Man About Canton: Agnes Drake-Bender 1914-2011
By Joe DeFeliceDID YOU KNOW …
MAC was saddened to hear of the passing of Agnes Drake-Bender on February 13 at the age of 97. Mrs. Drake-Bender was born in Brooklyn, New York, but resided for many years at her home in Canton that formerly stood at 14 Elm Street until it was torn down a few years ago after her advanced age and failing health required she move to a nursing home. Recognized by many for her outspoken and often-unconventional ideas and intellect, she graduated from Smith College in 1935, and most of her working years were as a legal secretary.
Many will recall how she would drive downtown from her home each day in her beat-up station wagon and how she would later use an old bicycle when she could no longer drive. On these daily trips, she would not only take care of personal errands but would also customarily visit the town hall, the post office, banks, and other local businesses; and she was especially fond of her visits to Mike’s Lunch. Mrs. Drake-Bender would generally use her daily downtown visits to initiate loud, one-way discussions on local, state and national affairs.
Agnes Drake-Bender was well known here in Canton; and when she lived among us, she developed a wide reputation of being the town’s odd eccentric. Many of us can relate numerous bizarre stories about things she supposedly said or did.
With her passing, Canton sadly lost an interesting and true town icon.
The recent Stoughton Town Meeting approved the purchase of tasers for their entire police department.
The Canton Council on Aging sent a busload of appreciative Canton seniors to Boston’s Symphony Hall yesterday evening to hear some great music by the Boston Pops, conducted by maestro Keith Lockhart. Incidentally, Lockhart, who turned 50 in 2009, has conducted 1,400 Boston Pops concerts; and this year, he is starting his 17th season as their music director. Time sure passes by fast, doesn’t it?
As usual, this year’s Memorial Day celebration was outstanding and the town’s official patriotic festivities at the Canton Corner Cemetery Veterans’ Park were appropriate, traditional, and well done. World War II veteran and Silver Star recipient Dan Berardi was the Grand Marshall.
The messages on the new electronic sign in front of the library have been changed from red to yellow, which makes the sign more readable.
Speaking of the town meeting, MAC and many others feel that Dr. Jonathan Arata did an outstanding job as moderator. Dr. Arata earned his PhD in engineering from Brown University.
Times are really tough. McDonald’s has been looking to hire new employees for positions from cashier to manager, and there were nearly 16,000 applicants for the 2,000 vacancies they had in Massachusetts. Nationwide, there were 1 million applicants to fill 62,000 positions.
Congratulations to Betty Lethin, who was selected by the Blue Hills Civic Association as their 2011 Citizen of the Year. She received the award at a formal ceremony and dinner at the Canton Town Club on May 16. She served many years as the town nurse with the Canton Board of Health, and following her retirement, has spent countless hours doing volunteer work with the Canton Help Line, the Food Pantry, the Community Club, and the Senior Center.
It should come as no surprise that the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Commission and other state and city agencies have approved liquor license amendments to allow the sale of mixed drinks in five existing concession locations at Fenway Park. The mixed drink prices reportedly will range from $8.50 to $9.50.
Finally, Jack Martinelli, who has been at the helm of the football program at Foxboro High School for 29 years, will be inducted into the Massachusetts State Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Martinelli’s teams have won 10 Hockomock League championships and have a career record of 223 wins, 81 losses and five ties. A number of those wins have come at the expense of Canton High School, which hasn’t beaten Foxboro High in the last 20 years.
Bear Bryant once said, “The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards.”
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=5660
Posted by Joe DeFelice
on Jun 1 2011. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion.
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