THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 2, 2025 Page 7 But I can’t picture that end of Pleasant Street without conjuring the old Charlie Browne’s Café – later reborn by Al Glynn Sr. as the Strandway, a smoky, dim-lit gin-joint rumored to be a favorite watering hole of none other than the alleged Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo. Two doors down? Jenny’s Pizza, dishing out slices that could burn the roof of your mouth and still keep you coming back (as a ninth grader, I remember it well!). And who could forget the Strand Theatre – where in 1965 the curtains parted for “The Outlaws Is Coming” with The Three Stooges? Little brother Frankie and I were there, wide-eyed with our older cousin, “Big Joe” Bates. Down the block was Al’s Pool Room, where legends like Al LaFave and Tony DiFilippo held court with chalk-dusted cues and (at times) illegal smiles. These are more than memories – they’re the ghosts of Pleasant Street, whispering stories to anyone who pauses long enough to listen. Come back for more if you like old Maldonia ghost stories brought to you by the stable genius himself, me! • Maldonia’s ace hurler, baseball superstar Sammy Steed’s daughter, Jess, is just killing it as a senior centerfielder for coach Steve Lomasney’s Girl’s Peabody Tanners. Updates to follow on “Malden North’s” girls’ softball squad featuring Sammy’s all-star daughter. • I am very happy to report, once again, that one of Malden’s best friends, Jimmy Semon, is alive and well and looking like a million bucks in 2025. Peace out, my friend, be safe and I hope to see you (more often) during the bocce season? • The burning question throughout Maldonia for years now? At 430 Main St., in the heart of beautiful downtown Malden Square, is it “India Bazaar” or “Indian Bazar”? Conflicting signs in the window of this South Asian grocery store have been confounding residents from Linden on the Saugus Branch to Donut Villa like forever! 430 Main Street was the former home to Malden’s original greasy spoon, Arthur Chopelas’ Schopell’s Deli, later the Converse Restaurant. I skipped class for the first time (and last) at Schopell’s as a sophomore after Mr. Cunningham strode in and explained to me (in no uncertain terms) how I would need to be more “creative” if I intended to skip class on his watch. One of my boyhood mates, Paul Figelski, and I had our first chicken croquette dinner at Schopell’s, and although it was yummy we had no idea what exactly it was made of. • I’m delighted to report that Boston’s undisputed king of square slices, Galleria Umberto, is still serving the absolute best pie in town! This Hanover Street institution – helmed by brothers Ralphie and Paul Deuterio (both old Malden Y guys) – has been dishing out legendary Sicilian slices, golden-crusted arancini, crispy panzerotti and perfectly stuffed calzones since JFK’s Everett Supplies Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •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! presidency. Their parents Umberto and Antoinette, opened the original spot on Parmenter Street as a bakery in the late ’50s. The line is always long, the menu is no-nonsense and the pizza? Still the bestest! Here’s to many more years of success, gentlemen – see you soon! • It’s…the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, we are talking about opening night bocce ball at the Italian American Citizens Club in God’s country, Edgeworth! All roads lead to the IACC on Pearl Street on First Night as evidenced by all the big shots who came by to throw out the proverbial first bocce balls. Thank you, Mayor Gary Christenson, for stopping in (by the way, with those bocce skills, I expect you to have a team next year!), and very special guest star, Dom “Top Dawg” Fermano, for adding a little class and dignity to the festivities that night. Fuhgeddaboudit and thank you very much, one and all. Breaking news out of Edgeworth... Shuffle puck just might be the underdog of barroom sports at the Italian American Citizen’s Club; playfully dubbed the red-headed stepchild to bocce! But don’t let the diehards hear you say that! Especially not the father-daughter dynamo of John and Katharine Mehos, who just claimed their second straight championship and play the game as if it’s a question of survival! All season long, the competition was fierce and the margins razor thin. But the Mehos duo stayed cool under pressure, dialed in with every puck and delivered clutch shots when it mattered most (and they were fan favorites for sure!). After five grueling matches, they outlasted the gritty tandem of “The Ditch Diggers,” Timmy Smith and Matty Mavs, to go back-to-back as champs. I managed to grab a word with John right after the dust (and sawdust) settled. The champagne was flowing, cigars were glowing and somewhere in the background “We Are the Champions” may or may not have been playing on a loop on Murph’s boombox. We exchanged a few celebratory syllables – though MUSINGS| SEE PAGE 20 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. 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