׉?4ׁB!בCטUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://JpzUsjPYjm8tNizSerDpOZqKN3o6ZqJ4LpWoFsq-sRU`'p׉ 7cassandra://zEhuKela5AAMX2SyLKrmQeAn5V0P_xG9-1gzJ9MdGS4ʹ`׉ 7cassandra://SAx7h6-4_MBQrSOxMgzDRblbLoA1Glv8KZeLofPe62A6~`hwb Ǒנhwb ʁ 9ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׈Ehwb ׉EHave a Safe & Happy Labor Day Weekend! Vol. 34, No. 35 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Malden halts curbside recycling pickup; drop-off only at Middlesex Avenue site Republic replacement personnel dwindled to just one truck per day for entire city; residents can bring recycling items across from Stop & Shop lot W 617-387-2200 Friday, August 29, 2025 ~ Guest Commentary ~ This Stinks By Councillor-At-Large Craig Spadafora hile the trash strike continues in Malden and the days grow shorter, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: the strength There will be large dumpsters located through most of the day on Middlesex Street (across from Stop & Shop parking lot) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Residents may toss of their recyclables, free of charge, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. (Courtesy Photo) By Steve Freker C ity officials announced Monday that residents’ recycling materials will not be picked up at curbside until further notice, ending a brief attempt to provide some degree of relief to the trash strike crisis. Republic Services waste collection emDROP| SEE PAGE 9 OPENING DAY: Back to school a big success for over 6,000 Malden Public Schools students MPS educators, administrators & staff give warm welcome to ‘stars’ of the new school year By Steve Freker T he doors of the Malden Public Schools swung open on Wednesday morning for over 6,000 students, and according to MPS administrators, Opening Day went smoothly and successfully. Students in Grades 1 through 12 returned to classes for the 2025-2026 school year on Wednesday, with kindergarten and Pre-K students beginning their classes on Thursday, September 4. After two days of classes on Wednesday and Thursday, students and staff are now off today, Friday, the start of the long holiday weekend. Labor Day will be marked on Monday, September 1, with no school that day, and Malden Public Schools classes will resume on Tuesday, September 2. SCHOOLS | SEE PAGE 8 of our community. In the face of disruption, neighbors are stepping up—transporting recycling to drop-off sites, taking in each other's barrels, and lending a hand wherever they can. In challenging times, solidarity shines. Let’s begin with the facts: Fact #1: I Stand with the Teamsters. These workers have labored through heatwaves, snowstorms, and everything in between to keep our city clean. They deserve fair compensation—plain and simple. As I’ve said before, Republic Services must return to the negotiating table and meet the just demands of these essential workers. The strike has revealed a long-standing truth: they are worth more than they’re asking. They are not replaceable — they are needed. Fact #2: This Stinks—for Everyone. There are no winners in this situation. Residents are frustrated. Workers are fighting for dignity. And our streets are suffering the consequences. Fact #3: Recycling Suspension Undermines Our Values. Earlier this week, the city announced a suspension of curbside recycling. This is more than an inconvenience—it undermines our shared commitment to sustainability. Like many of you, I generate more recyclables than trash. This disruption affects environmentally conscious residents the most. Fact #4: Noncompliance Is Not the Answer. Let’s be clear: the strike does not justify ignoring basic trash regulations. We've seen bags left outside barrels, mattresses dumped on sidewalks, and furniture discarded in the streets. These problems existed before—but they’ve worsened in recent months. It’s not right that those who follow the rules are penalized, while those who don’t are allowed to skirt responsibility and most importantly, this solves nothing. Fact #5: Malden Has a Trash Enforcement Problem—and It's COMMENTARY| SEE PAGE 5 Superintendent Dr. Timothy Sippel greets ninth grade students on first day of school at Malden High School. (Advocate Photos) ׉ 7cassandra://SAx7h6-4_MBQrSOxMgzDRblbLoA1Glv8KZeLofPe62A6~`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://VjLKO94DIE7TsoqgJo_uIHFReFefqte39EO8qbOsVIE`'p׉ 7cassandra://gqZewEo9J3dolxCl4qp03e14Tj6Zd9QXpQ-nuS2PA3g͹ `׉ 7cassandra://qlnjbCVLklYk_Zz4NDBdfBnElQButTlybKv9f0cELWA:`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://S3pi5BFGwroqoHhR5Fc9v396FSoZhRYB_M9q988pvAAs_`'p׉ 7cassandra://3EGiS9Kkg5vietnVyDrqlW-8aFx_1TPvEO5KrcM5O3wͤ>`׉ 7cassandra://8VSPEgy8GM1IsxRWCyNMXdHuI2gVBiqJoOnKvPVagfo3`hwb ׉EPage 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Lantern Walk 2025: a perfect afternoon at the park Special to The Advocate T he Friends of Fellsmere Heights held its eighth Lantern Walk on Saturday, August 23, at Fellsmere Park. Participants of all ages enjoyed magic tricks, facepainting, hot dogs and cold drinks. The main activity of the day, as always, was decorating recycled bottles with markers and stickers, filling them with lights and finishing with a walk around Fellsmere Pond at dusk. This year they were pleased to welcome Michelle Murray of The Traveling Acoffeecary, a new business serving Malden and the surrounding area. Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 A young artist at work Mayor Gary Christenson carries the Malden colors. A lantern at night (Photos courtesy of Friends of Fellsmere Heights) People of all ages enjoy making lanterns. The Friends of Fellsmere Heights, which was founded in 2015, is a group of residents from many different neighborhoods and communities in Malden and Medford. They have two main concerns: • Supporting Fellsmere Park and Fellsmere Pond, which were designed by the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and given to the public by Malden’s first Mayor, Elisha Converse • Ensuring that the site of Malden Hospital, just up the hill from Fellsmere Park on the Malden/ Medford line, is redeveloped to serve the people of Malden and Medford The Lantern Walk is the organization’s main event for raising awareness about the Park, the Pond and the land on the hill above, and for sharing their pleasure in this beautiful gem of Malden’s open space. The event is sponsored in part by a grant from the Malden Cultural Council, which in turn is funded by the Mass Cultural Council. Magic tricks and face painting We did it! ׉ 7cassandra://qlnjbCVLklYk_Zz4NDBdfBnElQButTlybKv9f0cELWA:`hwb ׉E׉ 7cassandra://8VSPEgy8GM1IsxRWCyNMXdHuI2gVBiqJoOnKvPVagfo3`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://tnjD3IIFiEgAlyvmxAYJw8Ike1F0JwwpjjB33b3SgDIx`'p׉ 7cassandra://6NpidukOLHiBWdwJuRzMI5b10K5msUv7d7v7heG6V_w1`׉ 7cassandra://ZMlcXjw_JrFnv8xE59meQT12flYhebeTZL_N_mrVAdg:`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://GXHMBpddmZHmM0upgC09K8PTQ-eaY1gZ95IJFpx4og0;`'p׉ 7cassandra://Z2w5suR_58PxbmRm5XAUyWrxM03cBy6jzY7NEVtudbo͢`׉ 7cassandra://XBSPCIUK03Enbumpg-B9Q4GQNer1GVVfGPx5IKkXrkM1`hwb Дנhwb ؁Q"9ׁHhttp://TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COMׁ ׁ Јנhwb ׁY 9ׁHhttp://tools.Eduׁ ׁ Јנhwb ց̓9ׁHhttp://informed.Reׁ ׁ Јנhwb Ձ̋p 9ׁH$http://Facebook.com/Advocate.news.maׁ ׁ Ј׉E Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Local Boy Scout’s community improvement project Special to The Advocate L ate last year, James Gage of Boy Scout Troop 603 began work on his Eagle Scout Badge by organizing a community improvement project at Coytemore Lea Park in Malden. He contacted Malden Building Commissioner Nelson Miller, who provided guidance and helped coordinate the necessary steps to move the project forward. The garden area at Coytemore Lea Park had accumulated debris and overgrowth, limiting its use. James developed a plan to clean up the area and install a sensory garden with a variety of perennials and other plants. 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. 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With assistance from Commissioner Miller and fellow members of Troop 603, James led efforts to clear the park, prepare planting areas and install the new garden features. The sensory garden includes plants selected for their colors, scents and textures, offering an engaging experience for all visitors. The project was completed in spring 2025. Since then, Coytemore Lea Park has seen increased use by local residents, with many taking advantage of the refreshed space and new garden area. “I wanted to take on a project that would have a lasting impact on the community,” said Eagle Scout Gage. “Working with Mr. Miller and my troop made it possible to turn this idea into something real. I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish together.” Summer is Here! ׉ 7cassandra://ZMlcXjw_JrFnv8xE59meQT12flYhebeTZL_N_mrVAdg:`hwb ׉E zTHE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 5 Malden couple celebrate a Diamond Anniversary! Special to The Advocate M ayor Gary Christenson paid a visit to George and Dawn Plati to congratulate them on their 70th Wedding Anniversary at a recent family celebration. Longtime Malden residents, George and Dawn raised their family in Malden and are extremely proud of their three children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They truly enjoyed the many years they spent volunteering in the community for the Malden High School Band Parents Association, St. Rocco’s Feast and St. Peter’s Food Pantry, and they now relish spending time with family and friends. Mayor Christenson surprised them with a Citation on behalf of the City of Malden in recognition of their milestone anniversary. George and Carol’s secret for such a long and happy marriage is “communication.” Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma 50 If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY George Plati, Mayor Gary Christenson and Dawn Plati (Courtesy photo) COMMENTARY | FROM PAGE 1 Time to Fix It. Even before the strike, enforcement was lacking. That must change. I, along with several council colleagues, am working on legislation to empower multiple city departments to issue citations for trash violations. Malden is a growing city—and it deserves a system that holds everyone accountable. The City has gone to great lengths to communicate clearly and frequently and offers many tools for residents of all languages to stay informed.Residents need to use these tools.Education and empathy must come first—but we must also be willCall or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 ing to act when necessary. Responsible disposal isn’t optional. It’s part of living in a shared community. For these reasons, I request an emergency meeting this week to discuss all our options. I want to express my gratitude to President Linehan for acting swiftly to arrange a meeting. As we navigate the complexities of this ongoing strike, I remain hopeful. The kindness I see in our neighborhoods—people helping people, neighbors supporting neighbors—reminds me why I believe in Malden’s future but with every passing day, the limitations of the patience we’ve seen gets tested. A Strong Past. A Proud future. Let's keep building it—together. TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available ׉ 7cassandra://XBSPCIUK03Enbumpg-B9Q4GQNer1GVVfGPx5IKkXrkM1`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://StxoOXJagxdks4be4_k8Dj0PWvi2_ggzfMZ6gj_MXK4"`'p׉ 7cassandra://-Gxea6TD4DrGfzEZmbBdicRwoeTnb7cEyjpiIoVpPkY͹`׉ 7cassandra://mLDV4Awz_9h9umRr_JhaDstpc1vIsDvAWZSqphDQWXs58`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://wiN3qCO4SK49Mr7h0LCEA3XoMWybteVeAF8VsHonus0K`'p׉ 7cassandra://mBF59NAZdeI8ykXOc9C2UF1dTMUoNQSJfAZHxHnJ9yEͼ`׉ 7cassandra://K1QvIc7xlTYFOj8QjZyHHC1cHqaY1JWlGJtr33X-1lU3[`hwb ڑנhwb 59ׁHmailto:SHEILAROSANIO@GMAIL.COMׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 ~ Malden Musings ~ Irish American Labor Day Road Race 2025 By Peter Levine “G ood evening, Mr. and Mrs. Maldonian from border to border, coast to coast and all ships at sea. Let’s go to press.” I ran into old pallies Mike “Boss Dawg of the Boneyard” McCarthy and Brian “Little Brother of Kevin” Killion at the Saint Rock Festa just last weekend, and both reminded me that they and the rest of the boyos at the Irish American will once again be sponsoring their annual 5K/10K Road Race — Monday, September 1st at 10. And once again, praise the (deity of your choice) for Mike (McCarthy)! Although in IA Road Race semi-retirement — he continues to stick his beak into this much beloved tradition — ensuring success for Maldonia and the venerated Irish American Club. Praise be and thank you also to retired MPD Sgt. Joey Connelly and wife Diane for their invaluable help in organizing this event (Joe’s late mom Chrisine was a big fan of this column, and I was a big fan of hers in return!). When heaping praise, we cannot forget J.P. Kelley and the rest of the MPD men and women in blue who assist on race day. They do a great job and don’t just mail it in either. The countdown is over, Malden — and the tradition that makes our Labor Day weekend sparkle brighter than WildFire on Saturday night of the San Rock Festa is charging back down the streets! That’s right, Maldonia’s own legendary Irish American Labor Day Road Race is lacing up once again, ready to turn our city into one giant block party on the move. Summer may have folded up its beach towels and drifted into the sunset, but in its wake comes something even sweeter: decades of Maldonia pride pounding the pavement, neighbors-turned-rivals pushing each other past the finish line, and the kind of post-race “hydration” that could make even the driest Labor Day weekend feel like Mardi Gras (or at least, San Rock on a Saturday night!). So, dust off your Chuck Taylor’s, stretch out those hammies and cue the cheers — because the race is back, the streets are alive and Maldonia is ready to run wild (well, some of us, anyway)! This event is pure Maldonia Mid-grade Regular 2.87 3.35 3.45 $3.47 Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1978 - 2025 ULS Full Service $2.99 Order online at angelosoil.com magic. Whether you run, walk, cheer or spectate with a “refreshment” in hand, it’s one of those traditions that stitches our community together. Brian assured me that registration is easy as apple pie: sign up the morning of (8:30 a.m. check-in) for $40 or beat the rush online at Irish American 5 & 10K Road Race (runsignup.com) for $35. Bonus: Your entry comes with a nifty T-shirt. And don’t forget, prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place across multiple categories: male and female, seasoned pros and weekend warriors alike. Best of all, every penny raised goes to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Every. Single. Cent. Running, walking or just hanging out — you’ll feel boss knowing your day of fun is fueling an even greater cause. And as tradition dictates, don’t be surprised to Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net see road race legends like Mike “Mr. 02148” Cherone, Rick Gately, David Ritchie, Donny “Spider” Lockhart, Al Macy Jr., Marty Gately, Carolann Gabriella, Danny Siraco (just kidding about Danny) and Mayor Gary “The Beast That Ate Pleasant Street Slayer” Christenson pounding the pavement like the champions they are — while the rest of us embrace our well-earned mastery of sideline cheerleading. Friends, Romans and Malden newbies, lend me your ears; come by and have a great time right here in your very own backyard. Mark this on your social calendar for a fun-filled day of raffles, music, pizza, hot dogs and (of course) “refreshments” (at the always affordable I.A. prices). Once again, this year there will be a really choice disc jockey (Gus Diaz aka DJ Gus) playing a wide variety of music, including, of course, some good old-fashioned traditional Irish Highland Ave.’s Mike Cherone channeling his inner David McGillivray at the 2024 Irish American Labor Day Road Race bangers (and possibly some karaoke snuck in). Brian also wanted to stress, once again, that all proceeds will go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Every. Single. Penny. No better way to spend your hardearned cash, knowing that all earnings go to fighting this hated disease. I gave the Irish American Labor Day Road Race a whirl once upon a time — back when dinosaurs still roamed Main Street, the Highland was serving 500 pies on a Friday night and sneakers weighed about 10 pounds each. Wicked good time, let me tell you! The friendly faces along the route (yes, even George MacKay & Dom Fermano hollering encouragement) kept me moving when my legs begged me to quit. The pain during (and long after) was epic — but so was the fun and the “liquid therapy” that followed. This year I’ll be back on the sidelines — don’t worry, I’ve officially retired my running shoes — but I’ll absolutely be partaking in the post-race “hydration station.” The very first one (once again) will be raised high in memory of Mike’s late brother, my pal and yours, the one and only Stevie McCarthy. Second round for Mikes late cousin Joe, who would have been 77 last week. Special thanks to Brandano Plumbing and O’Brien Construction for always stepping up with much needed sponsorship. Also, FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES! ׉ 7cassandra://mLDV4Awz_9h9umRr_JhaDstpc1vIsDvAWZSqphDQWXs58`hwb ׉ETHE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 7 L&L Services, United Properties, Butch O’Halloran Construction and Scott Fitzpatrick Construction. Oh, and I’ll be sure to request DJ Gus play at least one Stiff Little Fingers song (“Barbed Wire Love”?). It is said in “Malden Musings”… • We get letters...Mike Bartlett remembers “Kennedy’s Butter & Eggs” on the corner of Exchange and Main Streets: “I remember when Kennedy’s burned...or rather the office building above it did. On a weekday afternoon, I was at my weekly drum lesson on Irving Street (I think my lessons were on Tuesdays). I’m guessing it was 1967. What a sight to see. I remember watching a person on one of the upper floors rescued from a window by a fire fighter on a ladder. I heard there was a fatality as well, but I never knew for certain if that was true. Kennedys remained in business after that; the rest of the building was removed. Looked strange after that, since that office building had been about the height of the back [Exchange Street] part of the Jordan Marsh building.” Now sits Walgreens, btw. • Apropos of nothing...happy 80th birthday to Chuck Goggin, who had a cup of coffee as a utility infielder for the BoSox in 1974 appearing in a total of 72 Major League Baseball games in his career. Most impressive about Mr. Goggin is that he is the most-decorated Vietnam veteran to play in the majors. “Malden Musings” honors you, Mr. Goggin, for your service to your country AND for your cup of coffee with the local 9. Come to Malden someday, I am positive Veterans’ Services Officer Kevin Jarvis will show you just how much we appreciate you and your service to this country. • “What you are about to read is a matter of human record. Explain it: we cannot. Disprove it: we cannot. We simply invite you to explore with us the amazing world of the Unknown ... to take that One Step ... Beyond.” So, it was Gary Cherone’s 64th birthday a couple of weeks back (yeah, I know — don’t he look fabulous?!), and my brother Joe is driving to Revere Beach to hang around Victor’s and get a pie at Bianchi’s. No wait, that was 40 years ago! This morning he’s driving to the beach to read yet another biography on Sandy Koufax and catch some rays when suddenly Extreme’s “Rise” comes on his playlist. Two minutes later — while “Rise” is still playing — his adorable daughter Dorothy texts him and asks him if he wished Gary a happy birthday yet! Coincidence? I think not. You decide. Happy birthday, Gary, from all the Levines, Scibellis and every Maldonian who remembers who the heck you are! LOL. Kids today have such short memory spans, dude...fuhgeddaboudit! • By the way, Extreme were performing in Romania (not far from Dracula’s Castle, btw) the day of G Force’s birthday and played a rocking little tribute to the recently deceased “Prince of Darkness,” John Michael Osbourne aka Ozzy Osbourne. Happy birthday, G Force, Malden is very proud of you! We get letters…It was very kind of Gerry Abbott to send me this cherished memory: “Aaaah .... Revere Beach of yesteryear. My wife and I came down from Middleton to see Fats Antoine Domino at the Ebb Tide. Tipped the doorman 10 bucks and he gave us seats right next to the ‘stage.’ (or what passed as stage in those days, haha) The area was about the size of a boxing ring located out in the middle of the floor. Guessing it was between 1968 and 1970. It was just big enough for Fats and his piano. The ‘Fat Man’ just played with a smile, performing every request yelled out. That included my favorite ‘I Wanna Walk You Home.’ At intermission, he sat at the bar, drinking and talking to the bar customers. The story goes that afterwards he would play cards in the back room with the bar owner and a few other crooks. The game was rigged. Fats would lose. Maybe lose ‘all of his pay to play.’ Fats would give them an expensive ring off his finger or agree to play a few extra nights to take care of his debt. If you dig hard enough online you can still find the story of ‘Fat’s Domino’s Legendary Performance at The Ebb Tide.’ Thank you, once again, Peter, for letting an old memory come back to make me smile!!” As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — in the blink of an eye, another chapter in the long, proud history of the Saint Rocco Feast has been written — and closed. Hard to believe it was my 58th year standing on the blacktop of Pearl Street, yet every August it still feels like coming home. My love affair with Saint Rocco began on a warm Monday night in 1967, when big brother Joe took me to the San Rock fireworks at Devir Park. I didn’t know it then, but the colors bursting in the night sky would mark the beginning of a lifelong tradition. Back then, the Feast was the summer’s finish line — the moment we all realized that school was creeping up fast. But before we traded shorts for sweatshirts, there was always one last, glorious blowout. For me — and for so many who grew up in Edgeworth and Ward 2 — it’s the continuity that means the most. The way you can set your inner clock by it: second weekend in August, every year, without fail. It’s an organic connection that lives in our hearts and minds, a living thread that ties generations together. So, Viva Saint Rocco — thank you for another year of memories. And to everyone reading this — see you ALL next year on Pearl Street. SHEILA ROSANIO SCHOOL OF DANCE & GYMNASTICS CLASSES START SEPT. 8TH ! AGES START AT 2 ½ • GYMNASTICS • JAZZ • HOP HOP —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol. com for comments, compliments or criticisms. Lasting Friendships Are Formed at the Dance Studio • TAP • BALLET • CONTEMPORARY • LYRICAL • BOYS CLASSES •COMBO CLASSES & MORE Still Accepting Fall Registration! Classes Begin September 8th! PLEASE CALL: 781-771-9758 Or email: SHEILAROSANIO@GMAIL.COM 233 WASHINGTON AVE., REVERE ׉ 7cassandra://K1QvIc7xlTYFOj8QjZyHHC1cHqaY1JWlGJtr33X-1lU3[`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://RafTHb371SfBUBafvcvj8Ztw6AEoxiyuaEd9q3fSJek`'p׉ 7cassandra://X8gAyz3OgTKRyx2uFkaPtVZblgUCBUFq5-B5lAZwuMEͭ`׉ 7cassandra://jAmM3qMz-gW_mjDe_1snFohMyA9TxrNuSy8NLTOekW45m`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://6n21Ctv0P721dw1Skq7I8tOaGOpTDNfsoeu-xTiF4BAE`'p׉ 7cassandra://N0pspNb5XZcQE3UEYddkFE182SDnN0bHgnaNz5bXYusͱ`׉ 7cassandra://XXgbtMZ9MZzkMQlwGrM8j1-Ux0nTNOz5rQNPZ1zTXYw2`hwb נhwb  n<9ׁHhttp://den.orgׁ ׁ Јנhwb  u9ׁHhttp://www.ciׁ ׁ Јנhwb g*9ׁHhttp://Advocate.news.maׁ ׁ Јנhwb ,9ׁHhttp://Facebook.com/ׁ ׁ Јנhwb ׁf9ׁHhttp://ofmalden.orgׁ ׁ Јנhwb ,L9ׁHhttp://www.ciׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 SCHOOLS | FROM PAGE 1 Malden second-year Superintendent of School Timothy Sippel, Ed.L.D. was joined by Malden Mayor and School Committee Chairperson Gary Christenson and Vice Chair Jennifer Spadafora (Ward 3) on Wednesday morning to greet students at all of the Malden schools. The trio began at Malden High School to welcome the incoming ninth-graders and then went on a schoolby-school trek across the city, visiting all seven of Malden’s educational facilities. Supt. Dr. Sippel said everything went well and successfully. “The weather was great for the first day of school and it is a credit to all the hard work and preparation by our administrators, edSuperintendent Dr. Timothy Sippel talks with students outside Malden High School on the first day of school. (Advocate Photos) Mayor Gary Christenson greets ninth-graders on Opening Day. (Advocate Photos) ucators and staff.” Dr. Sippel said that “the energy and enthusiasm by everyone, es- pecially the students, was great to see.” Supt. Sippel and Mayor Christenson each took the time to personally greet and address the new ninth-graders when they arrived at Malden High School early Wednesday morning and wished them well, with encouragement and advice. Mayor Christenson: “I was in your place when I first started at Malden High School and I can tell you it will be a great experience for you, when you take advantage of the resources and people that are here to guide you.” “Welcome everyone, as you Malden High School Principal Chris Mastrangelo says, “Come on in” to the 455 incoming ninth-graders on Opening Day (Wednesday). begin your new journey,” Dr. Sippel said. “We are so glad to see you all and we are looking forward to giving you all the support and assistance that you will use to be successful.” Dr. Sippel, Mayor Christenson and Vice Chair Spadafora also greeted the entire 800-plus School Committee Vice Chair Jennifer Spadafora and Chairperson and Mayor Gary Christenson were at Malden High School to welcome incoming ninth-graders on Wednesday. Malden Public Schools educators and staff on their first day of school on Monday. At a districtwide meeting, Dr. Sippel noted that Malden High School is fully staffed for the first time in many years and that across the district, only four positions remain unfilled. “We made a pledge to address this issue a year ago and today we can see Freshmen enter Malden High School on Opening Day. that it has been a success — fully staffed at Malden High, nearly fully staffed overall,” Dr. Sippel announced to applause from the full house at the Jenkins Auditorium at Malden High School. The Superintendent also noted that there are 61 new educators on board for the start of the new school year across the district. They went through a three-day orientation session last week, also held at Malden High School. “We’re ready to go, looking forward to a great school year,” Dr. Sippel. “Alone, each of us is strong... and together we are much stronger.” *** Notable change: later school dismissal for Grades 1-12 A notable change that bears attention for this particular school year is the addition of approximately 10 minutes to the end of each school day districtwide. For example, at Malden High School, for many years the dismissal time has been at 2:15 p.m. Beginning this year, however, Malden High students will be in class until 2:25 p.m. each school day. Further, for the K-8 schools, all five of these learning centers will have a uniform arrival and dismissal time districtwide: Kindergarten–Grade 6: 8:00 a.m. –2:30 p.m. Grades 7–8: 8:00 a.m. –2:35 p.m. Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma ׉ 7cassandra://jAmM3qMz-gW_mjDe_1snFohMyA9TxrNuSy8NLTOekW45m`hwb ׉ETHE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 9 City of Malden statement on pausing curbside pickup of recyclables New alternative is to toss off recyclable materials on Middlesex Street F rom the beginning of the strike impacting trash and recycling pickup, we have committed to open and honest communication regardless of the message. When the strike began, we prioritized limited resources on trash pickup, believing that the consequences for falling behind on Trash are far greater than those for falling behind on recycling. Several weeks ago, we had reason for optimism when we were able to resume curbside recycling pickup. Republic had indicated that more resources would follow, and we began with two trucks a day picking DROP | FROM PAGE 1 ployees have been on strike since July 1, and there has been no progress in negotiations between the company and Teamsters Local 25, which represents the workers. Republic has been using replacement workers to pick up regular trash and recycling, but according to a message put out on the city website, it is no longer possible to pick up recyclables. Curbside pickup of regular trash, adhering as close as possible to the regular assigned schedule, is continuing, according to information on the City of Malden website: www.cityofmalden.org. A copy of the noup recycling, which is what we have on a normal day pre-strike. We had one day when we had eight trucks picking up recycling. Unfortunately, that was quickly cut to one truck a day. That one truck has struggled to make a meaningful impact. Significant delays with drivers being able to leave the yard along with DOT limitations on hours has resulted in that one truck taking over a week to complete a day’s route. Despite our attempts to communicate as clearly as possible, this has understandably led to confusion and frustration as to what is being picked up when, tice put out by the City of Malden on the status of the recycling pickup appears on the website, and the notice also appears in today’s edition. There is another alternative now in place for residents to clear their recycling disposals, with temporary dumpsters now being placed on Middlesex Street. They are located off Centre Street (Route 60) and across the street from the CBD Garage and Stop & Shop parking lot. Public safety and other municipal personnel are on-site there to assist residents, who may pull up with their vehicles and toss recyclables into the dumpsters. They are available at the following days and times moving forward: Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/ Advocate.news.ma and generally, has resulted in many residents leaving recycling curbside until whenever it gets picked up. Despite our pleas for more resources in Malden, it is clear from talking to Republic that there should be no expectations of that happening in the short term. On Friday August 22 it was necessary to assign all four trucks to trash and even then, with delays and hour limitations, they didn’t finish. We absolutely do not want to fall behind on trash pickup and in order to ensure that doesn’t happen, and based upon resources available, we have de— Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Residents are reminded that recycling drop-off is NO LONGER continuing at the Ferryway K-8 School on Cross Street — as was available during summer hours. That availability has been discontinued due to the official cided that CURBSIDE RECYCLING WILL BE PAUSED AND BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ON A DROP OFF BASIS. We know how frustrating this is and are exploring all alternatives to find relief, but like many other towns being serviced by Republic we are left with no choice but to focus all trucks on trash. We are asking all residents to bring their recycling back onto their property until further notice and to make arrangements to drop it off at the drop off site. If you find your recycling has become contaminated after having sat at the curb for several weeks, you should dispose of it opening of classes for students at the Ferryway School and all of the city’s public schools as of Wednesday. There is also no longer any recycling drop-off at the Department of Public Works (DPW) City Yard, 356 Commercial St., due to a newer phase of rehabilitation construction there, which is restricting overall access. Additionally, there is no recycling drop-off at Pine Banks Park as trash with your weekly trash. No blue bags are required to do that. The prior announcement of Pine Banks is no longer valid due to concerns expressed by the City of Melrose. We understand this change is incredibly disruptive and appreciate your patience as we work through this difficult situation. We ask that those who can help their neighbors, friends and relatives with drop-off for recycling please do so. Times like this are when a little kindness goes a long way. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. parking lot. That was to be considered part of the procedure for a brief time earlier this week, but was discontinued due to concerns expressed by City of Melrose officials. Malden shares the use of the entire Pine Banks Park facility equilaterally with the City of Melrose. For continued updates on the trash strike crisis, check on the city’s website: www.cityofmalden.org. ׉ 7cassandra://XXgbtMZ9MZzkMQlwGrM8j1-Ux0nTNOz5rQNPZ1zTXYw2`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://dQlgI0vQGze8ZnTmAkhob0qNZ3HC82Lt5DL2fqMZzVE`'p׉ 7cassandra://JbsK0JYGk6N2ifwpGwalR6jZjdmTq-Y3L8Cb8OMjtTEͦ`׉ 7cassandra://KlRm1V6qv2d6EC8K0uzkpzQvArlxXekfL2EVaUwzMnw3`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://44VXiausL2INBhFMCA6Dg8LhlounEhhN61GESDLnJbk`'p׉ 7cassandra://lY7PZtP20fZPfiTUML7DqBiPucGK3eJZ5UcOxZ96Nq0Ͳ`׉ 7cassandra://_R6MAt6C-px2AdBUP9YEvOPaxiyYpdX6S-ihzZYLxvg5N`hwb נhwb 9ׁH%http://www.JandSlandscape-masonry.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 100th annual Italian Feast of Saints Cosmas & Damian coming soon! Award-winning Everett High School Marching Band among performers t’s that time of year again when the streets will come alive for the 100th Annual Grand Italian Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian on September 4, 5, 6 & 7 on Warren, Cambridge and Porter Streets in East Cambridge. The four-day fun family event features a wide variety of sweet and savory food, a beer garden, amusement rides, games, parades and music that spans decades of dance, pop and rock. Festivities begin on Thursday, September 4, at 6:00 p.m. when Saints Cosmas and Damian take part in a procession from their permanent home at 17 Porter St. in East Cambridge to the outdoor chapel overlooking the festival concourse on Warren and Porter Streets. At 7:00 p.m., a special healing service with the holy relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian will take place at the outdoor chapel. The Thursday night entertainI ment will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a performance by local favorite WildFire Band followed by the legendary Grammy award winner Gloria Gaynor singing her mega hits: “I Will Survive,” “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” “I Am What I Am” and more. Gaynor will make sure everyone is dancing in the streets! On Friday night the entertainment begins at 6:00 p.m., and Samantha Rae takes the stage with of NSYNC, O-Town, Ryan Cabrera and LFO. Don’t miss this exciting and high-energy show by some of the biggest recording artists of the 2000s. They will not disappoint! On Saturday the festivities begin at 1:00 p.m. as the savory aromas of pizza, fried dough, Italian sausages, peppers, zeppole and much more permeate the air around Cambridge, Porter, of Sinatra show, Boston’ Own Trifecta, and Sea Breeze with Stephen Savio. At 6:30 p.m. Saints Cosmas and Damian — accompanied by members of the Society, the North End Marching Band, the award-winning Everett High School Marching Band and the faithful — process from their permanent home at 17 Porter St. to the outdoor chapel. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. Sather band. After her performance the Pop2000 Tour makes its stop at the Feast with Chris Kirkpatrick and Warren Streets, along with continuous entertainment, including Dom Catino’s Sounds urday night on the Cambridge Street Stage, the 1990s hit machine and Grammy Award winner All-4-One perform their many hits, including their #1 Billboard chart sensation “I Swear” and “I Can Love You Like That”! They are followed by international recording sensation Joey McIntyre from New Kids On The Block. He will be singing NKOTB hits and his own songs from his Freedom Tour. Don’t miss “Please Don’t Go Girl,” “Freedom,” “Own This Town” and much more. The grand finale of the Feast on Sunday begins at 10:30 a.m. with an outdoor Mass in honor of the Healing Saints Cosmas and Damian on the Warren Street Stage. At 1:00 p.m. the feast opens. At 1:30 p.m. “The Grand Procession with Saints Cosmas and Damian, marching bands, floats, and trolleys begins to wind through the streets of East Cambridge and Somerville” as it has for 100 years. Don’t miss The parade arrives back on Warren Street at 7:00 p.m. for a welcome back confetti celebration followed by a performance by the world-famous The Platters and friends The Drifters and The Coasters! Come hear all-time favorites like “Only You,” “Under the Boardwalk” and “Yakety Yak” from these iconic groups. this at 3:00 p.m. on Washington Street in Somerville and 5:00 p.m. at the corner of Cambridge and Warren Streets in East Cambridge. Local favorites, such as Smokin’ Joe and his band, entertain throughout the day as the food and fun flow through the streets. Come have a bite to eat, go on a ride, play a game and enjoy all of the great free entertainment. Parking is available in Twin City Plaza next to the feast all weekend. For Feast and vendor information, call 617-407-1256 or visit www.cosmas-and-damian.org. See you at the Feast! ׉ 7cassandra://KlRm1V6qv2d6EC8K0uzkpzQvArlxXekfL2EVaUwzMnw3`hwb ׉E THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 11 MVRCS RANKS AMONG TOP SCHOOLS NATIONALLY US Sen. Ed Markey Honored at Posh Fundraiser M ystic Valley Regional Charter School has once again earned a place among the top public schools in Massachusetts and across the nation, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings. MVRCS is ranked 6th among all Massachusetts public high schools, breaking into the top 10 out of 366 schools statewide. Nationally, the school is ranked 198th out of more than 26,000 high schools, placing it within the top 1% nationwide. Mystic Valley also secured recognition as the 47th-best charter school in the United States out of 2,991, putting it in the top 1.5% nationally. “This achievement represents one of the strongest results in our history,” said Director/Superintendent Alexander Dan. “These results are a testament to the dedication of our entire school community and the commitment of our teachers, who deliver a rigorous, time-tested curriculum with fidelity. They also reflect the strength of Mystic Valley’s mission: maintaining a structured academic environment, a rigorous college preparatory program, and high expectations for every student.” The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on key performance indicators, including college readiness, curriculum breadth, math and reading proficiency, performance among underserved student groups, and graduation rates. Founded in 1998, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School serves over 1,750 students in grades K–12 from the communities of Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Wakefield. MVRCS is distinguished by its structured academic climate, rigorous college preparatory program, and extensive character education curriculum, which emphasizes core values and the enduring ideals of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution. Rankings and statistics provided by U.S. News & World Report. United States Senator Edward Markey (center), a Malden native, was honored at an Aug. 16 fundraiser held for him by a committee of supporters, including public relations executive George Regan (left) and Alan Leventhal (right), the former United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark and the founder of the Boston real estate investment firm Beacon Capital Properties. The fundraiser was held at the Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee. Other members of the host committee included auto magnate Herb Chambers, Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner, and impresario Don Law. Markey represented Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives from 1976 to 2013. In 2013 he won a special election to finish the US Senate term vacated by John Kerry, and then won full terms in 2014 and 2020, and is standing for re-election next year. The dean of New England’s Congressional delegation, he is currently the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and holds several other committee assignments.(Courtesy photo) J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping ׉ 7cassandra://_R6MAt6C-px2AdBUP9YEvOPaxiyYpdX6S-ihzZYLxvg5N`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://cuingiBL4cJ8r8iPvFcCS6YXIDy9QW6HmH_ZFaVPfxU`'p׉ 7cassandra://bpdvf16IiKU31nurxVkkQlZ0WVVzrsyCnM7HmQwX8Mg͙`׉ 7cassandra://n2wT8t5sZNr49UfiiGcyP-hYyXzkr7WBFmDFxqEcnYc4Q`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://iv1lGXiUINUQGoWRqn4OwVOTb8mtBeIbHoh2BNaAq50>`'p׉ 7cassandra://gTTDp9zdCPSrqS4XKeiRenX4bz3KOoO-BSlDI84m8PY͙`׉ 7cassandra://_bwuRLAGR3N-RU20DcSbOaQuefUs3kPUwE7lbTV74Qc5n`hwb ׉E"Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Forestdale Falcons are all smiles heading back to school Forestdale Elementary school students are happy to be back in their classrooms on Wednesday morning. Shown from left to right, are: Assistant Principal Cara Horhanessian, Principal Adam Weldai and Karie Carpenito. Shown from left to right, are: Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s second grade students Paislee Weigman, Charlotte Fitch, Jacques Pierre, Jana Siraj, Stephanie Nyoike, Henry Perez Martinez, Alexander Laborde, Felicity Wong, Arya Cao, Leon Vokrot, Myles Tang and Bernard Silva. Secretary Megan LoPilato with Media Center Specialist Lillian Wong at Forestdale School on Wednesday. Shown from left to right, are: eighth graders Jana Emam, Sam Fortunato Felipe, Brayden McDougall, Selam Tesfaw and Goldie Mae Venable are hard at work in English class. Crossing guard Berthony “Tumi” Sanon is on the job. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Assistant Principals Cara Horhannesian and Karie Carpenito introduced the cafeteria policy to second graders. ׉ 7cassandra://n2wT8t5sZNr49UfiiGcyP-hYyXzkr7WBFmDFxqEcnYc4Q`hwb ׉ETHE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 13 Saluting Malden’s Working Men and Women Mayor Gary Christenson & The Malden City Government State Representative Steve Ultrino Spadafora Councillor-At-Large Craig Ward 1 School Committee Michael Drummey BUSINESS ACCOUNTS WELCOME State Senator Jason Lewis Rob McCarthy Malden Trans / Malden Taxi 781-322-5050 Lester, Peggy & David Morovitz 24 Hour AIRPORT SERVICE PACKAGE DELIVERY State Representative Paul J. Donato Ward 2 School Committee ׉ 7cassandra://_bwuRLAGR3N-RU20DcSbOaQuefUs3kPUwE7lbTV74Qc5n`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://Ew6EmwXtyBQNi--42FfJ97D5S42k6hn3WMwr1bemJm4Q`'p׉ 7cassandra://Ylutxpk5sEVDeopk1vWi0dVRCUuJdq7WuKJ6vPRjf7YͶ`׉ 7cassandra://LRlQ3ryGQVeiZ-wJd9sj6Ka2yC4GHWeshiitBzBKXvI4`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://WsKOVaCIkO6WRAZrGtIVWblrEWpstpooVQOtR93s5wAvc`'p׉ 7cassandra://_jca_utAXCzoS9cUA0omtVNRMzs9LMQmo2dn7FjMBzAͫ`׉ 7cassandra://sEs5yD52b-gRMmdN746LZLzWreHUOX1eYbz71EWPM0o5`hwb נhwb  l89ׁHhttp://den.orgׁ ׁ Јנhwb  l̯9ׁHhttp://den.org/BCApplication.ׁ ׁ Јנhwb  mu9ׁHhttp://www.ciׁ ׁ Јנhwb J89ׁHmailto:Info@advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Annual Fairy House Festival at Pine Banks Park M alden’s Annual Fairy House Festival will be held at Pine Banks Park on Saturday, September 6, from noon to 4 p.m. Fairy Houses are structures for fairies and nature’s other friends (hobbits, elves, gnomes and trolls) to visit. All are invited to either prebuild a house or make one in the Builder’s Workshop on the day of the event. Prebuilt houses will be entered into the Fairy House Walk contest. Residents are invited to participate, get creative at the arts & crafts table, bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the day at Pine Banks Park (1087 Main St., Malden), a beautiful natural habitat. The whimsical event is being organized by former City Councillor Barbara Murphy in conjunction with the Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation, Pine Banks Park and the Malden Public Library. For more information, please contact Barbara Murphy at murphyforward5@ yahoo.com. MALDEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTS “DECADES OF MALDEN BRIDES” M alden, MA – On September 3, the Malden Historical Society will open its newest exhibit, “Decades of Malden Brides,” which draws on the Society’s collections to showcase bridal fashion from the 1880s to the 2000s. Everyone is welcome to attend an opening reception on Wednesday September 3 from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Library’s Converse Memorial Building, where curators Anthony Dickinson and John Tramondozzi will present the exhibit and answer questions. “Decades of Malden Brides” will be on view at least through the month of September during the times the Converse Memorial Building is open for Local History hours or Art Gallery tours (Monday 6-8 pm and Wednesday 2-4 pm) plus some additional Saturday hours to be announced. Bridal gowns and accessories will tell the stories of Malden brides, their families, and how wedding day elegance has evolved over more than a century. In addition to viewing the display, the Society invites residents to become part of the story by sharing their own family wedding memories. Bring in photographs, whether of your wedding or a relative’s—along with details about who is pictured, when and where the wedding took place, and the connection to Malden. The Malden Historical Society will gladly accept donations to its collections and can also copy and return photographs. Interested people can bring their photos during the exhibit hours or make other arrangements by emailing info@ maldenhistoricalsociety.org or calling 617-863-6038. .New Board Members At its May meeting, the Malden Historical Society welcomed two new board members, Mark Linehan and Anthony Dickinson.Linehan recently launched a series of Instagram videos highlighting aspects of “Malden’s Revolution” to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.Dickinson, a returning Board member, is partnering with Curator John Tramondozzi to mount the new exhibit. About the Malden Historical Society The Malden Historical Society is a local volunteer-run nonprofit organization founded in 1886 and dedicated to collecting, preserving, and disseminating the history of Malden and beyond and fostering an appreciation of history. In 2025 and 2026, we join the rest of the country in commemorating the American Revolution and American independence. Stay tuned for more anniversary-related events throughout the coming year. To learn more about the Malden Historical Society, visit www. maldenhistoricalsociety.org or email info@maldenhistoricalsociety.org. END Senator Lewis and Mass. Senate modernize child custody laws to protect children and families O n July 17, 2025, Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to unanimously pass legislation to modernize laws that protect children and families going through child custody proceedings. The legislation seeks to ensure Massachusetts courts follow the same procedures as the other 49 U.S. states, bring laws up to date with international best practices and simplify the process for families going through multi-state custody cases. On July 21 the Massachusetts House referred the bill to its committee on Ways and Means. “I was pleased to vote for this legislation to prioritize the safety and well-being of children involved in custody proceedings,” said Senator Lewis. “This bill will streamline and simplify these difficult situations for families and will bring Massachusetts in line with other states and best practices.” The bill creates clear rules for multi-state custody cases and prioritizes the home state of the child when determining custody jurisdiction, thereby preventing “forum shopping” by a parent seeking a more favorable outcome in another state. It also updates the law to streamline case registration and enforce out-of-state determinations, enhances protections for children and families who are going through custody proceedings in Massachusetts and boosts flexibility for families through the creation of hearing notice requirements and by allowing remote participation in proceedings. ׉ 7cassandra://LRlQ3ryGQVeiZ-wJd9sj6Ka2yC4GHWeshiitBzBKXvI4`hwb ׉E;THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 15 Upcoming Movie Night at Malden Public Library: Wed., Sept. 17 P lease join us for our Welcoming Week Movie Night on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Malden Public Library. We will be showing a “hidden gem” of a movie: “Peace By Chocolate” (2021). “When a Syrian family flees civil war to small-town Canada, the son is torn between his dreams of becoming a doctor and helping his father rebuild his suddenly burgeoning chocolate business. Based on the incredible true story.” Not rated — all ages — 96 minutes. Free snacks will be provided. Movie times are approximate. Movie Night is generously supported by the Friends of the Malden Public Library. Local Craft Fair at Pine Banks Sat., Sept. 6 T here will be a local Craft Fair with local vendors on Saturday, September 6th from 11 AM - 3 PM at Pine Banks, 1087 Main Street, Malden. Vendors include Aunties Doo Designs, Sentsy with Rae, XRS Creations, Bella's Hidden Treasures, Tupperware with Beverly, Flattering Finishes, Mary Kay with Lisa, Baker Woodworking, AJ customized pens, Crochet with Susan, Home Decor, Isabel Soaping and Company, Ozalbe, Creations by Christine, Four Corners Print Shop as well as pizza, soda and popcorn. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net Last concert ends the 2025 Summer Concert Series! M ayor Gary Christenson invites the community as we close out the Malden Summer Concert Series with one final performance! Fan favorite “The Reminisants” will be live on City Hall Plaza on Tuesday, September 2, from 6-8 p.m. We appreciate everyone who joined us throughout the summer – your support has made this concert series a true celebration of music and community! Members sought for Malden Cultural Council M ayor Gary Christenson is reaching out to Malden residents to fill two vacancies on the Malden Cultural Council. The Malden Cultural Council works to encourage and promote the artistic development of the arts in Malden through state grant program funding. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the Mass Cultural Council allocates funds to Malden each year in support of the fine arts, including performing art programs, exhibits and festivals throughout the community. The primary responsibility of the Malden Cultural Council is to review local grant applications and award funding to select proposals, as funding permits. The majority of meetings are held during grant season (September through December) either on Saturdays or weeknights at a time mutually agreeable to all members. There may be additional meetings during the year on a weeknight, scheduled as necessary. The Council is seeking applicants who would consider serving as Treasurer for the next round of grantmaking. Appointees serve a three-year term. To apply to the Malden Cultural Council, please complete the online Boards and Commissions Application at www.cityofmalden.org/BCApplication. Please email kmanninghall@cityofmalden.org for additional questions. The deadline for accepting applications is Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Malden’s 3rd Annual Good Dog Day H as your pup been a “Good Boy” or “Good Girl”? On Monday, September 8, all good dogs are invited to enjoy free dog ice cream and other treats at Malden’s 3rd Annual Good Dog Day. The event will take place at Fellsmere Pond, which is off the Fellsway, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Treats will be provided by The Barkery, and the event is sponsored by the Malden Police Department, Downtown Paw & Oceanview Kennel & Resort. Come join in the fun! ׉ 7cassandra://sEs5yD52b-gRMmdN746LZLzWreHUOX1eYbz71EWPM0o5`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://hnMS2MeS49P3x5A9xsvwotpELbL1Nh-u_lbgv471M08i`'p׉ 7cassandra://rnK9DcIcIrO3iOdXs2twJMDff4SmQnLSNysoUxmqhREͳ`׉ 7cassandra://BZO82_atigAgSvY9YyQ3oTFpQX5QE5FgUP_yXxrSHj00K`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://vTzsY7JYvB26O4s0ZBUMh3hAQcC5UAhghgiAnnClJoQ)`'p׉ 7cassandra://53fBFaQHur5pNZVkRQnYNWkxQOibAyoJ4wzdUVOS7m4͸Z`׉ 7cassandra://fQfW1wxVMEbHjftkufJVQu6cghlolmx3NKTdV3i5AhQ5G`hwb נhwb ́-99ׁHhttp://www.advocatenews.netׁ ׁ Ј׉ESPage 16 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 a similar bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on the bill. Supporters said allowing arBeacon Hill Roll Call By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll call votes in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports local senators’ roll call attendance records for the 2025 session through August 22. The Senate has held 68 roll calls so far in the 2025 session. Beacon Hill Roll Call tabulates the number of roll calls on which each senator voted and then calculates that number as a percentage of the total roll call votes held. That percentage is the number referred to as the roll call attendance record. Senate rules allow a senator, who is not physically at the session in the Senate chamber, to vote remotely from any location and without giving a reason for his or her absence from the Senate chamber. The House does not permit remote voting. Sometimes a senator is not able to attend only one or two sessions during which roll calls are held, but since there are sometimes multiple roll calls on each one of those days, the number of roll calls they missed can be high even though they only missed one or two sessions. Thirty-six (90 percent) out of 40 senators did not miss any roll call votes and had a 100 precent roll call attendance record. Four (10 percent) out of 40 senators missed one or more roll call votes. The senator who missed the most number of roll calls is Sen. Lydia Edwards (D-Boston) who missed 23 roll calls (66.1 percent roll call attendance record.) Edwards did not respond to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her why she missed so many roll call votes. Two other senators who missed one or more roll call votes are Sens. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington) who missed 2 roll calls (97.0 percent roll call attendance record) and Adam Gomez (D-Springfield) who missed one roll call (98.5 percent roll call attendance record.) Neither one responded to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them why they missed any roll call votes. It is a Senate tradition that the Senate president only votes occasionally. Current Senate President Karen Spilka follows that tradition and only voted on 18 (26.5 percent) of the 68 roll calls while not voting on 50 (73.5 percent) of them. SENATORS' 2025 ROLL CALL ATTENDANCE RECORDS THROUGH AUGUST 22, 2025 Here are the 2025 roll call attendance records of local senators through August 22. The percentage listed next to the senators’ name is the percentage of roll call votes on which the senator voted. The number in parentheses represents the number of roll calls that he or she missed. Sen. Jason Lewis 100 percent (0) ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL ALCOHOL LICENSES (H 4285) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would make changes in some of the state’s alcohol permitting laws. The measure would authorize on-premises alcoholic beverage consumption within certain noncontiguous area licensed premises subject to approval by the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC). Current law prohibits this licensing unless the areas are contiguous. The measure also would repeal the current law that prohibits any applicant who has been convicted of a federal or state narcotic drugs charge from holding an on-premises alcoholic beverages consumption license; as well as the current restriction prohibiting any applicant who has been convicted of a felony from holding an off-premises alcoholic beverages consumption license. Those prohibitions would be replaced by a new law requiring that applicants for any license must be of satisfactory character to local and state licensing authorities. "This bill is an important step toward updating outdated alcohol laws to reflect today's business landscape," said sponsor State Treasurer Deb Goldberg. "By removing unnecessary restrictions and improving oversight, it supports economic growth in our communities while maintaining strong oversight and prioritizing public safety." Rep. Christopher Worrell (D-Boston), who also sponsored eas to be non-contiguous mainly impacts outdoor seating and patios. They noted that licensees who have patios that are separated by a sidewalk or a road, under current law, have to go through extra steps to extend their license to that area. They said that the change would simplify that process. They said that for on-premise and off-premise licenses the rules around criminal record are currently inconsistent. They noted that having any felony conviction disqualifies an applicant from holding an off-premise license, but for on-premise licenses, only narcotics related charges disqualify an applicant. They argued that the bill would allow local licensing authorities and the ABCC to standardize this process and evaluate an applicant’s criminal record more holistically. They cited cases in which an applicant was charged decades ago and has had zero issues since then. They noted that all applicants would still have a CORI check and be subject to consideration of their character and fitness. LIQUOR LICENSE SUSPENSION (H 4275) – Current law suspends the liquor license of and closes down for a period of time, any package store that is found guilty of selling to a minor or an intoxicated individual. However, in big box stores, supermarkets, gas stations and other places in which liquor sales are not their primary business, a violation results only in the closing of the liquor department. A bill, sponsored by Rep. Steven Howitt (R-Seekonk), and given initial approval by the House, would amend current law so that the entire establishment, not just the liquor department, is closed down. “This bill levels the playing field between small family-owned liquor stores and large corporate big box stores selling liquor,” said Howitt. “It will serve to tighten up the oversight for alcohol sales.” Howitt continued, ”This bill was filed to strengthen public safety in our cities and towns because illegal alcohol sales have been on the rise due to relaxed regulations during and resulting from the pandemic. The bill also fixes an inadvertent disparity that has developed by reinstating uniform consequences and standards for all establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages who willfully violate important public safety regulations regarding alcohol sales to minors or intoxicated individuals. All retailers of alcoholic beverages will be treated equally regardless of whether the establishment is a supermarket, convenience store or package store. FORTUNE TELLERS (H 475) – The House gave initial approval to legislation that would eliminate the current state law requiring that all fortune telling applicants must have lived in the city or town in which they are seeking their license to practice, for at least one continuous year prior to filing their application. Supporters said the bill will remove an old law that has become antiquated and makes no sense. “A municipal employee reached out to me several years back because she had discovered the residency requirement and thought it was a little odd,” said sponsor Rep. Susannah Whipps (U-Athol). “A coffee shop in her city was looking to have a tarot card reader, and as it turns out fortunetellers must be licensed in Massachusetts just as a barber or hairdresser would be and also the law requires residency in the community in which they practice. My bill removes the 1-year residency requirement. This law was most likely put in place to prevent grifters or con artists from coming into a town and scamming people.” PROHIBIT GROCERY STORES FROM USING BIOMETRICS TO INCREASE PRICES OR SUGGEST ITEMS (H 99) – The House gave initial approval to a measure that would prohibit grocery stores from suggesting items or adjusting the prices of any item directly or indirectly based on the biometric data of individuals collected on the premises of a grocery store. Grocery stores BHRC| SEE PAGE 19 ׉ 7cassandra://BZO82_atigAgSvY9YyQ3oTFpQX5QE5FgUP_yXxrSHj00K`hwb ׉ETHE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 17 Malden High boys soccer team scrimmages Saugus Sachems T he Malden High School boys soccer squad had a successful first outing in its preseason matchup against Saugus High. The Golden Tornados squad outscored the visitors, 4-1, and showed Head Coach Jeremiah Smith some strong play on both ends of the field. Malden High will open the regular season on the road on Thursday, September 4, at Methuen High. (All Advocate Photos) A Back together again: Malden High Head Coach Jeremiah Smith and his former Malden player, Josh Crespo, who is Saugus High Head Coach. Jamesley St. Jean scored two goals for Malden against Saugus. Massachusetts Appeals Court Judge back in 2016 held against MassHealth with respect to the countability of assets housed in an irrevocable Trust. It is well settled law that for purposes of determining eligibility for MassHealth benefits, countable assets include any portion of the Trust principal that could under any circumstances be paid to or for the benefit of the applicant. Such circumstances need not have occurred, or even be imminent, in order for the principal to be treated as countable assets; it is enough that the amount could be made available to the applicant under any circumstances. This was set forth in the Heyn case, a Massachusetts Appeals Court case decided in 2016, which reversed the prior Superior Court judgment. In the Superior Court case, the applicant had retained a limited or special power of appointment in the Trust that she created that she could have exercised during her lifetime “to appoint the remaining principal and any undistributed income of the Trust among the members of the class consisting of her issue of all generations or charitable organizations other than governmental entities, but no such power or payment shall be used to discharge a leNO GOALS! Goaltender Wandemere and Yassir signal No Goals for the time Wandemere manned the goal for Malden. Malden High School captain Mike Joseph and the Golden Tornados team during the scrimmage. Subscribe to the Advocate Online! www.advocatenews.net THE HEYN MASS APPEALS COURT CASE 5. gal obligation of the applicant”. In a simple sense, appoint is another word for distribute and an example of issue would be children or grandchildren. MassHealth argued that if the applicant appointed Trust principal to family members, those family members could then in turn return the Trust principal to the applicant to be used for her benefit. The Appeals Court in Heyn stated that “Medicaid does not consider assets held by other family members who might, by reason of love, but without legal obligation, voluntarily contribute monies toward the grantor’s support”. The grantor of the Trust is also referred to as the Settlor or Donor, and in this case, was the applicant for MassHealth benefits as well. The court also stated that “the limited power of appointment is exercisable only in favor of permissible appointees, and any attempt to exercise a limited power of appointment in favor of an impermissible appointee (i.e. to use principal for the personal benefit of the grantor), is therefore invalid. An appointment to a permissible appointee is ineffective to the extent that it was: 1. Conditioned on the appointee conferring a benefit on the impermissible appointee 2. favor of an impermissible appointee 3. Upon a trust for the benefit of an impermissible appointee 4. In consideration of a benefit conferred upon or promised to an impermissible appointee Subject to a charge in Primarily for the benefit of the appointee’s creditor, if that creditor is an impermissible appointee, or 6. Motivated in any other way to be for the benefit of an impermissible appointee. The above six items are set forth in the Restatement (Third) of Property and the Superior Court judge held that MassHealth cannot argue that Trust principal could ever be distributed to a permissible appointee in order to benefit the applicant and held that none of the Trust principal was countable. The applicant then qualified for MassHealth benefits. In the case at hand, no principal could under any circumstances be appointed to the applicant. The applicant clearly was not a permissible appointee. If she was, her retained right would have been deemed a general power of appointment thereby providing her a right to receive Trust principal. This case is important to keep in mind as the Trustee of an irrevocable Trust would have the right to distribute some or all of the principal to children or grandchildren, for example, thereby allowing access to the assets housed in the Trust by children or grandchildren. The Court in Heyn is stating that this does not rise to the level of allowing principal distributions to the Settlor/Donor of such irrevocable Trust. The children or grandchildren might, for love and affection, decide to gift some or all of the assets back to the Settlor/Donor, but are under no such legal obligation to do so. They might just decide to spend all of the money themselves. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a master’s degree in taxation. ׉ 7cassandra://fQfW1wxVMEbHjftkufJVQu6cghlolmx3NKTdV3i5AhQ5G`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://r3uzPi-OysjbrRvATwOe8SlwVfzSPsX7MghI1C6k170`'p׉ 7cassandra://cXFUZNiUyJriBBT_wh5RHMh3-sEA_drfE8AJPwNGzzQͷO`׉ 7cassandra://70ShCJ5ZPYMaKjciaX6CwyPmsNTLEvbWk4ESFaYiRjM2=`hwb טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://KCe6iAbYgchwBXuq5kSv8prLEVMwD_OI7UUDo-Vu_8w`'p׉ 7cassandra://vhTk9GIGGnP9Rxkm9nnWvskACI0ppDUNbvmtIdjHPS8ͳ`׉ 7cassandra://hGri5a_RKvWb7zF1rMylhFIX71zDSk_g-mZTssmES0E,`hwb נhwb  ā> 9ׁHhttp://call.comׁ ׁ Јנhwb  `9ׁHhttp://Tues.Auׁ ׁ Јנhwb Z̗9ׁHhttps://masscsw.org/ׁ ׁ Јנhwb 9ׁH"mailto:pgoldstein@cityofmalden.orgׁ ׁ Јנhwb v9ׁH"mailto:pgoldstein@cityofmalden.orgׁ ׁ Јנhwb  o"9ׁH"mailto:pgoldstein@cityofmalden.orgׁ ׁ Јנhwb   ?΁9ׁH!https://www.cityofmalden.org/873/ׁ ׁ Јנhwb  Z̠9ׁHhttp://permarketNews.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPage 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller How to Find a Great Handyman Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the best way to find a good handyman or tradesman that can help with small jobs around the house? Almost 75 Dear Almost, It’s a great question. Finding a good home repair/handyman can be a bit of a crapshoot. How do you find someone who will return your calls or texts, show up on time, do the job right and finish it, all at a fair price? Here are a few tips and resources that can help you search. What Kind of Help While it may seem obvious, whom you call on for help will depend on what you need done. If, for example, you have an odd job or small home repair project that doesn’t require a lot of technical expertise, a handyperson may be all you need. But if you have a job that involves electricity, plumbing, or heating or cooling systems, you’re better off going with a licensed tradesman. Bigger jobs like home renovations or remodeling may require a general contractor. Where to Find a Pro Whatever type of work you need, the best way to find it is through referrals from people you trust. If your friends or family don’t have any recommendations turn to professionals in the field like local hardware or home improvement stores, or even real estate agents. If you don’t have any luck here, there are a number of online resources you can turn to that can quickly connect you to a wide variety of skilled workers in your area. If you need someone for a home chore or small job, a popular option is Taskrabbit (taskrabbit.com), which lists thousands of freelance workers (called Taskers) that have undergone background checks. Here you can get help with things like furniture assembly; lifting or moving heavy items; mounting or hanging TVs, shelfs or pictures; minor home repairs; cleaning services; yard work and more. Taskers set their own hourly rates, which are displayed on their website before you book. Some other good options for locating handypeople are fix-it franchises like Ace Handyman (acehandymanservices.com) and Mr. Handyman (mrhandyman.com). These companies vet and insure their staff, but they may be more expensive than Taskrabbit. Or, if you use social networking sites, you could also post a request for a handyperson in your Facebook group or on Nextdoor (nextdoor.com). If, however, you’re in the market for specialist like a plumber, electrician, painter, roofer or carpenter as well as a handyperson, try Angi (angi. com). They too, vet their independent contractors, and will let you request quotes from several candidates. Thumbtack (thumbtack. com) is another good resource that’s similar to Angi, but they offer more details like average response time, specifics about the work they do, and photos of past projects. Things to Know Once you’ve located a few candidates, here are some steps you can take to protect your money and ensure you’re satisfied with the results. First, get a handwritten estimate or digital contract that list the tasks and the hourly rate or project fee. Also, ask to see their proof of insurance, which covers any damages they may cause while working on your home, and ask for several references from past jobs. You should also pay after the work is done, not before. But it’s not unusual to be asked for a small deposit for material costs upfront. And if possible, you should pay with a credit card, because you can dispute the payment if something goes wrong with the job. Checks and electronic payments like PayPal, Venmo and Zelle don’t offer the same level of protection. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. On Aug. 29, 1958, Michael Jackson was born in what Indiana city with a male name? 2. In Washington, D.C., is the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum; what is penjing? 3. In what J.R.R. Tolkien book subtitled “There and Back Again” is the line “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world”? 4. August 30 is National Toasted Marshmallow Day; what organization in a 1927 book created the first official s’mores recipe? 5. How are “The Chrysanthemum,” “Heliotrope Bouquet” and “Sunflower Slow Drag” similar? 6. On Aug. 31, 1837, what Concord resident who had been a minister gave “The American Scholar” speech in Cambridge? 7. Prior to the official Labor Day, on what day were U.S. workers celebrated? 8. In 1784 a request was made to install a “representation of a Cod Fish” where in Mass.? 9. In what F. Scott Fitzgerald novel (that has a first name the same as a flower) is “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”? 10. On Sept. 1, 1985, the wreck of what ship was found? 11. What holiday marks the unofficial end of hot dog season? 12. What kind of government do Macau and Hong Kong have? 13. On Sept. 2, 1990, what festival was moved to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert? 14. In 1875, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson, for the first time ever, transmitted sound over wires — at 109 Court St. in what city? 15. What is the difference between a meteor and a meteoroid? 16. On Sept. 3, 1856, what architect with the same last name as an MBTA station was born in Boston? 17. What is the Pelican State? 18. What tennis player is competing in the 2025 US Open at age 45? 19. What is romantasy? 20. September 4 is National Newspaper Carrier Day; in 1833 where was the first paperboy? ANSWERS 1. Gary 2. The ancient Chinese art of creating miniature landscapes (not just trees) in containers. 3. “The Hobbit” 4. The Girl Scouts (“Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts”) 5. They are musical compositions created or cocreated by Scott Joplin. 6. Ralph Waldo Emerson 7. May 1 (Workers’ Day in many countries) 8. The House of Representatives (“as a memorial of the importance of the Cod Fishery”) 9. “The Great Gatsby” (Daisy Buchanan) 10. The Titanic 11. Labor Day 12. They are special administrative regions of China. 13. Burning Man 14. Boston 15. The latter is still in space, but the former has entered the earth’s atmosphere. 16. Louis Sullivan 17. Louisiana 18. Venus Williams 19. Literature that blends romance and fantasy 20. NYC ׉ 7cassandra://70ShCJ5ZPYMaKjciaX6CwyPmsNTLEvbWk4ESFaYiRjM2=`hwb ׉E"THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 29, 2025 Page 19 BHRC | FROM PAGE19 would be allowed to use biometrics to allow customers to voluntarily verify their identity at the point of sale. Violations by a grocery store would result in the store being fined for the amount of actual damages or $5,000, whichever is higher. According to the website SupermarketNews.com, the biometrics can often involve the scanning of customer fingerprints or retinas. “I filed this bill after learning that the largest grocery store chain in the U.S. is rolling out facial recognition technology and electronic price tags,” said sponsor Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton). “These technologies, when put together, allow grocery stores to identify individual customers, their characteristics like race and gender and shopping habits. It has been shown time and time again that pricing algorithms are designed to take more money out of consumer pockets, and there is no place for this at the grocery store.” In April at a public hearing, Woodrow Hartzog, a professor at Boston University's School of Law, told the Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity that surveillance pricing allows companies to figure out the highest price that customers are willing to pay. "This disastrous practice leads to price gouging, discrimination by proxy, an inability to budget, data hoarding and the suffocating feeling that every choice you make while shopping is a trap," said Hartzog. "This bill would prohibit food stores from using tools like facial recognition to charge people different prices and provide vital breathing room for customers, while still allowing for people to receive discounts." At the April hearing, Edgar Dworsky, a former assistant attorney general in consumer protection, questioned legislators’ concerns over surveillance pricing. He suggested that supermarkets would likely use expanded personal data to offer targeted discounts to shoppers -- rather than hitting them with steeper prices. “That would echo how supermarkets have used data gathered from loyalty programs to offer personalized discounts,” Dworsky wrote in written testimony. "Your bill, however, would prevent stores from using any biometric data collected to offer lower prices to identified shoppers," continued Dworsky, who is also founder of Consumer World. "That strikes me as anti-consumer. If you are not banning the collection of biometric data to start with, why not simply prevent its use for the purpose of imposing higher than the standard or established price?" The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts said that it supports the legislation but wants the protections to be expanded to all goods, not just food. "Prohibit surveillance-pricing generally, not just pricing driven by biometric surveillance," the ACLU suggested in written testimony. "Charging different customers different prices for the same product based on a personal profile is problematic whether that profile is derived from a person's biometrics or other personal data." QUOTABLE QUOTES “Massachusetts is moving faster to create reasonably-priced housing and revitalize our downtowns. This new tax credit helps communities turn empty commercial space into homes – bringing people, energy and small-business customers back to main streets while tackling our housing shortage.” ---Gov. Maura Healey announcing $10 million in tax credits to help convert underused commercial buildings into residential and mixed-use housing across Massachusetts. “These grants invest in the police officers and firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect our communities. Recognizing the urgent needs faced by many departments, we were quickly able to adapt this year’s program, providing greater flexibility and immediate access to funds. These changes will have an immediate impact on public safety in Massachusetts communities.” ---Office of Grants and Research executive Director Kevin Stanton on awarding $5.7 million to cities and towns to support local fire and police staffing. ~ Legal Notice ~ PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Public Hearing, and 2024 Draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) 15-Day Public Comment Period The Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) is in the process of drafting the Program Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER will be available for public review and comment for 15 days – September 12, 2025 through September 26, 2025. The CAPER describes how the City’s Community Development Block Grant and the North Suburban Consortium’s HOME grant funds were expended from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 to carry out housing, homeless and community development objectives, strategies, and activities outlined in the City’s 2024 Annual Action Plan. All written comments received will be included in the final CAPER sent to HUD along with the City’s responses. Copies of the draft report will be available at https://www.cityofmalden.org/873/ HUD-Reports-and-Notices. Printed copies will also available for public review by appointment starting September 13, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday at the OSPCD Office at 215 Pleasant Street, Third Floor, Malden, MA. If you wish to pick-up a hard copy of the draft CAPER, please email Paul Goldstein, HOME Program Director, at pgoldstein@cityofmalden.org to make an appointment. Written comments may be submitted to Paul Goldstein, HOME Program Director, by email to pgoldstein@cityofmalden.org or in writing to OSPCD, Malden City Hall, Third Floor, Malden, MA 02148. Please include “CAPER” in the subject line. For consideration, comments must be received no later than September 26, 2025. A public hearing will be held on September 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM, a Malden City Hall in conference room 113. Residents requiring accommodations, translation, or interpretation services should contact Paul Goldstein, at 781-324-5720 x5731 or pgoldstein@cityofmalden.org. August 29, 2025 “Ensuring that adequate remedial measures are in place to maintain a safe environment for student athletes of color during sporting events is impossible while the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) refuses to release records about its practices and protocols for addressing the rising number of discriminatory incidents.” ---Sophia Hall, Lawyers for Civil Rights Deputy Litigation Director, on filing a lawsuit against the MIAA seeking public records regarding incidents of discrimination, harassment and bullying at sporting events sponsored by the MIAA. “The commission amplifies the voices of women and girls, with commissioners shaping policy by studying key issues, advising on legislation and fostering collaboration across the commonwealth. We seek commissioners who reflect our commonwealth’s diversity and bring passion, expertise and collaboration to improve access to opportunities and equality for all.” ---Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury), announcing the seeking of applicants to serve on the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women - a state-established body charged with reviewing the status of women in Massachusetts and offering recommendations regarding policy that would improve access to opportunities and equality. The application deadline is Monday, September 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. More info at https://masscsw.org/ HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible latenight sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of August 18-22, the House met for a total of one hour and 25 minutes and the Senate met for a total of one hour and 27 minutes. Mon. August 18 House11:01 a.m. to 12:09 p.m. Senate 11:16 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Tues.August 19 No House session No Senate session Wed. August 20 No House session No Senate session Thurs. August 21 House11:01 a.m. to 11:18a.m. Senate 11:06 a.m. to 11:39a.m. Fri. August 22 No House session No Senate session. Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019. ׉ 7cassandra://hGri5a_RKvWb7zF1rMylhFIX71zDSk_g-mZTssmES0E,`hwb hwb  rבCטUru׉׉ 7cassandra://bZKsDt77aMQMhoMWpZPBu7quA9OtHZ-KCoawNM3Jkg4`'p׉ 7cassandra://zHEiViBGGYFX5eFxHJuAPwXbxSfUc-YSEGtKsFYMwJwͻ`׉ 7cassandra://68eGhxo5fLtHGLhImO6PYjed1LJ6f70v9whJPnfySKQ6Q`hwb  טUUru׉׉ 7cassandra://dORO3hbvg9eBdXpmqToky8SVRy47SA7MbAuk-G6Z0MM