SEPTEMBER 2014  
New Owners for Bakers Island Light Station!
Deed transfer ceremony (L-R): John Farmer, Essex Heritage; Glenn Rotondo, GSA; Annie Harris, Essex Heritage; Rear Admiral Fagan, US Coast Guard; Mayor Driscoll, City of Salem; Steve Striebel, Bakers Island Wharf Co; Senator Lovely, MA 2nd Essex District.

On August 27, 2014, the deed to historic Bakers Island Light Station was transferred  from the United States government to the Essex National Heritage Commission at a celebratory event at the Light Station to mark the occasion!

So what happens now? Essex Heritage plans to preserve the masonry lighthouse, two keepers' houses, lantern and oil buildings and make them accessible to the public only through escorted, guided boat tours leaving from Salem. As noted in her closing remarks, Essex Heritage CEO Annie Harris said it best: "this is an exciting opportunity but there are also some substantial challenges too. Our pledge to the nation is to take care of this historic property and open it up for the public's enjoyment and education, but we also understand the need to balance these goals with the concerns of the summer residents. We are committed to finding the right balance for all." Read on.
Trails & Sails
Trails & Sails Countdown!

Get ready to experience the sights and sounds of the Essex National Heritage Area during Trails & Sails: Two Weekends of Walks & Water, September 19 - 21 and 26 - 27!

Enjoy the very best of Essex County -- for FREE. For Trails & Sails 2014, Essex Heritage has partnered with a diverse network of local sites to offer two spectacular weekends of 150+ free events -- from a variety of walks and guided hikes to paddles, historical tours, lectures, and other adventures. No matter what your interest or passion, you can find something to learn, explore, and enjoy during Trails & Sails! See the full listing of events and plot your course at www.trailsandsails.org.


Take the Trails & Sails Challenge: MOVE IT!
Earn prizes for any miles you run, swim, hike and bike during Trails & Sails (and beyond) by participating in Essex Heritage and the YMCA of the North Shore's Move It! 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge. Start to Move It!

 

Trails & Sails 2014 is generously sponsored by: 

 

Move It! Challenge Update

We're exactly half way through the Move It: 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge -- which means you still have plenty of time (50 days!) to join Essex Heritage and the YMCA of the North Shore's campaign to get active in the Essex National Heritage Area. Get active, get fit and get those milestone prizes -- Move It!
Annual Fall Meeting
Save the Date: Thursday, October 23, 2014

Essex Heritage will host its Annual Fall Meeting on Thursday, October 23, from 8 - 10 AM, at The Governor's Academy in Byfield. Join us to participate in this free, valuable morning of networking and engagement. The agenda will include updates on Essex Heritage initiatives, introduction of new Commissioners, and the presentation of Essex Heritage's Pioneer in Partnership Awards. Learn more and RSVP.

Pioneer in Partnership Awards 
Nominate a Pioneer in Partnership (PIP)! Nominations forms are due Friday, September 19. Learn more.
 
Along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway

Byway Provides the Scenic Route to Trails & Sails
As you venture out to enjoy the fantastic line-up of free Trails & Sails adventures later this month, why not take the scenic route? Nearly half of this year's 150+ events take place along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway -- from exclusive access the Salem Marine Society's secret rooftop headquarters to a kayak trip though the Ipswich Estuary to a Civil War Walking Tour of Newburyport. Plan your Trails & Sails weekends at www.trailsandsails.org.

Preservation Study Completed for Fort Sewall
Consultants recently completed a nearly $25,000 study on the 1644 National Register-listed Fort Sewall in Marblehead, one of the oldest surviving forts in America. Recommendations from the preservation and use study include structural and cosmetic repairs, enhanced accessibility, and installation of interpretive signage. 

Historic Essex Walking Tour Goes Mobile
The Historic Essex Walking Tour provides a self-guided peek into the coastal community's Essex River Cultural District. Adding to the existing interpretive panels and available pamphlets is a new mobile-enabled website featuring photos, video, and audio materials as well as a map and links to other area attractions. View the new site at www.essexwalkingtour.com.

Stay Connected to the Scenic Byway:
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

 

Park for Every Classroom Summer Workshop Concludes

Teachers Experience Place Based Learning at Professional Development Workshop

For the third year in a row, Essex

Heritage collaborated with Salem Maritime and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Sites to plan and facilitate a very successful week-long professional development workshop that introduced Essex County educators to a Place-Based, Service-Learning (PBSL) pedagogy.  Based on this training, seventeen participating teachers plan to implement impactful, collaborative projects that encourage civic engagement and allow students to reach curricular goals in a meaningful, "real-world" context. Read on.

Partnership Grant Spotlight

Round Hill Historic Site, Saugus

Situated 150 feet above the Saugus River and in close proximity to the Saugus Iron Works, the Round Hill Historic Site in Saugus is part of a highly significant Native American archeological cluster. The Saugus Historical Commission is utilizing Essex Heritage grant funding to create interpretative signage designed to communicate the compelling story of the community's Native American ancestry to thousands of students, residents and visitors. The signage is a central element of a comprehensive project to showcase the site's extensive history and cultural and natural resources. Essex Heritage staff participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the project which took place in early May.

October = Membership Month

 

Make Trails & Sails last all year long... 

While the 150+ free events offered during Trails & Sails provide unparalleled access to the best of the region, it is our members and sponsors that help us keep Trails & Sails FREE for everyone to enjoy. Now is the time to join! Help us keep Trails & Sails free -- and the doors of discovery open -- by becoming a member today.

 

P.S. As a member, you will receive discounts to events that we plan across the region, a complimentary copy of the printed guide to Trails & Sails, access to our knowledgeable staff, and more. Learn more about membership.
In This Issue
New Owners for Bakers Island Light Station!
One Week 'Til Trails & Sails!
Move It! Challenge Update
Annual Fall Meeting
Along the Coastal Byway
Park for Every Classroom
Partnership Grant Spotlight
October = Membership Month
 
Essex Heritage & Featured Partner Events

 

Tuesday, September 16

9:30 AM - 11 AM

Grand Opening Celebration


September 19 - 21 &
September 26 - 27
* Track Move It miles from Trails & Sails events!

Sunday, September 27
9 AM
* Track Move It miles from this event!

Saturday, October 18, 9 AM
Witch City 5K, Salem, YMCA of the North Shore Road Race Series
 * Track Move It miles from this event!

Thursday, October 23
8 - 10 AM
Essex Heritage Annual Fall Meeting

Sunday, October 26
1 - 3 PM
* Track Move It miles from this event!
Heritage Happenings

 

Throughout Essex County

1st Saturdays thru October 4

17th Century Saturdays

 

Amesbury

Thursdays

thru September 25
6 PM - 8 PM

Andover
Saturdays
thru September 27
10 AM - 2 PM

Danvers

2nd Fridays, thru November

10 AM - 3 PM

Historic Properties of Danvers Tour

 

Essex


Sunday, September 14

1 - 5 PM

Essex Living History Burial Ground Tour


Saturdays, thru October 18
9 AM - 12 PM

Gloucester

Saturday, September 13

1 - 3 PM

Migration of the Monarch at Eastern Point

 

Thursday, September 25

5 - 8 PM

Night at the Museum

 

Thursdays, thru October 9

3 - 6 PM

Cape Ann Farmers' Market

 

Hamilton
Saturday, September 13
11 AM - 3 PM

Haverhill

Saturday, September 13

10 AM - 2 PM

GHAA Arts Festival

 

Saturdays, thru October 25 

9 AM - 1 PM

Haverhill Farmers' Market

Ipswich

Wednesday, October 1

3:30 - 5 PM

Kids' Lantern Making Workshop

 

October 3 - 5

Ipswich Illuminated

 

Wednesday, November 12

Ecological Landscape Alliance Season's End Summit

 
Lawrence

Saturday, September 13

8 AM - 1 PM

Spicket River Cleanup

 

Wednesdays, thru 
October  29,10 AM - 5 PM

Marblehead
Newbury

Friday, October 3, 7 - 9 PM

The Farmer's Table

 

Newburyport

Saturday, September 27

12 - 6 PM

Newburyport's Oktoberfest

 

North Andover

Saturday, September 13

10 AM - 3 PM

Fall Type Sale

 

Rockport

Wednesday,October 1, 7 PM

Community Concert: Sowah Mensah, African drummer

 

Salem

September 13 & 14

Salem Spice Festival

 

Thursdays, thru October 13

3 - 7 PM

Salem Farmers' Market

 

Topsfield

Sunday, September 14

1:30 - 3 PM

Sense of Wonder Walks: Summer's Grand Finale

 

Wenham

September  19 - 20

Wenham Museum's Annual Attic Treasures Sale

Hey Hot Shots!

 

Don't forget to snap photos for the 2014 Essex National Heritage Area Photo Contest while you're out and about in Essex County! 

Submit your Photo Contest entries by December 1, 2014 to win! Learn more.

Rockport by Ken Jordan
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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 historic, cultural and natural resources, and 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.