Kathe Geist: The ironies and lessons of 9/11

Funeral Consumer Alliance releases pricing report

GREENFIELD — Finding funeral services and pricing for cremation or a burial, along with gathering all the details to care for a deceased loved one, can be a difficult task. That’s where the Greenfield-based Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western Massachusetts and its biennial Price Comparison Table comes in. The alliance recently released its pricing guide […]

Templeton Café and Pub receives $50 loan for expansion

TEMPLETON – The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation [NCDMC] announced in August its approval of a $50,000 microloan for Templeton Café and Pub as owners Denise and Jeffrey Raymond work to expand the business. The Raymonds took ownership of the café on Feb. 2, fulfilling a longtime goal for Denise Raymond, who said she had always wanted to own a restaurant. After retiring from nursing at 62, Denise said her husband brought up the idea of doing something together in retirement. “He knew it was always a bucket list thing for me, and he wanted to help me make my dream […]

Athol Police Logs Aug. 21 – Sept. 7, 2026

Friday, Aug. 21 8:25 a.m. – Caller is reporting stop sign at Sanders Street and South Athol Road looks snapped at the base and is leaning. Officer states it appears that someone just pulled on the sign. Officer straightened sign and it is fine. 10:15 a.m. – Caller reporting his mother’s cell phone was stolen […]

Quabbin Days Photo Contest invites residents to capture the region

A free photography workshop at the New Salem Public Library will kick off a month-long regional photo contest, Quabbin Days Photo Contest.  Residents of Athol, Belchertown, New Salem and Pelham are invited to grab their cameras or smartphones and capture what makes the Quabbin Region so special as part of this month-long photography event being held […]

Kathe Geist: The ironies and lessons of 9/11

At the risk of sounding irreverent, I have to say I am relieved that our 25th 9/11 anniversary has finally passed. I am not sure what remembering the sadness, the horror, and uncertainty of that day accomplishes except to divert us from the ongoing crises we are living through. Climate change continues to wreak havoc on lives, homes, […]