Man About Canton: Judge Rotenberg bill at a standstill
By Joe DeFeliceDID YOU KNOW …
Despite all the big headlines and negative publicity directed at the Judge Rotenberg Center on Turnpike Street, Senator Brian A. Joyce’s annual bill to handcuff the school appears to be going nowhere — again; and it appears there isn’t enough support in the House of Representatives to adopt the measure and send it on to the governor for his enacting signature. As in the past, Joyce’s Rotenberg Bill (S2540) was again adopted by his Senate colleagues, but when it went to the more diverse House, it again was bottled up by several representatives, including one who chairs an important House committee. It seems that particular representative has a nephew that attends the school in Canton, and the representative and his family are said to be satisfied and support the treatment he receives there. In simple terms, the so-called “aversive” treatment at the Judge Rotenberg Center may be controversial and sound horrific, and while it may be hard for critics to understand or accept, it is apparently effective and beneficial in treating students with severe behavioral problems. As a matter of fact, its effectiveness accounts for the fact that the overwhelming support for the Judge Rotenberg Center comes from the parents and families of the students being treated there, and they are much closer and intimately familiar with the effectiveness of the treatment than many of the self-serving politicians and outspoken critics combined.
Many were happy to see the state Department of Revenue announce that tax collections in Massachusetts totaled $721 million in July, which was up 3 percent from a year ago and exceeded estimates.
MAC extends condolences to the family of Alfredo Aiello, who recently passed away at age 82. Mr. Aiello was a hardworking Italian immigrant who founded the Alfredo Aiello Italian Foods Company from scratch in 1966. From their plant in Quincy, it grew into a retail chain with stores in Quincy, Norwell, and Canton. He was a devoted family man who was proud of his Italian heritage. He will be missed.
This week’s patriotic award goes to McDonald’s restaurant at Cobb’s Corner and the Luk Oil gas station on Washington Street for their excellent and tasteful displays of ten full-size American flags. They look great.
It is not much of a surprise, but according to the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory, July was the hottest month ever recorded there in the past 125 years. The average temperature for this July was 75.1 degrees, beating the previous record of 74.9 set in 1952.
The Board of Selectmen recently approved Chapter 90 reimbursement requests to resurface Oak Road and Staiti Circle; to resurface a portion of Washington Street; to resurface and improve High Street, Norfolk Street, and Tolman Street; and to cold-plane and pave Bolivar Street.
Sue Franco has been appointed as the temporary secretary to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Canton native Linda Orel will be the new executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions. She is an attorney who previously worked with The Nature Conservancy and currently works for the Turner Foundation in Atlanta. She also worked as a staff attorney at the Massachusetts State House and was an instructor at the Museum of Science for over 20 years.
Since the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles say they may no longer send license expiration reminders, AAA Southern New England has started an e-mail notification service for drivers whose licenses are due to expire. AAA members who wish to sign up for the service can do so by visiting www.aaa.com and supplying some basic information through a secure link in the website.
It appears a couple of retired Red Sox veterans surprisingly have another life. Left-handed pitcher Bill Lee, 63, has signed on to pitch for the Brockton Rox of the Can Am League against the Rochester Tornadoes in their September 5 season finale. Lee pitched in 321 games for the Red Sox from 1969 to 1978 and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008. Also, ex-slugger Jose Canseco, 46, has signed on to play for and coach the Laredo Broncos of the United Baseball League for their final six games this season.
The Bay State Gas Company, which has about 300,000 customers statewide, is changing its name to Columbia Gas of Massachusetts. Bay State Gas signs and logos will be phased out through the end of the year.
Finally, if you happen to be left handed, you may be interested in knowing that seven of our presidents have also been left handed: Garfield (20th), Truman (33rd), Ford (38th), Reagan (40th), GHW Bush (41st), Clinton (42nd), and Obama (44th).
The people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials but the ones with the concern.
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=2989
Posted by Joe DeFelice
on Aug 26 2010. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion.
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