Get ready for Lights On Festival; Edaville returns: Our top stories

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:

Debate over what is and isn’t allowed to be said during the City Council’s public input period. A letter from the ACLU's Massachusetts Chapter is criticizing the format and restrictions. The new public input format was put into place after public input had been suspended, following an incident where a member of the public called out a councilor by name, Lawrence Quintal, over allegations of harassment through social media. The ACLU offered feedback in a letter dated Nov. 4, "with the hope that better policies will be adopted that do not improperly censor or chill public input — including criticism of public officials — in violation of basic constitutional free speech principles.” Attention from the ACLU was a result of concerned citizens reaching out to the organization. The letter went on to say that public officials and employees "work for the public, not the other way around."

A look at municipal salaries in Raynham. The Gazette analyzed salary data from the town of Raynham and the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District.  As in other communities, the top 10 is dominated by police and fire, with just one exception, the superintendent of schools.

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

Lights On Festival: 'Christmas Around the World' comes to downtown Taunton

It's that time of year when the Silver City shifts into holiday mode and becomes the Christmas City.

Taunton is gearing up to celebrate "Christmas Around the World," with a whole slate of upcoming holiday festivities, including of course the 109th Lights On Festival, as well as the annual Christmas parade.

This is the schedule of events so far, plus a look at some other holiday-themed fun happening in the city right now.

Lights On Festival:'Christmas Around the World' comes to downtown Taunton

Trains, Christmas lights, rides: How Edaville's new owner is getting 'back to its roots'

Readers were all about their holiday favorites this past week, and the return of Edaville's Christmas Wonderland was no exception.

The beloved holiday tradition in Carver has returned under new ownership.

So far, visitors are all aboard on this one.

Trains, Christmas lights, rides:How Edaville's new owner is getting 'back to its roots'

'Your husband is a hero': Man helps driver escape burning vehicle in Raynham

Brian Maynard is being hailed as a hero after helping the driver of a vehicle get out before the car was completely engulfed in flames.

Maynard was driving on the Pleasant Street overpass on Route 24 when he noticed smoke filling the air. He drove back to take a look and noticed a car catching on fire, with the person inside trying to get out.

A bicyclist also lent a helping hand, but when they couldn't get the driver's side door open, Maynard got the man trapped inside out through the window.

Minutes later, the entire car was on fire.

'Your husband is a hero':Man helps driver escape burning vehicle in Raynham

Will contaminated Taunton site be cleaned up and turned into house lots?

Potential housing lots have been cropping up in local headlines lately, and this past week was no exception.

Houses might be built on the land once owned by the Taunton Stove Factory before it relocated to North Dighton in 1965 — but first the land would need to be cleaned up.

The city has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the state’s Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to remove petroleum from the soil on the parcels at 5-7 Nickerson Ave., which the city has owned since 2013.

Development news:Will this contaminated Taunton site be cleaned up and turned into house lots?

'Loved by so many': Middleboro mom remembered for her love of life and family

Loved ones gathered last Sunday at Middleboro Town Hall for a candlelight vigil to share memories and celebrate the life of Lori Ann Medeiros, the 54-year-old Middleboro wife and mother of two who was killed in a crash on Kingman Road in Taunton on Nov. 7, when a man allegedly fleeing police smashed into her vehicle.

Dozens of loved ones surrounded a podium, sharing stories, memories and positive words about Medeiros’s lasting legacy.

Medeiros, who worked as a loan originator, was known by many as an amazing cook, a problem solver and a pure soul.

'Loved by so many':Middleboro mom remembered for her love of life and family

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 Lights On Edaville Brian Maynard real estate