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Photo Safari Season Has Arrived!
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Experience inspiration... With a state-of-the-art digital camera in hand, capture unique and stunning Essex National Heritage Area landscapes and historic sites! For more information or to register click here or call (978) 740-0444.
Photo Safari: Tamron
Saturday, June 18
7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
Register
Photo Safari: Nikon
Saturday, July 9
Brooksby Farm
7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Register
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Register
Photo Safari: Canon
Saturday, July 30
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Phillips House & the Gardens of Salem
Register
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Welcome!
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Essex Heritage would like to extend a warm welcome to Zachary Peterson. Zac will be working at Essex Heritage for the summer as an intern through the Cornell University Funded Nonprofit Program. He will be working on various projects including the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway and Trails & Sails. Zac just finished his first year at Cornell University, and has a strong interest in archaeology and photography. In fact, he made his first introduction to Essex Heritage as a photo contest participant in 2006!
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June is...
strawberry time in Essex County! Visit your local farm or find your farmers market. Visit Northeast Harvest.
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Thursday, June 163:00 PM - 7:00 PMSalem Farmers' MarketOpening DayOld Town HallDerby Square, Front St. Salem, MAStop by Thursdays through October. Find out more. June 2011 National Trails Day Celebration: ALL MONTH!The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR) TTOR loves their trails so much, they are celebrating National Trail Day all month! Join them! Whether you come out to help clean up your favorite Trustees trail or strap on your boots to explore a new reservation, they have events and activities for all ages and abilities at reservations across the state. Find out more. June 2011Select Saturdays, 10AMSummer 2011Walking ToursCape AnnHistorical Museum27 Pleasant StreetGloucester, MA 01930Join Cape Ann Historical Museum for special art oriented walking tours. Space is limited. Reservations required. Call (978) 283-0455 x 11. June 18: Fitz Henry Lane's Gloucester. July 16: Margaret Fitzhugh Browne's Annisquam Walking Tour. July 23: Hopper's Houses Find out more about these and other events here. Wednesday June 152:00 - 3:30 PMHigh Tea & HistoryAndover Historical Society97 Main StreetAndover, MA 01810In the 19th century, Abbot Village was one of Andover's four mill districts and was the site of Andover's earliest textile mills. Join Andover historian Jim Batchelder as he tells the story of one of Andover's early mill villages and share your own memories of industrial Andover. Pre-registration appreciated. Space is limited.Call:(978) 475-2236. Find out more here. Saturday, June 189:00 AM - 12:00 PMExplore Your ParksCome out and join the fun! The Department of Conservation and Recreation invites you, the local community to get outside. Find out more. Saturday, June 1810:00 AM - 4:00 PMPathways to the Past: Men, Money & MachinesNorth Andover
Historical Society153 Academy RoadN. Andover, MA 01845Styled on the North Andover Historical Society's successful garden tour format, this year's focus will be the exciting history of North Andover's premier mill village and the company it was named for: Davis & Furber. Tickets and info. available here. Sunday, June 262:00-5:00 PMA Feast of Flowers Celebrating WhittierMaudslay Arts Center95 Curzon Mill RoadNewburyport, MA 01950Celebrate John Greenleaf Whittier's love of nature and gather to share poems, enjoy food and good friendship. Please join us at the for the festivities. Poetry by Rhina Espaillat, classical guitarist, John Tavano, Summer Buffet, Silent and Live Auction and more. Funds generated support the preservation of this National Historic Landmark and will be used to funding educational programs. Find out more. June 27, 2011Deadline to submit Trails & Sails events! Contact Emily to find out more. July 6 Traditional Cordage and Line HandlingEssex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum66 Main StreetEssex, MA 01929Learn traditional cordage and line handling with Gardi Winchester II. Find out more. Summer 2011 Past FindersSummer ProgramHaverhill Historical Society/Buttonwoods Museum 240 Water StreetHaverhill, MA 01830Session I: July 12-15 Revolutionary RebelChildren learn about the American Revolution through crafts, food, and field trips. Session II: August 9-12Archie & The GangChildren learn about Archie Andrews and his connection to Havehill. Learn what Haverhill was like in the 1930s, when Archie's first illustrator, Bob Montana, attended Haverhill High School. View artifacts, learn how to draw cartoons & create stories from real life. Two great weeks this summer! Email or visit the website here to find out more.
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Thank you!
The Essex National Heritage Commission, in partnership with the National Park Service, would like to thank all who supported, attended and participated in our most successful Heritage Hero Award Dinner.
On May 19, 250 people gathered at the Danversport Yacht Club to honor Dr. Wayne Burton, President, North Shore Community College, Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor of Salem and Wayne Marquis, Danvers Town Manager. Despite the cool weather, the warmth of the evening was apparent as families, friends and colleagues came from around the region to celebrate these honorees, their commitment to regionalism and dedication to improving the quality of life on the North Shore.
A special thanks to our major corporate sponsors! Danversbank, Eastern Bank, Salem Five, Saugusbank, Hunts Photo & Video, North Shore Community College, The Provident Bank as well as Hawthorne Hotel, Salem State University and Northeast Health Systems. Thanks to Flores Mantilla for the beautiful floral arrangements donated to our celebration.
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Essex National Heritage Area Could Be Split Between New Congressional Districts
Massachusetts is undergoing Congressional Redistricting and the Essex National Heritage Area risks being divided between two or three congressional districts. Why does this matter? We have a coherent area that works together as a region. While other congressional districts in Mass. have changed their shape in response to politics, the 6th district has remained largely intact in its present configuration since the mid 19th century. Our unity and history contributed to our designation as a National Heritage Area and have sustained Essex Heritage's regional work on trails, historic themes and sites, and the scenic byway.
Massachusetts Joint Redistricting Committee is meeting on June 20 at 6:00 PM at Lynn City Hall. This is the opportunity for all citizens to attend and urge the committee to keep the North Shore and Lower Merrimack Valley together in one
congressional district. Read more here (pdf). |
TRAILS & SAILS Update
Event Submission Deadline, June 27
Each year, Essex Heritage coordinates fun and free weekends to celebrate the many organizations, businesses and events around this heritage area. This year marks the 10th anniversary - join us as we celebrate 10 years of TRAILS & SAILS.
Want to bring new visitors to your site? Sign up to host a fun event. The deadline is June 27 so don't wait!! If you would like to participate as an event host please email Emily or give us a call at 978-740-0444. We can help with ideas for a fun event to bring new visitors to you.
Benefit Night, June 28
A special thanks to Flatbread Company in Amesbury for having a night to celebrate Trails & Sails. Please join us in an evening of good food and fund raising: Tuesday, June 28 at Flatbread Company in Amesbury. Come hungry; bring your friends and family. Flatbread will donate a portion of each pizza sold during the evening! This is a delicious opportunity to support your favorite annual event.
Trails & Sails is generously sponsored by:
  
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Scenic Byway Logo Unveiled
 One of the high priority recommendations of the recently completed Corridor Management Plan was creation of byway logo. With thanks to the creative marketing firm of New Arts Collaborative (Rae Francoeur and George Courage) and favored by those attending the Essex Heritage annual spring meeting, a striking new logo can now be used by byway partners to promote their presence on the byway.
Essex Boosters Remain Positive
In the face of a down economy and a multi-year road project in their midst, the merchants of Essex look toward to the future. Read the Gloucester Daily Times article here.
Swampscott Harbor Festival, June 25
Local festivals are a sure sign of summer's fast approach. This one in Swampscott features a "duct tape regatta," teen band concert, and a bonfire - all right on the byway. Read more here.
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Merrimack River Trail Initiative Launched
In support of its mission to preserve and enhance the region's historical, cultural and natural resources, Essex Heritage, in partnership with the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC), recently launched a planning project focused on the development of the Merrimack River Trail, a 50-mile, 17-communty, multimodal recreational trail along the Merrimack River in Massachusetts.
Funded with a Recreational Trails Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the early stage effort entails documenting existing and potential routes and preparing recommendations regarding the trail's future development. The project is being conducted in cooperation with the Merrimack River Watershed Council and Northern Middlesex Council of Governments. For more information, please contact Essex Heritage at 978-740-0444. Read more...
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Border to Boston Trail Design Begins
 Nearly six years after Essex Heritage helped to secure federal funding for the project, engineers are set to begin designing a 16-mile portion of the Border to Boston Trail. Following recent federal and state approvals, the planning project will focus on the undeveloped sections of the former Boston and Maine Railroad right-of-way in Salisbury, Newbury, Georgetown, and Boxford. The scope of work entails surveying the route, addressing any environmental issues, engineering the trail itself, and determining construction costs.
Overall, the 28-mile, eight-community Border to Boston Trail is will extend from the New Hampshire border at Salisbury to Danvers. With several sections already in use, and with links to miles of local trails, the non-motorized, multi-use trail, is becoming one of the region's most outstanding recreational assets. Visit the Border to Boston website.
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Partnership Grant Spotlight
Salisbury Completes Burial Ground Project
Using a 2010 Essex Heritage  Partnership Grant the Town of Salisbury recently created a baseline survey of the town's oldest cemetery: the Old Colonial Burial Ground laid out in 1639. The survey and boundary plan is a crucial first step towards developing a preservation plan for the cemetery, which is expected to serve as a model for the town's other historic burying grounds. In addition to identifying the cemetery's boundary, the survey also plotted the location of all headstones, monuments, and significant landscape features, including walls, fences, gates, roads, paths, large trees, major monuments and memorials.
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Friendship Sails! September 3 & 4, 2011
Grab your windbreaker, sunglasses and a pair of binoculars for
 | | Photo by Leighton O'Connor |
the ride of a lifetime! It is with great excitement that we announce that the National Park Service tall ship, Friendship of Salem, will once again welcome commercial passengers on day sails when she travels to and participates in the annual Gloucester Schooner Festival on Saturday, September 3rd and Sunday, September 4th, 2011.
Be part of history as a passenger-crew member aboard Friendship! Last year's participants described the experience as an "absolutely fantastic, once in a lifetime experience"! The excursion includes a 6 hour sail, opportunities to help as a volunteer crew-member and views of the festival's participating schooners. In addition, during your, excursion Park Service interpreters will share information about the ship and maritime history.
Join us! Learn more about Friendship Sails! here. |
Amesbury Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Essex National Heritage Commission's Executive Director
On May 18, at their Good News Business Salute Breakfast the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce recognized three local organizations: Good Gracious, Essex Heritage and Kramer Scientific/Merrimac Tool Co., Inc.
Annie C. Harris, Essex National Heritage Area Executive Director, was recognized for her contributions and efforts in the Merrimack Valley. Ms. Harris has been active for many years in civic and community organizations around the Merrimack Valley. She was a leader in starting a collaborative effort between the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Commission to bring the Heritage Landscape Inventory program to communities in Essex County.
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Connecting Essex LINCs
 For the past four years, elementary educators in Essex County have attended seminars in which they gained access to primary sources and brought them into their classrooms in new and unique ways. Through an Essex National Heritage Commission partnership with Beverly Public Schools, the National Archives and Records Administration, and Salem State University, Connecting Essex LINCs, a federally funded Teaching American History grant, has positioned teachers to tell those stories. Now in its final weeks, the program has completed 28 workshops and 5 week long summer institutes. Approximately 145 teachers visited local historic sites and participated in "try-outs" of multi-level lessons. They, in turn, created approximately 300 activities with those resources.
At each workshop, university scholars explored the broad themes of "governing," "working," or "peopling" the Area. Lessons ranged from a recreation of a typical 19thc town meeting to an eagle concentration game aimed at familiarizing young students with a national symbol. Activities used an inquiry method that encourages students to interact with source material, taking a hands-on approach. Primary sources from over 20 different communities within Essex County were located, digitized, transcribed and put into lessons. Those lessons and primary sources can be located on the grant website. |
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