Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, Fabruary 4, 2022 BLIZZARD | FROM PAGE 1 28, and continued until the early evening hours Saturday, took until Monday to clean up here in Malden and in other surrounding communities. The Malden Public Schools were closed on Monday, the city’s second public school “snow day” of the year, as announced by Mayor Gary Christenson and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ligia Noriega Murphy. The school closure was a combination of the city’s policy of allowing the school parking lots to be used as a safe haven for residents without driveway access and to allow enough time to completely prepare the areas in and around Malden’s seven school buildings for safe access. The use of the school parking lots is a valuable took in getting vehicles off the road so Malden Department of Public Works (DPW) and privately hired plows can adequately plow the streets. Though it was not exactly the birthday gift he was expecting, Malden DPW Director Bob Knox – a veteran of many snowstorms, large and small, in his years with the department as the longtime city “snow boss” – had praise for his crew. “Everyone worked very hard and very long to keep the roads cleared and safe for our residents and business owners,” Knox said, noting that Malden, like nearly every community in Massachusetts, was dealing with a shortage of available snowplow operators that are customarily hired from the private sector to complement the City of Malden workers. “We were able to get through it, but it does tend to be more difficult a job when there are fewer outside operators to bring in,” Knox added. Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, as is his custom, did join Knox on some of the snowplowDespite a regional shortage of snowplow drivers, the Malden DPW did a tremendous job clearing out from a blizzard over this past weekend. On Saturday the blizzard dumped 20 inches of snow on Malden and a record-tying 23.6 inches in Boston. (Courtesy Photo) Some cars still hadn’t been cleaned off as of Sunday afternoon. A snowman was built outside of Pearl Street Station Restaurant. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Snow blowers pushed the snow. ing routes around the city on Saturday and commended the DPW and others for their work, especially considering the speed and magnitude of the snow. At the height of the storm, the snow came at three to four inches per hour, with Malden settling in with 20 inches of snow, all told. In Boston, the 23.6 inches of snow received at Logan Airport tied a single-day record for January 29 in all-time history. The “jackpot” community in Massachusetts was Stoughton, which topped the state’s snowfall with 30.9 inches. City officials reported that not many vehicles were towed, as the majority of residents cooperated and adhered to the policies. Another storm was forecast to hit the region today, but the latest forecast was for three to five inches of snow changing to a mix of freezing rain. Hearts, Hugs & Hope: An Alzheimer’s Support Group at Forestdale Park F ebruary 24, 2022, 5:00 pm, at Forestdale Park Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, 341 Forest Street, Malden. Our support group is now meeting in person at Forestdale Park! Dealing with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia isn't easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you're going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. RSVP to 781-333-8903 or reception@forestdalepark.com.
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