Man About Canton: A Waste of Time and Money

DID YOU KNOW …

Canton Town Clerk Tracy Kenney was hoping to save the town a portion of the estimated $8,000 to $10,000 in associated election costs by combining this year’s town election on April 2 (which had no contests) with the April 30 special state primary election for the U.S. Senate. The state legislature offers this “dual election” option to any community whose municipal election falls within 30 days of a state primary. According to Kenney, she recommended this option to Town Administrator Bill Friel, but it fell on deaf ears as the Board of Selectmen chose not to consider Kenney’s request. Only 233 voters turned out to vote in the town election on April 2, which was less than 2 percent of the 14,240 registered voters. It cost the town an estimated $40 a vote.

Combining the two elections was, in MAC’s opinion, a no-brainer. This was a waste of time to the 233 voters, a waste of time for the town clerk and her workers, and a waste of money to the town of Canton. There is no excuse for not combining both elections, period. The town of Stoughton combined their election with the state primary, like Canton should have.

The average life of a car battery is three to five years, and if you are a member of AAA, they will install an AAA battery for $119, and it will include a three-year free nationwide replacement warranty.

The average state pension in the year 2000 was $15,445 compared to $26,363 in 2010.

The Easter Party held this year on Saturday, March 30, at Canton High School was such a huge success that they ran out of candy bags for the kids.

The Canton Choral Society will hold its annual spring concert on Sunday, April 28, at 3 p.m. in the United Church of Christ Sanctuary at 1541 Washington Street. This season’s theme will be “Sun, Moon, Stars, and Rain.” The program will feature texts of poets Emily Dickinson, Henry Longfellow, EE Cummings, and Sara Teasdale, and the music of American composers. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for students. For further information, call 781-821-8860.

The Canton Recreation Department has advertised for summer employment that includes playground leaders, lifeguards, day camp positions, and sports instructors. Applicants must be 16 years or older to apply. Applications are available at the Recreation Department, 92 Pleasant Street, or online at www.cantonrec.com. Applications close on Friday, April 19.

The town of Canton’s Pine Street leaf and yard waste facility reopened for Canton residents on Monday, April 1. It is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Canton’s Tucker Donahoe, a 2012 graduate of Middlebury College and captain of its hockey team, is now playing professional hockey in Paris, France. Last year, Tucker played for the Boston Bruins farm team in Reading, PA. Tucker’s brother, Robbie Donahoe, was recently elected the captain for the 2013-2014 season for Middlebury College.

The Canton High School Class of 1976 will sponsor “The Bulldog Madness Golf Classic” on Monday, September 9, at the Wampatuck Country Club in Canton. Competition from Canton High School alumni classes can put together teams to challenge for the “Spirit Cup.” For more information, go to www.bulldogmadness76.com.

The Blue Hills Regional High School girls’ basketball team has compiled an impressive record over the past two years of 47 wins and only five losses. This year, the team won 23 straight games before losing in the Division 4 south semifinals to eventual state champs Greater New Bedford. One of the stars on the team was Margarita Delaporta from Canton. The team is coached by Tom McGrath.

Another standout athlete from Canton is Kyle Darrow, a senior at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood. Darrow won the long jump in the Tri-County League Championships and topped the field in the Division 1 State Championship. Kyle placed second in the All-State Championship and the New England Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Congressman Stephen F. Lynch has nominated Canton High School senior Brendan MacDonald to the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Attorney George T. Comeau, a Canton Citizen columnist, was recently appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to serve on the nine-member Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.

Westwood Station properties off University Road on the Canton/Westwood town line was sold last year for $45 million. A partner in the original plan, New England Development, is proposing a scaled-down version as part of a new collaboration with Eastern Real Estate, National Development, Charles River Realty Investors, and Clarion Partners. The new plans for University Station, as it will be called, includes a Target Store, a Wegmans grocery store, and 450 units of one- and two-bedroom housing, with a goal of attracting young professionals and empty nesters, rather than families.

Like what you do; if you don’t like it, do something else.

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=19965

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Apr 11 2013. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.