Man About Canton: Happy New Year

Did you know …

At midnight on December 31, 2014, an old and decrepit Father Time, representing the year 2014, will finally meet his demise. For some, it will be a happy passing, while others will be sad about it. For many, it is a time to make a lot of New Year’s resolutions, most of which, if not all, will be ignored or rapidly forgotten in just a few days. Many of us will be looking forward to 2015 in the hope that it will in some way be better than 2014. Most of us won’t bother to actually go down to New York’s Times Square — the New Year’s Eve mecca for millions — to watch the big lighted ball drop down at midnight, opting instead to watch it on television. Of course, if you had a mind to, and a warm set of long johns, you can always brave the usual icy-cold weather by going into downtown Boston for the First Night festivities and the impressive fireworks display. It is not Times Square, but you may consider it a reasonable alternative. In any event, suffice it to say that MAC wishes you and yours a happy and healthy New Year, and he hopes you have a safe and prosperous 2015.

Brightview of Canton, an assisted living facility now under construction on Turnpike Street, has presented the town with a donation of $712,595. MAC has a few suggestions for what to do with the money. How about lights at Randolph and Washington streets? Or Pleasant and Sherman streets? Or Chapman and Washington streets?

The town of Canton’s largest personal property taxpayer is NStar Electric Company, which pays $1.456 million annually. The largest real estate taxpayer is the Reebok Company, which pays $1.072 million.

Talking about Reebok, the Canton-based athletic brand recently signed a six-year deal as the new exclusive outfitter of the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts organization. UFC athletes will be required to wear Reebok gear at all official UFC events starting July 1, 2015, and will no longer be permitted to exhibit other sponsors’ logos.

Rob Carmody of Canton, a junior at Thayer Academy in Braintree, is a starting forward on the Thayer boys hockey team.

The price of gas has dropped below $2 a gallon in some states. Less than seven months ago, the national average was $3.70. Today the average is $2.49.

Selectmen recently appointed Don McAdams to the Canton Conservation Commission.

The Canton High School senior girls clobbered Stoughton 38-8 in their annual powderpuff flag football game, played the day before the annual Thanksgiving showdown between Canton and Stoughton’s varsity football teams, won this year by Stoughton 34-0.

Filmmakers have moved into Massachusetts. From 2011 to 2014, film production took place in 108 Massachusetts communities. In 2006, the state passed the film tax credit, opening the doors for Hollywood to film in the state. Filming in the town of Canton took place during the production of the movies Ted, American Hustle, and The Equalizer.

Interesting statistics from the U.S Defense Department: In World War II, 11.2 percent of the nation served in the military between 1941 and 1945. In Vietnam, 4.3 percent served between 1964 and 1975. Since 2001, only 0.45 percent of our population has served in the global war on terror. As you can see, fewer and fewer people have shouldered more and more of the burden, and it is only getting worse. Less than 1 percent (0.45) continues to serve our nation in the military.

Many residents have complained to MAC that the Pine Street Waste Recycling Center (the old town dump) closes too early for the year. This year, it closed on Saturday, November 29, and many trees still had leaves on their branches well into December; and when they finally fell, residents had to find other means of disposal. The recycling center will reopen for the collection of Christmas trees and wreaths from Monday, January 5, through Friday, January 16. The facility will reopen for the season on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. MAC suggests that the recycling center stay open until December 15 before closing for the year.

Finally, many of you will be celebrating New Year’s Eve (December 31) in one form or another. If you plan to have a few drinks to celebrate the arrival of 2015, MAC suggests you make arrangements to have a designated driver take you home.

Now and then, it is good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy!

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=28080

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Jan 1 2015. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.