What's new at Bristol Aggie; Taunton High to get food truck: 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:

The latest Taunton Then and Now. We took another tour through the city's past and present, and learned some interesting things about some of Taunton's older homes, just how many St. Thomas Episcopal Church buildings there have been, and we even found a bakery that used to make deliveries as far as Easton using a horse-drawn cart. Door Dash really can't compete with that.

Our latest batch of Taunton Daily Gazette All-Scholastics was in the headlines this week, with Girls Cross Country leading the way. We've also got All-Scholastics teams for Boys Cross Country, and Golf. Be sure to check TauntonGazette.com for the latest all-stars.

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

Tour Bristol Aggie's brand new campus with its brand new superintendent

Derek Costa loves his job, and is carrying that love into his new role as superintendent for Bristol County Agricultural High School.

“I absolutely love the school, my job, and I love the passion the students bring to this school every day," he said.

New Superintendent Derek Costa shows off exhibits inside Bristol-Aggie's newly renovated Natural History Museum on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.
New Superintendent Derek Costa shows off exhibits inside Bristol-Aggie's newly renovated Natural History Museum on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.

The Gazette interviewed Costa during a tour highlighting the campus renovations at Bristol Aggie: See what's new at the school, and get to know its new superintendent a little better.

New year, new Aggie:Tour Bristol Aggie's brand new campus with its brand new superintendent

Pet of the Week: After 12 years, Alice needs a fresh start after losing her home

One of our most-read stories this past week was about a little kitty going through some tough times.

Alice, a domestic shorthair cat with lovely green eyes, lost her home of 12 years when her owner was no longer able to care for her.

The Taunton Animal Shelter Pet of the Week is Alice, a female domestic shorthair cat.
The Taunton Animal Shelter Pet of the Week is Alice, a female domestic shorthair cat.

She's available for adoption at the Taunton Animal Shelter, and is hoping to find her new home soon. Learn more about adopting her here.

For the latest Pet of the Week feature, visit TauntonGazette.com every Sunday morning. You might just find your new best friend!

Pet of the Week:After 12 years, Alice needs a fresh start after losing her home

Charge upgraded to murder in Taunton crash that killed Middleboro mom

The man accused of causing a fatal Taunton crash while fleeing a drug bust at speeds of up to 101 mph is now facing a second-degree murder charge, according to the Bristol County district attorney’s office.

Hector Bannister-Sanchez, 34, of Norton and Medford, was ordered held without bail at his arraignment on Tuesday, Jan. 10, in Fall River Superior Court.

Bannister-Sanchez was arraigned on new indictments charging him with second-degree murder and reckless motor vehicle homicide connected to the Nov. 7 crash on Kingman Road in Taunton, which claimed the life of 54-year-old mother Lori Medeiros of Middleboro, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn said in a written statement.

The defendant is due back in court for a pretrial conference.

Held without bail:Charge upgraded to murder in Taunton crash that killed Middleboro mom

Will Taunton Dunkin' relocation solve traffic problems or create them?

There are plans to relocate the Dunkin' located inside a 7-Eleven on Bay Street into a nearby shopping plaza.

A Dunkin' hopes to relocate from inside a 7-Eleven on Bay Street into a shopping plaza across the street.
A Dunkin' hopes to relocate from inside a 7-Eleven on Bay Street into a shopping plaza across the street.

Dunkin' franchise manager Chris Cahoon said the plan would not create unsafe traffic conditions, during a recent public hearing with the Planning Board.

He said his franchise serves 900 customers a day, most of them in the drive-through.

Planning Board Vice-Chair Dennis Ackerman said he has "major concerns" about traffic backing up and out onto Bay Street.

Here's the latest information, as of the public hearing.

Voicing concerns:Will Taunton Dunkin' relocation solve traffic problems or create them?

Want to catch a quick bite? Taunton High will be getting its very own food truck

Taunton High School's culinary arts students will be hitting the road soon.

They won't be going very far though: they'll be in the city, with their new food truck.

Taunton High Culinary Arts Management Team members Israel Cruz and Tatum Domar prepare a dish on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.
Taunton High Culinary Arts Management Team members Israel Cruz and Tatum Domar prepare a dish on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.

THS Career and Technical Education Co-Director Darla Hartung said plans are underway to purchase a food truck for students to sell meals at upcoming city events.

They've got big plans for the Tiger Den Café's food truck.

Branching out:Want to catch a quick bite? Taunton High will be getting its very own food truck.

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 Bristol Aggie Derek Costa crash Taunton High