Large firm eyeing Plymouth Rubber site for warehouse, distribution center

By Jay Turner
Citizen Staff

The company from Indianapolis that has shown serious interest in buying the former Plymouth Rubber site is apparently fronting for another firm that belongs to the Fortune 500 list, reported Napleton attorney Paul Schneiders last week.

Schneiders said his clients’ first knowledge of the situation came during a meeting with the Indianapolis contingent last Tuesday at the Watertown offices of VHB, Inc., Napleton’s engineering consultant. The meeting, which lasted more than five hours, reportedly ended with Napleton owners being handed a purchase and sales agreement — another clear indication, according to Schneiders, that this ‘mystery company’ is serious about buying the property.

“These people are so eager to get this land that they came to Massachusetts with a contract,” said Schneiders, adding that “99 percent of the time,” with large land deals such as the one being contemplated, the purchase and sales agreement originates with the seller.

Schneiders said even his clients do not know which particular company is behind the recent offer; however, they do know that it is a company that already has two other locations in Massachusetts, and one that is looking for a site to build a large-scale warehouse and distribution center.

“This is a big, big company that needs a large site in the Boston area to warehouse and distribute its goods,” Schneiders said. (Click here for full article)

Kids Camp

CHS graduate Malloy receives Sportsmanship Cup

By Jeffrey Pickette
Special to the Citizen

The adage ‘nice guys finish last’ does not pertain to Chris Malloy, a 2008 graduate of Canton High School. While athletes are traditionally lauded for statistical achievements like homeruns hit or goals scored, Malloy, a three-sport athlete, was the 2008 recipient of the CHS Hall of Fame Sportsmanship Cup.

Malloy received a trophy and a $500 scholarship at the school’s Scholarship Night on June 4 for his “exemplary conduct on and off the field of competition.” The award, sponsored by the Decembrele family, has been presented to a graduating student-athlete from CHS since 2004.     

 “I think that [sportsmanship] is probably the most important thing,” Malloy said. “You got to win with class and you got to lose with class. It’s all about respect for me.”

Malloy was nominated for the award by all three of his coaches — Athletic Director and soccer coach Danny Erickson, hockey coach Brian Shuman, and lacrosse coach Bill Bendell.

“Chris epitomizes sportsmanship and class,” Erickson wrote in an e-mail to the Citizen. “He never lets winning or losing impact how he carries himself as a CHS athlete. He is really an incredible role model.”

Malloy said he not only values the relationships he has formed with these coaches, but also the life lessons they helped to instill.

“I didn’t just grow as an athlete when I played for them; I grew as a person too,” he said. “They taught me a lot about myself, taught me to love the game, be a good teammate and respect my opponent — all things I can take with me to all aspects of my life — not just on the field or the ice.”

Malloy’s selfless, team-first attitude was put to the test this past fall during the soccer season. Malloy started all but one game his senior year, an October 20 contest at Duxbury when coach Erickson made a “tactical change” and kept him out of the lineup. (Click here for full article)

CHS alum Jon Cortizo wins 'student Emmy'

By Kelsey Oates
Special to the Citizen

When it comes to its alumni, Canton High School has had plenty to brag about over the years. Now, thanks to 2007 graduate Jon Cortizo, it can add “student Emmy” winner to that ever-growing list, as Cortizo was recently given the award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Boston chapter for his original film “The Escape.”

Cortizo won for Long Form (Fiction and Non-Fiction), an award for films six to ten minutes in length that exhibit “outstanding achievement in a regularly scheduled or special presentation of a long-form treatment of a single subject,” as stated by The National Student Television Award for Excellence website.

Cortizo described “The Escape,” which he produced and directed during his senior year at CHS, as “an adventure/comedy about an eighth grader’s quest to sneak out of his heavily-secured middle school undetected to visit a girl he loves.” He said he had not even thought about the Student Awards of Excellence until his high school television productions teacher, Ed McDonough, suggested it. Last year, Cortizo won first prize for drama in the 2007 Hockomock Film Festival, after having entered nine film festivals and getting no response.

McDonough called the honor a validation of Cortizo’s skills as a filmmaker and as someone who understands the process behind the scenes. “[He] really has mastered the lessons of collaboration and networking,” McDonough said, pointing to the budding filmmaker’s decision to work with people whose strengths cover his weaknesses, making the story they are telling better as a whole.

In addition to Cortizo’s award, McDonough was given an award of excellence as a TV productions teacher. The film also garnered its cast and crew honorable mentions and an award of excellence for CHS.

The awards ceremony was held on June 20 at WCVB-TV Channel 5 studios, and as part of the ceremony winners were treated to a tour of the studios by co-anchor Bianca de la Garza and a question and answer session with meteorologists Dick Albert and Harvey Leonard. The ceremony also featured a talk by News Director Coleen Marren and ended with the students watching a live broadcast anchored by Liz Brunner and de la Garza. (Click here for full article)

Site Updated: 9:25 pm 7/16/08