Man About Canton: A Teacher MAC Will Never Forget

DID YOU KNOW …

There are some high school teachers you never forget. Fred MacDonald was one that MAC will never forget. A lover of history and a social studies teacher at Canton High School for 39 years, Fred recently died at the age of 87.

Fred had quite a background. Originally from Dorchester, he was a former state representative (1972-1974), past vice president of the Dorchester Historical Society, a World War II Navy veteran, a former Massachusetts track and field official, and a timer for Canton’s July 4th Road Race.

For many years, Fred had his own dance band and he led the band as a bass fiddle player. He was a free spirit, never married, and was always the life of the party and an avid storyteller. Fred was liked by everyone and will be missed. May he rest in peace.

Barbara Smith, a retired executive administrative assistant to the Canton police chief, recently passed away at the age of 72. Barbara worked for the town for 28 years, including 18 for the Finance Department and 10 for the Police Department.

In Canton’s neighboring town of Randolph, the median home price in 2011 was only $220,000, while condo prices were at a low of $145,000. In the school system, the high school graduation rate is one of the lowest in the south shore at 67 percent. Only 57 percent of high school graduates go on to a four-year college.

Vincent Burton, a junior at Blue Hills Regional High School in Canton, leads Division 4A in scoring with 18 touchdowns and 28 extra points for 136 total points while leading Blue Hills to an 8-0 record.

When Sharon High recently beat Canton High 28-13, it was the Eagles’ first Hockomock Football League win in six years. Canton High, for that same period, is looking for its first win over a Hockomock opponent outside of Sharon. For years, the two teams have been the patsies for the rest of the Hockomock League.

The town of Sharon is following the lead of Canton by introducing a user fee of $15 per quarter to water bills. As Eric Hooper, Sharon Superintendent of Public Works, said, “What you’re paying for is the ability of the system to deliver water to your house, and that’s the same regardless of how much you use.” The town of Canton instituted a $10 water fee and a $5 sewer fee a few years ago, saying that the increase in cost was needed to offset the maintenance of sewer and water pipes. However, the $5 fee for irrigation is the fee that really bothers MAC. That is $20 right off the top each quarter.

Ronan Drory of Canton, principal of the Titanium Group that owns the car wash and detailing business at 955 Turnpike Street, is going through the process with the Canton Planning Board and Zoning Board to add a gasoline station and small convenience store to the 1.75-acre site. If approved, it will be only the second gas station in a five-mile stretch from Route 128 to the Stoughton line.

The amazing ageless runner Fauja Singh, at 100 years old, recently became the oldest person to complete a full-distance, 26-mile marathon when he finished the race in Toronto. It took Singh more than eight hours to cross the finish line.

Developers Don McNeice, Jr. and Scott Lenhart, a former Planning Board member, are looking to raze an existing three-family house at 41 Plymouth Street and replace it with a residential building with seven two-bedroom units. Abutters to the project are opposed, citing traffic safety and storm water management issues.

A five-axle truck pays a $65 toll to cross the George Washington Bridge into New York City. By 2016, the toll will increase to $105.

Billy O’Brien, former owner of Mike’s Lunch, is now a cook at Wheaton College in Norton.

A large 10-point buck was recently spotted on Norfolk Street.

The Canton Board of Health held its 24th annual Health Fair at Canton High School on Saturday, October 22.

According to the Census Bureau, the median household income in the United States is $49,909. For caucasians, the figure is $56,320; for Hispanics, it’s $39,901, and for African Americans, the household income is $31,784.

There are 1,100 hydrants in the town of Canton.

The water tank off Indian Lane that caused the week-long boil water order was cleaned and rehabbed. The $8,000 cost included scraping, cleaning, washing, and adding a mixing system to the water tank.

According to Canton Superintendent of Public Works, Michael Trotta, Canton has five water tanks that hold approximately six million gallons of water. The town will be adding a rubber vent inside the tanks to minimize any further drippage. The current screened vents on top of the tanks meet the state requirements.

MAC hopes that the hawks that were nesting atop the Indian Lane water tank don’t come back and that the town inspects all water tanks periodically. The water ban for almost one week could have been avoided.

The mind forgets, but the heart always remembers.

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=9236

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Nov 2 2011. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.