Man About Canton: Canton Wasn’t Alone

DID YOU KNOW …

You might be interested to know that Canton wasn’t the only area community not to have any contests on their town ballot. Sharon, Raynham, Scituate and Westwood didn’t have any contests either. Apathy must be getting contagious.

Work on the final phase of a five-year, $1 million plan to repair and improve Route 138 between the Milton and Stoughton town lines has finally begun. The work includes the roadway between the Washington and Randolph Street traffic lights and is entirely paid for by state highway funds. Workers will be on the site Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the project is expected to be completed by early October.

For the first time in several years, Canton will field a team in the Hockomock Girls’ Summer Softball League. The team will be for girls ages 11-14 (grades 4-6), and they will play a five-week season from June 20 to July 28. Tryouts were held on April 22 and 23. You can get further information by emailing Britta Reissfelder at br5229@msn.com.

Canton police, in conjunction with school officials, recently conducted a drug detection search of Canton High lockers and two student-parking areas, which included the use of a drug-trained K-9 dog. We’re happy to report that only two students were cited for having small amounts of illegal drugs in their cars.

Canton has been awarded its Chapter 90 state transportation funds of $782,199 for the coming fiscal year. The money can be used for current and deferred local road and bridge maintenance, as well as reconstruction, resurfacing, equipment, design and engineering. The state Chapter 90 Fund formula is based on road miles, population and employees.

MAC is happy to report that the Massachusetts unemployment rate dropped to 8 percent in March, down from 8.2 percent in February and 8.7 percent at this time last year, which is below the national average of 8.8 percent.

The Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project has conducted helicopter applications of the chemicals necessary to control mosquito larvae in Canton, Stoughton and other Norfolk County communities. Let’s hope it does the job.

MAC extends congratulations to Christine Smith of Canton, who was recently named to the 2011 Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Association of Buyer Agents (MABA). She is an associate broker with Buyers Brokers Only, LLC.

Congratulations to Canton residents Kimloan Do, Effie Gefteas, Christine Laraia, James Maltz and Loraine Riemer, who were recently honored as pacesetters of last September’s 2010 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. By raising a minimum of $1,000 each, the pacesetters collectively raised $17,187 for the walk. Funds from the walk benefit adult and pediatric cancer care and research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Adopt-a-Shop at Blue Hills Regional Technical School will hold its annual comedy night tomorrow (Friday, May 6) from 7 a.m. to midnight at the Randolph Elks Club, 21 School Street in Randolph. Adopt-a-Shop provides funding for tools and equipment for Blue Hills students. Admission is $30 and the featured performers are Joey Yannetty, Brad Mastrangelo and Dave McDonough. For tickets, call Marybeth Nearen at 781-961-1074 or e-mail mb17@ hotmail.com.

MAC was interested in learning that the Sharon-based Mangia Pizza Restaurant at 655 Washington Street (next to the Canton Post Office) is part of a small chain. Other Mangia locations include Walpole, Brookline, Boston’s South End and Cohasset Village.

The Norfolk County Humane Society Shelter will hold its annual spring yard sale this coming Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 157 Neponset Street in Canton. The money raised will go toward the vet bill for “Shilo,” a cat rescued in Needham that had severe burns and a wound on her shoulder.

Former Canton resident Mike Calitri, who has been working in the general manager’s office of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team, has taken on new duties as the team’s batting practice pitcher. Mike was a standout at Xaverian High and played college ball at Clemson University before spending several years in the minor leagues.

Effective May 1, the Canton Town Clerk will no longer process applications for U.S. passports. Applications can be found at the Post Office or online.

While on the subject of the Post Office, declining mail volume and declining revenue has led the U.S. Postal Service to consider closing some of its 31,871 branches and eliminating Saturday deliveries.

Unless you understand the history of a situation, you can’t ever hope to solve problems.

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

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

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on May 5 2011. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.