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Education

An arboretum hiding in plain sight: Malden’s Tree Warden cultivates splendor at Forest Dale cemetery

January 31, 2025 karenbuckmalden 0

By Karen Buck It is not easy being an urban tree!  Urban trees have to endure unnatural conditions: excessive heat, drought, storm water runoff from impervious surfaces, poorly conditioned soil, vehicular pollution, road salt, road construction, sidewalk installations, water and sewer lines work, pest and disease invasions, and public complaints.  Many trees die on a daily basis in cities where mature tree canopy is most needed But Malden’s public trees have their own Lorax, the defender of forests: tree warden, Chris Rosa.  According to the Massachusetts Tree Warden and Forestry Association, a tree warden is defined as “a person in charge of shade trees on public town lands [who has …] the unique legal responsibility to guard public resources against destructive forces that might include persons, insects, or diseases.” Rosa’s inspiration to create the arboretum piqued in April of 2023, while doing regular rounds of the Forest Dale cemetery. Rosa noted over 100 tree stumps just left to rot.  Rosa pondered, “Where did these trees go? When were they cut down?”.   He estimated the trees […]

Arts

Malden Reads announces book selection and prepares to kickoff 2025 program

January 23, 2025 NeighborhoodView 0

by Mack Keating Continuing its tradition of highlighting powerful stories that challenge perspectives and inspire change, Malden Reads announced its 2025 Book of the Year. The chosen selection, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, tells a true story of resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of education. Set in Malawi in Africa, the story follows young Kamkwamba’s journey during a devastating drought in 2001 that left families across the country facing severe hunger. Forced to leave school because of financial hardship, Kamkwamba refused to let his circumstances hold him back. In a 2009 TED Talk, Kamkwamba shared how he found hope in his local library, reading as many science books as he could get his hands on. Not knowing much English at the time, he relied on pictures, graphs, and context clues to “learn the words around them.” In one of the books he read, he learned of a windmill, which could be used to pump water and generate electricity: “Pump water meant irrigation, a defense against hunger,” he […]

Featured

Malden Warming Center opens its seventh season with volunteers ready to serve

January 7, 2025 NeighborhoodView 1

By Lindsay Perdue Community members gathered at the Malden Warming Center to ring in the Yuletide spirit, with Maplewood Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Malden attendees dropping off presents for each guest. Clients at the Center received stockings with personalized notes and goodies. “For Christmas Day, in addition to the 15 regular volunteer spots we need every day for morning, evening, and overnight service, we had another 9 volunteers come in to keep the Center open all day,” said volunteer coordinator Caroline Gaudet. Now in its seventh season, the Malden Warming Center opened on Dec. 1 with volunteers ready to serve, just in time for the first blast of cold weather in December. Located on busy Eastern Avenue inside Malden’s First Church of the Nazarene, the center is dedicated to providing shelter and warmth overnight to those who need it during the winter months. “I just feel like giving back to our community and I can’t think of a better way,” said Dave Allen who is starting his third season as a volunteer. […]