The City of Salem and MBTA have launched a commuter pilot program for the summer 2009 season to introduce the MBTA monthly passes on Salem Ferry service for select trips. Details are provided below.

• The monthly MBTA Zone 5 - 8 Commuter Rail and MBTA Commuter Boat Passes will be honored as valid fare on the Salem Ferry for the following weekday commuter trips: 7:00 a.m. from Salem; the 5:10 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. from Boston’s Long Wharf and 5:25 p.m. and 7:25 p.m. from the Salem Ferry’s newest stop at the World Trade Center dock in the Seaport District.
• The monthly MBTA Commuter Boat pass is also valid on MBTA services up to commuter rail Zone 4, so Salem ferry commuters with this pass will now be able to access the MBTA system. The City of Salem owns one 149 passenger high speed catamaran named the Nathaniel Bowditch, which it leases to the private ferry company, Water Transportation Alternatives (WTA). The service operates between Memorial Day and October 30. Visit www.salemferry.com for more information.

Download PDF [96KB]

Saturday Sports

Explore sports in the early twentieth century with a specialty tour of the Phillips House property and a screening of the Phillips family's film collection. Watch the family's home movies of lawn games and
sailing as well as of major events like the Boston Marathon and Harvard football games. Afterwards, play family-friendly lawn games in the backyard.

This program will take place at Historic New England's Phillips House, located on 34 Chestnut Street in Salem from 12:00-1:30 on Saturday June 27, 2009.

Admission is $5.00 for Historic New England members and $10.00 for nonmembers. Advance registration is strongly suggested. Please call 978-744-0440 or visit www.historicnewengland.org to register.

You're invited to an Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Volunteer

Information Night, Wednesday, June 24, 7-9 p.m. at the Edgewater Café http://www.edgewatercafe.com at 155 Washington Street, Salem, MA.
Light refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available.

The purpose of the evening is to learn about the ways you can help us support our mission: raising funds for music education programs in our schools, and producing free concerts for the public. While most of our volunteer needs are isolated to "day of" events (like the main festival on August 15 & 16), some seasonal and/or year-round opportunities exist as well.

If you're interested in previewing the roles available or registering early for specific roles and time slots, please click here to visit our volunteer sign-up page http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/volunteer5 . Volunteer opportunities include, but aren't limited to:

• Unloading/loading and set-up/breakdown of equipment and supplies
• Stage construction
• Stage production
• Hanging signage
• Staffing merchandise tables
• Volunteer coordination support
• Greeting VIP guests at "Hobbs Juke Joint"
• Parking/letting musicians in through the private access gate at the Willows
• Street teams/PR – we'll be handing out promotional material in Salem and the surrounding areas on several different days throughout the summer

Feel free to share this email with anyone you think might be interested in joining us! If you can't make it, we'd still appreciate your help, so reply to this note or go ahead and register online on our volunteer page http://www.signupgenius.com/go/volunteer5 . Hope to see you there. Thanks for your support!
Salem Jazz and Soul Festival
Volunteer Committee
http://www.salemjazzsoul.org

Salem Sound Coastwatch has asked for support for their Swim & Fin Race
for Salem Sound scheduled for Sat. July 25. By becoming a "fin" fan you will be playing an important role in helping promote this event. Salem Sound Coastwatch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping our beaches and streams clean and healthy and protecting our coastal habitats.
For more information about the event visit www.swimandfin.org.
You can also sign up to compete in the event on www.active.com; for more information about Salem Sound Coastwatch and its programs, visit www.salemsound.org.

The City of Salem Park, Recreation & Community Services Department Presents:

Take a look at what the City of Salem Park, Recreation & Community Services Department has put together for you for this spring Click here to view PDF 26K

New RESIDENT STICKER program launched by city

As part of the program changes to the existing resident sticker program the City of Salem's Collector's Office is prepared to start issuing new resident parking stickers for the six different resident only parking zones throughout the City. As a result of many concerns expressed by City Councillors and residents, we have implemented changes to make this program more effective.

The existing resident sticker parking zones will remain unchanged, so all residents that currently have a sticker will still be eligible to receive one. The cost of the new sticker is $10, and it will be valid for a two-year period. The resident parking sticker will now include a vehicle registration (license plate) number and expiration date on the sticker itself to ensure compliance with the program. Visitor placards will also include an expiration date and the vehicle registration number. Each household will continue to be eligible to receive up to 2 visitor placards at cost of one dollar ($1) a piece.

The administration of the program will be transferred from the City Clerk's Office to the Collector's Office. The Collector's office is located on the first floor of City Hall in Room #4. The registration and renewal of the resident stickers will be on a rolling basis by zone and staggered throughout the year. The following staggered schedule for sticker registration and renewal has been established:

April 15 thru May 14 – Zone F Residents
May 15 thru June 14 – Zone A and B Residents (Derby St. neighborhood is Zone A)
June 15 thru July 15 – Zones C, D, and E Residents

In addition to obtaining your sticker in person at the Collector's Office, residents will now be able to purchase stickers by mail by downloading the application on line at www.salem.com http://www.salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_Collector/stickerinfo[PDF] on the Collector's Office home page and mailing the completed form with a copy of your (1) license, (2) vehicle registration, (3) a utility bill or a copy of a lease, and a check made payable to the City of Salem to the Collector's Office, 93 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970. Completed applications can also be left in the drop box in front of City Hall after business hours. Your new resident sticker will be sent to you via first class mail. Enforcement efforts in resident sticker zones will also be improved, as a portion of the sticker fees will be directed to provide increased enforcement personnel. Enforcement within your zone will begin the day after the last date of registration scheduled for your zone. Old stickers and old visitor passes will no longer be valid, so please remember to obtain a new sticker for your vehicle.

Salem Residents Park Vehicle Stickers

Salem Residents Park Vehicle Stickers For entrance to Winter Island, Forest River Park and McCabe Marina for 2009-2010,will be available to purchase beginning Wednesday, April 1, at the Council on Aging Building, 5 Broad Street.  The Council on Aging building hours are Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm, and Thursday evenings until 7:00pm.

The fee is $20 for the first car and $5 for a second car in your household. For residents ages 65 and older, the fee is $15 for the first car and $5 for the second car. You will be required to bring in your license and registration and we will place the sticker on your car. For a second car in your household, you must bring in the registration.

Thank you
Doug Bollen
Director
Park, Recreation and Community Services

Salem Park, Recreation & Community Services2009 Road Race Series

This inaugural race series in 2008 was such a success; we are once again providing the opportunity for runners of all levels to experience a wide variety of Salem races. From the chill of January to the heat of August, from 1 mile to a half marathon and from a flat and fast course to cross country - this series is intended to encourage you to train for and experience the best racing that Salem has to offer.
All races start in Salem, MA and support the City of Salem Recreation programs for all ages. By participating in and supporting all five races your versatility will be awarded with a commemorative fleece or running jacket!
The 2009 race series includes:
Thursday, January 1: Frosty Four New Years Day Race
10 a.m., 4 miles, relatively flat course, some rolling hills. In partnership with the Wicked Running Club.
Sunday, March 22: 5k Cross-Country Run at Olde Salem Greens
9 a.m., 5k, hilly and challenging course. A portion of proceeds benefit Salem High School Cross Country.
Friday, August 21: The Derby Mile
7 p.m., One mile flat and fast course; great family run. A portion of proceeds benefits Salem Youth Basketball..
Saturday, September 26: Wicked Half Marathon
8 a.m., 13.1 mile loop through Salem and Marblehead. In partnership with B & S Fitness.
Thursday, November 26: Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run
8 a.m., Thanksgiving Day, Fairly flat course- scenic waterfront. A portion of proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Club of Salem.

To qualify for the fleece jacket, you must officially register for and complete all five Salem Park, Recreation & Community Services Races listed above. There is no extra fee to participate in the 2009 Race Series- just fill out this application and return it by 1/1/09 and start training!

Name:_____________________________Age (as of 1/1/09):____ Male:__Female:__
Address:___________________________ City:____________ State:____Zip:______
Phone:____________________EMAIL:_____________________________________
Jacket Size (Circle One): S M L XL XL              Return by 1/1/09 to: Doug Bollen, Salem Park, Recreation & Community Services, c/o 2009 Race Series

5 Broad St., Salem, MA 01970

Pedrick Store House Project

Derby Wharf (National Park Service): An NPS update letter was sent to HDSNA and is be posted on our web site: View Letter [PDF 59KB]. Jeremy Bumagin was present and provided a verbal report: All final permits/approvals anticipated very soon. Excavation/initial construction expected to begin in early June, to conclude by late June. No work during busy months of July/August. Construction resumes in September/October. Monthly reports from NPS to HDSNA beginning in June.

Updates on Pedrick Store House Click Here

The Collector's Office at Salem City Hall has been certified as a Passport Acceptance Agency!

Passport applications are being accepted during regular business hours in the Collector's Office, Room 4, in City Hall. For more information regarding this service, you may call the Collector's Office at 978-745- 9595 ext. 5620 or visit the city's website: http://www.salem.com/Pages/SalemMA_Collector/passports

March 1, 2006
Contact: Dominick Pangallo, (617) 722-2575, dominick@johnkeenan.org

Representative Keenan reminds Salem homeowners about “Nicole’s Law” deadline

BOSTON – Representative Keenan today urged all Salem homeowners and landlords to ensure that their residences are compliant with “Nicole’s Law” before the March 31st deadline.

“Nicole’s Law” was passed by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor in November 2005. It requires that anyone who owns a residential property in the Commonwealth install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every habitable level before March 31, 2006. On levels with sleeping areas, the alarms must be placed within ten feet of the bedroom doors. After March 31st, anyone who sells their property will be required to have an inspection by the fire department prior to the sale or transfer of their property.

While some exemptions and deferments are available, generally any home, apartment, condominium, or townhouse that contains fossil fuel burning equipment or enclosed parking is required to have these life-saving alarms installed. For more information about the law and related regulations, you may contact the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services at www.mass.gov/dfs or by calling 978-567-3100.

Landlords must install a CO alarm in each dwelling unit. They must also inspect, test, and maintain the CO alarms at least once a year or at the beginning of any rental period – such as a lease renewal. Batteries are required to be replaced once a year. Tenants should report any problems with alarms to their landlord immediately and learn to recognize the difference between the smoke detector and the CO alarm.

“Each year we see injuries or deaths resulting from carbon monoxide poisonings occurring throughout the state,” said State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan. “We know that with the installation of carbon monoxide detectors to allow for early warning, we are clearly enhancing the safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth similar to what we saw with the implementation of the smoke detector law two decades ago.”

“Like smoke detectors, CO detectors will save lives,” said Salem Fire Department Chief David Cody. “Salem’s Fire Marshal Lieutenant Erin Griffin will be attending a seminar at the Department of Fire Services on March 7th to better understand how the new law will affect Salem property owners. Protecting lives and property is our primary mission.”

“I urge all homeowners and landlords to install CO alarms in their residences, in compliance with Nicole’s Law,” said Representative Keenan. “Tenants should familiarize themselves with this important program, as well. Ensuring the safety of Massachusetts residents and families is the most important aspect of my job as a public servant. I was proud to support Nicole’s Law in the House and hope that residents will take the appropriate steps to protect themselves and their families as this bill requires.”

CO is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that results from the incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas, propane, oil, wood, coal, and gasoline. Each year, many people die from accidental CO poisoning and thousands more are injured. This law was passed to protect Massachusetts residents from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The first symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu, but without the fever. They include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. If you think you have symptoms of CO poisoning or your CO alarm is sounding, contact your fire department and leave the building immediately.

Also, the city welcomes pothole reports via Email: potholes@salem.com.

If you report a pothole via Email, please send a copy to Lucy so she can follow up: lucycorchado@yahoo.com.