Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 21, 2025 ~ Malden Musings ~ Mayor Christenson and the State of the City 2025 By Peter Levine A s I was saying.... The SRO State of the City address – all agree – was one of the most entertaining and one of the cleverer presentations in recent memory. The event was an electric mix of energy, interaction and insight! From Mayor Gary Christenson himself to a who’s who of Malden’s elected officials and municipal leaders, everyone in the room wasn’t just an attendee – they were an active participant in the excitement. The atmosphere was buzzing, the engagement was real and the spirit of Malden was on full display! Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! Owned & Operated by the Conti Family since 1958 “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! 2024 was a year of triumphs, and the road ahead? Even brighter. (Can we possibly outdo ourselves? Challenge accepted, I say!) By a stroke of luck – or maybe just sheer determination (truth be told, my brother Joe asked me to sit nice at his table) – I managed to snag a golden ticket to this sold-out extravaganza. And let me tell you, folks, I didn’t just get a seat – I landed the seat, right in the heart of Malden’s elite inner circle. So, buckle up for a highly subjective (but undeniably enthusiastic) take on this historic event, delivered straight from your ever-faithful MM correspondent. Rest assured, dear reader, that everything you’re about to witness is brought to you with a steadfast commitment to truth, justice, the American way (and a dash of fun here and there) – but most importantly, a future for Malden that’s bursting with promise. Let’s dive in! • As I stepped into Albert’s joint (or, as some locals lovingly call it, Anthony’s by the Canal), the rich aroma of imported coffee and the sweet scent of Albert’s legendary homemade pastries wrapped around me like a warm embrace. At a corner table, deep in conversation, were Recreation Director Joseph E. Levine and OSPCD Director Alex Pratt. “Ah, the power brokers of pastry and espresso,” I quipped, making my way toward them. They looked up, grinning, mid-sip. I wasted no time. “I just secured myself a prime seat from the mayor – on the condition that I mention him positively in at least my next three columns.” Alex barely let me finish before firing back, eyes twinkling over his coffee cup, “Isn’t that a reduction in the number of articles you mention the honorable mayor?” Boom. Roasted. Even the espresso felt weaker in comparison. • One table stood out. Sitting together was a Maldonia all-star lineup for the ages. That table A screen shot from the presentation honoring Public Facilities Director Eric Rubin as Maldonia MVP – pictured with Mayor Gary Christenson. shimmered with more star power than a century of Hollywood’s brightest Oscar nights combined – each guest a living legend in their own right! This rogues gallery included Public Facilities Director Eric “MVP” Rubin, City Controller Chuck “Hershey’s Parent” Ranaghan, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance at Malden Public Schools Antonietta (‘Toni’) Mertz (side note: don’t she have a smile that lights up a room – said with all due respect, of course!), Inspectional Services Director Nelson Miller, City of Malden Assessor Nate Cramer, Teen Enrichment Center Big Cheese Cathy McMullin, Recreation Director Joey Levine, Treasurer/Mixologist Extraordinaire Danny Grover and in my humble opinion maybe the hardest working man in show biz and my personal MVP (underground rumblings confided in me that he was MVP runner-up coming in a close second – true rumblings!), DPW Director Bobby Knox. All that table needed was Jeri Scibelli from Human Resources to make it the complete roster of MVP Maldonia. • As I mentioned last week, there was a breakout star on this day: Mark Linehan! I was like baSpring is Here!
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