COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133
Senator Joan B. Lovely
State Senator
2nd Essex District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 11, 2022
Senator Joan B. Lovely Files Massachusetts Senate Citation Recognizing the Salem Beautification Committee
BOSTON- In December 2021, Senator Joan B. Lovely filed a Massachusetts Senate Citation to recognize the Salem Beautification Committee for their outstanding work to create a more beautiful community in service to the City of Salem. The Citation was presented to Sandi Power, Chair of the Committee’s Traffic Island Program.
“I was honored to file a Massachusetts Senate Citation to recognize the Salem Beautification Committee,” said Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem). “Committee members actively go out of their way to improve and promote the aesthetics of our City, so residents and visitors alike can appreciate just how incredibly beautiful Salem is. It is a gift that they continue to make this possible for all of us to enjoy.”
The Salem Beautification Committee was adopted by the Salem City Council in 2006, per the order of Mayor Kim Driscoll, and held their first meeting in December of that year. Composed of 7 to 11 appointees and in partnership with the City of Salem, the Beautification Committee is dedicated to initiating, promoting, and advancing opportunities that support community wide beautification efforts. Such efforts include but are not limited to their Traffic Island program and Clean Sweeps Day, May Plant Sale Fundraiser, Heritage Days Window Box and Traffic Island awards day event, and Halloween elementary school pumpkin contest. These activities give Salem residents, young and old, the opportunity to participate in local beautification efforts and promote civic pride.
In addition to their community outreach efforts, the Beautification Committee is committed to supporting local businesses and artists. Under the Chairmanship of Mary Ellen Halliwell, the Committee’s Lady of Salem Figurehead Program tasks local artists to paint figureheads that are hung around Downtown Salem and provides businesses sponsorship opportunities and positive exposure. The Committee’s Traffic Island Beautification Program likewise provides exposure opportunities for local businesses, while also improving the aesthetics of the City’s roads.
Though the Committee has had to halt some of their activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they remain committed to their mission: “…to assist the City in developing and pursuing initiatives that promote the beautification of the City. The goal of the Committee is to create civic pride and to motivate the City’s diverse population to participate in the beautification process. The Committee will identify areas in need of improvement, will create programs, recruit volunteers, and will secure the funding resources to achieve its goals.”
To get involved in the Salem Beautification Committee, visit the City of Salem’s website to fill out an application form. Members of the public are welcome to attend Committee board meetings which are held the 2nd Tuesday of the month and presently take place over Zoom. For questions or more information about the Committee, please contact Micaela Guglielmi in the Engineering Department at 978-619-5672.