Latest News
Petersham Art Center opens scratchboard exhibit
Healey signs $60.9 billion budget, vetoes $130 million
State shifting away from effort to build reserves
PHOTO: Trio of trees
Legislature gives state school funding a boost
Local officials respond to Healey infrastructure bill
$524K to fund energy-efficient upgrades at Mahar
ORANGE — Ralph C. Mahar Regional School will soon be more energy-efficient after securing $524,000 in grants.
Historic event features Petersham’s ‘Golden Age’
PETERSHAM – The historical society’s annual “History Under the Tent and Trees” series begins this Sunday with “Famous and Not So Famous People of Petersham.”
Most Read
Athol man sentenced on 14 drug, firearm charges
Local advocates seek removal of Healey provision on new nuclear facilities
Dying on one’s own terms: With state legislation gaining traction, debate continues over how — and whether — choice should shape death
$524K to fund energy-efficient upgrades at Mahar
Historic event features Petersham’s ‘Golden Age’
Sour taste as state lawmakers unpeel ‘big, beautiful bill’
Editors Picks
Athol survey calls for downtown dining
PHOTO: Beating the heat
‘Generational damage’: The fallout of cutting climate science research
UMass climate scientists reeling as Trump administration slashes funding for research
Sports
Silver finish for West: Local stars battle in Bay State Games baseball final
MALDEN — Several area high school baseball players captured the silver medal in the 2025 Bay State Games Baseball Showcase tournament at Rotondi Field at Howard Park on Wednesday. The West team fell to Central, 10-1, in the Gold Medal game, which wrapped up competition of the three-day event.
On The Ridge with Joe Judd: The red ghost of Shelburne
117th Mass. Amateur: Booska family bonds on display at GreatHorse
Matthew Johnson dominates stroke play as 117th Mass. Amateur heads to match play at GreatHorse
Bulletin Board: Franklin Tech takes down Hopkins in Franklin Tech Girls Summer Basketball LeagueOpinion
My Turn: Thoughts on motonormativity
Even though I try to ride a bicycle as often as I can, I still suffer from motonormativity. It is something very common and mostly unnoticed. Motonormativity goes by other names such as windshield bias or car-brain. In fact, the “normative” quality of it is an indication that it is an unconscious, ingrained, perspective of people living in car-driving societies.
Garth Shaneyfelt: Paying the piper
Bill Lafley: Questioning what makes American great
George Munger: Good Samaritans, all of us
Guest columnists Jennifer Core and Claire Morenon: Immigrants — the heart of our local food system
Your Daily Puzzles
An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."
A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.
Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.
Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.
Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Police Logs
Athol Police Logs, May 11 - June 9, 2025
2:01 a.m. - Male party in the lobby to speak with an officer about a cable box missing from his apartment. Male also stated he noticed the mat at his door has been moved.
Athol Police Logs, April 16 – April 26, 2025
Athol Police Logs, March 1 – March 17, 2025
Athol Police Logs: Feb. 6 – Feb. 27, 2025
Athol Police Logs Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, 2025
e-Edition
Arts & Life
Sounds Local: Shelburne Falls Porch Fest to fill village with music
There’s nothing better than strolling through the village of Shelburne Falls and taking in all the sights of this picturesque area. Now, imagine the sound of melodic guitars and sweet, soaring voices drifting through the air from the porches of nearby homes. This would transform an already enjoyable experience into something even more special.
Nature Photo Contest
Speaking of Nature: The big beautiful world —A baby nuthatch ventures out
A basic omelette: perhaps the most French of foods
Fighting back through portraiture: Greenfield exhibit raises awareness about violence against Indigenous womenObituaries
Richard T. Hamel
BARRE, MA - Richard (Dick) Hamel, 75, of Barre passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. He was born December 3, 1949 in Lawrence, MA, second son of Margaret (Connors) Hamel and Raymond Hamel. He graduated from Central Cath... remainder of obit for Richard T. Hamel
Mark S. Hurt
ORANGE, MA - Mark S. Hurt, 69, of Putnam St, died unexpectedly on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at home after being stricken ill. Born in Athol on December 2, 1955, he was the son of the late William and Phyllis (Fisher) Hurt. He is surv... remainder of obit for Mark S. Hurt
Marina C. Cegiel
Marina C. (Duguay) Cegiel ATHOL, MA - Marina C. (Duguay) Cegiel, 78, of Athol, died early Tuesday morning, July 1, 2025 at home with loved ones at her side. Born in Gardner on April 23, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Lester J. a... remainder of obit for Marina C. Cegiel
Kathleen M. Burke
Kathleen M. (Consigli) Burke ORANGE, MA - Kathleen "Kathy" Mary (Consigli) Burke passed away peacefully June 24, 2025. She was born September 20, 1945 to Joseph and Katie (Chaplin) Consigli of Medway Massachusetts. A graduate of Med... remainder of obit for Kathleen M. Burke
