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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 21, 2025 Page 7 fangool! Simply gob smacked I was! Mark worked that room like a pro with casual ease and a sense of humor that would have made Don Rickles proud! Darting around the room from table to table like a seasoned veteran with style, wit and grace, Mark’s familiarity with all the players in the hall made him an exceptional choice to emcee this gig. His wife, Ward 3 Councillor Amanda (and one of my fave Councillors, btw), looked on proudly. Priceless! • And no, this over-the-top praise isn’t just because he complimented this column. Well, truth be told...it kinda is. I kid, Mark! • Who made an impression on me at the State of the City... Malden’s newest Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Timothy Sippel, whom I chatted up at last year’s San Rock Festa, gets an A+ for his role and for remembering my name last time we met. • Please take note; goes a long way remembering my name and complimenting this column. I jest, of course. • Chris (Rosa) cleans up real nice, as we say in Maldonia, and along with all the good stuff he has been up to shared with us his love for the Native Hackberry Tree as his fave tree. True story. • Deb Burke. How can we miss you, Deb, if you won’t go away (again, I kid, of course). Debbie came out of retirement to once again bedazzle the assembled crowd and give us an informed, thoughtful and wicked cool take on the state of the city through her wise and (former) OSPCD eyes. Look for a blockbuster interview with her in next week’s column, and as Chris Farley used to say, “that’s awesome! • I wish we had more citizens like Cathy LeBlanc. Cathy is a Malden lifer who really, really cares about 02148. Cathy holds no elected office nor is she in the employ of Malden but finds time in her busy life to stay involved and engaged. She holds elected officials accountable but always with respect and the welfare of Malden in mind. Thanks, Cathy, for caring, and I hope you are well. • Speaking of Elaina Savino, I have to say, Ron Cochran left some big shoes to fill when he left Elaina in charge for her first solo State of the City presentation. Yet somehow all 5 foot 2 of Elaina, with her size 3 feet, filled those shoes and then some by tossing out the old script and coming up with a fresh, original and fun format. Jeri (Scibelli) and Marilena could be heard laughing all the way from Emerald Street. • MTEC Director (straight outta Newland Street) Cathy McMullin told us a funny “same universe, different world”–type story as we sat savoring Albert’s exquisite java and breakfast. Seems she and (Malden’s actual MVP) Chief of Staff Maria Luise were classmates at MHS back in (mumble, mumble) but their paths rarely crossed because Cathy was a “jock” and Maria was part of the “smarty pants” clique. Laughs all around the table. • Public Facilities Director Eric Rubin has officially been crowned the unofficial MVP of 2024 (ya, I know that don’t make much sense but please just play along) – because let’s be frank here, his impact (and that great smile of his) speaks for itself! Thanks to his brilliant energy-efficient initiatives, Malden’s energy costs have dropped a whopping 30%, saving the city hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Talk about a game-changer! But here’s the thing: Eric isn’t just a mastermind of sustainability; he’s also a real-life hero. Did I ever tell you fine Maldonians about the time I saw Eric spring into action to save a man’s life as the man lay passed out at the wheel of his car? True story. One for another day, but trust me, it’s a swell story and plenty cool. For now, let’s just give a well-earned shoutout to Eric Rubin – Malden’s energy guru, everyday hero and reigning MVP! • We learned through a cool video presentation from MPD Officer Sal Gennetti that Pearl Street Park aka Little Pearl will get a redo and rededication in the name of his pops, the late great 60-year public servant Police Commissioner Salvatore “Butch” Gennetti. Butch loved his Malden, especially the neighborhood he grew up in, Edgeworth. A fitting tribute to a man we all loved so very much. • Suffering succotash! I just love seeing Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin and Malden Fire Chief Steve Froio at these events. Their presence is always a welcome addition, adding much dignity and respect for tradition to all gatherings. • City Clerk Carol Ann Desiderio always impresses, doesn’t she? Such a worthy successor to the likes of Greg Lucey in the Clerk’s Office. Her professionalism and dedication to Malden is legendary, and I have a slight suspicion that along the way she studied long and hard at the feet of the late, great Karen Anderson to get to that place. I know an A+ is in the future if Carol Ann says it will be! • My esteemed colleague at The Advocate Steve Freker summed it up very nicely last week: “The only grade that could be given to the latest iteration of Malden Mayor Gary Christenson’s State of the City presentation – delivered this week on Tuesday morning at Anthony’s on Canal Street – is exactly that, an A+.” • Little known Eric Rubin scuttlebutt...Mr. MVP was an outstanding wrestler at MHS following in the very large wrestling slippers of the many that preceded him (hello, CJ Lopresti, Dan Ford, the O’Boyle clan, Tommy Monahan, Freddy Ribeiro, Dave Russo, Dom Sardo, Mike Scibelli and Dave O’Brien, to name but a few), and from what I gather from them that know, to this day keeps his still form-fitting wrestling tights (he wrestled at 105) neatly hung in his garage. 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