Hey hey Salem! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Reckoners with Kevin James Graham and 15 more events.
Today's riddle: Why do some birds fly south for the winter? 🤔 (Answer below!)
• Salem sees jump in visitors this October: "It has been growing so fast" (cbsnews.com) — Salem is seeing record-breaking October crowds, with more than 136,000 visitors in a single Saturday and major strain on local streets and transit. Police and the MBTA are boosting staffing, barricades, and extra trains, while officials urge visitors to come on weekdays, plan transportation carefully, and consider options like commuter rail or the Boston–Salem ferry to avoid overwhelming congestion.
• Massachusetts animal shelter takes in dogs evacuated due to Hurricane Isaias (cbsnews.com) — Salem's Northeast Animal Shelter has just taken in 33 dogs flown from Alabama to escape Hurricane Isaias, and they'll be quarantined and treated before going up for adoption. The shelter is asking Salem-area residents for donations to help care for the animals, while also freeing space in Southern shelters to rescue more pets displaced by the storm.
• Permissive Zoning Isn't Enough When the Permit Process Says 'Maybe' (bankerandtradesman.com) — A stalled housing proposal at 38 Norman Street in downtown Salem highlights how local permitting rules and neighbor lawsuits can derail even zoning-compliant projects, leaving a key corner vacant. The author, a Salem resident, uses this case to argue for clearer thresholds, streamlined reviews, and state-level reforms so communities like Salem can actually deliver much-needed housing instead of endless "maybes."
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Ok Salem! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "Why do some birds fly south for the winter?" — Because it's too far to walk..! (Thank you Theresia F. for sending it in!)
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