Community Corner

šŸŒ± Patch AM: How much can Salemā€™s part-time tour guides really earn each October?

Make time for 16th annual FREE 6 block Allston Village Street Fair Festival on the Salem Patch calendar

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Sunday September 27th Patch AM
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Hello again Salem! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How much can Salem's part-time tour guides really earn each October?
  • What Salem's new bans mean for data centers and your leaf blower
  • See how Salem State just reimagined the city's story in Meier Hall

Also on today's calendar: 16th annual FREE 6 block Allston Village Street Fair Festival and 23 more events.

Today's riddle: What are the two favorite words for a shark to hear? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: Heavy rain; windy in the a.m., with a high of 61 and low of 56 degrees.
  • Monday: Rain, temps: high: 60, low: 55.
  • Tuesday: A morning shower; cloudy, with a high of 62 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Here's how much a tour guide makes in Salem (boston.com) — A Salem resident who works full-time as a program manager shares how his part-time tour guide job in Salem brings in about $40,000 pre-tax from April through December, largely boosted by October's busy season. He explains how this income helps cover a sizable mortgage, fund his kids' education savings, and pay for family travel, while highlighting Salem's free preschool and the realities of living in an expensive city.
   

2. Salem City Council Moves To Ban Data Centers, Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers (patch.com) — Salem's City Council has advanced a zoning ban on large data centers and approved a phased-in ban on most gas-powered leaf blowers, with city-owned equipment exempt until at least 2030. City leaders say the moves protect residents from industrial impacts and rising energy demands, while some councilors question exempting municipal departments from rules that will apply to residents and businesses.
   

3. Salem State Unveils New Meier Hall Mural Reframing Salem History (patch.com) — Salem State University has unveiled a new four-story Meier Hall mural that centers diverse Salem communities, Indigenous history, and present-day students instead of a Puritan-focused past. Developed with student input, local artists, and the Massachusett Tribe, the artwork highlights figures like Charlotte Forten and Operation Bootstrap while reflecting the university's recent commitments to land acknowledgment and inclusive public art.
   

4. Which U.S. city is the best to visit for Halloween? Here are the top 5 (cleveland.com) — Salem ranks number one in a new study of the best U.S. cities to visit for Halloween, thanks to more than 650 October events, 75 haunted attractions, and dozens of costume and candy shops. For locals, it confirms just how intensely the city leans into the season, with markets, parties, and ghost tours drawing visitors and energizing downtown throughout the month.
   

5. Salem, MA Licensing Board — September 28, 2026 (meetingwatch.org) — A recent Salem Licensing Board meeting resulted in conditional site plan approval, requiring a revised landscaping plan before the project can fully move forward. Residents can review the exact vote, minutes, and video through MeetingWatch, which offers searchable access to decisions affecting businesses and licensed activities across Salem.
   

📸 Around Salem

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Salem

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • St. Andrew's Rummage Sale Postponed due to storm —peg howard Read on Patch
  • TJX posted a job opening for Store Cleaning Associate in Salem. Apply here.
  • FedEx posted a job opening for Retail Customer Service Associate in Peabody. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Salem here.

Ok Salem! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "MAN OVERBOARD!" (Thank you M J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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