Latest News
Anthony Brighenti, longtime Athol public servant, dies at 80
Royalston holds Memorial Day ceremony recognizing those who served
Rising costs push small businesses to closure as they demand sweeping reforms from legislators
Farmers eye ‘forever chemical’ legislation
Guard Chief: Constitution binds us ‘no matter how crazy things may get’
Audit knocks use of no-bid contracts in family shelter crisis
Anthony Brighenti, longtime Athol public servant, dies at 80
ATHOL – Anthony A. Brighenti, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and retired state Environmental Police officer who served many years on the Athol Selectboard and School Committee, died earlier this month. He was 80.
Athol, Phillipston, work to determine future for Bates Powers Dam
ATHOL – The towns of Athol and Phillipston are continuing to explore options for what to do with the Bates Powers Dam
Most Read
Winchendon Musical Festival returns for 10th year
Anthony Brighenti, longtime Athol public servant, dies at 80
‘It was as if an asteroid hit’: $6M federal grant terminated for UMass energy transition program, leaving researchers in limbo
Athol, Phillipston, work to determine future for Bates Powers Dam
Royalston Policing Committee recommends override to fund full-time police officers
Orange residents seek school budget cuts to relieve town’s financial stress
Editors Picks
‘It was as if an asteroid hit’: $6M federal grant terminated for UMass energy transition program, leaving researchers in limbo
Photo: Making Connections
North Quabbin Notes, May 14
State plans to close all hotel, motel shelters this summer
Sports
Bulletin Board: Barb Killeen leads way in Tuesday Women’s League at CCG
Barb Killeen finished with the top point quota of plus-five in the Tuesday Women’s League at Country Club of Greenfield this week.
WMass Finals Preview: Greenfield and Pioneer seek baseball titles, Greenfield, Franklin Tech, Turners softball reach championship game
Class C baseball: Top-seeded Drury uses 10-run inning to rally past Athol, advance to play Greenfield in sectional final
HS Roundup: Greenfield baseball, Franklin Tech and Turners softball punch tickets to WMass title games
HS Roundup: Greenfield softball, Pioneer baseball reach Western Mass. championship gamesOpinion
My Turn: Southerners, not Democrats
In his May 21 letter (“Reparations? Let the Democratic National Committee pony up!”), writer Norman Schell makes the mistake of equating slavery to the Democratic Party, alone. I believe he is confusing political parties with the divide between northern states and slave-owning southern states before and after the Civil War. Here’s some history.
My Turn: Menopause bill a vital investment in the health and well-being of women
Joe Kurland: Slavery and the dance of Republicans and Democrats
Deb Friedman: State commission’s interpretation of antisemitism shows bias
My Turn: Big money and government
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, April 16 – April 26, 2025
10:45 a.m. - Report of a party going through a company’s mail. Made contact with the male party who stated he was checking for his own mail. Male party was located in his Mercedes in the back of the building. Party left the property shortly after.
Athol Police Logs, March 1 – March 17, 2025
Athol Police Logs: Feb. 6 – Feb. 27, 2025
Athol Police Logs Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, 2025
Orange Police Logs: Dec. 31, 2024 to Jan. 10, 2025
e-Edition
Arts & Life
Speaking of Nature: A great time to be a red eft: Part two in the three-part life cycle of the Eastern spotted newt
It has been a long, wet, raw month of May and my outdoor time has been curtailed by rotten weather on the weekends. So, it was with the utmost enthusiasm that I capitalized on a rare rain-free Saturday morning to get down to the Thinking Chair and commune with Nature just a bit. The chickadees (at least one of them) were ready to resume the practice of landing on my hat for some treats and I was very happy about that. I was also keen to see what was going on deeper in the forest, so after an hour of quiet observation time I got up out of my chair and headed into the woods.
‘To Stir, with Love’: Cooking asparagus risotto is a combination of chemistry and magic
‘Irving Berlin’s View of the East River’ films in western Mass: Behind the scenes of an indie film set in the Valley
‘When women encourage other women to empower themselves’: Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club celebrated 100th anniversary
Let’s Talk Relationships: Listening well is a relationship superpower: Advice for building better communicationObituaries
Anthony Albert Brighenti
Athol, MA - Anthony Albert Brighenti, affectionately known as Tony, Dad and Pa, was born on January 21, 1945, in Athol, MA, passed away on May 15, 2025. A reliable pillar of his community, Anthony spent much of his time and energy in se... remainder of obit for Anthony Albert Brighenti
John Donbrowo
New Bern, NC - John Joseph Donbrowo, 84, passed away on May 9, 2025. Born in Massachusetts, on May 31, 1940, he was the son of the late Joseph and Ida Donbrowo. A 1958 graduate of Athol High School, John went on to earn a certificat... remainder of obit for John Donbrowo
Janet R. Bartlett
Janet R. (Day) Bartlett ORANGE, MA - Janet R. (Day) Bartlett, 92, died Monday evening, May 5, 2025, at Athol Hospital, just three days before her 93rd birthday. Born in Athol on May 8, 1932, she was the daughter of Herbert W. and Eva M.... remainder of obit for Janet R. Bartlett
Kenton F. Tharp
ORANGE, MA - Kenton Franklin Tharp, age 76, died May 6 at his home in Orange, MA. He was born in Grant, Nebraska to Charles and Gladys (Kent) Tharp. He worked with his father to custom bale hay and with his mother and sisters in the fam... remainder of obit for Kenton F. Tharp
