Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Wednesday, December 24, 2025 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 7 to go. RIP Walter and thanks for the memories!” Mike’s eventually morphed into Papa’s Bar & Grille, run by a wonderful Medford family named McGovern. And while Papa’s was an excellent restaurant in every respect, it just wasn’t Mike’s (although the late Dawn Foley made it a joy each and every time we visited). Mike’s Café was one of those places — an iconic Edgeworth institution and one of the many legendary old-timers’ haunts that shaped the rhythm of the neighborhood and our early lives. I read this somewhere, which seemed so apropos: “the forced intimacy of life in a small neighborhood meant no street corner was ever truly anonymous.” Or in this case, no neighborhood bar. As we were about to go to press, it came to my attention REVIEW | FROM PAGE 1 lion. The proposed override would be for $5.4 million. Broken down per capita by Malden property taxpayers, the average residential homeowner would be asked to pay an additional $300 in 2026 to fund the requested sum. With the average Malden homeowner paying $7,360 annually in property taxes, the proposed override sum of $300 per homeowner would be around four percent that an avid “Malden Musings” reader — Lillian’s son, Paul — had passed away in November. Paul was a “good kid” and was a regular at Devir Park when we were growing up. To the entire family, a warm and wonderful Malden clan — my sincere and heartfelt condolences. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” — Maldonia! You didn’t think you were gonna get away without my favorite Craig Spadafora Christmas offering, did you?! One more time with feeling… Craig Spadafora, Councillor-at-Large, a very special Maldonian and a dear friend of mine (even when he’s busting my beans): “My fondest Christmas memory will always be my grandparents’ (Anthony & Alice Spadafora’s) house on Emerald St, Christmas Eve. As a child with a big extended family, I relied for the one-time increase. *** Everett Police Officer placed on leave after being charged with allegedly biting Malden Police Officer in the face In January, a Malden Police officer was allegedly assaulted by being bitten in the face and punched by an ex-girlfriend — an Everett Police Officer — while working a paid police detail at Stop & Shop in on this annual tradition. This night brought me and my many cousins and aunts and uncles together under one roof with love, joy, and anticipation on the eve of the most magical day of the year. Each child always received gifts from aunts and uncles chosen at random. It was a house full of laughter, food, and a tree stocked with presents. And now…the food; baked, stuffed, boiled, fried, cured - we ate it all. The Christmas season always begins with a baking marathon of delicious Italian cakes and cookies. The aroma of which fills the home for weeks on end. A few samples of pastries created for the season might include Taralli, Pizzelle, Ciambella, Mostaccioli, Biscotti, Struffoli, Panettone, Crostoli, Cannoli and so much more. And of course, the simple pasta and fish on Christmas Eve. Our family enjoyed a Malden. According to prosecutors, the Malden Police Officer, who was not identified, was assaulted a second time, later Sunday, when the suspect, identified as Everett Police Officer Marie Sylvain, 27, went to his home for another confrontation. Officer Sylvain left the Malden District courthouse — located in Medford — after pleas of “not guilty” to two charges of assault and battery on a household or family member were entered, accordgourmet spread of baked, fried and sautéed aquatic delicacies, known as ‘The Seven Fishes.’ The older I got, the harder it was to leave my grandparents’ house on Christmas Eve, as I quickly realized it was this day that supplied the real holiday magic. Looking back on it now in my adult mind is like watching my favorite Christmas movie. A true classic. My grandparents’ tree couldn’t have been more perfect, my grandmother’s smile more sincere, their house even had the consummate Christmas smell! I am no longer able to create any new Christmas memories with my grandfather but now have had the responsibility bestowed upon me of fathering crucial early holiday memories in my kids’ minds. I am so thankful that I can draw upon my own blessed experiences and realize how important it has been in the developing to an online report. *** Malden Public School proactive in addressing anxiety over ICE presence in region Malden Public Schools, led by first-year Superintendent Dr. Timothy Sippel, was proactive — at the end of January and continuing through the school year — in addressing the announcement of new federal policies from Washington, D.C., regarding the intended deportation of immigrants who have entered the United States illegally. Dr. Sippel has put out messages and statements to Malden families noting the existing situation and assuring them that resources are available to assist them via the school district website: www.maldenps.org. And also, as Malden High Principal Chris Mastrangelo noted, No one is allowed into any school building except for educational purposes. Mastrangelo also made a video, all-school presentation to all students and staff at Malden High School regarding the situation. Previously, these steps were taken, he said: —Message of support has gone out to all students and staff —Message of specific Massachusetts statutes around ment of my character. Thank you, Tony, and Alice for teaching me the real meaning of a Merry Christmas!” Postscript 1: Merry Christmas, happy Hanukah and a blessed new year to four of the greatest human beings walking planet Earth at this very moment! My nieces Dorothy Levine, Toni and Jeri Scibelli and my nephew Anthony Scibelli. Here’s wishing 2026 is your best year evah! Postscript 2: To my precious grandchildren Christian, Lola, Jack, Lana and Milo, once again I wish for you a magical Christmas day full of love, precious memories and all your little hearts wish for. —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. Immigration Officials entering schools has been shared with staff, students and families —Dr. Sippel has shared messages with caregivers specific to student support and procedure —Individual check-ins with students *** Malden Reads picks “Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” as 2025 book A story of a boy who dreamed about helping his impoverished community achieve energy independence and eventually achieved his goal was the newest selection for Malden Reads 2025 Book of the Year. “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” whose author is William Kamkwamba, was introduced to the Malden School Committee. The story is set in drought-stricken Malawi, which is an impoverished country in southeastern Africa. “‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ tells the remarkable story of a young boy who, despite immense challenges, used his ingenuity to bring electricity and water to his village. William Kamkwamba, faced with food scarcity and limited resources, dreamed of harnessing the power of wind energy after learning about windmills in school textbooks.”
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