Man About Canton: Cravens Fundraiser
By Joe DeFeliceDid you know …
Former CHS Bulldog great Billy Cravens, as you may have read in the Canton Citizen’s lead story a few weeks ago, is battling ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is often associated with the famed Yankee slugger Lou Gehrig. Many of you know Billy as either a Canton High football great in the 1970s or as a longtime employee of the Canton Recreation Department — or just an all-around good guy who is well-liked by everyone he comes in contact with. If you do not know him by name, you certainly know his face as he has been a big part in all of the town functions over the last 30 years. It was Billy who was there setting up the 4th of July activities, the Canton homecoming block parties, and the summer concerts. If work had to be done, Billy was called upon to do it, and he did it.
In an effort to help Billy and his wife, Rose, during this difficult time, friends of Billy Cravens are organizing a fundraising event to be held on January 18, 2014, at the Canton Town Club. To find out how you can assist, go to www.friendsofbillycravens.com. You can also mail contributions to his sister, Carol Duggan, made payable to “The William Cravens Trust,” 16 Robbins Road, Canton, MA 02021. It is a good cause for a wonderful guy, so if you are in a position to help in any way, please contact them.
The Canton High School Class of 1993 will hold its 20th reunion on Friday, November 29, from 7 p.m. to 12 midnight at Gatherings at Brookmeadow, 100 Everendon Road in Canton. Tickets are $55 per person in advance and $75 per person at the door. Please contact Joanna (DeFelice) Alessi with any questions or for further information at joannarae@aol.com.
The Canton High School Class of 1958 is holding its 55th gathering/reunion on Wednesday, November 13, at 1:30 p.m. at the Turnpike Café on Route 138 in Canton. Please contact Stephen Hagan with any questions or for further information at shmain239@yahoo.com or 781-828-0347.
Canton Police Chief Ken Berkowitz recently named Sergeant Chuck Rae and Officer Ted Lehan as the school resource officers assigned to the Galvin Middle School. Canton Police Detective Chip Yeaton will continue as the SRO at the high school. Detective Yeaton is the president of the Massachusetts Juvenile Police Officers Association. He was one of the people to push to expand the school resource officer program at other schools and was able to receive additional funding through the support of the selectmen, police chief, and the voters at town meeting.
Scott Levy, a former Canton High School soccer standout, is leading Bentley University in scoring. The sophomore is also third in scoring in the Northeast-10 Conference with eight goals through 16 games.
Now that Dunkin’ Brands is staying in Canton, selectmen have renamed the entrance to 130 Royall Street as Dunkin Brands Way. In addition, there will be new Dunkin’ Brands signage on the hillside adjacent to routes 128 and 93.
The Canton Lions Club will welcome guest speaker Brian Pires at its next dinner meeting on Wednesday, November 20, at Chinatown restaurant in Cobb’s Corner. Pires is a national security expert with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Electricity prices are now at their lowest levels since 2003. In fact, in the past year, according to New England’s power grid operators, electricity prices have dropped by 23 percent.
According to AAA, seatbelt use in Massachusetts is about 74 percent, compared with a national average of 86 percent.
Canton is one of only 40 municipalities out of 351 in Massachusetts that has its affordable housing percentage at 10 percent or greater. Canton currently has the third highest percentage in Norfolk County behind only Holbrook, Randolph, and Dedham.
Nextdoor is a private social network for neighbors and community members to make neighborhoods stronger and safer. Nextdoor helps people get to know their neighbors, share information, and stay informed. Please go to www.nextdoor.com to join a neighborhood today. For further information, please contact your local organizer, Samantha Murphy, at smurphy@nextdoor.com or 781-789-5193.
In 1980, one in every 53 infants born was a twin. In 2012, one in every 30 was a twin. The rising twin rates are attributed to an increase in the use of fertility drugs and the growing number of older women having children. Women in their 30s and 40s have a greater chance of releasing more than one egg during ovulation.
The average base salary of a Boston firefighter is $91,000 a year. Boston police officers, with their new 25.4 percent raise with benefits over six years, will soon be up to the same level of salary as the firefighters.
And finally a bit of trivia for you history buffs: On June 2, 1886, Grover Cleveland, 49, became the only president ever to be married in the White House. He married 21-year-old Frances Folsom, the daughter of his business and law partner, Oscar Folsom, and Frances became the youngest first lady in the nation’s history. In 1888, Cleveland was defeated by Benjamin Harrison, but in 1892, he ran for president again and defeated Harrison to become the only president ever elected to two non-consecutive terms. Cleveland’s wife gave birth to five children. Cleveland died in 1908.
The following is a quote from Robin Roberts: “I learned that strength, true strength, isn’t when you face down life’s challenges on your own; it is when you take them on by accepting the help, faith, and love of others and knowing that you are lucky to have those.”
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=22959
Posted by Joe DeFelice
on Nov 7 2013. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion.
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