Page 10 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 6, 2024 Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition received funding to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival T he Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition (GMAACC) has received a grant of $2,500 from the Mass Cultural Council (MCC), a state agency, through its FY25 Festivals & Projects Program. In fall 2024, GMAACC planned and organized Malden’s first ever Mid-Autumn Festival to bring the local community together to celebrate. Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is celebrated by many Asian Americans on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. The event attracted over 200 attendees, who sampled traditional mooncakes, made their own lanterns and enjoyed cultural performances, which included Chinese cultural dance, tai chi, lion dance, and kung fu, at First Parish Malden. Community members also participated in a public art project: They wrote or drew their hopes and dreams for a new Asian American Cultural and Community Center in Malden. With MCC’s funding, GMAACC plans on continuing this cultural tradition for the Asian American community in the North Shore in 2025 and years to come. Mass Cultural Council funds reach every community in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to advance the Commonwealth’s creative and cultural sector by celebrating traditions and talents, championing its collective needs and equitably investing public resources. GMAACC is a grassroots, community-led nonprofit that builds power with Asian American community members of the greater Malden area. Its work includes providing direct services, strengthening coalitions and organizing to advocate for community well-being and equity. For more info, access https:// www.gmaacc.org/ Upcoming Family Movie Night at Malden Public Library Wed., Dec. 11, 6:00-8:00 p.m. J oin us for Family Movie Night on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Malden Public Library. We will be showing a 2024 movie based on the book “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown. “The Wild Robot” animated film highlights the voices of Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill and Ving Rhames. “The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot, Rozzum unit 7134, ‘Roz’ for short, that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.” Free snacks will be provided. Movie times are approximate. Rated PG. PROJECTS | FROM PAGE 1 gated a busy evening of discussion and fact presentation from Mayor Gary Christenson’s chief financial staff, Ron Hogan and City Treasurer Daniel Grover. “Time is an important factor and it is our community’s best interest to move quickly toward getting these funds allocated and get these projects going,” Councillor McDonald said. Included among the unanimous appropriation approval votes were the following planned infrastructure improvements: — An appropriation of $2 million for general road reconstruction citywide — An appropriation of $2.5 million for Maplewood Park turf in Ward 7 — An appropriation of $1.5 million for Parking Garage improvements and repairs to the Jackson Street and CBD garages in Malden Square in Ward 4 — An appropriation of $300,000 for Traffic Calming Initiatives All four of these funding directives from Mayor Christenson’s office were favorably discussed by all members of the Council’s Finance Committee, particularly the Traffic Calming Initiatives, which several Councillors, including Chairperson McDon“The Wild Robot” (Courtesy Photo) Carey McDonald City Council Finance Committee Chair ald, Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan, Ward 5 Councillor Ari Taylor and Councillor-at-Large Karen Colón Hayes, all identified as perhaps the number one priority among their constituents. “I get a call or an email on speeding and traffic issues every single day, and when we go out and knock on doors during next year’s campaign, it will be the first thing people will talk about,” Councillor Linehan said. A fifth proposed appropriation, $500,000 for the rehabilitation and repair of the plaza at the Salemwood K-8 School, was tabled at the request of several Councillors, including Colón Hayes and Taylor, who wished Stephen Winslow City Council President to further review the proposals for the repairs there, which are related to the “sinking” of parts of the areas around the outside of the building, which was first constructed in 1999. “This is a major safety issue and we want to make sure we get this right,” said Councillor Colón Hayes, who agreed with Councillor Taylor that the issue was most commonly brought up at community meetings by Salemwood School parents. A full Council vote and further discussion of these Finance Committee discussions is expected at the next full City Council meeting.
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