Guard Chief: Constitution binds us ‘no matter how crazy things may get’

By ELLA ADAMS

BOSTON – To the tune of the 215th Army Band, families of Massachusetts veterans who lost their lives during or as a result of service gathered with state leaders last week in anticipation of Memorial Day and in recognition of their loved ones’ sacrifices.

Photo: North QuabbinFood-A-Thon celebrates 22 years

Winchendon Musical Festival returns for 10th year

By GREG VINE

WINCHENDON — The Winchendon Musical Festival will celebrate its tenth year with a bit of a change in format for 2025. While still offering a broad array of musical offerings, the WMF will take place over the course of several months, rather than being squeezed into the span of two or three weeks.

Orange Farmers Market back at Butterfield Park

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The Orange Farmers Market is back at its former home, Butterfield Park.

Orange residents seek school budget cuts to relieve town’s financial stress

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — The struggle to finalize a Ralph C. Mahar Regional School budget for fiscal year 2026 has spilled into Wendell, where Orange residents and school officials spoke at a Selectboard meeting to advocate for what they want the budget to reflect.

Audit knocks use of no-bid contracts in family shelter crisis

By MICHAEL P. NORTON

No-bid emergency food and transportation service procurements followed a failure by state officials to assess and react to a spike in demand for shelter services, according audit results released Tuesday.

Note to readers

The Athol Daily News will not publish a print edition on Memorial Day but news will be updated online at atholdailynews.com and customer service will be available from 7 to 10 a.m. at (413) 586-1925.

MassWildlife honors brothers from Petersham as outstanding youth anglers

By HANNAH MORIN

MassWildlife has concluded its 2024 Freshwater Sportfishing Awards Program, recognizing anglers across Massachusetts for their accomplishments in freshwater fishing.

Sportsman’s Corner: Honoring veterans and a trip to Maine

By MIKE ROCHE

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day events around the North Quabbin region

ATHOL – Plans are set for this year’s Memorial Day parade in Athol. Brief ceremonies will be held at 8:15 a.m. at Vietnam Veterans of America Park on Main Street, across from the Athol Fire Station. That will be followed by ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. at Phillips Park on the Uptown Common and VFW Park, near the Athol Area YMCA, respectively.

Advocates warn ‘walking wounded’ threatened by cuts

By ELLA ADAMS

Representing their experiences living through the child welfare system, a multi-generational ensemble of performers took center stage Wednesday at the State House as service providers and child welfare advocates called on the state to support key programs.

Winchendon voters back $1.9 million override at Town Meeting

By GREG VINE

WINCHENDON — At their annual Town Meeting on Monday, voters in Winchendon voted overwhelmingly to support a $1.9 million Proposition 2½ override. The margin, 61% to 39%, was a bit of a surprise given that the override passed at the May 5 town election by a mere 12 votes out 1,780 cast. A total of 815 registered voters showed up for the Town Meeting.

PHOTO: Windy day on the water in Warwick

Franklin County librarians detail modern-day challenges

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

GREENFIELD — Library directors from the area gathered on Monday to tell their stories on what it means to be a librarian in 2025.

How Trump’s tariff proposals could hit Massachusetts’ biotech industry

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Rep. Saunders hears concerns about ICE deportations, health care in virtual town hall

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL — Residents voiced concerns about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehensions and deportations, and support for a Medicare-for-All system and land conservation, during a town hall-style meeting with the Democrat representing the 7th Hampden District on Monday afternoon.

State board agrees on vocational school admissions reforms

By SAM DRYSDALE

Career technical schools in Massachusetts will use a lottery system to admit students when there are more applicants than available seats, an approach that supporters say will ensure fairness and critics warn will water down education standards.

Fourth Friday events return to downtown Athol

By GREG VINE

ATHOL — This Friday marks the return of the annual series of Fourth Friday promotions in downtown Athol. The event, which runs from 4 to 7 p.m. is held in hopes of encouraging residents and visitors to check out the many offerings available at businesses along Main Street. As a result, Main Street will be closed to traffic between School and Exchange streets to allow pedestrians to amble safely from business to business. A number of vendors also will be on hand.

State plans to close all hotel, motel shelters this summer

By SAM DRYSDALE

The state will close its remaining motel and hotel shelters this summer, Gov. Maura Healey announced Monday, as the governor and lawmakers have imposed restrictions on the emergency housing system over the past year and family enrollment has declined.

‘Spreading love and mindfulness’: Political activist Joshua Jay Dostis remembered during celebration of life

By ADA DENENFELD KELLY

WENDELL — Before his death in November, Joshua Jay Dostis, better known locally as the politically charged jester Waffles T. Clown, announced his terminal illness in a fashion typical to him, with a communal gathering at the Full Moon Coffeehouse.