Latest News




UMass climate scientists reeling as Trump administration slashes funding for research
AMHERST — Graduate student Josie Pilchik’s career plans dissolved with just one email.

Athol survey calls for downtown dining
ATHOL – A recent survey of the community shows that Athol residents want to expand on the existing dining options downtown.
Sports

Bulletin Board: Kajka, Magic take down Defenders in summer softball action
Emily Kajka struck out seven and didn’t allow a hit in three innings work in the circle for the Magic, which scored 10 runs in the first to take down the Defenders, 16-1, in five innings during a Franklin County Summer Softball League Contest Wednesday at Murphy Park.

Opinion

My Turn: Troubled waters
One of the treasures of the Connecticut River, as we learned there are many, is Annette Spaulding, master diver and water world explorer. Affectionately known to Connecticut River Defenders as the “little mermaid” of especially this heritage river, as designated in 1998.





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.




Arts & Life

Sounds Local: West coast sound comes to western Mass: Singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff plays the Shea Theater this Friday
In the 1970s, the California sound played a significant role in shaping mainstream music. Back then, you couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing a song by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Jackson Browne, or Linda Ronstadt.
Obituaries

Helen L. (Hitchcock) Andrzejczyk ORANGE, MA - Helen L. (Hitchcock) Andrzejczyk, 97, of Main Street, died peacefully at hom on June 24, 2025. Born in North Orange on November 21, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Geddis and Irma (Mo... remainder of obit for Helen L. Andrzejczyk

Marilyn L. (Goodwin) Cummings ATHOL, MA - Marilyn L. (Goodwin) Cummings, 88, of Harvard Avenue, died early Saturday morning, June 21, 2025 at Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol. Born in Lunenburg on August 27, 1936, she was the daughter... remainder of obit for Marilyn L. Cummings

GREENFIELD, MA - Gerald R. Carey, Jr. passed away on June 12th with family at his side. He was the son of the late Gerald Sr. and Charlotte Carey. He will be greatly missed by his family. He leaves his sons Jim (Kate) and Jerry (Ale... remainder of obit for Gerald R. Carey Jr.

ATHOL, MA - Paul B. Meuse passed away peacefully on June 12, 2025, at the age of 92, at Alliance Health of Baldwinville, in Baldwinville, MA He leaves behind his children, William P. Meuse and his wife Karen, Rosemarie Mallette and her... remainder of obit for Paul B. Meuse