Salem to host Second Annual North Shore Pride Parade
Public officials from several communities north of Boston are set to march in the Second Annual North Shore Pride Parade on Saturday, kicking off from Riley Plaza on 2 Margin Street in Salem .
The parade will start at 12 p.m. and turn right on Norman Street heading down towards New Derby Street. It will then continue onto Derby Street and Hawthorne Boulevard, where it will end at Salem Common for the North Shore Pride Festival from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
This is the second year that Salem has hosted the North Shore Pride Parade and Festival, and comes on the heels of the US Supreme Court striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The decision restored the federal rights and benefits for legally married same-sex couples in Massachusetts and any state which has legalized marriage equality.
On Tuesday, Mayor Kimberley Driscoll announced that Salem would soon participate in the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index with the goal of achieving a 100 percent score for the inclusivity of the city's laws, policies and practices, according to a statement from the mayor's office. To that end, Driscoll and Salem Police Chief Paul Tucker announced the designation of the first two official LGBT Community Liaisons for the City of Salem.
Subsequent to the parade, there will be an afternoon of entertainment on Salem Common following Driscoll’s proclamation of Saturday, as “North Shore Pride Day” in the City of Salem.
At 11:45 a.m. the parade route streets will be closed and will re-open immediately after the parade at approximately 1 p.m.
The Riley Plaza parking lot will be closed to vehicles on Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m. All vehicles must be removed from the parking lot.
No parking tow zones from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. will be posted on Margin Street between Gedney Street and Norman Street, as well as Washington Square South around the Salem Common.
Traffic delays are expected and motorists should seek alternate routes during this time.
For more information go to http://northshorepride.org/.
Terri Ogan can be reached at oganglobe@gmail.com, or follow her on Twitter.
Salem revs up public art; installs contemporary sculptures
The city of Salem installed three sculptures in the downtown area on Tuesday as a part of an ongoing effort to build momentum on public art in the community.
One piece is located at the end of Artists’ Row along New Derby Street. Another piece (containing two sculptures) will be placed near the intersection of Front Street and Washington Street, and the remaining piece (containing four sculptures), will be located in the Old Salem Jail Green by the intersection of Sergeant James Ayube Memorial Drive.
The three contemporary sculptures were created by artist Austin Collins, from Notre Dame, Ind., and will be in place through early November.
This is the second summer that the city has installed contemporary art sculptures downtown. The first year was in 2011.
“At the recent Imagine Art Here meeting for the city’s Public Art Master Plan we heard from many residents that they would like to see more public art," said Mayor Kimberley Driscoll in a recent statement. "With the installation of this year’s temporary sculpture exhibition, we’re looking to continue to build momentum for developing public art throughout the community. The temporary sculpture exhibition is an integral part of the City’s evolving public art program.”
At the public meeting about two weeks ago, city officials introduced a Public Art Master Plan, which entailed a strategy to increase public art and enhance cultural, aesthetic and economic vitality of the community, the plan says.
The strategy, which is in its fundamental stages, includes creating a Salem public art initiative by ordinance, determining sources of uses and funds, planning process for art selection and management, and reviewing the process for gifts and loans from private individuals, foundations, corporations or other organizations.
In addition, the city has asked residents to give their input on where to place the art. Some of these locations are where the new contemporary art now stands.
"When we did the public forums on our master plan on public art, people said, 'Wouldn't it be great to do public art at artists' row?' We're taking advantage," said Lynn Duncan, director of the department of Planning and Community Development. "I've already seen people photographing them [the pieces of art] so it's exciting."
Duncan added that she hopes the City Council will adopt an ordinance for the Public Art Commission by the end of the calendar year.
Salem to welcome students from premiere English boarding school to perform in free concert
The Leys School, one of England's premier independent co-ed boarding schools, is sending its group of 44 students to perform at Salem Old Town Hall as part of a national concert series.
A touring group of students and chaperones comprise a choir of 25 vocalists, a jazz ensemble of 15, a wind orchestra of 35 and a string orchestra of 15, all performing on Sunday July 7 at 6 p.m. at Salem Old Town Hall. Admission is free.
They will also be participating in a church service the following Sunday morning at Wesley United Church in Salem.
Founded in 1875 by the Methodist Conference, the Leys School, located by the University of Cambridge, has over 550 students, ages 11 to 18. They have a unique music program, with over 250 weekly instrumental and vocal lessons taught by a team of 25 visiting musicians, many of whom play professionally.
They will be arriving in Salem after giving a series of concerts in New York and Boston. These concerts include a performance on the flight deck of the Intrepid Museum and Boylston Plaza at the Prudential Center.
Salem has higher voter turnout than expected in Tuesday's special Senate election
A higher number of Salem voters came out to cast their ballot than expected in Tuesday's special Senate election, where Democrat Ed Markey defeated Republican newcomer Gabriel Gomez.
Salem City Clerk Cheryl Lapointe said the city saw a 25 percent voter turnout, a number that she was hoping for.There are a total of 25,932 registered voters in Salem.
"It's definitely better than the primary," Lapointe said. "It was higher than expected. I was hoping for about this, but I was worried about the weather and how hot it was."
According to unofficial numbers, Gomez took about 37 percent of Tuesday's votes, while Markey got about 63 percent of Salem's votes. Richard Heos took less than one percent of the votes.
Terri Ogan can be reached at oganglobe@gmail.com, or follow her on Twitter.
Woburn-based foundation donates $100,000 to North Shore domestic violence agency
The Cummings Foundation of Woburn has awarded the North Shore's Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) domestic violence agency a $100,000 donation.
HAWC will receive $25,000 annually for four years.
Employees of the Cummings Foundation were asked to nominate a local non-profit that would benefit from a sizeable donation and a majority of employees voted for HAWC.
"We were really impressed by all of the services HAWC has provided to 23 cities and towns of the North Shore since 1978," said Cummings employee and Swampscott resident Ernie Agresti, in an announcement. “Abuse impacts the whole community and we are grateful to have a local program that can help individuals who are vulnerable.”
The foundation was created by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester in 1986 as a trust to "give back" to the communities in which Cummings Properties does business, and most of its employees reside. It continues to provide ongoing support to hundreds of local causes.
A HAWC spokesperson said that the funds will be distributed to support all free HAWC services, which include a 24-hour hotline, individual advocacy, legal advocacy, support groups, shelter, hospital based advocacy and youth violence prevention education.
HAWC’s 24 hour hotline can be reached at 1-800-547-1649. To learn more about HAWC or domestic violence visit HAWC’s website at www.hawcdv.org .
Terri Ogan can be reached at oganglobe.com, or follow her on Twitter.
Salem YMCA to launch program providing local, fresh foods to community
The Salem YMCA is kicking off a program to provide farm fresh, local foods to the community through a partnership with Farmers To You, an organization of more than 50 Vermont-area farms and over 430 families in the Boston metro area that work together in a small-scale direct-to-consumer distribution system.
The new YMCA program aims to give families the opportunity to buy local foods from a select group of regional farms and craft food producers year round through customized weekly orders.
"The partnership with Farmers To You is perfect for the Salem community," said Salem YMCA Executive Director Jason Silva in a recent announcement. "Members can come to the Y, get a workout, take a class, and also pick up their personal order of nutritious food each week. The organic dairy, naturally raised and pastured meat and eggs, breads, fruit, and vegetables available through Farmers To You are top quality ingredients for wonderful healthy meals."
YMCA is seeking 25 families to kickoff the program. Salem area families are invited to create an account at farmerstoyou.com and make a weekly recurring order that can be modified or completely changed at any time.
Each week, Farmers To You updates families with the availability of new seasonal items, news from the farms, and provides recipes for simple, nutritious meals. Orders will be delivered on Wednesdays between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Crombie Street Lot on Essex Street in downtown Salem.
"The plan also includes having YMCA teens help manage the pickup site providing volunteer experience, skills and knowledge in food, customer service and distribution," Silva said. "And, it's not just for YMCA members. Anyone who is looking for quality food can join."
When 25 orders are placed, Farmers To You will notify families and start delivery as soon as possible. For more information, visit the program website. More information at farmerstoyou.com/salem_ymca
Terri Ogan can be reached at oganglobe@gmail.com, or follow her on Twitter.
Officials confirm Salem's Bertram Field is safe for construction
After conducting an assessment at Salem's Bertram Field, officials have confirmed that there is no risk to workers who will be excavating soil at the field on Powderhouse lane and constructing a new track and field there.
The city of Salem closed the field earlier this month after elevated arsenic levels were found in 5 of nine soil samples taken during preparation for improvements at the location.
City officials said the arsenic was detected in "normal soil six inches below the surface.'' Bertram Field is Salem High School's main football field.
According to a statement from Mayor Kimberley Driscoll's office, a licensed site professional completed the risk assessment, along with a risk analysis for a child, "assuming a regular and frequent contact with the field for a period of five years." The analysis also found that there is no health risk.
The report’s findings are also true for older children and adults who have utilized the field in the past, the statement said.
Because the method of remediation – excavation and removal of the topsoil – is also part of the project plan, officials do not expect this discovery to significantly delay the project, but the completion date has been moved from October 1 to October 18.
Terri Ogan can be reached at oganglobe@gmail.com, or follow her on Twitter.
MBTA Salem station parking lot to close as construction teams break ground on $37 million transportation hub
The MBTA Salem train station parking lot is slated to close for several months as the station undergoes a massive renovation project.
Starting on Saturday July 20, commuters, tourists and residents will have to resort to alternative parking methods when using the train, which include lots at the North Beverly train station, Montserrat station, Swampscott station, Lynn garage and the Museum Place parking garage.
In addition, the city of Salem is working to pave the Universal Steel lot on Bridge Street, which will accommodate 120 vehicles, free of charge.
MBTA officials announced the lot closing Wednesday night at the city's sixth and final public meeting before construction teams break ground on the $37 million train station project.
"It's a disruption," said state Rep. John Keenan. "We have a lot of projects going on in Salem right now and I always try to tell people that there are going to be disruptions during the process, but when it's all said and done, I think we're all going to be a lot happier that we have a brand new parking facility here in Salem that's not just a parking garage, but a transportation center for the city."
Architects from Fennick McCredie Architecture presented the 90 percent design update of the new station at Wednesday night's meeting.
The new transportation hub will include a five-level parking garage with 690 spaces, a full-height train platform, a new roadway circulation, an enclosed waiting area, and a 270-foot linear "kiss and ride" parking area.
In order to create a more pedestrian and bike-friendly station, design teams have also included bike lanes on both sides of all roadways at the station, new bike cages, two re-paved pedestrian walkways, six sheltered waiting areas, four uncovered bench areas, as well as a new pedestrian bridge, which commuters and residents will enter from Bridge Street.
Although most residents applauded the design of the new station, some were concerned about the lack of pedestrian access to and from the station.
"What happens if we have an emergency on the train, and we have to evacuate people quickly?" said Jane Arlander, a member of Salem's Pedestrian Committee. "There are other ways that they might be able to put in a secondary access. It would not be some expensive, elaborate thing, but it would be a very good fix to a situation that down the line could be extremely dangerous."
George Doherty, the MBTA project manager, said that he has been working with the Pedestrian Committee for two years regarding access to and from the station. Due to the physical location of the site, constructing a secondary pedestrian access location would be impossible.
"There are other routes, but the commuters like to take the shortest route, which is a path that goes through other people's property, so the T cannot get involved with that," Doherty said. "We'll work with the city depending on what they can do."
Doherty added that the city proposed a secondary access route in a recent pedestrian and bike study, but it poses a problem. The route goes through an area where there are currently train tracks, which the MBTA cannot remove because of contracts with supplying businesses with product.
The station project manager said that part of the Bridge Street construction project will widen the entrance and exit of the pedestrian bridge, therefore rectifying the situation as much as possible.
In order to gain feedback from residents after construction starts, the city and project design team will hold another public meeting in either September or October.
The new train station and transportation center is slated to open in October 2014.
Terri Ogan can be reached at oganglobe@gmail.com, or follow her on Twitter.
Community celebrates 'Lifetime of Leadership' with Jewish Federation of the North Shore
Beverly police arrest two Salem men on multiple drug charges
Beverly police arrested two Salem men on June 14 in the Gloucester Crossing area on multiple drug accounts after an officer observed a car with possible window tint violation.
Leonardo Reyes, 24, and Rudy Reyes, 20, were charged with possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug (cocaine), drug violation within 500 feet of a school, and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Leonardo was additionally charged with a window tint violation.
The two men, who told Beverly officer Tom Nolan that they are not brothers, were arraigned at Salem District Court.
On Friday, Nolan pulled over Leonardo for a window tint violation after he turned onto Simon Street, according to a statement from Officer Mike Bocuzzi.
Nolan suspected both men were attempting to secrete drugs by swallowing them and ordered both men out of the vehicle, the statement said.
Once out of the vehicle, Nolan recovered two small twists of what was believed to be cocaine from Rudy Reyes. The officer searched the car and retrieved 11 more corner twists of the suspected drug, in addition to $1,1717, an additional $253 from Rudy and another $360 from Leonardo, the police report said.
In total, Nolan seized $2,330 in cash and approximately $950 worth of cocaine.
