Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 29, 2023 ~ Malden Musings ~ Aaron Mintz Remembers By Peter Levine H ipsters, flipsters and finger poppin’ daddies, knock me your lobes; in the case of these musings, lend me your peepers! I just love hearing from readers (or as Bullwinkle would say, “fan mail from some flounder?”), especially those with stories to share. As noted in the past, I feel it’s imperative that as a community we try our best to keep the past alive – to preserve tales of yesterday before they are lost to time. Bill Mini was famous for his Malden of yesteryear recall. We are a better place today because of gentlemen like Bill and John O’Brien and Don Squires – no longer with us – but who left a paper trail of our collective past to look back on proudly. It is vital for us to remember our history – that is why whenever the opportunity arose, I sat and listened to Joe Croken, Richie Cremone, Karen Anderson, Walter Mullaney and Jim Conway. That is why whenever the opportunity arises, I sit intently and listen to Barbara Tolstrup, Johnny Brandano, Neal Anderson, Bob Rotondi, Jack Garrity, “Butch” Gennetti, Dom Fermano, Arthur Kahn and Eddie Lucey. They visually connect me to a longgone time and place, a place inaccessible but for those that lived it. With that said, Aaron Mintz (and his brother Mayer) have been reaching out to share tales from outside of Edgeworth (is there such a place?)! A foreign land called Suffolk Square was their stampin’ ground and their history is a fascinating snapshot of a city and a neighborhood with a rich history. Have at it my friend! “A Malden Rock n Roll Reminiscence by Aaron Mintz”: “My brother Mayer introduced me to Rock n Roll in the mid 1950’s We listened to DJs like Arnie Ginsburg on WBOS and Ken Malden on WILD. Ken Malden was really Milton Tokson - he preferred being on the radio to plucking chickens at his family’s poultry store in Suffolk Square.” “WHIL was Malden’s own station with studios in Malden Square where Mayer bought records at Roli Music. As president of the local ‘Bill Haley and Comets Fan Club,’ Mayer won tickets to see a preview showing of ‘Rock Around the Clock’ at the Colonial Theatre in Boston in March,1956. My mother and I went with him and took in the excitement. “As the 1950’s ended, Mayer’s pal Norman Greenbaum - Legal Notice - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Middlesex Probate and Family Court 10-U Commerce Way Woburn, MA 01801 Docket No. MI23D2314DR DIVORCE SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION AND MAILING JACIENE C. VILLATORE vs. MARCELO VILLATORE To the Defendant: The Plaintiff has filed a Complaint for Divorce requesting that the Court grant a divorce for Irretrievable Breakdown of the Marriage 1B. The Complaint is on file at the Court. An Automatic Restraining Order has been entered in this matter preventing you from taking any action which would negatively impact the current financial status of either party. SEE Supplemental Probate Court Rule 411. You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon: Jaciene C. Villatore, 60 Cedar Street, Malden, MA 02148 your answer, if any, on or before 12/06/2023. If you fail to do so, the court will proceed to the hearing and adjudication of this action. You are also required to file a copy of your answer, if any, in the office of the Register of this Court. WITNESS, Hon. Maureen H. Monks, First Justice of this Court. Date: September 21, 2023 TARA E. DeCRISTOFARO REGISTER OF PROBATE September 29, 2023 bought an acoustic guitar and soon Mayer had one. Norman tuned his guitar in a unique way and began to write songs, which he sang in our living room on Harvard St. Norman went to BU after he and Mayer graduated MHS in 1960, and Norman worked for Arnie Ginsburg now on WMEX. “I was still immersed in Rock n Roll and at Malden High, circa 1962, our lunchroom was Malden Square. Every Thursday I raced to Moe’s Smoke Shop to buy the latest Billboard Magazine. Instead of learning Latin grammar, I devoured the top 100 hits of the week. In the summer of 1962, I walked Revere Beach with Norman polling teenage beachgoers. Arnie Ginsburg had given Norman a list of new records, and Norman’s job was to find out which ones were liked. Meeting girls was a bonus. “High school friend Bob Prodanas lived near Jack Coughlin in Malden, and Bob and I got to hear Jack play rockabilly and boogie woogie styled versions of vintage Hank Williams and Jerry Lee Lewis songs on an old upright piano. I’ll never forget how good a young Preacher Jack sounded - what a talent! His music evoked that early rock and roll sound my brother and I heard as kids. “Later in the 1960’s, I saw Jack play at a bar in Everett Square. Mayer saw him at a North Shore club and in the mid 1970’s, I heard Preacher Jack play at the Inman Square Men’s Bar in Cambridge. I would always make the Malden connection with Jack, and he would smile. “Norman Greenbaum had moved to California and formed Dr. West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band, and Norman’s song ‘The Eggplant that Ate Chicago’ was a big Boston hit late in 1966. Mayer saw the group at the Frolic on Revere Beach, and I heard Albert Spadafora Beer Garden screaming, “last call for alcohol!!” • Saint Rocco is placed in the “Preacher Jack” at the Inman Square Men’s Bar in Cambridge circa 1984 (Henry Horenstein photo) them at the Unicorn on Boylston Street in Boston. The band had painted faces, avant-garde clothing, and psychedelic lyrics. Seeing the band was a look into the future of Rock and Roll. ‘Spirit in the Sky’ followed 3 years later. “I did an oldies show on Western Mass. radio stations for 20+ years and always played Preacher Jack to great response. The Ames Bros, Preacher Jack, and Norman Greenbaum made for a great 3 song set...all Malden artists.” To be continued... It is said in “Malden Musings”... • We had so much fun at San Rock Festa 2023! Combine a killer musical lineup with Mother Nature at her finest, fuhgeddaboudit, as we say down in Edgeworth! The dance band WildFire just lit up Saturday night! We’ve had big crowds in the recent past – Al Martino at the 75th and Midtown Men at the 90th come quickly to mind – but Kenny and his extremely talented band of merrymakers just might have topped the list for a non-anniversary year! Total pros – they had San Rock pilgrims dancing, eating and drinking right up to the witching hour of 11, when we could hear Franny and Mary in the middle of Pearl Street during the Feast. Pilgrims pin money to the Rock to help raise funds for the cause and are rewarded with a San Rocco pinback and the knowledge that they have helped fund worthy scholarship applicants and to keep this thing of ours funded for yet another year. Usually there is a volunteer working the Saint: collecting money and handing out pins. In the last few years, it has been Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe doing the Lord’s work and hanging all weekend with the Saint. This year Mayor Gary Christenson took Friday night duty, and Peg took the reins for Saturday night. Word trickling down from the powers that be tell us that Mayor Christenson’s debut was a smashing success, raising much gelt along with many photo ops! Peg’s work during the Feast is legendary. We thank you both for all that you do. • A passing of the torch of sorts...four-year-old Nolan Ryan Edwards (with little sister Kennedy watching) was gently lifted by Billy “Papa” Settemio so he could place a wreath of donations on the Saint as it stopped in front of the Italian American Citizens’ Club before the Sunday afternoon Procession. Nolan’s grandmother Michelle looked on proudly. Not a dry eye on Pearl Street. • My sincerest condolences go out to Eddie and the whole Casaletto family on the recent passing of the patriarch of the family, Joe “Chubby” Casaletto, at age 89. “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character ‘Columbo’ would say, “Just MUSINGS | SEE PAGE 14 Malden Public Library Childrens Events SONG & RHYME TIME Tuesdays, 10:00-10:45am and alternating Saturdays This program features songs, nursery rhymes, and a simple picture book for infants and young children. A fun way to enrich your child's literacy! Recommended for ages 6 months to 4 years. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 am This drop-in program features picture books, songs, rhymes, and a simple craft for children, ages 3 and up. CHESS FOR KIDS Wednesdays at 3:00pm Children in grades K-5 (the younger the better!) who would like to learn how to play chess or improve their beginner game are invited to join this weekly program. FIREFIGHTER STORYTIME Thursday, October 19, 10:30am Meet Firefighter Sara Finn, listen to a story, and learn about fire safety and what firefighters do. This educational program is recommended for ages 3-5+.
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