Montague, Gill and Erving Notebook: July 21, 2026

Ticket price fight shaping up as referendum on details

BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey on Thursday proposed capping concert and sporting event ticket resale prices, pitching the measure as a way to protect consumers from price gouging and deceptive practices that have made attending live events increasingly expensive and out of the question for many fans.  But even before lawmakers begin to review the […]

The e-bike boom: Electric bicycles are giving riders new freedom while fueling safety concerns

Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular in western Massachusetts, prompting state lawmakers to push for comprehensive regulations to ensure safety and reduce crashes.

Athol Area YMCA names Seth Kelly as its new CEO

ATHOL – After a lengthy search, the board of directors of the Athol Area YMCA has chosen Seth Kelly to be the organization’s next chief executive officer. Kelly will officially take the reins from interim CEO Jim Scherer on Aug. 17. A release announcing Kelly’s appointment states his background includes “education, youth development, community-based programming […]

My Turn: Hiring managers must rethink roles for Gen Z

As I sit down to write, my email inbox has just received two new job rejections. Since graduating from Bryn Mawr College with a dual degree in English and history this past May, I have been on the hunt for a post-grad job, hitting the two-month mark while on a visit back to western Massachusetts. […]

Residents air PILOT program frustrations at Greenfield listening session

Residents of Franklin and Hampshire counties participated in a listening session hosted by the Commission on PILOT for State-Owned Land to express concerns regarding the equity of the state's compensation formula for municipalities holding large amounts of state-owned property.