Mr. B-R competition; Brockton bakery: Top 5 stories in the Brockton area last week

Kathy Bossa, The Enterprise
·4 min read

BROCKTON − A Brockton police sergeant has filed a complaint after the city passed him over for promotion to lieutenant in favor of Chief Brenda Pérez's husband. The complaint alleges that the chief “stayed involved in the promotional process to influence the promotion of her husband.”

Was Easton police shooting during mental health check justified? Find out what some experts had to say.

Homestyle comfort food, fluffy eggs, and thick pancakes served with a smile have found their way into Abington. Here’s what’s on the menu at Mal's Kitchen, where 'the pancakes don't need syrup.’

More than 600 spectators filled the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School auditorium to watch the 24th annual Mr. B-R competition. Find out who was crowned Mr. B-R.

A Brockton bakery is serving up a “taste of Brazil” – and a lot more than just baked goods.

In case you missed it, here are five stories of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area.

Was Easton police shooting during mental health check justified? We asked some experts.

The woman who was killed by an Easton police officer during a mental health crisis on Feb. 5 had lost her 22-year-old son in a car crash on New Year's Eve. Just over a month prior to her death, Marianne Griffiths, a lifelong Easton resident, had lost her middle son, 22-year-old William Molloy, in a deadly car crash in Rhode Island. The Enterprise reached out to a use-of-force expert and a professor of criminal justice at Bridgewater State University about the incident.

Was Easton police shooting justified?:Was Easton police shooting during mental health check justified? We asked some experts.

Brockton bakery serves up 'taste of Brazil' — and a lot more than just baked goods

Get a taste of sweet treats and warm breads from South America right here in Brockton. Taste of Brazil bakery is a family-run business serving fresh baked goods daily and hot authentic dishes. Customers can enjoy a variety of flavors from acai bowls and burgers to steak and rice, giant pastels, coffee and bread, grilled chicken, pizza, soup and salad. The bakery has a seemingly never-ending list of sweets ranging from chocolate balls and flan to tres leches, banana cake, pineapple upside down cake, rice pudding and much more.

'Taste of Brazil':Brockton bakery serves up 'taste of Brazil' — and a lot more than just baked goods

Taste of Brazil co-owners and sisters Jacqualine Macedo of Hanson and Aline Macedo of Whitman hold up their X Brazil sandwich and Plate of The Day dishes, two of the more popular entrees they serves at their very popular restaurant on Crescent Street in Brockton on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Taste of Brazil co-owners and sisters Jacqualine Macedo of Hanson and Aline Macedo of Whitman hold up their X Brazil sandwich and Plate of The Day dishes, two of the more popular entrees they serves at their very popular restaurant on Crescent Street in Brockton on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Students compete to be crowned Mr. Bridgewater-Raynham 2023

More than 600 spectators filled the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School auditorium to watch the 24th annual Mr. B-R competition. This year's competition featured laugh-out-loud skits and dancing and was emceed by teacher Eric Hoy.  The show kicked off with a dance the contestants performed in unison as a crowd hooted and hollered. The judges, Judges Kristina Bettencourt, Joanie Flaherty-Leonard, Brian Conroy, Beth McDonald and Beck Fernandes  watched the action while jotting down notes. The contestants competed in three categories: funwear/swim-wear, talent and formal wear. But it wasn't just the guys who got the spotlight. About 22 senior girls also participated, performed an introduction dance and joined the men on stage during the formal wear portion.

Mr. B-R contest photos:Students compete to be crowned Mr. Bridgewater-Raynham 2023

Contestants Liam Barry, Cade Chiocca, Patrick Concannon, Sam Ehrenzweig, Jack Gentile, Chris Hogg, Dylan Maguire, Justin Peters, Nick Rossi, Evan Samsel and Domenic Sarro during the 24th annual Mr. B-R competition at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Contestants Liam Barry, Cade Chiocca, Patrick Concannon, Sam Ehrenzweig, Jack Gentile, Chris Hogg, Dylan Maguire, Justin Peters, Nick Rossi, Evan Samsel and Domenic Sarro during the 24th annual Mr. B-R competition at Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School on Friday, March 17, 2023.

What's on the menu at Mal's Kitchen in Abington, where 'the pancakes don't need syrup'?

Homestyle comfort food, fluffy eggs, and thick pancakes served with a smile have found their way into Abington. Mal's Kitchen, a restaurant born during the pandemic at 171 Brockton Ave., provides positivity and from-scratch breakfasts and lunches to customers in the community. Aside from the good vibes in the restaurant, the menu has a wide selection for breakfast and lunch.

Mal's Kitchen breakfast spot:Mal's Kitchen breakfast spot in Abington spreads happiness with a side of eggs

See what's on the menu:What's on the menu at Mal's Kitchen in Abington, where 'the pancakes don't need syrup'?

Malissa LaPointe with a Mal's wrap and crunchy French toast dishes at her restaurant Mal's Kitchen, 171 Brockton Ave., unit F, Abington, on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Malissa LaPointe with a Mal's wrap and crunchy French toast dishes at her restaurant Mal's Kitchen, 171 Brockton Ave., unit F, Abington, on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Car break-ins, thefts 'getting out of control' in Brockton. Here's what to know.

Jess Andrade is one of numerous people raising awareness about a recent uptick of car break-ins and car thefts in Brockton. The 34-year-old mother of three young boys said her car was stolen from the 7-Eleven across the street from her house on Oak Street Extension earlier this month after a friend left the car running when he went to go withdraw some cash from the ATM. According to Darren Duarte, spokesperson for the Brockton Police Department, the number of reported motor vehicle thefts in the city has soared in the last two years.

'Getting out of control':Car break-ins, thefts 'getting out of control' in Brockton. Here's what to know.

Jess Andrade of Brockton recently had her car stolen from the 7-Eleven across the street from her house on Oak Street Extension, seen here on March 13, 2023.
Jess Andrade of Brockton recently had her car stolen from the 7-Eleven across the street from her house on Oak Street Extension, seen here on March 13, 2023.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. 

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories: Mr. Bridgewater-Raynham; Taste of Brazil