Man About Canton: Happy Halloween

Did you know …

Today is October 31, and it is Halloween, which means it is time for one of the great days that all children look forward to and celebrate each year. Children of all ages will traditionally disguise themselves as zombies, ballerinas, dancers, ballplayers, pirates, and a variety of other things, some of which require a mask or makeup. Then they will boldly venture out into the Halloween night, going door to door with a bag, seeking candy and other goodies in exchange for their “trick or treat” demand. “Tricks” seem to (fortunately) be extinct, but MAC can remember when he was young on Halloween nights, there would be soaped windows on downtown stores, shaving cream all over the place, and eggs thrown by a few mischievous teenagers. There was also the annual block party at the old Crane School parking lot, now Walgreens, and many kids just roaming around the town.

In reality, Halloween is not only for kids but also for adults. It has become a time we look forward to each year for candy we intentionally buy too much of so we can have an excuse to eat and enjoy the leftovers ourselves rather than “let it go to waste.” So have a happy and safe Halloween and then look forward to October 31 next year!

Incidentally, if you happen to believe in ghosts, you are not alone. The Associated Press recently reported that 34 percent of people surveyed believe in ghosts.

The Small Business Institute of Excellence in Commerce has awarded Blue Hill Press of Canton the 2013 Massachusetts Excellence Award.

The new U.S. $100 bill recently went into circulation. It represents the most technologically advanced U.S. currency ever produced, according to the Federal Reserve Bank. The bill’s new security features include a blue security ribbon on the front of the note that is in 3-D and contains images of either the Liberty Bell or the number 100 each in vertical rows. When the bill is moved back and forth or side to side, a row of 100s moves to the ribbon’s center position, replacing a row of bells.

Dunkin’ Brands has donated $25,000 toward the new Canton Senior Center.

Gas prices have dropped more than 30 cents since July 1 when the price of gas nationally was averaging $3.71 per gallon. In Massachusetts, gas prices have fallen to $3.39 per gallon, and that includes the added July 1 gas tax of 3 cents a gallon.

The Canton Alliance for Public Education will hold its annual spelling bee at 6 p.m. on November 22 in Canton High School’s Morse Auditorium. For more information, contact Amy Schmid at amyschmid@aol.com.

One of MAC’s favorite old-time restaurants, the iconic Hilltop Steakhouse on Route 1 in Saugus, has closed its doors. The restaurant was known for its big steaks, giant cactus sign, and plastic cow statues. According to its owner, its “customer base, increased competition, and costs have been too great to overcome.”

According to Forbes Magazine, Massachusetts is ranked as the second most expensive state in the country in terms of the costs of doing business. Now you wonder why so many businesses here fail?

The new fee for community groups who rent Canton school buildings is $42.71 per hour for regular school evenings and $56.95 per hour for Sundays and holidays.

Canton state Representative Bill Galvin, chairman of the House Committee on Personnel and Administration, recently held his “kickoff campaign fundraiser” at Chinatown Restaurant in Stoughton.

There are 124 Sons of the American Legion squadrons in Massachusetts, and the Canton squadron is the third largest in the state with 147 members.

Not too many people have ever heard of Ruth Benerito, who recently died at the age of 97. But Ms. Benerito invented something many people wear every day. She was the sole inventor of wrinkle-free cotton, today known by names like durable press, permanent press, wash and wear, as well as wrinkle-free. Ms. Benerito, who holds more than 50 patents, is a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.

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

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

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on Oct 31 2013. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.