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Essex Heritage Annual Appeal
2013 has been another busy year for Essex Heritage, and we hope to continue our success and increase our impact in the coming year. Today, we are asking you to support our Annual Appeal so we can continue our work.
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Youth Jobs Program 2013
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Your contributions support our mission, and enable us to bring additional money into this region by obtaining grant funding from national organizations such as the National Park Foundation, the National Park Service and the National Scenic Byway Program -- which increasingly require evidence of private matching funds.
This is a critical time to demonstrate your commitment to the collaborative work of Essex Heritage. Your gift to our Annual Appeal is crucial to helping us fulfill our 2014 goals. We look forward to an exciting year together; please donate online today.
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 | Heritage Hero Award Dinner: Thank You!
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Joanne Holbrook Patton & the Patton Family
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What a night! On October 16th more than 400 people gathered at the Danversport Yacht Club to honor the 2013 Essex Heritage Hero Award recipient: Joanne Holbrook Patton and the Patton Family. The warmth of the evening was apparent as families, friends and colleagues from near and far came together to celebrate The Patton family for their legacy of service and commitment to the Essex National Heritage Area, our state and our nation. The evening also featured a rare display of Patton family archives and memorabilia for guests to enjoy. Check out the event photo album.
Essex Heritage is sincerely grateful to all attendees, "toast-makers," sponsors and program patrons who helped to make the evening a sparkling success -- and our most successful Heritage Hero event to date! Essex Heritage is particularly thankful to Karen Andreas, Regional Publisher of the North of Boston Media Group, who graciously served as the event's Master of Ceremonies. We also offer great thanks to Eastern Bank for their Major General Sponsorship; and to Green Meadows Farm and Institution for Savings for their Brigadier General Sponsorship contributions. |
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Trails & Sails Recap
It was another banner year for Trails & Sails!
The 2013 event line-up offered more than 150 opportunities for people to connect with the special places and organizations that comprise the Essex National Heritage Area. While tallies continue to trickle in, we estimate that a record breaking 5,200+ people participated in the annual six days of festivities.

A big THANK YOU to our sponsors, the 100+ event hosts, volunteers, participants and fans for making the 12th annual Trails & Sails such a success! Check out our Trails & Sails photo album to see some of the fun that went down.
How was your Trails & Sails?
Please take this short Trails & Sails survey to let us know about your experience, help inform our plans, vote for your favorite event and enter to win an In-Camp 4 person tent from REI! The winner of the tent will be announced by the end of November.
Essex Heritage would like to especially thank
Eastern Bank and TD Bank for their long-time sponsorship commitment that keeps Trails & Sails a FREE public outreach celebration.
Trails & Sails 2013 was generously sponsored by:
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Along the Essex Coastal
Scenic Byway
Byway Signage Project Advances
Essex Heritage and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) have inked a contract for a two-year project that will result in directional signage being installed along the entire 90-mile byway route. The project will help brand the byway and enhance the visitor experience by ensuring safe and efficient passage. The project is being funded by the Federal Highway Administration and MassDOT.
Byway Communities in Trail Video
The Great Marsh communities of Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley and Ipswich (and several partner organizations) are featured in a new video about the Bay Circuit Trail (BCT). The BCT is a 200-mile hiking trail from Newbury to Duxbury.
Ipswich Pays Homage
In this season of Thanksgiving, Ipswich pays homage to harvest, hearth and home with several special events between November 17th - 31st! Read More.
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Heritage Education Update: Teachers Immersed in "Place" at Saugus Iron Works
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, in collaboration with Essex Heritage and the Massachusetts Archaeology Education Consortium, hosted a professional development workshop based on the educational approach of Place-Based Service Learning for Haverhill teachers on November 5. Participating educators experienced the benefits of using local resources to achieve curricular goals as they explored the site in multiple ways. Read on.
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Essex Heritage Receives Glowing Evaluation from NPS
We are very pleased to announce that the National Park Service recently submitted to the US Congress their completed Evaluation of the Essex National Heritage Area Commission. Accompanying this report, the Park Service sent a letter of commendation citing Essex Heritage's significant work accomplishments for the last 15 years. A "snapshot" of this evaluation is now posted, along with Iowa's Silos and Smokestacks and Georgia's Augusta Canal, at www.nps.gov/history/heritageareas. Look at the right hand column for Essex Heritage. We are particularly pleased that NPS writes that Essex Heritage has successfully carried out our legislative mandate and recommends that the agency continue to work with us into the future.
Read Essex Heritage's evaluation "snapshot" (pdf). For a the full report, click here.
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Partnership Grant Spotlight
Friends of Lawrence Heritage State Park
Recognized as the work of an important American folk artist, Ralph Fasanella's paintings of the 1912 Bread & Roses Strike are among the most famous images of American labor history, and helped to put Lawrence and the strike on the world map. On display through December 16 at the Lawrence Heritage State Park visitor center, the exhibition of Fasanella's artworks and related activities introduces the viewer to the widespread impact of his vision.
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Thank YOU for a great Membership Month!
Thank you to new and renewing members for your support during our annual membership month! We are so grateful for the enthusiastic commitments we received from both new and long-time friends and fans.
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Topsfield Fair Members Show Their Support
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Our members are key to our success. Essex Heritage
members make our signature Trails & Sails event possible, as well as allow us to fulfill our mission: the long term sustainability of this region and our shared heritage. Become the newest member of Essex Heritage to join this dedicated group, support programs and initiatives that preserve and enhance the unique resources within the Essex National Heritage Area, and to enjoy events that highlight the best of the region throughout the year.
Special Thanks to Our Corporate Members
We are so thankful for the generosity of our Corporate Members! This month, we offer thanks to The House of the Seven Gablesfor joining our membership at the Supporter Circle level. Your support is greatly appreciated.
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North Shore Volunteer Hub
Essex Heritage was pleased to join our partners at the North Shore United Way recently by creating a profile on their new online Volunteer Hub community. The Volunteer Hub, which debuted earlier this month, offers a clearinghouse for individuals and groups throughout the region seeking opportunities to volunteer to connect with organizations in need of volunteer help. Check out our page.
The Volunteer Hub is a great opportunity for organizations that are looking to connect with potential volunteers. Partner organizations, please consider joining the site and posting your volunteer opportunities as well.
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Essex Heritage & Featured Partner Events
Wednesday, November 20
7 PM
The House of the Seven Gables Presents:
Brunonia Barry
Salem's own NY Times Best-selling author, Baccante award winner & Strnad Fellowship recipient presents her latest novel fresh off the press. Essex Heritage and Gables Members $10; Non-Members $15. Reservations recommended. Learn more.
Sunday, November 24, 1 PM
Greenbelt Presents: Mutt Strut at Tompson Street Reservation
Join Greenbelt's Land Conservation Director, David Santomenna and his dog for a dog-walk within Greenbelt's largest reservation, Tompson Street Reservation. Free. Reservations required.
Learn more.
Tuesdays, 7:30 PM
November 19 and
December 3 & 10
Learn from experts how climate change is affecting our New England region, what is being done about it, and how you can help. "Climate Change in New England" is a free lecture series featuring a different topic and speaker each Tuesday. Free. Learn more.
December 1 - January 1
Greenbelt's Evergreen Scavenger Hunt
Celebrate the spirit of the season by getting outdoors with your family and friends and searching for decorated evergreen trees throughout the region. Learn more.
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Heritage Happenings
Wednesday, November 20
Monday, November 25 & December 23
3 - 7 PM
Saturday, December 7
11 AM - 3 PM
Danvers
December 1 - 15
Essex
Tuesday, November 19
7:30 PM
Sunday, November 24
Essex Turkey Trot 8K Race and 8K Fun Walk
Georgetown
Gloucester
Hamilton
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