2017 - Neighborhood View

75th anniversary of Maplewood Theatre fire

December 19, 2017 jlynnmcclain 0

By Jennifer McClain Movies were magic in December 1942. Bette Davis and Gary Cooper were superstars; the Academy Awards were handed out for both black and white and color films. Disney’s sophisticated animated film, “Fantasia,” hit the screens that year. Women’s eyebrows were perfect, sharp dark lines and men’s suits were fitted and double-breasted. This was also the year that film screenings ended on Lebanon Street in Malden — at least for a short time The night of December 18, 1942, was very cold and the sidewalks were icy and dangerous. Despite that, the Maplewood Theatre was packed. Was it because the theater was playing “Kitty Foyle,” the film that gave Ginger Rogers a Best Actress Oscar? The class-crossing romance started a whole new dress style known as the “Kitty Foyle Dress.” Or was it a packed theater because many there had dreams of rising above their class status by competing in “Bank Night.” “Bank Night” contributed to the ability of the film industry to survive during the Great Depression. This was an ingenious idea […]

Stories & Soup with Housing Families

November 25, 2017 annedr 0

The folks from Malden Reads love sharing good stories and good food with the community! Malden Reads volunteers told the “stone soup” folktale to children attending the Housing Families Saturday school program on November 18, 2017. This folktale tells about a young child who asks for a bite to eat, and through a “magic stone,” a delicious meal is created together (other cultures show soldiers or villagers; the beauty of the story is that there are so many versions!). After listening to the story, children had the opportunity to chop up vegetables and prepare soup to be enjoyed together. Volunteers also led the children in an activity of creating their own vegetable stick-puppets. Thanks to the generosity of the Malden Kiwanis, a donation of 400 books was given to the children as well. They each got to choose the books they wanted. We encourage our neighbors in Malden to consider a donation to Housing Families this holiday season, or to reach out if in need. Contact Housing Families at 781-322-9119 or through housingfamilies.org. Malden Reads is […]

The Road to Morocco from Malden: A Pressing Event

November 19, 2017 bzoe42 1

This is the last part of the Road from Malden to Morocco series By Bonnie Blanchard Our whirlwind visit in Marrakesh left our imaginations, memories and cameras full of sensations, stories and pictures. With a visit to the city of Essaouira we were winding down for our journey back home. Like vagabonds we wound our way to a rambling little coastal town with a view of the ocean from our lovely little hotel. We unwound with a walk on the windy beach. Camels and horses were competing for ride business, but we were not too eager for repeat lumps, so we contented ourselves by walking along the village shoreline. Essaouira is a laid-back old port town on the Atlantic Ocean. In the mid 1700s the then installed sultan liked the area and engaged the services of a French architect to create a city there. It is rather off the beaten path and windy, so there are not too many beach goers. Essaouira remains a fishing village where folks can buy their catch of the day […]

St. Joseph Parish makes a joyful noise in benefit concert

November 16, 2017 NeighborhoodView 0

By Julie Kelleher With equal parts enthusiasm and expertise, the St. Joseph Parish, Medford Music Ministry, presented its annual concert on Oct. 22, 2017. The Adult Choir exhibited their range, from the toe-tappin’ “Calendar Girl” to the solemn strains of Gounod’s “Ave Maria.” The Youth Choir regaled the enthusiastic audience with a rollicking medley from the musical “Oliver!” and The Messengers (the ministry’s young adult music group) performed pieces from “Rent,” as well as a somber original piece called “Oceans.” As in years past, there was plenty of opportunity for the audience to join with the choirs in singing, which they did. Violinist Noralee Walker, accompanied by pianist Holly Zagaria, performed the popular violin piece, Vivaldi’s “Spring” from “The Four Seasons.” There were three exquisite duets: Jeremy Ridore and Lisa Scudder sang “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King”; Charles Morin and Renee Paone performed “Try To Remember” from “The Fantasticks”; and Music Director Betsy Pesce was joined by her husband, Phillip, as they sang the main title theme from “Love Is A Many Splendored […]

Malden Reads announces 2018 book pick!

November 8, 2017 annedr 0

Malden Reads is pleased to announce the book selection for 2018, the eighth year of Malden’s popular “One City, One Book” program—The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. The novel debuted at the top of The New York Times young adult bestseller list, recently won the Boston Globe Horn Book award, is a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and landed on the long list for the 2017 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. John Green, bestselling author of The Fault in our Stars, states, “Angie Thomas has written a stunning, brilliant, gut-wrenching novel that will be remembered as a classic of our time.” The Hate U Give tells the story of 16-year old Starr Carter, who straddles two worlds. She lives with her family in an urban black neighborhood that wrestles with problems of gang violence, drug addiction and poverty, while attending a private school 40 minutes away in a predominantly white, wealthy community. In the opening chapter, she leaves a party in her neighborhood with Khalil, a childhood friend. They are pulled over while driving and, […]

The Road to Morocco from Malden: Marrakesh

November 5, 2017 bzoe42 0

By Bonnie Blanchard Fourth of five parts Take the train from Casablanca going southBlowing smoke rings from the corners of my my, my, my, my mouthColored cottons hang in airCharming cobras in the squareStriped Djellebas we can wear at home Would you know we’re riding on the Marrakesh Express Would you know we’re riding on the Marrakesh Express All aboard the train “Marrakesh Express,” by Graham Nash, 1969 Many of those from the 1960s “hippie” generation remember the lyrics to the Crosby, Stills and Nash song “Marrakesh Express.” The Marrakesh Express ran from Casablanca to Marrakesh and was a widely sought ticket. This song sums up the cultural reflections of singer Graham Nash on a trip he took in 1966 through India and North Africa. Fast forward 50 years and I find myself in that same world, snake charmers and all. One of the most colorful open air markets in the world, Djemaa el-Fna is something not to miss in Marrakesh. It would be akin to going to church and not praying. It is a […]

Need a bike ride? Choose green or yellow

November 2, 2017 NeighborhoodView 0

By Nekita Lamour Has anyone noticed the yellow and green bikes appearing throughout Malden? Originally, they were clustered on Pleasant Street, at the Malden train stations, along the Northern Strand Bike Trail and at other key locations. A little over one week later and you can spot them all over the city, now often parked in front of houses and apartment buildings. These bikes are the result of a pilot bike-sharing program, instituted by the City of Malden. The city has made arrangements with bike-sharing companies, Ofo and LimeBike, which “each offer users a station-free biking experience,” according to the city’s web site. Ofo has the bright yellow bikes and LimeBike has lime green bikes. Thanks to the efforts of Councilors Ryan O’Malley, Councilor-at-Large Debbie DeMaria, and Mayor Gary Christenson, Malden residents can ride these bikes at the reasonable fee of $1 per hour, for transportation, or exercise or just for the joy of a bike ride. “Many constituents have expressed the desire to having bike sharing in Malden like we see in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and […]

Malden Pops Up: A Festive Shopping Experience Brings Sparkle Downtown

October 31, 2017 shrier58 1

By Robin Inman Do you dread holiday shopping? Do you have trouble finding a special gift amid the mass market clutter? Malden Pops Up is coming to the rescue. Malden Pops Up is a temporary gallery gift shop featuring unique wares by local artisans. It will spring to life on Nov. 16 in an empty storefront at 480 Main St., Malden, and run through Dec. 24. Even your fussy sister will be mesmerized by the selection of paintings, jewelry, photography, textiles, ceramics, glass, carved wood, sculpture, CDs, cards and books. The experience will be enriched by musical and spoken word performances, presentations and special receptions. New this year will be a children’s art corner, where young artists can sell their work and sit down to create things while Mom or Dad enjoy shopping. Malden Pops Up is spearheaded by Ose Schwab, the principal of Malden Creates, LLC, which is “a small business that partners with local groups, businesses, and individuals to initiate arts and culture opportunities that nourish Malden economically and socially.” The inaugural Malden […]

Movie Review: The Malden man and his Wonder Women

October 29, 2017 jlynnmcclain 0

Film Review: Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, starring Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall and Bella Heathcote; directed by Angela Robinson By Jennifer McClain In 1948, a German born psychiatrist named Fredric Wertham began his crusade against comic books. While treating juvenile delinquents, he found them reading comic books and decided that comic books caused delinquency. This was a typical, correlation implies causation argument, proven false years later by Carol Tilley. However, a number of community leaders did rally against comic books, gathering them up in wagons, and burning them in huge pyres. A scene of this destruction opens the recently released Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, a cinematic romp into the man who inspired the heroine featured in this summer’s blockbuster, Wonder Woman. The camera then zooms in on a man looking sadly at a burning Wonder Woman comic — this is the subject of the movie, William Moulton Marston, the creator of Wonder Woman and a graduate of Malden High School as well as the inventor of the lie detector. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t depict Martson’s […]

RESPOND highlights domestic violence in Malden

October 26, 2017 jlynnmcclain 0

By Jennifer McClain A vigil to highlight the problem of domestic violence was held Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017 in the newly built Malden Police station’s community room, a place created to make the police more “accessible and transparent,” in the words of Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis. The vigil was held by the domestic violence agency RESPOND in collaboration with the Malden government, Malden police and the Malden Zonta club. “Today’s vigil is certainly a time to reflect and remember those who have lost their lives but it is also a time to raise awareness on this topic,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, one of the officials and community leaders who attended. Christenson praised RESPOND for being “a pioneer in the movement to end domestic violence.” RESPOND “is New England’s first domestic violence agency and the second oldest in the nation,” the mayor said. Christenson also said it was important to recognize the successful joint effort of the Malden Police force and the community organizations in concert with local Malden city government. Christenson noted that, in […]