Top stories: Pleasure Island's future, bell tower gone, Pancheros to debut and more

The Herald News
·3 min read

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

The week got started on an exciting note, with the return of the annual Spirit of Somerset festivities. Check out photos from the annual celebration here.

Things are changing at Government Center in more ways than one. Along with an overhaul of city hall departments, City Councilor Joseph Camara takes the helm as council president on the heels of Pam Laliberte-Lebeau stepping down amid criminal harassment charges.

In other news, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County is expanding its service for children who have survived abuse with a major renovation project.

Also debuting last week was USA Today's comprehensive "Perilous Course" series, investigating how people up and down the East Coast are grappling with the climate crisis — from the natural disasters that grab headlines to the quieter forces gnawing at our personal stability, homes and livelihoods.

Here are the most read stories of the week on heraldnews.com according to our readers.

A homemade sign on Ocean Grove Avenue in Swansea welcomes billionaire businessman and philanthropist Ernie Boch Jr. to the neighborhood. This summer, Boch purchased Pleasure Island -- the bridge to the island is visible in the background.
A homemade sign on Ocean Grove Avenue in Swansea welcomes billionaire businessman and philanthropist Ernie Boch Jr. to the neighborhood. This summer, Boch purchased Pleasure Island -- the bridge to the island is visible in the background.

Future plans for Pleasure Island

Along Pinehurst Avenue, someone has stuck a homemade sign into the grass at Compton’s Corner, with the decaying bridge to Pleasure Island visible across a glittering stretch of the Cole River.

“Welcome to Ocean Grove Ernie Boch Jr.,” it reads, with a little illustration of a clam. “Come on down.”

Some Ocean Grove residents are excited to welcome billionaire Subaru of New England kingpin and philanthropist Ernie Boch Jr. to Swansea. And they have ideas of how to renovate his new the 4.25-acre private island. Here's what they had to say.

'Come on down': Swansea welcomes Ernie Boch Jr. with ideas for Pleasure Island's future

Workers remove the bell tower across from Government Center Tuesday.
Workers remove the bell tower across from Government Center Tuesday.

For whom the bell no longer tolls

The four 19th century bells that once rang out about the old city hall — placed for decades on display on Third Street across from One Government Center — have been moved and placed in temporary storage.

But not before a fire broke out around noon on Tuesday under the metal bell tower structure as crews were removing the bells for transport to the Department of Community Maintenance barn on Lewiston Street.

Find out why the Spindle City landmark is being moved, and what future plans are for them.

Landmark on the move: Crews were moving the old city hall bells. Then a fire broke out.

Six former Hilltoppers are set for induction into the the BMC Durfee High School Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 22 at White’s of Westport. The honorees include Caitlin Belanger, Edward Silva, Adelino Jacob, Beth Plasski, J. Bryan Palumbo, and Thomas Kilby.
Six former Hilltoppers are set for induction into the the BMC Durfee High School Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 22 at White’s of Westport. The honorees include Caitlin Belanger, Edward Silva, Adelino Jacob, Beth Plasski, J. Bryan Palumbo, and Thomas Kilby.

Durfee's best of the best

Six former Hilltoppers are set for induction into the the B.M.C. Durfee High School Athletics Hall of Fame next month.

Meet the latest class of all-star alumni whose lasting legacy on the soccer, basketball, football, track and field, baseball and softball fields will be honored at White's of Westport at the first Durfee HOF induction ceremony since 2019.

All-Americans to record-setters: Meet the newest inductees into the Durfee Hall of Fame

Workers patch the sidewalk at Fall River's Government Center on Wednesday.
Workers patch the sidewalk at Fall River's Government Center on Wednesday.

Fall River government reorg

Mayor Paul Coogan’s overhaul and reorganization of city hall departments is halfway done, with the City Council on Tuesday approving the first of two votes needed to pass the plan.

The most prominent of the changes are the creation of an independent Emergency Management Services department, now under the command of the Fall River Fire Department, and a reconfiguration of the Department of Community Maintenance that will add a new director’s position to oversee the multi-tier department.

“I believe this will create a lot of efficiencies in government and streamline who people report to and hopefully improve customer services,” said Coogan.

Independent EMS, new public works dept.: How Fall River government will be reorganized

Pancheros Mexican Grill is hiring at its Route 6 location in Somerset.
Pancheros Mexican Grill is hiring at its Route 6 location in Somerset.

Shaking things up

In the battle for the best burrito, the local competition is stacking up.

Soon foodies craving some Mexican fare will have yet another destination to get their Taco Tuesday fix as Pancheros Mexican Grill prepares to open its doors at Fairfield Commons in Somerset.

With furniture arriving and signage being put into place last week, the restaurant inches closer to completion. Check out what to expect when the fast-casual Pancheros site — the first in Massachusetts — debuts next month.

Burritos, fresh-pressed tortillas: What to expect from Pancheros in Somerset

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Top stories from Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Tiverton