Man About Canton: Heroin is a Problem Drug

DID YOU KNOW …

A recent federal report, published in the Patriot Ledger newspaper, states that Massachusetts is one of only four states where an illegal drug (in this case, heroin) outpaces alcohol as the most common reason for admission to state-funded substance abuse programs. In fact, the report goes on to say that this region ranked first in the nation for emergency room visits involving heroin, based on hospital statistics from surrounding counties, including Norfolk. The report also says that state-funded treatment programs had 38,594 admissions for heroin in 2009, compared to 34,844 involving alcohol.

According to Vic DiGravio, president and CEO of the Association of Behavioral Healthcare, which represents drug and alcohol treatment providers, “We have an epidemic in Massachusetts around heroin.” The Mass Department of Public Health also reported that 113 Canton residents were admitted to state rehab programs, 52 of them for heroin. In Stoughton, 370 residents were admitted for drug treatment (153 for heroin), one of the highest on the south shore. As you can see, heroin is a big problem drug, even in the suburbs.

On to better reports, Canton High School senior Shannon Brady and junior Julia Murphy were named to the Patriot Ledger Girls’ All-Scholastic Volleyball Team. The tandem helped the Bulldogs to a 17-4 record, winning the Hockomock League’s Davenport Division.

CHS seniors Chris Murray and Scott Levy were named to the Patriot Ledger Boys’ All-Scholastic Soccer Team. They helped lead Canton to four straight Hockomock League championships. Senior goalkeeper Colby Gavigan received honorable mention.

CHS juniors Lauren Berman and Brianna Duserick were named to the Patriot Ledger Girls’ All-Scholastic Soccer Team. Berman, the Hockomock League MVP, piled up 33 goals and 11 assists in leading Canton (19-2-2) to a runner-up finish in the Division 2 state tournament. Duserick had 10 goals and 22 assists. The two girls form a devastating 1-2 punch up front for the Bulldogs. They will be back in the fall to try to win the state championship, which they lost to Auburn 1-0 this past year. They out-shot Auburn in that game 16-3.

Did you notice that Canton High School played Blue Hills in basketball, winning a thriller 46-45? Senior captain Joe McCabe scored 16 points. Now if we can get CHS to play Blue Hills in football, it would be another thriller.

As of January 1, 2012, the state’s income tax rate dropped from 5.3 percent to 5.25 percent.

When was the last time you saw a high school basketball team score 100 points in a game? Recently, Archbishop Williams beat Bishop Feehan 104-97, with Bishop Feehan scoring 36 points in the fourth quarter. By the way, this was a girls’ basketball game. Both teams scored a total of 201 points, making it the highest scoring girls’ game in the history of the Catholic Conference. In a recent game, the Canton High boys’ basketball team scored only 36 points in the entire game.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue reported that the 2011 average assessed value of a home in Canton was $462,699, while the average single-family tax bill was $5,344. In Stoughton, the assessed value was only $284,348 and their average tax bill is only $3,859. Sharon’s average assessed value on a single-family home was $412,373, but their average tax bill in 2011 was $8,029, the third highest on the south shore. Only Westwood, with an average tax bill of $8,594, and Cohasset at $9,898 were higher.

On a sad note, Canton lost one of its oldest residents when 96-year-old Stan Malcolmson, the last of the Springdale Mud Hens, recently passed away. Stan was a standout athlete for Canton High School in the early 1930s and played for the amateur football team, the Canton Springdale Mud Hens, which went undefeated in 1931 and 1932. The Mud Hens were led by head coach Charlie Callery, quarterback John Ruane, running back Bob Gibson, and the Malcolmson brothers, Stan, Sam and Ernie. Stan was a veteran of World War II. He will be missed by his family and friends.

Another well-known Cantonite, Joe “Papa Joe” Cogliano, Sr., passed away at the age of 86. Joe was born and raised in Canton and was the superintendent of Knollwood and Sharon Memorial Parks for 40 years before retiring in 1990. Joe was also a standout athlete and was a member of the 1953 Plymouth Rubber softball team that upset the Canton Men’s League powers to win the Canton Softball Championship. Joe was described in the newspaper article at that time as the “fleet-footed center fielder” on the team. Joe was a well-liked, longtime member of the Canton American Legion Post #24. He will be missed by his many friends and his family.

The New York Times recently raised its newsstand price from $2 to $2.50, making it the most expensive daily newspaper in the nation.

Home heating oil prices are now averaging $4.13 a gallon, while gas prices continue their climb into the new year with the statewide average for regular self-service gas rising to $3.35 a gallon. Things are not getting better.

Finally, the Federal Communications Commission recently passed a set of regulations that will prevent commercials from being louder than the shows during which they advertise. Some ads were found to be 10 times louder as the programs they interrupted. MAC and many TV viewers have been annoyed as ads become louder and louder. MAC can say that it’s about time that TV companies will finally be ordered to lower its ad volume, but the rules will not go into effect until the end of this year.

One more piece of historical trivia: Years ago, common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards, but it is said it was only applicable to the ace of spades, so to avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be dumb because they “weren’t playing with a full deck.” So now you know the rest of the story.

You can’t get ahead when you’re trying to get even.

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=10967

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Jan 18 2012. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.