ESSEX
HERITAGE PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES
The Essex National Heritage
Commission Annual Fall Meeting
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Smith Barn at Brooksby Farm, 38 Felton
Street, Peabody
8:00 AM: Continental Breakfast Reception
8:30-10:00 AM: Business Meeting
Join
us for a morning of engagement on Tuesday, October 30, from 8:00 am -10:00 am,
at the historic Smith Barn, adjacent to Peabody's Brooksby Farm. Participate in
this free, valuable networking opportunity that will further connect you with
the work of Essex Heritage and our partners.
A
special thank you is offered to ThePeabody Historical Society for hosting the Annual Fall Meeting and thereby allowing
many around the region access to one of their interesting sites.
2012 Trails
& Sails is here again!
Friday, September 21 - Sunday, September 23 & Friday,
September 28 - Sunday, September 30
|
|
Trails & Sails: Two Weekends of Walks & Water
Join us for the 11th annual Trails & Sails: Two
Weekends of Walks and Water, September 21-23 & September 28-30,
2012! Explore Essex County's cultural, historic and natural sites during two
weekends of 150+ FREE events. Enjoy a variety of guided tours, open house
visits, hikes, walks, sails, paddles, and other special experiences for all
ages, skill levels and interests. Search the online event listing and plot your
course here!
Reminder! You won’t want to miss these two upcoming
events already described in my August 30th blog:
Friday, October 26, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
|
|
TheAndover Historical Society Presents:
Trials and
Taverns: A Lecture with Dr. Emerson Baker
97 Main Street,
Andover
|
Wednesday, November 7, 7:00 PM
|
|
TheHouse of the Seven Gables Presents:
Strong Women at
the Gables: Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, a Notable Local Figure with International
Connections
115 Derby Street, Salem
Also coming up:
|
Wednesday, December 12, 7:00 PM
|
|
Featured Partner Event
The House of the Seven Gables Presents:
Strong Women at
the Gables: An Orchestra at Her Fingertips
115 Derby
Street, Salem, MA 01970
Pianist Jacquelyn Schwab will perform vintage 19th century
American parlor music, including Stephen Foster and Civil War songs, hymns,
spirituals, and ballroom dances. Schwab is best known for her performances on
Ken Burns’ Grammy award-winning Civil War documentary, as well as the Emmy
award-winning Baseball and Mark Twain documentaries on public television. A
folk and classical improvisational pianist, she has a unique style that defies
easy categorization.
Advanced reservations required. Please contact
(978) 744-0991 and let them know you are an Essex Heritage member. Admission:
$10 for Essex Heritage and Seven Gables Members, $15 Non-Members.
REGIONAL
NEWS
Salem
Volunteers Gathered Sufficient Signatures to Put CPA on November Ballot
Congratulations
to the numerous volunteers in Salem who worked to gather the signatures of 5%
of registered voters in the community in order to have the decision on
participation in the Community Preservation Act put on the November ballot. The
act if approved will allow the community to add a 1% real estate surcharge on
annual real estate bills. It is estimated that this will add about $30 to the
average tax bill. The funding raised can
be used to support historic preservation, affordable housing and open space. If approved by the voters in November, the
City of Salem will become one of 149 communities that have adopted the activity
since the law was created in 2000. The City
of Peabody passed the CPA more about a decade ago and have funded the
acquisition of several parcels of open space as well as building a new museum
dedicated to the city’s leather history.
Senator Fred
Berry was honored
A
tribute event was held for Senator Berry on September 13, 2012 at the
Danversport Yacht Club. Senator Berry
is retiring from 30 years as the state senator for the communities of Peabody,
Salem, Danvers, Beverly and Topsfield.
Senator Berry has been a champion for a number of causes and projects including
educational institutions and handicapped services. More than 600 people attended the event at
which Nelson Benton, former editorial director of the Salem News, returned from
retirement in Arizona to preside as the master of ceremonies. It was agreed by
all that Fred will be missed. His
successor, Salem City Councillor, Joan Lovely also attended the event and was
applauded for her recent victory.
Salem State
University Up-coming Events
September 19, 2012
Friends of the School of Social WorkFall Workshop
International Social Work and SocialDevelopment:
The Case of El Salvador
September 20,
2012 Salem State University Writer'sSeries
Featuring Dr. Ann Taylor and
Professor Kevin Carey
October 12, 2012
Athletes Hall of Fame Induction
October 13,
2012
Alumni Golf Tournament
Friends and Family Weekend Carnival
and BBQ
Celebration of Coaches and Athletes
October 14,
2012
Alumni Athletics Games
Alumni BBQ
Coming soon! Fall 2012 New SmallBusiness Programs at the Enterprise Center.
Salem Main
Streets Seeking Volunteers for Visitor Help
With
the annual visitation to Salem increasing dramatically during the month of
October as Halloween revelers come to visit, the city is interested in finding
residents who would be willing to provide some time both answering questions
for visitors and offering directions. For
more information about how to volunteer for this program or to volunteer
contact Judy Kearney by e-mail at judykearney830@gmail.com or contact
Salem Main Strees at 978 -744-0004
Department of
Energy to Audit Danvers Electronic Meters
The
community of Danvers is in the process of installing so called “smart” water
and electric meters that will transmit usage activity for more efficient and
correct billing to area used. The total
cost of this project is sixteen million and the community is bearing the cost
of eight million and the balance of the funds were obtained from the U S
Department of Energy. The federal authority charged with auditing the program
will soon be in Danvers to review progress as in previous audits of departments
in Danvers like the Senior Center and the Police accreditation is awarded.
The City of
Newburyport Reaches Energy Milestone
To
continue the technology theme, the City of Newburyport has reached a milestone
in solar energy usage. The program is
built around the attainment of certain levels and the second level was been
achieved. The higher levels are
achieved and the price for the energy is reduced.
Recent Primary
Elections
Congratulations
to all of the candidates who ran for office in regional primaries We want to congratulate the Salem City
Council President, Joan Lovely who topped the ticket in the race to win the
democratic nomination to replace Senator Fred Berry. She along with the other
three candidates appeared in a recent debate that I was pleased to
moderate. Joan made a statement at
that debate about the need to find a better solution for the homeless housed
“temporarily” in motels in Danvers that certainly connected with many Danvers
residents.
PEOPLE
IN THE NEWS
Kimberly
Shumacher Named Interim Director
The
Jewish Federation of the North Shore has named Marblehead resident Kimberly
Shumacher as its interim Executive Director. She has worked for the agency for
the last five years and has managed a program.
Kristen Noon
Named Executive Director of Wenham Museum
The
Wenham Museum, that is celebrating its 90th Anniversary, will host
an Open House on October 17th from 5 until 7 to welcome its new
Executive Director Kristin Noon who lives in Wenham and previously served on
the board of the Museum. Noon who is a
lawyer was also the Co-Chair of the Development Committee and served on the
Collections Committee. The museum located at 132 Main Street, Wenham is located
next to the Town Hall. Ms. Noon will
assume the Directorship on September 24, 2012 where she will oversee 14
employees and will manage a collection of over 20,000 artifacts that includes
5,000 dolls and a sensational model train gallery. She replaces Lindsay Diehl who retired
earlier this year after serving most successfully for six years.
Danvers Town
Manager Marquis has Contract extended
For
those of us that live or work in Danvers were most pleased to learn the Board
of Selectmen provided a much well earned contract extension for Town Manager Wayne Marquis for an
additional five years. The Manger has
done an exemplary job of managing that community. His rating by the Selectmen is well earned.
He does a excellent job running the Town of Danvers and we as residents should
be most pleased that his leadership role has been extended.
PERSONAL
OBSERVATIONS
Golf Event and
the Treatment of People with Disabilities
Last
weekend through the generosity of Commonwealth Equities in Topsfield and DWS
Investments a Division of Deutsche Bank, my wife and I were able to attend a
session of the golf tournament sponsored over Labor Day weekend at TPC Norton,
MA. My wife and I were accompanied for
the visit by my son Michael and our grandson Casey. The transportation to and from the parking
lot at the Comcast Center was provided by Boston Coach Company and I cannot say
enough positive things about the service provided to me and other disabled
participants. Transportation to and
around the Tournament site was prompt, courteous and helpful and I am very
pleased that we attended the event. I
have attended that golf event every year of the decade it has been held in this
location except last year when a minor illness kept me away. I enjoyed every phase of the day except
watching Rory Mclroy give up the lead.
On the holiday, Rory regained the lead and staggered home to win the
Tournament. Thank you to everyone who
participated in making such an enjoyable experience for me and my family.
North Shore
Medical Facilities
In
the region served by Essex Heritage we are blessed with exceptional health
medical support, starting with North Shore Medical Center and their wonderful
affiliation with the number one Hospital in the country, Massachusetts General
Hospital where our family has been treated in the past. I served on the board of the old Salem
Hospital and I know how well organized that facility is managed. I cannot comment on the Leahy Clinic as I
have had no direct connection with them, but their reputation is impeccable.
My
commentary today concerns another local care facility, Beverly Hospital. I have been a patient at that hospital on a
number of occasions and always received great care. A couple of days ago my primary care doctor
sent me to the Beverly Hospital Emergency Room to have a condition
checked. The service that I received
was exemplary. They were efficient and prompt, but most of all they were very caring
when attending to my issue. It is incredible the choices we have at hand in
this region
The
value of these local medical facilities has never been more important to
us. The Boston Globe recently reported that as the local community
hospitals get ready to deal with reduced Government funds and a real pressure
to reduce the cost of medical services and the pressure to remain profitable
will become a primary goal of management teams. In 2011, 33% of the local hospitals in the
State lost money. We can only hope that
the local facilities will continue to provide meaningful medical services while
still remaining profitable as that will continue to be most important.
Boston Red Sox
Dilemma
After
the demise of the Red Sox last September, with a seven win month it seemed as
if that was the low point for that franchise, but their play this year has been
much worse, and that is truly an incredible event. They started September, 2012 at a worse
level than last year, and recently fell into the cellar of the American East
Division. The management of that franchise will have to offer casual fans,
season ticket holders and sponsors some indication that they have a plan for
next year that will produce more positive results to keep the boat afloat. The negative public relations that they are
presented with daily must be reversed.
They are falling further and further behind in popularity when they are
compared to other teams in the State.
That trend must be reversed in 2013.
