Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 35, No. 8 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net BLIZZARD of 2026: Powerful Nor’easter brings Malden to standstill, dumps 20 inches of snow Storm, aftermath closes schools for 2 days, causes treacherous travel conditions By Steve Freker A powerful Nor’easter that attacked the entire Eastern Seaboard — from Maine through the Mid-Atlantic states — lived up to its billing and earned its rightful name, “The Blizzard of 2026.” The blizzard raged for nearly 24 hours, from late Sunday night through early Monday evening, just about 21 hours. In the Advocate readership area of Everett, Malden, Revere and Saugus, the storm brought one to three inches of snow per hour, at times, with substantial snowfalls from 16-20 inches in the four comBLIZZARD | SEE PAGE 7 S tate Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Mass., 5th Middlesex) anA view all the way down Adams Street in Malden’s Edgeworth neighborhood gives a good glimpse of how difficult it might be to navigate side streets in the region. Good thing it’s a one-way! (Advocate Photo) Local state Rep. Lipper-Garabedian announces candidacy for soon-to-be-open Fifth District State Senate Has represented 32nd Middlesex in Mass. House since 2020, which includes Melrose, parts of Malden & Wakefield By Steve Freker A candidate — and familiar face — has emerged for the soon-to-be-open Fifth District state Senate seat. State Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, D-Melrose, 32nd Middlesex, announced Wednesday she is running for State Senate for the 5th Middlesex District. The announcement came just a day after six-term state Sen. Jason Lewis, D-5th Middlesex SENATE | SEE PAGE 4 Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian nounced Monday he would not seek reelection to a seventh term in this fall’s state election. Senator Lewis is regarded as one of the most well-known and influential members of the Massachusetts State Senate whose political achievements have run the gamut from wage and health legislation to landmark education laws and infrastructure improvements. He has represented the city of Malden and five other communities that comprise the Fifth Middlesex District for the past 12 years, after winning a close final election over Melrose Republican Monica Medeiros in 2014. In addition to Malden — the largest community in the Fifth Middlesex — Senator Lewis also represents the city of Melrose and the towns of Stoneham, Reading and Wakefield and about half of Winchester (precincts 1, 2, 3 and 8). Senator Lewis announced his decision to not seek reelection this fall in a letter to constituents published on his personal website (senatorjasonlewis. com) and released to the media on Monday. “After almost 12 years of proudly representing the Fifth Middlesex District, I have made the difficult decision not to run for re-election to the state Senate this year,” Senator Lewis stated in the letter. “Serving in the Senate and previously in the House of Representatives has been a great privilege. I am truly grateful to the voters who placed their faith in me in numerPublished Every Friday 617-387-2200 Friday, February 27, 2026 BREAKING NEWS: Malden State Sen. Jason Lewis will not seek reelection this fall Longtime pol represented local Fifth District for 12 years, has spearheaded landmark legislation in education, health, wages By Steve Freker State Senator Jason Lewis ous elections.” Senator Lewis has spearheaded numerous, high-profile State House initiatives, some of which have been regarded as landmark legislation, such as the Student Opportunity Act of 2019, legislation to ensure that every child in Massachusetts has access to a high-quality public education, and the Fair Share Amendment of 2022, also known as “the millionaires’ tax,” to support transportation and public education; as well as socially progressive initiatives, such as universal paid family and medical leave and increasing the minimum wage. He touched on these and other legislative accomplishments, such as “strengthening early education and childcare, and Alzheimer’s treatment—[legislation that has] improved the lives of my constituents and residents across the Commonwealth.” “I have also been able to partner with community groups to pursue exciting local projNEWS | SEE PAGE 5
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