Health care chief forecasts “choppy summer” for MassHealth members

By Alison Kuznitz

BOSTON—Residents are in for a “very choppy summer” as the state’s massive redetermination effort to gauge eligibility for 2.4 million MassHealth members unfolds, Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh said Thursday.“People are going to show up...

Peter Pouncey, who led Amherst College from 1984 to 1994, dies at 85

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Peter Pouncey, Amherst College’s 16th president, who led the college from 1984 to 1994, died on May 30 at 85, according to the college.Pouncey’s tenure began at a time of unrest and transition, following the unexpected death of President...

Winchendon Town Manager search underway

By Max Bowen

WINCHENDON—Officials have begun the search for the community’s next town manager.In early May, the Middleton Select Board approved a contract with Winchendon Town Manager Justin Sultzbach to be its next town administrator. His first day in Middleton...

UMass economist co-authors study that finds hormone therapy may cut trans youths’ suicide risk

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Even as a number of states have moved to prohibit gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors through legislation and policy changes, a University of Massachusetts economist has co-authored a just-released report showing that...

Saunders tours Wendell Historical Society’s potential home

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL – The Democrat representing the 7th Hampden District in the state House of Representatives toured the proposed home of the newly-official Wendell Historical Society on Friday afternoon, as the end nears for the crowdfunding campaign set up to...

MassHire Franklin Hampshire on Munson St.

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD – MassHire Franklin Hampshire is settling into its new digs, having moved from Arch Place to the Greenfield Corporate Center at the end of May.The quasi-governmental agency connecting workers with employers opened to customers at 101 Munson...

A Page From North Quabbin History: Birch Hill and Tully Lake dams

By Carla CharterThe Millers River meanders through the Quabbin area. It is used for canoeing, kayaking and is at the heart of the Athol River Rat Race. Prior to the building of the Birch Hill and Tully dams, however, the river had a wilder side which...

HPC: Mass. seeing billions in ‘excessive’ health care spending

By Chris Lisinski

BOSTON — Massachusetts regulators delivered one of their most forceful warnings yet that health care prices are spiraling out of control, ramping up the pressure on lawmakers who have been unable to wrangle the trend and fulfill a consensus vision of...

Athol Fire Department staffing on Town Meeting agenda

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – An article to allocate nearly $900,000 to hire several firefighters is expected to generate the most discussion at Town Meeting.Athol’s Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, June 12, at 7 p.m. in Memorial Hall at Town Hall, 584 Main St....

North Quabbin Notes, June 9

Athol Democrats elect delegates to state conventionATHOL — Athol Democrats met for a Caucus on Saturday, June 3, to elect delegates to the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention, which will be held Sept. 23 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.The three...

Sportsman’s Corner: Deerfield River browns are wild

By Mike RocheYou may remember a reference a few years ago to a brown trout study in the Deerfield River which was chronicled in this space. At the time, MassWildlife biologists were beginning to look at population dynamics of the Deerfield River....

Financial matters to be decided at Royalston Town Meeting

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – At this Saturday’s Annual Town Meeting, voters will determine whether funding for a number of different purposes gets approved.Town Meeting takes place on Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. in the second-floor auditorium at Town Hall, 13 On the...

Stalled road funding bill takes off-ramp

By CHRIS LISINSKI

Lawmakers have been unable to reach informal agreement on an annual local road and bridge funding bill for more than two months, and now they’ll ask a formal negotiating team to try and unjam the process.The House and Senate on Thursday created a...

Doors open on transit authority’s new maintenance, operations facility in Turners Falls

By DOMENIC POLI

TURNERS FALLS — The state transportation secretary was on hand Wednesday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Franklin Regional Transit Authority’s new maintenance and operations facility, a project that has been years in the making.Gina...

Officials voice concerns over Whitney Hall in Royalston

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – Keen Independent Research, the company hired by the town to do a feasibility study for the marketing of Whitney Hall, will host several meetings to get resident feedback.The first public meeting will be Monday, June 12, from 6:30-8:30 p.m....

State formalizing forestry role in emissions fight

By COLIN A. YOUNG

The Healey administration moved Wednesday to draft the state’s forests into the effort to address climate change, announcing a new initiative to invest in conservation, develop updated guidelines for state lands, and provide incentives for landowners...

Smok’in Irons Tattoo receives sponsorship from ink, supply distributor

By MAX BOWEN

ORANGE — Better than a five-star review, a local tattoo studio has gotten the nod from a longtime supplier and friend.Connecticut-based Tommy’s Supplies has become an official sponsor for Smok’in Irons Tattoo & Art Studio in Orange. Tommy’s Supplies,...

CEO leaves Heywood Hospital

By MAX BOWEN

Heywood Hospital has announced a change in leadership, which includes the president and CEO leaving and a new, “untraditional” leadership structure.According to an announcement sent on June 6, President and CEO Win Brown has left Heywood Healthcare...

North Quabbin Notes, June 7

Athol and Orange daytime paving operations on Route 2 westboundATHOL/ORANGE — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will be conducting daytime paving operations on Route 2 westbound in Athol and Orange. This work will take place on...

Petersham Town Meeting postponed after failing to meet quroum

By GREG VINE

PETERSHAM – For the first time in recent memory, Petersham was unable to proceed with Monday night’s Annual Town Meeting due to a lack of a quorum.The town, according to Town Moderator Bart Wendell, has one of the highest – if not the highest – quorum...