Athol Community Health Fair & Music Festival to open Oct. 3

Restorative justice program that expanded to Franklin County proving ‘transformative’

Communities for Restorative Justice expanded its partnership with the Northwestern District Attorney's Office into Franklin County to provide alternative resolution paths for certain criminal cases.

'A landline is a lifeline': Hawley urges FCC to reject Verizon's plans to end landline service

The Hawley Selectboard voted unanimously to urge the FCC to reject Verizon's proposal to discontinue copper landline service, citing concerns about unreliable cellular coverage.

Comerford urges residents to rally for overhaul of state school funding formula

State Sen. Jo Comerford is urging residents to participate in the upcoming Foundation Budget Review Commission meetings to advocate for fairer state funding formulas for western Massachusetts schools and infrastructure.

Apple season off to sweet start for first ever Massachusetts Apple Month

With apple season off to a fruitful start for Franklin County farmers, Gov. Maura Healey has declared September “Massachusetts Apple Month.” “September really is prime apple-picking season,” said Ben Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farms in Deerfield, adding that between September and Indigenous People’s Day is the best time to bring a basket to an orchard. […]

Sen. Comerford encourages local action at Fisher Hill School discussion

ORANGE – State Sen. Jo Comerford visited Fisher Hill School Thursday to discuss the legislative and budget processes and provide an overview of her priorities for the next session of the Legislature. Comerford, D-Northampton, who represents the Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester district, is running unopposed for a fifth term, but told the Athol Daily News […]