Malden
AD VOCATE Vol. 29, No. 6
-FREE-
MHS & Mystic Valley Swim Teams Capture Titles – see pages 10-11
www.advocatenews.net
Published Every Friday
617-387-2200
Friday, February 7, 2020
Malden school officials take proactive A race emerges for the 32nd approach to flu season and spread of illness Middlesex District House seat By Barbara Taormina
D
emocrat Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Republican Brandon Reid will square off in the Super Tuesday special election for the 32nd Middlesex District seat left open when former State Representative Paul Brodeur was elected mayor of Melrose. In this week’s Democratic primary, the district, which includes all of Melrose, Precincts Members of Malden Reads presented copies of their 2020 Book Selection, “Fahrenheit 451” by 4, 5, and 6 in Wakefield and PreRay Bradbury, to members of the Malden School Committee, including Chairperson Mayor Gary cinct 2, Ward 5 in Malden, handChristenson and Superintendent of Schools John Oteri. Mary Christenson is shown above, front ed Lipper-Garabedian, a Meland center, with Malden Reads cofacilitators Anne D’Urso-Rose, left, and Jodie Zalk, right. Supt. rose councillor-at-large, an easy Oteri is shown in the third row at right. (Photo by Steve Freker) victory over Wakefield Town Councillor Ann McGonigle SanBy Steve Freker nior Center. management director. Topics tos and Malden’s Mathew HelMalden school officials have of discussion were flu season man, a former communications he population of the Mal- teamed up with the Malden as well as the potential impact director for State Senator Jason den Public Schools dis- Public Health Director and pub- of the coronavirus outbreak in Lewis. District-wide, Lipper-Gartrict community is over 7,000 lic safety agencies in a proac- other parts of the world. abedian ended the primary race when combining its 6,679 stu- tive approach to the health of “We are continuously mon- with 2,580 votes; Santos finished dents and around 400 educa- students and staff. Supt. John itoring reports and advisories a distant second with 866 votes; tors and staff. Oteri said he recently met with from both the federal CDC [Cen- and Helman came in third with Safeguarding health, dis- Malden Public Health Director ters for Disease Control] and 342 votes. trictwide, is a top priority and Chris Webb and members of state and local agencies on both Just 6 percent of the 2,487 regan ongoing process with con- the city’s Emergency Manage- the flu and the coronavirus,” istered voters in Malden’s Pretinuous monitoring, Malden Su- ment Team to discuss health is- Supt. Oteri said. “Our top priori- cinct 2, Ward 5 made it to Forestperintendent of Schools John sues, planned responses and ac- ties are to keep our public health dale School to vote in the primaOteri told the members of the tions as they pertain to the Mal- and safety officials and person- ry. Of the 150 ballots cast in MalMalden School Committee and den Public Schools. Early Learn- nel informed and our students den, 80 went to Lipper-Garabeothers in attendance at the sec- ing Center Principal Peter Dolan and staff safe, health-wise.” dian, 50 to Helman, 18 to Santos ond meeting of the new year on also serves as the Malden school and two to write-in candidates. Monday night at the Malden Se- system’s emergency and safety | SEE PAGE 13 The surprise in the race came
Brandon Reid
T
SCHOOL
Kate Lipper-Garabedian on Wednesday on the Republican ticket. Reid, a Melrose resi-
RACE | SEE PAGE 8
Malden High wrestler Costa is ready to defend her state title By Steve Freker
I
MHS wrestler Yohanni Costa, right, displays the first-place medal she was awarded for winning first place in the Philips Academy All-Girls Wrestling Tournament. Shown with her is her sister Hemmeni, also a member of the MHS wrestling team.
t was a first in Malden High School history last year...and Golden Tornadoes junior Yohanni Costa is seeking to do it all again this year. So far, it appears that the first female State Wrestling Champion ever at MHS is well on her way to achieving that lofty goal. Costa competed in the recent Phillips Academy All-Girls Wrestling Tournament, which featured competitors from Massachusetts and other New England states. She went through the field undefeated, much like her personal state championship run last winter, claiming the Tourney Championship at 147 lbs. Costa also competed in the recent Senators All-Girls Wrestling Tournament in Orange, Mass. Again, she claimed the tourney championship at 147
lbs., whirling through the competition with three first-period pins, two within the first minute of the match. In other dual meets for Malden this season, she has competed against male opponents and been successful in her weight class as well. “She (Costa) works very hard and really wants to learn and get better,” said Malden coach Rin Van. Last season was the first-ever the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) offered an All-Girls State Wrestling Tournament, so Costa managed to make history twice, as the first Malden High state girls titlist and also the first 145-lb. state champion in an MIAA-held state tournament. This year’s All-Girls State Wrestling Tournament will be held on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Methuen High School.
Malden girls’ indoor track unbeaten, claims Championship, Boys’ team co-champs The Malden High girls’ indoor track team knocked off Revere in its final dual meet of the regular season in impressive fashion, 63-21, to finish unbeaten at 5-0, claiming the Greater Boston League (GBL) Championship. In a rarity, the MHS boys’ indoor team not only tied the meet with Revere, 43-43, but also tied the same Patriots team for the 2019-20 GBL Championship with the win. Malden High boys’ basketball tops Lynn Classical, falls to Everett Senior Khaydar Al-Hamdani scored 14 points and senior David Mervilus added 13
SPORTS | SEE PAGE 15