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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 31, 2021 Page 11 REVIEW | FROM PAGE 1 ic was declared in the spring of 2020 had begun and coronavirus cases had begun to spike, shortly after the Christmas holiday. In a related story, Malden residents were among those across Massachusetts as among the first in the nation to receive federal Pandemic-EBT funds to buy food, $58.40 per student. Also in the first week of the year, the city was in the midst of grief due to the numbing tragedy of the shooting murder of Jayden Brito-White, 18, outside his Bowdoin Street Apartments home on Dec. 29. A single suspect was arrested on Jan. 13 and charged in the Malden teen’s murder: Sifeddine Rogadi, 20, of Everett. News of the availability of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccine – for Malden’s first responders – was welcomed in January. Due to the pandemic, another local tradition, the annual North Shore Black Women’s Association luncheon, was cancelled for the first time since it began in 1993. A Malden man, Mark Sahady, 47, was arrested in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol (Jan. 6), and in a related story, a “Reject the Coup” rally protesting that attack was held on Jan. 20 beside Malden City Hall organized by Our Revolution Malden and the Democratic Socialists of America. Trevor Noah’s autobiographical story, “Born A Crime,” was announced as Malden Reads’ 2021 citywide selection. FEBRUARY: In February it was announced that Malden’s response to the pandemic has included a Rental Assistance and Eviction Program with over $500,000 overseen by the Malden Redevelopment Authority (MRA). Early in February, Malden Public Schools welcomed back over 600 Malden PreK-to Grade 2 students to “in-person” learning after nearly seven months of remote learning school time in their homes due to the pandemic. Several Malden High School seniors were awarded full, fouryear academic scholarships to leading colleges and universities through the QuestBridge National College Match scholarship. A 23-year-old Malden man, Deven Kelley, was arrested and charged in connection with a double-shooting in Salem, Mass., where two victims were injured. Malden Board of Health opened an exclusive COVID-19 vaccine information call center to assist residents seeking vaccine shot appointments. The Greater Boston League (GBL), which already included Everett High, Malden High and Revere High, voted to expand to eight schools, with the additions of Lynn Classical HS and Lynn English HS. For the first time ever, Mayor Gary Christenson delivered his 10th annual State of the City Address virtually online. A 29-year-old MIT graduate from Malden, Quinxuan Pan, who was considered “armed and dangerous” by federal U.S. Marshals, was being sought for questioning in the Feb. 6 shooting death of a Yale University student. Five candidates seeking special permits to operate marijuana sales businesses in this city were interviewed by the Malden Cannabis Licensing and Enforcement Commission. Malden Access Television (MATV) officially announced it was changing its name and vision to be Urban Media Arts (UMA). Councillors Craig Spadafora and Amanda Linehan (Ward 3) announced that a Fellsmere Pond Park redesign plan has been completed. MARCH: In March the month On Memorial Day, the city unveiled new Bronze sculptures commemorating those Malden residents who served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, in a ceremony at Forest Dale Cemetery. started with the acknowledgement that Malden Public Schools was a regional leader for its work as a district in the areas of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), receiving and spending nearly $1 million in grants in the course of participating and/or initiating more than 30 programs related to DEI progress – all in the midst of the pandemic. Also, the city’s newly hired and first-ever DEI Coordinator, Bybiose Larochelle, began work in the Mayor’s Office. March also began with the arrest of a 20-year-old Malden man, Dhamari Jordan, in a joint effort between a federal organized crime and drug investigation team and Malden Police on charges in connection with operating a fentanyl and cocaine drug trafficking enterprise. In City Council news, Ward 6 Councillor David Camell announced he would not seek reelection to a third term, and Councillor Stephen Winslow announced he would give up his at-large post to seek the newly open Ward 6 Councillor seat. Malden was announced as the ninth Safest Community in Massachusetts by AdvisorSmith. The GBL kicked off its Winter Season to mark the first return to high school sports competition in nearly a full calendar year, due to the pandemic. First respondMATV (Malden Ac c ess Television) in February announced it was changing its vision, logo and name to Urban Media Arts (UMA) beginning in 2021. The year opened in January with Malden residents grieving the late December loss of 19-year-old Jaden Brito-White in a gun slaying outside the Bowdoin Street Apartments. ers were in the news as two Malden Police Officers, Ken Watkins and Richard Doherty, were commended for saving a shooting victim’s life in a Walgreens parking lot on March 4, and Malden firefighters from Malden Engine 1, Engine 3 and Ladder 3 combined to save a dad and his six-year-old son after they fell through the ice at Fellsmere Pond. A bizarre pedestrian accident claimed the life of 86-year-old Athena Hartwell, who was traveling on her usual path alongside Hunting Street in front of the EconoLodge and was struck by an out-of-control SUV. Ward 8 Councillor Jadeane Sica and Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora introduced Malden’s first “Community Fridge” in Linden Square. The City Council unanimously approved the new, long-awaited Trash & Recycling Program proposed by Mayor Christenson. The Malden School Committee, in a 5-4 vote, selected Ligia Noriega-Murphy, a 26-year Boston Public Schools product, as the district’s new Superintendent of Schools to replace outgoing, four-year Supt. John Oteri as of July 1, 2022, from among three finalists. The City Council reviewed Open Meeting Law violation complaints made by Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley against Ward 8 Councillor Sica. Dozens of Malden residents were left homeless when the roof collapsed on a six-story apartment building at 166 Salem St. on March 27. APRIL: In April, City of Malden officials kicked off the month by announcing that the new Recycling & Trash program would begin on April 12, featuring Blue and Green city-provided plastic barrels for trash and recycling. The City Council discussed the 166 Salem St. building roof collapse, with a presentation by Building Commissioner Nelson Miller, and the exclamation by Councillor at large Craig Spadafora, “How no one was hurt in that area is a miracle.” The “in-person” return of students to Malden's new Trash and Recycling Program was unveiled by Mayor Gary Christenson, following unanimous approval by the Malden City Council, replacing the 12-year-old Pay As You Throw program. the Malden Public Schools continued as Grades 3, 4 and 5 were welcomed back. A quick-thinking Malden Housing Authority worker, Shawn Nice, 22, was acknowledged by Malden Police and Fire Depts. as instrumental in helping get three children and an older teen out of a burning apartment in the Newland Street housing area the previous week. Malden native Paul Campbell became the first local star in 21 years to appear on a professional Major League Baseball (MLB) mound when he pitched for the Florida Marlins in relief against the Tampa Rays on April 3. Malden residents Jaiir Coleman, 22, and Christina Bernbaum, 23, faced multiple federal and state weapons and drug charges in connection with five shootings in Chelsea and Somerville and drug conspiracies in at least two states. The City Council unanimously approved a $90 million development project that will include a nine-story, state-of-theart office building in the heart of Malden Square at Pleasant and Dartmouth Streets. With a 9-2 vote in favor, the City Council, in another momentous April vote, accepted a pair of grants that would fund a major transformation of Malden’s most-traveled roadway, Route 60/Eastern Avenue/Centre Street, converting it from two lanes to single lanes for vehicles, plus a bicycle lane and a dedicated bus-only lane, a plan championed by Councillors Ryan O’Malley (Ward 4) and Stephen Winslow (at-large). “Fall 2” season sports, including football and soccer, began in midREVIEW| SEE PAGE 12

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