Your Local News, Sports & More! Scan & Subscribe to Advocate News Online! Vol. 35, No. 40 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Malden students show impressive gains in state-monitored ACCESS testing results Malden Public Schools ahead of peer districts, state average for English Learner proficiency By Steve Freker T hey delivered some of the best news possible Monday night, especially considering the status of the district as the most culturally diverse in the state. “Across all grades, grades 6-8 and grades 1-5, particularly, Malden students consistently outperformed the state and peer district average,” Malden Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Komal Bhasin said Monday night, referencing the annual ACCESS testing for Malden’s English Learner (EL) students. That information was prominently displayed on a slide deck at Monday’s regular Malden School Committee meeting. ACCESS | SEE PAGE 5 617-387-2200 Friday, October 9, 2026 Malden City Council approves zoning change which will allow ‘cottage kitchens’ Local residents will be able to operate specific food-provider businesses out of their homes By Steve Freker A n initiative supported by Councillor-at-Large Michelle Luong and City Council President Amanda Linehan that effects an ordinance change which will allow Malden residents to operate residential food provider “cottage kitchens” was formally approved by the full Council by a unanimous vote. Via a zoning change supported by the Council vote, an ordinance will allow retail residential kitchens beginning January 1, 2027. Residents will be allowed to prepare CHANGE | SEE PAGE 6 From left: Malden School Committee Vice Chair Keith Bernard (Ward 7), Mayor and Chairperson Gary Christenson and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Timothy Sippel listen as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Komal Bhasin leads a presentation at Monday’s meeting. (Advocate Photo) Malden man a big $236K winner in new Mass Lottery game ‘The Lamp’ Special to the Advocate A Malden resident was a big winner in one of the Mass Lottery’s newest games. Joseph Bulla, of Malden, won a $236,122 prize on a $10 bet playing the Mass Lottery’s new “The Lamp” online game. Bulla claimed the big prize at the Lottery’s headquarters and plans to put the winnings toward his daughter’s education. “The Lamp” is an online-only eInstant game available through Mass Lottery Online. The game features a progressive jackpot, meaning the value of the top LOTTERY | SEE PAGE 3 Malden resident Joseph Bulla won $236,122 on a $10 bet with the Mass Lottery’s new online game, “The Lamp.” (Courtesy/Mass. State Lottery) Amanda Linehan City Council President New community-led riverfront park opens in Malden! Families are pictured enjoying the outdoors at the new Malden River Works Park field. Special to The Advocate T he Malden River Works (MRW) team, the Friends of the Malden River, the City of Malden, and the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) were excited to announce the grand opening of Malden River Works Park. This first-ever riverfront park in Malden was created by a coalition of community leaders of color, environmental advocates, and government stakePARK | SEE PAGE 7
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