PRESS RELEASE: Starry Night

PRESS RELEASE: Starry Night

MALDEN—On Thursday, October 20th, the Malden Chamber of Commerce honored six members of the community who have gone “above and beyond” to support the Chamber, the City of Malden, and the community. Nearly 200 attendees enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Awards Banquet held at Anthony’s of Malden.

Dennis Cataldo of Cataldo Ambulance and Ron Cox from Malden Access Television served as MC’s for a fun evening. The following awardees received the “Shining Star” statuette from the Chamber as well as citations from the City of Malden, the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

• Joseph McCleary, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School; Educator of the Year
• Carol Melle, Oak Grove Improvement Association; Community Service Award
• Theresa Rosa; Executive Director’s Award
• Tony Bartolo, Tony’s Auto Body; Business of the Year
• Diane Farraher-Smith, Hallmark Health VNA & Hospice; President’s Award
• Jordan Shapiro, Shapiro & Hender; Diamond Award

Several local dignitaries stopped by to wish the honorees well including State Representative Chris Fallon, and City Councilors Gary Christenson, Greg Lucey, and Craig Spadafora. At the start of the evening, Chamber President, John Kaloyanides presented a gift to Mayor Howard in gratitude for 16 years of support to the Chamber.

The Chamber wants to thank the awardees as well as all those within the civic community who make Malden a great place to live and work.

About the Malden Chamber of Commerce: We are an organization of local businesses, organizations, and agencies. Our By Laws task us to promote and develop the commercial and civic interests of the City of Malden and affiliated communities. What this means is that we are committed to this community. We are here to support all public and private interests and to cultivate a positive economic climate for job creation and business growth.

10/20 Shining Stars Awards Banquet

The Malden Chamber of Commerce

Proudly Presents

The 12th Annual

Shining Stars Awards Banquet

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Anthony’s of Malden 105 Canal Street

Social Hour 5:00pm        Dinner 6:15pm

Honoring the following Shining Stars of Malden:

Joseph McCleary, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School

Educator of the Year

Theresa Rosa

Executive Director’s Award

 

Carol Melle, Oak Grove Improvement Association

Community Service Award

 

Dianne Farraher-Smith, Hallmark Health

Presidents Award

 

Tony Bartolo, Tony’s Auto Body

Business of the Year

 

Jordan  Shapiro, Shapiro & Hender

Diamond Award

 

Public Invited

Tickets$60

Tables of 10 $550

Sponsorship $250

For reservations, please contact the Chamber at 781-322-4500 or e-mail  info@maldenchamber.org

Click here for the Flyer.

The attached photo (Courtesy of Turner Photography) shows the 2011 Shining Star Awardees. From left, Carol Melle, Oak Grove Improvement Association (Community Service Award), Tony Bartolo, Tony’s Auto Body (Outstanding Small Business Award), Diane Farraher-Smith, Hallmark Health VNA & Hospice (President’s Award), Theresa Rosa Executive Director’s Award), Jordan Shapiro, Shapiro & Hender, (Diamond Award), Joseph McCleary, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, (Educator of the Year Award)

 

 

Mayoral Candidates Meet with MROA.

October 6, 2011

PRESS RELEASE:

Mayoral Candidates Meet with MROA.

Both candidates running for Mayor of Malden met with members of the Malden Restaurant Owner/Operators Association (MROA) on Wednesday. Councilors Deborah Fallon and Gary Christensen each spent 45 minutes hearing the concerns of Malden Restaurant owners. One of the main topics of discussion was last year’s passage of the local meals tax, both how it was passed and how the proceeds will be used. While the restaurant owners would like the tax repealed, barring that, they requested consideration of mitigating action by the City. Some ideas raised were review and simplification of signage ordinances, relaxation of the City’s 12:45 am closing restriction, and using some of the tax proceeds to advertise Malden as a dining destination.

All the restaurant owners participating were very pleased with the meetings. “We really appreciate the candidates demonstrating such strong interest in our industry” said Joe Crowley of Pisa Pizza, the President of the MROA. The restaurant owners are looking forward to working with the next Mayor.

The Chamber of Commerce is the temporary contact for the MROA. For further information contact the Chamber at 781-322-4500 or email: info@maldenchamber.org

Gary Christenson with MROA Members

 

Deb Fallon with MROA Members

 

 

I Get No Respect

 

        The things we do for charity.  Housing Families held a wonderful Community Day last Saturday at the Dockside Restaurant.  Entertainment was provided by Paula Terenzi’s Dance Complex.  The food was delicious, thanks to the Dockside, Hugh O’Neils, and Pisa Pizza.  I offered to cook.  I even offered to dance, but no, they put me into the Dunk Tank.

Seems we have a lot of potential major league pitchers in Malden.  Thanks for the memories.

MROA

You may have heard the initials “MROA” lately. The Malden Restaurant Owner/Operators Association was formed earlier this year to provide a forum for local Restaurants to discuss and work on mutual issues.

The MROA is a vital part of our community.  There is probably no other single industry in Malden which does more for the community than our local restaurants. Many youth sports, teams, charities, and the Chamber itself depend upon the generosity of these restaurant owners and operators. A typical example is last week’s “Go Out for Gus” night, where members of the MROA donated part of their proceeds to a local family so
they could purchase a specialty van for their son who is stricken with Multiple Sclerosis.

The restaurant industry is the fastest growing business sector in Malden.  Many Maldonians have had the opportunity to experience the quality and variety of Malden food services at the Taste of Malden. At their
last meeting, the MROA elected Officers to lead the organization for the next year. Both officers are restaurant owners who have consistently served the Malden community for many years. The new Chair is Joe Crowley, of Pisa Pizza. The Secretary/Clerk is Lisa Urbaczewski, owner of the Dockside Restaurant at Riverview.

One of the first priorities of the MROA will be to work with the City on a “Dine in Malden” campaign. This will
improve tax revenues for the City since the passage of the Local Option Meals Tax in January provides a revenue stream directly to cities and towns from the added tax on meals.

The Chamber hopes you will support this important community organization by patronizing your great local restaurants.

What the heck is the MROA?


You may have heard the initials “MROA” lately. The Malden Restaurant Owner/Operators Association was formed earlier this year to provide a forum for local Restaurants to discuss and work on mutual issues. The MROA is a vital part of our community. There is probably no other single industry in Malden which does more for the community than our local restaurants. Many youth sports, teams, charities, and the Chamber itself depend upon the generosity of these restaurant owners and operators. A typical example is last week’s “Go Out for Gus” night, where members of the MROA donated part of their proceeds to a local family so they could purchase a specialty van for their son who is stricken with Multiple Sclerosis.

The restaurant industry is the fastest growing business sector in Malden. Many Maldonians have had the opportunity to experience the quality and variety of Malden food services at the Taste of Malden. At their last meeting, the MROA elected Officers to lead the organization for the next year. Both officers are restaurant owners who have consistently served the Malden community for many years. The new Chair is Joe Crowley, of Pisa Pizza. The Secretary/Clerk is Lisa Urbaczewski, owner of the Dockside Restaurant at Riverview.

One of the first priorities of the MROA will be to work with the City on a “Dine in Malden” campaign. This will improve tax revenues for the City since the passage of the Local Option Meals Tax in January provides a revenue stream directly to cities and towns from the added tax on meals. The Chamber hopes you will support this important community organization by patronizing your great local restaurants.

11/10 Malden Chamber Get Connected EXPO 2010

Expo.logo.2010The Malden Business Expo  is returning.

Come Get Connected on November 10, 2010 11:00 am – 6:00 pm at the Malden Senior Center.

This event will showcase the quality and diversity of the Malden Business Community.

  • Corporate Sponsorships are available for $1,000
  • Business Exhibition Spaces are available for $250 and Nonprofit Exhibition Spaces are $125.
  • Admission is $5.00 person and free to seniors and children under 16 with a parent.

Partial proceeds from the event will be donated to Triangle, a non-profit organization that has provided career and life development services for people with disabilities since 1971 in Malden.

EXPO Registration Form

God Bless the Little Man

There is a country western song by Alan Jackson that talks about small business owners (the “Little Man”) who, “…built this town, Before the big money shut ‘em down”.

It sounds a little shop worn to say that small businesses are the engine of progress in this country, but it still holds true. They are the primary employers, the primary taxpayers, and the primary source of growth and innovation. Our local business community is struggling, they are strong, and will emerge from this recession in good shape, but in the interim, we need to stick together. We need to help ourselves and each other, by supporting and patronizing our local businesses.

Take a look at the advertisements in this Newsletter. The advertisers are members of your community. In patronizing a local business, it is important to remember that much more of each dollar spent stays within that community. That helps all of us. Next time you are looking for a business, take a look at the list of members on our website. Give these folks your business, and it will pay you back.

“Long live the little man,
God bless the little man!”

Civic Duty

A caller hung up on me the other day.  They wanted me, as Director of the Chamber to “Do Something!” about a local business (not a Chamber member) they felt was not treating customers well.  I offered several options that they, as a customer, could pursue.  However, they wanted me to take the lead.  This was not the first time.  People regularly call the Chamber wanting us to take action on any number of issues ranging from trash and crime to library services.  These types of calls raise the question, “Are we our neighbor’s keeper?”  Is there more I could do?  What responsibility do each of us have to the community where we live and work?

It is easy to pass off issues like this by saying, “That’s not my job.”  However, if a town or city is to be more than simply an area where people live in proximity, there must be a commitment to community.  Building that requires those within the community to exercise their civic duty, to go “Above and Beyond” what is simply expected.   There are people in the Malden Community who do this all the time.  The Chamber recognizes a few each year with “Shining Stars awards”.   Thanks to all of them as well as many others who make Malden a great community.

–Ted Coates

Malden Chamber of Commerce • 200 Pleasant St. • Malden, MA 02148 • (781) 322-4500 • info@maldenchamber.org