Plans underway for Taunton River Trail; Rehoboth man joins Monuments Men: Our top stories

Kristina Fontes, The Taunton Daily Gazette
·4 min read

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:

There's a new bakery here in town: Guchanya Pastry is now open in the former School Street Bakery shop. Owner Maria Miranda said opening her new shop fulfills a childhood dream she had in Cape Verde.

“When I was growing up, I’d see wedding cakes, and the details on the cakes were beautiful,” said Miranda, a Taunton resident. “I told myself I’d like to know how to do that."

A ribbon-cutting was held for Guchanya on June 2, and Miranda's hard at work offering all kinds of pastries and delights to hungry customers, from maple bacon cupcakes, to seasonal desserts, to flavor-packed empadas.

As of Friday, Graham Waters is officially no longer town administrator for Raynham. Raynham Fire Chief Bryan LaCivita will fill the role in the short run, as interim town administrator. That means LaCivita will be doing double duty — a juggling act he said will not compromise the integrity of either role as long as he can maintain a flexible schedule.

These were our Top 5 stories of the past week, according to Gazette readers:

Taunton River Trail ‘would be a wonderful addition to our city’

The Taunton River Trail has been an idea that's been in the works for nearly 30 years.

If the city gets federal funds to construct it, it would be a 12-mile paved pathway that would be part of a continuous network, and make our scenic Taunton River more accessible to residents and visitors alike.

For 30 years, Bill Napolitano of the Taunton-based Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District has worked toward a Taunton River Trail. Seen here during a tour on July 8, 2021.
For 30 years, Bill Napolitano of the Taunton-based Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District has worked toward a Taunton River Trail. Seen here during a tour on July 8, 2021.

To that end, our top story this past week was the latest Taunton River Trail update: a design and engineering plan is underway for this long-awaited project.

Making the outdoors more accessible: Taunton River Trail ‘would be a wonderful addition to our city’ — Here's the latest

What's the story behind the Milk Bottle in Raynham?

In the early part of the 20th century, as automobiles became more accessible to the average American, there was an explosion in popularity of buildings that looked like things.

Novelty architecture was all the rage: there were buildings shaped like coffee pots, oranges, sandwiches, you name it.

Although many of them are now part of a bygone era, there are some that remain, and one of those buildings is a local landmark:

Raynham's Milk Bottle.

The Milk Bottle in Raynham has a shaded patio where customers can eat outside.
The Milk Bottle in Raynham has a shaded patio where customers can eat outside.

What's the story behind it? We take a look, right here.

Novelty architecture, local landmark: What's the story behind the Milk Bottle in Raynham?

AG OKs Dighton ban on LGBTQ, other flags at Town Hall

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has approved the bylaw the November 2021 Dighton town meeting endorsed restricting the type of flags that can fly at town hall — but that applies to only town hall.

Healey struck down a portion that extended the ban to other town-owned properties.

Gazette Correspondent Michael J. DeCicco has the story here.

Healey makes a ruling: AG OKs Dighton ban on LGBTQ, other flags at Town Hall — but only Town Hall

Rehoboth resident combines his passions as real-life Monuments Man

Military experience and a lifelong passion for art, culture and heritage have combined for U.S. Army Reserve Captain Blake Ruehrwein.

Rehoboth resident and Bridgewater native Blake Ruehrwein at work as Director of Education and Public Outreach at the Naval War College Museum in Newport, RI.
Rehoboth resident and Bridgewater native Blake Ruehrwein at work as Director of Education and Public Outreach at the Naval War College Museum in Newport, RI.

The Rehoboth resident, who is an Air Force veteran, works as director of education and public outreach for the Naval War College Museum in Newport, Rhode Island.

And he recently re-enlisted as a commissioned officer with the Army Reserves, to work with the modern-day equivalent of a legendary American unit: the famed World War II Monuments Men.

Service and art: Rehoboth resident combines his passions as real-life Monuments Man

What happened to the two Eagan's assailants?

After 5 years, the two perpetrators responsible for a violent attempted armed robbery at Eagan’s Package Store in Taunton in 2017 are both in prison for their crimes.

On the night of April 27, 2017, the two masked teenagers entered Eagan’s Package Store, at 48 Cohannet St., around 8:30 p.m. and held up store co-owner Zhi Chen.

There was an outpouring of support in Taunton in 2017 at Eagan's on Cohannet Street after the co-owner was injured in an attempted armed robbery.
There was an outpouring of support in Taunton in 2017 at Eagan's on Cohannet Street after the co-owner was injured in an attempted armed robbery.

She lost the top of her thumb trying to fend off the attack, and she was hit in her side abdomen with buckshot.

Five years later: Taunton rallied around Eagan's owner in 2017 — Here's what happened to the 2 assailants

There was an outpouring of support from the Taunton community for Chen during her recovery.

Now, 5 years later, Gazette Reporter Daniel Schemer revisited the case, and examined the assailants' sentencing.

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 Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton Gazette Top 5 Taunton River Trail Milk Bottle Monuments Men