Man About Canton: Canton Will Celebrate July 4 with Road Race
By Joe DeFeliceEven though this July 4 will be the 234th birthday of the United States, the lack of available funding means that other than the traditional July 4th Road Race, there will be no other town-sponsored celebration and no fireworks display or bonfire. Instead, the Recreation Commission has again decided to put whatever funds they can raise into the summer-ending Downtown Block Party on the last Saturday in September, which attracts thousands of celebrants.
Of course, MAC and many others miss the time when we could legally light off fireworks, colorful Roman candles, and sparklers as well as other spectacular fireworks on the Fourth. We used to hear the loud and constant booms from morning to night, and their absence is now sadly deafening; but at least we have the annual five-mile road race on the morning of July 4 for a little patriotic atmosphere.
The Canton Recreation-sponsored five-mile road race on the morning of the Fourth begins and ends at the Canton Town Club on Bailey Street and usually attracts about 150 enthusiastic runners of all ages. The race begins at 9:30 a.m., and this year’s race marks the 43rd consecutive year that MAC has the honor of being the official race starter.
Individual sponsors who will again supply the trophies and other race provisions include Attorney Glen Hannington, state Representative Bill Galvin, the Canton Town Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Lions Club, the Bank of Canton, Canton Cooperative Bank, Helen’s Hair Salon, Dr. Paul Niosi, Canton Association of Industries, and Canton Downtown Business Association. The PADCO Countertop Company is once again sponsoring the over-40 and over-50 division winners.
Even though the town has no other official July 4th celebration this year, you can always travel to Boston, Stoughton, Sharon, and other area towns that will still be celebrating with fireworks. Other than that, you can display our nation’s flag at your home as a show of national pride and respect, especially with our troops presently serving overseas.
The Board of Selectmen recently accepted with regret the retirement notice of Buddy Fallon, the longtime superintendent of buildings and grounds, after 42 years of service to the town. They also accepted the retirements of Bill Correia and Bill O’Brien from the Department of Public Works.
Responding to several complaints about the loud noise of train warning whistles from the MBTA and freight trains approaching and passing through the downtown rail crossing, the selectmen have been investigating the possibility of silencing the whistles and establishing a “whistle-free zone.” They have been advised that such a move would cost the town thousands of dollars to improve the safety of the crossing.
The Canton Community Theatre is currently rehearsing its annual summer show, which will be performed in the Morse Auditorium at Canton High School August 6 and 7. It is an original play by Renee Hanscom, Becky Smart and Kathy Fox Alfano called “High School Reunion – Can’t Stop the Music,” a musical with a lot of singing, dancing, and acting. So mark your calendars; it is something you will want to see.
Things do change. For generations each spring, thousands of swallows would return to the southern California mission church at Capistrano from their winter homes in Argentina, and their return always attracted many tourists. There was even a popular song about the annual event. However, for some reason this year, the migratory little birds flew right past their traditional Capistrano home and opted instead to make their mud nests at the New Velano Country Club in Chino Hills, about 50 miles away. Mission officials say they hope to lure the birds back to their longtime home along with all the tourists.
Former Stoughton police detective Anthony Bickerton, 61, who was sentenced last month to a year in federal prison, will be assigned to the minimum-security prison at Morgantown, West Virginia.
NStar Electric now offers $50 to customers for recycling their old refrigerator and/or freezer. It includes free pickup and free recycling. For further information, call 877-545-4113 or go to www.masssave.com/recycle.
Finally, you may be interested in knowing that June 23 marked the 40th anniversary of the MAC column. A lot has happened since June 23, 1970, when MAC first picked up his pen, and he anticipates a lot more things to report before he calls it a day.
A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody 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=3296
Posted by Joe DeFelice
on Jul 1 2010. Filed under Man About Canton, Opinion.
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