News
Further review needed for Gardner landfill expansion
By Greg Vine
ATHOL – A decision handed down last week by Rebecca Tepper, the state’s new Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, is being applauded by the coalition fighting expansion of the wastewater sludge landfill in Gardner. An Environmental...
‘Death with dignity’ push continues: Lawmakers and supporters continue to advocate for medically assisted dying
By SYDNEY KO
BOSTON — Fifteen years ago, Bev Baccelli was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. After treatment at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and Tufts Medical Center, Baccelli continues with her day-to-day life. Yet, over that...
North Quabbin Notebook, Feb. 20
Zackery Aldrich Makes Curry College Fall 2022 Dean’s ListMILTON — Curry College congratulates Zackery Aldrich of Royalston, who was named to the Fall 2022 Dean’s List.Curry College, founded in Boston in 1879, is a private, co-educational, liberal...
Former ed chief sees risks as fed funds wind down
By COLIN A. YOUNG
School districts could be facing a fiscal cliff when pandemic-era federal funds start to run out and “are either going to need to develop those wings or prepare for a pretty significant fiscal crash,” former Education Secretary James Peyser said...
UMass astronomers help bring to life Webb telescope’s latest images of deep space
By JAMES PENTLAND
AMHERST — Astronomers from the University of Massachusetts played a key role in revealing the latest deep-field image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, including some of the universe’s most distant galaxies. “With these pictures, we’re looking...
Healey: Tax package coming with budget on March 1
By CHRIS LISINSKI
-The Healey administration is “putting the final touches” on tax legislation with a plan to roll it out alongside the annual state budget bill due March 1, Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday.In a live radio interview that also touched on the nascent...
Montague’s Clean Water Facility poised to take in sludge from neighboring towns
By JULIAN MENDOZA
MONTAGUE — With the acquisition of a new 21,000-gallon storage tank, Montague’s Clean Water Facility is now positioned to be the area’s hub for sludge processing.Installation of the new “frac tank,” which was announced by Wastewater Superintendent...
Multicultural Day at Athol High School features dance party, arts and cooking classes
By GREG VINE
ATHOL — By all accounts, Athol High School’s Multicultural Day was a resounding success. The event, meant to highlight the diversity among the high school’s student body and promote acceptance and understanding among people of different backgrounds...
Five face charges in Feb. 1 assault, kidnapping incident in Athol
Staff Reports
ATHOL – Five people are scheduled for arraignment in Orange District Court Friday in connection with a violent assault in which two people were held against their will for four hours in a house in Athol, according to the Northwestern Assistant...
$30K to support loans, trainings for business startups
By DOMENIC POLI
GREENFIELD — Thanks to $30,000 from the federal Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program, the Franklin County Community Development Corporation will provide microloans and trainings to business startups, federal officials announced Tuesday.U.S. Rep....
Sportsman’s Corner: Deer harvest record and hide tanning workshop
By Mike RocheThis week’s column is all about deer as MassWildlife has released preliminary harvest totals and 2022 produced the highest deer harvest ever, by a huge margin! But before we get into the details of the record-setting hunting season, there...
North Quabbin Notes, Feb. 17
Author of “Dirtbag, Massachusetts” to speak at Athol LibraryATHOL — The Athol Public Library, together with a coalition of 20 Massachusetts libraries, is hosting an online event with Isaac Fitzgerald, author of “Dirtbag, Massachusetts,” on March 7...
Athol’s Mount Grace reaches fundraising goal after two decades
By Greg Vine
PHILLIPSTON – On Feb. 15, the Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust celebrated the completion of the Land Forever Campaign, a years-long effort that raised over $3.5 million for the creation of an endowment to support land conservation in central and...
Rabies clinic for cats and dogsPETERSHAM—A rabies clinic organized by the Board of Health will be held on Sunday, Feb. 19, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at 31 South St. Pre-registration is suggested and walk-ins are welcome. A registration form can be picked...
Athol school renovation plan extended
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – The Board of Planning and Community Development approved a two-year extension of the site plan approval given to NewVue Affordable Housing Corporation for part of its plan to convert the former Bigelow and Riverbend schools into housing. Board...
Muni officials appeal for remote meeting extension
By Sam Drysdale
The state needs to take action to make remote participation in town meetings permanent, according to the president of the Local Government Advisory Commission.In Lexington, where LGAC President Jill Hai is a select board member, representatives at...
The perfect pigeon perch
Orange man gets 10 years for child sex crimes
By DOMENIC POLI
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A resident of Orange, who engaged in online communication—often of a sexual nature — with someone he believed to be a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, having admitted to also traveling to Rhode...
Athol students learn about fire safety
North Quabbin Notes, Feb. 14
Energy Assistance availableATHOL—For residents of Athol needing assistance with heating fuel, the town has provided funds to help with electric heat, oil, propane, and kerosene. Resients can call 978-249-8111 to find out if they qualify. Those who...
