Maldden alld a Vol. 32, No. 4 den AADD -FREEThe New Advocate Online: www.advocatenews.net CT AT 617-387-2200 www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Maplewood Square Community Visioning Process Will Begin February 4th with the Assistance of Boston University’s Metrobridge Program Special to Th e Advocate T he Chinese Culture Connection (CCC) held its 14th annuA bus is shown waiting on a passenger in Maplewood Square. Special to Th e Advocate T he Committee on the Future of Maplewood Square led by Ward 6 City Councillor Stephen Winslow will hold a series of community forums beginning in February that seek to build a consensus vision for Maplewood Square. The fi rst community forum will be held on Saturday February 4, 2023 starting at the Salemwood School cafeteria. The forum will begin with a 10 AM site walk to Maplewood Square that will be followed with an 11 AM community discussion in the Salemwood Cafeteria. The forums will seek community suggestions for actions to: (1) support small businesses, (2) attract more customers, (3) preserve and enhance the historic, walkable character of the Square, (4) improve the transportation infrastructure to ease congestion and move buses more effi ciently, (5) address parking needs, (6) keep and/or provide aff ordable housing in and around Maplewood Square and (7) enhance public space in the Square. Residents fi rst raised many of these action areas during a community forum held in July of 2021. The Future of Maplewood Square Committee has recruited the Boston University Metrobridge Program to assist with the community visioning forums. MetroBridge enlists BU students and faculty as allies in addressing real-world urban issues that municipalities and community organizations face. MetroBridge provides a win-win solution by providing tailored expertise and research support to under-resourced communities, while simultaneously providing real-world learning experiences to students from various disciplines to prepare them for their future careers. MetroBridge students and faculty will help run each forum, collect additional information and conduct research helpful to guide the visioning process and will ultimately present the results of their study to the community. MetroBridge has successfully worked with cities through out Eastern Massachusetts including Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Framingham, Revere and Winthrop. Additional forums will be held on Monday, February 27 at 7 PM in the Salemwood School Cafeteria and on Monday, May 1 at 7 PM in the Salemwood School Auditorium. The Future of Maplewood Square Committee began its work in 2021 and organized the fi rst annual “Mayplewood Fest” in May of 2022 with the assistance of Mayor Gary Christenson’s Offi ce. Committee members include Ward 6 City Councillor Stephen Winslow who serves as Chair, Ward 5 Councillor and current City Council President Barbara Murphy and Councillor-At-Large Carey McDonald as well as residents and business members. For further information please contact Ward 6 City Councillor Stephen Winslow at 781-6618032 or swinslow@cityofmalden.org. al Lunar New Year Celebration at Malden High School on January 14. For the Asian community in Malden, this was a momentous occasion. The event was fi nally presented in person after three years, bringing together hundreds of local residents and businesses of diverse cultural backgrounds. A spectacular lion dance performance by Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy set the fesOCATE E Friday, January 27, 2023 Lunar New Year in Malden marked with joy and Chinese cultural flair CCC Executive Director Mei Hung delivered the opening remarks, and Mayor Gary Christenson extended warm greetings. tive mood, and CCC Executive Director Mei Hung was joined by Malden Mayor Gary Christenson to officially open the event. The nearly four-hour celebration featured over 20 performing groups and individuals from across Greater Boston. A major highlight was Thousand Hands Guanyin, a largescale dance performed by the Boston Chinese United Dance Group, whose members range in age from eight to 80. Together, they harnessed the power of NEW YEAR | SEE PAGE 9 Winter Parking Restrictions to Begin February 1st Advocate Staff Report U p until a few years ago, the City of Malden had always begun winter parking restrictions on November 1st, regardless of weather. City of Malden winter parking restrictions involve alternating year to year with one sided parking. As the thought went, if residents began parking on one side of the street on November 1st, and the city enforced the same through ticketing, by the time the fi rst real storm hit, the city would have signifi cant compliance in eff ect. While the system achieved the compliance goal, it came at great cost to residents in the form of parking tickets, with the City having to explain often why ‘winter parking’ regulations were in eff ect on a 60-dePARKING | SEE PAGE 8 $4.20 GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602
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