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 i mprovements, 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 Do you live, work, or own property in the downtown district? Then you are a member of CANDO (Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization) and are invited to participate in the rebranding of their organization. The CANDO board is currently working on a new logo, flyers, and outreach efforts, park improvement plans and would love to hear your ideas! The board meets Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m. at the Neighbor 2 Neighbor office, 347 Union St N.E. Special guests are scheduled to present like Highland Neighborhood Association who will discuss Quiet Clean Salem, City Councilor Paul Tigan, your Salem Fire Department and more. Visit www.cityofsalem.net/cando for more information and meeting details or view an agenda and find the Zoom link here. -Submitted by Irma Coleman, city of Salem neighborhood program coordinator East Lancaster Neighborhood Association North East Salem Community Association ELNA and NESCA are co-hosting a candidate forum for the Ward 6 Salem City Council candidates. The event itself will be held on Tuesday, April 29, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Jory Apartments. This will be a hybrid event, so we also welcome folks to join us online. Information can be found on the attached flyer.  Questions for the evening will be based on what our neighbors submit to us. Please send any questions you would like to ask the candidates to nesca@salemneighbors.org, no later than April 22 at 5 p.m. We will be sharing these with the candidates in advance and want to ensure they have some time to consider their responses. We hope that many of you will be able to join us for this event: local government so critically impacts our day-to-day lives, and every single person’s vote truly makes a difference in elections at the local level. This will be a valuable event to help you determine who you would like to vote for! -Submitted by Stacey Vieyra-Braendle, NESCA chair Grant Neighborhood Association For Grant’s Annual General Meeting on May 1, the entire membership is invited to participate in any voting that might occur, such as confirmation of the board.  For this special event, the meeting will be held in a larger space than usual, the appropriately named “Grant Room” at Broadway Commons, with light refreshments available at the usual meet greet at 5:45 p.m. before the 6:15 p.m. meeting. All are invited to attend! The chair of Salem Public Art Commission, Susan Napack, (also Grant’s vice chair) will kick off the beginning of a “tour” to reach out to NA’s with a presentation featuring updates of recent and future commission projects.   In addition, three GNA Neighborhood Beautification Awards will be awarded to properties in Grant that are being acknowledged for their noticeably significant maintenance and improvements. Also, there will be a general “visioning” discussion where members may brainstorm projects and events for the coming year.  For more details, the minutes from the April meeting will be posted before the May 1 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. You may contact GNA at grantna@grantneighborhood.org. -Submitted by Susan Napack, vice chair Highland Neighborhood Association The Highland Neighborhood Association proudly endorses the Livability Levy—Measure 24-514—on the May ballot. This five-year levy would fund essential services like the Salem Public Library, Center 50+, and our parks and recreation programs. The Highland Neighborhood Association Peace Walk on March 22. On March 22, we held our third Peace Walk, starting at Highland Park. We were joined by the victim and family of an act of violence that occurred there at the beginning of March. Thank you to everyone who showed up in support—especially our Ward 5 City Councilor, Dr. Irvin Brown, who donated snacks. Our next Peace Walk is set for Friday, April 26 at 4:30 p.m., meeting at the Fred Meyer Garden Center on Broadway. We welcome all who are interested in walking to support peace and bring awareness to community violence. Join us for an Earth Day Cleanup on Tuesday, April 22, from 12–1 p.m. We’re teaming up with Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School—meet under the big walnut tree just off Maple Street. Email olsen_christi@salkeiz.k12.or.us with any questions. Looking ahead, our Kids Clothing Swap is on Saturday, May 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Center 50+. Bring gently used children’s clothes and take what you need—for free! Donations accepted starting May 2, and volunteers are needed. Reach out via email (highland@salemneighbors.org) or message the HNA Facebook page if you’d like to help. Our next neighborhood meeting is Thursday, May 8, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at 945 Columbia St. N.E. Come hear updates on local projects, safety, and upcoming summer activities. –Submitted by Ryan Erickson-Kulas, secretary and Holly Schiefelbein, outreach chair North Lancaster Neighborhood Association North Lancaster Neighborhood continues to be a busy and bustling community.  Neighborhood association meetings are a great way to connect residents with important topics or issues including upcoming elections.  In March, NOLA hosted a budget presentation to provide more information on the Local Option Levy (Measure 24-514) coming on the May ballot.  Our Ward 6 Budget Committee representative was joined by two city councilors, the city manager and the chief financial officer to share details on the budget deficit and how the proposed levy will impact it.   In April, we hosted Chemeketa Community College who presented information on the educational facilities bond that will expand and enhance career and technical programs.  This bond renewal will also be on the May ballot. On May 7, NOLA will be hosting candidates running for local elections.  Logan Lor and Deanna Garcia (also the NOLA chair) have committed to attend, both are seeking the Ward 6 vacancy on Salem City Council. Salem-Keizer School Board has open positions for four zones. NOLA will host candidates Anthony Mitchell, Karina Guzmán Ortiz, Jeremiah Radka, Lisa Harnisch, Jennifer Parker and Jason Kroker at the May meeting as well.  Residents are encouraged to come out to meet these candidates and ask questions. NOLA meets on Wednesday, May 7, at Blanchet Catholic High School in the lunchroom commons starting at 6:30 p.m.  The address is 4373 Market St. N.E.  Light refreshments will be available. To attend virtually, please send request for a zoom link to: dg.boardstuff@gmail.com. To stay up-to-date on NOLA’s agendas or events, please visit www.cityofsalem.net/NOLA -Submitted by Deanna Garcia, chair Northgate Neighborhood Association The last few pictures to show of Northgate’s art mural at Northgate Park. As the warmer weather is coming and the art mural showcases the Northwest wildlife in the Spring time, it may be an opportune time for each of you to take a visit if you haven’t done so already.  The first one is a Monarch butterfly sipping while perched on a delicate wild flower with happy daisy faces in the back. It also shows a wild rhody in bloom. The next one is on top of the hill with a family of mountain goats coming towards you. You probably have seen hawks circling around up in the sky. This is how they look near you. They are beautiful birds but they are still predators. We hope they only look for rats and mice to catch for food, don’t we? Let’s get to the subject of the city hearings officer’s verdict we mentioned was forthcoming in our last article. Our testifying against the hazardous and infectious waste to be brought by trucks from Multnomah and Marion County hospitals to the middle of Salem, where it’s barely in the industrial zone, went only so far. However, we were informed the sound batt insulation will be made, the doors to be closed at all hours and fencing to obstruct the view from the outside to be made. These were suggestions we made in case they were adamant about keeping the machine at Northeast McDonald Street. Just want everyone to know we testified to the best of our abilities to protect the nearby community.   To happier things. Here are some beautiful whirling of dancers during the Easter event at Northgate Park on Saturday, April 5. Popcorn machine was constantly popping fresh popcorn calling many people to line up with its nice aroma. Children and mothers waiting for their turn to run to get as many easter eggs as possible. They made a wild run for the eggs! So fun!! People of all ages had a great time at this Welcoming Spring event organized by Hallman Northgate Family Council and directed by Eduardo Angulo, chair. –Submitted by Kaethe Mentrum, secretary and park chair Sunnyslope Neighborhood Association Sunnyslope Neighborhood Association is one of the oldest neighborhood associations in Salem and approximately 1,247 acres in area. It is in South Salem and is a community of neighbors working together to create a safe and vibrant neighborhood for all. If you live, work, or own property in Sunnyslope, you are already a member. And it’s free to join! You are encouraged to get involved and help strengthen the community. Current board members are passionate about park improvement projects, pedestrian safety and are always looking to grow the board. Visit www.cityofsalem.net/sunnyslope for more details like how to join a meeting and view past accomplishments. -Submitted by Irma Coleman, city of Salem neighborhood program coordinator STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: info@salemreporter.com. 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 April appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less