THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 17, 2025 Page 13 Cleberson Orelion and coaches Danny Bitew, Chuck Washington, Marcus Bailey and Jordany Dorismond. Special Individual Awards were presented to the following: • Three-Point Contest Champion: Jacoby Hampton (Kings). • Hot Shot Contest Winner: Joao Geronimo (Sixers). • Rookies of the Year: Davante Layne (Pistons) & Jaylen Rivera-Fuentes (Celtics) — Co-winners. • Sportsmanship Award: David Azzolino (Celtics). • Regular Season MVP: Dante Hector (Sixers). • Playoff MVP: Jose Juarbe (Sixicent (Celtics), Jahiem Francillon (Kings), Zion Gomes (Lakers), Mekhi Cook (Pistons) and Jose Juarbe (Sixers). Team MVPs: Chace Bolling (Bullets), David Azzolino (Celtics), Jacoby Hampton (Kings), Semaj Warton (Lakers), Jemiah Charles (Pistons) and Dante Hector (Sixers). The evening concluded with the Sixers receiving their Playoff Championship trophies and rings, marking their fifth league championship and first since 2022. Members of the 2025 Sixers are Nashon Melvin, Mike Joseph, Joao Geronimo, Jose Juarbe, Ahyan Ghaffar, Dante Friends of the MPL announce Fall Book Sale on Oct. 17 & 18 T he Friends of the Malden Public Library are gearing up Team Coaches Award to host the ever-popular FALL BOOK SALE. The Members-Only Sneak Peek Preview sale will be on Friday evening, November 17, from 6-9, offering Friends members the opportunity to be the first to sample a collection of secondhand books that were lovingly cleaned, sorted and shelved by a small group of volunteers. The Saturday Book Sale, which is open to the general public, is on November 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and it will once again offer the “Coffee and a Book – the Perfect Blend” fundraiser, in collaboration with Malden’s Cornucopia Foods. Friends’ supporter Neil Sullivan of Cornucopia will once again be brewing and donating the coffee for the event. Who has not enjoyed coffee and one of the yummy breakfasts at Cornucopia on Pleasant Street? The Friends of the MPL is the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Library, holding fun, cultural events along the year to help fund the Library’s numerous community activities. Friends’ President Mary Ellen O’Meara has identified a mutually beneficial opportunity in partnering with local businesses and has been working diligently toward that objective. “Cornucopia sponsored our Fall Book Sale last year and it was a hit! Our volunteers will be serving the coffee for free; if Patrons would like to make a donation, they can. All proceeds go toward funding the Library’s programs,” remarked O’Meara. The other sponsor of the Fall Book Sale is the Malden Police Department. “We are excited to partner with the MPD and provide the opportunity to meet families and children at the Library. Last year the kids were thrilled to interact with the officers,” observed Friends Vice President Huy Nguyen. As Malden is recognized as OBITUARIES Elizabeth Gardner Thoenen Eliza - Team MVP winners Chace Bolling, David Azzolino and Dante Hector ers). Each team presented its own awards: Coaches’ Awards: Logan Wright (Bullets), Damien Jacques (Celtics), Logan Johnson & Aiden Greene (Kings), Mariano Spadafora (Lakers), Joseph Hatch & Jeremiah Dupervil (Pistons) and Landon Bertoncini (Sixers). Most Improved Players: Adam Hassan (Bullets), Rodner DorHector, Anthony Noble, Dante Bell, Spencer Paul, Landon Bertoncini, Matthew Maltese and coaches Glen Noble and Sean Hickey. As the MNBL’s 39th season comes to a close, the league continues to stand as a proud Malden tradition — one that fosters teamwork, sportsmanship and lifelong community connections through the game of basketball. beth Gardner Thoenen, k nown to friends and family as Beth, died early Sunday morning, 12 October, at the age of 64. A resident of Malden, Massachusetts, Beth was born on July 4, 1961, in New York City to Gardner Smith Thoenen and Diana Buck Thoenen. She grew up in Rye, New York. Beth attended Swarthmore College from 1979 to 1983, where she studied History and was affectionately known to her friends as “Spike.” She went on to build a successful career as a skilled software technical writer, respected for her clarity, precision, and dedication to excellence. Beyond her professional work, Beth was a passionate editor and a deeply literary mind. From 1982 to 2005, she was a contributor to and editor of The Drood Review of Mystery, a literary newsletter and website, which she co-created with her longtime collaborator, Jim Huang, and other friends. Her love of the written word and her intellectual curiosity shone through in all aspects of her life. Beth believed strongly in giving back. She served for a time on the Swarthmore Alumni Council. Most recently, she volunteered her time and energy to the Malden Warming Center, offering compassion and dignity to those in need in her community. She had a sharp wit and a love for playing cards and board games. She especially cherished time spent with family and friends in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, where she enjoyed summer visits and tending to her garden. Beth is survived by her loving sons, Paul Goodman of Somerville, Massachusetts, and Ben Goodman of New York City; her brothers, David Thoenen of Harlingen, The Netherlands, and Peter Thoenen of Thetford Center, Vermont; and her sister, Andrea Hutter of Staunton, Virginia. She is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and aunts. Her humor, intellect, and generosity touched all who knew her. She will be deeply missed. Donations in Beth’s memory may be made to the Malden Warming Center, 529 Eastern Ave., Malden MA 02148 or online www.maldenwarmingcenter.org Family and friends are invited to gather in Beth’s memory for a Memorial Service at Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St. Melrose on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 11am, followed by a reception at the Malden Warming Center. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Wellfleet on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 12:30pm. For online tribute www.RobinsonFuneralHome.com OBIT | SEE PAGE 20 one of the most diverse cities in the Commonwealth, the Friends were thrilled last year to have officers who could speak Spanish and Haitian Creole. “The children’s faces lit up when they realized the officers spoke their language!” commented O’Meara. The Friends are seeking to reach out to all cultural and age groups in Malden to reflect that diversity in membership. “We are looking for new members and new ideas. Everyone is welcome in the Friends as long as you love books and share our desire to serve the Library and the Community!” O’Meara stated. “The secret to success is getting everyone involved and incorporating the younger generations to keep up with the times. Everybody comes together at the Library!” Meetings for the Friends are on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the Malden Public Library and on Zoom.
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