FRESH FROM THE GARDEN NEWS (6/27/11)
We are so sorry to be losing the talents of our loyal and dedicated Archives Chairperson and former CHS President Carol Zaikowski. Carol's obligations keep her from continuing the leadership and guidance we have long enjoyed, helping the Society wade through and make sense of its vast and mostly disorganized array of things, papers, maps, and etcetera. Under Carol's aegis, the Society began the painstaking and important task of identifying the treasures of Chester's past that were bequeathed and entrusted to its care. The Society is deeply indebted to Carol for giving us a start in the right direction. We plan to thank Carol, and recognize and honor her contributions, dedication, and hard work, at our picnic in August.
The Chester Historical Society's Carmen Smith History Room is changing places with the Young Adult Reading Room in the Chester Library. The change is being made to optimize use of the facility and to provide office space for the library's new part-time "Local History Librarian". The CHS looks to this new professional resource for guidance and assistance with its research, archives, preservation, conservation, genealogy inquiries, and community outreach for all things locally historical. Board member Marla Jackson is spearheading coordination efforts between the CHS and the Library.
The CHS contributed financial support to further planning for an Integrated Trail Ecosystem Plan (ITEP) for the Chesters, co-chaired by CHS Board member Ed Ng. Part of the ITEP proposal will identify, map, and interconnect Chester's historic sites throughout its parklands, downtown sidewalks, County and State trails, and back roads. The plan incorporates local history with current economic and ecological resources that comprise the local "ecosystem".