Man About Canton: The Downtown Banners Are Fixed!!
By Joe DeFeliceDID YOU KNOW …
Hooray! The Canton Board of Selectmen finally changed its collective mind about the flags/banners that were incorrectly hung from the new light poles in the Downtown Business District several months ago. They were incorrectly installed parallel to the street rather than perpendicular, and thus, they have been difficult to see and read unless you were directly in front of one. Board of Selectmen Chairman Victor Del Vecchio informed MAC that the banners have now been properly changed to face the correct direction by a town crew under the direction of Buddy Fallon, our longtime superintendent of buildings and grounds. Thankfully, the total cost for the changeover was minimal, and the flags/banners look great.
Going on to other things, Town Administrator Bill Friel reports that 228 Canton residents applied for FEMA disaster assistance due to the March flooding, totaling a claim of $284,522.
The Board of Selectmen recently appointed John Redquest as water department foreman effective June 14 and accepted the resignation of Town Accountant Janine Smith effective June 21.
The Board of Selectmen has also approved 43 out of 100 applicants for temporary summer jobs, including 33 rehires for those with previous experience as camp counselors, playground staff, and lifeguards.
Despite a smaller than usual turnout, the Canton July 4th Road Race was a success this year, and a great time was had by all participants and their friends and families. MAC would like to again thank all those who donated their time and money to the race, including Selectman Sal Salvatori who donated trophies for the kid’s fun run.
Boston’s John Hancock Tower in the Back Bay is on the market again. The present owners bought the building in 2009 for $660 million, and today, with its high occupancy rate, the estimated value is between $925 and $950 million. It is one of Boston’s tallest and best-known buildings.
In a move to generate more revenue for Boston, Mayor Menino’s administration is promising a hike in parking fines, which they believe will bring in an additional $600,000 annually. Under the plan, parking fines would increase from $15 to $25. Before it can go into effect, the proposal must be approved by the City Council.
It appears that Amtrak, which passes through Canton over the Viaduct, will probably set a fiscal year ridership record, beating the present record of 28.8 million riders set in 2008. Their fiscal year ends on September 30, so we will see if they can do it.
Despite last winter’s cold snap in Florida, which killed off many tomato plants and sent supermarket prices soaring, a surprising and unanticipated surplus has occurred, causing tomato prices to drop and resulting in losses of 50 cents on the dollar for the growers.
The Wampatuck Country Club at the end of Pleasant Garden Road has applied for a permit to construct a 170-foot, lattice-type telecommunications tower structure and a 12-by-40-foot equipment shelter.
The Boston Globe recently reported that with their controversial new contract, Boston firefighters with 10 years of experience will earn a base salary of $87,336 per year and can eventually retire at relatively young ages with lifetime pensions based on those salaries.
Canton-based Blue Hills Brewery is sponsoring father-daughter team Aigars Rumpis and Zane Grava, who are biking to Toronto to raise money for the Special Olympics teams for their home country of Latvia.
Judging by the large number of high-ranking school department leaders that are unexpectedly leaving Canton, MAC wonders if they know something that we don’t … and probably should.
If you’re a fan of traditional big band music, MAC recommends you take a ride over to the other side of the Neponset River to the gazebo on Norwood Common (across from the Town Hall) on Sunday evenings until September 5. You will hear some great big band music played from 7 to 9 p.m. Norwood also has free Common Carillon concerts on Monday evenings until August 16.
Veteran Canton Selectman John Connolly recently went on a business trip to China, and it was a trip he won’t forget for a long time. He suffered a severe case of food poisoning just as he returned to Canton, and an ambulance took him to Norwood Hospital where he had to spend five days recuperating.
MAC sends congratulations out to all students who graduated college and high school this year. Canton High graduated 196 seniors, and Blue Hills Regional graduated 195.
The Boston Globe reports that the projected new rail route from South Station to New Bedford and to Fall River has come down to two possible routes, one going through Canton/Stoughton and the other through Attleboro. Before making its final selection, the state is waiting for a Clean Water Act permit from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Common sense is seeing things as they are and doing things as they should be done.
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=3272
Posted by Joe DeFelice
on Jul 8 2010. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion.
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