Maldden alld a Vol. 32, No. 19 den AADD -FREEHave a Safe & Happy Mother's Day! CTE CAT AT www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Malden’s Exilhomme receives Black Excellence on the Hill Award Malden High School educator and football head coach cited by state legislature’s Black and Latino Caucus 617-387-2200 I E Friday, May 12, 2023 EDITORIAL: It is time to truly stand up for Malden’s kids and complete the Roosevelt Park Rehabilitation Project t is a simple request with an obvious solution. The city of Malden has a large, diverse and growing population which includes a considerable percentage of young people who yearn to learn, play and compete in a variety of athletic endeavors. Whether it is on an instructional basis, or in competition against other youth, they want to be on the fi eld. Their parents and caregivers want them to be on the fi eld as well. But at present, there is simply not enough accessible fi eld space in the Malden community to accommodate their needs and desires adequately. Whether they are at the youth sports level to the high school teams, their opportunities to participate in physical activity are diminished and reduced for this very reason. Consider this. Since the concept of rehabilitating Roosevelt Park on Salem Street by completely renovating the entire parcel and installing a state-of-the-art synthetic turf playing surface was fi rst suggested – way back in 2010 – an entire generation of young people, from preschool to high school graduation, 13 years total, has been denied those opportunities. Due to delays and challenges to the Roosevelt Park Rehabilitation Project, which was reintroduced in 2018, this year's high school graduating class of 2023 has gone their entire four years of secondary education and more without access to the park with its full use. These delays have come to a project which has been delayed due to a myriad of regulatory challenges and allegations which PARK | SEE PAGE 4 City to Honor Nations Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day Advocate Staff Report P lease join the Malden community as we remember and honor the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifi ce for our Nation’s freedom on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, at 10 a.m. at Forest Dale Cemetery. The Ceremony will include Above, Black Excellence Award recipient Witche Exilhomme (left) is shown in his Malden High classroom with Malden Mayor Gary Christenson (right) and Malden Recreation Coordinator Joe Levine (center). By Steve Freker M alden’s Witche Exilhomme has been named a recipient of the 2023 Black Excellence on the Hill Award. The award recognizes black community leaders who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to improve their communities and the Commonwealth. Exilhomme, a longtime Malden resident who is a 2012 Malden High School graduate, also is in his third year as Football Head Coach at his alma mater, as well as serving as an educator in the History Department at MHS. The former three-sport MHS standout was nominated for the award by Malden State Representative Steve Ultrino (D-33rd Middlesex). The Black and Latino Legislative Caucus has bestowed the award on worthy nominees who, like Exilhomme, have made signifi cant impact on their communities. Exilhomme recently joined other awardees from across the state at a ceremony held at the State House attended by Rep. Ultrino and other members of the Malden state legislative delegation. Exilhomme also was recognized in his hometown in an appreciation gathering on Friday at Malden High School, his “base of operations.” At that gathering, Malden High School Principal Chris Mastrangelo read the official citation from the state House of Representatives – signed by House Speaker Ronald Mariano – recognizing Exilhomme. It read: “Be it hereby known to all that the Massachusetts House of RepresentaAWARD | SEE PAGE 10 several unveilings. The fi rst will be of a plaque in honor of Malden Marine Lance Corporal Edward M. Garvin. Then there will be the dedication of two life-size bronze statues to honor all the Memorial Day men and women who served during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the many other military operHONOR | SEE PAGE 4
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