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ABCD offers fuel assistance program to Malden residents

The state and federal governments have asked Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) to step in and provide critically needed services to thousands of low- and moderate-income families in the Mystic Valley area. ABCD will serve 10 cities and towns in thearea including Malden. John J. Drew, President/CEO, Action for Boston Community Development, says that through the agency’s Mystic Valley Area Opportunity Center, ABCD is working closely with residents and community groups to provide the services and opportunities that low- and moderate-income children, families, and seniors in Mystic Valley towns need to meet basic needs and move forward with their lives, especially with winter weather approaching. “Many people are struggling to make ends meet, and ABCD is mobilizing resources and providing basic services for the Mystic Valley area’s low-income residents,” he says. “We have been on the ground with Fuel Assistance, Housing Services & Homelessness Assistance and Head Start for almost a year now. We want to reach out and make sure people in need in this region know that ABCD is here to help […]

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El Potro Mexican Bar and Grill gallops into Malden

Shopping local this holiday season? Check out Malden’s newest restaurant, El Potro Mexican Bar and Grill. Armed with several locations in the region including Somerville and Lowell, Malden’s El Potro is the largest venue of the three and is located at 156 Highland Ave. For the record, the restaurant’s name means “pony” in Spanish. “We want to become a part of the fabric of Malden,” El Potro’s owner Elias Interiano said in a City of Malden press release. “We look forward to getting to know the community and becoming a destination spot for families and friends.” Owners:  Elias and Joana Interiano Cuisine:  Authentic Mexican and Central American Opened:  September 15 in honor of Mexico’s Independence Day Music:  Mariachi from the band, Mariachi Estampa de America translated “Sounds of the Americas” Locations:  Malden, Somerville and Lowell Address:  156 Highland Ave., Malden Hours:  Sunday thru Wednesday 11 a.m – 10 p.m.; Thursday thru Saturday 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. Phone:  781-605-3120 Website:  elpotromexicangrill.com      

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New drone shop HeliDirect takes off in Malden

Remote helicopters taking flight in Malden? Yep, the drone craze has landed at 730 Eastern Ave. According to the City of Malden’s website, the new electronics shop called HeliDirect opened earlier this year. “HeliDirect President and CEO Sam Minh Le is a premier e-retailer for hobby-class and remote control helicopter and multi-rotor products, parts and accessories,” reported the City of Malden. “The engineering team and advisors for the business are MIT alumni. Many management and staff members are remote control helicopter and multi-rotor pilots and maintain a commitment to providing the best products and support in the industry.” Owner:  Minh Le, Malden resident Opened:  Retail store on July 15, 2015.  Began online sales in 2005 with mini-helicopters and in 2012 added drones. Products:  Mini-helicopters and DJI brand drones Expertise:  Technical support, repair service, before-and-after sales services Services:  Offering moderate, non-warranty, in-house repair services, fast shipping Location:  730 Eastern Ave., Malden, MA Hours:  Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Phone:  877-439-4354 Website:  HeliDirect.com Below is a video segment […]

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GUEST POST: The Malden River finally gets “friended”

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 […]

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Special Olympic athletes strike gold at the lanes and in life

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 […]

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

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 […]

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

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 […]

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When we are silent about domestic violence it thrives

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 […]

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

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 […]

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The six finalists for Malden Reads 2016

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 […]