Man About Canton: The Graying of Canton

DID YOU KNOW …

MAC’s crack team of statisticians has conducted an informal survey of the floors of local beauty salons and barbershops. The team’s conclusion: There is more gray hair in the mix. This is confirmed by the U.S. Census Bureau, which reports that the “65 and older” population of Canton grew 16.7 percent from 2000 to 2010. Baby boomers began turning 65 this year. Today, there are more than 5,000 residents of Canton who are so-called “golden-agers” — over 60; and as much as I hate to admit it, that number includes MAC. That is over 20 percent of the population of the town of Canton.

The surge of baby boomers is expected to double the number of seniors in town. In addition to those seniors living in homes and condos they own or rent, other Canton locations where many seniors reside include Hagan Court, Rubin Court, and the Hemenway, which are all operated by the Canton Housing Authority, and privately-owned Lamplighter Village and Canton Village. There are also a number of seniors residing at the Hellenic Nursing home, Orchard Cove Retirement Home and Meadowbrook Nursing Home, all in the town of Canton.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs projects that there will be more than 6,000 seniors over the age of 60 in Canton by the year 2020, and chances are that you will be among them. With numbers like that, there is no question that the town of Canton should have a sizable senior center with plenty of parking spaces and all the programs that make seniors’ lives a little better.

The present Canton Senior Center is in the basement of the old Hemenway School, and some seniors may remember the prior center at Canton High School. The entire center is about the size of three classrooms. The small kitchen and dining room account for about one third of the space.

After several tries in 2004 and 2005, the advisory board of the Council on Aging needs to find a way to build a new Canton Senior Center. The need for a new center will grow ever more urgent as burgeoning waves of baby boomers turn 65 every day. The dedicated Council on Aging could be overwhelmed, and the next survey of unkempt gray hairs could confound the town. MAC’s number-crunchers will count them all and keep you posted.

Going on to other Canton news, longtime Canton resident and lifelong Red Sox fan Dick Dawson will throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park on July 25, when the Red Sox play the Kansas City Royals. The charities supported by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation will benefit from the events. Dick’s entire family, including his nine grandchildren, will be in attendance.

The News Stand Variety Store in the center of Canton is up for sale.

The Canton High School Class of 1961 will hold its 50th class reunion at the Hilton Hotel in Dedham in late October.

The Farmers Market at the Mass Hospital School on Randolph Street will be open every Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. each week through October, rain or shine.

Work on the Pleasant Street dam at the Reservoir Pond will be completed by late August. The Napleton Company, which owns the 300-acre Reservoir Pond, will turn it over when repairs to the dam are completed, under an agreement approved by town meeting voters this spring. Selectman Sal Salvatori worked diligently to complete negotiations with Napleton officials.

According to the Census Bureau, the average age for first marriages in 2010 was 28.2 for men and 26.1 for women. This year’s most popular wedding date is 9/10/11.

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on Jul 6 2011. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.