Salem Celebrates July 4th!

Mayor Kimberley Driscoll is pleased to announce that Salem will hold its Independence Day celebration at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site on Derby Wharf on Friday, July 4th.

“There is no better place to be than Salem on the 4th,” Mayor Driscoll stated. “We have consistently put together one of the most spectacular live concerts and fireworks extravaganzas anywhere in Massachusetts.” American Profile magazine has ranked Salem as one of the ten best places in America to celebrate July 4th.

“Salem is fortunate to have such a generous business community that continues to support this celebration,” Mayor Driscoll commented. “I’d like to express a special thank you to Footprint Power - Salem Harbor Station and to Salem Five, along with Aggregate Industries, Tache Real Estate, Market Basket, Eastern Bank, and KV Associates.”

Free children's activities begin at 4:00 p.m. with the opening of the Kids' Space, where young ones can play games and get their faces painted, all thanks to the generosity of the Gathering, the MeetingHouse Church and the First Universalist Society of Salem. Food tents on site also open at 4:00 p.m. with hot dogs, French fries, fried dough, kettle corn, and other fair favorites.

Live entertainment on the Main Stage begins at 5:00 p.m. with the Pocket Money Orchestra. Come down early to hear this amazing young funk group from Salem, featuring energetic original music by Brian Cogger (trumpet), Seth Bailin (tenor and baritone sax), Aidan Scrimgeour (piano), Ben Siwak (bass), Derek Hayden (drums), and Danny Dugan (percussion). The band's repertoire includes a wide range of musical styles, influenced by groups like Booker T and the MG's, Charles Mingus, and early Santana. The Pocket Money Orchestra has a growing presence on the North Shore music scene and plays regularly at local venues. They are also slated to play at this year's Salem Jazz and Soul Festival.

Opening Ceremonies begin at 7:15 p.m. when Mayor Driscoll and other local dignitaries will lead a parade down the wharf accompanied by the Salem Veterans Honor Guard and Salem Boy Scout troops. The National Anthem will be sung by Grace Bigus, Sam Bigus, Danielle Lovasco, Chloe Panico, Jacob Pini, Mariella Robinson, Delaney Sprague, and Aly Yanishevsky from the YMCA of the North Shore Glee Club. The YMCA of the North Shore Glee Club is an a cappella group for children ages 12-18 directed by YMCA Music Director Samantha Gambaccini. These students work as a team to create and sing a wide variety of repertoire from classic to contemporary. The popularity of this ensemble has grown exponentially since its creation in the fall of 2013.

Immediately following opening ceremonies Maestro Dirk Hillyer and his orchestra will offer a Pops experience you will never forget. This year soloist Jean Danton joins the orchestra with musical selections from Sondheim. Her singing has been described as “stunning,” ”outstanding,” “wonderfully controlled and full-voiced,” and “stylishly stellar.” Her artistry has led to acclaimed performances throughout the United States in oratorio, opera, recitals, and as a soloist with symphony orchestras. She is a favorite soloist with Pops orchestras including the Boston Pops Orchestra with Keith Lockhart and Bruce Hangen, North Shore Music Theatre, North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, and New England Light Opera.

At 9:15 p.m., Salem ends its Independence Day celebration with a fireworks extravaganza, accompanied by the Hillyer Festival Orchestra playing the 1812 Overture and other patriotic music throughout the entire fireworks display.

Part of the allure of this celebration is its setting. The first National Historic Site in the National Park System, Salem Maritime National Historic Site consists of nine acres of waterfront land and houses a dozen historic structures. These include the Custom House, where famed author Nathaniel Hawthorne worked, and Derby Wharf, which was used by America's first millionaire, Salem merchant Elias Hasket Derby. With historic Salem Harbor, including hundreds of boats moored and the replica of a 1700's sailing vessel, the Friendship, as a backdrop, Independence Day in Salem is filled with the history that helped make American the free nation it is today.

For more information check www.salem.com or call Salem City Hall at 978-745-9595, ext. 5676.

For information regarding our mobility impaired/wheelchair seating section, please call 978-745-9595, ext. 5676.



Other Independence Day Events in Salem

Friday, July 4
Join Mayor Driscoll on Salem Common at 9:00 a.m. for the reading of the Declaration of Independence. The special program begins with the Star Spangled Banner, sung by members of the YMCA of the North Shore Glee Club. The Declaration of Independence will be read by Dann Anthony Maurno, a Salem resident and actor who has appeared onstage in a variety of area venues, including the Salem Theatre Company. An author, his short story "Something Real Fine" won a Salem Literary Festival award for best fiction. Musical selections will be performed by Robert Kendall on keyboard and Salem resident John Howard will lead the audience in singing America the Beautiful. Coffee will be provided by the Salem Common Neighborhood Association through the generosity of Starbucks.

Saturday, July 5
At noon on Saturday the United States Air Force Heritage Band, the Blue Aces, will perform a free concert at the Salem Willows Shell. The Blue Aces take great pride in their specialized, high-energy performances that feature a wide variety of American popular music styles. The group performs annually for thousands of military and civilian audience members, in settings ranging from small official dinners to large festival events. Drawing from broad musical and cultural backgrounds, the members of the Blue Aces combine their tremendous musical talent with their passion for the finest in entertainment. They effectively share the Air Force story with audiences throughout the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and Carolina regions of the U.S. This exciting ensemble has performed for our nation’s highest military and civilian dignitaries, including local and state officials, U.S. Congressmen, Foreign Air Force Chiefs and Foreign government officials, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the President of the United States. The Blue Aces take great pride in their ongoing musical support for the morale and welfare of our airmen and our joint-combined forces deployed across the globe. This is a special event for our residents and we are honored to have them perform as part of Salem’s 4th of July holiday weekend.



July 4th is the perfect day to spend in Salem, Massachusetts. Start off bright and early at Salem Common for the reading of the Declaration of Independence, spend the rest of the morning and early afternoon visiting the City’s numerous historic sites and attractions, dine at one of dozens of remarkable restaurants, and end your day at historic Derby Wharf for all of the festivities. Then stop by Salem Willows on Saturday at noon for the free concert by the Air Force Heritage Band. There’s no better place to celebrate Independence Day than in historic Salem!

Railing Vandalism?

Several weeks ago the wooden railing on the second floor staircase was damaged by what looked like scraping it with a set of keys, knife or other sharp object.It left deep gouges in the wood, and was rough to the touch. Since several people have moved in and out of the building recently it was assumed that the marks may have been the result of dragging some kind of furniture up the stairs. Markwood Management paid to have it sanded and refinished. No sooner was that done than someone scratched it up again. The fact that it is in the same place (out of view of the surveillance cameras) and in the same way, makes it look like it was done deliberately. One has to wonder why. There is a very short list of individuals who have ongoing issues with Markwood Management.  Everyone has frustrations from time to time, but taking them out on the building is not going to resolve anything. It's just going to make things worse, and if the person doing it gets caught they will be on the losing side of some serious legal ramifications.

Now a scratched railing may not seem like a big deal, but the fact that someone feels it is OK to destroy community property is an indicator of a much more serious problem. We had someone smash a window in the back stairwell this winter under similarly mysterious circumstances.
If you see anyone vandalizing the building please notifying Markwood immediately.

If the person(s) doing this reads this blog post, please consider communicating with Markwood Management with some other method than vandalism. Try talking directly to Markwood Management or the trustees. Post your grievance on the blog comments. These are meant to be communication tools and not just a one-way outlet.

If you are so pissed-off that you actually think vandalizing property is a good alternative to open communication, please get professional help. Seriously. You need it.

North Shore Concert Band Summer Concert Series

Tuesday, June 24 at 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Robert F. Hayes Bandstand at Salem Willows Park

The North Shore Concert Band will begin its Summer Concert Series at the Robert F. Hayes Bandstand at Salem Willows Park next Tuesday, June 24, 2014.  The concerts will be performed from 7 to 9 P.M., for six consecutive Tuesdays.  In the event of rain, the concerts will be performed on Thursday of the same week.  This year's concert series will feature Broadway Salute; patriotic; music of the silver screen; youth concert; an all-American music concert; and a Celtic concert.  The North Shore Concert Band is conducted by David Benjamin and managed by Gordon Bowman who can be reached at 978-531-9339 or gbbjcb@verizon.net.

Parking and Road Closures For this Weekend

Two events this coming weekend may impact your parking and travel plans if you live at 24 Norman Street. If you regularly park in Riley Plaza, this will affect you.

North Shore Pride Parade – Saturday, June 21, 2014

On Saturday, June 21st at noon time the NS Pride Parade will begin at the Riley Plaza Parking Lot.  The parade will exit the lot taking a right onto Margin St., a right at Norman Street onto New Derby Street to Derby Street, then take a left onto Hawthorne Boulevard and into the Salem Common. 

At 11:45 am the parade route streets will be closed and will re-open immediately after the parade (approximately 1:00 p.m.) 

No Parking Postings
Please be aware that the Riley Plaza parking lot will be closed to vehicles on Saturday morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. All vehicles must be removed from the parking lot.

No parking tow zones from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. will be posted on Margin Street between Gedney & Norman Streets.

No parking tow zones beginning at 9:00 a.m. will be posted on Washington Square South and East around the Common.

Traffic delays are expected and motorists should seek alternate routes during this time.

For more information regarding the NS Pride Event log onto: http://northshorepride.org/

 


 


24th Annual North Shore Cancer Walk 
– Sunday, June 22, 2014

On Sunday, June 22nd the North Shore Cancer WALK will begin at Salem Willows Park, down Memorial Drive onto Essex Street around the Salem Common onto the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall onto Lafayette Street to Salem State University’s O’Keefe Center and back along Lafayette Street to Derby Street onto Fort Avenue back to the Salem Willows.

Please be aware that there will be street closures on portions of these roads from approximately 8am until 9:30am.

Traffic delays are expected and motorists should seek alternate routes during this time.

For more information regarding the Cancer Walk log onto: http://northshorecancerwalk.org/

Salem Farmers Market Opens Tomorrow!

Thursday, June 12th, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., Derby Square

The sixth season of the Salem Main Streets Farmers Market will officially open this Thursday, June 12th with an even bigger and better market. With over 30 vendors, the market will be held at Derby Square on Front Street in Salem, MA every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from June 12th through October 23rd. 

Opening day will set the tone for the largely volunteer-run market that, over the next five months, gives residents and tourists alike the opportunity to buy farm-fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, cheeses, meat, and a variety of other goods. Every week the market will offer demonstrations and live music.

“The market has truly become a destination for the community – it’s a gathering place as well as an opportunity to get fresh, local produce and other goods,"   Salem Main Streets Manager Kylie Sullivan said, adding that the 2013 market season brought an attendance of well over 40,000. “With the great range of vendors that we have, there’s something for everyone at to our farmers’ market.” 

At the heart of the market are eight major farms who will attend this year: Clark Farm, Gibney Gardens, Maitland Mountain Farm, Grant Family Farm, Heaven’s Harvest Certified Organic Farm, Long Hill Orchard, Wally's Vegetables, and the newest addition, Connors Farm. They are complemented by an array of specialty foods, bakery products, spices, and non-food vendors.

Exciting new additions to the market include local businesses Melita Fiore (pastries), Far From The Tree (craft hard cider), Jodi Bee Bakes (baked goods, including gluten & dairy free treats), and Day Of The Dog (homemade pet treats). Other new vendors are Auntie Elsie’s Oatmeal Crisps (oatmeal specialty cookies), Stillman’s at the Turkey Farm (various meats), and Red Antler Apothecary (household & personal cleaning and care products).
       
As in previous years the farmers market will continue to take EBT through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 

The market is made possible through the leadership of Salem Main Streets and the Farmers’ Market Committee, as well as the generous contributions of numerous volunteers.  For more information please contact Salem Main Streets Manager Kylie via email at kylie@salemmainstreets.org. To get the latest updates about the farmers’ market, visit our website at www.salemfarmersmarket.org, or follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/SalemMAFarmersMarket or on Twitter (@salemfarmersmarket).