Malden|News|
February's Top Stories: Missing Teenager, Video From Skateshop Slaying
Not to mention the blizzard! February was a busy news month - here were our top five stories.

About Chris
Email: Chris.Caesar@patch.com
Phone: 781-606-4139
Hometown: Hampton, NH
Birthday: July 5
Beat: Editor for Malden Patch
Chris was born in New York but moved to his adopted hometown of Hampton, NH when he was nine years old. He's taken the whole New England thing wicked friggin' serious ever since.
He graduated from Clark University with a degree in international relations and philosophy, and has masqueraded as a journalist ever since, in both Southern California and New Hampshire.
This is a major plus, as he possesses no other marketable skills.
Your Beliefs:
“Facts are stubborn things.” - John Adams
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism.
However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
This disclosure is not a license for us to inject our beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way.
And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics:
“Politics is the shadow cast on society by big business.” - John Dewey
"Every government is run by liars and nothing they say should be believed." - I.F. Stone
I am a left-leaning libertarian, in the sense that I want to preserve human liberty but also envision a free society in which we progressively tax the rich – sorry, rich dudes. Basically, I want the government and other institutions to stay the hell out of my personal life, and also feel international corporations will be more of a threat to liberty in the long-run than any government.
I have voted for Nader in every Presidential election, though the votes were in Massachusetts and California – had I lived in a swing state, I admit it would've been a harder decision.
Religion:
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." - Nietzsche
I'm an agnostic atheist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_atheism), or as Richard Dawkins once summarized: “I am agnostic only to the extent that I am agnostic about fairies at the bottom of the garden.”
That being said, I am always up for a friendly discussion about the metaphysical, and have a long-standing invitation to any proselytizer at my doorstep to come inside for a cup of coffee.
Not to mention the blizzard! February was a busy news month - here were our top five stories.

The Plan Malden Square project is asking residents for their help identifying streets, areas or neighborhoods they avoid at night in Malden Square.
Has a neighbor helped you out? Did an anonymous stranger come to the rescue? You can give their good deed a taste of the spotlight on a new Facebook page dedicated to honoring kindness in the city.
Outgoing Fire Chief Michael Murphy had his last day on the job Thursday.
Two Democrats and three Republicans submitted the needed 10,000 names.
Walgreens is sinking over $3 million into its existing Centre Street location, with big plans to launch one of the chain's new high-end, Whole Foods-style grocery stores there.
YOUR TURN: How would you feel about a 24-hour convenience store in your neighborhood? Does Malden do enough to cater to the late-hours crowd, or too much?
City hall is starting its application process for a popular summer program employing hundreds of teens. Submissions are due by April 12 at 11:30 a.m.
Oyá Cuban Cafe brings authentic Cuban cuisine and culture to Exchange Street, as well as another upscale dining option to the city's growing restaurant scene.
The pair allegedly pulled up alongside the victim from their vehicle, brandishing a knife and demanding money. Instead, the victim fled and called police.
Residents will have the chance to sound off on the proposed new convenience store, which could open next to Dockside Restaurant.
A team of Harvard graduate students have teamed up with the City of Malden and the Metropolitan Planning Council to help develop a plan for Malden Square.
Reader @McKersin came across this scene at the intersection of Washington Street and Mountain Avenue Sunday night.
Firefighters responded to "heavy fire conditions" at 52 Lyle St. just after 11:20 p.m. Sunday. It is unclear whether anyone was inside the building at the time of the blaze.
Melrose High School finished behind Cape Cod Region Vocational Technical and ahead of Primavera Junior/Senior High School on the racial diversity list in Massachusetts, according to a study conducted by GoLocalWorcester.com.
The school came on top according to an analysis conducted by GoLocalWorcester.com.
Malden is expecting up to 4 inches of snow this weekend. See how many inches have fallen in your area with the LIVE map below.
Weather forecasters are predicting about 3-6 inches of snow in the Winchester area.
Weather forecasters are predicting about 3-6 inches of snow in the city.
Check out police calls in your neighborhood on our interactive map.