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
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