THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU These words cannot be said enough for the huge success ‘Walk for Hunger’ had on Saturday, May 12.  Our final total was $4,099. First and foremost thank you to all the walkers, all 141 of you, who made this walk such a huge success  Thank you to our sponsors: Belforest Kitchen & Bath Canton Auto Supply (NAPA) Cheery Brook Health Care Dynamic Auto Works Shop Rite of Canton Vincent Funeral Home Norcom Mortgage of Avon for their continued support both financially and their tremendous team of walkers. Thank you to all who worked to make this such an amazing day. …

The Third Annual “Walk for Hunger” sponsored by Focus on Canton and benefiting Canton Food Bank located at Trinity Church in Collinsville will be held this Saturday, May 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. The walk starts and ends at the Community Center on Dyer Avenue. This year we were truly blessed to have many wonderful and giving sponsors and we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge them and let the residents of Canton of their caring and generosity. Belforest Kitchen and Bath Canton Auto Supply (NAPA) Cherry Brook Health Care Dynamic Auto Works Norcom Mortgage Shop Rite Vincent Funeral …

For the past 20 years, Canton parents and volunteers have provided Canton High School graduating seniors with an all night substance-free party on the evening of graduation. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday, June 15, 2012.  The goal of the evening is to provide the students with a fun-filled night of entertainment and food,while keeping them together and safe. We have experienced nearly 100-percent attendance year after year, a clear sign that our efforts are appreciated. This event is always one of the students’ fondest high school memories. Part of the reason for the high …

On Sunday April 1, 2012 fifteen Scouts from Troop 77, visited the new rifle range at Boy Scout Camp Workcoeman in New Hartford for a Troop shoot with seven new rifles. In the 30 some years that Troop 77 has gone to Summer Camp, one of the activities that the Scouts enjoyed the most was the Troop Shoot at the Camp Rifle range. In 2009 Troop 77 became aware of the NRA Grant availability. The NRA has had a very long relationship with the BSA. In October 2009, the Troop applied for a grant to purchase 6 rifles and a gun cabinet, in subsequent years the Troop applied for an additional rifle, …

Your mighty, mighty Simsbury Taverneers, Farmington Valley’s own vintage base ball (yes, two words in the 1880 era) club, will host the Whately Pioneers of Massachusetts on Sunday 4/29. Your Taverneers heroes will face special guest hurler (pitcher) Jim Bouton, retired New York Yankee pitcher and author of Ball Four. Our valued cranks (fans) deserve free admission to this spectacle so bring the family and cameras and prepare to party like it’s 1886! 10:30 a.m. start at Simsbury’s Memorial Field complex – upper Babe Ruth field. Your Taverneers lads will fight for your honor and will earn your …

The Friends of the Canton Public Library had a very successful book sale on April 14, which netted over $1900 for the library. The goal of the Spring Sale was to raise funds for upgrades to the Children’s Room by refurbishing the furniture. In the coming months, we will be having more fundraising events to help meet this goal. We want our Children’s Room to be the best we can offer the children of our community. Thank you to all who supported the sale and those who have donated books and audio/visual items. Look for our next sale on Sept. 8 and 9. We look forward to your continued support.  

Canton Senior & Social Services is happy to announce that local business “The Bagel Deli” is providing coffee, creamer, cups and sugar/substitutes to the Canton Senior Center every Wednesday and Friday that the Center is open.  Two days a week, Canton Senior Center proudly provides lunches for older adults through Community Renewal Team out of Hartford.  The Congregate Meals program is federally funded through Older Americans Act fund dollars and was originally created to ensure that older adults, who are fixed incomes, are able to eat atleast one hot meal a day at their local Senior or …

On behalf of Cherry Brook Primary School PTO and Canton IntermediateSchool PTO, we would like to thank the local businesses for their generous contributions to the 2012 Winter Festival Auction & Gala.  Your commitment to helping the children in our community is sincerely appreciated.  The Winter Festival Auction and Gala is our largest fundraiser of the year and it supports both Cherry Brook Primary School PTO and Canton Intermediat School PTO.  The Winter Festival committee worked tirelessly to organize a successful auction and gala with the hope to raise enough money to be able to support …

Late last month, students and faculty from UConn led a well-attended charrette workshop in Canton. The event gave residents an opportunity to voice their opinions on what future development in town ought to look like.  Some themes that kept coming up were historic preservation, land conservation, commercial development, and walkability.But an entire demographic was noticeably absent — young adults in their 20s and early 30s. In fact, I was probably one of two people there who fit well within this category. I blame it partly on apathy and disinterest among my peers. But it also has a lot to do…

The following letter is reprinted from an ALERTNOW message sent by the Canton School District. Dear Parents, Staff and Community Members: I am writing to you as a follow-up to the letter I sent you on March 16, 2012 regarding the threat that was found written on a student bathroom stall at Canton High School. While the Canton Police have investigated and found this not to be a credible threat, we take any threats such as this one, very seriously. Many of you asked how the Police determined the credibility of the threat. This determination was made based upon the nature of the location of the …

The League of Women Voters was born more than 90 years ago from the long fight to get women the right to vote. Since 1992, when League members studied health care policy, we have worked to ensure access to quality health care for all. The League also has a strong commitment and belief that public policy in a diverse society must affirm the right of individuals to make their own reproductive choices. That’s why the League is so deeply concerned about recent proposals that would allow employers and health plans to block contraceptive services and discriminate against women. By a narrow margin, …

Submitted release In a joint effort by the school and Friends of Canton Football, there will be a “Meet the Coach” event to welcome our new head Canton High School football coach, Paul Philippon.   The event will be held on Thursday, March 29, at 7 p.m. in the CHS auditorium. Faculty, staff, Canton community members, Warrior fans, and alumni are all invited to attend. Philippon was named the new head football coach last month.  Coach Phlip will discuss his program and expectations for the 2012 football season. FOCF encourages the members of the community, the players, and faculty members to …

Submitted Release  Canton resident Vaughn Paunovich and his son, Niko, skip Sunday service March 18 to help with renovations and spring cleaning activities at St. Agnes Home in West Hartford. More than 12 members of Calvary Fellowship, West Hartford, helped out at the home. Each March, Calvary Fellowship members skip one Sunday service to take part in community outreach projects. This year, members participated in one of 12 outreach opportunities, including creating care baskets for children at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, helping A Hand Up with home deliveries, and visiting …

Are you an owner or facilities manager of a commercial or institutional facility? If yes, read on because if you haven’t yet upgraded your lighting system from the conventional T12 lamps and ballasts time is running out. Fluorescent T12 lamps have been used since 1938. However, these are now considered outdated technology in light of the more energy efficient and cost-effective T8 and T5 systems.  To this point, the U.S. Department of Energy mandated that as of July 1, 2010 magnetic ballasts commonly used to operate T12 lamps will no longer be manufactured in or imported to the United States…

My name is Linda Betances. I live in Canton and I have been asking around both areas of Canton and Collinsville about having our own Dog Park. I have had many people asking why we do not and many people saying they would love one here.  Why should we have to go to other towns to use their facilities, when we could get our own. It only seems fair. There is land to be used, we know it, the old baseball field down by the sewage plant even though it seems people are not bothered by that smell, some walking and or riding bikes do not like dogs.  So why a dog park couldn't be put in place there is …

The 2012 Friends of Canton Football raffle generated over $15,000 for the Canton High School Football and Girl’s Lacrosse teams. FOCF sincerely thanks the Canton community, player family and friends, and local businesses for their continued support and generosity. The CHS Football and Girls LAX teams are fully funded by FOCF at approximately $40,000 annually. This includes transportation, insurance, coaching salaries, equipment, game officials, and field improvements. In 2011, FOCF successfully funded and constructed a press box on West Field at CHS.  There will be a dedication ceremony …

On Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, 120 volunteers spread out across Canton for Focus on Canton's 2011 Neighbors Helping Neighbors Day. The adults and students gave their time and talents to perform jobs for 46 Canton households. Rakes and leaf blowers got leaves into the woods, or bagged and transported to the Transfer Station. Eight residents had the traffic area of their carpets shampooed. Doors and windows were washed and one storm door was installed. Flowers and plants were cut back and small gardens weeded.Mattresses were turned and covered and a bathroom faucet was replaced. Many conversations…

  On Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, the nation recognizes National AMBER Alert Awareness Day. Since the program’s inception, over 500 abducted children across the country have been safely recovered as a direct result of AMBER Alerts.  This statewide plan is recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Since the inception of the Connecticut Amber plan in January 2002, there have been activations.  In all cases, the children were successfully recovered. So far, there have been no activations so far in Connecticut in 2012. In Connecticut the …

  Favarh, The Arc of the Farmington Valley, is proud to report their sold out, November fundraiser was a great success! The event featured the band “Big Shot,” performing a legendary tribute to the Beatles, Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and more. The group included special guest saxophonist, Richie Cannata, and bassist, Andy Cichon, both from the original Billy Joel Band. Jill Gioia from the CBS Show Rockstar Supernova opened the show. With nearly 500 guests in attendance the Riverview banquet facility in Simsbury had a rocking party, hosted by Bob Maxon, NBC Meteorologist, featuring incredible …

  Canton is blessed to have residents like Steve Roberto, owner of Dentfix Express LLC,  who continually give back to help those in need in this community. Steve and Eric Zuccaro of Premier Motorsports have for the last few years donated their time, talents, and all funds raised at their Paintless Dent Removal Fundraiser to Gifts for Canton — and they have again this year. It’s a true gift that helps us raise necessary funds to in turn help so many over the holidays. Thank you so much to Steve and  Eric, as well as their helpers that day: Amanda Roberto, Debbie Asaro,  Marge Harmon, Neil …