Making Things Happen
"…a dynamic & civic-minded force of nature."
Salem Gazette
I grew up in snowy Utica, New York where my father and grandmother were public school teachers, and my mother's parents were immigrant factory workers. The New England Conservatory brought me to the Boston area where I met my husband, and his work brought us from Boston to the North Shore. While looking for an affordable place to live, we fell in love with Salem--the diversity, incredible architecture, history, and the urban walkability from our apartment in The Point; qualities that draw many of us here today.
Since that time, my children have graduated from Salem High School, my husband has become the president of an employee-owned musical instrument company C.B. Fisk, and I have been working as a self-employed freelance musician and teacher. Using my creativity and strong organizational skills, I have launched several initiatives in Salem which are still providing benefits to both residents and visitors alike.
I am running for mayor because I have been deeply involved in community action. I am the only candidate that has been advocating at a grassroots level for better housing affordability, protecting our natural resources, and historic preservation. I have the local and international perspective necessary to lead Salem,
a city with such cultural wealth, through the pressures we are experiencing.
Wake Up the Earth presented an Earth Day rally & kick off for a new ballot initiative to ban new construction in our wetlands & flood zones.
Not for Sale.m
Organized the sign campaign advocating for more affordability in new housing projects and opposing development in environmentally sensitive areas of our community.
Leslie’s Retreat Re-enactment Celebrations
Created these February events with our local cultural institutions to mark the occasion of the first American resistance to the British, an extremely important and proud legacy for Salem.
Salem Community Gardens Collaborated with others to establish our first two gardens at Mack Park and Palmer Cove connecting people to nature, food, and their community in neighborhoods around Salem.
Plummer Home Garden Project Established a volunteer-based garden project that pairs experienced gardeners with adolescent boys from the Plummer Home. The project is recognized for creating positive relationships with nature and community while developing skills in gardening, healthy eating, and entrepreneurship.
Salem High School PTO Established a new organization which helped to provide a place of community during an unstable period for parents, students, and teachers.
Organized a showing of the movie, Backpack Full of Cash, at Salem Cinema as a city wide fundraiser.
Love Salem Schools
Created the city-wide public relations campaign during the school budget crisis linking parents and students across the district with local businesses and Valentine’s Day fundraising.
The Derby Square Market
Co-founded a new vintage & art market which was listed as one of the “10 Best Flea Markets in Massachusetts” (now called The Salem Flea) activating the center of downtown Salem with proceeds donated to preserve Old Town Hall.
Historic Salem Inc.
Re-established the plaque program
Reintroduced The Salem Handbook now available online.
Received two historic preservation awards for our work on our antique home.
Bike Path Committee worked over two decades to complete Salem's first bike path on the Ayube Memorial Bypass Road
Bridge Steet Neck Neighborhood Collaborated with neighbors to rename this area enhancing its value as an important historic district.
Initiated the successful movement to halt demolition of the house at the corner of Webb, Pleasant & Bridge Streets.
