Monday, January 7, 2013
Practicality prevailed when Joe Ingemi and S. Steve Salvo vied for the corner office.
The early 1970's were a critical time in the history of modern Salem. Sam Zoll and Dick Guy faced off in the 1969 mayoral election. They were looking to succeed Francis X. Collins who had occupied the corner office at City Hall for twenty years. It was a true north Salem versus south Salem contest. When the smoke cleared Zoll stood as the winner. Zoll completed a two year term and stood for re-election in 1972 where he defeated a marginal candidate by the name of Morin. My memory of Morin presents a bear of a man with a bushy beard who would paddle from the beach at Derby's Wharf to Marblehead on a large truck tire inner tube. His bicycle would rest on his lap as he paddled. Once he hit Marblehead he would tie the inner tube to his bike …
42.52179
-70.89572
Salem City Hall
93 Washington St, Salem, MA
/articles/1973-a-divided-council-fights-over-the-mayoral-office
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Monday, December 31, 2012
Some thoughts and a few photos on a year past and a year to come.
Once again, barring any sudden encounter with a bus - we are blessed enough to see a new year emerge. Patch and I are both looking forward to the changes that a new year always brings. With new editors and managers on board you can be sure that there exciting things are going to happen. My first article in Patch ran on Nov. 27, 2010. This column today is number 222. Not all of those have been of the opinion variety. Meetings have been covered and interviews have been conducted. We have discussed dining, entertainment and sports. It has been a pleasure and I am looking forward to continuing our (yes, you and me) little on-line relationship. It would seem that some of you may like me and that most of you tolerate me. I'm sure there are a …
Monday, December 17, 2012
We are not immune to the issues of today's society.
Billy Cormier, Susan Sorois, Neil Cornacchio, Gloria Riley, Peter Doyle, Barbara DuPray, Frank Hooley, Karen Kobialka, Wayne Malionek, Aurora Oquendo, Bobby Carter, Beth Tobin. Those are the names of a few but not all of the Salem children that attended St. Mary's school with me in the late 1960's and early 1970's. We were instructed and disciplined on a daily basis by a group of nuns belonging to the Sisters of Charity. Kindergarten was the realm of Sister Anita. One of the years I was in kindergarten (yes I did kindergarten twice) the student teacher was a tall young woman by the name of Nancy Harrington. All of the people I named went on to to live their lives as most parents expect their children will do. Some got married and had …
Monday, December 10, 2012
The war may be forgotten but the soldier is remembered.
Two years can seem like a lifetime, or a nano-second. It all depends on what you are doing and when you are doing it. It was early on Thursday morning, Dec. 8, 2010 when I was contacted by Aubry Bracco then the Salem Patch Editor. She informed me that a Salem soldier had been killed the day before in Afghanistan. It seems like it happened yesterday. Initially I was skeptical as it had been a long time since Salem had experienced a death in actual combat. We had grieved with Beverly, Marblehead and Swampscott as they buried their own heroes, but had not yet been touched directly with the death of one of our own. This was the first time that Aubry and I worked together on a Patch article. Between the two of us we were able to verify that…
Monday, November 26, 2012
Some recollections of Charlie Schialdone and the times before a brownfield.
If all goes as planned, by the time you begin to read this sentence the yellow, cinder-blocked building on the Universal Steel site will be under the wrecking ball. And years of neglect, followed by tax issues and an eventual seizure by the city, will finally come to a merciful end. Most people seem to know this property as a federally designated brown fields site that sits just off of the North Street overpass. It has been long vacant and contaminated with polychlorinated byphenyls (PCB's), known to cause cancer and other dangerous metals, to include lead and arsenic. In the winter of 1976 Universal Steel hired a scrawny Salem High School distance runner to help out in the what was known as the yard. That skinny kid was me. A winter of …
Monday, November 19, 2012
The individual has to be held responsible - as does the business.
Recent actions taken by the Salem Licensing Board have caught the attention of many local residents and prompted some lively discussions on Salem Patch. Those who frequent downtown businesses on weekend nights can attest the vibrancy that has become downtown Salem. By late afternoon, it is not unusual to see places filling up with those out for a burger and a beer at Major Magleashe's or some delicious pasta and a good red wine at Cafe Graziani. Salem, along with Beverly, has become a destination for the dining and drinking crowd. This is good for everybody, but like anything else, it brings some negative with the positive. Among the many are residents looking for a relaxing night out are more than a few who have done a little pregame …
42.520889
-70.895545
Caffe Graziani
133 Washington St, Salem, MA
/articles/downtown-drinking-issues-are-a-two-way-street
771960
/locations/8164191
42.51746
-70.89381
Major Magleashe's Pub
268 Washington St, Salem, MA
/articles/downtown-drinking-issues-are-a-two-way-street
772122
/locations/8164192
42.519938
-70.89204
Murphy's
300 Derby St, Salem, MA
/articles/downtown-drinking-issues-are-a-two-way-street
773416
/locations/8164193
Monday, November 5, 2012
No matter our choices tomorrow the debate will continue unabated.
"Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters" - Abraham Lincoln To vote, or not to vote? Do we face the fire, or turn away from it? It would seem that there aren't many who actually wrestle with that question. Most come down on one side or the other and live comfortably with their decision. There are a few I know who vote sporadically, but they would seem to be the exception. We are either the type to face the fire or we are not. The fact is we all pay for our decision with blisters. This election season seems to be one that has challenged the sensibilities of those that always vote, those that seldom vote and …
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
This week brought a mixed bag to the Witch City
Halloween crowds October is in its last days. The final Saturday of the month brought good weather and large crowds. Hordes of visitors crowded downtown streets and stood in long lines outside of many shops and restaurants. It is always interesting to try and forecast how crowded the city will be on October weekends. There is no foolproof system. My method is to begin looking at traffic patterns on Thursday afternoons. If the traffic on a Thursday seems heavier than normal, it usually indicates the crowds are coming in early. Friday was very steady downtown, The numbers didn't overwhelm, but the tourists were out, about and spending money. Pointy hats, funky masks and painted faces were all about. Saturday was as busy a non-Halloween …
42.519547
-70.894355
Walgreens Store Salem
29 New Derby St, Salem, MA
/articles/halloween-stormy-days-and-a-fare-thee-well
2082711
/locations/8084279
Monday, October 1, 2012
Issues at Bangkok Paradise must be addressed properly.
As I walked downtown yesterday morning, I was writing today's column in my head. The subject had been chosen and the direction and tone selected. Then I turned on my iMac and looked at Salem Patch. Plans were changed as soon as I saw the headline concerning the events of early Saturday morning on Washington Street. Before continuing, be advised that I know the folks who own Bangkok Paradise personally. Some time back I worked with one of them at McCue Corporation at Shetland Park. I know him as a family man who has always worked a legitimate job for a legitimate income. There are many rumors concerning Bangkok Paradise. While I have my opinion, the fact is that I cannot attest to the reality of those rumors. There is one reality I am …
42.52204
-70.895753
Bangkok Paradise Thai Restaurant & Sushi Bar
90 Washington St, Salem, MA
/articles/salem-streets-cannot-be-a-battleground-for-knuckleheads
772430
/locations/7938749
Monday, September 17, 2012
Mid-September marks the unofficial start of the season.
Some years back a few Salem business owners decided to use the Halloween season to stir up some downtown shopping business. Many debate just who did what and when in that capacity. Suffice it to say that it was a group effort, driven mostly by private business owners. This past Saturday morning I saw the Samantha Statue get its annual pre-Halloween polishing. I then watched as the downtown filled with visitors. Parking became scarce, breakfast and lunch joints filled up, and folks wandered the city streets looking for the attractions. Sunday brought more of the same. This, despite the fact that Halloween is still seven weeks away. We all have our memories of our childhood Halloweens. Those my age probably focus more on the costumes they …
42.52096
-70.89236
Charter Street Cemetery
51 Charter St, Salem, MA
/articles/summer-fades-autumn-nears-and-halloween-returns
1403642
/locations/7850344
Jes
4:48 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Bill, Thanks for this info....very interesting. You never know what can happen in that council. I wish you well in your pursuit of any seat. You will be a breath of fresh air and an asset. Good luck! more ›