Malden firefighters: Public safety threatened - The layoff of 10 members of the Malden Fire Department and the closure of a station are drawing protest from the local firefighters’ union, which warns the cuts are jeopardizing public safety. Union members distributed leaflets throughout the city Saturday alerting residents to the personnel reductions and the closing of the Engine 4 station, located on part of the former Rowe Quarry site. The union said the cuts would increase the department’s response times, particularly in the Forestdale, Maplewood, and Linden sections, and come in a year in which Malden already has had eight multiple-alarm fires. more

MATV producers win 4 national awards — At the 2010 Hometown Video Festival Executive Director Ron Cox picked up four national awards given to local MATV producers of three separate videos produced in Malden. This country’s largest and longest running media competition is sponsored by the Alliance for Community Media and this year, it was held in Pittsburgh, Penn. The ACM is a nonprofit advocacy group whose mission is to support local media organizations like MATV that provide PEG (Public, Government and Educational) access for their communities across the country. the story

Spadafora looks to wean the state off its spending addiction - State Senate candidate Craig Spadafora says he knows what it’s like to work hard. He’s been proving it since he was a youngster working in his grandfather’s restaurant “Anthony’s of Malden.” Now at 36, Spadafora continues to work at a breakneck pace. When he’s not at his Lynnfield office helping financial advisors grow their businesses, he’s helping his family maintain their own business. Topping that off, Spadafora has been a Malden city councilor for seven years, having won his fourth two-year term in office last year. Leaning over a glass table inside the Investors Capital’s conference room last Friday, Spadafora explains that he often helps out in the restaurant on the weekends folding napkins, washing dishes and even getting behind the bar. “I know what it is to get my hands dirty,” Spadafora says. more

Appeals court orders $4m paid in River's Edge land dispute - The Mystic Valley Development Commission drastically under-valued a plot of land it took by eminent domain in 2004 during the development of the River’s Edge complex and now must pay the parcel’s owner millions, according to a lawyer in the case. The commission must pay the Walk family more than $4 million – about $3.6 million for the land and $400,000 in interest – for a 5.5 acre parcel that abuts the Malden River, said George A. McLaughlin, lead attorney for the plaintiff. “There isn’t anything sexy about this case,” McLaughlin said. “It’ a run of the mill appeal, and the appeals court really slammed them.” entire article

Linden Square to get $160,000 facelift - The Malden Redevelopment Authority gave the green light for contractors to begin work on a $160,000 effort to revitalize Linden Square, a plan that will add trees, change traffic patterns, and “soften” a corner now marked by asphalt and hardscape. more

Malden lifeguard faces child porn charges - A lifeguard who worked at a state-run swimming pool is facing child pornography charges. Prosecutors say 19-year-old Anthony Gabriella of Malden pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of possession of child pornography and possession with intent to distribute child pornography. Bail was set at $2,500 and the defendant was ordered to stay off the Internet and have no unsupervised contact with children. According to a statement from Middlesex DA Gerry Leone, investigators found more than 200 suspected child pornography images and videos on the defendant's home computer. Gabriella has been suspended from his job as a lifeguard at the Department of Conservation and Recreation's pool in Stoneham. It could not immediately be determined if he had a lawyer. © Copyright AP

Malden Neighborhood Basketball - As part of the Malden Neighborhood Basketball League's 25th Anniversary this past season, the league has begun it's first season of "Summer Jam". This is a summer program that will be played weekly throughout the summer at the newly refurbished Green Street Park basketball courts. Any Malden resident going into the 10th, 11th or 12th grade this fall as well as those that just graduated this past June are eligible to play.The first half of the season began last night but anyone wishing to play the second half of the season during the month of August contact Ken Mazonson at 781-324-4420.

Crosswalk improvements continue throughout city: 557 Pleasant St. next for crossing upgrade - Next month, improvements to the streets of Malden will continue with a crosswalk project at 557 Pleasant St. This project, slated to begin in August, is part of a citywide initiative spearheaded by Malden City Councilor Craig Spadafora to make street crossing safer for residents. Residents, mainly senior citizens, have been voicing concerns about crossing streets in Malden for years. more

Newsweek ranks Mystic Valley No. 5 statewide - Mystic Valley Regional Charter school is the fifth-best public high school in Massachusetts, according to an annual list published by Newsweek Magazine that considers student participation in advanced-placement college-level courses and tests. Nationwide, Mystic Valley placed in the top 1 percent of schools surveyed, coming in at number 278 in its second year on the list. A partial list of schools was published in the magazine's June 14 edition. article

Vacca sues Malden - The former city treasurer responsible for overseeing a department involved in an embezzlement scandal last year has retired from his position and sued the city for unpaid vacation time. Frank Vacca, who served as the treasurer-collector for over 22 years, resigned from the position in January, according to City Councilor Greg Lucey. Vacca was on medical leave for 12 weeks beginning in August of last year and submitted his resignation letter shortly after returning, Lucey said. The former treasurer has launched a civil lawsuit against the city, claiming he was never compensated for vacation time he earned on January 1, 2010. read more

Michael Day Joins “Helping Our Troops” to Support Soldiers Overseas - 08/16 - State Senate candidate Michael Day and volunteers from his campaign joined with Helping Our Troops Vice President John P. Fitzgerald and other H.O.T. volunteers to pack boxes with food and supplies to send to our troops serving overseas.
“This is a great way to thank our servicemen and women who protect our nation,” Day said. “Helping Our Troops is an all-volunteer group that has been doing tremendous work for our troops and I was honored to be able to help in a small way.”
Helping Our Troops meets monthly to help pack donated supplies to soldiers serving abroad. To learn more about Helping Our Troops, visit www.helpinourtroopsma.org.

08/11 Katherine Clark Attends Senior Center Events in Stoneham and Lynnfield - State Representative Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) recently attended senior events at the Stoneham Council on Aging and Lynnfield Council on Aging. While at these events, Representative Clark met with many senior residents to discuss the issues that are important to them. “As an advocate for senior issues in the legislature, my visits to the Councils on Aging have helped me better understand the issues that are important to the senior community and become a stronger voice for them on Beacon Hill,” said Representative Clark. “I was very impressed with the resources and activities offered by the Stoneham and Lynnfield Senior Centers, and I look forward to working with them as their next State Senator.” more

Malden High renovations on time for fall - New classrooms, administrative offices, and a host of other improvements await students, staff, and administrators returning to Malden High School later this month for the start of the fall semester, said a supervisor overseeing the school’s extensive renovations. James Norton, project manager for URS Corp., which is overseeing the renovations, said the $77 million project is moving forward on time. Offices, classrooms, locker rooms, and athletic and nurse facilities all received a facelift this summer and are expected to open on time, Norton said. “The Brunelli Building will be 99 percent complete by September,” Norton said. link to more

Benjamin Knack Chopped - Surprising as it may seem, both Autumn Lewis and Benjamin Knack were the latest victims of Gordon Ramsay's chopping block on Hell's Kitchen on FOX as they were eliminated from the competition on Tuesday. While they may be disappointed that they did not make it into the finale, neither one regrets a thing. We had a chance to sit down and chat with these two about their time on the show as well as what we can expect to see from them in the future. read the interview 

Poisoning suspected in domestic case - man and a woman are hospitalized at Massachusetts General Hospital after an apparent poisoning in Malden. Officials were called to 68 Washington St. on Sunday at about 10:50 p.m. for a domestic disturbance, said fire Deputy Chief Jack Colangeli. “There was some indication of a poisoning,” Colangeli said. the story

Bridge dedication for Siblings who Served in Combat - On Sat, July 10th, the Clifton Street Bridge will be dedicated to all siblings who served simultaneously in combat in the U.S. military in defense of our country. The designation was signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick and the ceremony will be 10:00am on the bridge. The dedication will be particularly meaningful to Middlesex Sheriff James V. DiPaola whose late father Arthur served in the Marine Corp. along with his uncles John, - Air Force and Rocco - Navy. Sheriff DiPaola stated, "Malden has a long history of paying homage to its veterans and I am grateful that my family has played a part in the United States remaining the land of freedom and opportunity.” For info: Ward 4 Councillor James Nestor 781-324-2672 or jnestor@cityofmalden.org

Planning Board gives green light to High Rock development - Residents of the Maplewood Highlands neighborhood are worried about the effect of blasting from a proposed 18-unit subdivision on nearby High Rock. A controversial subdivision in Malden's Maplewood Highlands neighborhood received court-ordered approval from the Planning Board last month, paving the way for what some neighbors fear will be a dangerous construction project in an environmentally sensitive area. Planning Board members originally voted to reject a proposal submitted in 2003 by D&L Realty Trust of Somerville to build 18 units and roadways on an elevated parcel of wooded land known as High Rock. The developer appealed the decision in Land Court and a ruling was delivered last February ordering the board to reverse its decision. At an April 17 hearing, the board officially approved the project. MORE

Officials Attend Agave Mexican Grille Grand Opening - Agave Mexican Grille & Tequila bar is officially open for business! Malden Officials attended a Grand Opening Event, complete with an official ribbon cutting ceremony along with samplings of authentic fresh Mexican Cuisine, on Monday, May 24, 2010. The menu at Agave is wide-ranging, with a number of traditional Mexican dishes, seafood and steak entrees with a spicy flair and some items a bit more mainstream. The specialty tequila bar offers a full-on selection of premium tequilas and knowledgeable service for a true Tequila 101 experience. The kids’ menu ‘Para Los Niño’s’ features both Mexican options and traditional American items. The 5,400 square foot restaurant, which seats 180, has a free private function room available for events, meetings and fundraising opportunities.