Before we begin this new week in earnest, we re taking a look back at the week that was. From an adorable baby sloth, to the dream of a Taunton River Trail, to a new food pantry here in Taunton, these are the stories that resonated most with
Taunton Daily Gazette readers this past week:
Baby sloth born at Buttonwood
Our top story this past week was visited by nearly 20,000 people, and we can t blame them, because this news was pretty darn cute.
A baby two-toed sloth has been born at New Bedford s Buttonwood Park Zoo, the first such birth in the zoo s 127-year history. The sloth was born on June 22 to first-time parents Sandy and Bernardo. For now, the baby will be clinging close to its mother, with weekly check-ins from zoo staff. Zoo director Keith Lovett says that sloths are one of the most popular animals at the zoo, and when you look at those adorable little faces, it s easy to see why.
Road renovation plans could remove Mattapoisett trees, parking
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Alan Slavin, an incumbent Selectman who has been on the board for nine years, is running for another term because he hopes to see some major projects through.
Slavin has had a focus on transportation and infrastructure during his time in town politics, and that’s work he hopes to continue.
“Things take forever,” Slavin said. He explained that the South Coast Rail Program that extends commuter rail service to New Bedford and Fall River has been in process for 37 years, and he’s been working on bringing that service to Wareham for seven years.
He lobbied to get Cranberry Highway rebuilt, and worked with the state to more closely monitor crews after residents and businesses complained about the state of the roadway last summer. He also got the installation of a traffic light at Swifts Beach Road and Rte. 6 moved up on MassDOT’s maintenance calendar to 2024 from its original 2030 date.
Chloe Shelford Mar 9, 2021
The ballot is set for the Tuesday, May 4, Town Election, including competitive races for the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee.
School Committee
Four candidates will be running for two seats on the School Committee.
Geoff Swett, who has served on the committee for 12 years in the past, said that he decided to run in part because his responsibilities as chair of the School Building Committee would be coming to an end this fall, and because he had been asked to run by several people.
He also said that he hopes to be involved as the schools plan for a post-pandemic future, which he thinks will likely include more virtual education.
Chloe Shelford Jan 25, 2021
Nomination papers are now available for the upcoming Town Election, and a race for a seat on the Board of Selectmen is on the horizon.
The Town Election will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4.
Board of Selectmen
He will be facing one challenger: Glenn Lawrence, a current member of the Finance Committee.
Slavin was first elected to the Board of Selectman in 2012, and is a longtime member of the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District, the Massachusetts Selectmen’s Association and the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Asked why he is running again, Slavin said there are a number of large town projects that he has been working on for years and would like to see through, including bringing the commuter rail to Wareham, fixing up Merchants Way, and building a new police station and community center.
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