Page 24 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Wednesday, November 27, 2024 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 6 son Square area feeling a significant brunt of youth dissatisfaction. That night 15 youngsters – one a girl barely in her teens – were arrested, with the spirit of youth rebellion echoing down those streets for weeks after. Then came December 5, 1980. The feature? “The Song Remains the Same,” Led Zeppelin’s ode to rock and reckless abandon. The Granada was packed again, this time with a crowd of 650. Malden Police Patrolman Alan Butt recalled the scene, describing the crowd as “drinking, smoking, and looking for trouble.” They waited outside for an hour and a half before they were allowed to enter, smoking weed, language colorful. Sgt. John McCallan summed it up: “They just went wacky! They wanted to raise some hell, and they sure did!” By the end of the night, the theater faced $5,000 in damages. The exact cause of the chaos remains as much a mystery as ever. In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ll admit that I and some acquaintances attended both of those infamous nights. And while a few in the crowd may have chosen to raise hell, I assure you – no one from Edgeworth was involved in the mayhem. As always, gentlemen and peacemakers. Insert smiley face. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – last week I found myself strolling through the Square again, tracing steps that once took me past places now just memories like the Granada and Strand Theatres, Grant’s and Kresge’s, Joe & Nemo’s, Gordon’s, Charlie Brown’s Bar & Grille, Jennie’s Pizza, Dandy Donuts, Woolworth’s, the old “Y,” the Horseshoe Bar & Grille and Sizzleborg. Each locale seemed to whisper its own story of the past. I remembered the comfort of Jack Haney’s bar stools, the sounds of the antique jukebox playing at Centre Bar & Grille and the sights and controlled discord at Roli Music. The familiar names rolled on in my mind: the Daylight Bowling Alley, No Where’s End, the Kernwood, Tom McCann’s, Brigham’s Ice Cream, Signor Pizza, Jack’s Music, the 99, Signor Pizza, Topsy’s Chicken, Jack in the Box, Jordan Marsh and Sparks. They all wove together: the sights and sounds of a town that grew with us, that shared its warmth and familiarity with us. And while I felt a longing for those days (who doesn’t?), there’s a new spark in Downtown Malden today: a fresh energy that has rekindled the city’s heartbeat. You can feel it throughout Malden and in every nook and cranny of the Square as young faces and new eateries breathe fresh life into these ancient streets. The recent infrastructure upgrades are impressive, like watching something LET THE PROS HANDLE IT! ™ Say “NO” to Cleaning Out Your Gutters. Protect Your Home With LeafFilter. 20 10% OFF Your Entire Purchase* FREE INSPECTION! 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Thank you, Mayor Gary “Beast Slayer” Christenson, for holding onto our past as we move into tomorrow. Onward, Malden! Postscript 1: My life is complete. Saturday night, November 16, the Irish American Club was nothing short of electric! The indefatigable Harvey “OG” Nadler took center stage during one of the IA’s famous Karaoke Nights, delivering a performance that would make Elvis and Engelbert blush with envy. Harvey didn’t just sing – he commanded the room, radiating that Nadler charisma and charm in the process showing us all a side of him we never knew existed. His adoring fans cheered him on, and rightly so. Who knew karaoke featuring Harvey Nadler could feel like a Vegas show right here on West Street off Devir Park? Adding to the joy of the evening were Dan Grover and Kevin Killian’s little brother Brian, manning the bar and pouring some of the coldest, crispiest Ballantine Ales I’ve ever had (and, of course, drank responsibly). Their presence behind the stick made the night even better. The highlight (which there were many)? A hilarious quip from one of Harvey’s longtime friends – who, for obvious reasons, wishes to remain nameless: “I wish Harvey would use his singing voice when he uses his regular speaking voice.” Roasted! Harvey, you knocked it out of the park and left us all wondering: Is there anything you can’t do? Bravo to you, Billy Hart, and to everyone at the Irish American Club who made it a night to remember! Postscript 2: I do quite a bit of kidding in this here column. I bust beans a lot (hello Stinger), kiss mucho derrieres (hello Mayor GC) and heap praise in a hyperbolic manner at times City of Malden Massachusetts INSPECTIONAL SERVICES 215 Pleasant Street, Room 330 Malden, Massachusetts 02148 (781) 397-7000 ext. 2044 ROWE’S QUARRY SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE PUBLIC PROJECT REVIEW MEETING The Rowe’s Quarry Site Plan Review Committee will hold a public project review meeting in the Herbert L. Jackson Council Chamber, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, December 16, 2024 to review the following two applications of WinnDevelopment Company LP, made on behalf of Overlook Ridge LLC, seeking Site Plan Review and Approval under Title 12, Chapter 28, Section 140 of the Code of the City of Malden, for development in the Rowe’s Quarry Reclamation & Redevelopment District, Subdistrict RQ3: 1. Permit Application # CMID-068997-2024 to construct a building for multifamily residential dwelling use, containing five stories and a total of ninety-nine (99) units, on the proposed building lot known as Lot 13B; and 2. Permit Application # CMID-068998-2024 to construct a building for multifamily residential dwelling use, containing five stories and a total of eighty-two (82) dwelling units, on the proposed building lot known as Lot 14B; Both proposed lots are located on the property known as and numbered, 0 State Highway, Malden, MA, and also known by City of Malden Assessor’s Parcel Identification # 185 575 506. Applications and plans are available for public review in the Inspectional Services Department, Malden City Hall, 215 Pleasant Street, Room 330, Malden, MA and under Permit Applications # CMID-068997-2024 and # CMID-068998-2024 at https://maldenma-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/SelfService#/home FULL SERVICE GUTTER PROTECTION – SCHEDULE YOUR FREE INSPECTION NOW! 1-888-617-2908 By: Michelle A. Romero City Planner November 27, December 6, 2024 (hello Harvey, hello Edgeworth) but believe me this time when I tell you, Malden (from my heart and with all sincerity), you are very fortunate to have Glenn Cronin as Police Chief. With all due respect to some of my favorite people and former Police Chiefs of all time (hello Kenny, hello Kevin), Chief Cronin may have given the most heartfelt, the most inspirational, the most straight from the gut eulogy in my lifetime when he spoke at Scott Carroll’s service two weeks back. It resonated throughout the hallowed Immaculate Hall, leaving nary a dry eye in the house. Dave Angelo and I must have gone through at least a box of tissues in the process. I kid. Just a little. More on this extraordinary moment in Malden history at a later date. –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.
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