Malden
AD VOCATE Vol. 29, No. 19
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Friday, May 15, 2020
Signs of the times: Malden seniors City looks ahead to a gradual reopening get their due with memento signs By Barbara Taormina
M
alden is starting to look at steps and strategies for reopening the city and the local economy. Councillor-at-Large Stephen Winslow presented a chart of properties owned by the city and open to the public during a joint meeting of the Public Safety and Public Property Committees this week. Winslow suggested that councillors could consider recommendations for relaxing some restrictions and preparing the city for a “new normal” in the age of COVID-19. Gov. Charlie Baker has announced that Monday, May 18, is the start date for cautiously reopening the state according to a plan with four phases that includes remaining vigilant about public health data. “We should anticipate some relaxation of restrictions in this phase,” said Winslow. “It’s a good time to think about how we move forward.” Members of the two committees discussed the possibility of reopening some city parks with
fencing to keep kids off the playgrounds. Thy also talked about temporarily eliminating parking lanes on major roads so that residents will have more room while walking. “I’ve gotten a number of emails from across the city from residents who have asked for more space on public streets for social distancing,” said Ward 4 Councillor Ryan O’Malley, who suggested temporarily eliminating parking on one side of Main Street. “It’s crucial that we give people a safe way and enough space to walk around,” he added. Winslow, who was particularly concerned about transportation, said other cities are expediting the creation of bicycle lanes and express bus lanes to accommodate commuters who will eventually return to work. Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan said the state has asked municipalities to consider alternative patterns of commuting, which could in-
CITY | SEE PAGE 4
By Steve Freker
W
hen it became apparent that the COVID-19 pandemic was going to rob members of this year’s high school senior class of many of their traditions, city and school officials across the region teamed up to come up with ways to honor and recognize those Class of 2020 students. This week, over 600 seniors who either attend Malden High School, the two other high schools in the city – Malden Catholic or Mystic Valley Regional Charter School – and other schools outside the city, such as Northeast Metro Tech and Bishop Fenwick, received some well-deserved recognition. Through the efforts of the City of Malden, the Malden City Council and Malden School Committee and others, individual, customized signs featuring color photos and names for every local senior resident or senior from a Malden-based high school are being delivered to their home. They can be displayed either as traditional lawn signs or in windows at the respective homes.
SIGNS, SIGNS EVERYWHERE: All Malden high school senior residents or those who attend Malden-based high schools were honored with signs. (Advocate Photo by Steve Freker)
Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, who also serves as chairman of the Malden School Committee, said the idea was originated by City Council President Jadeane Sica (Ward 8), whose son, John Bernbaum, is a graduating senior at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody. “With school being closed for the rest of the year, it’s more important than ever to support our se-
niors,” said Mayor Christenson, “so with the help of Council President Jadeane Sica and the City Council and School Committee we purchased customized signs for all our graduates to have on their lawn or in their windows.” Malden High School staff, led by MHS Principal Chris Mastrangelo and a slew of volunteers,
SIGNS | SEE PAGE 10
Honoring vets with a living memorial By Barbara Taormina
A
few years ago, Thomas Marcinowski read a story in National Geographic about an underwater memorial where people combined the ashes of recently lost loved ones with markers and stones to create a reef which would stand as a lasting tribute to family members and friends. Marcinowski was inspired by the idea which honored those who died and, at the same time, gave them a final role in helping to rehabilitate a marine ecosystem. He also saw a unique opportunity to honor recently deceased vets. Marcinowski recast the idea and launched Veterans Memorial Reef, a 160-acre site located five miles off the coast of Carolina Beach/Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina where he plans to place the first sections of the
VETS | SEE PAGE 6
* Mulching * Spring Clean-ups * Trimming & Maintenance Thomas Marcinowski, founder of the Veterans Memorial Reef Foundation, has served as an aeromedical evacuation medic, a battalion aid surgeon and an army flight surgeon during his lengthy military career. (Courtesy Photo)
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