Pot Size:  $1,080.50

Winners:  Trip Mason and Maryann Curtin (no winners)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sold by Joanne Scott to Andrew Sousa

Sold by John Fisher to Larry Monaldo

Sold by Dick Lutts to Glenn Bowman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Rotarian Howard and Cherry Painter from Worcester, England.

Guest Rotarian Anna Kulakowski.

Guest Rotarian Oscar Pagent from Topsfield.

 

Rich Blazo's guests were Dave Gendall and Ian Sullivan.

Brenda Smith's guest was Victoria Davis from Salem Five.

 

 

John Neely spent 2 days touring Gettysburg with James McPhearson.  He also attended Prince Poppycock at the Boston Gay Men's Chorus with his wife, Christine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Leavitt had several announcements:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Holloran spent 8 nights in Key West celebrating his birthday. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Grover spent a week in Florida visiting his dad in West Palm Beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike McLaughlin spent last Saturday at Camp Rotary preparing for 85 kids that will be there on the weekend of May 30th.  The camp is on Ipswich Road in Boxford just beyond the police station.  Come by that weekend to see all the great programming that will go on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Bradt hiked the White Mountains for Mother's Day.  She and her husband could not meet their friends there because they were stopped by a huge waterfall and river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Betsye Sargent reminded all that next week the Early Act Club will be at the Rotary meeting in 2 weeks collecting "change for change".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason Consalvo reported on the Cub's softball team record which is 1-0, having won against Danvers.  The next game will be at Beverly.  Jeff needs a glove!  Jason also reported 12 nights in a row of his baby sleeping through the night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bruce Whear is co-producing Les Miserables at the Marblehead Little Theatre the last week of June and the first week of July.  150 people have auditioned for parts!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viktoria Talebian thanked the Rotarians for attending the alternative venues over the past few weeks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Viktoria's son, Will, came home from China.  Quite a trip for anyone, especially when you are 13 years old!

Viktoria will celebrate her daughter's 10th birthday with a trip to New York for a theatre show and dinner at Max Brenner restaurant.

Viktoria thanked Mark Leavitt for 8 free minutes on the vacuum a the car wash.

Viktoria thanked Bob Conley for the suggestion to have a meeting on the Salem Trolley.  This will happen, thanks to approval by the Board of Directors, on May 27th.  There will be a picnic lunch.

 

 

 

Bob Conley is back from a 3 month leave of absence needed because his business merged with another smaller firm, and it was tax season.  Recently, Bob spent some time relaxing in St. Martin and at UMass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brenda spent time at a Rotary District meeting in Portland 2 weeks ago with John Hall, Liz and Rinus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy birthday to Brenda Smith and John Walsh on May 14th!!

 

 

 

 

 

Next week is the Scholarship Award Meeting.  Thank you to all on the Scholarship Committee for your hard work and diligence.

 

Howard and Cherry Painter brought their Rotary Flag and received one from us.  There are 34 members in the Worcester-Severn River Club.  This year their designated charity is Prostate Cancer Research. They have raised $80.000 for that cause.  In 1786 John Adams and Thomas Jefferson visited their city.

 

Bob Prager brought a flag from his visit to the Boston Rotary.

 

Update on Mary Ann Lyons.  She is home from the hospital, but not up to returning to Rotary yet.  In typical MaryAnn fashion, she is concerned about the raffle, and says no one can win until she returns!

 

Nelson Dionne, a friend of the Hawthorne Hotel, is collecting differing kinds of advertising and program pieces, post cards, and the like from current or recent past events that took place here in Salem for his historic archives.  Anyone with any ephemera of the sort may drop them at the hotel addressed to Nelson, and they will make arrangements to get the items to him.  Please contact Juli Lederhaus if you have any questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Keenan introduced our speaker, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll.  John said over the past 2 decades Salem has undergone a redevelopment renaissance, with a surge over the last few years under Mayor Driscoll.  This is because the Mayor is a strong leader with a planning background.  John said that as State Representative, it has been a pleasure working with the Mayor.  "She is a terrific quarterback who brings others up with her."

 

The Mayor thanked John for the introduction but said she would prefer a "point guard" analogy!  She also appreciates the good working relationship with John, State Senator Joan Lovely and Governor Patrick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Mayor likes to come to Rotary for a yearly update on what is progressing in the city and what the challenges are.  The FY 2015 goal is to maintain services as efficiently as possible.  The challenges include:

 

There is a lot of good news as well:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In FY 2015 there will be a focus on the following.  The city has been working with Salem State collecting data so that there may be improved efficiencies:

Regarding building projects, the Mayor recommends BuildingSalem.com for information on the following projects:

This new development has increased the tax base by $1.2M.

 

Grants have been received to determine ways to minimize impacts of the development; to improve the Moose Lodge intersection; and to study Highland Avenue/Marlborough Road travel congestion.

 

RCG will be developing its lot across from Riley Plaza into retail/commercial/residential/hotel units, creating a better business district and extending downtown.

 

The city is working with DCAM, who has turned over development of the 3 unused courts to the Salem Redevelopment Authority.

 

There are new growth opportunities at the new pier that will accommodate larger cruise ships, including the opening of 25 acres of green space and walkways.  This will be completed in 9-12 months.  There are 2 cruise ships coming this October with a plan to start water taxi services.

 

The Mayor spent some time discussing Salem schools.  There was a survey done looking at attitudes toward city schools.  Three-quarters of the people surveyed believe Salem schools need moderate to severe changes.  No current parent thinks the Salem schools are functioning well overall.  The Mayor believes that serious reforms are needed in terms of extended day and longer school year.  The Collins Middle School and the Bowditch School have applied for a grant for that.

 

Over the past 1 1/2 years, the Bentley School has not improved in its testing enough.  Therefore, the School Committee has brought in Blue Print, an educational management company, to take over operation of the school upper grades this year, and the entire school next year.  There will be 2 additional weeks of school for students and 3 for teachers next year, with an increase in expectations for all students.

 

The Mayor spoke about the Point fire that happened last week.  45 residents, including 16 children ages 6 months to 18 years.  Many of these families are still looking for apartments.  The fire has increased awareness of the need for a relief fund, like that following the 1914 fire.  Right now there is $1,000 in the fund.

 

The Mayor addressed a question regarding traffic congestion in the garage following an event.  There is a possibility of installing an electronic system if there could be money saved on it by partnering with the new garage.  Perhaps there could be another attendant during high traffic times.

 

The Mayor was asked about a splash pad.  She said there is one planned for Mary Jane Lee Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Scholarship Award Meeting will be next week.

 

 

"Live so that your children can tell their children that you not only stood for something wonderful - you acted on it."