That sheet of pond ice may look good enough to skate on, but looks can be deceiving. That’s why dozen of members of the Fall River Fire Department took part in a two-hour ice rescue training session Monday on North Watuppa Pond to prepare themselves for when someone gets a little too adventurous on the ice and falls through.

Despite a few stumbles through his first official act as mayor, Will Flanagan calmly stood in the spotlight Monday as he asked for the city’s citizens to stand together for a better future.

Village Bicycle, a Central Village shop popular with area bicyclists, has closed. Owner James LeBelle said on the store’s Web site that it was a casualty of “the tough economy.”

Heraldnews.com will roll out a brand-new look this afternoon, when the Web site gets a facelift that truly will be more than skin deep. We hope to deliver a Web site that is easier to navigate, highlights a wider array of stories and better differentiates the unique qualities of our online and print platforms. We expect heraldnews.com to be offline for a brief period of time around 2 p.m. as we transition the site.

After more than seven years in the Mill Stores Plaza, and a lengthy run prior to that at the Durfee Union Mills, the Mill Stores is set to move to a new location in the Spindle City.

Mayor Will Flanagan was sworn in as Fall River's 39th mayor on Monday, followed by a meet and greet at Government Center.

Sparks of youth and hope filled the sixth floor at Government Center Monday afternoon.

For Vietnam veteran Paul Lariviere, his switch in support from Ray Hague to Will Flanagan after the preliminary race was an easy one.

“It’s new blood. He’s young, new ideas, and he’s sharp as a tack,” said Lariviere, one of many voicing enthusiasm about the 29-year-old lawyer and new mayor at Flanagan’s “meet and greet.”

When Hague lost and threw his backing to Flanagan, Lariviere, who was wearing his black motorcycle jacket covered with veterans insignias, said, “I talked with Flanagan from time to time during the campaign. He’s going to do a lot for veterans.”

School committee members will review an initiative that could provide much-needed grant funding for Tiverton schools.

The 2010 election season begins today, the first day candidates can take out nomination forms for the April 13 election.

While not in the spotlight held by Mayor Will Flanagan or the City Council, the six elected members of the School Committee had their brief moment at Monday’s inaugural ceremonies.

The City Council elected veteran members Joseph Camara and Linda Pereira as president and vice president at Monday’s inauguration of municipal officers.

Routine tasks like bending over to pick up a pencil or answering a knock at the door have become nearly impossible for Crystle Chase.

The affordable housing trust fund, created to help increase the town’s affordable housing stock, is taking shape. A public forum will be held at Town Hall on Thursday, Jan. 14 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The town is seeking applications for trust members.

A slightly late Christmas present arrived Tuesday, giving money back to area school districts. Gov. Deval Patrick reversed 9c cuts in transportation reimbursement to schools, putting $18 million back into an account used to pay school districts part of the cost of transporting students. Funds in that account total $40 million.

The City Council continued the 20-year tradition of accepting the maximum tax factor to reduce the residential property tax burden by an 8-1 vote following a public hearing Tuesday night.

An attempt by police to serve an arrest warrant resulted in the arrest of five people on charges of distributing narcotics.

With 32 years in the alarm business, Danco Security Systems of Fall River owner Dan Cordeiro said it was eight years before he installed an alarm in a house that hadn’t already been broken into.

While 2009 will go down as the year filled with traffic backups caused by ongoing work underneath Government Center and on the Braga Bridge, 2010 looks to be one of long-awaited openings and impending traffic relief for many SouthCoast motorists. But many won’t believe until they see it for themselves.

The administration taking office Monday is under the gun to increase sewer fees dramatically to offset a projected $3 million to $3.5 million deficit in that enterprise account, Mayor-elect Will Flanagan announced Tuesday. It could add $200 over the next six months to the average sewer user’s bill, Public Utilities Administrator Terrance Sullivan said.

With the third suspect in Sunday’s homicide still on the loose, police are turning to the public for help. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday afternoon identified Arnaldo Flores, 26, as a suspect in the shooting death of Osvaldo Gonsalez Martinez, 27, of Fall River. A photo of Flores was also released Tuesday.