ESSEX HERITAGE PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES

The Essex National Heritage Commission Annual Fall Meeting

Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012

Smith Barn at Brooksby Farm, 38 Felton St., Peabody

8 a.m.: Continental Breakfast Reception

8:30-10 a.m.: Business Meeting

Join us for a morning of engagement on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 8-10 a.m. at the historic Smith Barn, adjacent to Peabody's Brooksby Farm. Participate in this free, valuable networking opportunity that will further connect you with the work of Essex Heritage and our partners.

A special thank you is offered to The Peabody Historical Society for hosting the Annual Fall Meeting and thereby allowing many around the region access to one of their interesting  sites.

2012 Trails & Sails is here again!

Friday, Sept. 21-Sunday, Sept. 23 and Friday, Sept. 28-Sunday, Sept. 30

Trails & Sails: Two Weekends of Walks & Water

Join us for the 11th annual Trails & Sails: Two Weekends of Walks and Water, Sept. 21-23 and Sept. 28-30, 2012! Explore Essex County's cultural, historic and natural sites during two weekends of 150 plus FREE events. Enjoy a variety of guided tours, open house visits, hikes, walks, sails, paddles, and other special experiences for all ages, skill levels and interests. Search the online event listing and plot your course here!

Reminder! You won’t want to miss these two upcoming events already described in my Aug. 30 blog:

Friday, Oct. 26, 7-9 p.m.

The Andover Historical Society Presents: Trials and Taverns: A Lecture with Dr. Emerson Baker

97 Main St., Andover

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m.

The House of the Seven Gables Presents: Strong Women at the Gables: Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, a Notable Local Figure with International Connections

115 Derby St., Salem

Also coming up:

Featured Partner Event The House of the Seven Gables Presents: Strong Women at the Gables: An Orchestra at Her Fingertips

115 Derby St., Salem

Pianist Jacquelyn Schwab will perform vintage 19th century American parlor music, including Stephen Foster and Civil War songs, hymns, spirituals, and ballroom dances. Schwab is best known for her performances on Ken Burns’ Grammy award-winning Civil War documentary, as well as the Emmy award-winning Baseball and Mark Twain documentaries on public television. A folk and classical improvisational pianist, she has a unique style that defies easy categorization.

 Advanced reservations required. Please contact (978) 744-0991 and let them know you are an Essex Heritage member. Admission: $10 for Essex Heritage and Seven Gables Members, $15 Non-Members.

REGIONAL NEWS

Salem Volunteers Gathered Sufficient Signatures to Put CPA on November Ballot

Congratulations to the numerous volunteers in Salem who worked to gather the signatures of 5 percent of registered voters in the community in order to have the decision on participation in the Community Preservation Act put on the November ballot. The act, if approved, will allow the community to add a 1 percent real estate surcharge on annual real estate bills. It is estimated that this will add about $30 to the average tax bill. The funding raised can be used to support historic preservation, affordable housing and open space. If approved by the voters in November, the city of Salem will become one of 149 communities that have adopted the activity since the law was created in 2000. The city of Peabody passed the CPA about a decade ago and have funded the acquisition of several parcels of open space as well as building a new museum dedicated to the city’s leather history.

Senator Fred Berry was honored

A tribute event was held for Senator Berry on Sept. 13, 2012 at the Danversport Yacht Club. Senator Berry is retiring from 30 years as the state senator for the communities of Peabody, Salem, Danvers, Beverly and Topsfield. Senator Berry has been a champion for a number of causes and projects, including educational institutions and handicapped services. More than 600 people attended the event at which Nelson Benton, former editorial director of the Salem News, returned from retirement in Arizona to preside as the master of ceremonies. It was agreed by all that Fred will be missed. His successor, Salem City Councillor Joan Lovely, also attended the event and was applauded for her recent victory. 

Salem State University Up-coming Events

Sept. 19, 2012 Friends of the School of Social Work Fall Workshop International Social Work and Social Development: The Case of El Salvador 

Sept. 20, 2012 Salem State University Writer's Series Featuring Dr. Ann Taylor and Professor Kevin Carey

Oct. 12, 2012 Athletes Hall of Fame Induction

Oct. 13, 2012 Alumni Golf Tournament Friends and Family Weekend Carnival and BBQ Celebration of Coaches and Athletes

Oct. 14, 2012 Alumni Athletics Games 
Alumni BBQ

Coming soon! Fall 2012 New Small Business Programs at the Enterprise Center.

Salem Main Streets Seeking Volunteers for Visitor Help 

With the annual visitation to Salem increasing dramatically during the month of October as Halloween revelers come to visit, the city is interested in finding residents who would be willing to provide some time both answering questions for visitors and offering directions. For more information about how to volunteer for this program or to volunteer contact Judy Kearney by e-mail at judykearney830@gmail.com or contact Salem Main Streets at 978 -744-0004

Department of Energy to Audit Danvers Electronic Meters 

The community of Danvers is in the process of installing so-called “smart” water and electric meters that will transmit usage activity for more efficient and correct billing to area used. The total cost of this project is $16 million and the community is bearing the cost of $8 million and the balance of the funds were obtained from the U.S. Department of Energy. The federal authority charged with auditing the program will soon be in Danvers to review progress as in previous audits of departments in Danvers like the Senior Center and the Police accreditation is awarded.

The City of Newburyport Reaches Energy Milestone

To continue the technology theme, the city of Newburyport has reached a milestone in solar energy usage. The program is built around the attainment of certain levels and the second level has been achieved. The higher levels are achieved and the price for the energy is reduced.

Recent Primary Elections

Congratulations to all of the candidates who ran for office in regional primaries. We want to congratulate the Salem City Council President, Joan Lovely, who topped the ticket in the race to win the Democratic nomination to replace Senator Fred Berry. She along with the other three candidates appeared in a recent debate that I was pleased to moderate. Joan made a statement at that debate about the need to find a better solution for the homeless housed “temporarily” in motels in Danvers that certainly connected with many Danvers residents.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Kimberly Shumacher Named Interim Director

The Jewish Federation of the North Shore has named Marblehead resident Kimberly Shumacher as its interim Executive Director. She has worked for the agency for the last five years and has managed a program. 

Kristen Noon Named Executive Director of Wenham Museum

The Wenham Museum, that is celebrating its 90th anniversary, will host an Open House on Oct. 17 from 5-7 p.m. to welcome its new Executive Director Kristin Noon who lives in Wenham and previously served on the board of the Museum. Noon, who is a lawyer, was also the Co-Chair of the Development Committee and served on the Collections Committee. The museum located at 132 Main St. in Wenham next to the Town Hall. Ms. Noon will assume the Directorship on Sept. 24, 2012 where she will oversee 14 employees and will manage a collection of over 20,000 artifacts that includes 5,000 dolls and a sensational model train gallery. She replaces Lindsay Diehl who retired earlier this year after serving most successfully for six years.

Danvers Town Manager Marquis has Contract extended

For those of us that live or work in Danvers were most pleased to learn the Board of Selectmen provided a much well-earned contract extension  for Town Manager Wayne Marquis for an additional five years. The manager has done an exemplary job of managing that community. His rating by the Selectmen is well earned. He does a excellent job running the town of Danvers and we as residents should be most pleased that his leadership role has been extended.

PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS

Golf Event and the Treatment of People with Disabilities

Last weekend through the generosity of Commonwealth Equities in Topsfield and DWS Investments a Division of Deutsche Bank, my wife and I were able to attend a session of the golf tournament sponsored over Labor Day weekend at TPC Norton. My wife and I were accompanied for the visit by my son Michael and our grandson Casey. The transportation to and from the parking lot at the Comcast Center was provided by Boston Coach Company and I cannot say enough positive things about the service provided to me and other disabled participants. Transportation to and around the tournament site was prompt, courteous and helpful and I am very pleased that we attended the event. I have attended that golf event every year of the decade it has been held in this location except last year when a minor illness kept me away. I enjoyed every phase of the day except watching Rory Mclroy give up the lead. On the holiday, Rory regained the lead and staggered home to win the tournament. Thank you to everyone who participated in making such an enjoyable experience for me and my family.

North Shore Medical Facilities

In the region served by Essex Heritage we are blessed with exceptional health medical support, starting with North Shore Medical Center and their wonderful affiliation with the number one hospital in the country, Massachusetts General Hospital, where our family has been treated in the past. I served on the board of the old Salem Hospital and I know how well organized that facility is managed. I cannot comment on the Leahy Clinic as I have had no direct connection with them, but their reputation is impeccable.

My commentary today concerns another local care facility, Beverly Hospital. I have been a patient at that hospital on a number of occasions and always received great care. A couple of days ago my primary care doctor sent me to the Beverly Hospital Emergency Room to have a condition checked. The service that I received was exemplary. They were efficient and prompt, but most of all they were very caring when attending to my issue. It is incredible the choices we have at hand in this region. 

The value of these local medical facilities has never been more important to us.   The Boston Globe recently reported that as the local community hospitals get ready to deal with reduced government funds and a real pressure to reduce the cost of medical services and the pressure to remain profitable will become a primary goal of management teams. In 2011, 33 percent of the local hospitals in the state lost money. We can only hope that the local facilities will continue to provide meaningful medical services while still remaining profitable as that will continue to be most important. 

Boston Red Sox Dilemma

After the demise of the Red Sox last September, with a seven win month it seemed as if that was the low point for that franchise, but their play this year has been much worse, and that is truly an incredible event. They started September 2012 at a worse level than last year, and recently fell into the cellar of the American East Division. The management of that franchise will have to offer casual fans, season ticket holders and sponsors some indication that they have a plan for next year that will produce more positive results to keep the boat afloat. The negative public relations that they are presented with daily must be reversed. They are falling further and further behind in popularity when they are compared to other teams in the state. That trend must be reversed in 2013.