Man About Canton: University Station

Did you know …

Westwood Station, now known as University Station, had its official groundbreaking ceremony three months ago. The 2.1-million-square-foot project adjacent to Interstate 95/University Avenue and the Route 128 railroad station is expected to open its first phase in the spring of 2015. It will include 600,000 square feet of retail and service businesses and 350 residential units. The developer, The New England Development Company, has also agreed to provide funds, estimated at $2.8 million, to Canton that will include improvements to the Dedham Street corridor as well as improvements at eight intersections in Canton to address the impact from the project. The state will also provide more than $30 million over the next few years that will include adding an off-ramp from I-95 north to Dedham Street, widening the three bridges on Dedham Street, and other associated roadway work, signals, and sidewalks. It has been anticipated that this work by the state will be completed within the next two to three years, which will help to attenuate any effects of the project as it is developed.

As part of the Avalon Development Company’s mitigation package with the town of Canton, they will pave Randolph Street from York Street to the Canton/Randolph town line at an estimated cost of $450,000; pay for a new water line from York Street to Colts Crossing ($700,000); and pay for a sidewalk on Randolph Street from the town line to the equestrian crossing ($100,000). If the selectmen decide to install traffic lights at the intersection of York and Randolph streets, Avalon will pay the estimated $300,000 for the traffic signals.

The Canton Start Time Committee, made up of administrators, School Committee members, teachers, and parents, has been looking for the past 18 months into whether the high school should begin later and the middle school begin earlier. Currently, the high school begins at 7:20 a.m. and the middle school begins at 7:45 a.m. The most likely recommendation, acording to School Superintendent Jeffrey Granatino, will be to start the high school day at 7:55 and the middle school day at 7:30.

One of the biggest percentage drops in the nation is in Massachusetts for the game of football. The number of high school football players in Massachusetts dropped over 11 percent in the last seven years. Over the past two years, Pop Warner found a 13 percent decline in tackle football for youth ages 6-14 with more than half the decline among 7-11 year olds. Today, the best athletes are often no longer going on the football field but are turning to lacrosse or soccer. As one sportswriter said, “Safety is a big concern for parents.”

The average ticket price for a Boston Red Sox game will increase 4.8 percent to $55.99 from $53.38, the most expensive ticket in Major League Baseball. The only other MLB team whose ticket prices averaged more than $45 last season was the New York Yankees at $51.15.

The Red Sox sold out a record 820 consecutive games at Fenway before the streak ended in the second game of 2013. The club sold out only 36 of its 80 regular season games in 2013.

Canton’s John Blake, the Duxbury High School hockey coach, led his Green Dragon team to the Buddy Ferreira Classic Championship with a 5-2 win over highly favored BC High, after defeating Arlington Catholic and Hingham in the preliminary rounds. They now go on to face Springfield Cathedral at TD Garden on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Super 8 Tournament. We wish them the best of luck!

Queen Anne’s of Canton came in third place in the Newport Winter Festival Chili Cook Off on February 15. They defended their title at the Blue Hills Winter Fest on February 25.

Canton Legion Auxiliary member Vicki Mullen recently sent out four large boxes of comfort items to a 17-member squadron in Afghanistan. This was possible because of all the donations the Auxiliary has received. Vicki’s efforts are greatly appreciated.

The median household income for Massachusetts residents between the ages of 45 and 64 is $79,754. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, after age 65, the income drops dramatically in Massachusetts to an average of $38,233.

Massachusetts residents age 60 and over can apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps, if their monthly income is below $1,915 per individual or $2,585 per couple. The average SNAP benefit is $130. Massachusetts residents can apply for SNAP by calling 800-645-8333. For more information, go to www.aarp.org/ma.

Outside of Quincy (938) and Weymouth (405), Canton has the highest number of public housing units (249) on the south shore. Randolph has 244, Stoughton 238, Braintree 195, and Whitman has 182. Sharon has only 102 units, while Milton checks in with just 65 public housing units.

In the last 10 years, Americans have increased their wine consumption by 22 percent. The steepest decline in consumption is in soft drinks. Americans drank 16 percent less in the last decade.

People who laugh actually live longer than those who don’t laugh. Few people realize that health actually varies according to the amount of laughter.

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=24440

Posted by Joe DeFelice on Feb 27 2014. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.