Project Skydrop treasure found in Wendell State Forest

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

WENDELL— The treasure has been found.Eleven days after the hunt began for a four-inch-tall golden statue, an anonymous treasure hunter has claimed the Project Skydrop prize deep in the Wendell State Forest.At 5:19 p.m. on Tuesday, those watching the...

Athol plans celebration of Silver Lake Park

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – The Open Space & Recreation Commission is seeking volunteers for an inaugural celebration of Silver Lake Park.Athol Planning and Development Director Eric Smith said the idea for the event, “Silver Lake, Our Waters,” comes from Allan Butler,...

PHOTOS: A night out in North Quabbin

Residents of Athol, Orange, Royalston and Petersham turned out for annual National Night Out events. Originally scheduled to take place on Aug. 6, the event had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather to Tuesday, Oct. 1. National Night Out...

Commission faces year-end deadline for anti-poverty agenda

By SAM DRYSDALE

In a state where over 10% of the population lives in poverty, activists, public officials and members of the public have now pitched solutions to the problem to the lawmakers tasked with coming up with solutions.A legislative commission charged with...

Air quality sensors come ‘at a very important time,’ officials say

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN and MADISON SCHOFIELD

Thanks to funding from the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Justice and Equity, Franklin County organizations will receive 21 of the total 213 air quality sensors being distributed statewide to help protect public health and fill in gaps in local...

North Quabbin Notes, Oct. 1

Enroll in SNAP and Fuel AssistanceATHOL – Representatives from LifePath will be at the Athol Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 3, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. to help sign people up for SNAP benefits and Fuel Assistance.Please bring the following...

Orange community development director resigning, effective Oct. 17

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The town’s community development director is stepping down effective Oct. 17, stating she has come to the conclusion that she does not have the experience or knowledge necessary to meet the needs of Orange.Walker Powell has served in the...

Winchendon Police arrest Peter Baldini for assault, kidnapping charges

Staff Report

WINCHENDON – Peter Baldini of Winchendon has been arraigned on charges related to an alleged assault with a knife and machete, according to Winchendon Police.In a statement issued on Monday, Sept. 30, police responded to the area of 17 Brooks Road...

A Page from North Quabbin History: Greene Haskell and the Gold Rush

By CARLA CHARTERI will start by stating some of the most fascinating real-life stories that can ever be found are documented in town histories. I have become an avid reader of these histories which led me to my current mystery.It began with a book...

Commission reviews first phase designs for Rabbit Run Rail Trail

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – ATHOL – Representatives of Howard Stein Hudson Engineering met with Athol’s Open Space and Recreation Commission last week to go over what will be in the designs of the Rabbit Run Rail Trail’s first phase.This phase calls for about a mile of...

Western Mass farmers battle ‘pumpkin plague’

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

With the start of October right around the corner, some squash and pumpkin farmers in the Pioneer Valley and North Quabbin are bearing the burden of Phytophthora capsici — a soil-based disease described by one farmer as being “like the plague” for...

Member of Salvation Army Athol Corps deployed to Florida

By MAX BOWEN

ATHOL — Cindy Kennedy of Phillipston boarded a flight on Monday to Florida as part of the Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services helping communities hit by Hurricane Helene.Kennedy, a member of the Salvation Army Athol Corps, is joined by Luz...

Garlic galore at Orange’s 26th annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival

By DOMENIC POLI

ORANGE — The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival has earned the reputation as a place to find garlic in unexpected places, like chocolate chip cookies and ice cream. But Greenfield resident Chris Weeks made sure to save room for 25 cloves …...

Virtual forum marks progress in battling opioid crisis in western Mass

By CHRIS LARABEE

With National Recovery Month coming to a close, local agencies and community organizations gathered Thursday to discuss how access to naloxone is one of the keys to addressing the opioid crisis.In a virtual discussion hosted by the Opioid Task Force...

Healey admin budget secretary bracing for "unavoidable deficiencies"

By CHRIS LISINSKI

The Healey administration’s budget chief is “cautiously optimistic” about the economic outlook for the year ahead, even though he expects lackluster tax collections to continue and sees “unavoidable deficiencies” on the horizon.Administration and...

First feature-length film by Haydenville director will highlight five Franklin County towns

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — The Whately Diner and Shelburne Falls’ Iron Bridge will soon return to the silver screen — alongside the debut of other Franklin County locations — as a local director prepares to begin filming his first feature-length...

North Quabbin Notes, Sept. 27

All-you-can-eat pancake breakfast and tag saleATHOL – On Saturday, Sept. 28, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., Athol Congregational Church, Uptown Common, will host a pancake breakfast and tag sale. Pancakes, blueberry pancakes, French Toast, gluten-free waffles,...

National Night Out to be held in five North Quabbin towns

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – Rescheduled from Aug. 6 due to an unexpected downpour, the National Night Out events of North Quabbin will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 1.Organized by the North Quabbin Community Coalition (NQCC), these events allows residents of Athol, Orange,...

Bill gives doulas boost: Sabadosa-backed legislation requires MassHealth to cover services

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — State Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa says doulas are the “gold standard” of birthing resources — and now access to these “birthing coaches” is set to expand thanks to provisions included in a new sweeping maternal health bill signed into law late...