Graffiti Cleanup Community Project

The Mack Park Neighborhood Association asked the Sheriff’s Department recently for their assistance in addressing graffiti in the neighborhood. The Sheriff’s Department undertook the graffiti’s removal, which covered the side of Your Neighborhood Market on School Street, as a community project.

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Graffiti on School Street, on Your Neighborhood Market.

Graffiti in the Mack Park area, prior to removal.

Graffiti on a door, prior to removal.

Graffiti, prior to removal.

Prior to removal, graffiti beneath Your Neighborhood Market’s window.

Graffiti removal being undertaken by the Sheriff’s Department community project.

Graffiti removal being undertaken by the Sheriff’s Department community project.

Completed graffiti removal project.

Salem Police Department Honored and Recognized

The Salem Police Department was honored by the City, the Mack Park Neighborhood Association, and the State at an awards presentation on May 8th, at the Moose Family Lodge #218.

View SATV’s recording of the presentation.

Coverage of the event by Salem Patch.

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MPNA presents Chief Paul F. Tucker an award recognizing the department’s service to the city of Salem.

Attendees wait in line to peruse the table of refreshments before the Chief's presentation at the Moose Family Center.

Salem Police Officers and residents stand during the singing of the national anthem.

Ward 6 Councilor Paul Prevey presents the City’s honors to Chief Paul F. Tucker.

A cake designed for the event by Celeste Grenier Ross of Creative Cakes.

Chief Paul F. Tucker and 9-year-old national anthem singer, Madison Csogi.

Salem Veteran’s Council Receives Verrette Memorial Fund Donation

After the Philias Verrette Memorial was dedicated in Mack Park alongside Mason Street, organizers spearheading its creation discovered their fundraising efforts had been successful enough to collect funds in excess of the memorial's costs. On November 16, Verrette Memorial organizers presented the project's remaining funding, a donation of $832, to Roger Leger, Commander of the Salem Veteran's Council. From left to right: MPNA chairperson Rose Mary O'Connor, Salem Veteran's Council Commander Roger Leger, Verrette Memorial Fundraiser Chairperson Richard Brennan, Salem Veteran's Council City Council Liaison Councilor Michael Sosnowski, and Ward 6 Councilor Paul Prevey.

Remembering Anne Bergstrom

Mack Pack neighbor, Anne Bergstrom, passed away early Monday morning.

You may remember Anne, a frequent attender of our monthly meetings. Not afraid to address neighborhood concerns, Anne was instrumental in resolving safety issues in the Mason Street area. The demolition of the burned house at the corner of Mason and Friend Street, was a visibly positive change the neighborhood experienced as a direct result of Anne’s involvement.

For more than 16 years, Anne Bergstrom’s family walked in the North Shore Medical Center Cancer Walk. Anne captained this “Team of Hope,” consisting of her siblings, their octogenarian mother Margaret Taddeo, grandchildren and other family members. Cancer struck their family not once, but twice, killing her sister, Mary Geary, and her brother, Carl Bergstrom, when they were in their 50s.

Visiting hours:
Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m.
Murphy Funeral Home
85 Federal Street (at the corner of North Street)
Salem, MA

Funeral:
Friday, 9:15 a.m.
Murphy Funeral Home
85 Federal Street (at the corner of North Street)
Salem, MA

Funeral Mass:
Friday, 10 a.m.
St. James Church
Federal Street
Salem, MA

Those who wish may make memorial contributions to:

North Shore Cancer Walk Team of Hope
c/o NSMC Development Fund
81 Highland Avenue
Salem, MA 01970.

For online guest book or additional information please call 978 744 0497 or visit http://www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.

Anne’s obituary can be read in today’s Salem News.

Councilor-at-Large Forum: The Issues, Opinions and Soon, the Voter Decisions

Candidates, at Candidates-at-Large Forum

Tuesday Night’s Councilor-at-Large Forum, sponsored by the Mack Park Neighborhood Association (MPNA) and South Salem Neighborhood Association, was well attended, with an estimated 150-200 residents attending the event held at the Moose Family Lodge #218.

Incumbent participants Joan Lovely, Steven Pinto, Arthur Sargent, and Tom Furey defended their opinions and positions on topics provided by the largely residential audience, while challengers seeking to possess one of the four Councilor-at-Large seats, Teasie Riley-Goggin, Darek Barcikowski, Kevin Carr, Matthew Fraser and Matthew Richard, introduced the audience to their solutions and opinions.

Audience at Councilor-at-Large Forum

Salem resident concerns such as the wind turbine placement on Winter Island, Senior Center lack of progress and location selection, granting of developer parking variances, pedestrian mall auto access, and Salem transfer station’s potential expansion into a regional facility were addressed by each of the candidates in timed, 1-minute increments.

Some common themes were echoed among the candidates – Salem’s development into a more robust destination, environmental concerns such as utilizing green technologies and reducing negative environmental impacts, and encouraging development of the city without adversely impacting its residential neighborhoods.

Raffle table at Councilor-at-Large Forum

Tom Furey surprised the audience by discussing his upcoming surgery and candidates supported the use of internet-based technologies to communicate with constituents while acknowledging that these tools did not take the place of phone and in-person interactions.

Now that the candidates have aired their opinions, it’s up to the voters to decide who fills the city’s four Councilor-at-Large chairs. Quoting challenger Teasie Riley-Goggin, “You have a privilege, people, and you’re not using it. Get out and vote.”

The event was covered by the Salem Patch, Salem News, and Salem Access Television (SATV).

If you were unable to attend the Councilor-at-Large Forum on Tuesday night, SATV will be broadcasting it tonight (10.22.2011) at 4:00pm on channel 16.

Media Coverage

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SATV (streaming video)
http://cc.satvonline.org/Cablecast/Public/Show.aspx?ChannelID=1&ShowID=2845

Salem Patch (live blog replay)
http://salem.patch.com/articles/live-blog-at-large-candidates-forum

Salem News
http://www.salemnews.com/local/x859488376/Salem-councilor-at-large-candidates-speak-minds-at-forum

http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1184194130/City-hosts-a-first-a-potluck-political-forum

Websites

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Teasie Riley-Goggin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Teasie%20Riley-Goggin/#!/pages/Teasie-Riley-Goggin/266942476675491/
Website: http://www.teasieforsalem.com or http://teasieforsalem.wordpress.com

Darek Barcikowski
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darekforsalem”
Website: http://darekforcouncilor.com/

Steven Pinto
No website is available.

Matthew Richard
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Matthew-Richard-for-Salem-Councilor-at-Large/204656006272923
Website: http://votemattrichardsalem.com

Joan Lovely
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Councillor-Joan-B-Lovely/167921721853?sk=info

Matthew Fraser
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SalemLanguages?sk=wall
Website: http://www.ideasforamerica.org/

Thomas Furey
No website available.

Kevin Carr
Facebook: “http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elect-Kevin-Carr-Salem-City-Council-At-Large/140651252667669?sk=info
Website: http://electkevincarr.com/

Arthur Sargent III.
No website available.

Podium Donation Presentation Made to John Dionne, of Dionne’s Cabinetry

Left to right: MPNA Chairperson Rose Mary O'Connor, John Dionne of Dionne's Cabinetry, and Joan Lovely Councillor-at- Large.

MPNA Chairperson Rose Mary O’Connor and Councillor-at-Large Joan Lovely presented John Dionne a framed portrait of the podium he designed, crafted and donated to the Salem City Council. The podium features an engraved plaque which reads:

Donated to the Salem City council by Dionne’s Cabinetry of Salem, May 2011

2nd Annual MPNA Yard Sale

2nd Annual MPNA Yard Sale
Saturday, June 18th
8:30 to 3:30
Mack Park, Salem
(entrances on Tremont and Grove Streets)

The Mack Park Neighborhood Association is holding its second annual yard sale on Saturday, June 18, from 8:30-3:30 at Mack Park in Salem (entrances on Tremont and Grove Streets).

All proceeds from the sale will help provide refreshments for the the Mack Park Neighborhood Association’s monthly meetings, and help with its ongoing neighborhood improvement initiatives.

We welcome your donated items for sale. If you’d like to donate, please check the list below, to ensure we’re able to accept your items.

Items may be dropped off on Sat. morning between 7:am and 8:am. A possible Friday night drop off may be announced.

If you have questions, contact Mary Janard at 978 766-6837 after 5:pm, or email her during the day.

We’re able to accept the following items:

Clean Women’s, Men’s, Baby’s and Children’s Clothing
Hats, coats, sweaters, vests, shirts, blouses, pants, jeans, shorts, dresses, skirts, PJs, nightgowns, robes, shoes and slippers.

Entertainment Items
Books, records, board games, DVDs, CDs, VCR and cassette tapes.

Linens
Sheets, pillowcases, curtains, blankets, bedspreads, throw rugs, tablecloths, towels, bureau scarves.

Household Items
Pots and pans, dishes, baking pans, knickknacks, glasses, serving platters, cups and saucers, lamps, pictures,silverware and utensils, clocks.

Furniture
Tables, end tables, bureaus, chairs, coffee tables, night tables, beds.

Miscellaneous – unlisted items in good condition
Yard tools,holiday decor, sporting goods, carpenter tools, children’s toys, pocketbooks, mechanical tools, bikes and riding toys, jewelry.

Unfortunately we cannot accept the following items, unless you can to retake them if they are not sold

Appliances, microwaves, computers, used tires, paint.