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Letters to the Editor

Mayor, councilman support school levy

To the editor: Although we may not agree on everything, we both believe strongly in investing in our children’s future and working to make Salem as great as it can be. This November 7th, we stand in staunch support of the Salem City Schools Levy, urging our fellow citizens to vote YES! The proposal to build a new K-8 building is more than an infrastructure project—it is physical proof of our Quaker Pride and desire as a community to invest in Salem and our collective future. With an impressive 67% funding from the State of Ohio and a generous $10 million donation from the Salem ...

Salem Schools: A metaphor to consider

To the editor: How many of us are still driving our first car today? I am talking about the first vehicle mom and dad taught us to drive. Vehicles full of memories of first dates, first kisses, Friday night football games, and cruising State Street with all of our friends. For me, it costs too much for me to drive my dad’s 1984 Chevy pickup. The efficiency of that vehicle was around 15 MPG. That windshield my college roommate damaged in 1997 would mean waiting up to two weeks for a replacement to come in. Most importantly, I can not remember if it had a middle seatbelt, but at best, ...

Company owner: Passage of levy essential for Salem

To the editor: I am speaking on behalf of Butech Bliss, one of Salem’s largest companies and one that provides significant tax income for our city from designing and manufacturing heavy machinery that ships all over the world. As a Salem native and company owner who relies on our community to attract our workforce, I strongly endorse the upcoming ballot measure to fund the construction of a new school in Salem. I believe the passage of this levy is essential for attracting a much-needed workforce, providing our teachers with the space and technology to educate our children better, ...

Election season means ‘silly season’

To the editor: Well it is easy to see that we are back into the “silly season” as we are receiving requests in the mail for donations for campaigns from politicians who cannot even file for at least another year, and then we get fliers in the mail, from who knows whom, as there is no disclaimer or signature or mailing address on the flier and that is understandable as the flier is so misleading as to the Salem City School District Levy, that nobody wants to acknowledge being the author. On the other hand, we have a unique opportunity to increase the security for our school children ...

Annexation truths

To the editor: “Are there other deed restrictions in similar manner elsewhere in the township and where are they?” That question was asked by Barb Fink at the July 5, 2023 meeting of the Salem City council-of-the-whole meeting, presided by councilman Andrew Null, who responded, “We are not here to discuss that.” This meeting of October 10, 2023 was presided by councilman Jake Gano who opened the meeting in this manner: “The concern is if we take exception for what’s going on with the homes at Hampton Place and Beechwood, is that there have been dozens of other properties ...

Local party leaders join in support of levy

To the editor: At a time when there is such polarization and division in politics, local Democratic and Republican leaders have found an issue in which they can join together to wholeheartedly support. That issue is the proposed new K-8 Salem City school building complex which is on the ballot this November 7th, and for which early voting has already begun. As a part of our due diligence, we are touring all three of Salem’s existing elementary schools. And what we have seen so far, the Reilly School Building dating back to 1928, shocked us beyond our worst expectations. We witnessed ...