THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 13, 2024 Page 17 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 16 kitchen alongside his father, John, who bought The Highland back in ’79. By 1990, Dave was the go-to guy, along with Steve Carlin, Derek Wilson, Frankie Kelly and a cast of hundreds over the years, cranking out up to 500 pizzas on a Friday night. Mornings started early with Dave scrubbing bathrooms and flipping the “open” sign by 8 for the regulars, though I can’t say I was one of them at that hour. By noon, he’d have the menu drawn up and be back in the kitchen, crafting what was easily the best pie in town. But the stories don’t end there. Dave’s memory is like a vault – he remembers everything, including where, as they say, “all the bodies are buried.” Not that we’re talking literal bodies... well, most times anyways. After I forgot to mention The Highland in my “old man’s bar” piece some time back, Dave was quick to give me a good-natured nudge. And I’m glad he did because, in his massive repository of factoids, he reminded me of a little-known tidbit: Before it was the Highland (1940s?) it had an edgier moniker – “The Bucket of Blood” – thanks to a few too many legendary characters from back in the day who gave it too much “character.” So, here’s to Dave Angelo: master pizza maker, public servant extraordinaire, guy with all the good stories (tall and otherwise) and the man with the patience of a Saint. For Dave, here are 20 questions for each time I beat him one-on-one under the lights at Devir Park back in the summer of ’73 (“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” was the soundtrack to that summer btw). For Malden’s reading pleasure...breaking news, due to submission deadlines this article had to go to print without Dave’s answers. Fret not, they will appear at a later date. But here are a couple of answers anyway, with me taking liberties and venturing to guess he would have volunteered if time had allowed.... Amaka, Pete Trabucco, Miss Willard, Bert Cioffi, The Squire and Mr. Schlagel (insert smiley face). As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – it was a very good year...this menu, such an incredible piece of local history! This slice of Malden life is not just a memento of a bygone era, but a living tribute to the patrons, the flavors and the atmosphere that made the Highland Café so iconic to so many. I hope my humble reflections – the names, the prices, the music – painted at least a muted picture of a time and place where community and good food were the heart of everything. The original joint “where everybody knows your name.” Postscript 1: To conclude... I hope you once again felt the warmth of that oven baking fresh pies, the hum of the jukebox playing those classic hits, the memory of Paul Gennetti gently asking you to drink up cuz it’s closing time, and the familiar buzz of the crowd enjoying the simple joys of a night out. And the names of the people who served, tended and poured – that’s the real heart of it. Postscript 2: In closing... The specialness is not only that I have a physical piece of that history, but also the emotional connection that brings it all to life. This menu, with its prices and drinks, is not just a relic of the past, but a doorway back to a moment in time when everything was a little simpler – and yet, still felt full of meaning. Postscript 3: In conclusion...I think it’s more than a “flashback”; it’s a reminder that those special little moments, shared with others in a place you love, are what stay with you. Whether it’s the smell of fresh bread, the laughter/buffoonery at the bar, or of toasts made, glasses raised – it all adds up to something much bigger than just an old meal. It’s about connection – both to the people who shared those moments with you and to the space where it all unfolded. Postscript 4: Last but not least... Again, I apologize for heartstrings tugged (manipulated?) – and for meandering (guilty) – but if you know of how we/I feel, then you know. Those memories are something you wouldn’t trade for anything (well, maybe a Topps ’52 Mantle). They live on, as strong and cherished as ever, every time you look at that menu, every time you see Dave or his brother Johnny (Puleo) drive by the old Highland, or just plain remember those special days. Long live the Highland Café. —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. City of Malden Community Preservation Committee Monthly Meeting Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 6:00 PM Public Hearing and Monthly Meeting Hybrid City Hall Room #105 (in-person) Live streamed via Zoom (virtual) On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed legislation extending certain COVID-19 relief measures including extending remote meetings for public bodies. The same provisions which permitted public bodies to meet remotely, or convene in a hybrid manner, have been extended through March 31, 2025. This extension allows public bodies to continue to meet remotely or to meet in a hybrid manner, without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location. The law requires that a public body provide “adequate, alternative” access to remote meetings. Additional information/guidelines for the public can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/ service-details/updated-guidance-on-holding-meetings-pursuant-to-the-act-extendingcertain-covid-19-measures. Members of the public who wish to attend remotely can do so using the following information: https://cityofmalden.zoom.us/j/91972006455 Webinar ID: 919 7200 6455 Or join by phone from the US: +1 929 436 2866 or +1 646 518 9805 If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Maria Luise, ADA Compliance Coordinator at mluise@cityofmalden.org or 781-397-7000, Ext 2005 CPC Monthly Meeting and Public Hearing December 18, 2024 Agenda 1. Call to Order/ Roll Call 2. Public Hearing a. 0020_Pearl Street Envelope Assessment b. 0021_Oliver Street Envelope Assessment c. 0024_Forest Dale Cemetery Wall d. 0025_Forest Dale Cemetery Pond e. 0026_Saint Paul’s Church Envelope Assessment 3. Approval of Meeting Minutes from November 18, 2024 4. Other Business 5. Adjournment of CPC Monthly Meeting Share your comments on FY25 applications (https://www.cityofmalden.org/768/CPA-FundingApplications) during the Public Hearings at this November and the next December monthly meetings, or by filling out this survey: https://forms.gle/7WM8rzfMShqQAjKh7 December 06, 13, 2024
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