Letter to the Editor

A Thank You to Salem from Local Boston Marathon Victims

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Steve and Amber Woolfenden.

To the Editor: First of all, we would like to thank every organization, group and individual in the community who has offered us donations and well-wishes since the Boston Marathon.  The responses we’ve gotten from the community have been overwhelming and have run the gamut: everything from donations to the fund established for our family; to offers to pet sit/babysit/houseclean/landscape/chauffeur and everything in between; to at least one freezer on the North Shore that is full to the brim with meals, ensuring that we won’t have to cook for months; and to friends, acquaintances and strangers alike who have offered up prayers and good thoughts as we are recovering from the events of that day. We truly appreciate everything that has been …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Ticketing Salem Skateboarders

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Michael Rappa.

The ordinance with which I am concerned is section 24-7 “it shall be unlawful for any person to play at skateboarding in any street or sidewalk within the city limits”. My name is Michael Rappa, I have been a resident of Salem for four years. I currently live on Jefferson Ave in Salem. Wednesday, the 27th of March, my brother, Brian Rappa, and I were ticketed for violating ordinance Sec. 24-7, despite the fact that we were wearing helmets, protective gloves and demonstrated that we could come to a safe and controlled stop. But the purpose of this letter is not to focus on what happened Wednesday, but rather to express my concern for outdated city ordinance. As a resident and commuter of Salem, I rely on my long board skateboard as my …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Sick Kids and Seniors, Salem Says: So What?

The following letter the editor was submitted by Joan Zabkar.

A Letter from Salem Seniors to the Editor and All Our Fellow Citizens:   We in Massachusetts know better than most Americans that toxic waste can cause health problems. There are toxic compounds (a.k.a., volatile organic compounds) under the site of the new Salem Community Life Center. We know they’re there. We can’t know how much.   But Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and City Councillors are going to build on the site anyway. Their only concern: To protect the City from liability if children or seniors – or you – get sick.   They and State Senator Joan Lovely refuse to demand that the developer remove and contain contamination caused by the toxic compounds. Rather, they are forging an agreement with the developer that, according to Councillor …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: A Thanksgiving Thank You

The following Letter to the Editor was sent in by It Starts With Me! President Melanie McKinnon.

To the Editor: On behalf of It Starts With ME!, a big thank you to everyone who helped make the 5th Annual Turkey Drive a huge success!  This year with help from family, friends, strangers, volunteers and sponsors we were able to provide 81 Thanksgiving meals to families and veterans on the North Shore. Our 5th year was our most successful turkey drive to date!  In total, we fed 405 people as well as provided 15 boxes and 5 bags of food to local shelters.  It was great to see people from all over  along with  their friends, families, student-athletes and coworkers, come together to help those in need.  While the list of those who contributed is too many to name, donations ranged from fresh produce from local farms, friends and members of …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Local 8th Grader Says Thank You

The following letter to the editor was submitted by Leslie Levesque, Director of Admissions at The Phoenix School.

Dear Editor, The 3rd-8th graders at The Phoenix School hosted their annual Haunted Happening celebration for all kids in Salem to come and celebrate Halloween. This is one of the big community service projects that The Phoenix School does for the city of Salem. We have a costume parade, a public party for all kids aged 3 through 12, and a party for some of the nursery schools in Salem. On Saturday, October 20, little kids gathered at Salem Common and waited for the costume parade to start. Led by Officer O'Donnell, kids paraded through the streets of Salem in costumes galore. It was fun to see all of the great costumes. When they finally arrived at the judging table a surprise awaited them; three judges, volunteers Malia Griffin, Erin …

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Letter to the Editor

LETTER: How Are Voting Districts Divided?

One resident said she was not able to vote in the primary last week after she was not aware her voting location was changed.

  The following was submitted by Lisa Marie Smith. What is up with the way the voting districts are divided?    I've lived in Salem for just shy of two years now and [Thursday night] would have been my first time voting here in Salem...had my polling place not moved.  I do understand the need to occassionally break up areas to ensure a fair demographic balance but this re-districting makes no sense.    My polling place used to be St. John's on St. Peter's Street, which is essentially across the street from where I live. I went to St. John's [Thursday night] to vote and was told that my section of Bridge Street was now districted for Mack Park.  It was frustrating because I don't know where Mack Park is and when one of the volunteers began …

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Letter to the Editor

LETTER: Prevey Responds to 'Salem News' CPA Editorial

After the 'Salem News' published its view on the CPA issue on Wednesday, Ward 6 City Councillor Paul Prevey responds.

The following letter to the editor courtesy of Councillor Paul Prevey is in response to an editorial published by the Salem News on Aug. 29. Myself and five of my other colleagues recently voted against putting the Community Preservation Act (CPA) on the ballot this November. As noted in the editorial, this initiative was affirmatively voted on by the City Council in 2007, however it was ultimately rejected by the voters at the ballot box. It’s now being put forward again by the Administration, however many of us on the Council that supported its placement on the 2007 ballot believe that this initiative had its opportunity in 2007 but the proponents are back for round two. What the editorial alleges is that somehow the Council denied the …

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Edward

7:45 pm on Monday, September 10, 2012

Everyone who pays property taxes to the city, technically has a vested interest in Salem. So yes, Michael's comment could be considered correct.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

LETTER: Reverse the Trend — Cast Your Vote on Sept. 6

Salem Democratic Committee Chair Darek Barcikowski encourages Salemites to get out and vote.

The following was submitted by Darek Barcikowski, Salem Democratic Committee Chair. On September 6th, let’s reverse the trend! One thing that is certain about Thursday, September 6th is that voters will go to the polls and elect the Democratic candidate for the 2nd Essex state Senate seat. The winner will face off with a Republican challenger in November, but it’s probable that the Democratic candidate elected on September 6th will in fact become our next state Senator. What remains uncertain, however, is how many of us will participate in this election. Word on the street, as well as in local media, is that turnout will be low - the election is on a Thursday, two days after the Labor Day holiday, and it coincides with the beginning of the…

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LETTER: Sen. Berry Shows Support for Energy Bill

Berry hopes bill will successfully transition coal plants (like Salem Harbor Power Station) to natural gas power.

Editor's Note: The following is courtesy of Sen. Fred Berry. The bill in question was briefly addressed on Salem Patch on Monday. Regarding the Energy Bill and Section 42 – Senator Fred Berry Recently the Salem News asked the candidates for my seat their opinion on Section 42 of the House of Representatives energy bill. As the sitting State Senator in the 2nd Essex district and Senate Majority Leader, I want to let your readers know that I fully support this section and that I applaud Chairman Keenan for his foresight in drafting this section to the House’s version of the energy bill.  Although the language of Section 42 did not appear in the Senate’s version of the bill I am strongly advocating for its inclusion in the final version that …

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john

6:41 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012

If you think the federal government doesn't control every single issue regarding energy,then you should consider your sources.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

LETTER: Why Wind? Why Salem? Why Now?

A resident has some questions about the Winter Island wind turbine project.

The following letter to the editor was submitted by Kenneth Novack. What does the Winter Island Wind Turbine project have to do with the United Nations Agenda for the 21st century?  I present to you a fact and ask some hard questions. Fact: Sustainable Development Policies equals Big Big Big Government. Questions:  If this is such a good plan for the 21st Century then why did they (our government) not call it by its real name? (United Nations Agenda 21) Why the deception? How come they did not tell us the names of the people,their motives, their objectives and the organizations that are funding this Global Governance Policy?  What is the ultimate goal? Is it to sustain the Planet, maybe? Is it to manipulate and control the world population…

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