“MALDEN Rec Youth Basketball…”

  Apropos of nothing…

• Not for nothing but the Joe Levine led Malden Recreation Dept. Basketball League is just killing it on Saturday mornings at the Salemwood Gym – a gymnasium full of happy children! Young (and older) volunteers making their community a better place to live – happiness, joy and lifetime memories being made on a Saturday morning.
• Shout out to “older” volunteers, such as Danny Gilligan, Anthony Fowlkes, Dana Brown, Eboni, Julie, Paul Joyce and “Irish” Eddie Codair, for early Saturday morning wake-up calls followed by the sound of screaming kids and bouncing basketballs for the next six hours. They would have it no other way!
• Interesting bit of trivia (urban myth?) picked up down the connah: Rumor has it that the very first pizza parlor outside Boston’s North End was right here in Malden. At the corner of Pearl & Malden Street sat the Golden Star Café, which was owned by the Pisaturos. Yes, those Pisaturos. Joanne, Joey and Jeannie’s grandfather owned the joint.
• In the my oh my how time flies department, I never got a chance to congratulate…longtime City of Malden employee Ron “Butchie” Lessard on his milestone 25 years working for this great city of ours. Way to go, Butchie!
• I never got a chance to say thank you…to the “Friends of Eddie Larson Trust Donation Fund” for their generous donation back in early December to the New Hampshire State Police (“Operation Santa Claus”). Pictured beaming ear to ear was Eddie’s little brother Kevin, check in hand, surrounded by Staties and flanked by Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Thank you for all you do, Big Kev.
• I never got a chance to congratulate…Ward 7 Councillor Chris Simonelli for throwing the best winter festival evah on Saturday, December 3 at Lincoln Commons. Many, many people reported back to me that the Lincoln Commons Tree Lighting (and much more) was a stone-cold success! Thank you, Chris, for all your hard work! Malden notices.
• I never got a chance to congratulate…Malden for the beautiful Christmas Tree that stood proudly in Maplewood Square this holiday season. Maplewood Square – hanging on for dear life – always a tightly knit community; it hopes to continue to be that tightly knit community. Good luck to all my Maplewood buds on the future of the Square.
• In the “oh my!” department this appeared in The Boston Globe in December and was brought to my attention by avid Globe reader, my soul brother like no other and the always intellectually curious Marty Murphy: “In 1786, Malden’s selectmen put up for ‘vendue’ (public auction) Mary Degresha, who was unable to support herself. They auctioned her off to the lowest bidder, who agreed to accept payment of six dollars a week for housing and ‘taking proper care’ of her. For two centuries, Massachusetts towns were responsible for supporting those who could not support themselves, according to Mass Humanities.”
• Veal Cutlet Parmigiana with ziti and Sam Adams Seasonal with Greg Phaneuf and Dave Angelo, friends since about the third grade, at the 621 Tavern & Grille? Forgetaboutit! The best! All three of us have been 621/DeVincentis’ fans since their inception in 1981 (and beyond that, actually). Fact: The 621 Tavern & Grille has been part of the fabric of Malden since the 1960s in one way or another. It’s the “family atmosphere” of the 621 (much like the old Highland Cafe) that offers so much to each one of us. Long live Paul and Joey and Bobby and the whole darn DeVincentis clan. Malden loves you!
• Malden High School Class of ’79’s Johnny “Tags” Taglieri recalls Eddie Wilcox as the “Bobby Orr of the (Newland Street) Projects.” True fact.
• The late Lou Racca, educator and longtime football coach at Malden High School, nicknamed Russ Garland, from the Class of ’75 – Galooch! Just for the record, I love Russell and I’ll never forget that case of Bud he drank when we were in the ninth grade – washed down by a whole cheese pizza at the old Jennie’s Pizza on Pleasant Street. Epic!
• Saw these three Malden Catholic hockey studs of yore at the Italian American Citizens’ Club recently – retired firefighter Dave Norton, Robby Buckley and Johnny Levasseur. Lots of talent right there and three great guys!
• Kudos to Inna Babitskaya on her exhaustive account of Malden’s “First Family,” Elisha Converse: “Time of Converse.” It’s on my “to read” list but I get tired even thinking of all the hard work she put into it – like she does for all her work. Keep up the great work, Ms. Babitskaya.
• I ran into recently retired City Clerk Greg Lucey, and he already looks 10 years younger! Also looks like he can still play a solid centerfield for the Devir Park Outreach League Softball Champions of 1973! Stay well, Greg.
• You would think that after what feels like 100 years in business the Big A would lose a little off its fastball. Happy to report, not so. The chicken parm on a braided roll (onions, hots, extra sauce, extra grated cheese – with provolone, of course) was out of sight, man! A submarine sandwich fit for a king!
• Back to Dom’s Sausage after a long hiatus and was amazed at how good it looks. Also love the prepared food section (the beef stew is really good). Had a bowl of chicken soup and a steak tip sub (medium well, grilled onions and hots) – boffo, as usual – even if it did cost me an arm and a leg.
• You think Pisa Pizza is a one-trick pony? Think again! Ever had their Grilled Paninis, Specialty Wraps or Jumbo Wings? You should! Really yummy! Forgetaboutit!
• From Jacob Rodney Cohen aka Rodney Dangerfield: “Yeah, I know I’m ugly. I said to the bartender, ‘Make me a zombie.’ He said, ‘God beat me to it.’”
• Speaking of Pisa Pizza, who remembers the “Ladies Entrance/Invited” sign on the side door of DeMarco’s Cafe? Not the front door, the Charles Street side door.
• The late Richie Cremone brought joy into many people’s lives – and he was known to have brought much joy into his own life (insert smiley face). But did you know that his greatest joy (ever) was being “Papa” to Mollybeth, Johnny, Toni Marie, Ellie, Josie and JJ, whose love for him they will forever hold in their hearts?
• Jimmy Damiano left the building three years ago. Doesn’t seem possible. We go back to Ms. Pearo in the third grade. We kept China Garden in business for many years starting the day they opened their door in 1978. Also, in ’78 we sat in box seats together as Bucky (expletive deleted) Dent broke our hearts. We went from playing baseball on Bruce Field at Devir Park as preteens to owning the Bandstand as young adults. Point being we were thick as thieves, and I miss the big slug.
• “Keeper of the Linden Flame” Chris Moro hit one out of the park last September with his salute to Malden’s “redheaded stepchild,” Linden. His Part 2 was smashing also, wasn’t it?!
• Now I feel old: Kevin Killion (Malden Police Officer) and Lillian Nardone (Treasurer’s Office) – retired! Lil I can sort of understand because we’ve known each other since around the second grade or so, but Kevin? He was a youngster at Devir Park when my crew was on the Bandstand drinking Schlitz and Boone’s Farm. That one hurt. All the best to you both in retirement.
• Bad enough Everett’s been stealing our best (young) athletes for the past 25 years or so! Now we got West Peabody luring our most gifted athletes (of yesterday) to the bucolic countryside just north of Lake Street. Spotted recently at the Big Y in W. Peabody were Eddie Wilcox, Jared Freni, John “Doc” Doherty, Mike Ploumbidis, Steve Craven, Arthur Carbone and the 1979 Sam Aliberti Trophy winner, Joey Peluso.

  As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character “Columbo” would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – sighs of relief were heard from Devir to Pleasant Street and from corner to corner throughout Edgeworth upon hearing news that Ward 2 Councillor Paul Condon (aka “Hoss”) would once again run for the Ward 2 Council seat. After much anguished thought, after much gnashing of teeth, Paul determined that public service is his lifeline. That it was preordained for him to do good for his constituents in Ward 2. Thank the deity of your choice that we have in office – for at least another two years – the voice of reason and sanity. Common sense and the art of compromise, wherefore art thou? You don’t have far to look; he lives on Gale Street, tends bar at the IACC, is stone-cold Edgeworth, was a boss athlete growing up and loves children and puppies. Best of luck, Paul! Edgeworth has your back, as always.

  Postscript 1: Happy Valentine’s Day birthday wishes to the love of my life, my three-year-old granddaughter, Lana. I smile just writing your name. Love you, Lana.

  Postscript 2: Breaking news…on Saturday, February 11, the Honorable Gary Christenson, Mayor of Malden, recognized Joe Levine, Dana Brown, Paul Joyce and Danny Gilligan for creating, developing and growing the Malden Youth basketball program – a much-deserved honor for all four gentlemen. Congrats, guys, all your hard work will be felt for generations to come.

—Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at Pe*****@*ol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.