News
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...
Committee forms to oppose psychedelics push in Mass
By CHRIS LISINSKI
A new campaign chaired by a Massachusetts General Hospital surgeon will oppose a potential ballot question seeking to decriminalize some psychedelic substances.After coming together “reasonably quickly” in the past week, as spokesperson Chris Keohan...
Change in federal drug classification could help cannabis shops
By JAMES PENTLAND
In the wake of the Justice Department’s proposal to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug, dispensary owners say the change would help their business, especially on taxes.“The immediate impact would be for the government to treat us like other...
Battery storage bylaw passes in Wendell
By DOMENIC POLI
WENDELL — Town Hall was packed Wednesday night with 102 registered voters eager to have their voices heard on a bylaw regulating battery energy storage systems, which was overwhelmingly approved. The Special Town Meeting warrant article was proposed...
Debt-burdened UMass students, grads rally for relief
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Responsible for $135,000 in student debt, Amherst resident Ian Rhodewalt observes that during the yearslong federal pause in making loan repayments during the pandemic, he and his family were able to get a vehicle, replace a broken-down car...
Providers, families seek legislative urgency to support ALS treatment
By ALISON KUZNITZ
Nearly 10 years after the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge spurred global awareness about the neurodegenerative disease, patients and doctors on Thursday stressed the need for additional funding from Beacon Hill as they touted promising treatments under...
1989 homicide victim found in Warwick ID’d through genetic testing, but some mysteries remain
By DOMENIC POLI
WARWICK — It took nearly 35 years, but the human remains found just off Route 78 in Warwick in 1989 have been identified as belonging to Constance (Holminski) Bassignani, who was 65 years old at the time of her murder.The Northwestern District...
Upon review, panel not behind any ballot questions
By CHRIS LISINSKI
The next phase in the fight over half a dozen major and pressing policy proposals kicked off Wednesday with a common feature on Beacon Hill: lawmakers recommending that the Legislature not to take action.A special committee tasked with overseeing the...
Sportsman’s Corner: Orange Gun Club’s Kids Derby
By Mike RocheThe Orange Gun Club is inviting everyone up to age 14 to participate in the club’s annual Kids Fishing Derby. Located off West River Street in Orange, this is the oldest gun club in Massachusetts and they hold an outstanding event for...
DA to announce breakthrough in 1989 unsolved homicide
GREENFIELD – Authorities have scheduled for Thursday morning a press conference to announce a major breakthrough in the effort to identify human remains found in Warwick in 1989.Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, First Assistant...
Royalston Selectboard backs Town Meeting warrant
By GREG VINE
ROYALSTON – The Selectboard Tuesday night closed the warrant for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting and have recommended passage of all 30 articles. The town’s Finance Advisory Committee will decide which articles it will support at its meeting tonight...
Earl Sweat seeks seat on Phillipston Selectboard
By GREG VINE
PHILLIPSTON – Earl Sweat, a member of the Board of Assessors, has thrown his hat into the ring for a one-year term on the Selectboard.He joins fellow resident Nicole Gough in the contest to serve out the remaining year of former board member Dan...
Lobby push aims to propel doggie day care standards
By SAM DORAN
BOSTON — Animal advocates from around the state focused their annual lobbying push Tuesday on bills calling for safety standards in the doggie day care industry, banning the use of big animals in circuses, and pushing back against dog breed...
Orange Selectboard declares armory as surplus property
By DOMENIC POLI
ORANGE — The Selectboard has voted to designate the Orange Armory as surplus property, the first step for the town in ridding itself of the 111-year-old structure.The armory, located at 135 East Main St., has fallen into disrepair. The Selectboard...
Court rulings may force action on home equity theft
By SAM DORAN
BOSTON — After a state judge ruled this month that Massachusetts law governing municipal home equity takings “requires Legislative correction,” a state senator who has filed a related bill for years said Monday that he is ready to start demanding roll...
Partnership hopes to address Lake Ellis stormwater runoff
By GREG VINE
ATHOL – Steps are being taken to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that makes its way into Lake Ellis.Planning and Development Director Eric Smith told members of the Lake Ellis Watershed Management Partnership that the town plans to apply for a...
Pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampment at UMass flagship, joining growing national movement
By ALEXA LEWIS
AMHERST — Student protesters at the University of Massachusetts began pitching tents near the W.E.B. DuBois Library Monday morning in solidarity with Palestinians, following the example of many of their peers at campuses across the country who have...
Franklin Tech student welds ‘artistic’ bench for French King Bridge
By LIESEL NYGARD
ERVING — Drawing inspiration from the French King Bridge, Franklin County Technical School senior Laynie Coates, 17, put her welding skills to the test.The result, a green bench with lettering that says “Gateway to the Mohawk Trail” and a bridge-like...
