Man About Canton: It’s Not Safer

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MAC would like to correct a statement made in the column recently. MAC singled out Lincolnshire Drive and Diana Drive as areas “safer” after the roundabout was built. However, in a recent email MAC received from a resident of that area, it reads, “Only two residents that we know of [both on Lincolnshire] approved the roundabout. It is a disaster for all of us. In fact, according to DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta, the only people not to profit from increased safety would be Lincolnshire residents.”

The email goes on to say, “We hold those who didn’t listen to us at the public hearing responsible for all accidents and injuries [that occur at this site … in following] a decision that clearly, for some reason, was a ‘fait accompli’ despite residents’ [most of them from Lincolnshire and Diana drives] strong objections.” MAC is retracting the statement he made that 30 or 40 families on Lincolnshire and Diana Drive are safer. They are not safer. In fact, they are the least safe as a result of the infamous roundabout at Pleasant, Bolivar, and Lincolnshire.

The Planning Board recently issued a favorable recommendation to a proposed zoning article that would allow restaurants to be built in a limited industrial district. The proposal was submitted on behalf of Dallas-based TopGolf, which is seeking to build a sports entertainment and restaurant complex at the old Cumberland Farms property on Dedham Street.

As a general rule, the town is not liable for any damage done to mailboxes, fences, or shrubs when streets are being plowed during winter snowstorms. In most cases, mailboxes and fences are on town property anyway, so the town is not liable. Towns are also not responsible by law for tires damaged by potholes.

Congratulations to Old Rochester High School and its principal, Mike Devoll, from Canton. Old Rochester High (23-3), also known as the Bulldogs, captured their first Division 3 state basketball championship by beating Hoosac Valley High School 61-47.

Screen legend Kirk Douglas, who is 98 years old, was born Issur Danielovitch.

According to Canton High School’s Mike Jerrier, the first CHS baseball team was organized in 1913.

This year, the CHS boys and girls hockey teams finished the regular season with  nearly identical records of 12-6-2 and 12-6-1. For the boys team, that includes a 7-1 finish and a fifth consecutive Hockomock League Championship.

Canton High School’s hockey team finished the season ranked No. 2 in Division 2 with a 16-7-1 record. Westwood High took the top spot by winning the state championship and beating CHS 4-1 in the south sectional finals.

Canton High’s John Femia Jr. is listed on the Boston Herald’s Division 2 Hockey Dream Team for the 2015-16 season.

Canton High School swimming star Sebastian Melendez placed second overall in the 500 freestyle and third in the 200 freestyle in the Division 2 state championships. According to head coach Lori Mooney, Melendez’s winning both events at the sectional meet was the first time anyone has done that in sectional history.

The average tax-preparation fee for 2014 returns is $273, up 11 percent from two years ago, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants. However, there is a wide variation, with fees of $400 or more, according to the National Consumer Law Center.

Chicago’s iconic Willis Tower, the second-tallest U.S. building at 110 stories and formerly known as the Sears Tower, was recently sold to New York’s Blackstone Group for $1.3 billion. The observatory sky deck at the 103^rd floor attracts 1.6 million visitors per year.

Jonathan Levis of Canton was recently appointed by the selectmen as the town’s new wiring inspector.

The yearly cost to hire civilian dispatchers for the police and fire departments is $530,000. It has been put on hold for this year.

The Canton High School Alumni Association will sponsor its first annual Spring Dance on Friday, May 1, at the Blue Hill Country Club from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $45. For more information, call Tula Sfougaris at 781-341-0935.

There has been at least a half dozen reports of water seeping in through the roofs of municipal buildings in Canton. The field house at Memorial Field has developed a crack in its celling. The town has filed initial damage claims.

Foley’s Backstreet Grille will hold its third annual 5K Road Race to benefit the Mass Hospital School on Sunday, April 12, starting at 12 noon at the Mass Hospital School on 3 Randolph Street in Canton. For more information, go to foleysbackstreet5k.racewire.com. Over the past two years, the Backstreet 5K and Backstreet Open Golf Tournament have raised $28,000 for the Mass. Hospital School.

And finally, the official snow total at Boston’s Logan International Airport as of April 1 reached 110.6 inches, breaking the previous record of 107.6 set during the winter of 1995-1996. The Blue Hill Observatory also notched its snowiest winter on record with a total of 145.8 inches of snow. That is over 12 feet of snow!

Never be afraid to fall apart because it is an opportunity to rebuild yourself the way you wish you had been all along.

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=29093

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Apr 10 2015. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.