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By Steve Wilder dotCANTON.com
A year ago today, thousands of 5½ by 8½-inch postcards were being mailed to every household and post office box in Canton, inviting the town to check out dotCANTON.com.
“Log In, Look Around. You’ll Like What You See,” was the message.
Many thousands have looked around in the year since, and I am deeply grateful for that. But today, on the one-year anniversary of that mailing, I am announcing that dotCANTON.com is suspending operations immediately.
I have learned much in the 14-plus months since May 22, 2010, when I put up my first post, a standalone photo of the soon-to-open ShopRite store in the Shoppes at Farmington Valley. dotCANTON.com has been a virtually constant companion of mine every day since, and not having to think about what I’m going to post tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that is going to feel odd. I haven’t left home without a camera and a notebook in a long time.
But the learning process has exposed several difficult realities that come with a one-person, privately-owned operation such as this. Key among them is whether a business plan can be developed that would produce enough revenue to properly market and maintain dotCANTON.com in this format or another.
I have no intention of turning off the lights on the dotCANTON.com website, so if you haven’t already done so, you can still sign up for the dotCANTON.com newsletter and be certain you will be notified if there are any important developments or a decision to restart. I would also use Facebook and Twitter should I need to get out any information. And you can still reach me at editor@dotcanton.com.
It is important that I close for now with my sincerest gratitude to everyone who has contributed in any way to dotCANTON.com. We live in a terrific community filled with caring and creative people. I am proud to be part of it.
The following is a list of upcoming health-related events at the Canton Senior/Community Center. For further information or to sign up, call the office at 860-693-5811.
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2 p.m.: Nordic Walking Seminar — Jack Fila, certified “Nordic Walking” instructor, will hold a free seminar on the benefits of Nordic Walking. If there are enough interested participants, a class will run for four weeks in September.
Friday, Sept. 9, 12:30 p.m.: “Pertussis, DTap & Hi Dose Fluzone” Injections Presentation — Lori Hoover, RN, will talk about the new high-dose flu vaccine that is being made available to folks 65+ this year. Q&A to follow.
Wednesday, Sept 14, 1 p.m.: “Aging and the Eye” Presentation by Dr. Daniel Kessler — Many eye conditions and diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy increase as a person grows older. Learn about these conditions, including how to prevent and treat them. Sign up in advance is requested. Q&A to follow.
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 1 p.m.: John Maisley of Patient Care will present a workshop on preventing falls, and what to do if you were to fall. After Q&A there will be a clinic to show folks how to properly use their canes and walkers. Sign-up is required for the workshop and the clinic at the Senior Center.
The following events also have been scheduled.
Wednesday, Sept. 7, Hawaiian Luau Brunch at Avon Senior Center. Pay $2 per person for brunch and live entertainment. Sign up at the Senior Center and pay by Sept. 2. This is a collaborative event between Canton and Avon senior centers. More details to come.
Monday, Sept. 12, 1-2 p.m.: Scrabble competition at Canton Senior Center sponsored by Cherry Brook Healthcare. Prizes and goodies. Sign up for a spot at 860-693-5811.
Barring rain, Monday, Aug. 1, could be a very active day for roadwork around town.
Bob Martin, director of the Department of Public Works, says a contractor is expected to be at the transfer station at 7 a.m. Monday to pave the renovated compactor area (the transfer station will be closed, as usual, on Monday).
When the work is finished there, Martin says, the contractor will travel north to topcoat Gracey Road between East Hill Road and Sexton Hollow Road. Gracey originally was expected to be closed from 7 a.m. to noon, but Martin says the early work at the transfer station could mean the job on Gracey won’t be completed until around 2 p.m.
From there, Martin says, the contractor will pave two small areas on Gracey Road near Roaring Brook Nature Center.
In addition, the town recently issued an alert that roadwork would begin on Dyer Avenue, from Simonds Avenue to Maple Avenue, on or about Monday, Aug. 1. That work will focus on drainage improvements, resurfacing, curb installation and the reconstruction of driveway aprons as required.
According to the town, Dyer Avenue will be open to local traffic at all times during construction, but there could be delays. Detours will be provided during construction activities to reduce thru traffic on Dyer Avenue.
Click here to see an earlier post on the Dyer Avenue project.
– dotCANTON
The town’s tax office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 30.
The last day to pay your taxes without a penalty is Monday, Aug. 1, when the office will be open from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Payments that are postmarked Aug. 1 or before are considered on time and are not charged a late fee, according to the town. Taxpayers who are unable to make a full payment are encouraged to make a partial payment, since that will decrease the interest that will be charged.
Checks can be made payable to: The Town of Canton and can be mailed to: Canton Tax Collector, P.O. Box 168, Collinsville, CT 06022.
 A look at the transfer station on Thursday, July 28. Photo: dotCANTON Three large containers have been connected to the three permanent drop-off ports at the transfer station, and the new system for collecting household trash could be operational by the middle of next week, Department of Public Works Director Bob Martin said on Thursday, July 28.
Martin said the pull-up area, which is now 50 feet wide, compared with “less than 30″ feet wide in the past, is scheduled to be paved on Monday, Aug. 1. Lines that will define backup lanes to the ports will be painted on the pavement the following day, said Martin, who added that the incline to the drop-off area isn’t as steep as it was in the past.
Martin said the last piece of the renovation puzzle will be the installation of safety fencing in the drop-off area. The DPW director said he hopes that will be completed by Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of next week.
– dotCANTON
 Gov. Dannel P. Malloy cuts the ribbon to mark the official opening of Phase III of the Farmington River Trail during a ceremony Thursday morning, July 28, at the trail head near the intersection of Albany Avenue (Route 44) and Lovely Street. Malloy is flanked by state Sen. Kevin Witkos, 8th District, Canton First Selectman Dick Barlow, and state Rep. Timothy LeGeyt, 17th District, left to right. Witkos and Barlow rode bicycles to the event. Malloy said the trail and the opportunities it offers for recreation are "all part of a home-grown effort to make people healthier." Photo: dotCANTON
 Afternoon sun on Wednesday, July 27, bathes the now completed gazebo in space between River Road (Route 179) and the Farmington River just south of the waste water treatment plant. Work was finished in time for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, July 28, to officially open Phase III of the Farmington River Trail. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and other state and local representatives will attend the 9 a.m. event at the trail head near the intersection of Albany Avenue (Route 44) and Lovely Street. Parking for the ribbon cutting ceremony will be available at Best Cleaners and at Vincent Funeral Home. Photo: dotCANTON
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