American Legion turkey raffle
ATHOL – Sons of the American Legion will hold its annual turkey raffle on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at Athol American Legion Post 102, 325 Pequoig Ave. Turkeys will be awarded in every round. There will also be a door prize basket, free chowder, and a cash bar is available. Proceeds benefit the Marine Corps League Toy Drive.
National Geographic photographer at Quabbin Photo Group meeting
BELCHERTOWN – The Quabbin Photo Group will feature Massachusetts-based National Geographic photographer Russ Laman’s program “Finding the Shot: The Art and Science of Nature Photography” at its meeting on Nov. 16.
Wildlife photography often begins in chaos: unpredictable animals, shifting light and a scene with no obvious subject. In this presentation, Laman shares some of his favorite photographic projects and takes you inside the thinking behind each one: the research that set up the shot, the idea and passion that led him to pursue it, and the elements of the natural world he focused on to create a compelling image from nothing.
Featured stories will include flying drones alongside wild orangutans in Indonesia, photographing the International Space Station over the Grand Canyon, and documenting shark conservation in Indonesia.
Laman is a documentary filmmaker, wildlife photographer, and conservation scientist driven by a commitment to global conservation, using his visual storytelling to raise awareness and promote environmental stewardship. See more of Laman’s work and projects at www.russlaman.com.
The meeting will be held at the Belchertown Recreation Department, 66 State St. (behind the Belchertown Police Department) on Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. The Quabbin Photo Group welcomes photographers of all skill levels and interests, and new members and guests are always welcome.
The Quabbin Photo Group (QuabbinPhotoGroup.com) is a community of photographers based in Belchertown with a shared interest in nature, wildlife, and landscape photography, particularly within the Quabbin Reservoir region.
‘Visions of History’ exhibit at Athol Public Library
ATHOL — The Athol Public Library, located at 568 Main St, will showcase a special look into local regional history this winter through a collaborative project titled “Visions of History.”
In partnership with the Swift River Valley Historical Society, the library will host a photography exhibition throughout November and December 2026, with a lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the library’s Small + Large Program Room.
The upcoming exhibit stems from a box of late-19th and early-20th century glass plate negatives donated to the Swift River Valley Historical Society. Photographer Peter Peirce restored and reproduced these 125-plus-year-old negatives into physical photographs featured in the library display. While much of the collection has been traced back to a photographer from the Quabbin town of Enfield, most of the individuals in the portraits remain unidentified.
During the featured presentation, Peirce will discuss his restoration process, and share the challenges in trying to uncover information about the anonymous sitters. Organizers are inviting community members, genealogists, and regional families to attend the gallery and lecture to see if they can cross-reference the imagery with their own lineage records and identify their displaced ancestors.
“Visions of History” is free and open to the public, however, due to space limitations in the program room, registration is required to attend this event. Registration will officially close on the night of the lecture.
Interested members of the public can learn more by contacting the Athol Public Library directly at (978) 249-9515 or by emailing library coordinator Robin Shtulman at rshtulman@cwmars.org.
Quabbin Days Photo Contest deadline extended
BELCHERTOWN – The deadline for the first annual Quabbin Days Photo Contest has been extended to Nov. 30, and organizers have announced new prizes for the top entries in each of the four participating communities.
The top three entries from each community will be printed and featured in photography exhibits at their respective public libraries and at the Les and Terry Campbell Quabbin Visitor Center in Belchertown. Winners will also receive gift cards to local businesses.
The contest, organized in partnership with the Athol Public Library, Clapp Memorial Library in Belchertown, New Salem Public Library, and Pelham Library, is open to residents of those four communities. Photographs must be taken during October or November 2026 and may feature subjects from any of the 12 towns that make up the Quabbin Region. The submission deadline is midnight on Nov. 30.
The photo contest is designed to encourage residents to explore the Quabbin Region and capture the landscapes, wildlife, communities, history, people and everyday details that help tell the region’s story.
The contest is open to photographers of all experience levels, from those using smartphones to experienced photographers with professional equipment. The emphasis is on capturing images that reflect the character, beauty, and diversity of the Quabbin Region.
Each participating library is administering the contest for its own community, with individual rules and submission procedures. Residents interested in entering should visit the Quabbin Days Photo Contest webpage at www.QuabbinDays.org/photocontest for links to the Athol, Belchertown, New Salem, and Pelham contests, including complete rules and submission information.
