NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: What’s happening across Salem in December
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 will not be meeting in December. Please join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026!
Some of CANDO’s accomplishments in 2025 include:
- New basketball backboards for Marion Square Park
- Community park cleanup and tabling events
- Raised awareness about community disaster preparedness
- Sponsored Mid-Valley Resources at Northwest Human Services
If you live, work, or own property in downtown Salem, you are a member of CANDO and are welcome to attend. For more information, follow CANDO on our Facebook page or contact us at [email protected].
–Submitted by Spencer Rosenau, chair
Grant Neighborhood Association
PLEASE NOTE: As much as we love celebrating with neighbors, our next meeting will be on JAN. 8 — rather than on New Year’s Day, our usual first Thursday of the month. Happy New Year everyone!
Meeting recap from Zoom AI:
“The Grant Neighborhood Association held their December meeting at Broadway Commons, where they discussed various community updates including local business changes, school activities, and neighborhood security concerns. The meeting covered important safety topics and encouraged residents to report issues through the city website, while also addressing concerns about immigration enforcement and local development projects. The council concluded by discussing neighborhood association goals and approved motions for community outreach efforts.”
Detailed minutes of our meetings are available on the city website. They are also included in the monthly association newsletter in addition to a summary of the last meeting and highlights of the agenda of the upcoming meeting. The Grant website has the Zoom link for remote meeting attendance, information about the board, Grant neighborhood history, community information and more. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Contact us at [email protected].
–Submitted by Susan Napack, outreach and communications chair
Highland Neighborhood Association
December Neighborhood Meeting
Join us Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Center 50+ for our Highland Neighborhood Association meeting. We’ll hear presentations on the City’s Master Utilities Plan and the Municipal Court. All neighbors are welcome to attend in person or via Zoom. Center 50+ is located at 2615 Portland Rd. N.E.
Holiday Gift Drive for Seniors
The Highland Neighborhood Association is teaming up with Center 50+ again for our Third Annual Holiday Gift Drive for Seniors. The holidays can be lonely for many seniors in care facilities, and even a small gift can make a meaningful difference.
We are collecting items such as cozy socks, slippers, lounge wear, warm hats, puzzles and other comfort items. We are also gathering gift wrapping supplies like bags and tape. Donations can be dropped off at Center 50+ or brought to any Highland Neighborhood Association meeting.
If you’d like ideas, we have a wish list you can browse for inspiration. You can also order directly from that link and it will be shipped to the event!
Then join us on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Center 50+ for our Gifts and Goodies event. We’ll wrap gifts, decorate cookies, and spend the morning bringing a little cheer to seniors in our community.
No December Peace Walk, Back in January
We are pausing our Peace Walks. We’ll reconvene in the new year to celebrate one year of Highland Peace Walks on Saturday, Jan. 24m at 4 p.m. at Highland Park. All neighbors are invited to join us in walking for community, connection, and care.
–Submitted by Ryan Erickson-Kulas, chair
Northeast Neighbors
100th Year Anniversary of Englewood Park
We are excited to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Englewood Park early next year. To help commemorate this milestone, we would love to receive any historic photographs or memories of the park. Englewood Park, Salem’s first park, was purchased by the city of Salem in early 1926 from Thomas B. Kay and Cora M. Kay. If you have any information or photographs, please contact [email protected].
Information will be shared with Northeast Neighbors, the Historic Landmarks Commission and Parks & Recreation.
Gussie Belle Commons Affordable Apartments
Applications are being accepted for the 120-unit apartment complex on Northeast 23rd and Center streets scheduled to open in January. Rents start at $979 for a one-bedroom apartment and go up to $1,500 for a four-bedroom apartment. Residents earning up to $38,940 for a single person or $55,560 for a family of four can qualify. For more information, visit http://www.gussiebellecommons.com.
NEN Meeting
Please join us Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Center 50+, located at 2615 Portland Rd. N.E. We’d love to hear your input on what goals you would like NEN to focus on for 2026. If you are interested in helping, this is a great time to learn more. Nominations will also be taken to serve on the board. Anyone who lives, works, or has a business in the NEN is a member.
A Sad Outcome for Two Great Horned Owls
Two owls were found in Englewood Park in November. Despite being transported to wildlife rehabilitation, neither owl survived. A wildlife rehabilitation center shared that the symptoms in one owl could have been caused by the avian flu or secondary rodenticide poisoning when wildlife consume a poisoned animal.
Neighbors are heartbroken as the owls appeared to be a mated pair and could be heard every evening. Concerns about wildlife can be reported to ODFW Wildlife Rehabilitation including Chintimini Wildlife Center, and local rehabilitator Karen Costa in Salem. We are grateful that the Cascade Raptor Center was willing to pick up one of the owls and a volunteer delivered the other owl to local rehabilitator Karen Costa. We thank them for their kindness.
Dec. 10th State St. Improvement Plan Meeting
We invite you to learn about the plans to improve State Street between Northeast 12th and 17th streets. The meeting will be at the First St. Christian Church, located at 1699 Court St. N.E., from 6 to 7:30 pm. Improvements are part of the 2022 Bond and your input is welcome on this long-term project.
-Submitted by Lynn Takata, park chair
Northgate Neighborhood Association
Here we are in December already! Tap wood, so far no snow, just a tad cooler and we see some frost on the ground around sunrise. Northgate Neighborhood Association is set on pause with no meeting held this month. We, however, still continue to work with online voting, busy sending messages out, etc.
There seems to be a lot going on. Some neighbors are very concerned about the Detroit Lake drawdown and rightfully so. There were continuous numerous meetings regarding this subject. Fingers crossed for better results.
To escape from all the daily humbugs, go check out the drive-through lights at the State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. N.E. They charge less than $40 per vehicle, with weeknights being a bit over $30.
Open Mon-Thurs: 5:30 – 9 p.m. and Fri-Sun 5:30 – 10 p.m. Open until 10 p.m. nightly starting Dec. 11 – Jan 3, 2026.
Happy holidays to all!
–Submitted by Kaethe Mentrum, secretary and park chair
South Central Association of Neighbors
SCAN invites you to join us for our annual holiday mingle and December meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 10 starting at 6:30 p.m. at Pringle Community Hall (606 Church St. S.E.). If you’ve been thinking about attending a meeting, this is the perfect opportunity to meet your SCAN board and neighbors.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @scansalemofficial and on Facebook at Facebook.com/salemscan to keep up with events and activities happening in South Central Salem.
– Submitted by Alma Whalen, SCAN neighbor
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