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The Boro Beat brings Attleboro tips to the surface.Complaints to Attleboro Patch about shoddy craftsmanship and installation of 10 new windows at Attleboro District Court after a fire wiped out portions of the second floor last year are "news to me," Bristol County Commissioner Chris Saunders said Wednesday. Neither maintenance staffers nor anyone from the public has complained to the condition of the windows or about sloppy painting around the new vinyl energy-efficient panes, Saunders said. In addition to the 10 new windows, a fire escape was installed where an 11th window once was, complying with new building codes by adding a second means…
The holidays are all about tradition. For Kim Taylor and her two sisters, that means serving about 200 free turkey dinners with all the fixings to people in need on Christmas Day at the South Attleboro Knights of Columbus Hall, as her father did with Jack Hagopian starting in 1984. For the 27th consecutive year, the Ed Tedesco Memorial Free Christmas Dinner, catered as always by Russell Morin Fine Catering, will make sure those in Attleboro and North Attleboro and Central Falls, Cumberland and Pawtucket, Rhode Island remember Christmas in a good way. "It's what my parents always did," said …
Please, for the love of all that is sacred, put away the Ouija board. Connecting with spirits is truly a professional's job, not that of a bunch of young girls at a pajama party. Attleboro Paranormal Investigations, a group of eight people dedicated to connecting with spirits, is led by husband and wife team Wayne and Lynn Homer. The group started about a year ago, but has recently become more active and plans to launch a cable access TV show that focuses on other alternative beliefs such as Wiccan, herbal healing and shamans, Lynn Homer said when we (pardon the pun) reached out to her Monday…
There are only two weeks left before Christmas, and if you're anything like me, chances are you've still got some shopping to do before Rudolph and Santa head out on their all-night mission. If your list happens to include someone who's less than pleased with the work of Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas, you could do worse than stopping by www.dumpdumas.com, a new website dedicated to making sure Dumas doesn't serve another term as mayor. While it's unclear who launched this website and its affiliated Facebook page (the creator claims to be born March 4, 1984), the sentiment behind it is not hard…
Monday's demolition of the unfinished building at 61 Pine St. stirred up a whole lot more than dust and airborne particles. Both sides of the decision strongly defended their actions in the process that led up to the ultimate decision to knock it down. "I had no other alternative," said Marilyn Demusz, trustee for MAGA Realty Trust of Stoughton, which owns the property that was slated to be part of a 14-condo cluster along Dunham and Pine Streets. "I would have fought this if I thought we could've sold those in a few months. Time wasn't going to help me. "It's over now. It's water under the …
As a cloud of dust and a stream of building debris filled the air, building owner Paul Demusz wondered why city officials revoked the building permit for 61 Pine St., forcing his family to tear down the building they deemed an eyesore and a danger. Demusz spent most of the morning watching the building—which was supposed to be part of a 14-condo development called Dunham Crossing—being demolished. While the move will save Demusz in taxes, he can't figure out why it was really necessary. "I have no idea what's behind this," Demusz said as a crane tore the roof off the unfinished building. "…
Nearly 10 years ago, Marilyn Demusz bought the property at 61 Pine St. when her son and son-in-law were running the popular downtown hangout, Johnny Mac's Sports Bar, before it closed in 2005. On Monday morning, the last memory of that building will crumble to the ground when the structure that was the second stage of the proposed Dunham Crossing is demolished. Plainville Pump Excavating will knock down the building, owned by Maga Realty Trust, at the corner of Dunham and Pine Street after city building officials declared it abandoned and gave Demusz a choice last month: finish the …
It was a scene straight out of Ghostbusters – three tank-toting, action-seeking guys heading in to Attleboro District Court Thursday afternoon to rid the building of (gasp!) bed bugs. But this was no movie, and as it turned out, no cause for alarm. Technically, there was ONE bed bug—and it was found on an employee's shirt. There were rumors of a black light search for the security-breaching critter's pals but none were found. But, in this age of airport pat downs and full-body screens, you can't be too careful when there are rumors of a potential infestation, right? You can imagine the …
A few weeks ago, we told you about the impending demolition of the unfinished part of the Dunham Crossing project at the corner of Dunham and Pine streets. As sad as the knockdown will be for its owner and proponents of downtown revitalization, at least there's a bit of a happy ending to this tale. Marilyn Demusz, trustee for Maga Realty Trust, says volunteers from Old Colony Habitat for Humanity at First Baptist Church are rummaging through what was scheduled to be a two-condo building for as many salvageable building materials as they can find before she calls for the wrecking ball. "It …
Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it. While Capt. Kyle Heagney was surely honored to be named the city's acting police chief following the announcement of longtime Chief Richard Pierce Sr. on Friday, the new duties do not come without their challenges. Heagney has assumed leadership of a department that knew the same chief for more than three decades, a man who earned the respect and trust of many of those who worked with him and for him for so long. Until he proves otherwise, Heagney is just a seat-warmer, someone who's filling in until Mayor Kevin Dumas names a full-time …
If given the choice, would you rather see an apartment building go up in your sightline or run the risk of costing your city hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars? While Tiffany Street residents don't have a say in what happens in the rezoning of Commerce Way, that hasn't stopped them from putting up a big stink about it since the idea of apartments was first suggested, and agreed upon by the Attleboro Redevelopment Authority and owner W.B. Construction & Development of Seekonk. This is the typical "not in my backyard" revolt. Sure, it would be great if the land could be used for …
Just in time for the holidays, several city restaurants are expected to get the holiday cheer flowing a bit earlier under a controversial new state law that allows restaurants and clubs to start serving alcohol at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Certainly, I understand the desire to serve a bloody Mary or mimosa with Sunday brunch, but doesn't it seem even a bit hypocritical to see an added emphasis on curbing teenage drinking by police at the same time we're allowing their parents to do more of it earlier in the morning? The argument from businesses—and from state lawmakers, no doubt—is that more …
City Councilor Richard Conti said it was nothing personal against Mayor Kevin Dumas when he filed a charter objection at this week's council meeting, scuttling a vote on the mayor's salary starting in 2012. Whoever holds the position at that time would be staring at a raise of more than $15,000 per year under the proposal before the council, which would start the mayor at $101,305.25 based on the city's non-union exept employee salary table, according to Attleboro's Director of Budget and Administration, Barry LaCasse. The city's charter says the council determines the mayor's salary. Dumas, …
Sometime soon, a wrecking ball will serve as a dramatic reminder about just how sour the real estate market has turned since Maga Realty Trust first embarked on plans to build six downtown condos as part of the city’s revitalization effort. Maga Realty Trust Trustee Marilyn Demusz says it’s only a matter of time before the unfinished Dunham Street building will be knocked down. Maga Realty Trust owns a three-condo building right next door, which has been occupied for about a year now, but wasn’t able to complete its twin when the real estate market went south, Demusz said. “We were just …
Attleboro residents don't need to turn on the TV to follow the hottest new police drama. Sure, Dan-O is back at his criminal-booking best on the new Hawaii Five-O remake on CBS, but your local police department has spent this fall going through plot twists not even a Hollywood producer would believe. On Election Day morning, Patrolman Richard Pierce, the chief's son, was suspended from the force by Dumas and placed on paid administrative leave. While he was being investigated for allegedly improperly tasering someone, the junior Pierce was asked to hand in his badge and gun. Chief Richard …
Apparently, Congressman Jim McGovern had a lot more to worry about on the campaign trail than a hard-fought challenge from Republican Marty Lamb. Less than a week after winning his eighth term as representative of the Third Congressional District, McGovern had surgery to remove a cancerous neck tumor. Certainly, we all wish McGovern well in his recovery and don't expect this brief period of rest to trigger any long-term issues in the way he serves the people of his district, but the timing of the announcement is interesting at the very least. We're guessing McGovern's push to win re-election …
Outgoing state Rep. Bill Bowles yesterday called his successor and former colleague on the city council, Republican George Ross, irresponsible for his role in sending out attack ads in the final days before Ross knocked Bowles out of office on Tuesday. Ross, though, called the accusations from Bowles that only "bottom-feeders" wait until the last minute to hurl election barbs "completely irrational" and "very out of character" for Bowles. Ross said his campaign was not responsible for the mailers and he never even saw them. They were put out by Catholic Citizenship, a non-profit group. "I'm …
Although he probably didn't know it at the time, Bill Bowles may have lost his state rep seat before his bid for re-election even started. Fittingly, the key issue involved the Registry of Motor Vehicles and a whole lot of waiting. Bowles told Attleboro Patch earlier this week that the closure of the North Attleboro RMV location was "the biggest single issue that I had to face," estimating he got 500 phone calls and e-mails about it from constituents asking him to do something. "Everywhere I went in the city, someone told me what a huge problem that was," Bowles said. "People were going to …
If you get an unexpected knock on your door today or tomorrow, don't worry if you got rid of all your Halloween treats—these visitors don't want candy. They want your vote in the mid-term elections, and are making sure you know about it. Volunteers for U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern's campaign have reached out to tens of thousands of voters and knocked on the doors of 15,000 people in the district since the weekend, as the Democratic incumbent looks to hold off an upset by Republican challenger Marty Lamb. In addition to knocking on doors, McGovern volunteers are calling registered voters …
With rival U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern's downtown Attleboro office as his backdrop, Republican hopeful Marty Lamb lambasted McGovern Thursday for his refusal to back reforms of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the companies many believe triggered the 2008-2009 recession by putting home ownership over the owner's ability to pay once they were approved. While Lamb's press conference—part of his late push to unseat the longtime incumbent McGovern—was largely called to address a 2004 letter McGovern and many other Congressmen sent President Bush in June 2004 saying affordable housing should be held in …
