Athol Special Town Meeting postponed

Voters demand transparency, but lawmakers may limit reach of Question 1

There was no mistaking the will of the people on Question 1. Voters overwhelmingly approved the ballot measure on Election Day, with more than 86% backing an expansion of Massachusetts’ public records law to include the Legislature and the governor’s office. It was the widest margin of any of the nine ballot questions in an election in which nearly 1.17 million people had cast ballots before polls opened. Over the summer, the state Senate passed a bill promoting transparency and public access in state government. But, concerned about the separation of powers and the lengthy litigation that could follow from passing […]

Speaking of Nature: A bitter rivalry: American vs. Asiatic Bittersweet

As the deciduous trees slowly lose their leaves, they start to reveal long-held secrets. At first the most obvious secrets are the nests of birds that you may have spent the summer looking for. Skillfully placed in areas that are thick with summer foliage, the nests become obvious once the veil is dropped, and it can be amazing to discover a nest that you may have passed dozens of times while you were completely unaware that it was there. Despite how frustrated you may feel, you really have to admire the birds that built them. Then there are other “secrets” that […]

A different kind of grilled cheese sandwich

I started looking for recipe inspiration everywhere long before I became a food writer. In my family when I was growing up, food wasn’t just something we ate for nutrition or good taste. It taught us about the world in which we lived and the people around us, in the present and in the past. […]

High engagement fuels strong voter turnout in Franklin County, North Quabbin region

The 2026 midterm elections saw droves of voters head to the polls in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region, with experts saying that the nine ballot initiatives could have been a driving factor.

Athol celebrates Veterans Day on Nov. 11 with memorial services

ATHOL – Wednesday’s Veterans Day ceremony in Athol will feature guest speaker Sheila Pelletier, who served in the Army National Guard. Veterans Day ceremonies in Athol will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in Memorial Hall at Athol Town Hall, 584 Main St. The event gets underway with the reading of “Remember the […]