Latest News
UMass researchers discover rare rabbit ticks in Maine that carry new strain of bacteria
Sportsman’s Corner: Fawn facts
Transhealth, others condemn federal report urging therapy as brazen, unscientific attack on trans youth
Area students inducted to Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at MWCC
North Quabbin Notes, May 6
Budget, capital purchases on Phillipston Town Meeting warrant
Trump forcing Mass. to reassess emissions mandates
Healey walks fine line on working with Trump
Zoning bylaw change stirs discussion at Phillipston Town Meeting
PHILLIPSTON – Voters breezed through Wednesday’s Annual Town Meeting with very little discussion – until they reached Article 32, the final article on the warrant.
Special election to be held for Athol Selectboard
ATHOL – Town Clerk Nancy Burnham went before the Selectboard at its meeting Tuesday, May 6, to speak on plans for the special election that must be held to replace former member Andy Sujdak.
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PHOTO: Millers River reaches red line in Winchendon
Athol bridge closed several hours for repairs Tuesday evening
Override for library, schools passes at Winchendon Town Election
Athol man to serve five to seven years on child abuse charges
Comments on Gardner sludge landfill expansion due Friday
‘We’ve lost a good one’: Donald R. Dwight remembered as passionate advocate for local journalism
Editors Picks
‘We’ve lost a good one’: Donald R. Dwight remembered as passionate advocate for local journalism
Athol bridge closed several hours for repairs Tuesday evening
A ‘monumental’ journey: Nearly 200 people become American citizens at naturalization ceremony at UMass Amherst
Override for library, schools passes at Winchendon Town Election
Sports
Western Mass. Mother’s Day Half Marathon reaches 15th edition on Sunday in Whately
The 15th running of the Western Mass. Mother’s Day Half Marathon in Whately will commence on Sunday, with a large field of runners expected to participate.
Keeping Score with Chip Ainsworth: Bernardston’s Weiss in Europe with Team USA
HS Roundup: Fast start powers Franklin Tech baseball past Mahar, 5-0 (PHOTOS)
UMass women's lacrosse gears up for Princeton in NCAA Tournament
HS Softball: Late rally powers Hampshire past Turners Falls in battle of WMass heavyweightsOpinion
The World Keeps Turning: Attention — A day doesn’t count as a day anymore
Nearly all social thinkers (including the artificial ones of AI) emphasize that functioning, peaceful societies must agree on a group of shared meanings for communicating. These include gestures (a handshake, hug, tip of the hat, tap on the heart, etc.), images and symbols, and spoken and written words. They are “the glue that holds society together, enabling individuals to understand each other, cooperate effectively, and build a cohesive and vibrant social life.”
My Turn: Picture This — Why the National Endowment for the Arts is essential to American life
My Turn: A dream of Donald Trump and Anne Frank
James A. Marples: New pope must continue where Pope Francis left off
My Turn: Make America small again
Your Daily Puzzles
An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."
A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.
Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.
Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.
Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Police Logs
Athol Police Logs, April 16 – April 26, 2025
10:45 a.m. - Report of a party going through a company’s mail. Made contact with the male party who stated he was checking for his own mail. Male party was located in his Mercedes in the back of the building. Party left the property shortly after.
Athol Police Logs, March 1 – March 17, 2025
Athol Police Logs: Feb. 6 – Feb. 27, 2025
Athol Police Logs Jan. 16 to Feb. 2, 2025
Orange Police Logs: Dec. 31, 2024 to Jan. 10, 2025
e-Edition
Arts & Life
Block and roll: Roller Derby, the ‘sport for misfits,’ finds a home in the Valley
The floor of Interskate 91 South is often filled with young skaters teetering around the track, but the athletes on it now are sure on their skates, focused and ready to battle. Two jammers sit poised, their bodies coiled in anticipation; in front of them, two bunches of blockers gaze at them intently, trying to determine the best strategy for locking them down. For a second, there’s quiet. Then a sharp whistle slices through it and the two skaters explode forward, trying to duck and weave between a mass of bodies to escape the pack and rack up points for their team. Their teammates and fans yell and cheer from the sidelines, their voices echoing around the rink, but skater Lilith of the Valley (government name: Lisa Andras) doesn’t hear any of it.
The pipes, the pipes are calling: Orange man services organs throughout New England, beyond
Writer’s work lives on, thanks to creative friends: Stray Dog Collective preserves Hilary Sloin’s short stories, essays
Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: A blooming ribbon leads the eye: Landscape architect planted 1,500 daffodils in Amherst’s Orchard Arboretum
‘Shared’ perspectives: Greenfield artist one of eight disabled artists in Worcester gallery’s group showObituaries
Kenton F. Tharp
ORANGE, MA - Kenton Franklin Tharp, age 76, died May 6 at his home in Orange, MA. He was born in Grant, Nebraska to Charles and Gladys (Kent) Tharp. He worked with his father to custom bale hay and with his mother and sisters in the fam... remainder of obit for Kenton F. Tharp
Leslie J. Osborne
West Springfield, MA - Leslie J. Osborne, fondly known as "Lee" to her friends and family, passed away on April 27, 2025. Born in Gardner, MA, USA on July 14, 1942 She was a woman of faith, belonging to St. Johns Church in Athol. Le... remainder of obit for Leslie J. Osborne
Richard D. Ray Jr.
Richard D. Ray, Jr. New Salem, MA - Richard Daniel Ray, Jr., 61 of New Salem passed away on May 2nd, 2025 at U Mass following a massive stroke after years of declining health and most recently lung cancer, with his daughter spending his ... remainder of obit for Richard D. Ray Jr.
John F. Nelson
PETERSHAM, MA - Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and nephew, John Francis Nelson died at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, on February 22, 2025, after several months of declining health. Born on A... remainder of obit for John F. Nelson
