Salem MA | Jack Conway Blog

HALLOWEEN’S HOMETOWN – SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS

October 19, 2012 jackconway No comments

If things that go bump in the night are on your agenda for Halloween this year, you have to check out America’s hometown of all things macabre – Salem, Massachusetts. From your first sighting of the bronze statue of “Samantha Stevens,” the TV witch, to the haunted houses, trolley tours and tarot card readings offered on the streets of this North Shore community in October, you will be bewitched by the city and the season.

Salem uses all of its natural resources, including the Atlantic ocean, to create a celebration on land and sea that will scare the witches’ hats off visitors to the popular Essex County tourist site in the weeks preceding Halloween. You can take an evening cruise aboard the historic “Hannah Glover” and hear tales of haunted lighthouses, legendary sea monsters and pillaging local pirates. On dry land, you can mingle with throngs of costumed revelers and snack on fried dough, sausages, corn on the cob and candy apples while waiting to buy tickets to tours and attractions.

Here are a few of your options:

The Salem Witch Museum – This popular tourist site offers a one-of-a-kind narrated reenactment of the events leading to the infamous witch trials of 1692. The gift shop is also a great take-in for memorabilia.

The House of Seven Gables – This historic 1688 mansion, which inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel of the same name, cannot be missed if you’re visiting Salem. It’s the oldest standing wooden mansion in the country and houses a secret staircase and a museum of 17^th century artifacts and photos. It also hosts 35-minute evening performances entitled “Spirits of the Gables,” where the characters from Hawthorne’s novel haunt the hallways during the Halloween season.

Tales & Tombstones Trolley Tour - This hour-long tour includes stop-offs at Gallows Hill where 19 men and women were hanged for witchcraft, local graveyards, and other sites of grisly murders and suspected paranormal events. You’ll hear stories of underground passageways, haunted hotels and restaurants, and ancient curses during this guided tour of Salem after dark.

“Salem 1692” Lecture at the National Park Service, 7-9 p.m. – Timothy Kendall gives a historical account of his community in the year of the witch hysteria. He is the author of a newly published “2013 Salem Witch Trials Calendar,” which makes a good souvenir of your trip to the city.

Count Orlock’s Nightmare Gallery and Monster Museum – If you and your family really want to scream, this classic haunted house should do the trick. You also get to meet actor and stunt man Kane Hodder, who played Jason in the “Friday the 13^th” movies.

If you want to delve further into the spirit of the season during your trip to Salem, you can receive messages from the other world at séances led by local mediums, have a psychic reading, watch witches weave their spells, or attend the famous masquerade ball at the Hawthorne Hotel. You can even dress up as one of Lady Gaga’s Little Monsters and dance on Salem Common in a group performance of “Born this Way.”

This year’s frightful festival ends with a bang at the Halloween Finale Fireworks display over Salem’s North River starting at 10 p.m. on October 31^st. To download a brochure and complete schedule of events, visit www.hauntedhappenings.org.

For more information about the Salem’s real estate, attractions, amenities and events, contact us today!

Community, Events, Featured Communities, Salem MA Halloween in Salem, Salem Halloween events, Things to do in Salem

HUMPRHYS AND RUFFINI APPOINTED MAR POSTS

January 30, 2012 jackconway No comments

Conway Regional VP Peter Ruffini and Canton agent Bob Humphrys were recently installed in the leadership of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR) at a ceremony held at the Salem Waterfront Hotel and Marina.

Ruffini was installed for a second term as secretary/treasurer and Humprhys was named a director of the organization.

“It’s an honor for me to serve as a MAR director,” said Humphrys, whose 2-year term on the State Board will begin on Jan.1. “This organization represents 22,000 Massachusetts Realtors and it stands for ethics and integrity in our profession. I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

Conway CEO Carol Bulman, who attended the installation ceremony, was pleased to see Humphrys and Ruffini honored. “We encourage all of our agents to become active members of our state associations and many of them play leadership roles,” said Bulman, whose father Jack Conway is a former MAR President. “Peter and Bob are a credit to our sales team and to our company.”

Members of the Conway team were on hand to support all of those installed in leadership from MAR. They included, from left, Al Becker, Tim Knowlton, Dick Stevens, Peter Ruffini, Carol Bulman, Chris Haraden, Lenny Harris, Karen Almeida, Barbara Harris, Bob Humphrys and Doug Lee.

Humphrys, an 18-year Conway associate, holds a number of advanced real estate credentials. He is a graduate of the National Realtor’s Institute and is a certified senior specialist, residential specialist, and international property specialist. “I believe it’s important to keep abreast of new laws and changes in our industry,” said Humphrys. “Education and training are the keys to doing that.”

A Stoughton resident, Humphrys is a member and past president of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, a former Commander of the American Legion post in Canton, a member of the Milton Yacht Club and a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He has two grown sons and two grandchildren.

Ruffini is a longtime Realtor, and prior to arriving at Conway a year ago was a broker and co-owner of a South Shore realty firm. Living most of his life in Plymouth, Ruffini formerly served on the board of directors for the Plymouth Boys and Girls Club and he currently coaches youth sports. He and his wife Jaime live in Carver with their four children.