Page 10 MALDEN: TODAY | FROM PAGE 6 thank you for that and thank you for sticking around Malden and making it the fab city it is today. (And I hope your moms liked the article!) I know I do not mention City of Malden Cemetery Director Jimmy “Stinger” Cahill enough. I have been told by so many readers that they would like to see more of their favorite cemetery director, Mr. Cahill. Over the years the community at large has come to know Jimmy’s work ethic as unmatched within these five square miles. Many remember him as one of the best hoop players Amerige Park ever produced. Many also remember him as the finest bartender the Highland Café ever employed (besides Dave Angelo, Paul Gennetti, Pete Trabucco and Richie Morando, of course.) With that in mind, I’d like to personally thank Jimmy for the outstanding job he did organizing the Memorial Day celebration at the Forestdale Cemetery. His Herculean effort turning the Forestdale Cemetery into a welcoming urban paradise, coordinating the outstanding entertainment, acquiring the two magnificent bronze memorial statues, ensuring that the festivities were ADA-compliant and generally watching over the proceedings like that protective mother swan watching over her cygnets that had taken residence at the pond in the cemetery (since departed for greener pastures). Malden is very fortunate to have Mr. Cahill (and his wife, “The Fabulous Judy”). Jimmy, we salute you. I’ve lived in Malden since 1963. I consider myself lucky to know and to have known a lot of wonderful people growing up here. Looking out over the crowd at the Juneteenth celebration, I realized I did not know a lot of my neighbors and realized I didn’t know as many people as I had previously thought. That’s why I love going to these Malden events; that’s why it is important to attend these Malden events – to get out of my/our comfort zone. It’s an amazing city with a lot of amazing people just around the corner. Never knew the significance THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 9, 2021 MALDEN CARES | FROM PAGE 1 or the history of Tea Cake and how it pertains to the Juneteenth celebration and African American history, until last week. Around for about 200 years and created by the enslaved with the most rudimentary ingredients to become a historically significant part of A.A. heritage. Amazing. “This is the end, beautiful friend, this is the end, my only friend, the end” – on a serious note, someone who I really do not write enough about is Malden’s most indispensable employee, Special Assistant to the Mayor Maria Luise. Voted Most Valuable Employee many times in many of my previous columns, Maria goes about her business much like the fixer Ray Donovan; she just gets things done. Many of the most important things that happen in Malden have Maria’s fingerprints on them. But you wouldn’t know because Maria’s never been one to toot her own horn. That’s what I get paid the big bucks for! This one is for you, Maria Luise. We thank you for all your hard work, for your calling to become a Public Servant and for your dedication to Malden. Oops, almost forgot; and she’s wicked nice! Malden is very lucky indeed. Postscript: As I stood with my sister Barbara listening to speakers at the Juneteenth flag raising, both of us realized just how far we’ve come, and how much further we need to go. The Malden Cares campaign emanated from discussions held at a recent City of Malden Opioid Task Force meeting when the conversation shifted to outreach in the community. By being a presence at Malden Center, Malden Cares will support residents who struggle with homelessness and substance use disorder. The program will be overseen by Certified Addiction Recovery Coach and Supervisor Donna Aiello along with Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley. All Task Force members were on hand Monday afternoon to kick off the start of the program. City of Malden Opioid Task Force membership includes Mayor Gary Christenson, Police Chief Kevin Molis, Fire Chief William Sullivan, Malden’s Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley, School Committee Member Adam Weldai, City Councilor Barbara Murphy, Data Specialist for the Malden Police David Ritchie, Malden Overcoming Addiction Board Member Dana Brown, and Gerry Whetstone, Pastor of the Nazarene Church of Malden and director of the Malden Warming Center. Also in attendance at Monday’s Malden Cares opening were Malden City Council President Neal Anderson, Massachusetts State Senator Jason Lewis and more than a dozen Malden Overcoming Addiction volunteers For more information on Malden Cares or Malden Overcoming Addiction please contact Malden’s Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley at 781-838-2203. Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley and US Senator Ed Markey showing their support for Malden Cares. Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley explains the Malden Cares program to U.S. Senator Ed Markey along with Mayor Gary Christenson and State Senator Jason Lewis. Bella Hammersley shows her support for Malden Cares. Paul Hammersley explains some of the resources to, from left; City Council President Neal Anderson, Mayor Gary Christenson, US Sen. Ed Markey, and State Senator Jason Lewis.
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