Downtown Athol to be covered in scarves, hats for annual “scarf bombing”

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – For a decade or more, Ann Willhite, owner of Deja Vu Women’s Consignment in Athol, has been doing her part to ensure that local residents in need of some warmth during the winter have access to a little comfort, and this year will be no...

Slew of farm bills advancing on Beacon Hill

By SCOTT MERZBACH

A permanent disaster relief fund to assist farmers devastated by acts of nature, and providing farmers more flexibility for using their properties once they are protected in the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program, are bills the state...

Athol Town Manager hopes to bring housing projects to fruition

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – When asked about his priorities for the year ahead, Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said he’s excited for what could happen in Athol in 2024.“One of my roles, along with the Planning Department,” he continued, “is to try to cultivate projects that...

Eversource introduces Rapid Pole technology to more quickly restore power

By DOMENIC POLI

Eversource has introduced to western Massachusetts equipment that can more quickly restore power to customers in the event of a downed or damaged utility pole.Rapid Pole technology was launched in New Hampshire 13 months ago and rolled out in this...

North Quabbin Notes, Jan. 3

Friends of the Council on Aging upcoming meetingATHOL — The Friends of the Athol Council on Aging will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Athol Senior Center at 1 p.m. There will be a vote for the 2024 officers and board members and...

A Page from North Quabbin History: Green Mountain and Silas Hale

By Carla CharterMany have heard of Justin Morgan's famous horse, but the horse’s great-grandson, Green Mountain, who belonged to Silas Hale of South Royalston, was equally well known, according to Bruce Orser of West Virginia.Orser is a fan of the...

PHOTOS: Orange rings in 2024 with Starry Starry Night

Erving Selectboard approves $15.6M senior housing proposal

By LIESEL NYGARD

ERVING — The Selectboard has unanimously supported moving forward with a $15.6 million senior housing proposal from Rural Development Inc. (RDI) in hopes of completing the project by 2028.The project is composed of three separate energy-efficient...

Educators float MCAS alternatives should voters in 2024 decide to ditch the test as a graduation requirement

By EDEN MOR

Opponents of using the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test as a high school graduation requirement suggest there are better ways to measure student achievement should voters get an opportunity remove the requirement in November 2024.In...

Benefit fraud down as auditors cast wider nets

By ALISON KUZNITZ

BOSTON—Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s office identified more than $12.3 million in public benefit fraud in fiscal year 2023, representing a drop of about $1.2 million compared to her predecessor’s findings in the year prior.The auditor’s Bureau of Special...

North Quabbin Notes, Jan. 1

Petersham Selectmen office hoursPETERSHAM—Effective Jan. 2, 2024, the Petersham Board of Selectmen Office Hours are Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and Thursday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Please contact the office at...

Franklin, North Quabbin towns to receive increase in road repair funds

By BELLA LEVAVI

Franklin County and North Quabbin municipal highway departments are about to get a lot more state funding, thanks to additional allocations of what state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, dubbed the “rural factor.”The Healey-Driscoll Administration...

Town manager says Bidwell barn demolition not decided on

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – The future of the Bidwell barn – despite what appears to be unanimous support among Selectboard members for its demolition – has yet to be decided, according to Town Manage Shaun Suhoski.“I don’t know about the Historical Society,” he said,...

Athol board considers razing of Bidwell Barn

By Greg Vine

ATHOL – As discussions continue on the future of the 100-acre Bidwell property, the Selectboard looked at potentially adding housing and demolishing the Bidwell Barn.No final plan has been decided on, and a presentation is expected at the Annual Town...

Athol students recognized for art project at Riverbend School

By Greg Vine

ATHOL – Nine Athol students were recognized on Saturday for their role in adding a touch of art to the former Riverbend School.Plans call for Riverbend and the nearby former Ellen Bigelow School to be transformed over the next few years into 54 units...

Parking enforcement to resume in Athol’s downtown

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – For years, visitors to downtown Athol have been able to forego feeding the meters along Main Street – and some side streets – without fear of receiving a parking ticket, but that is about to change.Athol has been without a parking enforcement...

Athol Public Library hosts forum on heat pumps

By Greg Vine

ATHOL – A year ago, the Selectboard endorsed a proposal to establish a Municipal Decarbonization Task Force to develop a strategy to substantially reduce community-wide fossil fuel emissions over the next several decades.While the primary goal is to...

Athol Royalston Middle School Honor Roll Term 1, 2023-24

Fifth GradeGold Honor Roll:  Natalia Campion, Christopher Davis, Camden DeStefano, Arabella Florence, Colt Gallant, Maya Hamilton, Kaira Hough, Alexandra Letourneau, Luna Luna, Shania Luna, Camila Soto Melendez, Isabella Tarara, Kairi West.Silver...

Farmers faced with new challenges from climate change

By JACOB NELSON

It’s hard to throw water on a burning house while trying to rebuild it at the same time, but that’s exactly what addressing climate change requires. Rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are already changing the planet. The choice is whether or...

Sportsman’s Corner: Headed up north

By Mike RocheBack in the 60s, during my impressionable youth, the second week of November was a very special time. It was not only special to me, but to many other young men at Mahar Regional who knew that this was the start of deer hunting season in...