2015 - Page 2 of 7 - Neighborhood View

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GUEST POST: The Malden River finally gets “friended”

November 22, 2015 karenbuckmalden 0

For more than a century, a ribbon of shallow water has connected the Mystic River to downtown Malden. That riparian finger, straightened by the demands of the heavy industry that once lined its shores – tanneries, rubber works, aircraft engine manufacturers, chemical plants, coal tar refiners – has long given rise to minor local humor. Asked for directions to the Malden River, a city resident is heard to reply: “I didn’t even know Malden had a river—where did it go?” But this sad comedy is itself becoming history, now that the Friends of the Malden River is under full sail. This volunteer organization, which turns three this fall, is helping to put the Malden River back onto the map both geographically and politically. The Friends came into being as a result of pent-up local interest in preserving, protecting and enjoying the two-mile long portion of the river that hasn’t been culverted. Propelled and steered by MyRWA, with help from a Tufts graduate-student Practicum in spring 2013, FoMR has become a full-fledged citizens advocacy group that’s developed […]

Special Olympic athletes strike gold at the lanes and in life

November 10, 2015 karengarden 0

Every Sunday the Bowling Stones, a Malden-based Special Olympics team begin their morning bowling at Town Line Luxury Lanes. They are part of Special Olympics Massachusetts, and are coached by certified Special Olympic mentors. The Special Olympics mission remains as vital today as it was when the movement was founded in 1968. Special Olympics strives to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people. This group of athletes range in age from 16-63, some live at home and some in group homes. What is apparent immediately is how close they are and how much this Sunday bowling event means to them. They’re happy when anyone gets a strike, and no one gets upset if their ball goes into the gutter or misses the mark. The coaches, some of whom are parents, know that these athletes benefit from social activities. One coach mentioned that these special Olympians don’t often get to socialize at the malls, nor do what many of their peers take for granted as everyday popular activities. Therefore the coaches ensure […]

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 […]

Malden featured in author Sam Baltrusis’ ’13 Most Haunted in Massachusetts’

October 16, 2015 neighbormedia 0

Listen up guys and ghouls! Neighborhood View’s Sam Baltrusis, author of the new book “13 Most Haunted in Massachusetts,” writes about the things that go bump in the night. He assembled a motley crew of the state’s most paranormally active in a show airing on MATV at 7 to 9 p.m. the last three Fridays in October. He also penned a book perfect for the Halloween season. Score tickets to the book launch on Oct. 20 or Oct. 27. Here’s an excerpt: Malden is a city with an inexplicably large number of wayward spirits and residual hauntings. Sure, it’s not a typically haunted city and deviates a bit from the Lizzie Borden or Salem witch city norm. However, there’s a historical legacy that’s often overlooked by ghost hunters and para-celebs. It’s also an easy Orange Line train ride from Boston and my home in Somerville’s Assembly Row. During the winter, I was covering an event in the old wing of the historic Malden Public Library. The well-preserved throwback to the gilded age was recently featured […]

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 […]

The six finalists for Malden Reads 2016

September 30, 2015 annedr 0

From a long list of book suggestions, Malden Reads is down to six finalists for the 2016 program. They are: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown The Martian by Andy Weir Where the Wind Leads by Dr. Vinh Chung According to the committee, all six of the books on the finalist list are great reads, but they are all very different from each other. The committee expects to make the final selection at their next meeting on October 13. They welcome your thoughts and opinions on the six choices (described below) which can be emailed to maldenreads@gmail.com. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is a fictional story about a recently widowed curmudgeon who has lost the will to live. He is stymied, sometimes inadvertently, in all of his attempts to exit this world by various members of his community. Set in a diverse Swedish neighborhood that could be any urban neighborhood in the world, A Man Called Ove is by turns […]

Profile of artist Stephanie Mahan Stigliano

September 16, 2015 escorsello 9

“So many books from Baghdad’s libraries were flung into the Tigris that a horse could walk across on them. The river ran black with scholars’ ink and red with the blood of martyrs.” —As written by Ian Frazier in the April 25, 2005 issue of the New Yorker, about the Mongols attacking Baghdad on January 29, 1258. The desert knows me well, the night and the mounted men. The battle and the sword, the paper and the pen. —Abu al Tayyib al-Mutanabbi (died 965 CE) “I love books and I think reading is so important in my life, important to culture and education and expanding your world view.” she said, “I make books. I love reading books. I love libraries, everything about books, going to bookstores, sharing stories about books I’ve read. So, I thought, ok, I can do this.” Malden artist Stephanie Mahan Stigliano’s thoughts about her invitation to participate in Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here: An Exhibition of Artist’s Books and Broadsides. On March 5, 2007, on al-Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad, Iraq, named for the […]

Housing Familes, Inc. serves up thanks to our legislators

September 14, 2015 karengarden 0

It was a potluck dinner with everyone helping out. The staff, volunteers and families brought large plates of delicious homemade food to share with each other and the legislators. The dinner was held to thank the legislators with whom Housing Families, Inc. have been working with through the year. These legislators were able to get HFI and their allies much needed funds to run their programs. The Representatives were Paul Donato, Steven Ultrino, Christine Barber and Paul Brodeur. Also, they gave a special thank you to Senator Jason Lewis. These legislators were able to get much needed funds to enable HFI and their allies, i.e. Youth Harbor(a program for unaccompanied youth between the ages of 18-and-22 years old), RAFT(residential assistance for families in transition) and others. An increase of $18.7 million which allowed another 900 to 1,000 new vouchers was awarded to Massachusetts rental voucher program. This program provides housing stability and security to extremely low income households, including elders, disabled individuals and families with children. A home-based line item which helps prevent homelessness […]