Before we begin the new week in earnest, we’re taking a look back at the week that was, and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers.
Top stories this past week included:
Back in July, the Taunton School Committee increased its stipend by 100%: from $6,000 to $12,000. The Taunton City Council, which raised its annual stipend last month, across two meetings in full public view, learned about the School Committee’s stipend increase in December. This confused and upset some councilors. Especially since it is the City Council that approves all departmental budgets for each fiscal year, including the school department’s. So, how did the School Committee get a stipend increase approved by the City Council, without the Council’s knowing about it? The answer is convoluted, if there is one.
In Raynham, town voters will decide whether or not to expand the senior center. For many of the town’s seniors, the Raynham Senior Center is a home away from home. But space can get cramped. Voters will head to the polls for a special town election on Feb. 7 to decide the fate of a pair of Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusions — including a $2 million debt exclusion for the design, planning and construction of a 1200-1400-square-foot addition to the senior center.
These were the Top 5 stories of the past week, according to Gazette readers:
‘I find these visits incredibly moving’: Healey gets up-close look at Southeastern, MA
Before she was sworn in as the 73rd governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey stopped by the city for a visit at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South’s Taunton Clubhouse.
She and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll were in Taunton as part of their “Team Up Massachusetts” tour to highlight community service-oriented work and the incoming administration’s goal of making the state more affordable for families, Healey said.
‘I find these visits incredibly moving’:Healey gets up-close look at southeastern Mass.
A look at the 2022 Taunton dining scene
In 2022, there was a lot of change in the local restaurant scene.
We said goodbye to two restaurateurs, one of them part of a local fixture, and the other who was just getting his dream started: Mike George of Colonial Do-Nut Shop, and Eddie Odney, owner of and chef at Taunton’s Acadia Seafood & Bar. In 2022, we also said farewell to Colonial Do-Nut.
There were many new additions to the Taunton dining scene this past year, with some places changing hands, and others expanding the flavor palate of hungry locals.
Here’s a look at Taunton’s 2022 restaurant scene.
On the menu:Here are the restaurants that opened and closed in the Taunton area in 2022
Bridgewater-Raynham regional school superintendent extends ‘personal’ leave for 60 days
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District Superintendent Derek Swenson, who has been on a temporary leave of absence for “personal reasons” since September 2022, will extend his leave for an additional six weeks, the district’s school committee said.
The Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District School Committee announced Tuesday that Swenson “will continue to be out of work for personal reasons for the next six weeks. He will be using his accrued contractual time.”
School news:Bridgewater-Raynham regional school superintendent extends ‘personal’ leave for 60 days
Raynham Police warn ‘grandparent scam’ is circulating in the community
Raynham police are warning the public about a scam going around targeting the elderly.
According to Raynham Police Chief James Donovan, a scheme becoming more common — referred to as the “grandparent scam” — entails the scammer calling a person and telling them that a relative has been arrested.
The Raynham Police Department has received several reports of this scam in recent weeks, but there are some simple steps you can take to avoid getting caught up in this particular scam.
Phone scam:Raynham Police warn ‘grandparent scam’ is circulating in the community
Custom-built home on over 3 acres of land sells for $750K in Taunton
This week’s top-selling home in Taunton is a multi-level, custom-built house.
Secluded on a picturesque property at 528 Tremont St., it sits on 3.26 acres surrounded by woodlands and recently sold for $750,000.
Built in 2006 and impeccably maintained, the 3,000-square-foot house features Brazilian cherry floors, cathedral ceilings, and a stoned gas fireplaced family room. And that’s not all.
Real estate:Custom-built home on over 3 acres of land sells for $750K in Taunton
Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today.
