North Quabbin Notebook: Aug. 20, 2026

Sportsman's Corner: Mass Wildlife staff sent to fight western wildfires

Again this summer, wildfires are raging in many locations in western North America, with large blazes in both Canada and the United States. Trained firefighters from across the country are rotating in at the different fires and MassWildlife’s trained staff are among those being deployed. Members of Mass Wildlife’s prescribed fire crew are putting their […]

New law addresses library material challenges

Gov. Maura Healey signed S.3241, "An Act Regarding Free Expression," into law to establish formal processes for challenging library materials and protect librarians from harassment amid rising book censorship trends.

Pedestrian killed in motor vehicle crash in Athol

ATHOL — A pedestrian struck while in a crosswalk on Tower Road on Monday has died from her injuries, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. First responders were dispatched to the area of 147 Tower Road near Market Basket in Athol on Monday at approximately 3:20 p.m. for a report of a pedestrian struck […]

Columnist Judy Wagner: Gifts of a summer

Given the daily, even hourly, headlines, I could easily write an entire column on the cruelty, corruption, and betrayal of the lawless, erratic, cowardly and contemptible administration in Washington. Instead I will write about gifts. August can swamp us with too much: too many cucumbers, zucchinis and little tomatoes; too much heat some days; storms […]

Petersham voters to decide on overrides, Selectboard race on Monday

PETERSHAM – In addition to filling a vacancy on the Selectboard, Petersham voters will be asked to decide on a pair of Proposition 2 ½ debt exclusions at next Monday’s special election. Each of the borrowing requests was overwhelmingly approved at the June 1 Annual Town Meeting. The first of the two articles passed sought […]