Man About Canton: Canton Property Taxes to Rise

DID YOU KNOW…

The Board of Selectmen has accepted the increased tax rate recommended by the Board of Assessors. The rate for residential properties will increase from $10.83 per thousand to $11.55 per thousand. Commercial properties will increase from $21.77 per thousand to $23.04 per thousand. According to recent published reports, the total taxable valuation of the town is $3.924 billion, and Canton has 5,268 single-family homes and 1,248 condos. The two largest taxpayers in town are NStar, which pays the town $1,032,490 in taxes, and Reebok which pays $920,407.

December has finally arrived, and Christmas is only a few short weeks away. As usual, there are Christmas parties everywhere, including the Canton Association of Business and Industry party at the Blue Hills Country Club, which was held last night; the Senior Men’s Club and the Legion Band parties on December 9; the Annual Recreation Commission party for seniors on December 12; and the Council on Aging party on December 16. Additionally, the Canton Town Club is holding a corporate Christmas party on Friday, December 10 for individuals and parties of two or more. Tickets are $20 per person, $35 per couple, or a table of 10 for $150. For more information, call Rich D’Attanasio at 781-467-9834.

The Canton Choral Society will be holding its Annual Holiday Pops Concert at the Canton Town Club on Saturday, December 11, starting at 7 p.m. A limited number of tickets will be available for this event. For additional information call 781-821-8860.

A company called Black Bear Entertainment has selected a 100-acre site known as Pigeon Hill in the western Maine town of Oxford to erect a $165-million casino. The company reports that the project will start with slot machines, gaming tables, and a restaurant.

General Motors has announced that as of October 31, 2010, it has discontinued the manufacture of Pontiac cars, which they have been making since 1926.

Canton-based Dunkin’ Donuts is adding a new item to its breakfast menu called “pancake bites.” It consists of bite-sized sausage links wrapped in maple-flavored pancakes. The suggested retail price is $1.59, while two servings will be available for $3.

The Girl Scouts of USA have announced that contrary to previous reports that their uniforms will be made in China, their uniforms and sashes will actually continue to be made in the United States.

Those of you who still prefer chewing tobacco may be interested to learn that government researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that the use of smokeless tobacco products by both men and women is highest in Wyoming (9.1 percent) followed by West Virginia (8.5 percent). This includes the use of chew, snus, and other smokeless tobacco products.

The Boston Globe recently published current enrollment percentages of area schools. Those districts showing increases were Canton (plus 0.6 percent); Westwood (plus 23.3 percent); and Milton (plus 1.4 percent). On the negative side were Blue Hills Regional (minus 22 percent); Randolph (minus 29.5 percent); Stoughton (minus 9.6 percent); Norwood (minus 5.7 percent); and Sharon (minus 0.1 percent).

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the home ownership rate remains at its lowest level in more than ten years, due in part to a rise in foreclosures and a weak demand in housing, and the record number of foreclosures and tight lending standards are expected to keep pushing the home ownership rate down.

According to the IRS, more than 2,000 tax refund checks totaling approximately $3.4 million for Massachusetts residents have been returned to the IRS due to mailing address errors. If you never got yours, you can check the “Where’s My Refund?” link at www.irs.gov.

A couple of weeks ago, MAC mentioned the ZaRex Syrup drink mix is coming back on the market after an absence of several years. MAC has learned that the ZaRex Company is owned by Joe Croce III, a Canton native and a 1987 graduate of Canton High. You can get more information about ZaRex on the Internet at www.zarexusa.com.

MAC was happy to see the Bank of Canton continuing to show its concern for others by helping those in need. This time, they donated $10,000 to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, which is a substance-free, non-profit organization that empowers veterans in need with tools to achieve independent living. The center provides programs like training school, housing placement, and job placement and retention that address day-to-day and long-term needs of thousands of veterans throughout New England.

Brian Cramond, who works at the Stop & Shop store in Braintree, has won the Massachusetts “Best Bagger” contest, taking home the $250 prize. Brian will represent Massachusetts in the upcoming National Grocers Association Championship in Las Vegas on February 14. We wish him good luck.

The Board of Selectmen has received approval for the construction of a solar farm at the old Pine Street landfill. The board reports the town will average $440,000 per year in new annual revenue from the project and between $5.3 million and $60 million in energy rebates over the next 25 years.

And a final note regarding the recent Canton-Stoughton Thanksgiving Day football game, won by SHS 26-6. MAC has been attending the game for over 50 years, and this year had to be the worst attended game he can remember. The weather was chilly, but it didn’t rain or snow, and at game time (10 a.m.) you could still get a seat on the 50-yard line. Where were the students, parents, fans, and followers? MAC would guess that football in Canton, and for that matter, Stoughton, has taken a backseat to the other sports in these towns…too bad.

There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem.

This is all for now folks; see you next week.
Joe DeFelice can be reached at
manaboutcanton@aol.com

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