Thursday, April 4, 2013

MAC: Incumbents get another free ride

By Joe DeFelice

This year, for the second time in three years, there were no contests for any of our town offices, and all incumbent candidates got another free ride back into office. While it is true the incumbents have generally done a credible job, the need for competition is obvious, as the lack of political competition is not healthy in a democracy.

Plenty of people complain about government, but apparently they do not want to step forward to do something about it. Canton residents are leaving the job of government and managing town affairs to a select few, and that is too bad. Crucial issues will not get the kind of voter scrutiny and management they need. At this rate, what if we had an election and nobody, including incumbents, bothered to run? Judging from what has occurred the past three years, it appears it may come to that.

MAC and many other Canton political observers were extremely disappointed when Planning Board member Gary Vinciguerra waited until the last minute before announcing his decision not to run for reelection, leaving political newcomer and Canton resident of only two years Tori McClain a free ride to the Planning Board. Vinciguerra should have known better than that! This does not help Canton.

Did you notice the flip-flopping done by members of the Canton School Committee? Incumbents John Bonnanzio and Reuki Schutt have opted to run for the one-year seats that were created by the resignations of Liz Salisbury and Jill Stevens. David Emhardt and Robert Golledge, who replaced Salisbury and Stevens, will, in turn, run for the three-year terms held by Bonnanzio and Schutt.

Emily Prigot is the new library trustee, replacing longtime member Betty Chelmow.

Richie Crowley of Canton is an assistant captain on the Brown University hockey team.

Canton’s Gerard McEleney was a member of the Norwich University hockey team that lost to Oswego University in the Division 3 national semifinals 6-3. McEleney, a sophomore forward who prepped at St. Sebastian’s in Needham, had six goals and four assists for the Norwich Cadets, who ended the season with an excellent record of 24-4-1.

The Canton High School Alumni Association will hold its annual trivia night with Gary Titus on Friday, April 5, from 7-11 p.m. at the Canton Town Club. There will be cash prizes for the winning team. (MAC erroneously wrote Saturday in last week’s column; please note the correction.)

The Canton Town Club will host its 2013 Scholarship Golf Tournament in memory of Bill Duggan at the Wampatuck Country Club on Monday, May 6. The tournament, which benefits the Town Club’s Scholarship Fund, commences with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The format is five-member teams, Florida-style. The entry fee is $100 per person, which includes green fees and golf carts. For more information, call Mike Logan at 781-828-9232 or 339-987-1193.

Eighth grader Brandon Pho represented the Galvin Middle School in the annual South Shore Regional Spelling Bee held at Derby Academy in Hingham. Brandon almost won it all, finishing as the first runner-up out of 25 schools. Congratulations Brandon!

According to Canton Finance Director Jim Murgia, there is approximately $3.2 million in the town’s free cash reserve account.

The town of Needham is in the process of constructing a new two-story, 20,000-square-foot senior center at an estimated cost of $8.5 million. The building is scheduled to open in October 2013. It will have a large, multipurpose area, a fitness room, a library, an office and a meeting room. The Center, as it will be called, will receive a donation of $200,000 from the Needham Bank toward its construction costs. Now, if only Canton can do something along these lines, even at a fraction of the cost. Again, there is over $3 million in the free cash reserve account!

The Canton Council on Aging had a great St. Patrick’s Day bingo game at the Hemenway Senior Center. The bingo caller, Dottie Morris, and her many helpers made those that attended have a wonderful time. Also attending were Selectman Avril Elkort, state Senator Brian A. Joyce, former Housing Authority member Ron Grinnell, COA outreach worker Robin Tobin, and Joe DeFelice (MAC). Dottie’s son, Adrian Morris, donated the food, enough for everyone and then some. The bingo game was another case made where more space is definitely needed for seniors. It was a full house with a waiting list to get in.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the proposed new flight paths for planes leaving Logan Airport that will fly over parts of Milton, Canton, and Dedham will have little effect, and the townspeople will not notice much difference. By the time the plane reaches those towns, it will already have reached 10,000 feet, a height at which relatively little noise can be heard on the ground. Residents are told “to wait and see and listen” before jumping to conclusions.

The Lamparelli Oil Company at 1026 Turnpike Street (Route 138) in Canton has opened a propane refill station on its property. The station is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. For a $2 off coupon, go to www.franklamparelli.com.

We Beat Cancer, a Gallahue/Rooney Family Foundation, held its second annual fundraising dinner dance on Friday, March 22, at Lantana’s in Randolph. The foundation, which has already raised thousands of dollars, provides assistance to patients and their families with their many needs while they struggle though this horrific disease. The foundation helps Boston-area cancer patients and their families who are struggling with issues faced during their battle with cancer, giving them financial and informational support. The foundation was started by Jeff and Pat Gallahue and joined by the Rooney families of Canton. For further information, visit www.webeatcancer.org.