WIVELISCOMBE play away to North Petherton Panthers in Under 13 8s West section of the Taunton & District Youth Cricket League on Friday, May 9. Wellington Dukes 8 are also in action in this section and have an away fixture against near neighbours Staplegrove. There are also matches in the Under 13 11 a side section on Friday, with Taunton St Andrews Griffins having a derby match at home to Taunton Diamonds. North Curry make the trip to play Glastonbury Thorns while Minehead Pirates are home to Bridgwater. There is also a full programme of fixtures for sides playing in the league on Sunday, May 11. Minehead Barbarians are away to Taunton Rubies in Under 11 West A while Wellington entertain Taunton Deane Tigers in Under 15 11 a side. Fixtures, Friday, May 9, Under 13 8s West: North Petherton Panthers v Wiveliscombe, Staplegrove v Wellington Dukes 8, Taunton Deane Greens v Over Stowey, Taunton Vikings v Stogumber, Yeovil v Curry Rivel Colts. Under 13 11 a side: Glastonbury Thorns v North Curry, Ilminster Bears v Taunton Deane Tornadoes, Minehead Pirates v Bridgwater, Taunton Deane Falcons v Wembdon Wombats, Taunton St Andrews Griffins v Taunton Diamonds, Trull v Wedmore Wolverines. Sunday, May 11, Under 11 West A: Brompton Ralph v Taunton Vulcans, Taunton Deane Falcons v Over Stowey, Taunton Rubies v Minehead Bucaneers, Taunton St Andrews Wombats, v Taunton Deane Greens. Under 11 West B: Broadway & Horton A v Wiveliscombe, Staplegrove v Wellington Reds, Taunton Titans v Taunton Deane Eagles, West Monkton v Bishops Hull. Under 15 11 a side: Bridgwater Red Sox v North Curry, Minehead v Wembdon Wolves, Taunton Deane Pumas v Taunton St Andrews, Wellington v Taunton Deane Tigers. Under 15 8 LMS West: Bishops Hull v Quantock Allstars, Curry Rivel Colts v Taunton Saphires, Taunton St Andrews Tigers v Ilminster Bears, Wiveliscombe v Brompton Ralph. Comments Tel: 01823 662439 [email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 This week's top-selling home in Taunton is a brand-new construction that sold for $760,000 this home at 80 Willis Pond Road has been outfitted with stunning details throughout From the inviting farmers’ porch to the sun-drenched rooms this home offers sleek sophistication paired with comfort The custom kitchen has a large island and a walk-in pantry and a walk-up attic with endless possibilities Here are all of the residential property transfers recorded in the Greater Taunton area this week Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information, visit www.thewarrengroup The three Taunton Municipal Light Plant commissioners will be getting a raise the Council voted 7-1 to more than double the annual stipend given to the commissioners Councilor Chris Coute was not present at the April 29 meeting and Phillip Duarte was the sole vote against the stipend increase The Council also voted to make the stipend increases retroactive to Jan and voted to have the city's law department draft a home rule petition to make it so that the City Council did not have authority over the stipends given to the TMLP commissioners City Councilors who voted in favor of the increase argued that the stipends had not increased in 25 years, since 2000 that the stipends are funded through revenue generated by TMLP rather than through tax dollars is somewhat independent and its budget is separate from the city's What is TMLP?The Taunton Municipal Light Plant is an electricity company that was purchased by the city of Taunton in 1897. TMLP provides service to Taunton TMLP is governed by a commission of three people who are elected by Taunton voters Neighbors win Taunton backs down, won't put TMLP substation on open land. What happened? the lone vote against the stipend increase previously criticized the TMLP commission at a Feb Duarte said that TMLP commissioners would be getting a larger stipend compared to the planning board members (who receive a $3,000 stipend) and zoning board members (who receive a $2,500 stipend) Duarte said that planning and zoning board members do more work than TMLP commissioners "I followed the TMLP commission very closely and it operated differently than other boards and commissions," Duarte said so I don't think that is accessible to the public probably always unless there's specific circumstances "It's very difficult to provide public input to their board," Duarte said School board raises controversy What's Taunton Council doing to make sure 100% raises don't slip past them again? Councilors vote to approve stipend increasesSeven city councilors voted to increase the annual stipends of the TMLP commissioners from $6,000 to $12,196 wrote in a letter that the last time the stipends were increased was in January 2000 Holmes wrote that the proposed $12,196 annual stipend is based on increasing the $6,000 stipend from January 2000 by 3% per year "It's an important board," Councilor Larry Quintal said of the TMLP commission "It's been many years since their stipend has been raised I would be in full support of their stipends being raised." Councilor John McCaul said that unlike other city board members the TMLP commissioners' stipends would be funded by revenue generated by TMLP rather than by taxpayer dollars It's coming from the ratepayer," McCaul said "I think it's reasonable and fair," Councilor Barry Sanders said of the increase "I'm also less concerned about how the TMLP commissioners set their compensation because it doesn't come out of the general fund of the city The three TMLP commissioners are: city councilors voted to make the increase in the TMLP commissioners' stipends from $6,000 to $12,196 retroactive to Jan Five City Councilors voted in favor of making the stipend increases retroactive: Estele Borges Three City Councilors voted against making the stipend increases retroactive: Phillip Duarte (Councilor Chris Coute was not present at that Council meeting) The City Council voted unanimously to ask the city's law department to create a home rule petition to ask the Massachusetts State Legislature to make it so that the TMLP Commission would set the stipends received by the commissioners Following the April 29 votes to increase the stipends and make the increases retroactive the Council's ordinances and enrolled bills subcommittee will need to meet in a future meeting to make the stipend increases official A NEW British Heart Foundation (BHF) ‘Home Store’ is opening in Taunton this summer at the former Argos property at 32-33 East Street is set to offer a range of “pre-loved furniture which has another shop in Taunton’s North Street has applied for permission to install new signs on the building the BHF had a homewares shop in the High Street but it closed in 2023 and has been replaced by an Asian supermarket The BHF website says the new Taunton outlet will welcome shoppers from “summer 2025” with Somerset Council planners now due to consider the bid for two new illuminated signs Follow us on Subscribe to the The New Blackmore Vale Magazine The New Stour & Avon Magazine Salisbury & Avon Gazette we're taking a look back at the week that was and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers After much anticipation, Free Play Bar Arcade has opened its doors in Taunton Taunton High softball debuted their newly renovated Jack Tripp Field with a 4-0 win over King Philip Karina Bosco, a senior attacker for Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School lacrosse, is leaving a legacy of success for the program Riverhouse in Taunton is gearing up for Cinco de Mayo, and their patio grand opening Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School's Raynwater Players put on a production of "Hadestown." The latest Greater Taunton real estate report, featuring a Raynham colonial that sold for $970,000. The home on Mohawk Road has a stunningly remodeled kitchen, a sun-drenched living room, an oversized primary suite, and a fully finished basement. Check out this property, as well as other recent top-sellers These were the Top 5 stories of the past week Taunton High School art teacher Brian Kreizinger made every day of his life count "He lived every single second," his sister "We always joked that he always had a to-do list even the day before he went to the hospital No minute was wasted would be an understatement." Kreizinger, a Rehoboth resident, died of cancer on April 17, 2025, according to his obituary. His family created a GoFundMe to raise money for his wife Kate and their two children His sister said in an interview with the Gazette that he was "an example of how to live your life." 'Lived every single second': Beloved Taunton High art teacher remembered as the 'best dad' at the former site of National Charter 957 has opened its doors and is looking to enhance downtown Taunton's nightlife scene Take a peek inside, and see what's on the menu 'Making dreams come true': 22 Bar & Lounge opens in Taunton. Menu, drinks, vibe and more Man found shot to death behind Bristol-Plymouth high schoolA 39-year-old man was found dead early Wednesday morning in the construction area behind Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn identified the man as Stephan Myers of Falmouth He died as a result of a single gunshot wound This is what we know, as of this writing Under investigation: Man found shot to death behind Bristol-Plymouth high school identified Authorities have identified a body that was found on April 25 in Taunton was located in the water of the Mill River behind 43 Chandler Ave. said the Bristol County District Attorney's Office What we know, as of this writing Taunton's Mill River: Body found in water has been identified. What we know Taunton City Councilor Estele Borges is questioning why the city has only spent a tiny fraction of the opioid settlement money it's had in its coffers since 2024 Borges, who is running for mayor against O'Connell, criticized O'Connell in an interview and a Facebook post for lacking a "sense of urgency" and spending only $67,600 of the $1.5 million in opioid funding distributed to Taunton by the state But Mayor Shaunna O'Connell said that the way the city distributes opioid funding is why "our City is not in a financial crisis like other communities." Taunton Gazette Reporter Emma Rindlisbacher has the story 'Irresponsible': Why hasn't Taunton spent more than $1 million in opioid settlement money? a significant day for fans to celebrate the sci-fi franchise Originating from the pun "May the Fourth be with you", it began in 1977 and has since been embraced by Disney and by Lucasfilm the production company founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas While the day is celebrated by fans of all stripes some Star Wars enthusiasts once took their fandom a step further – by identifying as Jedi Knights on the national census the movement took off as both a cultural in-joke and a tongue-in-cheek nod to the spiritual weight fans saw in the Jedi philosophy What started as a grassroots internet campaign soon turned into a surprisingly widespread response across the UK A forceful 390,100 people in England and Wales wrote in "Jedi" as their religion in the 2001 census but this more than halved to 176,600 in the 2011 survey The most recent census for 2021 showed less than 1,600 people said they were Jedi Knights across the two nations – wiping out the Jedi Order Due to the dramatic decline and the cohort not meeting the minimum threshold the Office for National Statistics did not publish figures for Jedi Knights in the latest survey The group is instead lumped into the "No Religion: no religion" subcategory alongside people who claimed "Heavy Metal" was their religion At a local level, 2011 Census data showed 587 people in Somerset West and Taunton wrote in Jedi as their religion Imitating the most optimistic national scenario – where 1,599 people identified as a Jedi – it would mean the estimated number of Jedi Knights in the area fell to just five people in 2021 While the trend of identifying as a Jedi began in the 2001 Census as a joke for many there are others who believe in the philosophy even sought charitable status in the UK in 2015 the Charity Commission ruled it did not meet the criteria under UK charity law The commission said in its report that Jediism lacked the "necessary spiritual or non-secular element" Despite the census figures turning to the Dark Side the Star Wars franchise is still expanding The second season of Andor on Disney+ – a critically acclaimed prequel to the movie Rogue One – has generated rave reviews since its release last month And Marvel’s eagerly awaited Star Wars comic book series will be released on May 7 and Han and show fans what happened after the Return of the Jedi With the franchise continuing to grow 48 years on from the first film there is a new hope the 2031 Census will see the return of the Jedi Tel: 01984 632731 [email protected]Follow us Further Links We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d also like to use analytics cookies so we can understand how you use our website and make improvements to your services Somerset Council is introducing wide-ranging support and improvements to bus services across the county following confirmation of a new £6 million tranche of Government funding for 2025/26 Initiatives under Somerset’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will incorporate improved services for Yeovil and Bridgwater including evening journeys continued evening services for Taunton and on-going support for vital bus routes across Somerset including in Frome In line with bus priority measures at traffic signals in Taunton similar schemes are to be rolled out in Yeovil and Bridgwater These will help buses avoid delays and should help ensure timetabled stops are more reliable Taunton’s Park and Ride fare will remain £1 for a single journey as part of the package With the end of the £1.50 fare trial in Taunton on 31 March, bus users are encouraged to check operators websites for up-to-date fares. The government’s £3 national fare initiatives continues until 31 December 2025 Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste Services, Councillor Richard Wilkins said: We are really delighted to be able to make this vital investment in bus services across Somerset reliable option is crucial to increasing bus patronage and ensuring more routes are financially viable It is also really important in terms of ensuring our transport choices are more sustainable in Somerset There will also be initiatives aimed at improving passenger information across the county Follow @TravelSomerset on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook for live travel updates Heading out on a bus journey? Visit Somerset Think Travel to plan your trip Visit our Contact us page for more information and advice on how to get in touch with one of our support teams The man found shot to death behind Bristol-Plymouth high school in Taunton has been identified Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a written statement of Falmouth was found in a construction area behind B-P early Wednesday morning Myers was transported to the Massachusetts Medical Examiner's Office pending an autopsy There is currently construction activity at B-P while a new school is being built on the campus of the existing school. There is no known connection between Myers and the school the DA's Office said in an earlier written statement Wednesday afternoon What B-P said to familiesB-P Superintendent Alexandre Magalhaes said in a written statement to B-P families Wednesday that at no time was there a threat to the safety of the school population that the school was never placed under lockdown and that school operations ran normally without disruption He further said that the Hart Street entrance was reopened for afternoon pick-up The investigation is active and ongoing by the Massachusetts State Police detectives unit assigned to the DA’s Office Taunton Police detectives and homicide prosecutors No further information will be disseminated at this time Authorities have identified a body found last weekend in Taunton Taunton police received a 911 call from pedestrians walking in the area who located the body Massachusetts Police and Taunton Police detectives responded to the scene The Bristol County DA's Office said Stovall's body was found in the water of the Mill River and showed obvious signs of decomposition Stovall was known to Taunton police in the area as someone who was homeless Somerset Council is introducing an innovative new system in Taunton to give buses priority at traffic lights and encourage more people to bus it to town Work starts on 24 March on signals along East Reach to install the new technology which will see a smart system effectively link oncoming buses with the signals and enable the lights to change and allow them through The system aims to improve travel times for passengers and help operators avoid delays It is part of Somerset’s Government-funded Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) The Council’s contractor will need to carry out some phased initial work at 3 sets of lights on East Reach between 24 March and 16 April During the day 2-way traffic will be maintained There will need to be some lane closures during the evening between 6pm and 11pm while work is undertaken under temporary lights The initial work is scheduled to take place at the following locations: The new signals will then be installed during June and July under a temporary traffic lights system specially designed to minimise disruption This system will be hugely important in terms of improving bus journey times and that includes Taunton’s excellent Park and Ride service We want buses to have priority when it comes to navigating through town so bus users can feel real benefits in taking a more sustainable travel option If you spot a problem on the road you can report it quickly and easily via the Council’s Report a problem on the road webpage The popular Reuse Shop at Priorswood Recycling Site in Taunton recently reopened with new trader Bob Bowyer running the centre on behalf of site contractor Sitting in the heart of the recycling site the shop promotes reuse by stopping items that still have life from being recycled or thrown out Residents should let the Taunton site team know when bringing reusable items to site The Reuse Shop can take and offer good quality items DVDs and sports equipment to crockery and cutlery but not electrical or gas appliances or safety related items such as those needed for working at height or head protection rather than recycling or throwing away is more environmentally friendly – reducing demand for new items and preventing valuable materials from going to the waste Councillor Richard Wilkins Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Waste said: Extending the life of the things we own helps to protect the environment We know that residents love this local offer and have been looking forward to it reopening The shop helps to conserve materials and energy while offering a bargain there are many other ways to reuse and we still encourage people to donate to charity shops and furniture reuse groups or to give items away on Freecycle or Freegle The shop is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm from 1 October to 31 March and 9am to 6pm from 1 April to 30 September It will also be open every weekend from 9am to 4pm visitors need to follow the one-way system around the site to reach it The Reuse Shop first opened in 2013 and had been closed since March 2023 following a bereavement To find the opening times and locations of all of Somerset’s 16 recycling sites, visit the Council’s recycling centre search page