Essex National Heritage Area
Tom Leonard, President, ENHC

Tom Leonard,
President Emeritus, ENHC

Tom Leonard writes a monthly column for the community newspapers in the Essex National Heritage Area. This is a reprint of this month's column.
tleonard
at essexheritage.org.

Columns
Essex Heritage Announces
Heritage Hero Award Winner for 2009

We certainly hope that the Holiday Season was pleasant for all of you, and as we look forward to a new year, we can only anticipate that the economic climate will improve. We know that this past year has been trying for many, and we all look forward to the inauguration of a new administration in Washington, and the positive changes outlined by the new President. For us at Essex Heritage it is also a new year, and in the months ahead, we promise to continue to provide the residents of this region with meaningful and thoughtful programs.

Essex Heritage Annual Appeal Effort

We are particularly gratified by the generous response to the Essex Heritage Annual Appeal. As a result of the understandable cutback in funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this year’s annual appeal is more important than ever before. Essex Heritage asked both electronically and through direct mail for your continuing support, and you responded beyond expectations. Thank you to everyone who responded, and we want to make certain that you know how appreciative we are for your support. It is not too late to respond if you have not yet made a contribution. As noted last month, we have temporarily had to suspend our Partnership Grant Program, but we are working diligently to preserve all of our other regional programs.

Heritage Hero Award Winner Announced

In 2008 Essex Heritage, in conjunction with our partner, the National Park Service instituted a new program called the Essex Heritage Hero Award. The goal of the Essex Heritage Hero Award is to recognize the unsung heroes and passionate stewards, who work in our midst to preserve our history, educate others about our rich heritage and share their passion for the culture and resources within the Essex Heritage Area. In short, Heritage Hero’s make history come alive for residents and visitors alike. This annual award is presented at a dinner that both honor the recipient and the work of Essex Heritage to preserve the historic, cultural and natural resources of Essex County. The proceeds raised from the dinner and the accompanying tribute book goes to help continue the work and the programs of the Commission. The Essex National Heritage Commission is pleased to announce that the winner of the Essex Heritage Hero for 2009 is long time Nahant resident, Thomas P. Costin. Mr. Costin who was both the youngest person ever elected to the Lynn City Council, and the youngest Mayor ever elected in the history of this state has a long history of public service. He also served as the Postmaster of the Lynn Post Office, and then became the only two-term President of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States. Tom served with great distinction in the early days of the organization of the Commission. Mark your calendar, the dinner to recognize this year’s award winner will be held at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem on May 21, 2009. For more information on the award or how you can participate in the dinner please contact Mary Williamson at the Essex Heritage Commission. (978 740 0444).

Another Heritage Hero, Kevin B. Harrington

It would be a real oversight if I did not take a moment to offer the condolences of the Essex National Heritage Commission to the family of Kevin B. Harrington who passed away on Thanksgiving Day 2008. We have much to thank Kevin for, as on numerous occasions Kevin helped guide us through perilous times as we moved the Commission to where it is today. As a mentor and as an advisor, his contributions helped put the ENHC on the proper course on more than one occasion. In 2008 we belatedly named Kevin Harrington a Commissioner of Essex Heritage to formally acknowledge him for his many contributions. It is never to late to say, thank you, Kevin for all your help.

Several Ways to Help Essex Heritage

We have just identified two local “larger than life” individuals who have in their own special way helped this region and ENHC. Just recently, Essex Heritage has established a program that will allow individuals who feel strongly about preserving the resources of this region for future generations to help in yet another way by identifying the Essex Heritage Commission as a beneficiary in their estate. The tools to accomplish this are now in place, and for more information please contact, Mary Williamson, ENHC Director of Development.

Thomas M. Leonard is President Emeritus of the Essex National Heritage Commission, Inc., the nonprofit management entity of the Essex National Heritage Area, and can be reached by clicking here.