just west of the intersection of Routes 95 and 62 and when completed will house 1400 students, and will begin to serve hundreds of additional prospective students who have been denied access to the present faculty in Middleton because of the size of the school. The cost of the new school will be substantial and many sacrifices will have to be made by the 17 community members to assure that this facility is completed on time and on budget. There is certainly a great need in this region for more trained workers who will learn the “tools of the trade” at this institution and the regional implications of this merger will have widespread and will be felt across the entire region.

A proposal was forwarded unanimously to the Town meeting calling for the participation of the Town of Danvers in the funding and building of a new regional Vocational Technical High School. The new school will be the result of the proposed merger between the present North Shore Vocational High School, the Essex Agricultural School and the Peabody Vocational School. The recommendation made by the Danvers Finance Committee and a positive vote by Town Meeting will set the stage for the rest of the district as the approval action will be the first one taken by a community in this region relative to this issue. As the host community for the school, it is critical that the Town of Danvers lead by example and the vote earlier this week was a great first step, We certainly hope that the members of the Danvers Town Meeting follow up the Board of selectman’s and Finance Committee recommendation and vote in the affirmative for this proposal at their meeting early next week. The facility is much needed and future generations of electricians, plumbers, carpenters, auto mechanics, cosmetologists and food service providers will graduate from the new North Shore Regional Vocational School in the future and will add value to this region in so many ways.

Essex Heritage Photo Contest

All amateur photographers are invited to submit images to the Essex Heritage Photo Contest that captures the essence of the Essex Heritage Area. Entries can be made in one of four categories; “My Space”, On a Photo Safari”, “General Images of Essex Heritage” or “National Historic Landmarks”. Submissions are due by October 16, 2009 and any photo captured between November 1, 2008 and October 15, 2009 is eligible. More information about the Essex Heritage Photo Contest including the application form, rules and regulations, and prizes are available online at www.essexheritage.org.

Celebrate America’s Best Idea

Join Essex Heritage and the National Park Service on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at the Salem Regional Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street in Salem at 1:00 PM to celebrate the success of a local camp program. During this past summer, youngsters from the Salem Boys and Girls Club participated in a program funded by the 2009 National Park Foundation’s America’s Best Idea camp program. The festivities that afternoon will include light refreshments, camper created exhibits and a preview of the upcoming Ken Burn’s Public Broadcasting System’s documentary, The National Parks; America’s Best idea. Camp participants, their families and all partner organizations are welcome to share their “untold stories” of the important role the African Americans and other traditionally underrepresented groups played in American history, as portrayed in the camp experiences in this program. The camp used the Salem Maritime Historic site, the sailing ship Fame and other historic sites in the Essex National Heritage Area to tell these stories.

Summer at Last, Community Newspapers,The Danvers Swamp Walk and Boats in Gloucester

Summer Has Arrived at Last

I expect that all of you who lamented during June and July about the lack of summer are now enjoying the middle of August. The long awaited summer has arrived and I hope that you are being careful of the current heat and high humidity. If you are looking for place to get a breath of comfortable air, I encourage you to head to one of the many historic waterfronts along the coast of this region. From Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem and Beverly to Gloucester, Rockport and Newburyport there are wonderful spots where a pleasant breeze and the great smell of salt air can be savored. We have it all on the coast of this region. Get out and sample the region. There may never be a better time then when it is hot and sultry.

A Special Thank You to the Community Newspapers

For a number of years, the Community Newspapers and particularly the Danvers Herald has been a special partner to the Essex National Heritage Commission. For about six years, I have been preparing a column on the activities of the Essex Heritage and the Editor of the Danvers Herald; Catheryn O’Hare has been printing my column in her paper and distributing it across the regional system to those other editors that had space to run our information. We certainly appreciate all of her efforts, and are grateful for the broad based support we have received all over the region. The Community Newspapers prints a great deal of local information and I suspect that is what a lot of their readers welcome. Danvers has also started a blog like this one to get even more local information out faster. Check their web site at www.wickedlocal.com/danvers to see what they are offering.

Danvers Swamp Walk

We certainly appreciate all of the work being dine by George Saluto of Danvers who is the moving force in an effort to raise funds to begin construction on a raised boardwalk trail in the Choate Recreational Area of town. The trail will open up an area of open space not now available to the folks in that community. George is trying to raise private funds to assist in the effort, and contributions to assist the project can be sent to the Danvers Town Hall, attention: Swamp Walk.

Gloucester Schooner Festival

Mark your calendars for the silver anniversary celebration of a Gloucester tradition. On Labor Day weekend a number of vessels from ports all along the east coast will arrive in the historic fishing port of Gloucester to celebrate this occasion. Leading the participants will be Gloucester’s own Thomas E. Lannon. The invited ships will compete on September 6^th in the Mayor’s Cup race. Provisions has been made for shuttles to get spectators to vantage points where they can view the majestic sailing ships. This seems to be a great take on a holiday weekend, and would be a wonderful way to spend part of what is usually thought of as the last weekend of summer.

Great Work by the Salem fire Department

We offer a special thanks to the Salem Fire Department for their quick and efficient response to the recent fire at the Ropes Mansion in Salem that certainly prevented a potential disaster. Their prompt action certainly saved one of the most famous historic houses in Salem and this region. We have much to preserve in this region, but a loss like that one could have been devastating.