Maldden alld a Vol. 30, No. 52 den AADD -FREEHave a Safe & Happy New Year! CTE CAT AT www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 617-387-2200 E Friday, December 31, 2021 Malden Year in Review: COVID-19 pandemic began and ended 2021 as top headline Malden students returned to school 'in-person’ – city councillors approved dramatic changes in infrastructure YEAR IN REVIEW: Shown above, in August, the City Council Chambers were rededicated for the late former longtime Malden City Councillor and State Rep. Herbert "Herbie" Jackson. By Steve Freker T he once-in-100 years COVID-19 pandemic has been at the top of local, state, national and world headlines for nearly two years now. In this past 2021 calendar year, stories of Malden’s state of aff airs in respect to how its residents were faring as a result of the pandemic and how government, Despite some opposition, it appears new $317.4M Northeast Metro Tech school has favorable support Malden city councillors expressed backing, but voters will have fi nal say among 12 district communities on Jan. 25 By Steve Freker T wo of its biggest sending communities took one-sided, formal votes in opposition to a commitment of tens of millions of dollars for a new Northeast Metro Tech high school facility in Wakefi eld. The Saugus Town Meeting and the Chelsea City Council were not swayed by presentations before them by representatives of Northeast Metro Tech seeking financial backing for a proposed $317.4 million facility, which would be built over about a two-year span alongside the existing, 50-yearNORTHEAST| SEE PAGE 7 YEAR IN REVIEW: Shown above, Malden Police Offi cers Richard Doherty and Ken Watkins were hailed as heroes for saving the life of a gunshot victims who had careened into the parking lot of Walgreens in Malden Square in March, bleeding heavily from their wounds. The pair was honored for their heroism later in the year. At left Police Chief Kevin Molis, at right, Capt. Glenn Cronin. at all levels, was responding to the Coronavirus, dominated the news from start to fi nish. In between there were some major moves made with dramatic effects on major infrastructure; some new faces elected to city government; a return to in-person learning, and strides toward improved equity and inclusion in the Malden Public Schools. The following is a look at 2021, month-by month. JANUARY: As the New Year began, the fi rst winter season since the COVID-19 pandemREVIEW| SEE PAGE 11 INSIDE INFORMATION: Malden City Council bids adieu to three of if its own, totaling some 40 years of service Councillors Anderson, Camell and DeMaria participate in their fi nal meeting O ne City Councillor was fi rst elected in 1983 and served in parts of fi ve diff erent decades. Another served for much of the past decade and became a vocal supporter of some previously less heralded topics, such a civic engagement and the arts. A third took up the mantle of promoting and preserving what has become a growing issue of concern – energy effi ciency and sustainability – and made it a leading light of his two City Council terms. On December 21, three Malden City Councillors made their fi nal appearances behind the rostrum: longtime Ward 7 Councillor Neal Anderson, Ward 6 Councillor David Camell and Councillor-at-Large Debbie DeMaria. All three Councillors announced earlier this year they would not seek reelection this past fall. Anderson, who was fi rst elected in 1983, served as a City Councillor in parts of fi ve diff erent decades, a total of 14 terms and 28 years. He was on the City Council for parts of the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and now, just into the 2020s. Camell was first elected in a special election as Ward 6 City Councillor to fi ll an unexpired term, then reelected in 2017 and again in 2019. DeMaria was fi rst elected to the City Council at-large in 2013, after one term as a School COUNCIL| SEE PAGE 8
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