header
 image bar
In This Issue
America's Great Outdoors Listening Session Comes to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
Voices from NHA Directors on America's Great Outdoor Listening Sessions:
NHA: Smart, Green and Working
ANHA Congressional Caucus Created
Schuylkill River Heritage Area Partners with Free Bike Share Program
Heritage Development Conference Highlights International and National Issues
Gullah/Geechee Field Session at ANHA Conference
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area now includes Carrie Furnace Site
BOOKS: One Minute A Free Woman: Elizabeth Freeman and the Struggle for Freedom
Virginia Gov. McDonnell supports battlefield preservation
What is ... Blackstone Valley 101?
Organizations Sign Accord to Promote Bi-National Heritage Tourism at IHDC
Friendship helps train Navy crew for USS Constitution in Essex National Heritage Area
Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area pilot project nears completion
Grant Opportunities
News: People
WRRR National Trail seeks your input
Upcoming Meetings
 
National Heritage Areas Meeting 
Wednesday, October 27 1:00-4:00
Austin, Texas
 
In an effort to gather all 49 National Heritage Areas, the NPS National Heritage Area Program is  is hosting an Affinity Session at the National Trust conference in Austin, Texas. NPS invites National Heritage Areas to meet to share experience and knowledge, and network as we collaborate on important and timely issues concerning NHAs.

NPS Northeast Regional Workshop
October 12th
Essex National Heritage Area, Salem, MA

Alliance of National Heritage Areas Upcoming Board Meeting: October 14
Essex National Heritage Area 
Legislative Update
 
July 30:
H.R.
6039 (Kagen, D-WI) - A bill to establish the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6040 (Kaptur, D-OH) - A bill to establish the Maumee Valley National Heritage Area in Ohio and Indiana, and for other purposes.

August 2:
S. 3682 (Kohl, D-WI)
- A bill to establish the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
Passport to your National Heritage Area
 
Does your NHA participate in the Passport program? 
 
Do attractions in your NHA have stamps?
 
Do you want to learn more about how to participate or create a passport program for your NHA?
 
Please call or email
Katie Durcan: 202-354-2268
 
New Preserve America Communities
 
First Lady Michelle Obama designated 29 new Preserve America Communities, bringing the national total to 843. 
 
"Preserve America Communities are committed to preserving their past by using their heritage to build a better future," said Wayne Donaldson, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. "It is good news for the nation when 29 more communities demonstrate that they want to enjoy and share the economic, educational, environmental and sustainability benefits preservation provides while creating more vibrant and desirable places to live, work and visit."
For more information on the designated communities see www.preserveamerica.gov 
Cultural Heritage Tourism Survival Toolkit
The staff of the National Trust's Heritage Tourism Program is interviewing cultural and heritage tourism stakeholders across the country to seek out creative examples illustrating ways in which attractions and destinations are surviving and thriving despite the economic downturn.
 
The Cultural Heritage Tourism Survival Toolkit will go live in September 2010 and will include links to other online toolkits and case studies developed as part of this project to illustrate a series of "survival strategies.  
Send case study ideas to the Heritage Tourism Program at [email protected].
 
If you would like to be notified when the toolkit is launched, send your name and email address to [email protected].  Funding for the online toolkit was provided in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. 
CONTACTS
 
National Heritage Area Program,
National Park Service
 
Martha Raymond
National Coordinator:
[email protected]
 
Katie Durcan
Assistant Coordinator: 
 
Heather Scotten
Assistant Coordinator: 
[email protected]
 
Danielle Feuillan
Web-site 
[email protected]

Peter Samuel, Northeast Region: [email protected]
 
K. Lynn Berry, Southern Region:
[email protected]
 
Sue Pridemore, Midwest Region:
[email protected]
 
Greg Kendrick, Intermountain Region:
[email protected]
 
Linda Stonier, Pacific West Region:
Gretchen Luxenberg, Pacific West Region g[email protected]
 
John Quinley, Alaska Region [email protected]
 
 
Alliance of National Heritage Areas 
Michelle McCollum, Chairman
 
Send articles and postings for the National Heritage Area Newsletter to:
 
Katie Callahan Durcan
202-354-2268
America's Great Outdoors Listening Session Comes to the
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

By Angie Chandler with Monika Mayr, Blue Ridge Parkway 
 
NPS Director Jarvis at the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area listening session
Jarvis at Blueridge Listening Session
In April 2010, President Obama established the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to promote and support innovative community-level efforts to conserve outdoor spaces and reconnect Americans to the great outdoors. 
 
The initiative provides an opportunity for local partners to work with the federal government to implement a strong, forward-looking, 21st Century conservation agenda that will protect America's water, wild lands, trails, green spaces, wildlife, working farms, ranches, and forest lands, and reconnect Americans to nature and the outdoors.
 
One way AGO is being developed is through listening and learning sessions being held around the country.  On July 14-15, the National Park Service hosted a listening session in Asheville, North Carolina, located within the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. The two days of activity provided great opportunities for federal and state officials, interested groups and citizens to connect, learn and share ideas about conservation in America. 
 
Events included an evening reception for 100 guests, a morning field trip for 30 federal, state and local agency representatives, legislative staff members, and conservation organizations, including staff members from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, and a morning youth session with over 60 participants. Sixty-five event workers attended a lunch and training session.  The day also included a press conference; an afternoon general session with 465 in attendance; and 16- breakout listening sessions with an average of 25 participants in each session.
 
These listening sessions were held at the Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and were facilitated by nearby park superintendents, US Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service employees, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Kids in Parks staff, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area staff, SCA, and numerous other volunteers.
 
The participants were diverse, ranging from conservation representatives to national park friends groups and heritage areas, from environmental educators, to kids, to mental health workers. They spoke to a wide range of topics, from land preservation to getting youth reconnected with the land, to using the landscape as a way to combat mental illness and drug addiction.
 
"In addition to the great community interest in this topic, one of the most amazing aspects of the two-day event was the level of collaboration that was taking place behind the scenes to make these activities happen in an incredibly short timeframe," stated Angie Chandler, executive director of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.
 
The entire series of events was coordinated within two weeks' time by staff members from the NPS Washington Office, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, and several North Carolina conservation organizations.
 
Showcased in the listening session auditorium lobby were booths from local and national organizations including RTCA, Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project, Kids in Parks, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary, Inc., Boy Scouts and several North Carolina land trusts.  A local caterer, The Colorful Palate, provided locally grown and prepared food - donating their time and product, and Mountain Valley Water provided spring water.
 
Eastern National, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, The North Carolina Arboretum and several conservation organizations sponsored the reception, and the Heritage Area sponsored the luncheon.
 
"The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area was pleased to be able to assist in organizing and supporting this important event," said Chandler.  "We're looking forward to continuing to be a part of the solution and taking an active role in this initiative.
 
"After all, for the past twenty five years, National Heritage Areas across the United States have been working diligently to bring together grass roots, community groups and public/private partnerships to help save and support treasured natural and cultural heritage assets," she continued.  "This is a natural fit for us as well as other heritage areas."
Voices from National Heritage Areas on America's Great Outdoor Listening Sessions in Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and Philadelphia: 
 
Beth Sciumeca, Executive Director, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
 
"It was inspiring and encouraging to hear top level administration officials, Congressional leaders, and long-time environmental advocates speak so urgently and passionately about the need to reconnect Americans to our extraordinary great outdoors.  As Deputy Secretary Hayes said in the afternoon listening session he hosted  "This report could have the power to move us into a new era of conservation".  Several participants throughout the day also spoke about the need to include cultural resources in any new agenda as well."
 
Cate Magennis Wyatt, President, The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area (JTHG)
 
"National Heritage Areas and historic preservation initiatives not only support  the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, but, simultaneously support other Administration Priorities including:
Job Creation (Heritage Tourism is the #1 Industry within the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area); Economic Stimulus -- the National Park Service in the JTHG National Heritage Area generates well over $274m/yr in economic benefit to our historic communities; Building Sustaining Communities and Bettering the Quality of Life for all citizens with programs that connect them to our shared natural and cultural resources. And in the process these programs connect our Children with the stories of those who went before us so they know; they too, can make a difference."

Mark Castiglione, Acting Executive Director at Hudson River Valley Greenway
 
"It was a great opportunity for us and our partners to highlight our successes and discuss our issues within the context of the goals of the America's Great Outdoors initiative.  We were also lucky to have an additional listening session in the afternoon with Interior Deputy Secretary David Hayes." 
 
Kurt Zwikl, Executive Director, Schuylkill River Heritage Area
 
"The listening session gave us an outstanding opportunity to present our thoughts on historic preservation. But it also allowed us to make a point about the value Heritage Areas bring to our nation at a time when the economy is causing problems at all levels. Heritage Areas use conservation, education, recreation, cultural and historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development.
 
There could not be a better time to bolster the work that Heritage Areas are doing because of the economic need we are facing. In addition Heritage Areas always match their federal contribution providing further evidence that Heritage Areas are working to improve not only our communities but also the economy."
  
Beth Paradis Stern, Director of Policy and Communications 
 Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District

"I participated in both the Annapolis and Philadelphia sessions and was extremely impressed with quality of the discussion and how deeply engaged everyone was--from the agency officials, to the NGOs, to individual Americans working in their communities. It was a true dialogue and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!"

There is still time to share your voice online: http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors. The coordinating federal agencies will prepare and submit a report to the President on November 15th with an action plan for achieving the goals.
National Heritage Areas: Smart, Green and Working

This summer the Alliance of National Heritage Areas spearheaded a campaign to restore funding to the National Heritage Areas Program. The campaign, titled "National Heritage Areas: Smart, Green and Working" was designed to raise awareness of the effectiveness of National Heritage Areas.
 
Supporters of program within the 49 National Heritage Areas hosted special events to build support for the program which is slated for a 50% funding cut in President Obama's FY2011 budget. The campaign culminated with a rally and press conference in Washington, D.C.
 
National Heritage Areas leverage federal funds to create jobs, generate revenue for local governments, and sustain local communities through revitalization and heritage tourism.  Utilizing a formula created by the US Department of Commerce that measures the dollars needed to create one job from heritage preservation/ tourism jobs in each state, heritage areas have created 16,520 jobs in 32 states through the $171,163 484 federal investment made since the first area was created in the late 1970s.
 
The campaign slogan "Smart, Green and Working" provides an excellent synopsis of the National Heritage Area movement, said ANHA Chairman Michelle McCollum. "Not only do we engage in smart growth practices but we also are a smart model for public private partnerships that leverage diverse investment into locally driven initiatives. Heritage areas are also 'green' through our efforts to preserve and adaptively reuse our built environment and to protect and build stewards of our nation's natural resources while also utilizing those resources as venues for our regions' economic growth and vitality. And we're working successfully to build coalitions, provide education and training on best practices and to ultimately create jobs," said McCollum.
 
For more information, visit http://www.nationalheritageareas.com.  
Heritage Areas Congressional Caucus Created

Press Conference
Members of Congress and partners from across the country joined to rally support for national heritage areas at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on June 15, 2010. 
 
At the press conference, U.S. Reps. Charles Dent (R-PA) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) announced the creation of a National Heritage Areas Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives that will pursue legislation to formally create a National Heritage Areas Program within the Park Service. 
 
Legislation authorizing a National Heritage Areas Program would improve the establishment of new areas by creating criteria and standards for qualification as a heritage area, and ensuring that they meet management guidelines.  The legislation would also foster a permanent base funding stream for the program.
 
Caucus members include: Paul D. Tonko, NY, Charlie Dent, PA, Raul M. Grijalva, AZ,  Betsy Markey, CO,  James P. McGovern, MA, John F. Tierney, MA, Niki Tsongas, MA, Bennie G. Thompson, MS, Maurice D. Hinchey, NY, Betty Sutton, OH, Timothy J. Ryan, OH,  Jason Altmire, PA, Michael F. Doyle, PA, Jim Gerlach, PA, Tim Holden, PA, Paul E. Kanjorski, PA, Patrick Murphy, PA, Allyson Schwartz, PA, Joe Sestak, PA, Bart Gordon, TN, Frank R. Wolf, VA, Shelley Moore Capito, WV, and Donna M. Christensen, USVI.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalheritageareas.com.  
Schuylkill River Heritage Area Partners with Free Bike Share Program 
 
Bike Share ProgramPeople wishing to take a spin along the Schuylkill River Trail can now borrow a bike for free from the Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area (SRHA) in Pottstown, PA.  
 
The SRHA recently began partnering with Bike Pottstown, a unique, completely free bike share program that was initiated two years ago in downtown Pottstown. The program, which has gained national attention and proven tremendously successful, recently expanded to add four new bikes to the SRHA offices, located along the Schuylkill River Trail. 
 
Since the SRHA is only the second location to have the bikes, four were brought in on a trial basis in June. Additional bikes may be added in the future.  What's more, the SRHA is now working with Bike Pottstown to introduce the program to other communities in the Heritage Area.
 
Bike Pottstown is a free program that allows people ages 16 and over to use bikes for recreation and transportation in and around the Borough of Pottstown. People simply provide either a valid driver's license or a state ID and leave it with a program administrator. They can use the bike for a short ride or an entire day. When they return, their license is given back.
 
The program has steadily gained in popularity since its inception two years ago. 
 
"The first month we started, five bikes went out in that month. Now, we (send) out 20-30 a day," said Tom Carroll, president of Preservation Pottstown, which manages the program.
 
There are a total of 30 bikes in the program, the majority of which are housed at Tri-County Bicycles, a downtown bike shop owned by John DiRenzo, who is responsible for administration and bike maintenance. 
 
Bike Pottstown is funded through a grant from the Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation (PHWF). Initial start-up costs were provided by Exelon, the Pottstown Police Officers Association, as well as the Health and Wellness Foundation. For information on the Bike Pottstown program http://www.bikepottstown.com 

Heritage Development Conference Highlights International and National Issues

tour
The heritage development industry filled the cobblestoned streets of Charleston, SC last month during the 2010 International Heritage Development Conference: "Advancing Beyond Borders." Sponsored by the Alliance of National Heritage Areas and hosted by the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, the conference stayed true to their theme by bringing in hundreds of both national and international heritage tourism industry representatives to take advantage of the most state-of-the-art resources, networking opportunities, and educational seminars.

Keynote speakers included Donovan Rypkema (Principal of PlaceEconomics), David Vela (Director of the Southeast Region for the National Parks Service), Ernie Quintana (Director of the Mid-west Region for the National Parks Service), Karl Watson (President of the Barbados National Trust), Scott Gerloff (National Trust for Historic Preservation), Sheila Armstrong (Executive Director for the US Cultural and Heritage Tourism Council) and special remarks from Bob Stanton, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior.
 
The wide range of activities offered included a choice of tours that explored different themes such as the Gullah Geechee culture and tradition, the connection between South Carolina and the island of Barbados, telling stories through food, experiencing natural heritage, showcasing your military heritage, and telling sensitive stories.
 
Seminars featured top issues within the industry like getting started with heritage area development, generational marketing strategies, non-profit accountability and board structure, interpretive program structures, creating foundations for sustainable and international partnerships, social media and internet marketing, leveraging partnerships for large and small projects, and targeting the African American travel market.

Attendees took home the message that advancing beyond borders leads to educating yourself on how to better serve your programs and your communities. PowerPoint presentations from speakers and a link to photos from the conference can be found at http://www.ihdc2010.com.
Gullah/Geechee Field Session at ANH Conference
By Ronald Daise
 
Gullah slave cabin
gullah slave cabin
As the tour bus whirred round-trip along Highway 17 from Charleston to Georgetown, SC, a unique educational experience occurred.  Forty-three 2010 International Heritage Development Conference attendees gained an authentic pre-conference "taste" of Gullah/Geechee history, heritage, and culture.  
 
 Michael Allen, NPS Community Partnership Specialist, Fort Pinckney NHA, coordinated the event along with South Carolina commissioners and the administrative assistant of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission.  "I wanted attendees to see the remnants, residues, and vestiges of the culture, as well as the threats that the culture is facing today," Allen said.  "And, then, I wanted them to celebrate the culture's victories."
 
"I felt privileged to be able to witness the journey today," said John Jameson, of Southeastern Archeological Center, an NPS Service in Tallahassee, FL.  "It is fantastic to see all the efforts to identify and protect the Gullah/Geechee cultural heritage starting to pay off in a big way!  The trip was expertly planned and a great window to the culture."
 
As the bus crossed the Cooper River Bridge, Allen informed participants that this waterway is symbolic of the Africans' arrival, their being dispersed, and their survival.   Sites included the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Pavilion at Memorial Waterfront Park in Mt. Pleasant, historic Bethel A.M.E. Church in McClellanville, the Santee River Delta, and Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, and Friendfield Plantation in Georgetown-the ancestral home of First Lady Michelle Obama. 
 
Laura Gates, of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Natchitoches, LA, cited the bus tour  as meaningful.  "Today was a very special in-depth look into the complex history and Gullah/Geechee culture of this area," she said.  "Most visitors - and I'd imagine most residents - could  learn  a great deal about how people adapted to the New World, and how the culture evolved, and how very much of it remains today by participating in experiences  like today's. Thank you so much for helping me understand another part of our American experience."
Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area now includes Carrie Furnace Site
 
In 1884, the Carrie Furnaces were first built along the Monongahela River. At one point, just one of the seven Carrie furnaces could create 1,200 tons of iron per day, helping to make the former U.S. Steel Homestead Works the most productive steel mill in the world. Steel from Homestead was used in the construction of the Empire State Building in NYC, the Alaskan pipeline and the Panama Canal lock gates. It also played a large part in preparing the country to enter World War II, providing the iron to create armor plating for ships and tanks.
 
The steel manufacturer was also key to the thriving economy of that era, financially encompassing Homestead, Rankin, Braddock, Munhall and Swissvale - municipalities near Pittsburgh. Now, years after the mills in Homestead have shut down and the area has taken many hard hits, the development plans surrounding the two remaining Carrie Furnaces may be an important tool in the economic revitalization of neighboring municipalities.
 
In May, Rivers of Steel took possession of Carrie Furnace No. 6 & 7, which includes additional acreage surrounding the former iron complex. The pair of furnaces operated from 1907 to 1979. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006.
 
Working on this acquisition for 20 years, ROS President August R. Carlino noted the national heritage tourism potential for this site, and recently Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) introduced a bill to establish a Steel Industry National Historic Site in Allegheny County which includes the location of the Battle of Homestead, the Carrie Furnace complex and the Hot Metal Bridge, all located in and around Munhall, Rankin, Braddock, Homestead and Swissvale.
 
These recent developments will only enhance the future plans for the Carrie Furnace complex and adjacent historic properties, along with Allegheny County's plan to develp the surrounding 150-plus acre brownfield site. The acquisition of the Carrie Furnace site has the potential to become an important piece of the economic puzzle for the region and tangible proof that heritage areas and economic revitalization can and should go hand in hand.
 
Public tours of the site are scheduled for Aug. 28, Sept. 18, and Oct. 9. Tickets are $25 per person and reservations can be made by contacting 412.464.4020, ext. 46 or [email protected]
One Minute A Free Woman: Elizabeth Freeman and the Struggle for Freedom
 book image
Lore about Elizabeth Freeman, or Mumbet, is fairly well circulated throughout the Upper Housatonic River Valley thanks to several efforts to make known this former slave woman's story. Credited with starting the chain of events that would end slavery in Massachusetts, Elizabeth Freeman may be - according to the Heritage Area's African American Heritage Trail - the most influential woman to have come from the Berkshires.
 
The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area published the most recent research about Elizabeth 'Mumbet' Freeman, her enslavement, and her suit for freedom that coincided with the very earliest civil and women's rights stirrings in America.  
 
To write her story meant sorting through facts and plenty of lore. This body of work provides readers with the first thorough and accurate account of Elizabeth Freeman's life, the lives of her descendants in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and histories of Black communities in Berkshires and neighboring New York State and Connecticut from the mid-1790s to late 1800s. The book contains fifty illustrations and maps and dozens of excerpts from primary texts including Freeman's will, deeds, account books, letters, and personal journals.
 
"We decided if we were going to do this, we might as well do it all, and not accept any of the folklore," said David Levinson, co-author with Emilie Piper of One Minute a Free Woman: Elizabeth Freeman and the Struggle for Freedom. 
 
Their sources included tax records, deeds, journals, and letters.  The authors followed her descendents eight or nine generations, from Stockbridge and Sheffield, Massachusetts, to Norfolk, Derby, and Ansonia, Connecticut. "There is a possibility that it was her daughter who was the second wife of W.E.B. Du Bois's great, great grandfather."
 
More information about this story visit: www.HousatonicHeritage.org or the African American Heritage Trail including 48 sites in Massachusetts and Connecticut: http://www.AfricanAmericanTrail.org
 
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation Receives Grant
 
 
Virginia Gov. McDonnell  presents award to SVBF Executive Director Zirkle
 Photo: Michaele White
Gov. McDonnell
The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (SVBF) received state grants totaling more than $94,000 at a ceremony held on the Chancellorsville battlefield near Fredericksburg. Governor Bob McDonnell announced $300,000 in grant awards to protect seven Virginia Civil War battlefield properties. Two of those grants will help the Battlefields Foundation preserve properties at Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek in partnership with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR)and the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT).
 
 
SVBF used half of the funds to protect 32 acres at Fisher's Hill with a conservation easement. This protected land will remain in agricultural production. The purchase brings SVBF's protection total at Fisher's Hill to 426 acres.  
 
At Cedar Creek, SVBF has protected almost 500 acres, making it the largest public trust landowner within the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. SVBF spent the remaining grant money to protect 40 acres at Bowman's Mill Ford, a key point in the Confederate attack against Union troops on the morning of Oct. 19, 1864.
 
This easement protects battlefield land and will help improve water quality in Cedar Creek, the Shenandoah River, and the Chesapeake Bay. Because the land is in the flood plain of the creek, the easement requires the installation of a half-mile-long riparian forested buffer along the waterway, which will filter nutrients and sediment from run off before it reaches the creek, and ultimately the Bay.
 
Gov. McDonnell signs legislation establishing battlefield preservation fund
 
During the ceremony, Gov. McDonnell signed legislation permanently establishing the Virginia Civil War Sites Preservation Fund, a matching grants program to protect battlefield land in the Old Dominion. 
 
Foundation Executive Director Zirkle thanked the governor, the CWPT, and other state officials for their continued commitment to historic preservation in Virginia.
 
"We are extremely grateful to Governor McDonnell and his administration for taking this important step toward preserving the places that honor Virginia's important role in American history," Zirkle said. "Future generations of Americans and Virginians will benefit from our shared commitment to protecting and learning from these important parts of our past."
 
A Shenandoah family has protected its farm...and part of the Valley's Civil War landscape, too.
Fred and Charles Bly on their farm at Fisher's Hill. Photo: SVBF
Farmers
 
With roots in the Valley since the 18th century, the Bly family wanted its farm preserved as an integral part of the Fisher's Hill battlefield, yet also wanted to continue to farm their land.  The Blys' property is in the core area of the Fisher's Hill battlefield in northern Shenandoah County.  Most of the farm is open, rolling pasture, with mature woods along the bottomlands, offering uninterrupted views of the battlefield landscape adjacent to the 194-acre Ramseur's Hill property owned by SVBF, making it important for preservation.
 
Earlier this year the five Bly brothers and the Battlefields Foundation reached agreement on the acquisition of an easement on the family's 81-acre property. Charles Bly, speaking for the family, noted that he and his brothers want to protect their land for future generations.
"We looked at it and thought it was a good deal," said Mr. Bly. "Not only could we protect the battlefield and continue to own and run the farm, we were able to improve it with the proceeds from the sale of the easement."
 
The Bly family joins a growing number of Valley property owners who want the same for their land.  Of the 5,000 battlefield acres preserved by the Foundation and its partners over the years, roughly 20 percent has been protected with conservation easements. At Fisher's Hill alone, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has protected 426 acres, about half with conservation easements.  
 
Working to Stabilize Preserved Properties
 
On April 10 the Battlefields Foundation and the Civil War Preservation Trust partnered in an effort to clean up areas of the Third Winchester battlefield during Park Day. The nationwide project was underwritten with a grant from History™ and was recognized by the Department of the Interior as a "Take Pride in America" event.
 
Together, the two organizations own more than 575 acres at Third Winchester, near Winchester, VA.  SVBF protects 355 acres, including the 209-acre Huntsberry Farm acquired late last year. More than forty volunteers participated in the clean up helping to remove brush and debris, making it a successful day and showing the importance and impact of community involvement in preservation endeavors.
 
"Civil War sites are often the victims of their own popularity," noted CWPT President James Lighthizer.  "Without proper maintenance, battlefields can suffer from the ravages of both time and tourism.  Our goal is to spruce up these links to America's past so they can be enjoyed by all."
 
Star Fort Rehabilitation Underway
 
SVBF is engaged in a multi-stage project to preserve and interpret Star Fort, part of the defensive network of earthworks that ringed Winchester, VA. It was constructed by Confederate troops in 1862 then improved by both armies throughout the war as Winchester frequently changed hands. Acquired by SVBF in 2007, the fort is now  clear of trash and debris that accumulated over the years. 
 
SVBF is clearing the fort of dense undergrowth and non-native plants to improve views and stabilize the earthworks. Felled trees and branches were chipped for use as mulch for creating trails. SVBF will open the fort to the public during the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, beginning in 2011, while ensuring that the site's historic features are preserved and interpreted for future generations. 
What is ... Blackstone Valley 101?

 Blackstone staff
How do you learn about the place where you live? Especially if that place is part of a National Heritage Corridor? The staff of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor has created an on-line learning program titled Blackstone Valley 101 that guides users through the history and heritage of the Valley so they can better understand the story that it represents to the nation.
 
"We developed Blackstone Valley 101 to create a better understanding of the national significance of our valley. Life-long residents as well as those new to the area will enjoy this overview of the valley story. Many of the individuals who have taken the program have found that there were details about the Blackstone Valley that they hadn't known prior to completing the program.," Valerie Paul, Blackstone Valley 101 program developer, explained.
 
For example, did you know....that the Blackstone Valley is home to the first planned mill village and the Rhode Island System of Manufacturing? That the valley is a great place to view and understand the "engineered landscape"? That its river drops 438 feet in 46 miles? That the City of Worcester became a port city in 1828 because of the Blackstone Canal? The answer to these and other questions can be found in the six modules of Blackstone Valley 101.
 
"The wonderful quality of an on-line learning program is that anyone, anywhere can take Blackstone Valley 101," Paul added. "We have an amazing story to tell that is unique to the country. This is a powerful tool that helps all of us understand  and tell that story." Blackstone Valley 101 is free and easy to access via any computer that is able to access the Internet. It takes about 45 minutes to complete the course with chapters on: Where Industry Began, The People of the Valley, The Blackstone River, The Canal Story, Environmental Impact and Telling the Story Today.
 
Blackstone Valley 101 is accessible through the National Park Service web site at http://www.nps.gov/blac. Successfully complete the course and you will be sent a custom Blackstone Valley 101 lapel pin to signify your accomplishment!
 
Organizations Sign Accord to Promote Bi-National Heritage Tourism at IHDC in Charleston, South Carolina

 NHAA Mexico agreement
On June 29, 2010, the Alliance of National Heritage Areas, the Proyecto Centro Historico de Mazatlan A.C. Sinaloa Mexico, and Consejo Para el Desarrollo de Sinaloa signed a memorandum of understanding, capping off a full day of workshops and networking.  The memorandum outlines a framework within which the three organizations can share expertise and information in order to achieve their common mission of preserving the heritage of their two countries and promoting international heritage tourism.  
 
The International Heritage Development Conference, held in Charleston, South Carolina, was the forum for fostering this type of cooperation. The conference's theme was centered on the connections between the Carolina and Barbados and the partnership with the SC National Heritage Corridor and Barbados Ministry of Tourism. The conference drew participants from the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico and from across the U.S.
Friendship helps train Navy crew for USS Constitution in Essex National Heritage Area

This summer Essex National Heritage Area was host to 21st-century Navy sailors aboard the replica ship, Friendship. A combined crew of Friendship volunteers and U.S. Navy sailors sailed out of Boston Harbor in July, hauling on lines, climbing the rigging and unfurling the East Indiaman's massive square sails to teach sailors how to operate an 18th-century vessel.
 
The 29-person Navy crew was learning to sail the tall ship because their duties will soon include operating a much larger, yet similar vessel, the warship USS Constitution, built in 1797 which is undergoing restoration.  In 2012, the Navy will remember the storied vessel's victories over the British Navy's Java and Guerriere in the War of 1812. These and other exploits lifted her to legend and 200 years of preservation. Currently, the Navy plans to sail the Constitution in Boston Harbor, under her own power, to mark the bicentennial.
 
The modern Friendship was built by the National Park Service and Essex National Heritage Area from a contemporary crewman's model - now at the Peabody Essex Museum. The end came for the first Friendship after she was captured by the British in the War of 1812.
 
The Mystery Beneath the Veil; pilot project for Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area nears completion 
 
star Although the dark green shade-cloth looks the same, swelling and flapping over the scaffolding in front of the Casino Star Theatre day after day, great changes are underway-underneath.  If you ask about the grand "unveiling," you're likely to hear, "Maybe Labor Day."
But this long, contorted journey toward a beautifully restored fa�ade will finally achieve a major milestone THIS YEAR. 
 
Hidden from view, the decorative trim around the windows and the crumbly old stucco have been removed.  The trim is being reconditioned, with some pieces replicated to fill in the missing parts. 
The old stucco has found its final resting place in the South Sanpete landfill, along with the rusty metal lath from the 1950s that had barely held it in place. So far, two coats of new stucco have been applied.  The third and final coat is waiting for additional metalwork and the re-hanging of the window trim and arch rosettes.  Stay tuned for a big celebration around Labor Day.

As a pilot project for the newly funded Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area, the Casino Star received $25,000 through the National Park System on July 8. The Utah State Historic Preservation Office awarded an additional Supplemental grant and provided encouragement for a new application for 2010 funds, and other applications are "out there."  These grants need to be matched dollar for dollar by non-federal funds.  
 
The George S. and Dolores Dor� Eccles Foundation, Utah's largest charitable foundation, awarded $85,000 to the Casino Star Theatre Foundation at its July meeting.  The award is a "matching" grant, which requires the grant recipient to document receipt or hard pledges for 90% of the budget before Eccles awards the "last dollar."
"This is truly overwhelming," remarked Diana Spencer, Director of the Casino Star Theatre Foundation, "given that we've struggled for every penny that's gone into the restoration."
 
Lori Nay, also a Director of the Casino Star, pointed out that the fa�ade project started with funds in hand for just the flat stucco work. 
"But now, because Eccles has given us this generous grant, now we can do it all-from the marquee up."

Diana wrote the original application to Eccles back in 2007, and received word in 2008 that a grant would be awarded provided the Casino Star could meet the match within one year.
 
"That's the year our total focus was getting the theatre re-opened after the gas leak," she continued.  "We just didn't have time to spend on Eccles' requirements, so we asked for a one-year extension."  Just before the second deadline, she revised and resubmitted the application-successfully, at last.
 
Both directors expressed intense gratitude to the George S. and Dolores Dor� Eccles Foundation and to all the good people buying tickets to movies and concerts, eating popcorn, and dropping change into the donation jar at the theatre who help meet the match requirements. For more information visit www.casinostartheatre.com
Grant Opportunities
 
National Heritage Areas Now Eligibile for NPF Grants
 
The National Park Foundation (NPF)  is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications from ALL National Park System units, affiliated areas, regional, service and program offices, National Heritage Areas, National Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Historic Landmarks and National Trails to participate in all National Park Foundation grant programs. Although applications must be submitted by a National Park Service staff person, successful parks may direct a grant to a partner organization for a collaborative project.
 
IMPACT Grants:
Under $10,000: NPF recognizes that sometimes the smallest grants can make the largest differences. The Impact Grants opportunity, awards of $10,000 or less is designed to help parks which need a small amount of additional funding to strengthen the efforts of a local partnership or turn an underfunded and innovative idea into a successful project. The program also provides a systematic way for the Foundation to respond to the routine small grant requests that are received from national parks by making awards on an annual basis.
 
DEADLINE:
October 1, 2010
 
If you have questions, contact Ivan Levin, NPF Program Director, at 202-354-6479 or [email protected].
 
The Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund at the National Trust
 
The Peter H. Brink Leadership Fund helps to build the capacity of preservation organizations and encourages collaboration among these organizations by providing grants for mentoring and other peer-to-peer and direct organizational development and learning opportunities.  The purpose of these grants is to support the leadership and effectiveness of staff and board members of preservation organizations to fulfill their mission and to create a stronger, more effective preservation movement.
 
The grants pay for travel costs and honoraria and generally range up to $1,500. Applications may be submitted at any point throughout the year to the National Trust's Center for Preservation Leadership. The Fund is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with historic preservation as a primary part of their mission.  Preference is given to members of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Statewide and Local Partnerships Program, nonprofit statewide or regional Main Street coordinating programs, and organizations that are members of National Trust Forum.   For more information, contact the Regional Office serving your state: www.preservationnation.org/about-us/regional-offices
People
 
Heather Scotten joined the Washington office of the NHA program as an Assistant Coordinator in July.  Throughout her career, she has held a variety of positions related to land use and strategic planning, historic preservation, and NEPA and Section 106 NHPA compliance including positions at Yosemite National Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. 
 
Heather's skills in social science research, community engagement, facilitation, and EA and EIS preparation will be an asset to the NHA program.  She has Master's degrees in Community and Regional Planning and Historic Preservation from the University of Oregon.  A California native, Heather spent the past four years living in Oregon. On the weekends, Heather can be found hiking, biking, and seeking out historic sites.  
 
TOOTHMANDirector Jarvis named Stephanie Toothman, Ph.D., as Associate Director for Cultural Resources for the National Park Service.  Toothman will set and oversee policies that affect management of historic and cultural properties in 392 national parks, including 27,000 historic structures, nearly 70,000 archeological sites, artifacts and archives, and the historical research required to share stories preserved in national parks. 
 
Outside of parks, Toothman's responsibilities include community-based efforts to preserve and share history including the National Heritage Area program, grants programs, tax credit programs, National Historic Landmarks, National Register of Historic Places, and the Historic American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, Historic American Landscapes Survey, and the Cultural Resources GIS survey.  Toothman will also manage the national Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and an extensive system of standards, guidance, and technical assistance that is the foundation of historic preservation work nationwide. 
 
"We are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Toothman's proven expertise join our team," said Jarvis.  "Her enviable knowledge of cultural resources, strong leadership skills, and long history of developing and maintaining successful partnerships make her the ideal person for the job.  She will hit the ground running, setting high standards for herself and these National Park Service programs so that they best serve the American people."
 
"I've seen how telling a story like the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during World War II or preserving a 1930s movie theater in Hoquiam, Washington, can bring together and energize a community," said Toothman.  "I am looking forward to working with colleagues in our parks and partnership organizations and communities throughout the nation to shape and strengthen our cultural resource programs to meet the challenges of the 21st century and fulfill the National Park Service's responsibility to provide national leadership in historic preservation."
 
Toothman comes to her new position from the NPS Pacific West Region where she was chief of cultural resource park and partnership programs. During her 32-year career with the NPS, she served as a preservation planner, a regional historian, acting superintendent at Crater Lake National Park and the National Mall and Memorial Parks during the 2009 inauguration, as well as acting director of the Interior Department's Office of Youth.
 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation selected Stephanie Meeks, an experienced non-profit leader, as its next president. Meeks began work in July 2010, succeeding Richard Moe, who retired after leading the Trust for 17 years. Meeks is the previous president and CEO of Counterpart International, a $110 million development organization with programs in 25 countries. She served for 18 years at The Nature Conservancy, one of the largest and most influential conservation organizations in the world, where she held a number of leadership positions including chief operating officer and acting president and CEO. For more information, visit
http://www.preservationnation.org

 
President Barack Obama named Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, as the chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). Donaldson currently serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for the state of California.
 
"I am honored by President Obama's appointment and look forward to working with the federal government's historic preservation programs and its partners to share the many benefits of preservation more broadly throughout the nation," Donaldson said. "Most importantly, I will build on the ACHP's valuable efforts integrating sustainability and historic preservation, taking an active role in the Section 106 process as it pertains to alternative energy development, and building a new generation of preservationists by engaging youth in service learning programs."
 
Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route NHT seek your input  
 
Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association and NPS work on strategic plan and seek organizations, people and communities along the trail to learn more about what they see as the future vision of the trail. Like the allied march of the American and French armies, the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail (NHT) designation was a huge effort and accomplishment on the part of citizens and private organizations. 
 
The NHT links many units of the National Park System, which share common themes and resources including Boston National Historical Park, Roger Williams National Memorial, Morristown National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Prince William Forest Park and Colonial National Historical Park. 
 
The NHT traverses National Heritage Areas such as the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, Crossroads of the American Revolution in New Jersey, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area, Journey through Hallowed Ground, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, Baltimore National Heritage Area and provide many opportunities for collaboration.
 
The NHT also connects with the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and shares resources and partners. And let's not forget the many resources and projects administered by States, local governments and private organizations that also commemorate the nation's struggle for independence. As one follows the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, the places that ring of our nation's revolutionary past come into view from Newport to Hartford; Peekskill to Morristown, Princeton, and Trenton; Philadelphia and Valley Forge to Wilmington and Baltimore; and Mt. Vernon to Williamsburg and Yorktown. As you go through some of our nation's most densely populated areas, you can see the many challenges we face in telling this story.
 
NPS and its partners encourage you join in our planning efforts and share your thoughts about the future of this National Historic Trail. For more information contact Joe DiBello at [email protected]. To learn more about the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association, visit  www.w3r-us.org