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November 2010 Headline Image
In This Issue
Annual Appeal 2010
Membership Month Thank You!
Welcome New Commissioners
PIP Awards Announced
National Park System Appoints Annie Harris
Trails & Sails Survey Results
Along the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway
Eagle Fest Excursion
Whittier Bridge
Essex LINCs Adds a Fourth Year
LINCs Museum Educator at NEMA
Editorially Essex
by Tom Leonard
Special Thanks to New Corporate Members
Essex Heritage Events
The Portland
Sunday, January 23
2:00 - 4:00 PM
The Shipwrecks of Stellwagon Bank

Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center
23 Harbor Loop
Gloucester, MA 01930
Join maritime archaeologists Deborah Marx and Matthew Lawrence for this favorite event; a tour of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary's historic shipwrecks to uncover the mysteries and secrets hidden beneath the waves. The two-hour event will include a showing of the 45-minute Science Channel's Viewers Choice Award documentary "The Wreck of the Portland," followed by a presentation on Sanctuary maritime heritage projects and a tour of the Sanctuary's exhibit in the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center.
Find out more...
Not a Member? Join here.

Wed, November 17
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Sustainable Communities and the MetroBoston Consortium
60 Temple Place,
Boston MA, 02111
Curious about the recent Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant awarded to MAPC?  Learn more about the role of the MetroBoston Consortium and how your organization can get involved.  Director of Regional Plan Implementation, Amy Cotter, and MAPC Policy Analyst, Jessie Grogan, will discuss the consortium along with the plans for the grant. Free, space is limited, find out more.

Friday, November 19
6:00 - 10:00 PM
seARTS Celebrating the Guitar Benefit Concert
Bass Rocks Golf Club, 34 Beach Road, Gloucester
Jazz legend Larry Coryell and  renowned guitarists Ken Bonfield and Steve Davison will lead an inspiring tour of the world of American fingerstyle guitar in a benefit for the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts on Nov. 19. "Celebrating the Guitar: A Masters' Showcase" will feature country blues, ragtime and folk, traditional Celtic, jazz and classical pieces in an intimate caf�-style setting, appealing to fingerstyle guitar aficionados and newcomers alike. Find out more (pdf).

Saturday, November 20 1:00 PM
A Night in Santa's Great Big Bag
Wenham Museum
132 Main Street
Wenham, MA 01984
Meet award winning children's author Kristin Kaldstrup as she shares her story of A Night in Santa's Great Big Bag. It's Christmas Eve, and Louis's favorite stuffed animal, Lamb, couldn't be more excited. While Louis is asleep, Lamb tiptoes downstairs and climbs into Santa's great big bag of presents. Inside is a magical world, filled with new friends: other toys waiting to be delivered as gifts. But soon Lamb starts to miss Louis, and he worries he will never make his way back home. Fortunately, Santa is there to save the day, and Louis is just a short sleigh ride away. Kristin Kladstrup is also the author of Gingerbread Pirates. Book signing to follow. Find out more.

Nov. 20 - Dec. 4, 2010
Methuen Festival of Trees
Valley Office Park
13 Branch Street

Methuen, MA 01844
The 17th Annual Festival of Trees will feature more than 200 spectacular and sensational holiday trees to be raffled off at the end of the Festival. Our tree donors' creativity will impress! Begun as a fundraiser to support the restoration of the Tenney Gatehouse in Methuen, the Festival of Trees will soon reach $1,000,000 in funds spent to preserve our area's historic treasures and has been a catalyst for historic preservation in Methuen and the Merrimack Valley. For more info click here...

Friday, December 3, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Christmas in Salem Holiday House Tour
All 10* Decorated Houses Open On: Saturday, December 4, 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM & Sunday, December 5, 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Find out more.

Saturday, December 4, 4:00 PM
The Town of Middletown Celebrates Chief Will's Annual Winter Festival
Festivities include showing of the original Grinch cartoon, a jingle bells parade, SANTA(!), singing and Tree lighting!

Find out more.

Wenham Museum's 4th Annual Gingerbread Contest & Workshop
132 Main Street
Wenham, MA 01984

Workshop Details:
Thurs., Dec. 2, 6:30 PM
Learn the sweet joys of gingerbread construction as you decorate a cottage-sized gingerbread house. House and decorating supplies  provided or bring your own. Then enter the museum's Gingerbread Construction Contest or bring your cottage home! $25/person, Ages 12+.
Contest Details:
December 4-18
Gingerbread Express Display
Bakers start your ovens! Amateur and professional bakers are invited to enter an 18x18 gingerbread creation to be displayed in The Gingerbread Express model train layout.
To register for the contest or other programs, please call the museum 978-468-2377 or click here.

December 4, 4 - 6 PM &
December 11, 1-3 PM
Wreath Making
Green Meadows Farm
656 Asbury Street
Hamilton, MA
Mark your calendar for Wreath Making events at the farm.  You will get a balsam wreath plus all the greens, goodies and a choice of bow to make it your own. Wreaths are $30 each, pay in advance when you sign up at the farmstand (spaces are very limited). To find out more call 978-468-2277.

Sunday, December 5
1:30 - 4:00 PM
Schooner Adventure Holiday Tea
Inn Magnolia
18 Norman Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01830
Schooner Adventure will hold a Holiday Tea and mini boutique. Enjoy finger foods while  sampling Upton Specialty Teas. Raffles, music and crafts. $8/person. For more info click here or call 978-281-8079.

Saturday, December 11
10:00 AM - 4 :00 PM
The 2010 Holiday House Tour - Newburyport
Prepare yourself for a treasured celebration of our holiday traditions.  Celebrating its 17th year,
the tour will feature ten prominent homes all decorated in splendid holiday fashion! Highlights include an elegant Greek revival, a stately Georgian reproduction, the historical Wheelwright House plus an "over 55" gated community retreat and a magnificently restored 1700's Farmhouse. Find out more.
Quick Links
Read About the Region
This new book by Melissa Mannon advocates for the security of cultural knowledge, memory and identity. Learn how collaboration can help ensure that your community history is thoroughly documented and preserved for future generations.
Author Melissa Mannon is an archivist, cultural heritage consultant and author of the ArchivesInfo blog and newsletter. She encourages cultural heritage organizations to work collaboratively with local governments, businesses, and individuals who keep records in order to identify archives and plan for their care. For information on purchasing click here.
Essex HeritageAnnual Appeal 2010 - 2011
Essex Heritage 2010 Annual AppealA people without the knowledge
of their past history, origin
and culture is like a tree
without roots.

 ~ Marcus Garvey

Essex Heritage advocates on behalf of all resources in every part of the Heritage Area.  Essex Heritage is the tie that binds the region together -  transcending community boundaries to build regional collaborations that strengthen the impact and sustainability of each diverse resource and organization in this area. Please honor the incredible resources of the Essex National Heritage Area with a gift of any size to our Annual Appeal. 

Donate online, or respond to the letter that will arrive in your mailbox shortly. Your gift will advance our work - and it will support the spectacular and nationally significant place that we call home!
Membership Month Thank YOU!

Thank you for your support during our first ever membership month! We were so pleased by the committments we received from new and renewing members.

Essex Heritage would like to extend special thanks to Beverly Cooperative Bank for becoming a Sustainer Circle member. In addition we are pleased to welcome the Granite Savings Bank as a Benefactor Circle Member and Institution for Savings, and Rockport National Bank as Supporter Circle members. Thank you for helping to kick off our first ever membership month! 


It is never too late to join! Your Essex Heritage Membership makes a great holiday gift and helps to support programs that enhance, preserve and promote the unique historic, cultural and natural resources found within the Essex National Heritage Area, provides opportunities to discover special places and experiences throughout the county and is tax-deductible. Join today. To view all corporate members and opportunities for your business to join, visit our membership page.

Welcome New Commissioners!
On October 26, 2010, Essex Heritage held its annual fall commission meeting. Essex Heritage President, Kevin Tierney of Saugusbank, announced the following new members elected to the Essex Heritage Board of Trustees:
  • Anita Blackaby, the House of Seven Gables
  • Jason Korb, Capstone Communities LLC
  • William Piercey, Chase & Lunt Insurance Co. and Board President of the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
Two members of the Essex Heritage Board of Trustees, who served the organization for nine years joined the ranks of Trustee Emeriti. They were:
  • Julie McConchie, Executive Director of the North of Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • William Pickles, of Andover, former manager of the Maria Miles Visitor Center in Salisbury
Nine new commissioners were appointed for three year terms:
  • Tatiana Burgos-Espinal, North Shore Community College
  • Ralph Castagna, Castagna Construction
  • Joe Geller, Geller Micro Analytical Lab, Inc.
  • Stephen Immerman, Montserrat College of Art
  • John Keohane, Henry's Market
  • Tom McNulty, retired Clerk, Town of Marblehead
  • Karen Nascembeni, North Shore Music Theatre
  • Nathaniel Pulsifer, Coburn Charitable Society
  • Michael Schulze, Peabody Community Preservation Committee
Read more about the annual fall commission meeting here.
Pioneers in Partnership Announced!
Essex Heritage Pioneers in Partnership (PIP) Awards are presented annually to individuals and/or organizations that have shown leadership in promoting regional cooperation among the Area's resources and organizations. Recipients of this award exemplify the spirit of partnership, helping the Area work together to preserve, promote, and enhance the historic, cultural and natural resources of the region. This year's recipients were announced at the Annual Meeting in October by Essex Heritage President Emeritus, Thomas M. Leonard.  They included: Karen Kline, American Community Think Tank; Ingrid Barry, Danvers Bi-Peds; and the Coastal Trails Coalition, Inc. Read more about this year's recipients and their achievements here.
National Park System Advisory Board Planning Committee Appoints Annie Harris
Annie C. Harris, Executive Director, Essex HeritageEssex National Heritage Commission Executive Director, Annie Harris has been appointed to a prestigious two-year term on the Planning Committee of the National Park System Advisory Board by the Honorable Tony Knowles of Anchorage, Alaska, Chairman. The primary purpose of the Planning Committee is to recommend a vision and guidelines for a National Park System plan. As a member of the committee, and as the only member representing the perspective of the National Heritage Area movement, Ms. Harris will offer her expertise and advice about the role of National Parks and the National Park Service programs in addressing a wide range of purposes, including natural resource conservation, historic preservation, education, recreation and civic engagement. "I am thrilled to commit time and energy to the Planning Committee's work," acknowledged Ms. Harris, "I know I will find it interesting, rewarding and an opportunity to demonstrate the tremendous value of the Heritage Area concept within the National Park Service and the constituencies it serves." Read more here.
Trails
Trails & Sails Survey Results
Each year, we survey Trails & Sails participants and site hosts in an effort to constantly improve the quality and variety of this popular outreach event. Over 5000 people participated in Trails & Sails events this year and we value the feedback we received from respondents. In recent years, we have solicited votes for events to receive a "Peoples' Choice Award" and recognize our top vote-garnering sites with framed certificates. Please join us in applauding this year's winners, who have all had a long-standing relationship with Essex Heritage and Trails & Sails: 
  • 1st - Essex County Mushroom Hunt with Essex Heritage Commissioner host, Forrester "Tim" Clark
  • 2nd - Hiking a Coastal Treasure with The Trustees of Reservations at the Crane Estate
  • 3rd - Cruising the Essex River with Essex River Cruises and Charters
We would like to congratulate a few Trails & Sails survey participants who were randomly selected to receive Essex Heritage mugs as a token of our appreciation. Congratulations to; Alexandra Holbrook, Catherine Bradbury, Donna Collins, Linda Mahajan and Jeff Cochand.

TRAILS & SAILS 2010: Two Weekends of Walks & Water was 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 
Along the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway Find  us on Facebook
The 85-mile coastal route from Lynn to Newburyport
Meetings Continue in Byway Communities

Public meetings continue this fall in the scenic byway's host communities. Essex Heritage staff and the byway consultant team will introduce the overall scenic byway program and solicit input regarding its benefits, opportunities, and management. During the evening meetings local residents can view maps, hear a short presentation, and discuss their ideas with the byway project team. All are welcome. See the meeting dates and locations here.

 

Thatched Roofs Restored at Pioneer Village

In late September an Irish-born master thatcher from Ohio applied his worldly skills to the several structures in Pioneer Village, a re-created 1630 village located just off the byway in Salem's Forest Park. Read more.

 

Gold Coast Trains Discussed

In a recent installment of "Essex County Chronicles" Salem-based historian Jim McAllister recounts how the arrival of train service in the mid-1800s spurred the transformation of the area's coastal farms into summer estates for the wealthy. Read more


Eagle Festival activity in 2010
Eagle Fest Photo Excursion
Essex Heritage is pleased to partner New England Photo Workshops to expand your Heritage opportunities! We've teamed up to plan a full day photo excursion on February 11, 2011 just in time for the Merrimack River Eagle Festival on February 12, 2011!
Travel together on foot and by carpool to experience inspiration along the Merrimack River:
  • Photograph various landscapes around Newburyport, .
  • Learn new techniques in the field with an expert team
  • Join classroom and photo critique sessions.
  • Capture the majesty of the bald eagle and other wildlife in their natural habitat with naturalist guides.
  • Expand your experience with optional accommodations at local historic hotels & inns at a special rate.
To register or for more information, click here.
Whittier Bridge News
There will be a Public Information Hearing for the Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project taking place today, Wednesday, November 17th, 6:30-8:30 PM at the Amesbury Middle School Performance Center, 220 Main Street, Amesbury. Please consider attending this very important hearing.

As its centerpiece, the Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project involves the replacement of the Whittier Bridge over the Merrimack River. It is one of the most significant projects to be undertaken by MassDOT under the Commonwealth's $3 billion Accelerated Bridge Program. The purpose of this meeting is to present the public with an update on the environmental analysis for the highway widening and bridge river crossing alternatives that are being evaluated as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment process.

The completed project will result in four travel lanes, a shoulder adjacent to the high speed travel lane and a breakdown lane in each direction along the length of the project corridor. The project will improve safety and reduce congestion with additional I-95 lane capacity. The project also includes the replacement or reconstruction of four adjacent bridges along I-95 in Amesbury and Newburyport. Read more about the Whittier Bridge Project here.
Essex LINCs Continues Educator Workshops for a Fourth Year

On a beautiful October day, the new cohort met at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham to discuss how local history can motivate and inform student learning. The National Archives is a great place to explore the notion of local documents as a reflection of national trends. Teachers took part in a tour and were able to "go behind the scenes" to see spaces usually reserved for researchers. In the afternoon teachers were able to "try out" three lessons created by our museum educator, Rebecca Zimmerman. This workshop begins a set of four sessions for local educators in and around Essex County. We are accepting applications for the last cohort which will begin in January 2011. For more information visit our homepage.

LINCs Museum Educator Presents at New England Museum Association Meeting

It's More Than Just Social Studies...a presentation of interdisciplinary museum activities was the focus of a recent workshop session at the New England Museum Association's annual meeting in Springfield.


Joined by staff from the National Park Service and the Cape Ann Museum, Rebecca Zimmerman led a lively discussion of how small museums can adapt existing programs or create new ones to meet the needs of elementary school teachers with little time on their hands for just social studies' subjects. By examining existing curriculum frameworks and looking at the assets of a museum collection in a new way, hopefully historic sites can encourage educators to have their students see history in a continuum and realize the connections made to art, language arts and mathematics. For a further discussion of this topic, contact Rebecca.

ENHA LogoEditorially Essex
by Tom Leonard
At the Semi-Annual Meeting of Essex Heritage at the Carriage House at Lynch Park in Beverly on October 26, 2010, four prestigious regional awards were provided to several outstanding individuals.  The achievements and the results of the work accomplished by this group have played an important continuing role in the success of this region.  A brief background on the winners follows. Read more...
Special thanks to New Corporate Members

Beverly Cooperative Bank logo and link


Institution for Savings logo and link
Rockport National Bank logo and link
Join Our Mailing List
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.