Celebration planned for Athol’s Silver Lake Park

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – Next week, members of a working group established by the Open Space and Recreation Commission will meet to start planning a celebration of Silver Lake Park, one of the town’s best-loved amenities.

Legislative audit push marked by legal maneuvering

By ALISON KUZNITZ

With the House gearing up for a potential legal battle over Question 1, Auditor Diana DiZoglio is trying to attach new urgency to her monthslong request that Attorney General Andrea Campbell intervene or allow her to seek outside counsel.

Ice dangers: A week after dog lost in Northampton, safety officials urge caution while ice fanatic preaches ‘common sense’

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — Frozen lakes and ponds invite enchanted winter sports enthusiasts outside for classic wintertime festivities. But despite the fun, a fact remains: ice is a potential danger.

Athol Police, Fire discuss capital requests for vehicles and equipment

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – The Capital Program Committee (CPC) Wednesday night began its annual series of meetings with department heads to consider capital spending priorities for the approaching fiscal year.

Sportsman’s Corner: The facts on glass

By Mike Roche

Suspects in death of NH woman found in Warwick held without bail

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

KEENE, N.H. — Two defendants were held without bail Wednesday afternoon on a variety of charges, including human trafficking, in connection with the death of Justina Steffy, the 31-year-old New Hampshire woman whose body was found in Warwick in October after she went missing weeks earlier.

Cleanup of Wendell train derailment expected to take up to two weeks

By DOMENIC POLI

WENDELL – Cleanup has begun at the site of a freight train derailment that sent 15 railroad cars carrying non-hazardous merchandise off the track Tuesday afternoon.

Athol boards wary of new high school plan

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – Members of the Selectboard, Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee, and Capital Program Committee met Tuesday night to discuss the possibility of constructing a new Athol High School.

Greenfield Community College expands associate degree options with new majors

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College opened four new associate degree majors this academic year, allowing students to enroll in programs such as environmental conservation and human services.

Nonprofits see threat in Healey plan to implement tax deduction cap for charitable donations

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — As nonprofits across Massachusetts face uncertainty over the future of federal funding, some are also expressing concern over a proposal from Gov. Maura Healey that they fear could further strain their budgets.

Freight train derails in Wendell, knocking 15 cars off tracks

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

WENDELL — No injuries were reported after a freight train carrying merchandise derailed in Wendell Tuesday afternoon, knocking 15 railroad cars off the track, according to Wendell Fire Chief Joe Cuneo.

Two to face charges in death of NH woman found in Warwick

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

WARWICK — Police in Keene, New Hampshire, have arrested two individuals on a variety of charges, including human trafficking, in connection with the death of Justina Steffy, the 31-year-old New Hampshire woman whose body was found in Warwick in October after she went missing weeks earlier.

North Quabbin Notes, Feb. 11

PETERSHAM – The Petersham Lions Club in partnership with the Montachusett Regional Technological High School in Fitchburg sponsored a blood drive with Massachusetts General Hospital Bloodmobile on Jan. 25. Fifty units of blood were collected.

State officials visit Athol High to talk free, affordable college

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – On Monday morning, state Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler and Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega visited Athol High School to meet with students to raise awareness of free and affordable college in Massachusetts.

Layoffs loom at Cooley Dickinson as parent Mass General Brigham seeks to close large budget gap

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Mass General Brigham announced large-scale layoffs across its entire hospital system on Monday, a move that is likely to affect Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.

By-right accessory dwellings now allowed in communities statewide

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON — Accessory dwelling units are now allowed by right in single-family zoning districts across most of Massachusetts, under a law Gov. Maura Healey signed in August. The rule went into effect on Sunday.

Coffee pros: Price squeeze a grind

By DOMENIC POLI

Don’t talk to the American people until they’ve had their coffee.

Leyden, Phillipston honored for top-notch annual reports

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

Two Franklin county and North Quabbin towns have received awards from the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) for their annual town reports. Leyden and Phillipston earned second and third place, respectively, for their 2023 reports. 

Athol Royalston Middle School Honor Roll Term 2

Fifth Grade Gold Honor Roll – Olivia Bishop, Kyla Godette, Nehomi Morales Rodas, Luis Ortiz, Brady Smart, Myles Smith, Aubrey Sumner, Laurence Watson and Tyler While.

Western Mass legislators pan study of ways towns could tap Quabbin water

By SCOTT MERZBACH

A preliminary report showing how the 12 communities in the Quabbin Reservoir watershed might be able to get potable water from the resource falls short of a comprehensive study being sought by legislators representing the Quabbin region.