Sheriff’s office celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Week

ATHOL – For their third year, Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis and Worcester County Sheriff’s Office staff celebrated the nationally recognized Random Acts of Kindness Week, this year during the week of Feb. 12. The goal of this week is to inspire acts of kindness throughout the county.

To spread joy and inspire kindness, the sheriff’s office staff successfully executed their mission to visit every community in Worcester County during the Random Acts of Kindness week. Staff distributed over 3,500 goody bags filled with donated items to individuals they met at various public places. The bags serve as a symbol of support and care from local law enforcement.

The staff stopped at the Athol Police Department as well as a handful of other locations throughout the town

“Our duty as a law enforcement agency is to build bridges and strengthen the bond between our department and the communities we serve,” commented Evangelidis. “Our team takes immense pride in contributing towards the betterment of Worcester County and always looks for ways to spread positivity. We understand the significance of ensuring public safety and are committed to reinforcing that message. Let us all strive to make positivity the focus of this week.”

Athol Congregational Church pancake breakfast

ATHOL—On Saturday, Feb. 24, a pancake breakfast and tag sale will be held at Athol Congregational Church, Uptown Common, from 7-10 a.m. This is ‘all you can eat’ and will include pancakes, blueberry pancakes, French Toast, sausage, juice, coffee and fruit. The cost is $8 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-12. Children age 4 and under eat for free.

Artist presentation at Athol Senior Center

ATHOL — All are welcome to attend a presentation by local artist Gordon Morrison at the meeting of the Athol Golden Age Club. Gordon will be exhibiting some of his beautiful illustrations, along with a demonstration of his techniques. The public is invited to attend. Monday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m., Athol Senior Center, 82 Freedom St., Athol.

Athol Golden Age Club’s first meeting of 2024

ATHOL — The Athol Golden Age Club will hold their first meeting of 2024 on Feb. 26 at the Athol Senior Center at 1 p.m. The speaker for this meeting will be Gordon Morrison of Royalston. Morrision is a nationally known writer, illustrator and artist. He has written numerous children’s books and illustrated many nature books.

Membership Chair Gloria will be collecting dues for the 2024 year. Dues this year remain at $10 per member. The Athol Golden Age Club is open to anyone 55 or over. Its purpose is threefold: to promote “re-creation” through challenging programs, friendship through regular meetings, and leisure activities such as the popular senior bus trips.

Harvard Forest to Host Presentation on Solar Energy and Land

PETERSHAM – Massachusetts state energy policy has inadvertently encouraged the clearing of 4,800 acres of forest – an area larger than Cambridge, Mass. – for ground-mount solar infrastructure since 2010.

In response, Harvard Forest Research Director Jonathan Thompson will lead a talk on solar energy development in Massachusetts on the evening of March 5 at the Harvard Forest in Petersham and online.

In a 2023 research report, Growing Solar, Protecting Nature, Thompson and co-authors from Mass Audubon identify a path for Massachusetts to build the solar energy it needs and protect the nature it has. On March 5, Thompson will be joined by co-author and Mass Audubon Vice President for Policy and Advocacy Michelle Manion to outline policy recommendations from the report that would be cheaper for society as a whole when compared to the current pattern of solar development.

The presentation will focus on key report recommendations that are specifically relevant to central and western Massachusetts municipalities, which have been key stakeholders in response to developer proposals that have often challenged the capacity of small-town governments statewide.

The event is free and open to the public, on Tuesday, March 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. The event will be hybrid – hosted in person in the Harvard Forest Fisher Museum at 324 N Main St. in Petersham, and also streamed online via Zoom. For more information and to register, visit https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/solar-event.

Those without the ability to register via the internet but who would like to attend in person may also call Clarisse Hart, Director of Education, at 978-756-6157 to register with their name and number of attendees. The Harvard Forest welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and events. The Fisher Museum is a universally accessible building. Those who require additional visitor accommodations or assistance, please note this in registration.

Local students make the UMass Amherst Dean’s List

AMHERST — Below is a list of local students who were named to the dean’s list at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the fall 2023 semester.

In order to qualify, an undergraduate student must receive a 3.5 grade-point average or better on a four-point scale.

ATHOL

Todd Albert Chiasson

Sarah Hall

Emma Savoy

Danielle Dustin Swan

Jeremiah Stephan Teele

ERVING

Catherine Grace Bezio

Dylan Olivia Burnett

Kitana Marie Rodriguez

NEW SALEM

John Matthew DeWitt

Gareth Wolf Gordon-Halpern

Austin Douglas Paine

ORANGE

Colin Matthew Boyle

Astrid Elizabeth Conrod

Alexander Currier

Daniel Owen Kidwell

Jeffrey Davis Kidwell

Erin Amy Kimball

Kayley Elizabeth Murphy

Sophia Jean Woods

Heeju Yoo

PETERSHAM

Percival Burch

Elvin C Kadi

Olivia Trask Lapati

Nathan Michael Legare

ROYALSTON

Connor Lee Knechtel

WENDELL

Marley Bernard