A Special New Year Message From The Mayor

Mayor Brodeur Reflects on all the Good We've Accomplished this Past Year
Mayor Brodeur says there is a lot to be proud of and grateful for as Melrosians.

Dear community members,

Serving as your Mayor for the past year has been an honor and a privilege. As the end of 2021 draws near, and I reflect on the year gone by, a quote by Helen Keller comes to mind: “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” To me, these words embody the spirit of Melrose.

This year I witnessed the people of Melrose unite to help each other not only survive, but thrive. I watched neighbors help neighbors in countless ways; I watched people answer the call to mask up and get vaccinated and boosted to – standing firm to ensure community safety and health, despite the fatigue of a long and lingering pandemic. I watched our dedicated City staff work tirelessly to make sure residents of all ages had access to critical services, social and emotional support, and vaccines while they were coping with the disruptions of the pandemic in their own lives. Above all, I watched the kindness, respect, and consideration that Melrosians have for each other. 

We have many things to be grateful for and proud of as Melrosians, and on this, the last day of a long and challenging year, I want to reflect on all the good that we’ve done together:

Helping our community deal with the COVID-19 pandemic was at the heart of everything we did this year, from our early efforts to slow the spread, to getting kids back into school safely, to adapting Recreation and Library programs and services to be “COVID safe,” and creating new opportunities for people to gather outside in parks and parklets. 

And when the COVID-19 vaccine efforts began this past spring, our City made vaccinating our community a top priority. 

With the participation of hundreds of volunteers, the City of Melrose held multiple vaccination and booster clinics, making the vaccine available to thousands of people. By Thanksgiving, 65% of Melrose children between the ages of 5 and 11 had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, a number markedly higher than any of Melrose's neighboring communities. As of today, Melrose is one of the most vaccinated communities in Massachusetts with a vaccination rate of approximately 80%. 

Our vaccination successes have been made possible through the guidance and hard work of our public health professionals, EMTs, nurses, fire fighters, police officers, Memorial Hall staff, DPW, additional City employees, and the dedicated volunteers who showed up when their City needed them the most. Our Council on Aging staff also played a crucial role -  they helped community members access vaccines and made it their priority to ensure older adults and those without internet could schedule their vaccine and booster appointments, booking as many as 200 appointments for community members daily.

Beyond our vaccination efforts, we worked together to support the wellbeing of people of all ages. Like so many other communities, we saw an uptick in the need for social services. This past year, our social services team saw a 92% referral rate for resources and benefits such as fuel assistance, SNAP benefits, Meals on Wheels, housing applications, evictions and appeals, behavioral health referrals, career services, unemployment, and many more. To connect our older adults with the resources they needed, the COA collaborated with public safety services, our hospital and skilled nursing network, and various other community service agencies. COA staff also worked hard to maintain social connections for elders through a series of virtual programming and through the Horace Mann Summer Camp where older residents could safely enjoy live entertainment and movies and participate in arts and crafts and other enriching activities while outdoors. Their efforts helped lessen people’s anxieties during a time when stress was at an all-time high.

Another strength of Melrose this year was our arts community. With dozens of artists living and creating in our City, the art’s sector enhanced the vitality of our public spaces, enriched the lives of community members of all ages and abilities, and above all, kept us connected when we needed it most.

From the Follow Your Art Community Studios’ receptions and Chalk Walk, to the MOST Studio Tour, to the Melrose Window Art Walk that featured artwork of more than 30 local artists in the windows of local businesses on Main Street, art made a lasting impact on our community in 2021. It allowed us to support the creative endeavors of people of all ages and abilities. These community art events also provided us with opportunities to learn, grow, discover, and communicate with each other through visual arts, writing, and performance. And as the 2021 holiday season approached, and we received warnings of supply-chain delays, our community members poured into local art studios to purchase gifts for friends and family this year, fueling our local economy while supporting local artists.

Throughout the past year, we also saw an unprecedented level of sustained generosity from our community members: In the month of December alone, community members donated over $25,000 to the Melrose Emergency Fund to enable the City to provide one-time help to residents experiencing financial emergencies. Melrose also answered the call to support the wellbeing of toddlers and infants in our community with the donation of more than 6,000 diapers and wipes for families in need. We came together in November to support the Veteran Relief Fund, raising over $8,000 to help veterans with rent, emergency home repairs, food cards, utility payments, and more. Through volunteer efforts and financial donations, we made sure no one went without a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, and that every child had the supplies they needed to get off to a successful start to the school year. The list goes on and on - Melrose's capacity to support each other truly knows no bounds.

There are countless other individuals and organizations whose efforts have made a difference to Melrose in 2021 – too many to highlight in this brief message – so in the days and weeks ahead I hope to find more opportunities to share and celebrate the ways in which our community has come together. I invite you to reach out to let me know of any special person, event, or organization whose efforts have made Melrose a better and brighter place. 

On behalf of the entire City of Melrose, and as your incredibly proud Mayor, I thank you for your generosity and for your can-do spirit. The time, energy, and care that you put into maintaining our sturdy sense of community, no matter what disruption COVID-19 hurled at us, inspires me daily and will forever be a great source of my pride as your Mayor.

Today, on the very last day of very eventful year, I wish every member of our wonderful community a safe and happy holiday season and a very happy and healthy New Year. I look forward to all the things we will accomplish together in 2022.

Sincerely,

Paul Brodeur