Man About Canton: 2012 Cookie Queen

DID YOU KNOW …

Paula Chin of Canton was the winner of the Boston Herald’s Holiday Baking Contest. According to the Herald, “Chin swept the field with her take on rugelach, a rich pastry filled with dried fruit and nuts.” Chin is a library assistant at the Canton Public Library. The Herald proclaimed Paula Chin the Cookie Queen for 2012. Congratulations from MAC.

Have you noticed the large fluctuation in gasoline prices over the past few weeks? While normally there is a gap between the high and low gas prices, the spread lately is unusually wide; and according to wholesale suppliers, it is caused in part by the speed at which prices are falling. MAC recently paid $3.18 a gallon in New Bedford and $3.49 a gallon in Canton. In the last two months, gas prices in Massachusetts have dropped more than 40 cents. The state average for regular gas is now $3.43 a gallon.

Brooke Monroe has been appointed by the selectmen as interim Canton Conservation Agent until a permanent successor is found. The selectmen also added three more appointments to the Community Preservation Committee: Deb Sundin from the Conservation Commission, John McSweeney from the Canton Housing Authority, and Kathy Fox Alfano as the citizen’s representative.

MAC was happy to see the Bank of Canton continuing to show its concern for others by helping those in need. Recently, 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. The Bank of Canton has donated more than $84,000 over the past 10 years with $30,000 donated in the past three years to the NECHV.

MAC recently paid a visit to the new “Jake’s Wayback Burgers” at the corner of Route 138 and Central Street in Stoughton and was pleasantly surprised with this outstanding burger franchise. In MAC’s opinion, Jake’s burgers, which are fresh and handmade, are “the best burgers under the bun.” They also have great side dishes, including onion rings and real milkshakes. MAC suggests you give Jake’s a try; you will not be disappointed.

MAC received a very politically correct holiday card from Canton state Senator Brian A. Joyce. It read, “Merry Everything … and Happy Always. Love and Peace.” But MAC would like to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Brian and all his readers.

It was interesting to read John “Jack” Flood’s letter to the editor in the Boston Herald on December 21. Jack, now living in Norton, is a former Canton state representative. Jack wrote about U.S. Senator John Kerry, saying, “He was monumentally conceited and had overwhelming ambition.” Jack’s last sentence sums up his take on Kerry: “If you threw an empty suit out the window, it would fall to the ground. If you threw Kerry out the window, he would go up!” John always knew how to explain his thoughts in short sentences.

Austin’s Mobil Gas Station at 2776 Washington Street in Canton, owned by husband-wife team Austin and Kim Poirier for the past 33 years, has sold the business to Chaouki “Frank” Freiha. Freiha will keep the station’s five employees and change its name to Frank’s Mobil.

According to the state lottery website, Canton resident Larry King has claimed a $1 million prize in the Billion Dollar Bonanza instant game. King will receive the prize in annual payments of $50,000, less taxes, over 20 years. He purchased the winning ticket at the 7-Eleven located at 504 Washington Street, and the store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

MAC was sad to hear of the passing of John “Jack” Reilly of Canton. Jack worked for the Boston Red Sox for over 50 years and retired in 1992 as the treasurer of the team.

Canton Police Chief Ken Berkowitz, in his response to the recent tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, said it best in his statement, “This is not a problem that will be solved by law enforcement. This is cultural. The current environment our children are being raised in desensitizes them to violence, whether it be by playing graphic video games; (exposure to) current world events; or a lack of respect for life.” In MAC’s opinion, the chief has summed it up correctly. Today, we have video games, movies, and music that expose both children and adults to a violent culture day in and day out, which brings a toxic mix of reckless behavior and cruelty right into our homes, and we see the sad results by just watching the news on television every day.

It is we who nourish the soul of the world, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse. That’s where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are.

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=18186

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Jan 2 2013. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.