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Your Local News, Sports & Information Online! Scan and Subscribe! Vol. 34, No. 41 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday CITY COUNCIL: Tough talk by Finance Committee, city officials on tax override Even if Prop. 2/12 override passes, cuts in city personnel, services still likely, all agree By Steve Freker A s he recited the projected numbers, department by department, the air seemed to leave the room quicker with each digit, finally getting to the last one. When he added them up, he might as well have been swinging a sledgehammer. "Yes, about 60," Malden City Controller Chuck Ranaghan told Finance Committee chairperson Carey McDonald, when asked directly how many municipal jobs were projected to be on the chopping block if local voters ultimately declined to approve a proposed Proposition 2 1/2 property tax override. "That is sobering news, for sure," Councillor at large McDonald said, after Ranaghan gave a scenario of potentiakl force reductions in the Malden Police Department, Malden Fire Department, Malden Public Library staff, Department of Public Works and general city staff. The Malden City Council's Finance Committee convened Tuesday night for the first time since last week's historic full TAX | SEE PAGE 13 Firefighters battle triple-decker home blaze; family displaced By The Advocate O n Friday, October 3, 2025, Malden firefighters responded to a three-alarm fire at a multifamily residence at 88 Fairmont St. While no serious civilian injuries were reported, one firefighter was hospitalized with minor injuries, likely from smoke inhalation. The three-story building sustained heavy damage, displacing multiple residents. Malden Firefighters were dispatched at around 4:19 p.m. to 88 Fairmont St. Upon arrival, crews found heavy fire on all three floors of the triple-decker home. Due to the deteriorating conditions, firefighters initially shifted to a defensive, exterior-only operation before reentering the building. The fire extended to a neighboring home, causing minor roof damage, before it was extinguished. Assistant Fire Chief Leonard Dunn noted that homes in the area BLAZE | SEE PAGE 8 A firefighter is shown exiting to the ladder from inside the Fairmont Street home. W hen Massachusetts voters passed Proposition 2 1/2, placing a 2 1/2 percent limit on the amount a community could raise its property tax levy amount each calendar year, it was designed to make the taxes predictable on an annual basis. When it went into effect in 1982, there was a backlash of layoffs and other budget cuts not seen before in Malden and many communities across Massachusetts. At last week’s Malden City Council meeting, Mayor Gary Christenson made history when he formally requested the support of the City Council in placing a Proposition 2 1/2 Override question on the ballot in a future Special Election. The Mayor and members of his administrative team presented a case for an override request of $5.4 million from Malden taxpayers, being sought to fund a structural deficit estimated at $8.4 million in the present FY26 municipal budget. With another $3 million forecast to be saved by the City of Malden enrolling in a new and different group health care plan, a successful tax override of $5.4 million would ensure the structural budget gap would be filled, just to maintain city services until the end of this fiscal year, which concludes on June 30, 2026. At Tuesday night’s Malden City Council Finance Committee meeting, the stark news presented at the jam-packed Council Chamber last week turned even more grim. The message from city officials and confirmed by City Councillors was clear: This is not a drill. Malden is in deep financial trouble, its money woes are indeed very real. Malden’s chief financial officer, City Controller Chuck Ranaghan, told City Councillors on Tuesday night that even with the $8.4 million — if it is raised from health care savings and an override — there would EDITORIAL | SEE PAGE 3 617-387-2200 Friday, October 10, 2025 EDITORIAL: This is NOT a drill: Malden’s $$$ woes are real City officials paint grim picture in plea for Prop. 2 1/2 Override

Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Malden legislators approve $234M to support fiscally strained hospitals and community health centers Special to The Advocate S tate Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steven Ultrino and Kate Lipper-Garabedian joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to enact a supplemental budget bill that prioritizes care for the state’s most vulnerable populations by strategically targeting $234 million to support fiscally strained hospitals and community health centers. The legislation addresses a widening funding gap in the Health Safety Net program, which pays acute care hospitals and community health centers for Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 necessary medical care for low-income, uninsured and underinsured Massachusetts residents. The supplemental budget bill was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on September 22, 2025. Reckless federal policies and funding shortfalls have exacerbated the fiscal strain on these vital institutions that serve people most in need, but this funding will provide critical relief to hospitals and community health centers, distributing aid based on criteria that directs funding to vulnerable populations most in need of assistance. “While chaotic policies from the Trump administration put our American public health system at risk, Massachusetts stands firm in our support of science-based health policy and our financial support of hospitals and community health centers,” said Senator Lewis. “This funding will provide critical services to those who need it the most as rising healthcare costs continue to strain our communities and healthcare institutions.” “The approval of $234 million in funding is a critical lifeline for our hospitals and community health centers,” said House Second Assistant Majority Leader Donato. “These facilities are pillars of our healthcare system, providing essential services to our most vulnerable residents. By investing in them, we are safeguarding access to care and strengthening public health in Malden.” “Our community hospitals and health centers are on the front lines of care, serving residents who too often have nowhere else to turn,” said Representative Ultrino, who is House Chairperson of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management. “By providing relief from an evolving fiscal strain, we are sending a clear message: Massachusetts will continue to support access to care while strengthening the safety net for our most Jason Lewis State Senator Steven Ultrino State Representative Paul Donato State Representative vulnerable neighbors.” “This legislation directs key investments to aid local hospitals and community health centers across Massachusetts that provide quality care to all, contrastKate Lipper-Garabedian State Representative ing the Trump administration’s actions to defund our public health systems,” said Representative Lipper-Garabedian, who is Chairperson of the House Committee on Ethics. “Community hospitals like MelroseWakefield are bedrocks in their communities, and I’m glad that this legislation directs an additional $792,534 into the 32nd Middlesex District, reflecting the Commonwealth’s longstanding commitment to ensuring everyone has access to affordable health care.” The bill allocates $199 million for eligible high public payer acute care hospitals across the Commonwealth through an approach that maximizes federal financial reimbursements, stabilizes the Health Safety Net Trust Fund and makes targeted payments to hospitals to maximize the impact of taxpayer dollars. An additional $35 million will be used to relieve community health centers, which continue to support the Commonwealth’s greatest share of vulnerable populations while facing federal funding delays, Medicaid cuts and rising pharmaceutical and other medical costs.

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 ~ Guest OP-ED ~ Page 3 When is a News Source not a News Source By Craig Spadafora W ith the decline in traditional media sources, there has come an increase in reliance on various online platforms for news and information.It has for the most part brought far more options to the masses to stay up to date, but it’s not without its challenges. While traditional news sources adhere to codes of conduct and when it comes to FCC regulated stations, even more scrutiny, Facebook ‘news’ sources can become the wild wild west.In Malden, we have Malden News Network, or as one prominent Maldonian put it, the Malden Snews (Snooze) Network for its rambling incoherent style of reporting. The Snews as I’ll refer to it advertises itself as “News for Maldonians, by Maldonians” while extoling the virtues of fair reporting.The site’s content is driven by four individuals, each a failed candidate for local office, in some cases multiple losing campaigns.The site has turned into a political advertising site for the candidates favored by those in charge, begging the question, is it ethical for a site to advertise itself as “news” and “fair reporting” while reporting editorial hit piece after hit piece unrestricted by the truth aimed at damaging those they don’t support politically.Many have drawn parallels to the Everett Leader Herald and the $1.1 million dollar settlement for making up news stories.That case set a clear expectation that all news sources, not just the big outlets, are expected to tell the truth or risk personal bankruptcy. Snews, pay attention. Political campaigns are reEDITORIAL | FROM PAGE 1 still have to be cuts made. These cuts in both personnel and other budget line items would be necessary, he said, in this year’s FY26 budget, with more cuts expected when the next city budget, FY27 (covering July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027) is formulated. City services would be diminished in many departments, he said, and quired to report in kind contributions on campaign finance reports, which according to campaign finance laws includes free advertising.Is reporting done in coordination with a campaign in an attempt to portray that candidate in a positive light advertising?At worst, ethical journalism calls for that to be disclosed so that the reader knows what they are reading is in fact an editorial.Throughout the trash strike there were many complaints throughout the community that there were an awful lot of coincidences whereby Snews Network and their favored candidate were at the right place at the right time.This type of coordinate activity, if the allegations are true, really hurts those news sources who are striving to report fair and balanced news. Recently a Maldonian pointed out something to me that highlighted how clear the motives are that are at play.During the trash strike, the Snews and its contributors were vocal that the City should cancel the contract and bring in a new vendor, even after the City had indicated that doing so would cost over $2 million more per year at a time the city could least afford it.As soon as the strike ended, Snews ditched that narrative and shifted to complaining about the City wasting money.You can’t make this up. On a personal level, I was most recently a victim of the Snews Smear as it has become known across Malden.Snews reported that I was one of the key drivers behind the proposition 2 ½ proposal. This is a flat out, bold-faced, made-up lie meant to hurt me in my at large race he and all of the City Councillors who spoke at Tuesday’s twohour-plus committee meeting agreed that discussions and follow-up actions forthcoming in the near future “will be painful.” There is no doubt, when talking about career city employees potentially losing their jobs or jeopardizing the quality and quantity of city services, that prophecy is correct. against the Snews preferred candidate KCH.When I confronted the lead Snewser, he simply said ‘that’s what I was told’.Now there’s some solid reporting for ya.Aside from being a lie about me, this lead Snewser left out the fact that I had voted against the budget because of concerns for overspending, while the leading Snews beneficiary KCH shepherded the budget through as Vice Chair of Finance without so much as an attempt to bring spending in line.In fact, a review of the minutes from the four meetings held by the Committee KCH vice chairs reports zero comments, contributions or concerns by KCH.Zero.I, on the other hand, am on the record as needing to see increased revenue and cuts before an override should be considered.All of this somehow escaped reporting by the Snews.Maybe there is more checking being done on this than ‘that’s what I was told’? Remember, news is news, editorials are opinions, and campaigns are campaigns.When you smash them all together in Malden you get the Malden Snews Network! (Note: Craig Spadafora is a Malden City Councillor-At-Large) If We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available

Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 SCHOOL COMMITTEE: Malden Public Schools Accountability Report outlined at Mondy meeting School Committee approves MHS future trip to Costa Rica; announces MPS AI Community Forums through Technology Committee By Steve Freker T here was an iconic 1980s television commercial for Wendy’s burgers where the familiar refrain was always, “Where’s the beef?” Following an initial presentation on the Malden Public Schools Accountability Report from the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Komal Bhasin, a Malden School Committee member had a different take. “Where’s the math?” said Ward 5 member Kathleen Hortie, in reference to the latest Grade 10 results from Malden High School. “I sat here in April and asked, along with Vice Chair [Jennifer] Spadafora what was being done to improve our mathematics [instruction]. We didn’t think it was enough and now we have this.” Ward 5’s Hortie was referring to Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results from Grade 10 students, which DESE reported has decreased in achievement numbers. Malden was among the 91% of all districts statewide that showed a decrease in mathematics MCAS test scores. Hortie said that there was not a separate Director for mathematics budgeted in the Malden Public Schools for FY26, this school year. “We have a STEM director, one of them, not two, and no director for math.” The acronym STEM represents Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Malden has one STEM director for grades K-12 who has been in place since July 1. Nearly all of the Gateway Cities like Malden, Everett, Revere, Chelsea and others have Directors 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! with the same title, STEM Director, though Everett has a Mathematics Director for Grades K-8. On the fact that Malden does not have a Director of Mathematics, and the 2025 MCAS mathematics results, Ward 5’s Hortie continued, “I have two children who attend Malden High School and that’s not what I want for them.” “I have neighbors who have children in grades 6, 7 and 8 and when they say ‘I don’t know about Malden High,’ I can’t say to them ’everything is great,’“ said School Committee member Hortie. Assistant Superintendent Bhasin responded to the School Committee member’s remarks by reiterating that many steps were already taken and in place to support and expand instruction in mathematics at Malden High School. Included were more math coaches (teacher assistants), increased instructional time with the elimination of 99% of the “Direct study” periods at Malden High School and a new Director of Intervention and Support Christina Balter-Scarlatos, who is also focusing on mathematics as well. The intervention, Asst. Superintendent Bhasin reported, included “greater allocation of central office time to math and science support than in prior years.” Also included in the additional focus on math and science, according to Asst. Superintendent Bhasin are: — A more consistent approach to intervention — Reallocation of grant funds to hire more math assistants — Targeted professional learning aligned to implementation of high school math curriculum — Grant-funded Open Sciwww.810bargrille.com ence-Ed curriculum training opportunities The MCAS results were from 10th graders only from the spring of 2025, about 400 students of the 1,870 at Malden High School in all. Malden was Malden High School educator Shauna Campbell Valade saw her Tornado Travelers trip to Costa Rica in spring 2028 receive unanimous approval on Monday night. (Malden Public Schools Photo) among the state leaders in attendance for the MCAS testing; between 98-99% of all who were required to take the test did fulfill the requirement. One factor that was not mentioned at the meeting Tuesday was that this was the first time in 31 years that a passing score in MCAS testing was not required for eventual high school graduation. A number of reports indicate this might have been a factor in the massive number of districts, 91%, which showed a decrease in scores. Another part of the DESE report had some very favorable news for the Malden Public Schools: The ACCESS Testing scores, which is testing 100% taken by English Learners, who make up between 25-30% of the Malden High population. DESE reported that across the board, at Malden High and in all grade levels, ACCESS Testing showed “significant growth, well beyond peer district and state trends.” Malden School Committee approves Tornado Travelers trip to Costa Rica Malden High School educator Shauna Campbell Valade has been organizing the Tornado Travelers Club for the past nine years, supervising many trips involving hundreds of local students. On Monday night, the Malden School Committee approved what is expected to be another exciting trip, this time in the spring of 2028 to the country of Costa Rica. Ward 4 School Committee member Elizabeth Hortie expressed her endorsement for the trip, noting her own two children will be attending this trip and that she has also attended parent informational meetings on this trip. School Committee Vice Chairperson Jennifer Spadafora also endorsed the trip after receiving assurance it would be covered by trip insurance up to one year for full refund if it had to be cancelled. “We appreciate all the time and commitment you put into this program,” Vice Chair Spadafora said. The School Committee approved the Tornado Travelers trip to Costa Rica by a unanimous vote. Malden Public Schools Community Forums on AI set for October 21 and October 27 Ward 6 School Committee member Joseph Gray announced at Monday’s meeting that the Technology Committee he chairs is hosting two Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community Forums in the coming weeks. According to Ward 6’s Gray, the meetings will encompass: — An Overview of Malden’s use of Instructional Technology — Introduction to AI — Opportunities for sharing and discussion The Community Forums are set for: — Tuesday, October 21, an in-person meeting at the Beebe School, 556 Pleasant St., from 6:00-7:30 p.m. — Monday, October 27, Virtual Zoom Meeting from 6:007:30 p.m. Link address: bit. ly/4q4upxw.

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 5 EDITORIAL: MCAS still being used as a standard bearer, but minus a true performance incentive C onsider this scenario. Imagine running the iconic Boston Marathon and after conquering Heartbreak Hill and steaming into Kenmore Square — way ahead of the pack — and much to your dismay, there are no crowds waiting to cheer for you at the designated end of the race, not a soul. Further, there are no Roman-esque wreath crowns to be given to the first-place finishers, no trophies, basically no acknowledgement, period. Heck, there is not even a finish line anymore! But get this, runners’ times were still being recorded held up in comparison to times they had run in the past, and how they compared to their fellow runners that day. “What’s up with that?” one might ask. Against the timeworn adage, this scene seems like “No risk AND no reward.” Some might say this is the same fate that befell one of the most successful innovations and additions ever made to the Massachusetts public schools: the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). For the 31year run in this Commonwealth, a passing score in the English (ELA), Math and Science MCAS tests has been a mandatory requirement to be awarded a high school diploma. A lot has changed in less than a year when it comes to measuring academic performance by public school districts in Massachusetts. Call it “MCAS Rebellion” — what happened at the ballot box in Massachusetts in November 2024. Voters in our state voted nearly two to one, 59 percent to 41 percent, to end MCAS results as a graduation requirement. The most expensive ballot question battle in Massachusetts history cost $16.4 million spent on the winning side, nearly all of it — some $15.7 million — coming from the Massachusetts Teachers Association, about $134 for every one of its 117,000 members. Led by hefty donations by philanthropist Michael Bloomberg and Mass.-based charter school supporters, over $5 million was spent on the “Vote No” side of the ballot question seeking to keep the graduation requirement in place, which lost nearly a year ago. For many years, through several political administrations and numerous state secondary education Commissioners and other highly placed academic leaders, one shining light has been that Massachusetts has been either #1 or close to it — nationally — as an academic performer. This status has been determined through achievement on some national standardized testing platforms, but primarily, through evaluations of Massachusetts students’ performance on MCAS. That time looks to be ending sooner rather than later. Reason being? The true performance incentive locked into MCAS results for over 30 years has been abolished, and everyone knows it: students, parents and caregivers, all school personnel. So what happens now? Well, despite the graduation requirement piece gone by the wayside, the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is continuing to include MCAS testing results in its Accountability Report. Not only is this not fair to anyone involved, it is also not accurate. Since the November 2024 vote ending the MCAS graduation requirement, DESE has stated it would provide new graduation requirement guidance for school districts. Nearly a year later, the districts are still waiting. Malden Public Schools’ results were presented at Monday night’s School Committee meeting and, like in an estimated 91% of all 350-plus districts in the Commonwealth, they showed a decrease in previous results and little progress, especially at the high school level. Not a word was mentioned by anyone Monday night about the collateral damage to the newest MCAS results, caused by the abrupt removal of the most pertinent motivator for performance for the first time in over 30 years. Looks like another race that took away the finish line. Save the date! Malden Community Health Fest Family-friendly health fair M alden Community Health Fest is a family-friendly health fair that started last year in Malden, and this year it will take place in the spirit of National Health Education Week. Date: Saturday, October 25 (rain date, Sunday, October 26). Time: noon to 4 p.m. Location: Lincoln Commons, 333 Cross St., Malden. Over 20 vendors have confirmed so far. There will be local businesses, nonprofits and community groups, offering food, music, flea markets, face painting, balloons, a bouncy house, a touch-a-truck event courtesy of Cataldo Ambulance and valuable information from people who are looking out for the health of the community. The event is open to the public and free to attend. Malden Disabled American Veterans (Malden DAV) Chapter 85 was generous enough to seek and receive funding for the event from Malden’s new Community Connections grant program, which is funded by Malden’s surrounding community agreement with Encore Boston Harbor. This has allowed the event to be more accessible. Registration for all Malden-based entities is free, including businesses, this year. Vendors from outside Malden are also welcome for a nominal fee. Attending vendors and weather announcements can be found on the event’s Malden Community Health Fest - MA Facebook page. 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Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 ~ Malden Musings ~ The Robert S. McCarthy Jr. Conversation By Peter Levine R obert S. McCarthy Jr., he’s our man! If he can’t do it, nobody can! He’s your hardworking Ward 2 School Committee member hailing from one of the finest families to ever call Malden home. He bleeds Malden, Edgeworth, the Big A and family. Get to know him better with these words; 25 not so probing, not so hard-hitting questions to get the conversation started: 1. My full name is...Robert S. McCarthy Jr. 2. I am currently...Ward 2 School Committee member. 3. I am saving for...a new car. 4. My home is...in the Edgeworth section. 5. I love people who...are kind to each other. 6. Something I say a lot is...“Hey, how are ya?” 7. I consider myself to be... a hard worker. 8. I need to have...coffee in the morning. 9. My favorite movie of all time is...‘Miracle’ (1980 USA hockey team). 10. My all-time role model is... my dad. 11. I respect people who...tell the truth. 12. I am happy when...work gets done in a timely fashion. 13. I find (Dave Russo) funny/ hilarious! 14. I am named after...my pops. 15. I have...0 kids. 16. The farthest I’ve ever been from home is...Florida. 17. My special talents are...my interpersonal skills. 18. I have...0 pets. 19. I played sports as a youngster on...regional travel hockey teams. 20. Where would you most like to buy a one-way ticket to? Ireland! 21. What person living or deceased would you like to have dinner with? My grandfather Jack Glynn or Uncle Joe (McCarthy). My note: Uncle Joe was a We simply call them The Malden Brain Trust. Left to right: Robert S. McCarthy Jr., Robert S. McCarthy Sr. and Malden Police Officer and Original Son of Edgeworth Sal Gennetti. Ward 2 Councilor Paul “Hoss” Condon is seated. man I was lucky to know. 22. What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self? Work hard and stay humble! 23. What is the one thing you want to be remembered for? Kind person/hard worker. 24. Growing up in Malden, most admired or most inspirational mentor? Most admired, my grandfather, Jack Glynn! 25. Growing up, what was your Mid-grade Regular 2.83 3.37 3.44 $3.57 Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1978 - 2025 ULS Full Service $2.99 Order online at angelosoil.com favorite place to grab a slice of pizza or submarine sandwich? Big A! It is said in “Malden Musings”... • One of my favorite people of all time — Newland Street’s MaryAnn “Smitty” Smith — speaks shortly after attending a girls’ softball mini-reunion: “Malden was home to a thriving Women’s Softball League during the 1970s and 1980s, alongside a Men’s League, featuring exceptional athletes from the area. On warm summer nights, the atmosphere was lively, with spectators and friends invited to ‘grab a six pack and come watch some awesome softball.’ The league featured talented players from Malden and surrounding communities like Melrose, Everett, Medford, Wakefield, and more. Some of the women in the photos (on Facebook) played in the league, forming lasting connections and showcasing their remarkable skills. We played a tough, straightforward brand of softball, unencumbered by hair ribbons, makeup, or elaborate eye shadow. Yesterday’s lunch reunion was a delight, and it was wonderful to reconnect with everyone. Those were truly some of the best times of our lives, love you all.” • Another sad day in Malden history as Congregation Agudas Achim–Ezrath Israel bids adieu to their longtime home on Bryant Street for a new, smaller location on Florence. Mayor Gary Christenson, sexton Wayne Freedman and Rabbi Mark Newton made it official on (I believe) Sunday, August 31, as the Torah scrolls were carefully removed Be prepared before the next power outage. Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Receive a free 5-year warranty with qualifying purchase* - valued at $535. Call 866-852-0221 to schedule your free quote! FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 7 and packed for crosstown travel. Mazel Tov. • I ran into a fan of this column, one Denis Taylor, at City Hall last week. His dad was a bartender at the Highland Café. Thank you for the kind words, Denis, it is appreciated. More on the Taylors at a later date. • The IA Labor Day Road Race (5K Division) results continue... Al Macy finished 61st, Mayor Gary Christenson finished 62nd at 30.46 with 9.52 miles, Edgeworth’s Mike Scibelli finished 64th at 30.46 with 9.54 miles, Green Street’s Donny “Spidder” Lockhart came in 85th at 33.14, and Julie Galvin was 93rd with 34.33 miles. Great job, folks!! • Marvin Hoffman, 89, of Boynton Beach, Florida, formerly of Malden and Marblehead. According to his obit, Marvin had baseball skills, earning him an invite to a NY Yankees tryout. May his memory be a blessing. • I recently mentioned the exceptional pie that Joe Crowley and his outstanding crew pump out at Pisa Pizza. I can personally attest to that by the small cheese with onions and peppers, extra sauce I ordered last Friday night! Bafangool! It was SO good. Anyway, I may have given the impression that PP was the only joint in Malden serving great pie. My apologies if you got that impression. We are a city with many fine choices for good pizza. It would be criminal of me not to mention Pearl Street Restaurant and the 621 Tavern & Grille as two other places in M-Town that serve outstanding pie. Try them, you will not be disappointed! Not. One. Bit! • Many thanks to the Gordon Food Service truckdriver who was kind enough to move his monster truck for me in a timely fashion after boxing me in on Pleasant Street last Friday morning. So, I park across the street from the Granada Theatre then run across the street to play my number at Store 33/One Stop Mart (the same number I have been playing since 1978 with no luck so far, a story for another time). I returned within minutes to find a truck that stretched from the Granada almost to All Season’s Table neatly boxing me and about eight other cars in. The young man unloading with an electric pallet jack could not have been nicer and agreed to move the truck immediately. Thanks again, sir! I was in a hurry to go nowhere, but you made my day with your understanding and cooperation. • By the way, doncha just love the gentleman (proprietor?) who works the front counter at One Stop Mart? Good people, as we used to say down the “connah.” • Apropos of nothing... Happy 58th anniversary to the release of what many hail as one of the defining films of the 1960s, “In the Heat of the Night,” starring the incomparable Sidney Poitier alongside Rod Steiger. The film became one of my favorites the first time I witnessed, “They call me Mr. Tibbs!!” Gobsmacked I was as I watched this scene unfold — many years ago — on the third floor on Charles Street! Powerful words uttered in a vastly different world than today. The “slap heard round the world” cemented my lifelong love affair with this movie and Mr. Poitier. His presence, his strength and his ability to command truth through a single line forever tied me to this masterpiece, a film that spoke boldly to its time and still resonates powerfully today. • As Rocket J. Squirrel once said, “And now it’s time for another special feature” ...great call received last week in my role as Clerical Administrator in Ron “The Hoganator” Hogan’s Parking Department! The caller said there was an unwanted car parked in his parking lot at 302 North Main St. After I told him there is no NORTH Main Street in Malden, he questioned whether I know my job and the streets of Malden or not. I assured him I am familiar with Malden as a longtime resident, but he insisted that his car dealership is at 302 N Main St. and there was a car parked there illegally. Cue Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” as cow bells go off when he mentions a car dealership at 302 N Main St. I ask where exactly he is calling from, he says Mauldin, South Carolina! Seems he called information, they transferred him 947 miles away to Malden, Mass. We had a hearty shared laugh as I wished him well and good luck. FYI...Mauldin, S.C. has a population of 29,746, is 12 square miles, and its most famous resident is Kevin Garnett. • Happy birthday to Craig Spadafora (10/8), Beverly Curry (10/10) and Mariana DiMarco-Cavuoto (10/11). • Lois Cucinotta passed away on August 14th of this year. She was a lovely woman who, although I hadn’t seen her in many years, my memories of her and her wonderful husband Peter are held near and dear to my heart. Rest peacefully, Lois. • I was rapping with my good pal Chris “Keeper of the Linden Flame” Moro, and in between searching out the last existing bottles of Ballantine Ale for me and being second in command as Vice President of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (Mass. Chapter), he is busy writing his memoirs. Expect entertaining tales of yesteryear Linden and much more when he finishes (Chris says there will be “no dirt!”). Chris gave me some little-known Steve Moro trivia when he mentioned that Steph ran 26 Boston Marathons during his life! Twenty-six!! Who knew!? • Look for a great story from Chris having to do with an encounter with Red Sox legend, the late, great Johnny Pesky. • I remember Larry Amoroso from the old Y. I became friends with Larry while playing many games of hoop in that tiny room at the old Y we lovingly called a “basketball court.” We cherished every second of our time spent on that small piece of parquet. It was the best of times! Larry brought intensity to the game — tough to cover. I always liked Larry on my team as opposed to having to cover him and his tricky left hand. I was saddened to hear of Larry’s passing on July 24. Larry was a really good guy, and on the dance floor I heard Tony Manero had nothing on him! You will be missed, my friend. • I hear through the Edgeworth grapevine that there is an interesting story to be told floating around Maldonia that must be brought to daylight. It has to do with one of the best hoopsters to ever call Malden home (Louise Arthur’s husband Buddy), one of the best hoopsters to ever suit up for the Celts (Larry Bird) and our very own Italian American Citizen’s Club. Stay tuned for details. • Happy belated birthday to Cindy Burgess-Kelly (9/28), Timmy Carey (9/27) and Jamie Forbes (9/27). As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — if you’ve been reading me for a while, you already know my columns aren’t exactly “Meet the Press.” They’re more like “Meet me at the I.A.C.C. and let’s swap a few stories.” If you’re looking for hard-hitting investigative journalism that shakes the foundations of City Hall, I hate to disappoint you — but my shovel only digs deep enough to plant a few tomato plants. Now, every so often, I’ll dabble and interview a local politician (see above) or a hopeful candidate, but let’s be clear: I’m not asking them to break down tax codes or recite zoning ordinances. My mission is simple: humanize them a little, maybe get a chuckle or two. Think of me as Malden’s unofficial ambassador of softball questions. In fact, over the past 15 years or so I’ve floated more softballs than Scott Rutledge and Donny Boyce combined — and those two practically made an Olympic sport of it. So, to the Maldonian who grumbled about my Steve Winslow interview — next time you spot Steve (and trust me, you can’t swing a Big A meatball sub without hitting him somewhere in this city), feel free to pepper him with the hard-hitting, life-or-death questions you think I missed. Consider it my gift to you. No thanks necessary. As for me, I’ll keep bringing you a column that proudly embraces the art of “nothingness”: everyday Malden observations, trivial nonsense, esoteric Maldonia minutia. Jerry Seinfeld would be proud — this is, after all, a show/article about nothing… with just enough Maldonian flavor to keep it saucy (like a Big A saucy sub at 35 cents back in the old days?). Insert smiley face, raise a glass of Ballantine Ale, carry on and (channeling my inner Malden School Supt. the late great Paul Phaneuf) “very well.” —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol. com for comments, compliments or criticisms.

Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Boda Borg Boston celebrates a decade in Malden Special to The Advocate B oda Borg Boston recently celebrated 10 years in the heart of Malden! Boda Borg occupies the former Sparks Department Store located at 90 Pleasant St. Over the last decade, Boda Borg has provided countless families, schools and business groups from around the globe with immersive, interactive one-of-a-kind entertainment and puzzling challenges. Boda Borg participants are transported into a real-world gaming environment. Since its rollout in 2015, Boda Borg has become more than just an entertainment venue — they contribute to local foot traffic, help support businesses in Malden Square and most notably have been the leading force in creating Malden’s Gaming District. Boda Borg never ceases to amaze with their constant change up of fresh and engaging quests — no two are alike! To “Experience the Quest” or for further information please visit www.bodaborg.com. BLAZE | FROM PAGE 1 are only a few feet apart, making it difficult to prevent the fire from spreading. Multiple mutual aid departments assisted in battling the fire. The Lynn Salvation Army provided support to the displaced residents. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A Malden firefighter is shown breaking windows to ventilate the structure. Mayor Gary Christenson with Boda Borg owners Trish Blais and Chad Ellis (Courtesy photo) A deputy chief is shown atop the ladder as firefighters battle the blaze on the roof of 88 Fairmont St. Smoke and flames are shown emanating from the triple-decker fire on Friday. (Advocate photos by Mike Flynn)

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 9 Mayor Christenson's Formal Request to City Council on Prop. 2/12 Override To: The Honorable Malden City Council From: Mayor Gary Christenson Over the past several years, I have shared concerns about the sustainability of our annual budget. As you know, we have always been a city that has to do "more with less". Despite being comparatively low with spending in most key areas as compared to similar cities, we have found ourselves challenged every year trying to fund core services. The availability of American Rescue Plan (ARPA) dollars provided some short-term relief as we were able to use that as a funding source for eligible expenses that would have otherwise placed more strain on our annual budget. With that having come to an end, and coinciding with increasing costs across the board, we find ourselves at a critical point. For (the present) Fiscal Year 2026, we have funded $8.4 million of our budget using sources that our one-time in nature. Specifically, we funded $3.2 million with the final amounts remaining in ARPA funds and the remaining $5.2 million from reserves. We acknowledged at that time that there would need to be a more permanent solution to this problem. We are now at that point where we must identify a longer-term fix to avoid completely depleting our reserves followed by a drastic cut in services across the board. A large portion of our budget is funded through property taxes and as you know, we are restricted by state law to an annual 2.5% increase to our tax levy limit. The time has come to ask our residents to approve an override to the restrictions provided by our Proposition 2 ½, specifically, a levy limit override. I support an override approach that provides an amount that, when combined with other steps we are taking, would structurally balance the FY26 budget. This amount would not solve all unmet needs, will not address future budget deficits, and certainly won't fund new initiatives. It will, however, stabilize our finances in the short term at current service levels while we continue working to identify future revenue growth and expense containment opportunities. One example of this will be for us to move from being self-insured to providing health insurance to our employees through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC). This is in our view one of the most balanced ways our employees can be part of the solution to address the budget shortfall without layoffs. Current estimates are that this initiative will save us approximately $3 million per year. This number is highly dependent on the enrollment choices made by our employees but it's not the best estimate we have at this time. Even with that change, it will not be enough, which is why I am recommending that we ask the voters to approve an increase to the annual tax levy limit of $5.4 million such that when combined with the $3 million projected health insurance savings, we could start the FY27 budget with a structurally balanced FY26 budget. Through the Finance Committee and with the subsequent involvement of the Citizens Engagement Committee, I would expect the City Council to gain important public feedback that will further inform the approach to this challenge. It is our goal to have in place a direction from the voters at the ballot box before March 1. That will provide time, but not a lot of time, to construct an FY27 budget with the results of this initiative known. To keep to this schedule, here is a proposed timeline: September 30, 2025— City Council Dockets Paper, Referred to Finance Committee (Consider a Joint Finance and Citizens Engagement Committee approach) October 7-28, 2025— City Council Finance Committee discusses proposal and approach (Recommend using Citizens Engagement Committee and FiMayor Gary Christenson is shown addressing the City Council recently. nance Committee for outreach) December 2, 2025— Voted out of Finance Committee (Driven by Holiday Schedule) December 9, 2025 —Voted out of Full City Council (Driven by Holiday Schedule) January 6, 2026— Last day to notify City Clerk (Must be 35 days before scheduled vote) February 10, 2026— Special Election Held I look forward to working collaboratively on this important efStop cleaning-out your gutters this season Get a FREE full gutter inspection and estimate: 1-855-400-0172 1.We Clean 2.We Reinforce 3.We Install fort to stabilize our finances for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and know that our finance team is prepared to provide whatever information is helpful as you evaluate this challenge and this proposal. 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Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Rich history of Bell Rock Cemetery evoked on a walking tour Special to The Advocate R esidents learned about the Historic Bell Rock Cemetery last weekend on a tour led by local historian and Malden Historical Society Board member Mark Linehan. Participants were givMark Linehan leads a Bell Rock Cemetery tour. (Courtesy photo) en the opportunity to explore one of Malden’s oldest burial grounds while learning about our fascinating past. Located at 60 Medford St. and one of Malden’s most significant historical landmarks, Bell Rock Cemetery dates back to Malden’s establishment in 1649 and is the final resting place of many of Malden’s early settlers and prominent figures. As one of the oldest burying grounds in the country, Bell Rock Cemetery serves as a window into the rich history of the city and its role in early Massachusetts, and as one of the highest concentrations of 17th-century headstones of any burying ground in the country. Residents visited the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers — highlighting Malden’s contribution to American independence — and learned about notable residents and early community leaders who once called Malden home. Mark provided insights into 17th- and 18th-century burial practices and customs along with architectural and artistic features of the historic gravestones and monuments. Sadly, many of the gravestones have been damaged and have disappeared over the years. There are two more chances this month to take a walking tour with Mark in Bell Rock Cemetery: Saturday, October 18, from 10-11:30 a.m., and Sunday, October 19, from 1-2:30 p.m. The tours are free thanks to the Malden Historical Society and a Malden Community Connections Grant from the City of Malden. No advance registration is required, but the tour is not recommended for persons younger than 10. For more information, please email linehan. mark@gmail.com. Malden’s 1st Italian Heritage Month Festival From left to right: Special Assistant to the Mayor Maria Luise, Ward 5 Councillor Ari Taylor, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator Kashawna Harling, Mayor Gary Christenson, Communications Director Elaina Savino, Public Health Director Laura Vlasuk and Pete Caso. (Courtesy photo) Special to The Advocate T o kick off Italian-American Heritage Month (October), the City of Malden held its first ever Italian Heritage Celebration on City Hall Plaza on a beautiful fall evening last week. The event was organized by the Mayor’s Office in conjunction with the Health and Human Services Department and sponsored by Ward 5 Councillor Ari Taylor. Attendees enjoyed traditional Italian music and sampled favorite Italian foods for free. Hundreds of residents enjoyed Piantedosi Bakery’s bread tasting table with olive oil dips. Sausages with peppers and onions were provided courtesy of Bianco & Sons, and The Traveling Acoffeecary provided coffee. The longest line might have been for the delicious cannoli that were supplied by Uncle Joey’s Cannoli. There were also cultural displays and a very popular children’s coloring table. Event organizers hope to make this event an annual celebration! Subscribe to the Advocate Online! www.advocatenews.net

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 11 October is Italian Heritage Month Mayor Gary Christenson & The Malden City Government State Representative Steve Ultrino Spadafora Councillor-At-Large Craig Ward 1 School Committee Michael Drummey BUSINESS ACCOUNTS WELCOME State Senator Jason Lewis Rob McCarthy Malden Trans / Malden Taxi 781-322-5050 Lester, Peggy & David Morovitz 24 Hour AIRPORT SERVICE PACKAGE DELIVERY State Representative Paul J. Donato Ward 2 School Committee

Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Malden’s 7th Annual Public Safety Day Special to The Advocate H undreds turned out last Sunday for the city’s Public Safety Week event hosted by the Malden Fire and Police Departments. Families enjoyed fun and interactive ways to learn about staying safe. There were bouncy houses and “touch a truck” events where children climbed on fire engines and ladders, police cars, an ambulance and DPW trucks. Free pizza, hot dogs, slush and pumpkins were handed out. Everyone received goody bags and many children participated in the raffles where five iPads were awarded. Several City of Malden departments, including the Board of Health, Recreation Department, DPW and the Tree Warden, hosted tables providing information and fun goody bags. The event was sponsored by Cataldo Ambulance, Malden Housing Authority, Piantedosi Baking Co., Stop & Shop and the MWRA Water Fountain, Kayem Foods, Anthony’s of Malden, Ward 8 Councillor Jadeane Sica, Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora and Malden Girl Scouts. The Fire Department also hosted their annual Smoke Pictured (from left): Mayor Gary Christenson with members of the Health and Human Services Department: Assistant Recovery Specialist PJ Bell, Clerk Caroline Gwokyalya, Public Health Nurse Maria Tamagna, Health and Human Services Coordinator Bridget Furlong, Special Assistant to the Mayor Maria Luise, Public Health Director Laura Vlasuk and her son James. (Courtesy photo) Detector Installation Program during Fire Prevention Week, where they installed 60+ smoke and carbon detectors for Seniors 65 and older. Fire Prevention Week is observed every October in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire that began on October 8, 1871, and killed more than 250 people, along with destroying more than 17,400 structures across 2,000 acres. In 1911, 40 years after the fire, the Fire Marshals Association determined that the anniversary of this fire should be observed annually to generate awareness about fire prevention. Ride to Defeat ALS: Our Mission, Our Impact, Our Community A LS – those 3 words I learned at the age of six when my beloved grandfather Charles Bent, a man who served as a definite role model, succumbed to this awful disease after a lengthy battle. Sadly, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) has negatively impacted our Malden Catholic Community with the passing of Christopher Snow ’99, Timothy Paquette ’07, and Brother Joseph Comber, C.F.X., Ph.D. Well, for the past three years I have fundraised and participated in a 40 or 50-mile bike ride called the Ride to Defeat ALS, an annual event beginning and ending at the Longfellow Tennis and Health Club in Wayland, MA. In addition, MC has held an annual Dress Down Day, which this Sen. Lewis and Mass. Senate pass Massachusetts Data Privacy Act Special to The Advocate O n September 25, 2025, State Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to pass An Act establishing the Massachusetts data privacy act with a bipartisan vote of 40–0. This landmark data privacy legislation is poised to lead the nation in consumer protections, keeping pace with a digital landscape that increasingly puts Massachusetts residents’ sensitive personal information at risk. On September 29, the House of Representatives referred the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act to its committee on Ways & Means. The Massachusetts Data Privacy Act limits the collection of personal data and establishes clear rights for residents regarding their personal data, including the right to know what information is being collected and the ability to opt out of having their data used for targeted advertising or sold to other companies. Protected data includes health care information, face scans and fingerprints, precise geolocation, information about a person’s religion or ethnicity, information related to a person’s immigration status and information pertaining to a child. Additional enhanced protections apply to minors, including a full ban on the sale of a young person’s personal data. “Corporations and nefarious actors collect and sell people’s personal data every day, without regard for the people whose information is being used,” said Senator Lewis. “This vital legislation defends your personal privacy, prevents exploitation of your sensitive data, and gives control of your personal information back to you.” Highlights of the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act: ● Guaranteeing the consumyear contributed $2,192.50 to our Team MC. On Saturday, September 20th, I presented Ms. Hallie Cunningham, Manager, Ride to Defeat ALS, with our check. Thank you to everyone who participated since together we will Defeat ALS! er’s right to know if their personal data is being collected, and allowing them to see what data is collected and who their data has been shared with ● Giving people control over their personal data through new guaranteed rights to correct inaccurate data, delete personal information and opt out of having their personal data sold to others ● Banning the sale of sensitive data by any kind of entity, including businesses and nonprofits, and limiting the transfer of sensitive data without explicit consent. Protected categories of sensitive data include the following: precise geolocation; health care information; biometric data, such as face and fingerprint scans; citizenship or immigration status; information revealing someone’s sex life; any information about a person’s race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin; and information that pertains to a child. ● Constraining companies’ unfettered collection of personal data by limiting them to only collecting what is reasonably necessary in order to provide their product or service; for certain sensitive types of data, including biometrics, precise GPS location, and health care data, businesses could only collect this information if it is strictly necessary. ● Establishing opt-out rights for targeted advertising by giving consumers the right to opt out of having their personal data collected or processed for the purpose of targeted advertising or for sale to third parties ● Banning the sale of children’s personal data and blocking targeted ads for minors ● Creating strong enforcement power by giving the Office of the Attorney General regulatory authority to enforce the provisions of the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 13 Sign-up now for the Housing Families Fun Run! J oin us for a day of fun, connection and community spirit! The Housing Families Fun Run is perfect for friends, families, kids and dogs. Whether you walk, run or cheer from the sidelines, you’ll TAX | FROM PAGE 1 Council meeting where Mayor Gary Christenson formally requested Council approval of a ballot question calling for a Proposition 2/12 override. Mayor Christenson's request for the specific amount of $5.4 million, coupled with an estimated $3 million saved with a municipal employees' health plan switch, would cover an an $8.4 million structural deficit in this year's FY26 city budget The $5.4 million raised would add up to an estimated $346 in one-time increase in property tax for the average homeowner, with Malden's single-home's median price at $653,000, according to figures provided by the Mayor and his team last week. Tuesday's meeting consisted largely of questions and, sometimes, suggestions, regarding what might happen financially and what might be done to lessen the impact on the community, namely cuts in personnel and services. The timeline of the discussion ranged from present day — real time— to the next coming months, and projected into the next fiscal year, FY27, and even 5 years from now. Councillor at large Carey McDonald, the chairperson of the Finance Committee, was methodical in running the meeting, which was one of longest committee meetings of the years at twoplus hours, and used a step-bystep approach to ensure that all Councillors and any department heads from the city were heard. Ranaghan, who is the city's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as the controller, spent the majority of the time at the Council podium, fielding questions and often referring back to other city leadership team/department heads in the audience for either confirmation when answering or additional information to complete an answer. Like last week's full Council be part of something bigger: a community working together in support of housing equity. Tickets include complimentary lite bites and drinks at the race day after-party and a 2025 Fun meeting, it appeared every municipal department head was in attendance, as was Mayor Christenson and his top mayoral leadership team of Chief of Staff Maria Luise and Chief Strategy Officer Ron Hogan. It is the first time in recent memory that a Malden mayor has been in attendance at two consecutive municipal meetings convened by the City Council, owing to the present gravity of the city's financial situation. Unlike last week's full Council meeting, where the discussion centered on the "nuts and bolts" of the override request, namely, "how much" "why" and Run athletic shirt. There will be pre-run yoga, face paint, games, cornhole, music, raffle and more! Sign up at https://housingfamiliesfunrun2025.funraise. org/?mc_cid=50165f46c0&mc_ offering a slide and chart showing that Malden spends the least per capita than five other peer communities, far less, than Everett, Revere, Somerville, Peabody and Salem. Councillor at large Craig Spadafora, who has been the most vocal Councillor on the city's financial status and future, both this term of office and for many years he has served in the past, made it clear that this request for a $5.4 million override was for this year's budget and that "We are chasing something we are not going to catch." What Councillor Spadadora was referring to with the last eid=5d55242d5c In-person participants: Be at 200 River’s Edge Dr. in Medford on Saturday, November 15, from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. to complete the Fun Run along the Malden River wall the city faces in state education funding. "Something has to be done. We are out of time and we're still facing the same situation. " Councillor Winslow recalled his former employment with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in another period of financial turmoil. "I was laid off myself (by the state). We are talking about people's lives, their careers. We must explore every avenue to address this serious situation," he said. Ward 2 Councillor Paul Condon, who has served in parts of five different decades on the City Council, in two separate lengths at the beautiful River’s Edge Park. Virtual participants: Follow Housing Families Inc. on social media to share photos from your run. Virtual participation will be open all weekend long! should do right now." Councillor at large Karen Colon Hayes asked Ranaghan if he or any of the other city leaders knew of any actions the Council could take right now to alleviate the deficit situation now, or in the near future. "What can we do now? We would like to know if the City Council can do anything , any actions we can take to help," Councillor Colon Hayes said. "We are ready to act, please tell us how we can address this." In some specific suggestions where cuts could be made, Councillor Condon referred to some jobs that were added to the city side with American Rescue Act (ARPA) funds, then kept on the budget. "We should look at those jobs first," Councillor Condon said. Ranaghan explained that there only about 2 full time and several part-time grant-funded jobs. Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe Malden City Controller Chuck Ranaghan, at the podium, answers questions from the City Council at Tuesday night's Finance Committee meeting including, from left Councillors Stephen Winslow (Ward 6), Peg Crowe (Ward 1), Council Clerk of Committees Lisa Cagno Councillor at large and Finance Committee Chair Carey McDonald, and Councillor at large Karen Colon Hayes. (Advocate Photo) "when"Tuesday's committee used more stark terms. "We are in an emergency situation," said more than one Councillor, the first that term had been used publicly. Ranaghan stressed that all financial numbers and all information regarding the proposed override are available to all on the city's website:www.cityofmalden.org under the tab on the front of the website: Proposition 2 ½ Override Proposal Fiscal Year 2027 Ranaghan and others made a strong point of referencing previous statements made last week by members of the public regarding what "type" of dilemma the city faced. "This is not spending problem, this is clearly a revenue problem," he said, statement was the vast gap — which he estimated last week and this week at $30 million— between State Chapter 70 funding for the Malden Public Schools and what other Gateway Cities such as Everett, Chelsea and Revere were receiving. "We are going to be missing that funding every year as long as the (Chapter 70) formula does not change and we keep falling further and further in the hole," Councillor Spadafora said. Spadafora, McDonald and Ranaghan all pointed to the fact that city of Malden is mandated by the state to provide 51 percent of all school budget expenditures Ward 6 Councillor Stephen Winslow reiterated points made by Councillors Spadafora, McDonald and others on the brick of service, recalled when Proposition 2 1/2 first came into effect in the early 1980s. Heavy personnel layoffs followed in Malden, including police and fire positions, as well as over 35 teachers from the Malden Public Schools. "That was a very painful time for our community. Those are people who have mortgages, college tuitions, rents, car payments, you name it," Councillor Condon said. "This problem is not going away, we have to do something now." "We don't have the money, plain and simple. How can we pay money (for our schools) they say we are mandated to pay if it doesn't exist?" Spadafora said. "We are done asking, we should go to the Governor's office and demand relief. That is what we brought up the Community Preservation Act program, which sets aside a certain percentage of property tax revenue for use on vetted, designated municipal projects each year. "I'm not advocating for it, but is it possible to pause the Community Preservation Act for a year or more?" Ranaghan, after consulting with another department head, said that he would have a more complete answer next week, but did verify that the CPA hold was about $1 million, which goes directly from property tax revenues to the CPA fund. Ranaghan said he would be able to provide more information on all of the suggestions and questions that needed a more complete answer at next week's meeting. After the last Councillors asked their questions and Ranaghan made his final points, Councillor McDonald announced that discussion on the override would continue at a future Finance Committee meeting, probably next Tuesday evening, October 14.

Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 CITY OF MALDEN DRINKING WATER NOTICE — Some homes have high levels of lead — This notice contains important information about your drinking water. Have someone translate it for you or speak with someone who understands it. Contact City of Malden at 617-865-2273 for assistance with the translation. 此通知包含有关您的饮⽤⽔的重要信息。请别⼈为您翻译或与能理解的⼈交谈。聯絡莫頓市，电话： 617-865-2273 以获得翻译方面的帮助。 Este aviso contiene información importante sobre su agua potable. Pídale a alguien que se lo traduzca o hable con alguien que lo entienda. Póngase en contacto con la Ciudad de Malden al 617-865-2273 para que le ayuden con la traducción. Este aviso contém informações importantes sobre sua água potável. Peça a alguém que o traduza para você ou fale com alguém que o entenda. Entre em contato com a City of Malden 617-865-2273 para obter assistência com a tradução. Avi sa a gen enfòmasyon inpòtan sou dlo wap bwè. Fè yon moun tradui li pou ou oswa pale ak yon moun ki konprann li. kontakte City of Malden nan 617-865-2273 pou asistans ak tradiksyon Thông báo này chứa thông tin quan trọng về nước uống của bạn. Nhờ ai đó dịch giúp bạn hoặc nói chuyện với người hiểu được. Liên hệ với City of Malden theo số 617-865-2273 để được hỗ trợ dịch thuật. Cet avis contient des informations importantes sur votre eau potable. Demandez à quelqu'un de le traduire pour vous ou parlez-en à quelqu'un qui le comprend. Communiquez avec la Ville de Malden au 617-865-2273 pour obtenir de l'aide pour la traduction. Our water system exceeded the lead drinking water action level. We routinely monitor for lead in water in homes with lead service lines as they are more likely to have elevated lead levels. We are required to collect 20 samples between July 1, 2025 and October 31, 2025. Three of these higher risk homes had elevated lead levels. The results of these routine samples for lead indicate a level of 0.0179 mg/L (or 17.9 parts per billion). This level exceeds the lead action level of 0.015 mg/L (or 15 parts per billion). This means that more than 10 percent of the lead samples collected were above the lead action level. What does this mean? Our system's water mains that carry the water to you are made mostly of iron, and therefore do not add lead to water. However, lead can get into tap water through the service line that connects your home to the water main if it is made of lead. Lead may also come from lead solder used to connect pipes in home plumbing, and from some faucets and fixtures. There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups, especially pregnant people, infants (both formula-fed and breastfed), and young children. Some of the health effects to infants and children include decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also result in new or worsened learning and behavior problems. The children of persons who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy may be at increased risk of these harmful health effects. Adults have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. Contact your health care provider for more information about your risks. What should I do to reduce my exposure to lead? · Use only cold, fresh water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula. Run the water for at least 1 minute or until after it turns cold. For more guidance on the use of filters, cleaning aerators, how to flush your water lines to reduce lead in drinking water exposure, and how to have your water tested, see this MassDEP webpage https://mass.gov/info-details/guidance-for-single-family-residentsat-risk-of-lead-in-drinking-water-exposure · Do not boil the water to remove lead. · Check whether your home has a lead service line. IF YOU DO, HAVE IT REMOVED. Please contact the City of Malden Engineering at 781-397-7040 for more information about your home's service line, how to have it removed, or for information about plumbing materials in your home that may contain lead. · Learn what your service line material is by checking your home address at the City of Malden's water service line map by scanning the QR code or at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/689872da76974ad4a43e84a1e5576ec9 · Conta.ct your health care provider if you have any health-related questions or contact your local health department to find out if your child needs to be tested for lead. What is our system doing? Our public water system is taking the following actions to address the situation: · The City of Malden replaced an average of 290 lead service lines per year within the last 5 years and is looking to remove all remaining lead lines within the next 10 years. The City of Malden is currently in the process of multiple lead service line removal programs and will continue investigating homes with elevated levels. The City will provide free water testing and inspection upon request. For more information, contact City of Malden Engineering at 781-397-7040 or leadinfo@cityofmalden.or org at 215 Pleasant St, Room 320, Malden, MA 02148 For more information on lead see [ MWRA information on Lead] Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. This notice is being sent to you by City of Malden. PWS ID#: 3165000 Date distributed 10/07/2025 October 10, 2025

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 15 Walk the (Art) Line: Malden’s New Public Art Guide Is Now Available A free, new guidebook reveals the hidden world of the city’s public art, inviting visitors and residents to discover murals, sculptures and community projects across the city’s neighborhoods. Created to support a vision for a stronger cultural future, the guide offers the stories behind the artists and serves as a rallying call for keeping the arts vibrant and alive. By Lorna Garey D id you know that legendary minimalist Frank Stella, whose work “Point of Pines” sold for a then-record $28.08 million, was from Malden? And that he designed not one but two murals for his hometown? Malden is highlighting its identity as a cultural destination with the release of a free guide to the city’s public art, including the Stella murals. The booklet, a shared initiative between Creative Malden and Malden Arts, is available at The Gallery@57 now. “The two groups came together because we have that connection, that love of art, that love of public art, engaging the community, engaging these spaces,” said Grace Julian-Murthy, an artist and creative director for downtown art venue The Gallery@57. “It’s kind of a nice introduction to Malden overall, to be able to highlight pieces that orate on the booklet and is gearing up to further the city’s art they might not see in their everyday life.” Julian-Murthy pointed out that even longtime residents may find something new in areas where they don’t normally travel. There are sculptures and murals highlighted in the book that are tucked away throughout the city, such as Coytemore Lea Park’s “Wise Owl.” Ryan O’Malley, president of Malden Arts, said the 20-yearold group was happy to collabscene with new permanent art — sculptures, murals and community hubs — with some dynamic art installations also on the agenda. “I think that the arts in Malden has really changed the community for the better,” said O’Malley. “It makes it an interesting place to live, and it helps really strengthen the fabric of our community, but the proof is in the pudding. So getting people out to look at the art is the big thing.” This booklet aims to do just that by not only showing the range of art installations in the city but also discussing the artists, their motivations, and clueing readers in on the city’s ArtLine and the switchboxes and Little Free Libraries dotted around neighborhoods. There’s also a call to action on how to help keep the arts alive in Malden. Upcoming children’s programs at the Malden Public Library O The booklet complements Malden’s new Downtown Public Art Strategy, which was unveiled in August and includes an official inventory and map of existing installations. “We’re currently fundraising for a mini amphitheater that’s going to go along the bike path or adjacent to the bike path, where there’s going to be a stone in memory of Jeff Taylor, a community member and poet who was recently lost,” said O’Malley. “The organization received a grant for that project, and we’re continuing to fundraise.” Julian-Murthy says artists, or individuals or property owners looking to host a mural or other public art, or simply contribute, can reach out to either organization using the contact info in the booklet, or by dropping by The Gallery@57. “It’s great to be able to highlight all these different artists who have been able to enhance and beautify Malden, if but for a brief moment, because that’s sometimes what happens with public art,” said Julian-Murthy. “It really encourages people, I think, to stop and enjoy beauty in their everyday life. Maybe this is the start of something wonderful.” ~ HELP WANTED ~ Type of Person Needed: * Are you an experienced/willing to learn, motivated person looking for a shop where your skills can be valued? A local company with a fleet shop is a busy, family-owned business dedicated to providing high-quality transportation services and public State inspection services. We are seeking a talented Automotive Technician or mechanical knowledge to join our close-knit crew. If you are dependable and proficient in automotive technical work with a passion for excellent customer service, we want to talk to you. Location: Malden, MA h no! Did your child miss making SLIME or meeting the Museum of Science’s ROBOT DOG at the Malden Public Library? Stop by the library to pick up the October program calendar (or better yet, register to receive it by email) and never worry about missing a program again! Some of our upcoming children’s programs appear below. For more information, please call the Children’s Room at 781-388-0803. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME (ages 3-5): Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. SONG & RHYME TIME (ages 6 months–4): Tuesdays and alternating Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. BOOK BUNCH book club for 2nd & 3rd graders: 3rd Thursday (sign up required). BOOK SQUAD book club for 4th & 5th graders: 1st Thursday (sign up required). TEETH TIME (ages 5-7): Friday, October 17, at 3:00 p.m. LEGO CLUB (ages 5-10): Wednesday, October 22, at 3:00 p.m. MUSIC AT THE BLISSFUL (all ages): Saturday, October 25, at 3:00 p.m. HALLOWEEN CRAFT TIME (ages 3-10): Thursday, October 30, at 3:00 p.m. Job Description: * Be able to acquire and maintain a certification for the State Inspection License. Perform light duty mechanical preventive duties, including Fleet preventive maintenance. * State Inspection Services * Miscellaneous shop duties Requirements: * Valid driver’s license with good driving history * Possess or pass the required State Inspector License Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Saturday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM * Rate will be based on experience Contact: Ed Hyde or David Morovitz Call: 781-322-9401 Email: ehyde@maldentrans.com Website: www.maldentrans.com

Page 16 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Mystic Valley’s Lucia Antonucci Reaches Historic 100-Goal Milestone By Emily Brennan W hat once felt like a dream became reality Monday night for Mystic Valley senior midfielder Lucia Antonucci, who etched her name into program history with a milestone performance. In the Eagles’ 4–1 victory over Lynn Classical, Antonucci scored a hat trick to reach 100 career goals, becoming just the second player in program history to achieve the feat. The atmosphere reflected the magnitude of the moment. Fans, friends and classmates filled the stands with handmade signs and cheers, eager to witness history unfold. Midway through the second half, the long-awaited moment arrived: Antonucci broke through the defense and fired the ball into the back of the net REVOCABLE TRUSTS T he basic purpose of a revocable Trust is to avoid probate and, if necessary, provide provisions within the Trust document to eliminate or greatly reduce federal and Massachusetts estate taxes. A revocable Trust is a Will substitute but far superior in many of its features. The goal is to eliminate or greatly minimize the amount of assets that fall into the probate estate requiring the filing of the original Last Will and Testament at the appropriate Registry of Probate along with the required forms and filing fees. A probate asset would be an asset owned directly by the decedent in his or her name only at the time of death, or if the decedent did not provide for a beneficiary on an IRA account, 401(k) account or life insurance policy. Alternatively, the primary beneficiary named may have predeceased the decedent and no contingent beneficiary was named. There are instances where you might want to have a probate estate. For example, if you name the estate the beneficiary of your IRA account and have already begun taking your required minimum distributions, and you are concerned about your surviving spouse going into a nursing home, then naming your estate as the beneficiary and creating a Testamentary Trust within your Last Will and Testament for the benefit of your surviving spouse, the assets in that Trust would be protected from the nursing home. The Trustee of the Testamentary Trust spouse would then be required to take required distributions from your IRA based upon your “ghost” life expectancy. This was made possible under the Secure Act. The Trustee could then make distributions of not only income to your surviving spouse, but also distributions of principal. If you died without having reached your required beginning date of 73 years of age, the Trustee of the Testamentary Trust would have to deplete the IRA account by the end of the fifth year following the year of your death. Therefore, you must meet your required beginning date for this strategy to work. For tax purposes, the person who creates the Trust may use his or her social security number when opening up a bank account or brokerage account in the name of the Trust. No separate tax returns need to be filed for a revocable Trust. Appreciated assets such as real estate or stock held inside a revocable Trust receive the so-called step-up in cost basis upon your death equal to the fair market value of the assets at the time of your death. Therefore, a subsequent sale of the assets after your death would result in little or no capital gain, depending upon future appreciation of the assets. Keep in mind, since the Donor or Settlor of a revocable Trust has total control over the Trust assets and retains the ability to alter, amend or revoke the Trust, there is no nursing home protection with these Trusts. An irrevocable Trust would be necessary to achieve that objective. Upon the death of the Donor or Settlor of a revocable Trust, the Trust would then become irrevocable requiring the filing of Trust tax returns if there is income being generated by the Trust. A federal ID number for the Trust would then have to be applied for. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a master’s degree in taxation. CONGRATULATIONS, LUCIA: Pictured are Christian, Kenny, Sofia, Andrea, Lucia, Wanda and Bianca Antonucci. HAPPY 100TH: Lucia Antonucci is shown with the ball she scored her 100th goal with last Monday night. (Photo courtesy of Emily Brennan) for goal number 100. When the final whistle blew, she celebrated with teammates, coaches, family and fans. Although she plays midfield, Antonucci has consistently been one of the Eagles’ most dangerous scorers. A four-time CAC AllStar, two-time league MVP, and varsity starter since eighth grade, she now leads the team as captain with 20 goals already this season. With her 100th goal secured, she’s chasing the program record of 114 set by Reilly Hickey (Class of 2023). While Antonucci’s milestone stole the spotlight, Monday’s win was also a showcase of team efLady Eagle Lucia Antonucci is shown with a bouquet of flowers and a ceremonial ball marking her 100th goal last Monday night. fort. Kaylee Rodriguez tallied her first goal of the season, and Emily DeLeire anchored the defense in net, limiting Lynn Classical to a single score. After a 1–1 halftime tie, the Eagles surged in the second half, outscoring their opponent 3–0 to remain unbeaten. With the victory, Mystic Valley improves to 8-0 and currently holds the No. 22 spot in the 2025 Division 4 Girls Soccer Power Rankings. Next up: The Eagles travel to face Academy of Notre Dame on Thursday (4:30 p.m.) before hosting Greater Lowell Tech on Monday (4:00 p.m.).

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 17 MALDEN HIGH SPORTS: Tornado Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball are ‘En Fuego!’ Soccer has 7-game unbeaten streak, soars to 8-2-1; ‘Lucky 7’s: 7 wins in a row for Girls Spikers Malden Boys Soccer sweeps Somerville in 2-1 win By Steve Freker E n Fuego!! There is no other way to describe the way the Malden High School Golden Tornado Girls Volleyball and Girls Soccer teams have taken the Greater Boston League by storm the past twoplus weeks. Both Coach Rick Caceda’s Soccer girls and Coach Dan Jurkowski’s Volleyball squad are riding massive 7-game winning streaks, heading into this week of play. Malden Girls Soccer was 6-0-1, while Girls Volleyball won 7 straight games and is now squarely in the mix for a possible GBL title. The Tornado Volleyball girls have recorded wins over Arlington (3-1), Lynn English (3-1), Medford (3-2), Everett (3-1) and Somerville (3-1), and shutout wins over East Boston (3-0) and Chelsea (3-0 on Monday). “What has been especially important is that [five] of those games were on the road. We have really been working well together and it is a good time of year to string some wins together,” Coach Jurkowski said, with his team improving to 9-4 overall, 6-3 GBL. Malden was poised to clinch an MIAA Girls Volleyball Division 1 State Tournament berth with a win on the road at Lynn Classical (after Advocate press time) on Wednesday. Malden also had a road game at Lowell today at 5:30 p.m. Malden returns home Wednesday, October 15 against Lynn English at 5:15 p.m. in the Finn Gym at Malden High. Senior Night is Monday, October 20, at Finn Gym versus Medford. Malden High Girls Soccer is on a 7-game unbeaten streak to improve to 8-2-1 overall. Included were shutout wins over Everett (5-0), Medford (6-0) and Lowell (5-0). “We are playing well on both ends of the field and our goalkeeper [freshman] Sofia Leon has been outstanding all year,” Malden Head Coach Rich Caceda said. Malden needs just three more standings points (2 points win/1 point tie) to qualify for an MIAA Division 1 State Girls Soccer Tournament berth and could have achieved that on the road at Medford yesterday (after Advocate press time) and Tuesday, October 14, at Lynn Classical. Both are 4:15 p.m. starts. Malden Boys Soccer sweeps Somerville with 2-1 win; Belatreche is solid in goal (9 saves) in Tornado debut Malden High Boys Soccer got a first-half goal by senior captain Mike Joseph and the eventual game-winner by junior AbMalden Boys Soccer celebrated after Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Somerville, completing a season sweep. (Courtesy/Malden Athletics) dul Kalefa with 7:53 left to play in the second half to take a 2-1 win over Somerville at Pine Banks Park on Tuesday. Senior Mateus Martins assisted on both goals. Senior captain Yasser Belatreche made his debut in goal for Malden and was sensational, making 9 saves and leadMalden Girls Soccer Head Coach Rick Caceda talked with the team after a recent win. (Courtesy/ Malden Athletics) ing his team all the way. “We needed that game. We played most of the way to get a win in other recent games, but could not finish it off,” Malden Head Coach Jeremiah Smith said. “Today we did. Yasser [Belatreche] really stepped up and showed a lot of leadership today.” Malden improved to 3-5-4 overall with the win, needing 8 more standings points over its final 6 games to qualify for the MIAA Division 1 State Boys Soccer Tournament, based on 2 points for a win and 1 point for a tie. Law Offices of JOSEPH D. CATALDO, P.C. “ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW” • ESTATE/MEDICAID PLANNING • WILLS/TRUSTS/ESTATES • INCOME TAX PREPARATION • WEALTH MANAGEMENT • RETIREMENT PLANNING • ELDER LAW 369 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617)381-9600 JOSEPH D. CATALDO, CPA, CFP, MST, ESQUIRE. AICPA Personal Financial Specialist Designee

Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Savvy Senior by Jim Miller What Seniors Need to Know About This Fall’s Vaccines Dear Savvy Senior, With a longtime vaccine critic leading the nation’s health departments, can you give me updated information on which vaccines are recommended for Medicare seniors this fall? Medicare Mary Dear Mary, Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is undergoing major cultural changes and upheaval, the overall fall vaccine recommendations for “older adults” resembles last year, with exception of the Covid shot. Here’s what you should know. Flu Shots for Seniors Just as they normally do, the CDC recommends a seasonal flu shot to everyone 6 months of age and older, but it’s especially important for older adults who have weaker immune defenses and have a greater risk of developing dangerous flu complications compared with younger, healthy adults. For people age 65 and older, there are three different FDA approved flu vaccines (you only need one) that are recommended over traditional flu shots. These include: the Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Flublok Quadrivalent (recombinant, egg free vaccine), and Fluad Quadrivalent. These vaccines are formulated to create a more robust immune response, helping the body produce more antibodies, which makes them more effective in preventing the flu. All flu vaccines are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B as long as your doctor, health clinic or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays. RSV Shots In addition to the flu shot, the CDC also recommends a single-dose of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine for all adults age 75 and older, as well as to high-risk adults between ages 50 and 74. These are people who have chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems, diabetes with complications, severe obesity, or who live in long-term care facilities. RSV is responsible for 6,000 to 10,000 deaths and up to 150,000 hospitalizations each year. The three RSV vaccines approved and available in the U.S. – Arexvy, Abrysvo and mResvia – are all covered under Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plans. But note that if you got an RSV shot last year, or when it first became available in 2023, you do not need to get a second dose this year. For now, only one dose of RSV vaccine is recommended. Covid Booster If you haven’t had a Covid booster shot lately, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the 2025– 2026 Covid-19 vaccine, which has been updated to target the dominant strain. This vaccine has been recommended for all adults 65 and older and younger people that have a health condition that makes them vulnerable to severe Covid. But the new, CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices just announced that they are no longer recommending Covid shots. Instead, they are recommending 65 and older adults and immunocompromised younger people should decide individually or with a doctor. Covid still causes at least 40,000 hospitalizations and approximately 47,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Covid shots are covered by Medicare Part B. Pneumonia Vaccines If you haven’t been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should also consider getting the pneumococcal vaccine this fall. These vaccines are now recommended by the CDC to adults age 50 and older, instead of age 65, which was the previous recommendation. Pneumonia causes a whopping 1.2 million people to visit medical emergency departments in the U.S. each year and causes roughly 50,000 deaths. If you’ve never been vaccinated for pneumonia, the PCV20 (Prevnar 20) or PCV21 (Capvaxive) are the top choices because they cover the most common serotypes. Medicare Part B covers pneumococcal shots, and you only need to get it once. Side-Effects and Safety You should be aware that all these vaccines can cause mild side effects like pain or tenderness where you got the shot, muscle aches, headache, fever or fatigue. Also note that it’s safe to receive these vaccines at the same time, but it may be best to spread them out a week or two because multiple vaccinations on the same day may cause increased side-effects. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 1. October 10 is World Mental Health Day; which Roman emperor was described as crazy: Caligula, Hadrian or Valerian? 2. What kind of animal is the title character of the 1995 film “Babe”? 3. On Oct. 11, 1884, what First Lady was born who was called “First Lady of the World”? 4. Which South East Asia country has the world’s most skyscrapers? 5. What song that Frank Sinatra recorded was also in the 1993 movie “Hocus Pocus”? 6. How are “The Skeleton in the Closet,” “The Candy Country” and “Little Women” alike? 7. On Oct. 12, 1901, what president changed the name of the Executive Mansion to the White House? 8. How are Candy Land, Uncle Wiggily and Go similar? 9. The 1953 play “The Crucible” is based on what historical events? 10. On Oct. 13, 1903, what team that became the Red Sox won the first World Series? 11. What group originated the 1970 song “I Me Mine”? 12. How are Bumble, Ed and Peabody similar? 13. On Oct. 14, 1644, what advocate of religious freedom founded a current Commonwealth in the USA? 14. What is a mummer? 15. In the novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” what is the “perfect candy bar”? 16. October 15 is Global Handwashing Day; what soap ingredient is almost identical to a cartoon character’s name? 17. What Salem author wrote, “There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October”? 18. What 1962 single of Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers was a “monster” hit? 19. Reportedly, Pliny the Younger invented homework: practicing math, oratory or writing? 20. On Oct. 16, 1847, what Brontë sister wrote a novel with a woman’s name as the title? ANSWERS 1. Caligula 2. Pig 3. Eleanor Roosevelt 4. Hong Kong (550+) 5. “Witchcraft” 6. They are works by Louisa May Alcott. 7. Theodore Roosevelt 8. They are board games. 9. Salem Witch Trials 10. The Boston Americans 11. The Beatles 12. People known as Mr. (workhouse boss in “Oliver Twist,” talking horse on TV series and dog genius in “Peabody’s Improbable History” cartoons, respectively) 13. Quaker William Penn (Pennsylvania) 14. An actor or person going “merrymaking in disguise during festivals” (Merriam-Webster) 15. Wonka Bar 16. Olive oil (Olive Oyle of “Popeye” [originally called “Thimble Theatre”]) 17. Nathaniel Hawthorne 18. “Monster Mash” 19. Oratory 20. Charlotte (“Jane Eyre”)

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 19 Resilient Mystic Collaborative presents a vision for a changing waterfront Special to The Advocate T he waterfront along the lower Mystic River could be one of Greater Boston’s crown jewels: a shining example of a resilient working waterfront that is also widely accessible to the public and naturally beautiful. This vision of the lower Mystic waterfront — based on two years of deep community engagement across multiple municipalities — is detailed in a new report published by the Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC), a collective of 20 cities and towns in the Mystic River watershed working together to address the region’s climate challenges, in partnership with the Consensus Building Institute and Stoss Landscape Urbanism. The project focused on a section of the Mystic River at the heart of Boston’s working waterfront, with critical infrastructure that supports Greater Boston and the broader New England region. The lower Mystic, which refers to the tidal portion of the watershed below the Amelia Earhart Dam, spans five municipalities: Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville and Revere. Future projections show that coastal flood risks will extend above the dam into the cities of Medford and Malden, along with others. Together, these communities account for 70% of the total watershed population. They have faced unique historic challenges and are now preparing for new ones — growing demands for waterfront access, local jobs, housing affordability and climate protection. The City of Chelsea served as the fiscal host for the funding for this project, which was awarded through the Massachusetts Vulnerability Preparedness grant program. The project team worked with a resident-led steering committee and spoke with community members across the region to develop a report documenting a shared regional vision for this part of the waterfront. These recommendations are being taken up by the RMC and will inform the organization’s future resilience work. A vision for a thriving, inclusive, and climateresilient waterfront The Lower Mystic Waterfront Vision report draws from climate data, municipal plans, community voices, businesses and other stakeholders to knit together ideas and aspirations toward a collective blueprint for the waterfront’s future. Highlights from the report cover the following themes: ● Resilient and Climate-Ready Communities: Elevate shorelines, update building codes, address flooding and use nature-based solutions. ● Connected and Continuous Water Access: Improve path networks, neighborhood access, recreation and other multimodal transportation. ● Inclusive and Active Open Spaces: New accessible parks, lighting, signage, bathrooms and waterfront programming. ● A Thriving Working Waterfront: Economic development, regional coalition-building and local workforce development. To implement the recommendations across the four themes, new governance and coordination structures are needed. Currently, there are no institutional mechanisms to support collective planning for the lower Mystic. The region requires a shared framework to vision, plan and align efforts across communities while respecting each municipality’s autonomy. The report recommends creating a more formal institutional arrangement that can act on these recommendations in stages over time; in order to do this, we must: ● Form working groups to advance near-term actions ● Incorporate the four themes of this vision into our own planning efforts at the municipal, regional and state levels ● Complete a working waterfront economic development vision ● Formalize an efficient, coordinated, resourced regional entity that can advance Boston area waterfront planning, projects and consistency across jurisdictions. The full report can be found at https://resilient.mysticriver.org/ lower-mystic-vision-report. As part of the project, the Consensus Building Institute produced a podcast episode that highlights the voices of local residents and workers. It can be accessed on Spotify and Apple Music. MYSTIC VALLEY AREA BRANCH NAACP To Fight Prostate Cancer and Spread Awareness to more Black and Latino Men W OBURN, MA – The Mystic Valley Area Branch of the NAACP will host its annual Prostate Cancer Awareness program in partnership with the AdMeTech Foundation. Local partners Belmont Against Racism (BAR) and Association of Black Citizens of Lexington (ABCL) will also be collaborating on this program. Event will be held virtually on Thursday, October 16th from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, available here: www.admetech.com. St. John’s Baptist Church in Woburn will also be hosting a live viewing party. Please call (781)-935-4314 or email: sjbcpubrel3840@gmail. com for more information about the viewing party. Program will stress both the importance of early detection and education necessary to save more people from prostate cancer that disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities. Resources available from urologists to trust and the ProsNAACP| SEE PAGE 20 A longtime resident of Malden, passed away on Monday, October 6th, after a brief illness.Patr i - cia was born in Malden on August 3rd 1948, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Grace.She was raised and educated in Malden, graduating from Malden High School. She married her childhood sweetheart William "Billy" Rosmarinofski, and the two raised their family in Malden. She then became a CNA and went to work for the Dexter House in Malden, where she worked for many years until her retirement in 2007. Patricia enjoyed going to the casino and playing bingo, and adored her Boston Terrier Rosie. She is survived by her children, Debra Santo and her Fiance' John of Methuen, Kelly A. Rosmarinofski of Manchester, NH, Elizabeth Schroeffel and her husband George of Revere, Dennis Rosmarinofski and wife Dawn of Haverhill, her sisters, Rita LaCount of Lynn and Karen O’Brien of NH, her grandchildren Jessika, Samantha, Jeremy, Dennis Jr, and William "Billy" III, and her great grandchildren Dominic, Mia, Shane, and Ace. Also many nieces and nephews. Patricia was preceded in death by her husband William Sr. And her son William Jr, and her siblings, Betty Fitzpatrick, Barbara Murray, Mary Lussier, Joseph Grace, and Gary Grace. Funeral Services will be held graveside at Holy Cross Cemetery, 185 Broadway, Malden on Tuesday, Oct 14th at 11 AM Raymond L. Benson A longtime resident of Malden, passed away on Monday, October 6th.Ray was born in Chicago, IL in 1957, the son of the late Lowell and Phyllis Benson.At an early age the family moved to Bridgeport, CT, where he was raised and educated.After high school, Ray enlisted in the US Military, serving OBITUARIES Patricia A. (Grace) Rosmarinofski first in the Marine Corp, then in the US Army and the Army National Guard.Ray had over 20 years of service to our country. He came to the Malden area in the mid 70’s, and in 1977 he married his sweetheart, Linda Cunneen.They settled down in Malden to raise their family.Ray and Linda shared nearly 50 years of marriage together.Outside of his military services, Ray had worked in the maintenance department for Atria Health Care in Malden.Health issues forced his retirement in 2020.Raymond enjoyed taking cruises with his wife Linda, watching his children and grandchildren play sports, and was active with the 182nd Association, a group from his time with the National Guard. He is survived by his wife Linda, his children, Raymond L. Jr and wife Lauren of Beverly, and Caitlin Lynch of Wakefield, his siblings, Peggy Claus, Theresa Lipka, Pattie Maiorino, Gary Benson, Lowell Benson JR, Timothy Benson, and the late Russel Benson, and his grandchildren, Bradley, Cameron, Austin, Kennedy, and Lowen. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct 10th, at 11 AM, with visitation beginning at 10 AM. Private interment at a later date in the Veterans section of Forest Dale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The National Kidney Foundation or Wounded Warriors Project in Ray’s honor. Stacy Plumley Of Malden. Died peacefully on October 2nd, 2025, surrounded by friends and family. She was 52. Born in 1973, she was a beloved wife, sister and friend. She enjoyed traveling, sports, and socializing with those close to her. She was the daughter of the late William and Judith Poole. She is survived by her husband, Michael, and stepchildren Mathew and Nicole, sister Sarah and nephew Deacon. Visiting hours will be held at A.J. Spadafora Funeral Home, 865 Main Street, Malden, Massachusetts on Saturday, October 11th from 1:00 to 4:00pm. A service will be held at 3:30pm during the visitation. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donation to the Wounded Warrior project would be welcome. https:// www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org

Page 20 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Humane Removal Service COMMONWEALTH WILDLIFE CONTROL ANIMAL & BIRD REMOVAL INCLUDING RODENTS CALL 617-285-0023 NAACP | FROM PAGE 19 tate Cancer Equity Program will also be presented. Terry Carter, Poet Laureate of Steps Stoops Rebuilt or Repaired Chimney Rebuilt or Repaired House Foundation Leaks Repaired All Basement Repairs Chimney Inspection Roofing & Siding Masonry Repairs Window Installation & Repairs Drywall & Carpentry Waterproofing West Medford will present original poetry, focused on health in communities of color. Rev. Ryan Tankersley and his St. John’s Baptist Church of Woburn will join. Rev. David Killpatrik, long-time Pastor at West Medford Baptist and 2nd Vice President of the Mystic Valley Area Branch of the NAACP will share some remarks. Didier Moise, President of Belmont Against Racism (BAR) will speak at the event. President Jillian Harvey of the Mystic Valley Area Branch of the NAACP will speak on behalf of the branch who has been a champion of civil rights advocacy in the region for over forty years. Representative Sean Garballey, Representative Paul Donato, and Representative Sal DiDomenico renowned champions of Prostate Cancer Advocacy will be present and be honored for their advocacy in prostate cancer awareness. The theme of this year is Love. Courage. Hope. The NAACP believes health is an integral civil right and it is essential that we do more to combat the fact the Black and Brown men are two times more likely to die from this cancer. To attend this event, or learn more information about the event and the Mystic Valley Area Branch of the NAACP, please visit www.mva-naacp.org or email us at info@mva-naacp.org. Please tune into the event live at www.admetech.com. REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS BUYER1 Adamu, Kidmalem Choi, Jasmine Daba, Nadia B El Ghanjawi, Fatiha Kamali, Sharan Maiti, Payel Montoya-Rodriguez, Anibal Tadele, Thomas Wang, Choushi Wu, Philip BUYER2 Fanfan, Carl Boulahlib, Youcef El Ghanjawi, Rajaa Chiluwal, Sumitra Wright, Jeffrey A SELLER1 Adamu, Abyot Hames 3rd, John W Sarikhani, Mohsen Brussard Jr, Alan Fernandez, Maria C Brandt, Andrew C Bowie, Glenn E Doran Ft Zhou, Limin Ren, Zihan Salvato, Deborah A SELLER2 Khakpour, Iman Celi, Deanna J Lessard, Kristine M Bowie, Joy A Lombardo, Rosemary F ~ School Bus Drivers Wanted ~ 7D Licensed School Bus Drivers Malden Trans is looking for reliable drivers for the new school year. We provide ongoing training and support for licensing requirements. Applicant preferably lives local (Malden, Everett, Revere). Part-time positions available and based on AM & PM school hours....15-30 hours per week. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! If interested, please call David @ 781-322-9401. CDL SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WANTED Compensation: $28/hour School bus transportation company seeking active CDL drivers who live LOCALLY (Malden, Everett, Chelsea and immediate surrounding communities). - Applicant MUST have BOTH S and P endorsements as well as Massachusetts school bus certificate. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! - Part-time hours, BUT GUARANTEED 20-35 HOURS PER WEEK depending on experience. Contact David @ 781-322-9401. The Kid Does Clean Outs From 1 item to 1,000 * Basements * Homes * Backyards * Commercial Buildings The cheapest prices around! Call Eric: (857) 322-2854 Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com. ADDRESS Mengste, Muluemebet W 2 School St Hames, Gina M 6 Grant Rd 29 Brentwood St 206 Columbia St 52 Wheeler St 121 Cross St #3 45 Princeton Rd 231 Bainbridge St 41 Webber St #2 44 Park St CITY Malden Malden Malden Malden Malden Malden Malden Malden Malden Malden DATE 09.09.25 09.10.25 09.10.25 09.10.25 09.12.25 09.11.25 09.10.25 09.09.25 09.12.25 09.08.25 PRICE 300000 690000 675000 750000 655000 610000 818000 585000 870000 950000

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 21 Discount Tree Service 781-269-0914 American Exterior and Window Corporation Contact us for all of your home improvement projects and necessities. Call Jeff or Bob Toll Free: 1-888-744-1756 617-699-1782 / www.americanexteriorma.com Windows, Siding, Roofing, Carpentry & More! All estimates, consultations or inspections completed by MA licensed supervisors. *Over 50 years experience. *Better Business Bureau Membership. Insured and Registered Complete Financing Available. No Money Down. We follow Social Distancing Guidelines! FIRE • SOOT • WATER Homeowner’s Insurance Loss Specialists FREE CONSULTATION 1-877-SAL-SOOT Sal Barresi, Jr. - Your fi rst call 617-212-9050 Licensed & Insured Free Estimates Carpentry * Kitchen & Bath * Roofs * Painting Decks * Siding * Carrijohomeimprovement.com Call 781-710-8918 * Saugus, MA General Contractor * Interior & Exterior For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net J.F & Son Contracting Snow Plowing No Job too small! Free Estimates! Commercial & Residential 781-656-2078 - Property management & maintenance Shoveling & removal Landscaping, Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Roofing, Carpentry, Framing, Decks, Fencing, Masonry, Demolition, Gut-outs, Junk Removal & Dispersal, Clean Ups: Yards, Garages, Attics & Basements. Truck for Hire, Bobcat Services. Advocate Call now! 617-387-2200 advertise on the web at www.advocatenews.net Professional TREE REMOVAL & Cleanups 24-HOUR SERVICE AAA Service • Lockouts Trespass Towing • Roadside Service Junk Car Removal 617-387-6877 26 Garvey St., Everett MDPU 28003 ICCMC 251976 Frank Berardino MA License 31811 ● 24-Hour Service ● Emergency Repairs BERARDINO Plumbing & Heating Gas Fitting ● Drain Service Residential & Commercial Service 617.699.9383 Senior Citizen Discount Clean-Outs! We take and dispose from cellars, attics, garages, yards, etc. Call Robert at: 781-844-0472 Classifieds

Page 22 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 10, 2025 Page 23 - LEGAL NOTICE - City of Malden Massachusetts Board of Appeal 215 Pleasant Street Malden, Massachusetts 02148 Telephone 781-397-7000 x2104 MALDEN BOARD OF APPEAL PUBLIC HEARING Advocate Call now! 617-387-2200 advertise on the web at www.advocatenews.net The Malden Board of Appeal will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada) at Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant St, Room #106 Herbert L Jackson Council Chambers, Malden, MA on Petition 25-012 by Troy Ferrio, seeking a variance under Code of the City of Malden as amended – Title 12.16.010 Table of Intensity Regulations: Specifically: Front Yard Setback for a Dwelling, Single Family as per Plans Res-073614-2025 at the property known as and numbered 65 Davis St., Malden, MA and also known by Assessor’s Parcel ID #167-543-344 Additional information, Petition & plans available for public review in the Office of Inspectional Services, 215 Pleasant St., 3rd floor, Malden, MA or online at www.cityofmalden.org or https:// maldenma-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/SelfService#/home Nathaniel Cramer, Chair October 03, 10, 2025 1 bedroom, 1 bath furnished room for rent. $275. per week rent. Two week deposit plus 1 week rent required. Call: 617-435-9047 - NO TEXT TRINITY REAL ESTATE 321 MAIN STREET | SAUGUS, MA | VILLAGE PARK TrinityHomesRE.com No Tricks, Just a Treat! Find out your homes value this Fall! Offering a FREE market analysis on your home! 781.231.9800 13 Seaview Avenue Saugus, MA 01906 Listed by: Lori Johnson Cell: 781.718.7409 5 rooms 3 Bedrooms 1 Full bath 976 Sq ft LISTED FOR: $489,900 317 Lynn Street Malden, MA 02148 Listed by: Lucia Ponte Cell: 781.883.8130 8 rooms 3 Bedrooms 3 Full bath 1,484 Sq ft LISTED FOR: $799,900 Providing Real Estate Services for Nearly Two Decades Servicing Saugus, Melrose, Wakefield, Malden, all North Shore communities, Boston and Beyond. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net FURNISHED ROOM FOR RENT EVERETT JUST LISTED SINGLE FAMILY Classifieds

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