Healey signs $56 billion budget, agreeing to most spending and policy

By CHRIS LISINSKI

In her most significant legislative action since taking office in January, Gov. Maura Healey on Wednesday signed into law her first annual state budget.Healey approved a $56 billion budget for fiscal year 2024 that increases spending roughly 6.2% over...

Royalston officials wrestle with old fire station’s future

By GREG VINE

ROYALSTON – The future of what is known to residents as Fire Station #1 has become a regular topic at recent Selectboard and Building Committee meetings.The relatively small structure is located next to the First Congregational Church at 15 The...

A Page From North Quabbin History: Wendell Common Then and Now

By Carla CharterIn the 1850s, Wendell Common was a bustling area, according to Pamela Richardson of the Wendell Historical Society Board of Directors.“Clearly the center was the hub of town. It was a busy place with lots going on. Today it’s quite...

McGovern’s PLANT Act would increase research, production in plant-based food industry

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Saying that now is the time to embrace the “enormous potential that plant-based foods have to strengthen our economy and our food system,” U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern has introduced a bill in Congress that aims to strengthen the American...

Healey declares state of emergency amid migrant shelter crisis; local communities put on notice that they may need to help

By SAM DRYSDALE and JAMES PENTLAND

NORTHAMPTON — A growing influx of immigrants has strained state resources and pushed the Massachusetts shelter system to the point that it is reaching capacity, Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday morning as she declared a state of emergency around the...

North Quabbin Notes, Aug. 9

Orange Community Band scholarshipsORANGE — Orange Community ended its regular summer series of concert Friday with a special Return to Hogwarts edition of its regular Memory Night, sponsored by Witty’s Funeral Home. A special feature of the final...

State-owned boat ramps reopen on Conn. River after storm-related closures

By JULIAN MENDOZA

Connecticut River boat access points in Gill and Sunderland are among the six state-owned locations that have reopened following storm-necessitated closures in July, the state Department of Fish and Game announced Monday.Gill’s Barton Cove boat launch...

Bobby C ends 40-year radio career, with plans to transition to TV

By JULIAN MENDOZA

After four decades in radio, Franklin County DJ and sports broadcaster Robert “Bobby C” Campbell is hanging up his headphones.The Turners Falls resident said his broadcast of the “monumental” rivalry softball game between Greenfield and Turners Falls...

Athol officials hope to see portion of $375M for bridge, sidewalk work

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – Last week, Gov. Maura Healey signed a $375 million spending package for bridge and road maintenance, and Athol officials are hoping to see enough funds for several projects.The bill was created by a House-Senate conference committee before...

New Salem man returns from battling Canadian wildfires

By DOMENIC POLI

NEW SALEM – Joseph Nawrocki returned from another trip to Quebec on July 22, but he had no time to visit the Quartier du Petit Champlain or stop by Notre-Dame Basilica.He was too busy helping battle the wildfires that have ravaged parts of Canada and...

Hearings continued for mixed-use project in Athol

By Greg Vine

ATHOL – In his meeting with the Board of Planning and Community Development, developer K. William Krikorian addressed concerns with parking and drainage for a mixed-use plan to replace a closed garage.The project is a proposal to transform the site of...

Former Orange Health Agent becomes new town administrator

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The town’s health agent has signed on to become the new town administrator, putting to bed a four-month saga that saw two previous candidates have their offers rescinded for undisclosed reasons.Matthew Fortier will take the reins on Aug. 21,...

Massachusetts employer confidence rises

By Chris Lisinski

Bay State businesses are feeling a summertime dash of sunshine.A monthly survey of Massachusetts employers tilted into optimistic territory in July after two months of slightly pessimistic forecasts, reflecting a humming state economy and increasing...

Researchers at UMass find anti-tumor therapy could treat Lyme disease

By MADDIE FABIAN

AMHERST — Medication used to halt the growth of cancer cells might one day become an effective treatment for Lyme disease, according to a new study led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst team at the New England Regional Center of Vector-Borne...

Athol considers next steps for firefighter staffing

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – Following the defeat of a Proposition 2 ½ override to fund the hiring of eight new firefighters, Fire Chief Joseph Guarnera said he is unsure what to do next.The $895,000 override would have paid the salaries, insurance and retirement costs...

Fancy fungus

Push on to put rent control measure on statewide ballot

By Chris Lisinski

BOSTON — Exactly 30 years after Massachusetts voters narrowly prohibited rent control across the state, a long-running debate about whether to reverse or uphold the ban might once again be settled at the ballot box.A small group of local officials,...

Police investigating break-in at Cycle Design

By MAX BOWEN

PHILLIPSTON — Police are actively investigating the theft of 17 motorized dirt bikes early Wednesday morning at Cycle Design.According to Cycle Design Manager Jayma Wilkins, the security company for the store notified her at 2:47 a.m. on Wednesday,...

A Page from North Quabbin History: Farm memories

By Carla CharterThe Bidwell Family has many fond memories of their farm prior to the purchase of the 100 acres of property by the Town of Athol in 2011. The farm was owned by the Bidwell Family from 1929-2011, being purchased by Deane Bidwell’s...

Recreation businesses get creative to stay afloat amid relentless rains

By BELLA LEVAVI

This summer’s heavy rains have left many recreation companies looking to tread water by getting creative in the wake of fewer customers and fewer amenable locations for paddling during what is ordinarily their busy season.“This season has sucked, to...