THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 15, 2024 Page 7 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 6 sion. His eyes resembled my parents’ eyes. How could a girl like me be driving into such a horrible future. That night was the last night of my expected future. I went on to graduate drug court months later, and that same compassionate detective was at my graduation. Thank you, Officer Carroll, thank you for seeing me for more than I could see myself in that time. Thank you for your kindness and thank you for your support. You helped save my life.” Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora has known Scott since he was a wee small pup. Malden 2024 should know that Craig is a man of compassion whose empathy knows no bounds, much like his parents Albert and Franny. His words are always touching and are delivered straight from the heart: “Scott was truly one of a kind. I’ve had the privilege of knowing him since I was 10 years old, and in all those years, I never saw him anything but upbeat. He was the kind of person who would do anything for anybody, always with a smile. Scott’s love for his country was unquestionable, and he was immensely proud to serve in the U.S. Marines. His unwavering positivity and selflessness left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. Scott’s kindness and dedication to others are qualities that will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, my dear friend. Your memory will always be cherished. Semper Fidelis, old friend.” As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – friends for over 40 years, nobody knew Scotty better than the Whitneys; Scotty, Sue and their children Mellissa and Eric were blood. Here is Eric pouring his heart out: “I was fortunate and lucky enough to have you as a part of my life from day one and you continued to be there for every one of my favorite memories. You were undoubtedly the best godfather, uncle, and friend anyone could have ever asked for. You brought a smile to each and every persons face that you met (especially when you ordered a ‘cappuccino espresso thingy’) and broke the record on every golf course you ever played. You fought for our freedom and continued to protect us when you returned home, and I was honored to have you as part of my life. You were such a special person in all our lives, and I don’t know how we will ever fill this void. I love you and miss you so much already Uncle Skate. Rest in peace...Lurch.” Postscript 1: “Some trails are happy ones, others are blue. It’s the way you ride the trail that counts, here’s a happy one for you. Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smiling until then.” Eric continues... “Oh yeah, there were also many wonderfully funny moments with our dear friend Scotty. Something that will live with me forever was when ‘Uncle Skate’ crashed my high school graduation party in a full-on gorilla suit, jumping up and down on tables bringing the house down in the process. What the heck!? Then on a ski mobile trip with Fran Spadafora, Anthony & Gina Spadafora, and my father and mother, we mistakenly gave the ‘Marine’ the map and leadership duties. Big mistake! Skate got us lost and out of gas in the middle of the White Mountains with us literally making it back on empty with a search party in the parking lot upon our arrival. I would be remiss if I did not mention that Scott was not a world class traveler in his younger years… when we asked Skate when he was leaving for the Bahamas, he responded, ‘I’m not going to the Bahamas, I’m going to Nassau!’ Too many special memories to recount, all filled with love and laughter, and here I am sharing them with the world. Miss and love you, Uncle Skate.” Postscript 2: This hurts. It hurts on so many different levels. Richie Cremone, Jimmy Damiano, Steve Bouley, Butch Gennetti, Ernie Ardolino… you’d think at some point you would become anaesthetized to the hurt. You never do. This hurt is real, it’s all too raw. The world’s a little colder, without you, Scotty. Wish you didn’t have to leave us when you did, my friend. Postscript 3: I leave this week with some much-needed humor, a famous Scotty Carroll quote compliments of Scotty Carroll hisself: “I wear the pants in this family…when Frans not home.” Scotty Carroll; forever in our hearts and souls. —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate and can be reached at PeteL39@ aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms. UMA announces RFP bids for ceiling and insulation replacement U rban Media Arts (UMA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting media arts and community engagement in Malden, has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to qualified contractors for a Drop Ceiling and Insulation Replacement Project at its facility at 145 Pleasant St. The goal of this project is to enhance energy efficiency and improve the functionality of UMA’s office environment. The scope includes removing existing drop ceilings and insulation, disposing of materials responsibly, installing new batt insulation (or insulated ceiling tiles) and reinstalling the drop ceiling. Additional work involves updating HVAC and electrical systems, including the removal of track lighting and the reinstallation of vents, light fixtures and smoke detectors. UMA seeks to minimize disruption to ongoing operations during this period. Key dates for this RFP process are as follows: • Mandatory Site Visit: Monday, November 25, 2024, at 1 p.m. • Question Submission Deadline: Friday, December 6, 2024, by 4 p.m. • Proposal Submission Deadline: Monday, December 16, 2024, by 4 p.m. • Project Start Date: Monday, December 30, 2024. Qualified contractors are encouraged to review the full RFP details and submit their proposals to submit@umaverse.org by the specified deadline. UMA reserves the right to accept or reject proposals as needed. For questions, please contact UMA Executive Director Tina LeGarde at tina@umaverse. org or 781-321-6400 x 102. Full details are on the UMA website at urbanmediaarts.org. It’s Time to Review Your Medicare Plan Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 — December 7 Plan benefits may change from year to year, so it’s important to see if there might be another option that works better. This may be the only time to change your plan and enroll in a Medicare plan. I am a licensed insurance agent and can provide a no-cost, no-obligation review of the Medicare plans available in your area. You Can Get It All in One Plan With a Medicare Advantage Plan, you get all the Medicare-covered services provided by Original Medicare and sometimes more. Most Medicare Advantage Plans include drug coverage (Part D). Insurance companies may also offer more than one plan in an area, with different benefits and costs. I represent multiple insurance companies so that means you can see more options that work for you. I’ll help you find a plan where your medical and drug benefits are covered in one plan and better fit your budget. All it takes is one phone call. Contact Me to Find Out More! Jordan Goudreau 978-852-4923 or Archangel Advisors (TTY:711) Nick Brunzell 305-710-4130 J.Archangel@Outlook.com This is a solicitation of insurance. Contact may be made by an insurance agent or insurance company. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any government entity or agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 2 organizations, which offer products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY: 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all your options. CareFree384a 8/2023 27
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