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‘Energy emergency’: Healey moves to blunt soaring heating costs

Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of energy emergency on Monday, announcing expanded heating assistance and utility bill charge reductions to combat rising energy costs in Massachusetts.

‘Our community is paralyzed by fear’: Pioneer Valley Workers Center steps up support amid ICE surge

It’s no secret to Claudia Rosales and the Pioneer Valley Workers Center (PVWC) that fear among the immigrant community has peaked since President Donald Trump took office for his second term and immigration enforcement skyrocketed. They see and feel it every day, but it is not slowing them down, as the center works to support […]

Biomonitoring done at Mill Brook in Athol

ATHOL – On Sunday, volunteers did biomonitoring at the newly-daylighted Mill Brook, after it has run unseen beneath the parking lot at the former Lord Pond Plaza for six decades. Ivan Ussach, director of the Millers River Watershed Council, said interest in monitoring the stream was piqued after there were reports of wildlife returning to […]

Victim of fatal Wendell crash ID’d as 56-year-old Orange man

A 56-year-old Orange resident, Jeffrey Frasher, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Lockes Village Road on Friday morning.

Athol Select Board receives update on Rabbit Run Rail Trail

ATHOL – At a recent Select Board meeting, Planning and Development Director Eric Smith provided an update on the ongoing development of the Rabbit Run Rail Trail. The trail, once completed, would run 6.2 miles from the New Salem border to downtown Athol. The proposed bike/pedestrian trail generally follows the rail bed of the old […]