News
A day on the Millers River
North Quabbin Notes, March 19
River Rat Race $10,000 fundraiserATHOL — Join the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce for the Super Raffle Drawing at the Athol American Legion 325 Pequoig Ave. on Thursday, March 21. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets will be $100 and available at the door...
Orange to ask residents for $1M loan for water tower
By DOMENIC POLI
ORANGE — The Selectboard intends to add to the Annual Town Meeting warrant an article asking to borrow $1 million to subsidize a water tower needed at the Orange Industrial Park.The engineering firm Weston & Sampson has designed a potable water...
Athol to take title on 96 properties
By MAX BOWEN
ATHOL — Following a March 1 legal notice, the town will proceed with placing 96 properties in tax title for unpaid taxes, according to Treasurer/Tax Collector Patrick McIntyre.The sizable number of properties in arrears account for the last two years,...
Athol begins master plan updates
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – The town’s newly-formed Master Plan Committee has started work on portions of Athol’s existing master plan, last updated in 2015. To aid in that effort, the committee has developed a survey seeking resident input on topics ranging from...
PHOTOS: Science Heroes program at Athol Library
A Page From North Quabbin History: Doctors in the family
By Carla CharterThe Dufault family has had three generations of doctors, all of whom have been graduates from Tufts University. This family of doctors had their beginnings in Athol.Dr. Paul F. Dufault of Worcester, an internist, said his grandfather,...
Senate gives House more runway for early ed bill
By SAM DRYSDALE
BOSTON — More Massachusetts families would become eligible for subsidized child care and “transformational” grants that kept the early education system afloat during the pandemic would be made permanent, under a bill the Senate unanimously passed on...
Streak of hardships plague valley farmers
By CHRIS LARABEE
Farming is already a tough field to make one’s living. Throw in three consecutive years of extreme weather and personal burnout and you’ve got a recipe for what is shaping up to another difficult year for valley farmers, as they prepare their fields...
Beacon Hill criticized for lack of transparency during Sunshine Week
By COLIN A. YOUNG
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote in 1913 that “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants,” and Bay Staters on both ends of the political spectrum agreed this week that Beacon Hill could stand to open the curtains quite a bit...
New faces eye Selectboard seats in Petersham Town Election
By GREG VINE
PETERSHAM – While there won’t be any heated contests or controversial ballot questions, Monday’s annual Town Election in Petersham does feature two political newcomers seeking office for the first time. Joshua Cayea is the sole candidate for a...
Sen. Comerford talks health care legislation with region’s physicians
By LIESEL NYGARD
SOUTH DEERFIELD — Before a room filled with local health care professionals, state Sen. Jo Comerford shared details about legislation she’s filed this session in hopes of bolstering the health care system to “do well by” those physicians and, in turn,...
Athol Police Logs: Feb. 29 to March 8
ATHOL POLICE LOGSFeb. 29 - March 8Thursday Feb. 293:49 p.m. - Caller from Lindsay Lane would like to speak to an officer about someone possibly living in their back yard.Friday, March 111:59 a.m. - Two-car motor vehicle accident at South Main Street...
Former Selectman says residents asked him to run again
By GREG VINE
ROYALSTON—In 2003, Royalston resident Gary Winitzer won a special election to fill an unexpected vacancy on the Selectboard—in 2005, he was defeated in a bid for a three-year term.Since then, he has run for the Selectboard several times without...
Public comment sought on responsible clean energy development
By DOMENIC POLI
By DOMENIC POLIStaff WriterResidents have until Friday to submit their input regarding the process by which clean energy projects are permitted in Massachusetts.An online survey is soliciting public comment on how the state should protect health,...
Sportsman’s Corner: Mahar Fish’N Game Club Game Supper
By Mike RocheLast Saturday night, the Mahar Regional School Cafeteria had a full house, and no one left disappointed or hungry. That crowd included three generations of club members who look forward to the annual gathering of local people who enjoy...
Healey: State pardoning all pot possession convictions
By SAM DORAN
BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey’s plan to pardon all misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions will impact hundreds of thousands of people, she told a crowd at the Grand Staircase on Wednesday, and represents “the most sweeping cannabis pardon ever...
Paddles visits Trailhead, Corner Cafe in Orange
UMass plans to triple early college slots for high schoolers around state
By JAMES PENTLAND
AMHERST — UMass plans to triple early college enrollment over the next five years, giving 2,000 high school students a head start on their college education, university President Marty Meehan said Tuesday in his annual “state of the university”...
Consumers, hospitals lose ground as total spending increased 5.8%
By COLIN A. YOUNG
As policymakers this week examine a law meant to keep health care cost growth within sustainable bounds, a new report makes clear that the health care sector has a double-sided problem – the cost of care is pushing it out of reach for many...