7

THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 12, 2025 Page 7 And the very first Tony DeMarco “The Champ” Award will be going to none other than the man, the myth, the coaching legend from Everett to Catholic Memorial, and Maldonia arch nemesis John DiBiaso. Tickets hotter than fresh zeppole so buy early and often! Call Pearl Street Restaurant’s Paul “The Stable Genius” Solano at 617-240-4130 or Dave “Davey Cai from Malden High” Caiazzo at 781-507-3005 before they sell out. Bocce balls rolling, cannoli shells cracking, Maldonia legends gathering — this is the Festa you don’t wanna miss! • If you happen to see Mass General (Chelsea), Ms. Sunshine and Bowman Street’s Number 1 Physical Therapist, Tricia Larson, please wish her a happy (belated) August 14 birthday. Still going strong at (mumble, mumble), Trish has no plans to slow down or retire. Happy birthday, Trish! And, yes, I know your name isn’t Ann, which was referenced a couple of weeks back! LOL. • I saw Lincoln Park’s Bobby “Woodsy” Wood from the infamous class of ’76 MHS last week, and he hipped me that his parents are celebrating their 71st wedding anniversary this year. Imagine?! Details to follow. • Ghost sign spotted at the corner of Salem Street and Main in front of First Baptist Church. The “one way do not enter” sign that greets you at the entrance of the driveway has been there since my days matriculating at Malden High School. If that sign suddenly disappears, you know who’s living room it will be hanging in. • Get well soon to the hostess with the mostess, Mary Hannon from the world-famous Pisa Pizza, as she recovers from her long-anticipated knee surgery. All those Boston Marathons she ran back in the day finally took their toll, and it was time to get better. I kid about the marathons, but I do not kid that Mary is the hardest working gal in show biz and has been the face and backbone at Pisa Pizza for many, many moons. Joe Crowley’s best hire (and my favorite Hannon)? Well, her and Jamie Burns, of course! Oh, and by the way, PP still has the best pie in Malden (and beyond). • Sincerest condolences to the Israelson family on the loss of their beloved mom, Ann. May her memory be a blessing. • My Erle Stanley Gardner article had one glaring error that nobody called me on. I mentioned that in the year of ESG’s birth (1889) there were three theaters in Malden Square. In real life Malden Square was at least 10 years away from their first movie theater. The first movie theater in America (according to Google) was in 1896 (New Orleans). I apologize to Pete “Truth First” Robinson for the fake news — knowing how much he values accuracy in reporting. • Breaking news...Marty Gately hasn’t run the IA Labor Day Road Race in at least two years, but in this column I keep insisting he will be running. More fake news brought to you by Peter “You’re No David Brickman” Levine. Insert smiley face. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — as if you needed one more reason to back incumbent Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora this election season, allow me to serve you up a few. And in the spirit of full disclosure: This might turn into a bit of a name-drop, derriere-kissing highlight reel. First off, I’ve known Craig since he was knee-high in his legendary cargo pants (Greg Lucey and I took the kid to his very first concert — Prince at the Worcester Centrum in ’84 — thank you very much. And yes, his partner-incrime Scotty Lucey rocked those cargos just as hard). Second, I’ve been lucky enough to call his parents, Franny and Albert, dear friends, since around 1978. Two of the kindest, most generous folks ever to grace the fine soil of Maldonia. And third, let’s not forget his better half, the incomparable “Saint Debbie” (nickname explanation filed under “classified” for now). So why should you vote for Craig Spadafora? Well, maybe it is because of all those reasons. But mostly it’s because he’s Craig. And Malden’s a whole lot better with him in the mix. I spent some quality time with Craig recently and once again realized this kid got game (and he is one funny son of a gun btw, if you didn’t already know)! Picked up pieces walking Revere Beach at a nice, brisk pace on a gorgeous Sunday morning with Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora and Recreation Director Joe “Milestone Birthday Boy Soon” Levine... • Who knew he was a dog lover?! His two adorable Mini Golden Doodles, Stella and Cannoli, walked Revere Beach with us, and if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes — the way Craig treated those two like they were his fourth and fifth children — I wouldn’t have believed it. Big softie that he is! • Craig ain’t nearly as square as he lets on! Just take a peek at his record collection and you’ll see the man’s got musical soul up the ying yang. From The Beatles to Van Halen, James Brown to Extreme, Dylan to Frank, his turntable tells the tale — Craig’s soundtrack hops decades and crashes genres like a Central Square Record Collector Hipster Geek. Add musicologist to his resume. One minute it’s psych ’60s, the next it’s hair metal ’80s or funky Minneapolis grooves. His vinyl record and CD collection dwarf mine and makes my vinyl treasure collection and me look like rank amateurs. True story. Try to pigeonhole his taste? Fuhgeddaboudit! His playlists are as unpredictable — and cool — as he is. • What a stroll it was! Past Bill Ash’s, through the haunted echoes of the old Shipwreck Lounge (I swore I heard Preacher Jack screaming bloody murder) and by Billy’s Dry Dock, where memories hang like the foul Reveah Beach sea air. Four miles vanished in no time thanks to belly laughs and stories bouncing here, there and everywhere. But somewhere along the way, though, the chatter shifted to this very column. Craig, with his trademark wisenheimer sense of humor, tossed out a casual jab that my last effort may have been a bit… “wordy.” Fair enough. Then came a story similar to Craig’s about my mom’s review one time — along the same lines. Her critique: “Wonderful column, Peter… but I needed two naps instead of just one to get through it.” Roasted! And to be honest, Mom’s real version was spiced up with a few choice words that can’t be printed here. Insert great big nostalgic smiley face. • Craig holds Ward 2 Councillor Paul Condon in very high regard; fondly remembers shopping at Jordan Marsh with his mom and buying a Star Wars light saber — playing with it as he went down the elevator — and has vivid childhood memories of Malden Square landmarks, such Jack in the Box, Signor Pizza and the Charles Street Bowling Alley. • Craig’s grandfather, Anthony Spadafora, passed away in 2010, but his huge footprint lingers to this very day. “Papa Tony” was involved (directly and indirectly) in creating the bright present-day Malden we all cherish. He and his family have roots that run deep in Malden. Craig has taken a page from his grandfather’s playbook and is attempting to make Malden’s future — for his children and yours — even brighter. • Craig Spadafora is no stranger to the top of the ticket; he’s usually the number one vote-getter. And let me tell you: Every single one of those votes is well-earned. Craig deserves reelection each and every time he runs, because there is nobody who works harder, nobody with a firmer grip on the issues and — most importantly — nobody who loves Malden more than he does. Postscript 1: For over a century, the Spadafora family has been woven into the very fabric of this city. They’ve given Malden war heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice. They’ve served as elected officials — putting in a fulltime effort for part-time wages. They’ve been business owners who bring not just commerce, but joy, kindness and compassion into our lives. And like their great-grandparents before them, they’ve chosen to plant roots right here, raising families in the same city they’ve helped make better for generations. Craig carries that legacy proudly. He’s not just running for office — he’s carrying Malden forward. And that’s why, Craig, you have my vote. Postscript 2: Wasn’t Craig’s Guest Commentary (“It Stinks”) in last week’s Advocate a real “gasser,” as we used to say back in the day?! —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. Law Offices of JOSEPH D. CATALDO, P.C. “ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW” • ESTATE/MEDICAID PLANNING • WILLS/TRUSTS/ESTATES • INCOME TAX PREPARATION • WEALTH MANAGEMENT • RETIREMENT PLANNING • ELDER LAW 369 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 (617)381-9600 JOSEPH D. CATALDO, CPA, CFP, MST, ESQUIRE. AICPA Personal Financial Specialist Designee

8 Publizr Home