“Julie Eunice Willcox Turner”

  Malden, please give a big round of applause to Julie Eunice Willcox Turner for her decision to give back to the city she and her family love so much. Julie recently pulled papers to run for the vacant Ward 5 Council seat previously held by the beloved Barbara Walsh Murphy. A worthy successor for sure if she prevails in September. As Herman’s Hermits once sang, Malden…“somethin’ tells me we’re in for something good.” To get to know her a little better – 20 questions asked, 20 questions answered – take it away, Julie:

1. My full name is… Julie Eunice Willcox Turner.
2. I am currently… a full-time employee of RIE Energy, a wife, a mom of two boys and a very proud aunt to 7 nieces and nephews.
3. I am saving up for… our next family vacation.
4. My home is in… the Forestdale area of Malden.
5. I love people who… care about others!
6. Something I say a lot is… hello, good morning/afternoon (I am known for talking to everyone I see lol).
7. I consider myself to be… energetic, hardworking, and caring.
8. I need to have…coffee in the morning.
9. My favorite movie of all time is… Good Will Hunting.
10. My all-time role model is… my grandmother Eunice. She taught us what love and support truly means.
11. I respect people who… treat others with respect even through differences.
12. The best thing anyone has ever said to me is… that I am a great Mom. The hardest yet most rewarding job there is.
13. I am happy when… I am feeding others. I love to cook.
14. I find kids to be funny/hilarious, they do not hold back.
15. I am named after… my two grandmothers.
16. I have 2 kids. My boys are 14 months apart. Kevin just turned 13 and Cole will be 12 in July.
17. The farthest I’ve ever been from home is… Jamaica.
18. My special talents are… being able to see the bright side of things even through trial.
19. I have 1 pet. A 1-year-old Golden Doodle named Mick that we adore.
20. I played sports as a youngster through Malden Little League and Malden Pop Warner which I am in full circle as my children now participate in both.

  It is said in “Malden Musings”…

• Get ready, Malden! Dante Diserio is back in the game! Looks like Dante has pulled papers and will make another run at Councillor-at-Large. Dante is many things to many people. An Edgeworth/Malden legend when I was growing up and a sweetheart of a man. Stay tuned for details.
• How ’bout Coach (Witche) Exilhomme being awarded the 2023 Black Excellence on the Hill Award by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus! Steve Ultrino and other members of the Malden state legislative delegation were on hand for the presentation for the local man who made good. How ’bout that! Way to go, Coach Exilhomme!
• Ward 7 Councillor Chris Simonelli’s schedule!? Do you sleep?! If you read Steve Freker’s article in the Advocatea short while back, you gotta marvel at Chris’ work ethic and the initiatives he is trying to put in place for Ward 7. Mr. Simonelli, I hope you have time for at least a long weekend at York Beach this summer! Keep on truckin,’ Chris, Malden’s soul brother like no other!
• “Eddie the Greek’s” little brother Romolo passed away on May 8 at age 86. Romolo “Romeo” DiGiantommaso was the dear brother of Anne Burns, Teresa Bailey, Louise Spadafora, Gloria Hudson, Mary Steed, Helen Gaetani, Concetta O’Malley, Mildred Caporale, Eddie, John, Thomas, Frank, Alfred and Dom. Imagine Christmas morning back in their childhood!?
• Kevin Benner – a name absent from this column since its inception – hanging my head in shame, my bad. Superintendent of Pine Banks Park during the day, good Joe all the time! If you’ve spent any time at Pine Banks recently or just driven by, for that matter, you know that Mr. Benner is, like, wicked good at his job! I spent some quality time with KB a couple of Friday mornings back, and for a young pup the kid got some knowledge to go with serious game! More in the future on the pride of Malden via Charlestown aka the Prince of Pine Banks Park.
• The kickoff happening to reelect Mayor Gary Christenson was a standing room only barnburner! The room upstairs at Anthony’s was bumping from six o’clock until Albert forced everybody out the door after eight or so! I know I deal with hyperbole on occasion, but this is one time where I am dealing with facts only. Such a great night full of Malden’s best and brightest! True story – I saw Chris Vetree, Cathy LeBlanc and Jason Law having a blast mingling with many of Malden’s influencers, inspirers and fashionistas. Go Gary – four more years!

  As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – Malden High A.D. Charlie Conefrey would be happy as a pig in mud if just 150 people showed up for an MHS football game, never mind the 8,000 that MHS versus Montreal High School drew in 1945 at Pearl Street Stadium. You read that right: 8,000 paying customers (excluding fence hoppers, of course). MHS has a long and storied football tradition going back to at least 1883 when Malden played Medford for the first time. Legendary players – such as Sheep Jackson, Charlie O’Rourke, Carroll Lowenstein, Dom Fermano, Dave Moulton, Tommy Cuhna, John Stanasek (to name but a few) – are still talked about whenever Maldonians of a certain age gather for a cold Ballantine Ale or two. Whether it be at the 621 or the Moose on a Saturday night, or Franny’s in Maplewood Square on weekend mornings, or the Italian American Citizens’ Club; MHS football history is recalled in vivid detail. With that said, I was gifted an MHS football scrapbook from yesteryear. Here is something from the mid-1940’s as reported in one of the Boston dailies: “Malden Romps Over Montreal” by Murray Kramer:

  “Some 8,000 curious fans had their first peek at international schoolboy football over at Pearl Street Stadium yesterday afternoon and then left convinced of just one thing – this first effort should positively be the last.

  “It wasn’t the fact that Malden beat Montreal H.S. 39 to 0: it was simply that the two nations play an entirely different game and that the Canadians were completely at sea.

  “The invaders would try to rush on fourth down inside their own 20 even though they hadn’t made a yard by rushing all day: they would punt from 4 yards back and they knew nothing about down field blocking or defenses.”

  Use Dozen Men

  “American rules prevailed except for the allowing of a 12th man known as a flying wing (another back) in the last three periods. And then Malden went this rule one better by using 13 men for two plays during the third period without the official being any the wiser.

  “Actually, Montreal’s only offense was a sweet right-hand punch used very effectively by Tommy Manastersky, the Montreal captain. In the third period he staggered Carroll Lowenstein with a honey of a belt for which he drew 15 yards. A few minutes later he measured another Maldenite before being forced to call it a day – just another way of cementing good-will relationships. But let’s get down to the scoring details.

  “The touchdown data revolved largely around Johnny Carroll who counted no less than 4 times. He opened the scoring with a seven-yard thrust off tackle and then snared three T.D. passes. Morelli threw two of them – one for 6 and for 15. Then Lowenstein pitched the third one to him for 16 yards. Morelli also added one with a 10-yard plunge.

  “And the final tally was the crowning touch. Coach Eddie Melanson sent in his ‘Red Shirters’ – the little sophomore scrubs who don’t even rate the program recognition. All they did was march 30 yards into the end zone territory on three plays with Lipnosky going the last 12.”

  Need Uniform Rules

  “The three conversions were booted by George Sicarello. That accounts for the scoring, which was certainly not as high as it might have been. Nine Malden fumbles plus a half dozen penalties ended many potential touchdown drives. Actually, it appeared that Malden should have scored every time it had its paws on the ball.

  “But maybe they wanted to maintain good neighborly relations. This is not meant as a blast in the least at the Canadians kids; If that was their real aim, then the Malden authorities should never go north of the border for opposition again.”

  Postscript: Like a less than subtle siren song when the kitchen is cranking at Floramo’s on Centre Street and you’re driving by with the windows open, forgetaboutit! You gotta pull over, take a seat at the bar and order a steak tip/sausage combo with mashed potatoes! You just have to! Thank you (again), Mr. Floramo, for choosing Malden as your home!

—Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to the Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.