MAC: No Social Security COLA – Again

DID YOU KNOW …

MAC hates to tell you again, but it appears Social Security recipients are facing a third consecutive year without a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which would give them a modest increase in their checks. The government is now projecting a slight cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits for next year; but for most, rising Medicare premiums threaten to wipe out any increase in payments, which will adversely affect about 45 million people who receive both Medicare and Social Security.

A report from the American Medical Association (AMA) says there are almost 20,000 doctors who primarily work out of offices instead of hospitals in the state. That report also shows that the 19,550 office-based doctors support an estimated 112,000 other jobs.

Published reports about public housing say Canton has 33 family housing units and 204 senior housing units for a total of 237 units of public housing. Our neighboring town of Sharon has 94 total units, Stoughton has 270, Milton has 51, Randolph has 236, and Braintree has 186 total units.

We are happy to see the South Shore Music Circus on Sohier Street in Cohasset has opened its box office for its coming 60th season. For more information, you can call SSMC at 781-383-9850 or visit their website at www.themusiccircus.org.

In case you were wondering, the water level of Forge Pond has been lowered so construction can begin on the new DPW garage on Bolivar Street, and the level will remain lowered for about 30 days.

The only U.S. president ever granted a patent was Abraham Lincoln. He was granted Patent Number 6469 for a hydraulic device for lifting ships over shoals, but it was never manufactured. While Dunkin’ Donuts moved its corporate headquarters and operations to Royall Street in Canton a few years ago, it left “Dunkin’ Donuts University” in Braintree. Located off Granite Street near Braintree Five Corners, it was recently reported that the University is undergoing a $2.7 million upgrade, which will refurbish the building’s exterior and will also add extra parking, drainage, and landscaping on its campus. Inside the building, they intend to build replicas of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream shops. The Dunkin’ Donuts University originated in 1964 to train franchise owners, and it was moved to its present Braintree location in 1978.

Canton-based Reebok has signed a new contract to have the exclusive right to make and sell National Hockey League-themed apparel, including jersey replica “name and number” t-shirts, as well as t-shirts that contain full team rosters. Several other companies have also received contracts to make other kinds of apparel inspired by NHL players.

The Massachusetts State Insurance Commissioner has signed an agreement with the Workers Compensation Rating and Inspecting Bureau that holds workers compensation insurance rates at their current rates at least until September 2012. The WCRIB represents the industry and had requested a 6.6 percent overall increase.

It shouldn’t be much of a surprise, but AAA Southern New England reports the average cost to own and operate a sedan in the United States rose 3.4 percent in the past year, largely because of increases in the prices of gas and tires. The average cost for sedan ownership totaled $8,776 annually, or 50.5 cents per mile, based on 15,000 miles a year of driving.

The Board of Selectmen has appointed Elizabeth Ryan to be a member of the Canton Cultural Council.

You might not know that the Massachusetts Nurses Association, now affiliated with National Nurses United, is located at 340 Turnpike Street (Route 138) in Canton; and things must be looking up for some hardworking nurses because a recent news report related that, according to the Tufts Medical Center, their nurses earn an average of $114,543 a year. MAC bets most other nurses would love to be making that average.

It has been reported that the Canton biotechnology firm of Organogenesis, Inc. has bought a 78,000-square-foot Dan Road building for warehousing, further growth, and to accelerate the expansion of its headquarters in Canton. It was also reported that Organogenesis is beginning construction of a 95,000-square-foot manufacturing plant, also on Dan Road, which is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Motorists who have been cutting through the parking lot at the Town Hall to avoid the Washington and Sherman Street traffic light now have to contend with some aggravating speed bumps.

Finally, the Beatty Post 24 American Legion is holding its annual golf tournament on Monday, May 16, at the Wampatuck Country Club. The money raised will be used for scholarships for Canton students, and this year, they plan to award ten $500 scholarships. For more information, call Barry at 508-284-4987.

A bit of wisdom from Will Rogers: After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good, he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you’re full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

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

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on May 11 2011. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.