Goodbye to Route 79 expressway; Heavenly Arroyo convicted: Top stories

Kristina Fontes, The Herald News
·4 min read

As we prepare to kick off a new week, let's take a look back at the week that was.

Top stories this past week included:

A look at Somerset's newest restaurant, The Bearded Chicken, which is expected to open soon. Chef Eric Thomas is starting a new chapter for his family-run catering business, opening up their first brick-and-mortar location at the former Chad's Chowderhouse. When Chad's closed its doors last fall, Thomas said he felt a responsibility to keep a family business in that building. And now, this spring, The Bearded Chicken will be a family-run place where locals and folks across the SouthCoast alike can flock to for good food.

Our latest group of All-Scholastics. This past week, we celebrated some excellent local athletes with our boys soccer and girls soccer Herald News All-Scholastic teams.

These were the most read stories of the week on HeraldNews.com:

Say goodbye to Fall River's Route 79 highway: MassDOT is shutting it down forever

We'll soon be saying goodbye to the Route 79 expressway, which is scheduled to be closed for good sometime in February.

Representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the construction team and the city recently laid out each stage of the estimated four-year plan for transforming the waterfront highway into a pedestrian-friendly urban boulevard.

This image shows the completed version of what the Davol Street corridor will look like when it's complete in 2026, looking south at President Avenue.
This image shows the completed version of what the Davol Street corridor will look like when it's complete in 2026, looking south at President Avenue.

The early stages of the project are underway, so let's take a look at what that means for drivers, the waterfront, and more.

End of the road:Say goodbye to Fall River's Route 79 highway. MassDOT is shutting it down forever.

Fall River teen Heavenly Arroyo convicted in fatal stabbing of city woman

Heavenly Arroyo, an 18-year-old Fall River woman, who three years ago stabbed a 68-year-old woman to death inside her relative’s home, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court to Second Degree Murder, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

The defendant was sentenced by Judge Renee Dupuis to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 19 years.

On Oct. 6, 2019, the defendant entered Ana Vasquez-Rodriguez’s bedroom and stabbed her 70 times.  The homicide took place in the Johnson Street home of the defendant’s great-uncle, who had taken custody of the defendant at the request of the defendant’s mother a week prior to the killing.  The victim was the mother of the great-uncle’s girlfriend.

Sentencing:Fall River teen Heavenly Arroyo convicted in fatal stabbing of city woman

Airbnb evicted from Highland Avenue 'castle,' as homeowner denied permission to operate

After the Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously denied them a variance to operate, the owners of the mansion at 503 Highland Ave. can no longer rent their home on Airbnb.

The home at 503 Highland Ave. in Fall River is owned by Austin Feng of Wellesley.
The home at 503 Highland Ave. in Fall River is owned by Austin Feng of Wellesley.

Austin Feng and Rui Tang, whose primary residence is in Wellesley, delivered a presentation of more than 20 minutes at the meeting, and residents of the Highland neighborhood also voiced their opinions on the matter.

The ZBA explained what led to their decision, in what was a packed meeting at Government Center.

"None of those are allowed":Airbnb evicted from Highland Avenue 'castle,' as homeowner denied permission to operate

Fall River piano man takes passion for entertaining to new venture

A Fall River piano man is taking his decade of experience in the wedding industry to launch a new venture.

Mitch Henry recently opened Studio 59, a new event venue at 581 GAR Highway, in the Swansea Target plaza, offering the SouthCoast community a blank canvas for any occasion.

The Studio 59 event space recently opened at 581 GAR Highway, in the Swansea Target plaza.
The Studio 59 event space recently opened at 581 GAR Highway, in the Swansea Target plaza.

He acquired the space, which was previously a T-Mobile and an Orange Leaf frozen yogurt shop, last September and plans to have it cater to smaller, more intimate events.

Henry's got big plans for the space, looking ahead to its soft and grand openings.

Performer to planner:Fall River piano man takes passion for entertaining to new venture

Former Fall River cop Michael Pessoa will face three trials for using excessive force

A Fall River Superior Court judge has ordered that Michael Pessoa, the former Fall River police officer accused of assaulting and violating the civil rights of three men while they were in custody, be afforded three separate trials, one for each alleged victim.

According to court records, one trial is still set to begin on Feb. 27.

In a Dec. 15 ruling, Judge Renee Dupuis agreed with Pessoa’s defense attorney, Frank Camera, who argued that the cases with each victim should be tried separately against the 17-year veteran patrol officer. Dupuis noted in her order that the three alleged incidents were unrelated.

In court:Former Fall River cop Michael Pessoa will face three trials for using excessive force

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.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Herald News Top 5 Route 79 Heavenly Arroyo Airbnb Highland Studio 59