Neighborhood News is a monthly Salem Reporter feature to highlight news or issues of concern to each Salem neighborhood association. Read previous editions here. Salem is divided into 17 neighborhood associations that meet monthly. They serve as a conduit to city officials for things like park improvements, road projects and planning and building. Learn more and find your association here. Leaders of each association are invited to submit a brief news item or report highlighting the association’s work, neighborhood concerns, upcoming activities or anything else of interest. Submissions are lightly edited for style and clarity. Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization CANDO is currently growing its board and is looking for new board members. Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (that’s a mouthful!) needs your help to continue working in Salem’s downtown district. Neighbors and businesses will work together to help improve it’s community for everyone. Attend a meeting and make your voice heard or help us plan for future projects and events. If you live, work, or own property in the downtown district, you are already a member and are encouraged to participate. Hear from your city councilors, neighbors and special guests at CANDO’s next monthly meeting on Jan. 22nd from 6-7:30 p.m. at Salem Public Library, 585 Liberty St. S.E. Learn more about CANDO and other neighborhood associations at www.cityofsalem.net/cando or email [email protected]. -Submitted by Irma Coleman, city of Salem neighborhood program coordinator Faye Wright Neighborhood Association Did you know that you are represented by the Faye Wright Neighborhood Association if you live, work, or own property in the Faye Wright boundary? Faye Wright Neighborhood Association is currently growing its board and is looking for new board members. Neighbors and businesses will work together to help improve the community for everyone. Attend a meeting and make your voice heard or help us plan for future projects and events. Hear from your city councilors, Mayor Julie Hoy, your neighbors and special guests at Faye Wright’s next monthly meeting on Jan. 14th at 6:30 p.m. at Judson Middle School. Learn more about Faye Wright and other neighborhood associations at www.cityofsalem.net/fayewright or email [email protected]. Everyone is encouraged to participate, invite your neighbors! -Submitted by Irma Coleman, city of Salem neighborhood program coordinator Grant Neighborhood Association The Mexico Room at Broadway Commons was full for our first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 2 despite following right after New Year’s Day. Perhaps because we were hosting an inaugural report from our new City Councilor and long-time friend of GNA, Paul Tigan. His presentation was — no surprise —  focussed on the deficit in the city budget and the remedies that are being discussed. He encouraged us to attend the budget committee meeting on Jan. 15. In addition, he praised the city workers who toiled diligently during the rainiest days of the year to repair broken wastewater conduits and restore sewer service to those affected.There was a report about a meeting with city representatives, neighbors and church leaders about the warming center adjacent to Grant School expressing optimism about the situation despite some concerns. Other reports included our pending application for a Salem Parks Improvement Fund grant for repairs and improvements to Grant Park, the imminent mailing of an informational postcard from GNA to all Grant Residents, reinstitution of neighborhood beautification awards, anti-graffiti mural painting on alley-facing private fences —  and more. At the end of the meeting, a vacant board member vacancy was filled.   For more details, the minutes from the January meeting will be posted before the Feb. 6 meeting. Find the location and link to our hybrid meetings on the GNA website and in the GNA newsletter. Follow GNA on Instagram and Facebook. –Submitted by Susan Napack, vice chair Highland Neighborhood Association On Dec. 14, Highland came together in a heartwarming display of holiday spirit during the second annual Gifts and Goodies event, co-hosted by Center 50+ and the Highland Neighborhood Association Volunteers of all ages converged to wrap hundreds of presents and fill gift bags for homebound seniors. We also had a holiday cookie decorating station! The joyful atmosphere was abuzz with laughter, heartfelt conversations, and a shared commitment to giving back. We are so grateful to all who donated gifts and their time. We are excited to host the Highland Peace Walk on Saturday, Jan. 25th, at 4:30 PM, starting at the Fred Meyer Garden Center (2855 Broadway St. N.E.). This community-driven event is part of a larger effort to foster unity, promote peace, and raise awareness about reducing violence in our neighborhoods. The walk is a collaborative effort with local partners, including Highland Elementary, Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School, and Salem Alliance Church. Together, we aim to bring neighbors, families, and community members together for a peaceful demonstration of solidarity and engagement. All are welcome to join this inspiring initiative. Mark your calendars, and help us spread the word about this meaningful event! –Submitted by Ryan Erickson-Kulas, secretary Northgate Neighborhood Association We have another scene to show from the art mural at Northgate Park. The spring Chinook salmon will be going upstream like this one. Notice how crystal clear the water is running from the mountains. Next photo shows the run of strong and silver Spring Chinooks. A female is showing off how powerful and driven she is to get to the end by jumping in front of the others behind her.  A close-up of the powerful female. Even though we hear reports from others that the art murals help to keep graffiti out, we still have gang members or pranksters who do mischief by tagging. And this is exactly what happened at Northgate Park recently.  The City’s Graffiti Abatement Team informed about this. I gathered a small team together to conquer it. So, my husband and I met with Veronica in the late morning last Tuesday and by midafternoon, with help from another man, Robert, we were finally done. Please see the after below after several layers of paint on black. Robert said he is a house painter and although he needed some tips, he quickly learned and helped enormously.   A picture of Veronica working on trees.  Then Bayard.  Passersby said they were glad we were working on covering the graffiti because they see this art mural almost daily and it meant a lot to them. One man, Scott, said, “it broke my heart” to see the tagging. But when he saw us working, he was elated. In fact, he was so impressed he wants to join our association. And so does Robert. We are happy to say, although the graffiti set us back, we came forward with some new good people! Northgate Neighborhood Association is bound and determined to keep our neighborhood safe. It helps with how quickly we respond to cleaning up the graffiti to deter taggers. The Graffiti Abatement Team later praised us for a job well done. We are team players with them. We wish to inspire other associations who may encounter similar situations, to act swiftly to discourage more graffiti. –Submitted by Kaethe Mentrum, secretary and park chair North Lancaster In February, many of us celebrate Valentine’s Day by exchanging gifts or candy as an expression of love.  Love can be shown to others in many ways and throughout the year. Donating clothing, household items or extra food from your pantry, preparing a pot of soup or volunteering your time are ways you can show love in your community.  Come to the next NOLA meeting to learn how love is being shown to the NE Salem community.  Find out about resources available and how you can get involved. Let’s show NE Salem some love <3 NOLA NA meets on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Blanchet Catholic High School starting at 6:30 p.m.  The address is 4373 Market St N.E.  Light refreshments will be available. NOLA NA continues to focus on aging well. Service project ideas for February are help with shopping, taking down holiday decor, or clearing garden beds. If you know of a senior who could benefit from a service project, please contact Deanna Garcia to make arrangements.  Contact information and all the exciting ‘going-ons’ of North Lancaster NA can be found at www.cityofsalem.net/NOLA. -Submitted by Deanna Garcia, chair Northeast Neighbors Northeast Neighbors (NEN) Meeting  Screenshot We will do our best to try to offer a hybrid meeting but suggest attending in person if you are able. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85971429116?pwd=MXI4K3dFSVl1OG5sblB1aTdqaE5IQT09 Join us as we begin preparing for the 100th anniversary of Englewood Park in 2026! Stop by for an hour or the entire morning at our beautiful historic park located at 1260 19th St. NE. We are beginning to work on additional areas in the park as well as maintaining our Pollinator Garden. Help foster our colorful native wildflower meadow. Enjoy a quiet place in the park with an easy short activity, or get a workout moving chips. ADA Access for Sidewalks City sidewalks are not being kept clear for safe pedestrian traffic forcing people at times to walk in the street near our local grocery store, Safeway, and at other locations. Drug users, trash and fires have blocked sidewalks to the store, making it difficult for neighbors and customers including the disabled to access the store and walk throughout the area. NEN volunteers to support the store through neighborhood watch and cleanups. The store works hard to clean sidewalks along with the neighborhood and public Works. With limited resources, the Salem Police Department Outreach and Livability Services team does what it can. The Salem Fire Department has not put out fires on sidewalks even when they are adjacent to flammable materials, which can feel unsafe for pedestrians. We understand warming fires are allowed, but hope the practice of not extinguishing fires on public sidewalks can be revisited. We strongly support fire and police, understand the budgetary constraints, but still hope we can get more support for our grocery store. Safeway is near an assisted living facility, independent living apartments, schools, and many offices where many residents without vehicles walk to and depend on the store.  With blocked sidewalks impeding safe passage to Safeway at times, some neighbors are concerned about losing yet another downtown business of great importance to our community.  We are delighted to welcome CASA of Marion County to our neighborhood!  CASA’s mission is to provide every child in need with trained volunteer advocates to ensure they are safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. Learn more at the open house and about opportunities to support CASA as a volunteer. Screenshot And on a final note, I am grateful and honored to have had the opportunity to serve NEN as chair for eight years. We have accomplished much with great support from the board, the community, and the city. As some of you may know, I am an artist and am stepping down as NEN Chair to spend more time on my artwork while continuing to serve on the NEN board to support our wonderful community. I am devoted to working on parks, public safety, art in the community, graffiti removal and the Englewood Forest Festival. Our board has recently expanded to include 17 members and it is an exciting time for the neighborhood association. Please check our website NortheastNeighbors.org for more information about NEN or contact us via email at [email protected]. –Submitted by Lynn Takata, chair Southeast Salem Neighborhood Association SESNA co-hosts community conversation on budget No regular January SESNA meeting because we’re joining forces with other neighborhood associations to present the Jan. 28 “Community Conversation” about Salem’s budget crisis. Come learn how to share your priorities when Salem finalizes plans to handle the $17 million shortfall. The public forum is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Jory Apartments Community Room. Refreshments will be served. The SESNA Board held a retreat in early January to discuss priorities; with limited interest and participation we’ve experienced last year, SESNA will still continue to be a forum for neighborhood concerns during monthly meetings, fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., at Wesleyan Capital Park Church.  Contact Chair Shannon Priem with to get involved at [email protected] or [email protected] for info. -Submitted by Shannon Priem, chair STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected]. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: What’s happening across Salem in January appeared first on Salem Reporter.