Every week we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers column. This week we received a number of emails regarding the future of the Salem Town Pump Fountain, which is located at the intersection of Washington and Essex streets. A project aimed at sprucing up the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall kicked off on Monday and many of our readers wanted to know what would become of of the well-known downtown fountain. The simple answer is that it isn't going anywhere. According to Andrew Shapiro, the city's Economic Development Planner, the …

Within the next few weeks, hordes of insects will awaken from a 17-year slumber, crawl out of the earth, shed their skins, and set the entire East Coast abuzz in an plague-like event enthusiasts have dubbed the “Cicadapocalypse” after the bugs' name, cicadas. Known as the East Coast II brood, these cicadas will emerge between April and June, across North Carolina and several other states up through New England. When the ground temperature hits 64 degrees Fahrenheit, the bugs will come out, spend roughly one week on the ground molting, and then hit the skies. The result? A 7 kHz buzz will …

Over the last few weeks, we've received several emails from city residents who wanted to know why their barrels and recycling bins end up strewn about or in the street on trash day. Normally, our weekly You Ask...Patch Answers column is aimed at tracking down the answer to a question submitted by one of our readers - but since this is a question without an easy answer - we're putting it to you. Do you find that your trash barrels and recycling bins end up in disarray on trash day? Do the crews working in your neighborhood do a good job of putting them back on the curb? Let us know in the …

Each week we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers column. Shortly after announcing that Friday morning's two-hour delay would actually be a full snow day, we received an email from a city resident who wondered what it would mean for the last day of school. Barring any more surprise snow days, the last day of school this year for Salem public school students will be Tuesday, June 25, a representative of the Salem Superintendent's Office said Monday. Salem has had three snow days so far this winter. Have a question for us? No matter…

Every week, we set out to answer a question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers column. On Thursday, we received an email from a local resident who was curious about a new medal that has been prominently displayed within City Council Chambers at City Hall. They asked: I noticed while watching a video you posted of the three Salem firefighters being recognized for their heroism that there is some kind of new medal there in the third-floor meeting room at City Hall. Can you tell me more about it? Thanks! --- The new medal, which can be seen in the photo above…

Each week, we set out to answer question submitted by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers column. This week's question came from our very own Associate Regional Editor Chris Helms, who recently moved to Salem and has been having some trouble getting rid of a pesky clementine crate. He asked: For two weeks running I've tried to get the city to pick up this orange crate. One week in recycling, the next in trash. It was left behind both times. I also saw another orange crate on my street that was not picked up. Does the city not pick these up? --- According to the City's of…

Every week, we set out to answer a question sent in by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers column. Earlier this week, we received an email from a city resident who was curious about how the Friendship of Salem restoration effort was going. --- What we found was that despite chilly temperatures, workers charged with repairing the damaged hull of the Friendship of Salem were still plugging away at Derby Wharf earlier this week. The painstaking process of gluing together damaged sections of the ship's hull has officials with the Salem Maritime Historic Site telling visitors…

Every week we answer a question sent in by one of our readers as part of our You Ask...Patch Answers column. This week, we fielded a question on our Salem Patch Facebook page from a local resident who wondered when she could expect the Serenitee Restaurant Group's new restaurant, Opus, to open in the former home of the Green Land Cafe on Washington Street. They asked: Any idea when Opus is opening on Washington Street? Although the original plan was to open sometime this month, the latest timeline forecasts a March opening, a Serenitee Restaurant Group representative said Monday afternoon. At…

The following information is courtesy of the City of Salem. 1. To determine your ward and precinct, check out the PDFs attached to this article. 2. Check out the locations by ward and precinct listed below. 3. Head to the polls between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 to cast your vote. Ward 1 1-1 Bentley School, Memorial Drive 1-2 Bentley School, Memorial Drive Ward 2 2-1 St. John's Church, St. Peter's Street 2-2 St. John's Church, St. Peter's Street Ward 3 3-1 Salem High School Auditorium, 77 Willson St. 3-2 Salem High School Auditorium, 77 Willson St. Ward 4 4-1 Witchcraft …

Each day, we receive dozens of inquiries from readers interested in sharing their stories, news and events with Salem Patch. Salem Patch is your place to get the news, but it's also your place to share news too.With so much going on in Salem and so many daily requests, we can never get to everything. That said, we want to make sure everyone has a voice. In order to do this and to make your life ridiculously easier, we're helping you learn how to use the site to your advantage so that you can contribute your own content with satisfying and instant results.If you provide us with the content, we…

We've had lots of questions about the SoWa Open Market and whether or not Salem will be getting an open market of its own. Here's your answer courtesy of Destination Salem. The City of Salem, Massachusetts has announced that New England Open Markets will oversee vending in Salem for three weekends in October. New England Open Markets is most recognized for creating the popular SoWa Open Market in the South End of Boston, and in October they will create the Salem Open Market, which will bring in an exciting mix of artisan goods for sale to Salem.  The SoWa Open Market has a great reputation …

The wait is over — the Village Tavern Grill & Oyster Bar has an opening date. Salem's newest eatery, which is located in the old Lakay Island space, is slated to open on Thursday, Sept. 27. The announcement was made on the business Facebook page on Friday. Parking will be validated for guests in the Museum Place Parking Garage for up to one hour beginning on Nov. 1, the business announced.In August, Salem Patch featured the Village Tavern. Check out the story here.

Next month, it will be a year since Salem experienced severe flooding one Tuesday morning, and the city and one neighborhood are still in constant dialogue about the state of the water situation.Many streets were inundated, but Forrester Street took the brunt of the water. Cars, furnaces and hot water heaters were destroyed.Tidal gates were installed earlier this year, but despite the City's efforts to keep the water at bay on the street, it keeps coming. On July 24, 2012, a quick thunderstorm moved quickly through Salem, but Forrester Street was inundated.And again, on Aug. 12, 2012, severe …

Residents concerned about mosquito spraying Thursday night may be put on a no spray list, according to the Salem Board of Health.   The decision to conduct preventative West Nile Virus spraying was made by the head of the Northeast Mosquito and Wetland District and the Board of Health Agent, a Board of Health representative said Wednesday.   If you would like to be put on the no-spray list you can call Northeast Mosquito and Wetland District at 978-463-6630. The Board of Health said Northeast Mosquito, which is conducting the spraying, is currently being "inundated" with phone calls. …

It isn't often that a city gets a gift that promises to pay at least $4.75 million a year in local taxes, creates jobs, pollutes far less and gives the city about 40 acres of land it can use to open the harbor to more public access while developing other tax-paying, job-creating businesses. If Footprint Power's plans are approved by a myriad of state agencies, that is what the City of Salem is getting from the plans by the Bridgewater, NJ firm for a new 630-megawatt natural gas electric generation plant to be built on the site of the old Salem Power Plant. "The world has completely changed …

Wondering what the commotion was on Essex Street near the intersection with Boston Street Sunday morning? We've had some readers ask. This is what we found. Police say a motor vehicle was totaled and two Essex Street condo/apartment buildings damaged Sunday morning when an operator drove into a common egress/parking lot between 396 and 392 Essex Street. There were no reported injuries.  At 8:08 a.m. police responded to Essex Street on a report a vehicle struck a house. When they arrived, police said a vehicle, a Honda Accord, "was found in the middle of the driveway with substantial damage to…

Before you know it, Heritage Days will be in full swing, and the city of Salem has been preparing to get everything ready for the big day. "We are really excited that Heritage Days is 12 days this year with over 60 different events,” said Special Events Coordinator Ellen Talkowsky. "Heritage Days starts off with a laugh at Comedy Night on Wednesday, Aug. 1 and the fun continues until Aug. 12." We'll be providing readers with the schedule each day, and we'll be building a homegrown gallery where you'll be able to upload your photos and share them with your neighbors. At the end of the event, …

One Salem man has combined his business expertise with his love of Salem and all things media into a new business — Social Palates.  John Andrews, formerly the head chef and general manager at Vic's Station, now calls himself a "PR handyman," and he's taken on his new job with a love for business and the community. "What I'm trying to do is really shed a spotlight on Salem, which in turn is benefitting my clients," he said. "I have a customer perspective and I also have a back of the house perspective…I can look at it from both sides of the fence." And that perspective, according to Andrews, …

Salem residents are working together to bring two K-9s to the Salem Police Department by October. The Moose Family Center, Mack Park Neighborhood Association and Lions Club are spearheading the effort to raise sufficient funds for the unit. In a letter to City Councilors, Ward 6 Councilor Paul Prevey, who is working as treasurer in the fundraising effort, said "the goal is to raise $30,000 for two dogs, the equipment and training for the dogs and the officers assigned to the unit." Without the fundraising efforts of the community, Prevey indicated it wouldn't be possible to fund the unit …

We've received lots of questions from readers wondering if the show "Cops" is filming in Salem. "Salem Police just stopped a car on Hawthorne Boulevard. A car pulled up behind the cruiser and a camera and sound crew jumped out and started recording," one reader wrote to us on Friday. Hmm. What's up with that?"Photographer/Owner of Social Palates John Andrews also captured some shots on the 4th of July in the Point neighborhood. Andrews said he heard the crews were with TBS. We've heard they're with TNT.Nonetheless, we can confirm via the Salem Police that there has been a show on female …