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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 24, 2021 Page 5 Last, But Certainly Not Least By Gini Pariseau F inally, here it was…Christmas Eve. It was the night Allison had been waiting for. The family would gather around the tree as Allison and her two older brothers gave their parents their gifts. It was the first year Allison had been old enough to be part of giving her very own present to her parents. Allison was excited about her gift because she had made it herself. As her parents sat in the two big chairs beside the fireplace, her brother Jamie pulled a red box with a green bow stuck to the top out from under the tree and handed it to his mom. She read the little tag aloud and opened the box. Inside was a REFERENDUM | FROM PAGE 1 The date for the Special Election was set by a Malden City Council vote at Tuesday night’s meeting for Tuesday, January 23. Special voting details that day include that voters in all 16 precincts in all of the eight respective wards will cast votes in one central location, the Malden Senior Center (7 Washington St.). Also, the polling place for this Special Election will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. only. When explaining the details of the January 23 Special Election, Malden City Clerk Greg Lucey, at Tuesday night’s final City Council meeting of 2021, noted this is a change from the usual polling place voting hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. City Clerk Lucey also noted that while there will be no mail-in voting in this Special Election, there will be absentee ballots available. While the proposal before the Malden City Council by Northeast Metro Tech Superintendent David DiBarri and consultant Charlie Lyons was favorably received in Malden and other communities, not so in Saugus and Chelsea, where those municipal governing bodies expressed serious concerns with the size of the price tag on the proposed new school and what it would mean to those communities’ taxpayers annually. The Chelsea City Council was unanimous in its rejection of the proposal with an 11-0 vote. Plans had called for Chelsea to be responsible for about $1.9 million per year for 30 years to fund its share of the new school project. Saugus Town Meeting members voted 37-6 to support the Finance Committee’s recommendation to not raise and appropriate a sum of money for the costs attributed to the construction of beautiful red candle, and as his dad put a match to its wick, Jamie told them that it would smell like cinnamon in a minute. Everyone waited and commented on the wonderful cinnamon scent. Next came Peter, who proudly presented a gold box with gold ribbon to his Dad, who read the tag and opened the box. Inside was a wonderful assortment of jelly candies. Everyone sampled a different flavor and commented how good their choice was. Allison came up next with her hands behind her back. In one sweeping action she presented her gift and held it in front of her. It was a big card that had a Christmas tree on the front with Santa and his reindeer going over the top of it. At the botthe facilities of a new Northeast Vocational High School. According to details outlined before the Saugus Town Meeting by the Northeast reps, that community was being asked for a $23.3 million (13.7%) contribution to the overall funding for the new school project. The January 23 Special Election would appear to be a favorable one for the new school plan since 10 of the 12 sending districts did not formally reject the proposal after it was presented to its respective governing body. But the voters themselves in the communities will now ultimately decide the fate of the project. A simple majority vote is required, either way it falls. At the presentation in Malden, the Northeast Metro Tech consultant Lyons noted that there has never been a Special Election for funding a vocational school building project that has lost in Massachusetts when it has gone to the voters. Plans call for a four-story new Northeast Metro Tech facility that will provide enough space for 1,600 students – a 26% increase to what the current vocational school in Wakefield offers for student capacity (1,270 students). There is at this time a waiting list of approximately 400 students from the 12 communities. The new school would allow Northeast Metro Tech to clear that waiting list. Highlights of the new school include a design to maximize 21st-century learning environments, a full-size gymnasium, a new cafeteria, a 750-seat auditorium, state-of-the-art shop space, an upper-level courtyard, roof decks, a double-height library rotunda and improved individualized education program (IEP) accommodations. tom, Allison had printed “Mom and Dad” with a different color for each letter. Allison’s mom reached for the card, and both parents leaned together as they read the inside and commented on the pictures. Allison’s dad sat the card on the mantle and suggested everyone sample another round of jelly candies. He then turned the room lights down so they could appreciate the glow from the candle better. The card Allison had made for her parents faded out of sight on the mantle as the candlelight illuminated the coffee table and the candy box. Allison began to feel her gift didn’t match up to her brothers’. The card had only provided momentary excitement as it was opened. Already it had faded in comparison to her brothers’ gifts. She passed on the next round of jelly candy and expressed her desire to go to bed so Santa Claus could come. She went to sleep dreaming of a magic moment when her parents would like and enjoy her present the best. The next morning she came down the stairs to the living room, and while there were so many presents under the tree from Santa, the first thing she noticed was the coffee table. The candle had burned itself away and the box that contained the jelly candy was empty. But there, sitting high and proud on the mantle, was her card. ~ Under New Ownership! ~ Robert’s Restaurant 251 Broadway, Rte. 99, Malden * (781) 397-0628 Hours: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM Family-owned & Operated The BEST Breakfast & Lunch for 32 Years! Hungry Man New Yorker Breakfast Specials Bacon, Homefries, Toast or English Muffin $8.15 + Tax 3 Eggs, Sausage & $8.15 + Tax 3 Eggs, Sausage & Bacon, Homefries, & Toasted Bagel with Cream Cheese Baked Chicken & Spanish Rice $12.95 + Tax $7.00 + Tax Delicious Lunch Specials American Chop Suey WE CAN HELP PAY YOUR HEATING BILLS! You may qualify for ABCD’s Fuel Assistance Program and be eligible for as much as $1,030 towards your heating costs (oil, gas, or electric). Maximum benefit is $1,030 Household of 1 = $40,951 Household of 2 = $53,551 Household of 3 = $66,151 Household of 4 = $78,751 Cold days are coming. ABCD’s got you covered. APPLY TODAY! Last day to apply is April 30, 2022 Residents of Boston, Brookline, and Newton: 178 Tremont Street, Boston, MA — 617.357.6012 Residents of Malden, Medford, Everett, Melrose, Stoneham, Winchester and Woburn: 18 Dartmouth Street, Malden, MA — 781.322.6284

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