Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 35, No. 7 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting, Expanding Access to Behavioral Healthcare Across Greater Boston 617-387-2200 Friday, February 20, 2026 STATE CHAMP! Malden High 9th grader wins State Championship in 300-meter dash Khadijah Diagne sets Division 2 Meet Record with a time of 38.25 seconds; runs in ‘Meet of Champions’ this week for ‘Best in Mass.’ By Steve Freker U Pictured from left: State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian; State Representative and Chair of the Healthcare Finance Committee John Lawn (rear); Representative Paul Donato; Dr. Robbie Goldstein, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner (rear); State Senator Jason Lewis; Dr. Brent Forester, Chief and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Tufts Medical Center and Director of Behavioral Health, Tufts Medicine; Malden City Councilor Amanda Linehan; Malden Mayor Gary Christenson; Tufts Medicine President and CEO Michael Dandorph; Acadia Healthcare CEO Debbie Osteen; and Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital CEO Jameson Pinette. Special to The Advocate M ayor Gary Christenson, City Council President Amanda Linehan and members of the Malden Legislative Delegation assisted in the Tufts Medicine Behavioral Health Hospital’s official ribbon-cutting, marking the upcoming opening of the new state-of-the-art, 144-bed behavioral health hospital designed to transform access to high-quality, compassionate mental health care in the Greater Boston area. Located at 100 Hospital Road in Malden, the hospital will be operated by a joint venture between Tufts Medicine and Acadia Healthcare that builds on a shared commitment to meeting the growing behavioral health needs of communities across Massachusetts. The hospital anticipates opening by the CELEBRATES | SEE PAGE 3 City of Malden receives $500,000 from MassDOT for street improvements Special to The Advocate T he City of Malden has been awarded $500,000 by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Complete Streets Funding Program for improvements to Lebanon Street and the intersection of Main Street, Eastern Avenue and Madison Street. The improvements will coincide with the City’s routine Chapter 90 paving schedule and are meant to enhance safety and efficiency for all road users. The funding was secured by the City’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, which has brought in more than $37 million in grant funding since July 2021, including $15 million in fiscal year 2025. “This is yet another example of our City working smarter to make vital infrastructure upgrades in a tight fiscal environment,” said Mayor Gary Christenson. “Both Lebanon Street and the intersection of Main, Eastern, and Madison are goIMPROVEMENTS | SEE PAGE 8 S ncharted waters? No problem… and she doesn’t even need a compass or a map! She will just keep doing what she’s been doing all season long: winning! Malden High School freshman Class of 2029 runner Khadjiah Diagne is a State Champion! A firstyear competitive runner, Khadijah has been setting up events and then knocking them down like bowling pins with record-setting victories. On Thursday, FebCHAMP | SEE PAGE 9 SHE’S THE STATE CHAMP! Malden High School State Champion (300M Dash) Khadijah Diagne (left) was congratulated in the hall outside of the lunch area by MHS Principal Chris Mastrangelo (right) this week. (Courtesy/Malden High School) ~ Excellence in the Malden Public Schools ~ MPS Director of Guidance honored as ‘Mass. State Administrator of Year’ Erin Craven honored by the Mass. School Counselors Association By Steve Freker chool counseling has certainly evolved over the years, from once serving as simply the professional that helps student pick their classes and then assisting a soon-to-be high school alumnus on a path to pursue after high school. In a 20-year career as a school counseling professional — the past seven years as Malden Public Schools Director of School Counseling, Testing & Academic Support — Erin Craven has been SCHOOLS | SEE PAGE 8 Malden Public Schools Director of School Counseling, Testing and Academic Support Erin Craven has been selected to receive the “Administrator of the Year” award from the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA). (Courtesy/MHS Blue and Gold/ Chelmie Hyppolite Photo)
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