THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 18, 2025 Page 7 donians together is a lot better for residents of these here five square miles than dividing them. For Maldonians paying attention, you get it. Vote MBL, early and often, but don’t forget Craig Spadafora for Councillor-at-Large also while you are in that ballot box! • Dante DiSario ran unsuccessfully for Councillor-at-Large last time around, and much to Malden’s disappointment has hung up his political ambitions to concentrate on growing old gracefully while still maintaining those still boyish good looks. A recent sit down with Dube revealed many interesting tales of Maldonia yesteryear. One that stuck out was his Woodstock (1969 of course) experience/adventure. Stay tuned, Maldonia, for details. • Separated at birth: newly appointed Malden Council President Amanda Linehan (hip, hip hooray!) and WCVB meteorologist Pamela Gardner. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — Chris “Keeper of the Linden Flame” Moro, we salute you. How do I love thee? Let me count the hops (a rare MM play on words). In what can only be described as a modern-day archaeological marvel, Chris has officially earned his new moniker: The Indiana Jones of Maldonia. Armed with nothing but instinct, heart, a cold one in mind and doing a solid for yours truly, he and his trusty sidekicks at the iconic Irish American Club — Dan Grover, Billy Hart and Brian Killion — unearthed a legendary artifact from the frigid depths of the IA’s ancient beer chests: the last known sixer of Ballantine Ale in Maldonia. This wasn’t just beer. This was relic. This was liquid gold. Tucked away like a hidden treasure map behind dusty Miller Lights and forgotten Narragansetts, the Ballantine was found glowing (or possibly just the bar light hitting the amber glass just right?) ready for its closeup. Either way, it felt holy to Chris and his band of intrepid explorers. Think Dead Sea Scrolls vs. the Terracotta Army but on a much smaller scale. And in a gesture that would make the elders of Maldonia weep with joy and pride, the sixer was donated — not guzzled — to the Malden Historical Society, so future generations might one day know: there was a time when beer was bold, malty and brewed by gods disguised as union men. When good ale walked the earth, and men raised it high. Truth be told, Chris donated it to me. It’s already history. Yes, I always had a selfish streak (as well as shallow). So, here’s to Chris and his merry band of Maldonian guardians of tradition, curators of character, drinkers of distinction, and to the Irish American Club on West Street, a place where stories get told (and retold and retold and retold), legends are born (Harvey Nadler?) and every cold beer chest holds the promise of greatness. I like that! The IA flame still burns bright — and truth be told, we need you folks healthy, happy and strong for Malden! Postscript 1: Breaking Fourth of July Newsflash from the Heart of Maldonia... In a twist more upsetting than the HBO crime drama Soprano’s finale, the much-anticipated free throw rematch between City Controller Chuckie Ranaghan and Forestdale School’s legendary Maintenance Engineer Dave “Buckets” Bouley was a no-show... and nobody seems to know why. For those of you not up on your Maldonia lore, these two hardwood heroes squared off back in 1991 at the Devir Park Fourth of July celebration. It was a heated, controversial shootout that ended with Chuckie squeaking out a win, though rumors of a bent rim and “borrowed” basketball still linger in the (still) acrid Malden River air. Fast forward 34 years — 2025 was supposed to be the year — the year they finally settled the score. The trash talk had simmered for decades like a pot of my mother’s exalted Sunday gravy (yeah, she called it gravy!). Bouls had even been spotted at Little Pearl in early June, dropping free throws with his usual and casual surgical precision. Chuckie, ever the showman, arrived at Devir this morning in full Run DMC-era Adidas — track suit, shell toes, gold rope chain and all — looking like he stepped out of a Beastie Boys B-side video or, at the very least, a Top Choice Clique A&M promo, ready to defend his crown. And then... nothing. No whistle. No ball. No Buckets. Word on the street ranges from a “mechanical issue with the Forestdale boiler” (July 4th?) to whispers of an undisclosed injury. Some even claim Bouls was spotted cruising down Fellsway East (much like local late icon, his pallie, Frankie Fantauzzi) on a vintage Schwinn, cool as a cucumber, avoiding the showdown altogether. What’s real and what’s rumor? Hard to say in this town with long memories and grudges that last like, forever. Stay tuned, Maldonia. This free throw feud ain’t over. Not by a long shot. Postscript 2: All Hail the Hoss of Ward 2! Fire up the grill and cue the Ballantine — another legendary Fourth of July bash is in the books, and once again, we tip our caps (and definitely a cold one) to the man behind it all: Paul “Hoss” Condon. Let’s talk frank, good people — since the days of the late, great Billy Callahan himself, Ward 2 hasn’t seen a councillor with this much heart, hustle and hometown horsepower. Year after year, Paul doesn’t just show up — he shows out and stands out (hey, no wisecracks!). He doesn’t just cut the ribbon — he hauls the tables, stacks the coolers and makes sure the neighborhood kids go home sticky with popsicle juice and stuffed with hot dogs. Why? Because it’s not just a job to him — it’s his birthright. It’s in his DNA or maybe just his Ward 2/Edgeworth genes: the kind forged on the back steps of a Pearl Street triple-decker, sipping a Schlitz, falling head over heels in love and choosing to grow roots deep in the same streets he once rode his Huffy down. There’s an old Maldonia code — a handshake deal of respect. If you’re in office and still swinging for the people, we back you until your cleats are hung up for good. And Paul? He’s still up at the plate, taking big swings for the neighborhood he’s never once abandoned. So yeah, maybe this is a little dog whistle for the keepers of the Maldonian flame. Maybe not so little. But if you know, you know: Paul Condon bleeds Malden blue and gold. He’s not just good for Ward 2, he’s great for Malden. So next time you step into that ballot box, sausages with peppers & onions, the Greg Lucey 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, the feeling of true community. Remember who makes it all happen. Vote like Ward 2 always has — with heart. Vote for Hoss. —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. 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut Street We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! Sunday Monday Tuesday PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-5 P.M. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Closed 7:30 - 11 P.M. 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