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Keyword search: Phillipston MA

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

With the start of October right around the corner, some squash and pumpkin farmers in the Pioneer Valley and North Quabbin are bearing the burden of Phytophthora capsici — a soil-based disease described by one farmer as being “like the plague” for...

By CHRIS LARABEE

The state’s top elections official anticipates record voter turnout in Massachusetts this November, exceeding the almost 3.7 million voters who went to the polls in 2020.“We have 1.7 [million] almost having already been returned, we expect more votes...

By CARLA CHARTER

North Quabbin historical societies are offering the opportunity to travel back in time through the first North Quabbin History Tour.The tour gives visitors a chance to visit seven North Quabbin-area historical societies on Sunday, Sept. 22, from 1 to...

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — A man formerly of Athol will spend the next 25 to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty on Thursday to 27 counts of sexual crimes involving three minors.Jose Oquendo, 51, appeared in Franklin County Superior Court to accept...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

 We feed the birds. In fact, we feed the birds every morning before we feed ourselves, and then while we are eating our cereal we watch them dining on their seeds. We are always awed at their beauty and entertained by their interactions with each...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

I had two experiences that made me actually see what a vital substance water is. I saw how being hydrated makes a difference to both life and land, a lifesaving difference.A few years ago, Gerry came in from outside confused, not able to function...

By BELLA LEVAVI

With an eye toward increasing climate resilience and reducing public safety risk, preliminary design studies to examine the removal of three dams in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region are being backed by funding from the state Department of...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

‘Just because I think you should.” Did you ever get that response when you asked someone to explain the reason why you were told to do something?My mother sometimes said that to me. Maybe the request didn’t have a good explanation or it wasn’t...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

Betty, an 1812 pirate, and her husband Mike, a confederate soldier, participate in reenactments that bring history to life.First, let’s learn about Betty the pirate. She’s a special education teacher with a passion for history who decided to expand...

By JAMES PENTLAND

Picking apples is one of the rites of fall, with crisp, sunny mornings beckoning families out to the orchard to help gather in the season’s brilliant red and green bounty.This year, though, pick-your-own opportunities will be limited because so much...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

July Fourth. Our usual group from many years gathered to celebrate. We always have good food and stimulating conversation, and this year the conversation was on a patriotic topic, perfect for a patriotic holiday. Should the design on the Massachusetts...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

Some people haven’t been treated right, yet were able to let go of wrongs and make decisions about what was the right thing to do. Veterans are our country’s heroes, and this story is about an ethnic group that was unjustly treated by fellow...

By DOMENIC POLI

ATHOL — Just as crispy bacon pairs with fresh scrambled eggs, Quabbin Food Connector has planned a seven-town, self-guided food and farm tour on Saturday to complement “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” the traveling exhibit that is on display at...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

I don’t mind the job of weeding my garden because it is filled with so many good memories. It’s filled with good friends and loved ones.Flowers are a common gift on holidays, a gift when visiting someone, also a caring expression at times of...

By TINKY WEISBLAT

The rise of self-publishing has changed both books and book reviewing. A few years ago, this paper decided to stop reviewing self-published books. The editors soon reversed this decision, realizing that most books by local authors (our focus) were and...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

Recycling is finally being taken seriously. Landfills are designed to accept our trash metal, glass, paper and plastic so they can be put back into good use.It wasn’t long ago that Gerry and I were walking on a boardwalk through a wet area and saw a...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

Gerry and I like to read cemetery epitaphs, especially old ones, and when we were in Alaska we read one with a good message that has stayed with us. It sounds a bit gruesome, but it made me reflect on it in a deeper way than just life and death.Where...

By CHRIS LARABEE and MAX BOWEN

A total of $223,079 in state grant funding is headed to four Franklin County and North Quabbin towns to help filter potentially harmful chemicals from their water systems.The Healey-Driscoll administration and the state Department of Environmental...

By CAROLE GARIEPY

I like to be inspired. A shot of inspiration benefits all of us. Sometimes we get it from a good sermon, a visit with someone, a book we read. It leaves us with something to think about and maybe makes us view a situation in a new way. I was recently...

By GREG VINE

PHILLIPSTON — The Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust celebrated the end of its Land Forever Campaign last week, a years-long effort that raised more than $3.5 million for the creation of an endowment to support land conservation in central and...

By DOMENIC POLI

GREENFIELD — A Springfield man formerly of Athol was arraigned in Franklin County Superior Court on Wednesday on more than two dozen charges related to the alleged sexual assault of two children.Jose Oquendo, 49, pleaded not guilty to seven counts...