Man About Canton: Election Day is Nov. 6

DID YOU KNOW …

There are three binding statewide ballot questions that will appear on the November 6 ballot. The first is the availability of motor vehicle repair information. A yes vote would allow vehicle owners and independent repair facilities in Massachusetts access to the same vehicle diagnostic and repair information that the manufacturers, dealers, and authorized repair facilities have provided to them. The second is prescribing medication to end life. This proposed law would allow a physician to prescribe medication, at a terminally ill patient’s request, to end that patient’s life. The third is the medical use of marijuana. This proposed law would eliminate state criminal and civil penalties for the medical use of marijuana by qualifying patients. The offices on the ballot include the election of the president and the vice president, U.S. senator, congressman, state senator and state representative, governor’s councilor, clerk of courts, register of deeds, county commissioner, sheriff, and register of probate.

In MAC’s opinion, the reason oil prices go up or down is based more on the trading and speculation on Wall Street than any other factor.

The town of Sharon wants to spend $500,000 of its money from the Community Preservation Act to demolish the building of the former boys school run by the Brothers of Sacred Heart and build multi-purpose playing fields on the 2.17-acre parcel. The town of Sharon acquired the Sacred Heart property back in 1974.

Talking about Sharon, the Sharon zoning board recently approved a planned retail plaza with a Target store and a BJ’s Wholesale Club store. The Sharon Commons shopping mall project is looking for a completion date in late 2013. The mall/plaza will be built on 57 acres of a 130-acre parcel owned by the Congress Group between the Shaw’s Plaza and South Walpole Street. The developer is Dean Stratouly.

The two oldest restaurants operating continuously in the same spot in Boston are The Union Oyster House (1826) and Durgin Park (1827). The Locke (1875) recently closed Saturday.

There are more than 1,400 McDonald’s hamburger restaurants in China and only 63 Burger Kings; but in a joint venture with the Kurdoglu family, Burger King will open 1,000 restaurants in China over the next five to seven years.

Since 2006, more U.S. households are regularly eating wheat bread than white.

The Canton Fire Department is offering a free home safety inspection. They will check for potential fire hazards in the home and check for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. For information, call Fire Lt. Brian Marshall at 781-575-6654 ext. 114.

The Canton Historical Society will hold its quarterly meeting on Sunday, October 28, at 2 p.m. at the society’s building at 1400 Washington Street. The guest speaker will be Gary Hylander, PhD, professor of history at Stonehill College. He will bring history alive, speaking on the battle of Gettysburg fought 150 years ago, July 1-3, 1863.

The Historical Society is looking for a Civil War uniform to display as part of its 150th Civil War anniversary celebration. The society has military uniforms dating from the mid-19th century through the Iraq War, with the exception of a uniform from the Civil War era. So please check your attic and ask your friends for a loan or a donation so the Canton Historical Society can round out their upcoming Civil War display.

There will be a retirement party at the Canton Town Club to honor Sgt. Dermot Moriarty of the Massachusetts State Police on Thursday, November 1. The cost of the tickets is $40 and includes dinner. Tickets must be purchased by October 26. No tickets will be sold at the door. MAC would like to wish Dermot a happy and peaceful retirement.

The Orange Leaf frozen yogurt shop that opened at the Village Shoppes at Cobb’s Corner in Canton was its 200th store. It was the eighth store opened in Massachusetts, according to information from the Oklahoma City-based headquarters. Orange Leaf offers more than 60 flavors of frozen yogurt with dozens of toppings. Prices are set on a weigh-and-pay basis. The Canton shop is owned by Gerry Pillisier of Plymouth. His grandparents used to live in Canton.

The Canton High School Alumni Association will hold an open house on Sunday, November 4, from 1-4 p.m. at the Canton Town Club. Refreshments will be served, and there will be door prizes. New president Jim Halley will speak regarding what the Alumni Association has accomplished over the past eight years and what it hopes to do in the future. All are invited to attend.

From the world of high school football … In the Hockomock League last week, Sharon High upset Stoughton High 16-14 as Sean Asnes of Sharon rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner with 10 seconds left in the game … and Vincent Burton of the Blue Hills Regional team from Canton (6-1) ran for 341 yards and five touchdowns as Blue Hills beat Bishop Connolly 36-13. Burton leads the state in scoring with 170 points.

And finally, this Wednesday, October 31, is Halloween; and as they have for many generations, hundreds of little ghosts and goblins will once again scurry around your neighborhood looking for candy. Groups of them will knock on your door, and after loudly stating their time-honored demand of “trick or treat,” they will present their loot bags for you to buy them off with a few tasty pieces from your special candy larder. So if you don’t want to have any tricks played on you, be prepared to have plenty of candy on hand to satisfy these scary denizens of the night. Happy Halloween to everyone!

A new broom sweeps clean, but an old one knows the corners.

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

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on Oct 25 2012. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.