December 2013  
2013 Photo Contest Results!
Grand Prize: Rockport Dock  by Ken Jordan
2013 Grand Prize: Rockport Dock by Ken Jordan

Essex Heritage is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Essex National Heritage Area Photo Contest. From rocky coasts and harbors, to rural farms and historic downtowns, photographers vividly captured a variety of Essex County's historic, cultural and natural resources for their award-winning submissions to this year's contest. See the 2013 Photo Contest results!

 

Photo Contest Reception

Join us at a reception celebrating the 2013 Photo Contest winners on Thursday, January 23, 2014! Learn more.

Trails & Sails Trails & Sails "People's 
Choice Awards"

 

Essex Heritage is grateful to the dozens of organizations, event leaders and businesses that opened their doors and created experiences to thrill and delight more than 5,000 participants during the 12th annual Trails & Sails. Every year, we applaud their enthusiastic efforts by presenting the "People's Choice Awards" based on participant feedback. Read on to see which events were voted the top events of 2013!

 

Participant Challenge Prize Winner

Essex Heritage is also grateful to REI for generously donating an In-Camp 4-person tent to the Trails & Sails 2013 Participant Challenge. Congratulations to the winner: Joan F. of Methuen!

 

Trails & Sails 2013 was generously sponsored by:

Along the Essex Coastal
Scenic Byway

Newburyport Newest Cultural District

Essex Heritage staff serves on the Newburyport steering committee whose application resulted in the state's recent designation of the region's and byway's sixth local cultural district. Newburyport officials and arts advocates join their counterparts in Lynn, Gloucester (two districts), Rockport and Essex in growing the region's cultural economy. Learn More.

 

Essex Walking Tour Praised

Word is spreading about walking in Essex -- along the route of the new Historic Essex Walking Tour. Check it out.

 

Marblehead Old Town Hall Renovated

Erected in 1727 and known for hosting pre-Revolutionary War meetings, Marblehead's old town hall is one of the oldest in continuous use. The community recently celebrated the venerable landmark's renovation. Read More.

 

New Cape Ann Chamber CEO Essex Heritage welcomes Ken Riehl, the new chief operating officer of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. Read More.

Partnership Grant Spotlight:
Nahant Preservation Trust

A source of regional pride, the town-owned Nahant Lifesaving Station was built in 1900 and is one of a few surviving buildings designed to house ocean rescue crews. The project entails the creation of an interpretive plan for exterior wayside signage and an interior exhibition that will help educate the thousands of beach goers and event attendees about the station and community's unique role in the region's maritime history.

Heritage Education Updates

 

Essex Heritage and NPS presentation at Valley Forge National Historic Site

Essex Heritage Education Coordinator Beth Beringer and National Park Service Education Specialist Maryann Zujewski gave a joint presentation at a recent training for National Park Service employees, community partners and teachers at Valley Forge National Historic Site in Pennsylvania. Their presentation, entitled Elusive Inclusivity, highlighted their work to support teachers in using a place-based service learning framework with a focus on inclusive approaches. Read on.

NPS and Essex Heritage Public History Presentation at UMass Lowell

Education Specialist Maryann Zujewski of Salem Maritime National Historic Site and Education Coordinator Beth Beringer of Essex Heritage met with Professor Chad Montrie's Historic Methods students at University of Massachusetts Lowell last month to explore the "promise and pitfalls" of public historic interpretation at Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Using the administrative history of Salem Maritime-- the first National Historic Site in America-- as an historical artifact itself, the presenters helped students examine how this history impacts the interpretation that visitors encounter at the site. Read on.

Celebrate the Region with Heritage Gifts!
 
Give the Gift of Membership!
Help us celebrate the Heritage Area -- give the gift of membership!

Deck the Halls with Heritage
Need a few more gift ideas? How about a special heritage gift -- something unique to the Essex National Heritage Area? Check out our heritage gift ideas.
Save the Date: North of Boston Tourism Summit

Essex Heritage serves on the committee organizing the 2014 North of Boston Tourism Summit slated for Friday, January 31 at the Doubletree by Hilton in Danvers. Featuring the theme "Keep Calm and Market On," the daylong event typically attracts more than 150 people representing a wide spectrum of the region's tourism-oriented businesses, organizations and agencies. Learn more and register to attend.

Northeast Harvest News

  

Check it out! Northeast Harvest publishes news about farms and local produce in Essex and Middlesex Counties. Read their December e-newsletter featuring locally grown holiday trees and Wreaths Across America. The monthly e-newsletter was started several years ago as a joint venture between the Essex Agricultural Society and Essex Heritage to help residents find local farms and in-season produce. 

Sign up for the Northeast Harvest newsletter.

Essex Heritage Annual Appeal

 

Youth Jobs Program 2013

Essex Heritage is looking forward to continuing our success and increasing our impact in the coming year. Today, we are asking you to support our Annual Appeal so we can continue our work. Your contributions support our mission and enable us to bring additional money into this region. This is a critical time to demonstrate your commitment to the collaborative work of Essex Heritage. We look forward to an exciting year together; please donate online today.

Special Thanks to Our Corporate Members

 

We are so thankful for the generosity of our Corporate Members -- businesses who believe in our mission.

 

This month, we offer thanks to Green Meadows Farm for renewing their commitment as a Sustainer Circle Member. We'd also like to thank Henry's Food Inc. and Merrimac Savings Bank for renewing as Corporate Benefactors. All of your continued support is greatly appreciated!

 

In This Issue
Photo Contest Resutls
Trails & Sails Awards
Along the Coastal Byway
Partnership Grant Spotlight
Heritage Education Updates
Heritage Gifts
North of Boston Tourism Summit
Northeast Harvest News
Annual Appeal
Thanks, Corporate Members!
 
Essex Heritage & Featured Partner Events

  

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.

 

Thursday, January 23, 6 PM

2013 Photo Contest Reception

Join us to celebrate the 2013 Photo Contest winners and preview this year's exhibit! Free. Learn more.

 

Sunday, January 26, 1 PM

Greenbelt Guided Monthly Walk / Snowshoe

Join Greenbelt and the Friends of North Andover Trails for an afternoon hike or snowshoe at Farnsworth Reservation in North Andover. Free. Learn More. 


Wednesday, March 19, 6 PM
The House of the Seven Gables Presents: History's Witches
Local author and illustrator Lisa Graves offers insights into this fascinating subject.  Essex Heritage and Gables Members $10; Non-Members $15. Reservations recommended. Learn more. 
Heritage Happenings

 

Amesbury

Thursday, December 19

5 - 7 PM

Amesbury Invitation Night

 

Andover

December 1 - 29

 

Beverly

Monday, December 23
3 - 7 PM

Tuesday, December 31
3 - 7  PM
 
Danvers
December 1 - 15

Gloucester

Saturday, December 14

Various Events, Locations

Middle Street Walk

 

Saturday, December 14

10 AM

Holiday Present Making Workshop

 

Saturday, December 21

4 - 6 PM

Solstice Stroll

 

Hamilton

Saturday, December 14

11 AM - 2 PM

Santa's Hayride at Green Meadows Farm

 

Saturday, December 21

7:30 PM

A Fireside Noel Holiday Concert


Haverhill 

Saturdays, thru December 21

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Haverhill Farmers' Market

 

November 29 - December 15

Christmas at the Buttonwoods: A Festival of Trees 

 

Ipswich

Thursday, December 19

6 - 8:30 PM

Appleton Cooks: Sugar and Spice

 

Saturday, December 21

12 - 4 PM

Ipswich Evergreen

 

Wednesday, January 15

7:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Lecture: Joel Brown on the Essex Coastal Byway Guidebook

 

Lawrence

Daily, thru December 16

Fasanella's Lawrence

 

Lynn

Fridays, 1 - 2 PM

Yoga at the Lynn Museum

 

Thursday, December 12

7 - 8 PM

ATLAS: Author Talk Lecture and Signing

 

Marblehead

Saturday, December 14

2- 4 PM

Artworks 5 Gallery Workshop for Children

 

Nahant

Sunday, December 22, 5 PM

Ellingwood Chapel Concert Series: The Epic Brass

 

Tuesday, January 14, 7 PM

Biodiversity in Salt Marshes and Seagrass: Does it Matter?

 

Newbury

Saturday, January 11

3 - 6 PM

Old Newbury Day Open House

 

Newburyport

Friday, December 13

6 - 9 PM

Holiday Invitation Nights

 

Saturday, December 14

10 AM - 4 PM

Newburyport Holiday House Tour

 

Rockport

Friday, December 13, 8 PM

Rockport Blues Summit

 

Saturday, December 21, 7 PM

Holiday Community Sing-Along

 

Rowley

Saturday & Sunday

December 14 - 15 & 21-22

Holiday Weekends at Mill River Winery

 

Salem

Thursdays, thru December 19

3 - 6 PM

Salem Winter Market

 

December 1 - January 1

Various Events, Locations

Salem Holiday Happenings

 

Saturday, January 11

10 - 11:30 AM

Gadgets and Gizmos

 

Saugus

Saturday, December 21

11 AM - 1 PM

Breakheart Reservation Advanced Hike (pdf)

 

Wednesday, January 1
12 PM

First Day Hike: Breakheart Reservation (pdf)

 

Topsfield

Tuesday, December 17

7 -  9 PM

Cold Moon Hike

 

December 27 - 29

Vacation Week Family Fun Day

 

Wednesday, January 1

12 PM

First Day Hike: Bradley Palmer State Park (pdf)

 

Wenham

Thru January 26 

Snow Train to Bakersville Model Train Layout

 

Tuesday, December 31

10 AM - 2 PM

Family New Year's Eve Celebration

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News from the Essex National Heritage Area is a monthly electronic newsletter for members, non-members and site partners of Essex Heritage. Our mission is to raise the visibility of the Essex National Heritage Area and all its historical, cultural and natural resources, and promote our ongoing activities. Articles that are 150 words or less and fit the editorial scope of our newsletter may be submitted to Essex Heritage for publication. We reserve the right to select an article or portion of an article whose content is found appropriate and edit it for publication.