Press Releases

June 2010

• SCENIC BYWAY PLANNING SPURS ACTION
  Interest and participation in the long-term sustainability of the 85-mile Essex Heritage Scenic Byway continues to grow following a springtime series of local meetings involving 13 Essex County communities.
  
  ESSEX HERITAGE ELECTS JACK GOOD TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES
  The Essex National Heritage Commission Board of Trustees recently elected Jack Good, 1st Vice President, Danversbank to serve a three year term.

May 2010

• ESSEX HERITAGE ANNOUNCES 12th ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP GRANT RECIPIENTS, WELCOMES NEW COMMISSIONERS AT SPRING MEETING
  The Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) held its Annual Spring meeting in Salisbury today, showcasing current Heritage Area initiatives including regional recreational trail development, welcoming newly elected members of the Commission and naming recipients of the 12th annual Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program.
  
  ESSEX HERITAGE LEADERS HONORED WITH 2010 PROFILE IN PRESERVATION AWARDS
  Essex Heritage (The Essex National Heritage Commission/ENHC), is pleased to announce that Preservation Massachusetts has named several individuals affiliated with the organization, among 25 recipients of the inaugural Profiles in Preservation Award. The honors were bestowed upon state-wide leaders in the historic preservation movement at its 25th Anniversary Event in Boston on Wednesday, May 5th.
  
  THREE LOCAL LEADERS HONORED WITH 2010 ESSEX HERITAGE HERO AWARD
  On May 20th, The Essex National Heritage Commission, will once again celebrate our region’s unique cultural heritage, when in partnership with the National Park Service, they present the Essex Heritage Hero Awards, an evening celebrating the lifelong civic engagement and accomplishments of three distinguished regional heroes: Nicholas Costello, Amesbury; Maria Miles, Salisbury; Byron Matthews, Newburyport

April 2010

• Essex Heritage Seeks Host Site Registration for Premier Partnership Event
  The Essex National Heritage Commission is asking for community support to send an important message to Congress. The message … “Now is not the time to cut back on programs that not only save America’s heritage but save and create America’s jobs!”
  
  ESSEX HERITAGE URGES COMMUNITY PARTICPATION TO SAVE AMERICA’S HERITAGE
  The Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) will present its ninth annual TRAILS & SAILS: Two Weekends of Walks & Water, September 17-19 and September 24-26, 2010. Designed to showcase the unique array of historic, cultural, and natural resources within the Essex National Heritage Area, the weekends include more than 100 FREE events spread out over 50+ locations throughout Essex County. A call is being issued to all heritage non-profit and community organizations, as well as recreation- and heritage tourism-based businesses, to participate as site hosts.
  

February 2010

• Essex Heritage 2010 Photo Safaris and Photo Contest
  Calling all photo enthusiasts for an expedition deep into the Essex National Heritage Area! With a state-of-the-art digital camera in hand, explore four unique and stunning Essex National Heritage Area landscapes and historic sites. Equipped with all the latest camera gear from Canon, Nikon, Olympus or Tamron, provided by Hunt's Photo & Video, and personally coached by Hunt's technical experts and professional photographers, you'll be poised to capture that award-winning image. Ready to embark? Registration is now open to participate in the Essex Heritage Photo Safari program.
  

January 2010

• Essex Heritage Partnership Grant Program Restored
  Essex Heritage (The Essex National Heritage Commission), in its tradition of celebrating our region’s unique cultural heritage, announced today that it will once again offer matching seed grants to Essex County organizations through its popular Partnership Grant Program. Suspended in 2009 due to budget constraints, the organization is fulfilling a strategic priority by providing financial assistance to those organizations that steward the region's nationally significant heritage. Essex Heritage is currently accepting on-line proposals from municipalities and qualified nonprofit organizations for projects and activities that support Essex Heritage's mission to preserve and promote the historic, cultural, and natural resources of the Essex National Heritage Area.
  
  Essex Heritage Municipal Leadership Breakfast Held
  A broad cross section of regional elected officials and business leaders representing a majority of County's cities and towns, gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Peabody for an update on Essex Heritage activities and strategic priorities on Monday morning. The audience also received a federal update from Congressman John F. Tierney, the meeting's keynote speaker. Attendees included Mayors, Town Managers, Administrators and Selectmen from the 34 cities and towns within the Essex National Heritage Area, State officials, regional partners and business leaders. All were provided an opportunity to network and share concerns before an after the formal program, which highlighted Essex Heritage activities past, present and future.

December 2009

• Essex Heritage Elects Charles Cullen to Board of Trustees
  The Essex National Heritage Commission Board of Trustees recently elected Charles R. Cullen, President & CEO of The Provident Bank to serve a three year term. Mr. Cullen has been an active ENHC Commissioner since October 2005, and the Provident Bank has been an enthusiastic supporter of several ENHC initiatives in the Amesbury and Greater Newburyport area, including the Friendship Sails! excursion in 2006. “Charlie brings a wealth of strategic experience and a keen interest in preserving and promoting the unique quality of life of the region to the Essex Heritage Board,” said ENHC President Kevin Tierney. “Essex Heritage is very grateful for the volunteer support of our Commissioners and Trustees, and we are very pleased that Mr. Cullen will lend his enthusiastic leadership to our Board,” said Essex Heritage Executive Director, Annie C. Harris.
  
  

November 2009

• Scenic Byway Planning Advances
  Regional Coalition Embraces Heritage Tourism Initiative … Support for branding and marketing the 64-mile Essex Heritage Scenic Byway gained momentum during a recent series of local meetings involving 13 Essex County communities. During planning meetings held throughout the early fall, stakeholders representing a wide variety of interests, such as representatives of local government, chambers of commerce, heritage and natural resource sites and civic organizations, identified and discussed the key historic, natural, and scenic qualities that characterize the state designated North Shore coastal route. The information gathered during the meetings is being used to help prepare a corridor management plan for the byway.

• Essex Heritage Announces Winners of 2009 Photo Contest
  Salem Maritime, The Crane Estate, Glen Magna, Halibut Point State Park . . . Essex County photographers searched out the best and most beautiful locations for their award-winning submissions to this year’s Essex National Heritage Area Photo Contest. Sponsored by Essex Heritage and Hunt’s Photo and Video, the contest winners were announced this week and will be presented with their awards on December 10 at 5:30pm at the National Park Service Regional Visitor Center in Salem.

October 2009

• Essex Heritage Announces 2009 Pioneer in Partnership Awards 
  Over 100 regional dignitaries and constituents filled the Community House of Hamilton & Wenham (Hamilton) as the Essex National Heritage Commission conducted its annual Fall business meeting, announced the recipients of its Pioneer in Partnership awards, appointed a new slate of officers, and elected thirteen new commissioners on October 20, 2009.

September 2009

• National Parks Second Century Commission Commends Strength of Heritage Area Program
  Essex Heritage (The Essex National Heritage Commission), in its tradition of celebrating our region’s unique cultural heritage, announced the release of the report of the National Parks Second Century Commission: “Advancing The National Park Idea”. The findings urge specific actions by the President, Congress and National Park Service to celebrate the strengths and address the challenges facing the National Park Service (NPS) in advance of its 2016 Centennial. Among the recommendations, The Second Century Commission’s report favored the inclusion of the National Heritage Area model as part of long-range strategy, with secure base funding, to advance the National Park Service mission of education, heritage preservation and resource stewardship in the next century.

• First Bloom Program For Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem
  Essex Heritage, in collaboration with the National Park Service (NPS) and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem (BGCGS), announced today that they received a $20,000 grant from the National Park Foundation to fund the popular First Bloom Program at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. This year’s grant reinforces similar funding received in 2008 for a First Bloom Program at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. First Bloom is a national conservation education program that reaches out to urban youth in their communities to teach them the science of native plants, encouraging them to protect the environment in America’s celebrated national parks and in their own backyards. “The grant will allow National Park Rangers and educators to connect children, grades 4-6 to the natural world”, said Patricia S. Trap, Superintendent of the NPS sites in Salem and Saugus. “Their project will help restore natural habitats at our Park site, and will strive to instill the National Park Service ethic of environmental stewardship among the team of Boys & Girls Club participants.”

August 2009

• TRAILS & SAILS 2009 Offers Over 100 FREE Events
  Momentum is building as the Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage) finalizes plans to present its eighth annual Trails & Sails 2009, for the first time, spread over two weekends. Explore the land, sea and shores of Essex County onSeptember 18-20 and 25-27, 2009. Partnering with Essex County heritage non-profit and for-profit organizations, Essex Heritage will offer over 100 FREE events in a unique assortment of historic, cultural and natural sites. All events are designed to give residents and visitors a taste of the region’s distinctive history, breathtaking landscapes and hidden gems! For a full listing of events, visit: www.trailsandsails.org, where participants can pre-register, enter a raffle for an overnight hotel stay and design a personalized itinerary on-line.

July 2009

• Essex Heritage Scenic Byway
  Travelers along the 64-mile Essex Heritage Scenic Byway experience much of what New England has to offer: historic seaports, colonial era farms, village and city centers, and a wealth of period architecture. Designated by the Commonwealth as a state scenic byway for its significant scenic, historic and natural resources, the byway traverses 13 communities set against the backdrop of the rocky coast and The Great Marsh, New England's largest salt marsh. The byway is anchored at each end by the gateway cities of Lynn and Newburyport, and passes through the Essex National Heritage Area communities of Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Ipswich, Rowley, and Newbury. 

June 2009

• Maritime Guide
  Staying close to home this summer? Looking for something fun to do?Celebrate the coast! The Essex National Heritage Commission has published a new, free brochure, The Maritime Guide - Exploring the Coast of Essex County, highlighting the many must-see attractions along Boston’s North Shore. Use this guide to explore lighthouses, beaches, historic homesand much more!

May 2009

• Photo Safari
  Calling all photo enthusiasts for an expedition into the historic wharves of Salem on May 16th! You will be equipped with the latest and greatest camera gear from Olympus, provided by Hunt’s Photo & Video, and personally coached by Lou Manna, an award winning Olympus Visionary Photographer. Start the Photo Safari season with this ramble around Salem’s three original historic wharves- Derby, Hatch's and Central, and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site to see the Friendship, a replica of a 1797 three-masted, square rigged "East Indiaman" merchant ship used to open international trade.
• Heritage Hero Award
  Someone once wrote the following about Thomas P. Costin Jr.: “Tom Costin has already accomplished far more than most men in public life. And he hasn’t stopped. There will be more to come in the many days that lie ahead.”
• Best Idea Grant
  Essex Heritage, in its tradition of celebrating our region’s unique cultural heritage, is pleased to report that the National Park Foundation awarded Salem Maritime National Historic Site and the Essex National Heritage Area one of thirty-five America’s Best Idea grants. The focus of these grants, awarded to National Parks throughout the country, is to extend the reach of the important lessons offered in Ken Burns’ documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” and to reach traditionally underserved groups and inspire their future stewardship of our National Parks.

April 2009

• Annual Spring Meeting Held in Newburport
  The Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) welcomed
  several state and local elected officials to its annual Spring meeting, held on April 28 at the historic Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport. During the business portion of the session, members elected three new commissioners, announced the recipients of Special Recognition awards and enthusiastically announced the launch of the Essex Heritage Scenic Byway planning initiative.

March 2009

• Photo Safaris
  Calling all photo enthusiasts for an expedition deep into the Essex National Heritage Area! With a state-of-the-art digital camera in hand, you could capture sea birds soaring over the beaten bluffs of Rockport and swooping down on the historic wharves of Salem; the sun setting over the dunes at Crane’s Beach or the waterwheels churning at the historic Saugus Iron Works. You’ll be equipped with all the latest camera gear from Canon, Nikon, Olympus or Tamron, provided by Hunt’s Photo & Video, and personally coached by Hunt’s technical experts. You’ll be poised, all set to capture that award-winning image.

 

November 2008

• Essex Heritage Announces Winners of 2008 Photo Contest
  Derby Wharf, Lighthouse Beach, Strawberry Hill Trail . . . Essex County photographers searched out the best and most beautiful locations for their awardwinning submissions to this year’s Essex National Heritage Area Photo Contest. Sponsored by Essex Heritage and Hunt’s Photo and Video, the contest winners were announced this week and presented with their awards today at the National Park Service Salem Regional Visitor Center (2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA)
• Essex Heritage Announces 2008 Pioneer in Partnership Awards
  Over 100 regional dignitaries and constituents filled Emerson Hall (Topsfield) as Essex Heritage (Essex National Heritage Commission or ENHC) appointed a new slate of officers, elected eleven new commissioners and announced the winners of its Pioneer in Partnership and Special Recognition awards at its annual meeting, held on October 21, 2008. Also awarded were three National Park Service Recognition Awards presented by Patricia Trap, Superintendent of Salem Maritime & Saugus Iron Works National Historic Sites, and Curtis White, Lead Park Ranger.

October 2008

• National Parks Second Century Visit
  The National Parks Second Century Commission, a prestigious panel formed in
  August 2008 to examine the national parks today and chart a vision for their future, will be visiting Lowell National Historical Park and the Essex National Heritage Area on October 27 and 28, 2008.
  
  Essex LINCS Kicks Off Second Year
  Essex LINCs (Local History In a National Context) held its first workshop on October 2, 2008 at National Archives in Waltham MA, kicking off its second year of programming.
  
  TRAILS & SAILS WEEKEND 2008 Wrapup
  All was not a washout for Essex Heritage’s seventh annual TRAILS & SAILS 2008: A Weekend to GO! Experience Essex Heritage, which was held September 26 – 28, 2008. While the weather dealt a 1-2 punch with a very wet combination of nor’easter and tropical storm Kyle, throughout the 500 square miles of the Essex National Heritage Area, TRAILS & SAILS attendees gained a totally unique perspective on Essex Heritage
  

 

September 2008

• Essex Heritage Explorers Kickoff Fall Native American Program
  Essex Heritage (Essex National Heritage Commission), in its tradition of celebrating our region’s unique cultural heritage, launched its fall Explorers program by partnering with Glenn Mairo of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society for a tribute to Masconomet.
  
  UPPER MERRIMACK VALLEY to Offer 29 Free Events for TRAILS & SAILS 2008
  This year, in an effort to reach out to its regional partners, Essex Heritage has joined forces with ArtsFest Merrimack Valley, Lawrence Heritage State Park, Lawrence History Center, Methuen Historical Society and American Community Think Tank to showcase a cluster of 29 events in a unique array of historic, cultural and natural sites within the Upper Merrimack section of the Essex National Heritage Area.
  
  THE SOUTHERN GATEWAY to Offer 26 Free Events for TRAILS & SAILS 2008
  This year, in an effort to reach out to its regional partners, Essex Heritage has joined forces with Salem Main Streets, Peabody Essex Museum, The National Park Service, among others to showcase a cluster of 26 events to take place at a unique array of historic, cultural and natural sites within the “Southern Gateway” of the Essex National Heritage Area.

• LOWER MERRIMACK VALLEY to Offer 32 Free Events for TRAILS & SAILS 2008
  This year, in an effort to reach out to its regional partners, Essex Heritage has joined forces with Amesbury Chamber of Commerce, Town of Amesbury, ArtsFest Merrimack Valley and the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce to showcase a cluster of 32 events taking place in a unique array of historic, cultural, and natural sites within the Lower Merrimack section of the Essex National Heritage Area.
  
  ESSEX HERITAGE to Offcer 200 Free Events for TRAILS & SAILS 2008
  Momentum is building as Essex Heritage (Essex National Heritage Commission) finalizes its plans to present its seventh annual TRAILS & SAILS 2008: A Weekend to GO! Experience Essex Heritage, September 26 - 28.
  
  CAPE ANN to Offer 20 Free Events for TRAILS & SAILS 2008
  Essex Heritage has joined forces with several organizations in the Cape Ann area including the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center and the City of Gloucester to offer 20 FREE events in a unique array of historic, cultural and natural sites within this beautiful Essex National Heritage Area.
  
  The Heart of Essex County Offering 35 Free Events for TRAILS & SAILS 2008
  Momentum is building as Essex Heritage (Essex National Heritage Commission) finalizes its plans to present its seventh annual TRAILS & SAILS 2008: A Weekend to GO! Experience Essex Heritage, September 26 - 28.
  

August 2008

• Essex Heritage and Hunt's to Co-Host Photo Safaris
  Camera Enthusiasts Invited to Embark on Photo Adventures.

July 2008

• TRAILS & SAILS 2008: Over 200 Free Events Announced
  The Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) presents its seventh annual TRAILS & SAILS: A Weekend to GO! Experience Essex Heritage, September 26 - 28, 2008. Designed to showcase the unique array of historic, cultural, and natural resources within the Essex National Heritage Area, the weekend includes more than 200 FREE! events spread out over 135 locations throughout Essex County.
  

June 2008

• Essex Heritage Announces 11th Annual Partnership Grant Program Winners
  Just in time for summer, the Essex National Heritage Commission has published a new free brochure - Guide to the Great Outdoors - highlighting fifty-two of the Essex National Heritage Area’s greatest recreational sites.
  
  Free Guide to Exploring the Great Outdoors in the North Shore and Merrimack Valley
  Just in time for summer, the Essex National Heritage Commission has published a new free brochure - Guide to the Great Outdoors - highlighting fifty-two of the Essex National Heritage Area’s greatest recreational sites.
  
  Essex Heritage and Hunt Launch Photo Safari
  Essex Heritage’s Photo Safari program. Sponsored by four major camera and lens companies and co-hosted by Essex Heritage and New England’s largest photography retailer, Hunt’s Photo & Video of Melrose, MA, the Photo Safaris combine historic exploration with modern-day digital photography advances

May 2008

• NEW PATHWAYS TO HISTORY
  Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site will celebrate its Grand Reopening on May 16 and 17, 2008, marking the achievement of several major construction projects.

April 2008

• NPS REGIONAL VISITORS CENTER EXHIBITS AWARD-WINNING ESSEX HERITAGE AREA IMAGES
  As ongoing partners in the stewardship of the Essex National Heritage Area, the National Park Service (NPS) and the Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) have opened an exhibit of award-winning images from the 2007 Essex Heritage Photography Contest in the NPS Regional Visitors Center, Salem.
  
  

January 2008

• ESSEX HERITAGE ANNOUNCES 2008 PARTNERSHIP GRANTS PROGRAM
  The Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) has announced that it is accepting applications for its 2008 Partnership Grant Program.

December 2007

• Annual Appeal
  Essex National Heritage Commission announces key milestones for 2007. Seeks Community Support for Annual Appeal
• 2007 Photo Contest Winners
  From twinkling lights along the Lawrence Canal to a lone snowy egret in the Great Marsh, the award-winning entries of this year’s Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) Photo Contest captured the true essence of our Essex National Heritage Area. Sponsored by Hunt’s Photo and Video, and coordinated in conjunction with the Essex Heritage Photo Safari Program, this annual contest announced its winners this week.
• EssexHeritage supports new VoTech School
  We at the Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) have been following with great interest the current plan to merge North Shore Regional Vocational Technical School in Middleton, Essex Agricultural and Technical School in Danvers and the Peabody Vocational School into a new facility located on 166 acres adjacent to the Essex Agricultural School and the North Shore Community College campus (near the junction of Routes 1 and 62 in Danvers). The Essex National Heritage Commission wholeheartedly and enthusiastically supports this new $140 million dollar state-of-the-art facility that is scheduled to open in 2012.
  
  
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