Man About Canton: Property Taxes Rising

Did you know …

Homeowners in Canton have seen their property tax bill rise almost 10 percent over the past three years. The 2014 average single-family tax bill in Canton is $5,805, while the 2014 average single-family home value is $451,042. In comparison, Stoughton’s average tax bill is $4,321 while the average home value is $274,550. The average south shore home value is $393,408, and the statewide average is $357,179.

There are 64 cameras stationed at Canton High School. In a recent article in the Boston Globe, Canton Police Detective Chip Yeaton, a school resource officer at Canton High, was quoted as saying, “I wish I had 128 cameras in the school. The more eyes on the building, the better.” Still, with 64 cameras and an on-site resource officer, it sends a message that the school is protected.

This summer, drivers will get the slightest of breaks on gasoline prices. The U.S. Energy Department says the national average price is forecast to fall by one cent to $3.57 per gallon between May and September, the months when Americans drive the most. Still, that would be the lowest average since 2010. World demand for oil is growing, but supplies are growing faster.

In the United States, 17 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are under the age of 65.

The Canton American Legion Motorcycle Riders will be hosting the fourth annual Tony Andreotti Motorcycle Run on Sunday, September 21. Proceeds from the run will go to local veterans. According to the riders’ secretary, Michelle Mogan, they are looking for new members. If you are interested, contact Michelle at 781-828-2394.

Talking about the American Legion, the Sons of the American Legion Canton Squadron 24 is the third largest squadron in Massachusetts with 147 members.

With Memorial Day in a few weeks, Legionnaire Henry Krueger and his crew will be placing American flags on the highway overpasses near Canton’s town borders. Those flags are placed there to honor our country, our freedom, our veterans, and our servicemen and women around the world.

The Canton Historical Society’s “Wild Goose Chase” Quilt, which is made up of 62 blocks of 12 squares and stitched together by individual women from Canton who signed each block as they made them between 1830 and 1840, has been chosen by the Canton Community Preservation Committee to be considered for a $2,705 grant, which will be voted on at the annual town meeting this week. The grant will go toward repair and stabilization of this unique piece of Canton heritage.

James Roache, researcher for the Canton Historical Society, has identified some familiar Canton women that put together the quilt, also known as the “Friendship Quilt.” Those women include Bertha and Abigail Tucker, Dorcas Tucker Fenno, Mary Fenno, Elizabeth Blair, and Susan Alden. According to Historical Society President Wally Gibbs, those women of Canton were our first preservationists.

The town of Canton will spend over $60 per person on “culture and recreation” during fiscal year 2014. It is one of the highest on the south shore. The state average is $40 per person. Stoughton spends less than $40; Sharon spends a little under $60; and Randolph will spend just over $20 per person. This is just another reason why people move to Canton.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are entitled to free credit reports at annualcreditreport.com or you can also get them by calling 877-322-8228 toll-free. You can examine a report from the three major credit bureaus once a year to help ensure that your personal and financial information is accurate, and it is not being used by an identity thief.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 25 percent of Americans over the age of 60 have diabetes.

Today, 59 percent of Russian males still smoke cigarettes compared with just 15 percent of American males. Fifty years ago, over 40 percent of American males were smokers.

This year’s Canton High School Junior Prom was relocated from the Lakeview Pavilion in Foxboro to the Blue Hill Country Club in Canton. Over the years, the 108-year-old Lakeview facility hosted countless weddings and proms, but on April 5, it burned to the ground. Foxboro Deputy Fire Chief Steven Bagley said, “It looks like a cigarette was thrown into some mulch, and the fire erupted from there and spread to the building.” The complex was demolished the next day.

MAC congratulates the Frank Lamparelli Oil Company of Canton for earning the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award.

A few weeks ago, MAC mentioned in his column that many voters in Canton will forget that April 8 is Election Day. Well, only 428, or approximately 3 percent of the town’s more than 14,400 registered voters turned out at the polls this year. The one ballot question, which proposed an extension of the $100,000 CPA surcharge exemption to commercial and industrial property owners, passed by a vote of 265-110, which also means that 55 voters did not vote on the only contested question on the ballot.

Success doesn’t come to you; you go to it.

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=25412

Posted by Joe DeFelice on May 15 2014. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.