Your input sought on Middlesex Fells Reservation - Residents will have a chance to weigh in on future plans for the Middlesex Fells Reservation at a public forum hosted by the state Department of Conservation this Monday. The meeting is a trail planning workshop and will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. at the McGlynn School Auditorium, 3002 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Medford. Residents are invited to share suggestions or concerns regarding the current and future use of the Fells reservation For those unable to attend, comments can also be e-mailed to paul.jahnige@state.ma.us. The meeting is part of the DCR's planning and assessment process for the Fells reservation, which will result in a Trail System Plan to guide future management of the park and its resources. more

Chief may Return - Retired police chief, Kenneth Coye may return to city work as a consultant for two technology programs related to traffic and parking. Mayor Richard Howard confirmed on Thursday that he plans to resume talks with Coye regarding a temporary position as a consultant for the city's electronic ticketing program. The discussion will take place in the next few weeks, he said. entire article

PAYT bags for low-income - A voucher program is now available to low-income residents for the disposal of their trash. Qualified applicants will receive a voucher for one box (10 bags) of PAYT trash bags for a 10-week period. Single person households will receive 16-gallon bags, while families of two or more will receive vouchers for a box of 33-gallon bags. To be considered please supply proof of income and proof of residency in Malden. After the 10-week period one must reapply for another box. Seniors can get applications at the Malden Senior Center, the web at MaldenRedevelopment.com, the MRA office at city hall - Beth Rosa 781-324-5720 or click here for the form.

Chief's $89,176 pension tops the list - Former police chief Kenneth Coye should collect one of the highest city pensions this year, according to Malden city records. Coye, 59, stepped down as police chief in December after 33 years on the force and seven years at the helm. He will receive an $89,176 pension this year, according to Kevin Morrison, director of the Malden Retirement Board. The top pensioner last year was Michael Caggiano, a retired police captain, who collected $87,085. The city has allotted about $7.5 million, roughly 6 percent of the operating budget, for the fund in fiscal 2010, which began last July, according to budget documents. Entire article

Temple to stay in Malden - After several years of uncertainty, Temple Tifereth Israel has decided to take its Salem Street property off the market. “We had to pose the question: should we stay or should we go?” said Temple president Lauren Cherkas. At its December meeting, the temple's Board of Trustees provided an answer, voting to stay in the location that many of its congregation helped build in the 1950s. For Cherkas, who attended religious classes at the temple as a youth, the decision was a welcome challenge to re-energize the congregation's following through programs and community outreach. “It gives us new direction,” she said. read more

Robots come to the Senior Center - There are always many wonderful projects going on at Malden's Senior Center. The Executive Director, Christine DiPietro and her staff provide excellent ongoing services to seniors and also conduct many special projects. One such project started last fall and has just completed. It was a study by students at MIT to find the best design of robot faces. The group selected several cities around the area and set up for a few days at each senior center. "This group from MIT and Toyota just dropped in to see me, said Christine. "I thought their project was very interesting and we had the space to help them out with their study" The robots arrived over the weekend and a space was set up for them. Several of the youth workers at the had an opportunity to assist. "I went to other classes and groups of people to attract test subjects for the project. We filled a schedule of interested seniors willing to sit and be interviewed," said Chris. read entire story

Giving back to the community - Pisa Pizza held a customer appreciation day to help celebrate it's 17th birthday. Over 2000 free pizzas were giving to customers as our way of saying thank you for making Pisa Pizza Malden's finest neighborhood pizzeria. The staff worked through the day preparing delicious pizzas and greeting thousands of guests. "We decided to do this now because of all the negativity surrounding us every day. With all the financial problems and negative news stories dominating the landscape, we wanted to provide our customers with something good," said the owner Joe Crowley. People could not believe that this was being done all for free - with no strings attached. "The reception that we received was overwhelming. It was a memorable day and we just wanted our customers to know how grateful we are to serve them every day. Thank you from the Crowley family and  the entire Pisa Pizza staff."

Deb Fallon honored at MLK event - A dedication to public service brought members of the community together Monday morning, not only to remember the inspiration of Martin Luther King Jr., but to also honor the work of advocate Deborah Fallon. more

FOOGI update - I wanted to provide an update on the Girl Scout/FOOGI fundraiser Saturday afternoon for the victims of the recent fire in Malden. The girls raised $3820 in gift cards and checks and received a large amount of clothes. The gift cards/checks have been delivered to Christine DiPietro, Director of Human Services who will provide them to her contacts at the Red Cross and The Salvation Army. The clothes will be delivered to the Salvation Army. Thank you to everyone who had a part in the activities. Jim Nestor - Malden City Councilor - Ward 4

Feds declare Malden fire site disaster area - loans available - The US Small Business Administration declared the Mystic Side Estates apartment complex in Malden. more

Electrical system blamed - Looters target ravaged 60-unit Malden complex - Local and state fire officials announced yesterday that Saturday’s devastating fire at the Mystic Side apartment complex in Malden was caused by an electrical malfunction in a third floor unit.

Burned Site to remain vacant - Nearly 100 residents displaced by Saturday's electrical fire at the Mystic Side apartment complex will be forced to seek alternative housing for at least several months, officials say. LINK

Malden officer unfairly denied promotion - Malden police officer Michael Cutillo will be the first member of the department to be considered for future sergeant positions after the Civil Service Commission ruled that he was unfairly denied a promotion based on former police chief Kenneth Coye's dislike of him. link

DiPietro - it's time to make a decision on City Hall - Incoming City Council President Paul DiPietro says he and his colleagues must commit soon to either relocating City Hall or sprucing up the existing facility at 200 Pleasant St.  read more 

Swearing In - Mayor Richard Howard administered the oath of office to all elected members of the council and School Committee, including a few new faces. more

Local nonprofits get grants - Four groups serving the homeless in Malden and Medford have been awarded federal grants for 2010 totaling more than $1.4 million, through a HUD program Continuum of Care. It provides $56.9 million to 302 homeless assistance programs throughout the state in 2010. Heading Home, Inc., which offers housing and counseling services in Malden and Medford, will receive grants totalling $828,443. Tri-CAP which provides heating assistance and other services to low-income residents will receive grants of $359,925. The grants will also fund a transitional housing complex in Malden and homeless outreach effort. Tri-CAP took in $10.3 million in 2007, including $8.1 million in government grants, and spent $8.2 million on program services. Housing Families, Inc., which leases 19 apartments in Malden and Medford for families with a disabled provider, will receive $127,234. The Malden Housing Authority gets $138,720 for shelter services in the coming year.

Council approves property tax increase and exemptions - At Tuesday's Council meeting an increase to property taxes was approved. Mayor Howard and the Mass Department of Revenue must approved the change. The new residential rate will jump to $12.39 per $1,000 of assessed value, up from $9.91. Owner-occupied homes will receive a 20 percent exemption, up from 10 percent. The average tax bill for the year for a single-family home will be $2,896 with the exemption, and $3,769. without it, according to city estimates. The average single family home in Malden is valued at $304,241. The average condominium bill will be $1,786 with the exemption, and $2,659 without it. The average condominium in the city is valued at $214,646. The city expects to grant just over 8,000 exemptions in the coming year. On the commercial side, the rate will jump from $18.17 to $21.38 per $1,000 of assessed value.

City Council grapples with residency rule for Malden - City department heads hired in the future would have to be a resident of Malden, or agree to move here.. more