Man About Canton: Downtown Flags Are Getting Hit
By Joe DeFeliceDID YOU KNOW…
MAC hates to say it, but it appears a mistake was made again in placing the flags and “Welcome to Canton” banners on the new light poles in the Downtown Business District. The banners and flags extend out over Washington Street into parking spaces. They have only been up a short time and several have been hit by trucks, some more than once. It seems a number of delivery trucks servicing our downtown merchants are taller than the rods holding the flags and banners, and for the most part, the drivers probably don’t even know when they hit and damage them. Those that have been hit and are now twisted and distorted include those in front of Centerfields (which has been hit at least twice); in front of 711 Washington Street, across the street from St. John’s; and the one in front of the Capen Building at 749 Washington Street. The banners across from the library at 777 and 779 Washington Street and the one in front of Dr. Rauch’s office at 575 Washington Street have also been hit. In addition to straightening and repairing the damaged rods, the town should consider repositioning them so they extend out over the sidewalks where they will be safe from errant trucks and will still be visible and look just as good.
If you are wondering what is going on over at Greenlodge Street, the sewer system is being replaced, and it will be constructed from Elm Street, under Interstate 95, and connect to the MWRA interceptor. It is a sizable project, and the expected completion date is the late summer or early fall of 2011.
Canton has a new town accountant. Based on her extensive experience, the selectmen have appointed Kathleen Butters of Millis from a list of 40 applicants.
The selectmen have decided to spend up to $100,000 from the Barletta and Ponkapoag Tower mitigation funds to light the Ruane Field behind the Kennedy Elementary School. According to Selectman Bob Burr, various youth groups that use the field will pay for the installation at the estimated cost of $125,000. The work should be completed by next spring.
Peter Berteletti of the Department of Public Works is the latest town employee to announce he is going to retire on December 1 after many years of service to the town.
The town has received a plaque from the Massachusetts Senate and the House of Representatives recognizing the DPW Water and Sewer Division for its work protecting Canton’s drinking water during the recent MWRA water crisis.
The Canton Police Department has received a $1,000 grant from Verizon’s Hope Line Program to support a series of presentations on domestic violence prevention and awareness. Presentations will be made to local high school students during the 2010-2011 school year.
Volunteers are needed for the 18th Annual Alzheimer’s Association Neponset Valley Memory Walk on Saturday, September 25, which is also the date of Canton’s homecoming celebration, road race, parade and block party. For more information on the Memory Walk, visit www.memorywalkma.org and click on “volunteer registration.”
It may be interesting to know that bats are actually good to have around because they have the capacity to eat their body weight in mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and other insects each night.
The new $30,000 water slide at the town swimming pool on Bolivar Street is proving to be a popular addition, especially during these very hot summer days.
Citizens Financial will install nearly 600 ATM machines at Cumberland Farms convenience stores in New England and the mid-Atlantic, as well as some locations in Florida.
Speaking of Florida, Disney World is raising the price of a one-day, one-park adult ticket to $82. That’s up 3.8 percent from the former pass price of $79.
The Cadillac Escalade, the cost of which start at $63,495, ranks as the most stolen automobile. The F-250 crew cab pickup, Infiniti 637 two-door car, Dodge Charger, and Chevrolet Corvette round out the list of the top five cars that attract thieves.
The federal government reports that the number of Americans who are receiving food stamps rose to a record 40.8 million in May, as the jobless rate hovered near a 27-year high. That is more than one eighth of the population.
Former Canton High School varsity football coach Bill Burkhead, 41, recently resigned as head coach at Plymouth North High School and accepted the assistant principal job at the school. Burkhead was also the athletic director the last five years and compiled a very impressive 71-26 record in nine years as the school’s head football coach.
More people filed for Social Security benefits in 2009 than any year in history, and many of the 2.74 million filed ahead of their full retirement age of 66. In a recent report of the Social Security Program, it stated that starting in 2015, Social Security will be paying out more than it receives in tax collection as 78 million baby boomers begin retiring.
And finally, Canton Attorney Glen Hannington said this week that the new small claims limit has been increased from $2,000 to $7,000 effective immediately. This should benefit those seeking to collect money by saving on attorney’s fees.
All of the finest things we have today were discovered, fashioned, or conceived by those who kept constantly in sight the motto, “I may be wrong.”
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=3015
Posted by Joe DeFelice
on Aug 19 2010. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion.
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