azanzirsa, Author at Neighborhood View

Donor organizations honor Malden’s non-profit Bread of Life

October 29, 2015 azanzirsa 0

Community Cooks of Somerville held a “Just for You” event at the Charlesgate Yacht Club in Cambridge to celebrate their most loyal donors and partner organizations. Community Cooks coordinates a network of over 780 volunteers from 61 Boston-area cities and towns, who offer free home cooked meals to vulnerable citizens by supporting 35 direct-service partner agencies. Malden-based Bread of Life is one of their direct-service partner organizations that receive monthly distributions. It was in response to the impressive work by Bread of Life to feed the hungry and homeless in the metro-north area that brought them to the attention of Community Cooks. Based in Malden, Bread of Life is a faith-based organization that offers: Free evening meals Tuesday through Friday in Malden. Food pantries in Malden and Everett. Grocery distribution to seniors in Malden, Everett, Melrose, Medford and Wakefield public housing. Food distribution to homeless families temporarily sheltered in local motels. Mobile outreach to homeless and clothing ministry. Bread of Life, represented by Executive Director Thomas Feagley and Board Member Kathleen McKenna, addressed the attendees at […]

Second annual STEPS Awareness Walk to End Domestic Violence

October 20, 2015 azanzirsa 0

This year has witnessed the violent deaths of 13 victims in Massachusetts to the insidious domestic abuse. National statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has stated that 1 in 3 women and one in four men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime. One in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90 percent of those children are eyewitnesses to this violence. On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide. The Zonta Club of Malden and the Teen Enrichment Center of Malden held their second annual STEPS awareness walk to end domestic violence on Sunday October 11, 2015. Lisa Jacobson, president of the Zonta Club of Malden, kicked off the occasion by sharing some history of Zonta, the purpose of the walk and thanking all who came out to participate. Mayor Gary Christenson shared some unnerving statistics on the frequency of domestic violence, then spoke about the services that Malden is […]

When we are silent about domestic violence it thrives

October 8, 2015 azanzirsa 0

The Malden “Steps” Walk returns on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. Here’s Neighborhood View’s coverage from last year: When we think about October, many of us envision Halloween inclusive of pumpkins, children in costumes asking for treats and playing pranks. For older Halloween observers the occasion usually includes telling horror stories trying to invoke ghosts, ghouls and the occasional paranormal spirit. For some October is known as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to break the silence, stand strong together in unity to end the scourge of domestic abuse in all its ugly manifestations. On October 12 some Malden residents participated in the first Domestic Violence Awareness Walk cosponsored by Malden STEPS (Steps Toward Empowering Personal Safety) and Zonta. The walk began at Salemwood School with an acknowledgment of appreciation to all who came out from Mayor Gary Christenson and a keynote address by M. J. Wright from REACH beyond domestic violence. The “Walk” culminated at City Hall with a candle light moment of silence for those Massachusetts victims of domestic violence who […]

Bread of Life 23rd Annual Walk for bread and 5K run

October 7, 2015 azanzirsa 0

Pine Banks Park Sunday October 3, 2015 was the scene of the 23rd Bread of Life (BOL) 5K run and walk to raise money to help BOL fulfill their mission to feed the hungry, homeless and isolated people in the local communities. There were approximately 35 runners and more than 140 walkers including a few dogs. The men’s winner was James De Luca of Malden crossing the line at a time of 18 minutes 20 seconds and the women’s winner was Liz Emerald of Melrose crossing at 23 minutes 42 seconds. Neighborhood View was informed that both Liz Emerald and Mayor Gary Christenson had participated in an earlier 5K run the same day. This may account for Mayor Christenson’s comment as he crossed the finish line, “There has to be an easier way to raise money.” Free BoL T-shirts were handed out to each registered participant along with plenty of water. Also provided were sufficient quantities of healthy snacks, fresh fruit, juice and lots and lots of pizza. BOL provided over 1,030,000 meals last year […]

Councilor Debbie DeMaria challenged by petty politics

August 8, 2015 azanzirsa 3

Was the intent to keep incumbent Councilor-At-Large Debbie DeMaria off the November 3 ballot when the executive director for the Massachusetts Republican Party Brian Wynne and Malden Attorney Michael Williams filed a last-minute complaint with Malden’s city clerk, the Board of Registrar of Voters and the city solicitor?

Family Homelessness: A view beyond stereotypes

March 24, 2015 azanzirsa 6

For many the concept of homelessness is so far removed from their reality that it’s hard to comprehend. For the families who are part of the Housing Families State House photographic exhibit, it was their everyday reality. Housing Families Inc. of Malden provides safe, temporary shelter and quality affordable housing to homeless and at-risk families. According to the On Solid Ground Coalition, there are 4,800 families in Massachusetts that are living in motels and shelters each night. Another 4,200 families are living in doubled up and unstable situations. They’re behind on their rent or move multiple times per year. On Solid Ground is a cross-sector group of more than 30 partners committed to a research-based approach to increasing housing stability and economic mobility. All of the families participating in the Housing Families State House Exhibit “Family Homelessness: A View Beyond Stereotypes” have had the misfortune of struggling with housing instability. They have first-hand experience of being forced to sleep in bus stations, cars, abandoned houses and other unsafe places not meant for human habitation before being admitted […]

‘Elder Lobby Day’ advocates for home care for seniors

March 10, 2015 azanzirsa 0

“Home Care First” was the chant heard in the halls of the Massachusetts State House as a coalition of advocacy groups stood in solidarity urging state lawmakers to restore funding to services that keep elderly citizens at home. Massachusetts faces an estimated $1.5 billion deficit in the 2016 fiscal year’s budget. Since the budget cannot be officially approved with this deficit, some painful cuts necessitate the balancing of the budget. Advocacy groups for older Americans such as Mass Senior Action Group, AARP Massachusetts, Mystic Valley Elder Services and Mass Home Care made it clear that significant cost savings had already been made by providing home-based care services to elder citizens as opposed to putting them in extremely expensive nursing facilities. Community care programs like home care have reduced nursing facility costs by $853 million in 2015 compared to costs in 2000 – all due to 34 percent reduction in the number of patient days in institutions. There are an estimated 10,000 empty nursing facility beds today because of community alternatives. The per capita use of nursing […]

EXCLUSIVE: Former Tri-CAP exec goes on record

February 16, 2015 azanzirsa 0

While attending the annual Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon sponsored by the North Shore Black Women’s Association, Neighborhood View spoke candidly with Phillip Bronder-Giroux former executive director of Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc (Tri-CAP) and asked if he would be willing to go on record as only he could concerning his Tri-CAP departure and the agency’s possible closing. Fortunately, Bronder-Giroux agreed to an interview which in our opinion should silence the many whispered rumors that have been circulating throughout the Metro-North area. Tri-CAP is an anti-poverty agency for Malden, Medford, Everett and surrounding towns. They have been providing services to the area for 36 years. When asked what happened, Bronder-Giroux said the agency overspent their budget by approximately $500,000 and that the agency was “probably too lean at the top.” It wasn’t fraud by the executive director or anyone else in the agency as some have alluded. They have been functioning in the red for a number of reasons, namely: Tri-CAP employed a very capable comptroller who had been with the agency for more than […]

Senior power on display at the State House

January 20, 2015 azanzirsa 0

On Friday January 16, 2015 approximately 250 Massachusetts seniors from across the Commonwealth went to the State House to deliver to Governor Charlie Baker almost 5,000 signature cards. The signed cards were collected as part of a health care campaign initiated by Mass Senior Action Council (MSAC) demanding that Massachusetts “bridge the gap” to affordable health care for seniors living below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) ($35,000) just as they have done for residents under the age of 65. THE PROBLEM: High out-of-pocket costs for health care prevent thousands of seniors from accessing the health care they need. Seniors spend an average of 15 percent of their income on health care compared to individuals 19-64 who spend 5 percent. (Seniors spend three times more) Seniors in good health spend an average of $467.00 per month for health care. THE SOLUTION: Eliminate the asset test and raise income eligibility for the Medicare Savings Programs to 300 percent FDL (MassHealth Buy-In Programs) Raise the MassHealth asset and income eligibility limits for Massachusetts residents age 65 and over […]

80 is the new 60 at the Malden Senior Center

November 21, 2014 azanzirsa 0

Many senior citizens know it’s advantageous to keep their mind and body active for their overall well being. Numerous older people make use of the John and Christina Markey Malden Senior Community Center located at 7 Washington Street, better known simply as the Malden Senior Center. The new facility opened in 2009 after a dedication ceremony to Senator Edward Markey’s parents and life-long Maldonians, John E. and Christina M. Markey. A public/private partnership leveraging funding resources brought this project to life in downtown Malden. To be specific the sources were as follows: $2M- HUD Section 108 Loan, $7.2M- City, $ 450K- Cambridge Health Alliance Donation, $250K- Private Foundation Grant. Rehabilitation cost $7.6M and $2.3M was used for acquisition of the old church site. Neighborhood View opted to profile a few of the seniors to obtain their insight as the intended end users of the facility. Join us as we meet 85 year old Ed Clarke, 86 year old Mary Peabody and 64 year old Peter Huang. We also hear from Silvia Banos, the current director of […]