Salem's Top 5 Stories of the Week

Here are our top five stories of the week. They are listed in no particular order - click on the headline to read the full story.

Salem So Sweet: Ice Sculptures in the Snow: The more than a dozen ice sculptures that were displayed across downtown Salem over the weekend came in all shapes and sizes and were brought to life by snow flurries.

Echols of the West Memphis Three to Speak at Salem Film Fest: The sixth annual Salem Film Fest will feature a live Q&A session with new Salem resident and West Memphis Three member Damien Echols following a screening of West of Memphis - a documentary detailing the high-profile murder trial that landed him on death row for almost two decades.

Ask a Salem Expert: Tortelloni Folding With Jean-Louis: To kick off our new Ask a Salem Expert column, we stopped by the recently-opened Jean-Louis Pasta Shop on Derby Street Tuesday afternoon to learn from an expert how to hand-fold a tortelloni.

Man Convicted of Salem Murder Denied Parole: A Beverly man who pled guilty to second-degree murder for the 1987 shooting death of Raymond Bufalino was denied parole in a decision released by Massachusetts Parole Board late last week. 

Dog Poop on the Sidewalk: Is it a Problem on Your Street?: My wife and I (and our elderly dog) moved to North Salem in December. We love our new neighborhood. That said, I think we have to be honest that there is a dog poop problem along Buffum Street. As a dog walker myself, I have to take responsibilty for keeping those deuces off the sidewalks.

For more of this week's top stories, check out our news section.