What's The 311 - Podcast From The Office Of Malden Mayor Gary Christenson

Joe Levine an Laura Perez joined Mayor Christenson to discuss the popularity and success of the Malden Recreation Department.

• Find out what Pickleball is and why it is so popular in the department
• What's in store for the summer schedule
• Partnership between the Malden Police Department and the Malden Recreation Department for school vacation activities.
• Learn what Goldball is and how it helps the visually impaired. 
• The three discuss how Malden Recreation will be taking over the process of field permitting. 
• New activities on tap for adults including women's soccer, women's softball and a fitness bootcamp.

Find Malden Recreation online at:

• www.maldenrec.com
• www.Facebook.com/MaldenRec
• www.Twitter.com/Malden_Rec
• www.Instagram.com/maldenrec/

Mayor Christenson invited Malden Catholic Quiz Bowl competitors from the Cheverus Middle School in to discuss their success.

Cheverus Students were Champions in the Malden Catholic 23rd Annual Quiz Bowl Competition! In the Lancer Division, Cheverus students took home a second place trophy as well.

The yearly event is a Malden Catholic student developed and run academic trivia competition between teams of middle school students from around the region. This year more than nine schools featuring 20 teams participated in rounds before making it to the finals. The topics ranged from literature, presidential candidates, the periodic tables, to mathematics and glaciers.  Mayor Gary Christenson and Cheverus Principal Tom Arria came by to wish the students good luck.

Joining Mayor Christenson in studio were newly elected Malden School Committee Members Emmanuel Marsh (Ward 2), Tara Beardsley (Ward 5) and Catherine Bordonaro (Ward 7).  

In this episode , we learn what inspired these individuals to pursue public service as an elected official and what their plans are for tackling the issues at hand.  

Mayor Christenson also acknowledged other newly elected officials that were unable to attend: Michael Drummey (Ward 1 School Committee), Ryan O'Malley (Ward 4 City Councillor) and Paul Condon (Ward 2 City Councillor).

Episode 14 of the What's The 311 podcast is all about Thanksgiving!  Hear in Malden, we have a couple of great holiday traditions and we are about to have a third.  One of Malden's most exciting new businesses, Hoff's Bakery, is in the process of moving to Malden and expanding its business substantially.  Hoff's President Vinny Frattura drops by, with pies in hand, to talk to Mayor Christenson about how things are going with the move and to remind everyone where they can get some delicious deserts.

Kathleen Manning Hall from the Mayor's office dropped in to talk about Malden's Parade of Holiday Traditions and podcast producer Ron Cochran turns to the other side of the mic to talk about what has become a new Malden tradition in the Home for the Holiday's Street Hockey Tournament.

Boda Borg Boston, the Swedish company officially opened its first United States franchise where participants are transported into a real-world gaming environment; an experience called Questing.  

Malden is host to the first ever North American location for the Sweedish company and local owner Chad Ellis came in to talk to Mayor Christenson about Malden's hottest business.

• The origin story of how Boda Borg came to be and what prompted US expansion
• What can "Questers" expect.
• Why Chad chose Malden as the new home for Boda Borg
• Company Information
  • website www.bodaborg.com/boston
  • location: 90 Pleasant St. Malden, MA
  • contact: 617-817-1531
• More quests expected and possible expansion of the Malden location to include more quests

This year Principal Dana Brown will retire from his position as Principal of Malden High School after 13 years of service to the City of Malden.  Dana Brown reflects on his accomplishments and shares some of his favorite moments over the years.

• Mayor Christenson asks Dana about his carreer path and how he landed at Malden High School
• Principal Brown talks about what it takes to be Malden High's next principal. 
• Dana talks about some of his favorite partnerships that Malden has had with various organizations including one of his favorites with Tufts University and MHS's Maker Space.
• The Mayor has a special announcement at minute 16:00
• Dana talks about some significant accomplishments over the years including the most recent MCAS scores as well as MHS's Chromebook initiative
• Dana talks about what he thinks might be his most significant accomplishment with the Pathways program
• Dana talks about his trip to China

Mayor Christenson is joined by NFL Professional Football Player and Malden native Breno Giacomini as he comes back to his home town to give back. Each year Breno comes to Malden to host his American Football Without Barriers camp which is a free football clinic for young players in Malden looking to learn from the best.  The two talk about the upcoming NFL season, Breno's favorite place to eat in Malden and the secret to his success as a professional footbal player.

Mayor Christenson talks 4th of July in Malden with Ward Councillors Jadeane Sica, Peg Crowe, Barbara Murphy and Neal Anderson.  The group discusses all the many fun and exciting family fun in Malden on Independence Day.

Annie Woolley and Jason Surpris from the Malden Teen Enrichment Center as well as to Executive Director of the Friends of the Fells Neil Anderson share about summer activities in the Teen Center as well as the Middlesex Fells Reservation. 

Mayor Christenson talks to representatives of the Class of 2015 from all three of Malden's high schools.  Representing Malden High School was Ashley Yung; Mystic Valley Regional Charter School was Andre DeFilippo; Malden Catholic - Brian Senier