News
Sportsman’s Corner: The quest for the Super Slam
By Mike RocheIt is the middle of turkey season and for some, the pursuit of wild turkeys becomes much more than a casual hunting activity. If this writer were honest, he would look at the impact of chasing gobblers and realize that my first turkey – a...
Annual ‘Food-A-Thon’ returns
By MAX BOWEN
ATHOL— North Quabbin residents can look forward to seeing pickle jar collectors on the street and hearing the 12-hour Food-A-Thon drive on the air to help combat a growing need.The fundraiser and food collection drive, now in its 20th year, will be...
Erving Town Meeting voters back Care Drive housing project
By DOMENIC POLI
ERVING — The town is one step closer to affordable housing on Care Drive after residents voted Wednesday to authorize the Selectboard to lease, convey or otherwise dispose of the property eyed for the development.Voters at Annual Town Meeting also...
North Quabbin Notes, May 9
North Quabbin Garden ClubATHOL – On Saturday, May 18, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m, at the Millers River Environmental Center, the North Quabbin Garden Sale is holding a plant sale. The plants come from members’ gardens and many of the plants are natives. The...
$700K debt exclusion would fund repairs to Raymond Hall
By GREG VINE
ROYALSTON – A last-minute addition has been made to the warrant for Royalston’s Annual Town Meeting seeking $700,000 through a Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusion. The new article, authored by the town’s Building Committee, would pay for improvements to...
Erving voters say ‘no’ to $3.7M debt exclusion
ERVING — Monday’s election saw incumbents reelected to their roles, including Highway Superintendent Glenn McCrory, who fended off Anthony Cunha for a one-year tree warden position, as well as the rejection of a debt exclusion to pay to demolish the...
Lawyer argues Joshua Hart’s 2018 conviction for Orange murder had inconsistent verdicts
By DOMENIC POLI
GREENFIELD — Spurred by a state Supreme Judicial Court opinion that pointed to inconsistent verdicts, the Franklin County Superior Court judge who oversaw Joshua Hart’s murder trial in 2018 has taken under advisement a defense attorney’s motion to set...
More than 130 arrested at pro-Palestinian protest at UMass
By SCOTT MERZBACH
Editor’s note: This story will be updated.AMHERST — More than 130 people were arrested on the University of Massachusetts campus Tuesday night after those who set up a pro-Palestinian encampment on the South Lawn of the Student Union refused to...
Franklin County reps speak to House budget amendments
By TANISHA BHAT
Franklin County representatives got about half of what they asked for in amendments to the House version of the fiscal year 2025 state budget.After two separate votes, 11 of the 21 amendments proposed by Franklin County representatives were adopted by...
Employee pay, real estate top Erving Town Meeting warrant
By DOMENIC POLI
ERVING — Employee compensation and real estate transactions are expected to be the most discussed topics at Annual Town Meeting on Wednesday, according to Town Administrator Bryan Smith.Articles regarding private property are clumped at the end of the...
‘Arrive Alive’ shows Athol High School students the dangers of impaired driving
By MAX BOWEN
ATHOL — As the school year winds down, Athol High School students got a realistic look at the dangers of impaired driving. “Arrive Alive” showed a mock two-car crash on Monday, with five Athol High School students portraying the drivers and...
Work on Pinedale Avenue Bridge connecting Athol and Orange to resume
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – Closed for a year and a half, work on the Pinedale Avenue Bridge is set to resume next week, according to Public Works Director Dick Kilhart.Kilhart explained that work has been on hold recently as the project’s contractor, Construction...
North Quabbin Notes, May 6
Starrett hosts 14 students from a range of disciplinesATHOL – As a global company with 144 years of manufacturing experience in Athol, the Starrett company is also deeply rooted in the local communities. Over the years, the company has supported...
Rice’s Roots Farm owner plans for community involvement for land’s future
By GREG VINE
PETERSHAM – Lin Chen, the new owner of what was known locally as Rice’s Roots Farm, displays a wide smile when discussing his plans for the 228-acre site in Petersham.Doing business under the name Global Roots Farm, LLC, he hopes to serve the North...
Loan program aims to ease burden of home energy retrofits
By COLIN A. YOUNG
BOSTON – Hoping to accelerate the switch to clean energy technologies, the climate bank at MassHousing recently announced a new financing product that aims to make $20 million in loans available over the next two years to help homeowners cover the...
Community Legal Aid expands Disability Benefits Project to Franklin County
By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI
GREENFIELD — Community Legal Aid, a nonprofit that offers free civil legal support to elderly and low-income residents in western and central Massachusetts, has expanded its Disability Benefits Project into Franklin County, a change that coincides...
PHOTOS: Enchanted Orchard Renaissance Faire at Red Apple Farm
Volunteers repaint Athol gazebo for veterans memorial service
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – Several volunteers recently helped with a new paint job for the bandstand on the Uptown Common, in time for the annual “We Remember” ceremony.The gazebo was painted and decorated in preparation for the annual Athol Congregational Church event,...
Office of Travel and Tourism director tours Franklin County, looks to increase presence
By DOMENIC POLI
Looking to increase her department’s presence around the state, the executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism recently visited some of Franklin County’s tourism destinations.Kate Fox was taken on a whirlwind tour around the...
Nature lovers gather at Adams Farm for hawk watch
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – Area raptor enthusiasts have been gathering at Adams Farm in Athol since March 11 to take part in the annual hawk watch.The team leader of the event is Mark Morris of Eastern Mass Hawk Watch, who has coordinated the event in recent years with...
