Housing and rural issues take center stage at Franklin County Legislative Breakfast

New leadership in place at AOTV

Liz Walber has taken over as the new executive director of Athol-Orange Community Television, succeeding Carol Courville who had been in the role for 31 1/2 years, and is committed to bringing the station into a new era and increasing its viewership.

Hike to mark Royalston's connection to the Revolution

ROYALSTON – To celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, the public is invited to an event honoring Royalston residents who took part in the America Revolution. The event, which gets underway at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, at the Historical Society Museum, is sponsored by the Village Improvement and Historical Society of Royalston. […]

Orange fire chief search continues

The Orange Selectboard has withdrawn offers to two candidates for fire chief and is forming a new search committee to find a replacement for interim Fire Chief James Young Jr.

Tenants ‘blindsided’ by Supreme Judicial Court ruling on rent control measure

Tenants across Massachusetts are disappointed and angry after the state's Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a rent control petition is unconstitutional due to clauses referencing religion, blocking the initiative from appearing on the November ballot.

Athol Area YMCA food pantry expands to meet growing demand

The Athol Area YMCA food pantry is expanding its downtown location to better serve the community's needs. The pantry, which opened in December 2025, currently distributes 450-500 pounds of food per month to around 120 families. The new space will provide 1,000-1,100 square feet of space for food storage and patrons. The pantry has received a boost from Whipps, Inc., which has pledged $1,000 per month towards the rent of the new space.