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 im provements, 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.  South Gateway Neighbors South Gateway Neighbors is hosting an information night on Wednesday, July 22, from 6-8 p.m. at Baxter Hill Community Hall, 1780 Baxter Hill Rd. S.E. City traffic engineer Kara Hall will give a brief presentation and will then answer your questions about local traffic issues. To help her give you the most complete and informed answer possible, we strongly encourage you to submit questions ahead of time to our chair at [email protected]. We will attempt to have our usual Zoom setup. Please see our July agenda for login instructions. Note that while our monthly board meetings start at 6:30 p.m., the information night will start at 6pm! -Submitted by Amy Teegarden South Central Association of Neighbors (SCAN) While SCAN is taking a break for the month of August and isn’t having a board meeting, SCAN’s committees are hard at work.  SCAN’s Historic Preservation Parks and Gardens (HPPG) committee was recently honored with the Salem Historic Landmark Commission’s Virginia Green Award. The HPPG committee works to advocate for park improvements and historic preservation. Check out Salem Reporter’s recent article about Virginia Green to learn more about her legacy. Have you driven on Southeast Rural Avenue and seen the recently installed speed cushions? SCAN’s Transportation committee advocated to implement this traffic-calming measure after hearing positive feedback from our neighbors on Rural Avenue. Learn more about the city’s neighborhood traffic management projects on the city’s website.   If you’re interested in serving on any of SCAN’s committees, join us at our September meeting! You don’t have to be a board member to serve on a committee.  Give us a follow on Instagram @scansalemofficial and on Facebook at Facebook.com/salemscan to stay updated on events happening in South Central Salem. -Submitted by Alma Whalen, SCAN neighbor North Lancaster Neighborhood Association (NOLA) The North Lancaster Neighborhood Association has shifted its focus to outreach activities.  We have scheduled events and taken opportunities to get out into the community to talk with our neighbors. NOLA joined forces with the Highland Neighborhood Association to staff the Neighborhood Association booth at Salem Saturday Market on June 13. It was a hot day, but we had a great time connecting with the market goers. Last Friday, NOLA participated in the CBEL Fun Friday held at Northgate Park. This is NOLA’s third year hanging out in the park for this amazing family-friendly event.   Northeast Lancaster Neighborhood Association Chair Deanna Garcia surrounded by NOLA swag at the Fun Friday event on July 10, 2026. (NOLA photo) NOLA works to build a stronger, safer, and more connected community through neighborhood cleanups, safer-street advocacy and opportunities for neighbors to connect. Your voice matters. Join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 1, starting at 6:30 p.m. We currently meet on the first Tuesday of every month at Salem First Free Methodist Church, 4455 Silverton Rd. N.E. -Submitted by Deanna Garcia, chair Northgate Neighborhood Association  Six artists, a couple from south Salem and four from Northgate got together to save the art mural at Northgate Park from the disastrous graffiti on 28 4’x8’ panels and resurrected them somehow by their persistence and perseverance on a warm morning and afternoon, as well as the next morning until mid-afternoon. Then came the City Parks Maintenance team to apply plexiglass, paid for by a grant from Salem Parks Foundation, directed by the city parks director. Police patrolled by direct order from Salem’s acting chief of police who said they will continue to patrol this park, and our special city councilor had a lot to do with all this work, too. So, we all got together to preserve this art mural which the community passing by say they enjoy very much. Some people said they find an escape place looking at these from their daily lives. Here is a sample of one with the plexiglass: A mural at Northgate Park which neighbors restored after it was impacted by graffiti. (NORTHGATE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION photo) If you haven’t already, please come to see this free outdoor gallery situated along the fences on the west side of the park. And on July 10, Northgate Park was the place to be with hundreds of people who find much delight in Fun Friday, an annual event held by Northgate Family Council and Community Business Education Leaders. See picture below. Dancers at Northgate Park’s Fun Friday event on July 10, 2026. (NORTHGATE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION photo) -Submitted by Kaethe Mentrum, chair and secretary Southwest Association of Neighbors (SWAN) This year SWAN is once again hosting a National Night Out celebration. The event will take place Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Nelson Park. National Night Out is celebrated annually across our country and is usually held the first Tuesday in August. National Night Out is a community building activity that often involves meeting local law enforcement as well as your neighbors. The best way to build a safer community is to know your neighbors and your surroundings. National Night Out triumphs over a culture that isolates us from each other and allows us to rediscover our own communities.  The event usually starts at about 5:30 p.m. and wraps up around 7:30 p.m. SWAN will be providing burgers and dogs, and neighbors are encouraged to bring a potluck dish or beverage. Games will be provided but bring one if you want to share as well. Consider bringing a table and/or chairs if you wish to sit and eat or play games.  We usually invite the Salem Fire Department as well as Salem Police to visit the event and show off equipment and answer questions. Hopefully they will have availability again this year. Come and join your neighbors for a warm and welcoming community event. SWAN continued to help out with the clean up of Bonham Park through June. We are taking July and August off for organized ivy pulls but plan to return in the fall. -From the Southwest Association of Neighbors newsletter. Sign up to get SWAN newsletters here.STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected] UP: “Your work helps hold leaders accountable and gives citizens a voice.” Independent reporting gives Salem a stronger voice on issues from homelessness to health care. Be part of that work. Subscribe today. The post NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: What’s happening across Salem in July appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less