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July - August 2010 Headline Image
In This Issue
House Committee Action
Heritage Area Caucus Formed
Trails & Sails 2010 News
Inaugural Friendship Passenger Sails!
Membership Program Update
Along the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway
Salem Maritime Festival
Photo Contest
Partnership Grant Spotlight
America's Great Outdoors
Editorially Essex
by Tom Leonard
Essex Heritage Events
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Thursday, November 4 5:30-7:30 PM
From Vine to Wine!
Jewell Towne Vineyard
183 Whitehall Road
South Hampton, NH (map)
Enjoy a fall evening at a New England vineyard!
The evening will include a tour of Jewell Towne Vineyard and the cellar with Derek Brock, vineyard manager and wine maker. Derek has been making wine at Jewell Towne for over 10 years and is well-equipped to share the ins and outs of wine making as well as the history of this North Shore gem. Derek will walk us through the wine making process from the recently harvested vineyard to 12,000 gallons of wine that will be fermenting in the cellar! Find out more...

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Wednesday, August 4
Guided Tour of New Deal for Lawrence
Lawrence History Center
6 Essex Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
You will want to be here! Don't miss this opportunity! Docents on hand to walk and talk with you about the Depression - era exhibit about Lawrence in the 1930's.
Archival footage of the WPA, Hurricane of 1938, Dust Bowl will be shown. Audio of FDR's Fireside chats. Where?Lawrence Heritage State Park When? 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Free and open to all Bring a sandwich - beverages will be provided. Find out more.

Tea with Mrs. Jack
Saturday, August 7

12:00 & 3:00 PM
Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House
75 Eastern Point Blvd. Gloucester, MA
Enjoy afternoon tea on the Beauport terrace overlooking Gloucester Harbor, watch a performance by actress Jessa Piaia portraying Isabella Stewart Gardner, arts patroness and frequent visitor to Eastern Point. Afterwards, Piaia stays in character as she mingles with the guests. The tea is followed by a tour of the house. Rain date, Sun., Aug. 8. Registration is required. Call 978-283-0800. Find out more.

Period Music at The Gables
Saturday, August 14 1:00-3:00 PM

115 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970
Join Jennifer and Bob Strom in the garden to hear a number of dance tunes performed on fiddle, guitar and flute. Social dance was popular in Salem in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Many of these lively and popular tunes were carried here from England, Scotland and Ireland by the immigrants settling in the area. Find out more.

Annual Car Meet
Sunday, August 15 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Chestnut Street
Salem, MA
Vintage and antique vehicles will be on display, there will be special tours of the Phillips House and Carriage House, including a close-up look at the two Pierce-Arrows, Model A Ford, and five carriages on display in the collection. Special family activities and games in the backyard. Jazz will be provided by the Trent Austin Duo. Light refreshments provided as well. Free. Find out more.

Seven Lectures at the Seven Gables: Salem Trading By Sea
Sunday, August 29, 2 PM
115 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970
Jim McAllister will provide information on the original Turner and Ingersoll families responsible for the creation, evolution, and longevity of the home which inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The House of the Seven Gables.
Tickets: $10, $5 for members of The House of the Seven Gables, Historic New England or The Salem Athenĉum. Reservations: please call 978-744-0991 ext. 104. Find out more.

Spicket River Cleanup
Saturday, September 11
Each year we provide trash bags, gloves, and dumpsters for volunteers to utilize, logistical support, and a celebratory lunch for all donors and volunteers. Find out more.
Congratulations!
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Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Maguire Meservey and Salem State College upon the passage of state legislation that grants University status to the institution effective October 28. The entire legislative delegation worked tirelessly to make this change possible. Essex Heritage acknowledges the special leadership of Sen. Fred Berry and Rep. John Keenan in this effort.
 
Read About the Region
Life in Newburyport
A lifelong resident of Newburyport, author Jean Foley Doyle has written a book about the city, Life in Newburyport: 1950-1985 which is a follow-up to her earlier book, Life in Newburyport: 1900-1950. Her latest book covers some of the most tumultuous years in Newburyport's history and chronicles the city's struggles as it rises from its designation as a distressed area to achieve the role of a "model city." This book is a gift to the city and to future generations. For more information click here.
 
Where In Essex
County?
Where in Essex County is this?Where in Essex County was this picture taken? Be the first to let us know and win a mug! Hint, Essex Heritage staff visited this spot on our staff outing last week...Email us with your answer. Click on image to see larger version.
 
House Committee Action
We are very please to announce that the US House Subcommittee on Natural Resources has voted to restore the funding for the National Heritage Areas and two essential historic preservation programs - Save America's Treasurers and Preserve America -  to the same level as last year. The President's budget had cut the NHA by 50% and eliminate all funding for the two historic preservation programs. There was a ground swell of support throughout the Essex National Heritage Area and across the country from other National Heritage Areas, from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and from local and state preservationists - in support for restoring these critical funds. Essex Heritage thanks all of you who sent photos of "I love Essex Heritage" and who wrote in support.
Heritage Area Caucus Formed:
Local Congressional Support
Essex Heritage staff in DC with Nikki TsongasEssex Heritage joined its sister Heritage Area organizations across the country in a rally and press event on U.S. Capitol grounds on Tuesday, June 15 where the formation of a National Heritage Area House Caucus was announced by Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Congressman Charles W. Dent (R-PA). Essex Heritage representatives visited with Congressman John F. Tierney and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas who represent the 34 cities and towns that comprise the Essex National Heritage Area. They also met with key Congressional staff members to discuss key strategic priorities the Caucus will focus on. Both Congressional members were quick to add their support by joining the House caucus, citing the Heritage Area's strong track record of programmatic results in promoting and preserving Area historic, cultural and natural resources. Read more here (pdf).
Trails & Sails logo and link
Trails & Sails 2010 News
Thanks to new and returning site hosts, over 100 Trails & Sails events have been scheduled for the 9th Annual TRAILS & SAILS weekends, September 17-19 and 24-26! NEW this year, a TRAILS & SAILS MOBILE website has been developed to allow the on-the-road participant easy access to up-to-the minute event information and google map directions. The mobile website will provide smart phone users on the go with essential event information in a more readable format as a backup to the printed guide and on-line event schedule.  
 
Pickering Web DesignThank you to Jeanne Pickering and Pickering Web Design for being the first Heritage Area business to sponsor a Trails & Sails host (pdf) in our electronic and printed guide, with sponsorship of the 2009 Trails & Sails Fan Favorite - The Art of Cheese-Making at Valley View Farm in Topsfield. Jeanne, a Topsfield resident and long-time fan of the Mulholland family farm enterprise, is pleased to support Trails & Sails in this special way.
 
Access the online guide later this month and obtain your free hard-copy guide at any of the 10 regional visitor centers after September 1. Guides mailed from Essex Heritage are available for a $5.00 fee to cover printing and postage.

TRAILS & SAILS 2010: Two Weekends of Walks & Water is presented by TD Bank, with additional financial support from Eastern Bank and other local sponsors.
TD Bank logo and link
Eastern bank logo and link 
Inaugural Friendship Passenger Sails!
Friendship of Salem under sail click for ticket infoGrab your windbreaker, sunglasses and a pair of binoculars for the ride of a lifetime! It is with great excitement that we announce that National Park Service tall ship, Friendship of Salem, has successfully completed all necessary US Coast Guard certification and sea trails, enabling her to board commercial passengers on day sails!
This is a dream come true for Patricia Trap, Salem Maritime's Superintendent and her staff and volunteer crew. The Inaugural Friendship Passenger Sails program will be piloted Sept 4th and 5th as Friendship sails to Gloucester for the annual Schooner Festival.

Be a part of history! Ticket prices for this extraordinary opportunity include a 6 hour sail, the opportunity to help sail the vessel as a volunteer and participate on supervised "watches", interact with Park Service interpreters who will share information about the ship, life of the crew and officers and the China trade that made Salem a port of international renown. A delicious lunch, snacks and beverages provided by the Ship's capable cook. All ticketed passengers will receive a special edition ­Friendship of Salem logo'd cap with the date of the Inaugural Sail.
Membership Program Update
Newburyport Five Cent Savings Bank logo and linkWe are so pleased with the reception the New Essex Heritage Membership Program has experienced since its Wire 4 Hire logo and linklaunch on July 1! An outpouring of response from individual and corporate contributors has helped kick off this initiative with great success. Special thanks to Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank and Wire 4 Hire, Electrical Contractors in Salem, who have both joined at corporate membership levels. If you are interested in joining, take a moment to review membership opportunities. Thank you for your continued support!
Along the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway Find  us on Facebook
The 85-mile coastal route from Lynn to Newburyport
Summer and fall are great times to explore the byway's coastline up close. The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) has two online tools that feature maps and descriptions to aid your discovery of the region's most dominant feature. Check 'em out at Massachusetts Coast Guide to Boston and the North Shore and Online Locator of Coastal Public Access Sites.
 
In Beverly, there is still time to catch an outdoor evening concert. The city's recreation department hosts two free summer concerts series at locations just off the byway: Lynch Park Concerts, Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m., and Concerts on the Commons, Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information  click here.
          
Providing direct easy vehicle access to the scenic byway from Boston and Logan Airport is critical to its success. Read why others think access is a priority too (pdf).
Salem Maritime Festival
On Friday, August 6th and Saturday, August 7th, 2010, a flotilla of ships from ports far and near will converge at Salem Maritime National Historic Site to celebrate the 22nd annual Salem Maritime Festival! This year, the National Park Service offers a special salute to our fishing heritage, as well as the free family fun, live music and traditional maritime crafts that the Maritime Festival is well-known for. The event is organized and hosted by Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
 
The tall ship Friendship of Salem will be joined in port by Schooner Thomas E. Lannon and Schooner Fame of Salem, both with unique seafaring stories to tell. These visiting craft will offer free rides around the harbor (random ticket drawings held 30 minutes prior to departure at the Central Wharf boat ramp). A full schedule of boat rides, children's waterfront activities, Junior Ranger Programs and an exciting array of maritime demonstrations can be found on the Salem Maritime website. Read more about the Salem Maritime Festival (pdf)!
Essex Heritage 2010 Photo ContestENHA Logo
Get snapping! Enter your photos in the 2010 Essex Heritage Photo Contest to win some amazing prizes!
 
All photographers are welcome to submit images to the Essex Heritage Photo Contest that capture the essence of the Essex National Heritage Area or speak to Essex Heritage's role in preserving the historic, cultural and natural treasures of Essex County.  All photographs must be taken within the Essex National Heritage Area and submitted by October 1, 2010. Click here for 2010 contest categories, Rules & Regulations and to download your entry form.

Partnership Grant Spotlight:
Middleton Re-issues Trail Guide
The Town of Middleton has re-issued its popular guidebook to the town's trail system, "Hiking for Health and History." Exemplifying the spirit of the Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program, the town's board of health and conservation commission collaborated on the 84-page publication. Funded in part with a 2008 Partnership grant and illustrated with maps, photographs and public health information, the guidebook effectively promotes passive recreation, education, and the exploration of the town's ample natural and historic resources. Canoe trips on the town's waterways are also described.
 
The guidebook was produced as part of the "Middleton in Motion: Moving towards better health in the community" campaign to promote physical activity within Middleton. The trail booklet may be downloaded here (pdf).

America's Great Outdoors
America's Great Outdoors is a new initiative of the Obama administration. The Department of Interior, US Agriculture Department and Environmental Protection Agency are working together seeking ideas for ways to conserve and reconnect Americans to the great outdoors. Essex Heritage executive director, Annie Harris, recently attended a "listening session" in Philadelphia to discuss this new program. "There was a lot of energy and many good ideas," she said. More than three hundred people gathered to discuss "what works", "what are the challenges", and "what is the Federal Government's role?"   The conclusion from this session was that public-private partnerships such as those fostered by the Natonal Heritage Area program really work. The small federal investment that goes into the Heritage Areas and other preservation programs such as Save America's Treasures and Preserve America are very beneficial. Not only do these programs proved to be effective in preserving historic, cultural and natural resources - but they also produced more jobs for much less cost than the stimulus bill. Join in the conversation and share your ideas to protect the places you love here.
ENHA LogoEditorially Essex
by Tom Leonard
At the end of July, the Essex Heritage Executive Committee met to hear a report from the Commission leadership on progress toward the established long-range planning goals. Since its inception the Commission has been assisted with an annual appropriation that has been offered through our affiliation with the National Park Service and the wonderful support of the Washington Congressional delegation. That appropriation has provided Essex Heritage the ability to develop and offer many programs that benefit this region. Read more...
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News from the Essex National Heritage Area is a monthly electronic newsletter for members, non members and site partners of Essex Heritage. Our mission is to raise the visibility of the Essex National Heritage Area and all its historical, cultural and natural resources, and promote our ongoing activities. Articles that are 150 words or less and fit the editorial scope of our newsletter may be submitted to Essex Heritage for publication. We reserve the right to select an article or portion of an article whose content is found appropriate and edit it for publication.