Daily Hampshire Gazette · Northfield, MA
NORTHFIELD — Living in a hill town certainly has some distinct advantages for athletes. For the Hampshire Regional girls cross country team, a home course in Westhampton that features some elevation prepared the squad for the MIAA Divisional 3A-3B-3C championships on Saturday. The Raiders used the preparation to capture their second straight Division 3B championship at Northfield Mountain Recreation Center. Hampshire Regional finished with 65 points ahead of second-place Hamilton-Wenham (79 points). Runners dealt with cold but not freezing temperatures on an overcast day. Kathleen Barry placed third (19:50.7) in the Division 3B race. The course in Northfield has its fair share of elevation. The starting gun for Division 3B girls race at the MIAA Divisional championships, Saturday in Northfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES “Where we live, we are in the hill towns,” Barry said. “We are used to the hills. Our home course starts with a really big hill.
Athol Daily News · Athol, MA
Nearby: Athol, MABelchertown, MA – David Loyola Wickham, affectionately known as Gramps, Smurf, or simply Dave, lived a life marked by unwavering dedication and love. Born on January 3, 1942, in Athol, Massachusetts, he was a graduate of Athol High School, class of 1959 and received his Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Massachusetts.David spent his formative years in the vibrant communities of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Colorado. With a sharp mind and a generous heart, he pursued a successful career as a CPA, where he served his clients with integrity, also forming lasting friendships. His love for his alma mater, UMass, remained steadfast throughout his life, a true testament to his passion for learning and growth.A proud and loving grandfather, David’s world revolved around his cherished granddaughters, Alicia, Ayla, and Kensy. He found joy in their laughter and stories, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Athol Daily News · Athol, MA
Nearby: Athol, MAATHOL – Nearly 80 veterans and family members, Athol residents, and town officials attended Wednesday’s Veterans Day ceremonies in Memorial Hall at Athol Town Hall. Master of ceremonies Scott Hume, president of the Athol Veterans Council, welcomed the audience and read the poem “Remember the Veterans,” written by the late Athol native and World War II pilot Gordon Briggs. In an address titled “A Force to be Reckoned With,” guest speaker U.S. Army Sergeant (Ret.) Sheila Pelletier gave attendees a lesson on the contributions of women to the American military. “From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, women have been serving in the military in one form or another for more than 200 years,” Pelletier said.
Athol Daily News · Athol, MA
Nearby: Athol, MAEdwin J. “Ed” Sterling ATHOL, MA – Edwin J. “Ed” Sterling, 91, of Farnsworth Avenue, passed at home with his family at his side on Sunday afternoon, October 25, 2026.Born in Keene, NH on November 3, 1934, he was the son of Harland Edwin Sterling and Grace Pearl (Castor) Sterling.Edwin was married to Ruth Ann (Hamlett) Sterling, celebrating over 50 years, 20 years in New Hampshire and 30 years in Athol, MA. Ed his survived by his wife, Ruth Ann Sterling, and several nieces and nephews.Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings, Beverly, Charles, Ann, William (Bill),Ed worked in his father’s plumbing and heating business, Sterling Plumbing & Heating, and later other local plumbing companies, then Kingsbury Machine (Keene, NH) where he retired after 15 years. Ed and Ruth Ann moved to Athol after both of them retired. Ed enjoyed going on daily trips and going out for lunch.Ed loved marching in parades and playing concerts.
Montana Kaimin · Shutesbury, MA
Nearby: Shutesbury, MACarol Bellin still remembers the nukes. She remembers the silos that housed them beneath the dry earth of Montana’s prairies. She remembers the dust clouds made by airmen and their vehicles as they rumbled down dirt roads to guard them with rifles in hand four decades ago. She remembers the soft chirping of birds on cool summer nights as she prayed over the silos, praying for the nuclear missiles stored within to never take flight. Now the silos are guarded by new airmen with new guns, but Bellin still prays. She prays in silence, as most Quakers do; that’s why she can hear the birds — the little birds chirping at the weapons of unfathomable destruction.Bellin first found herself among the birds and missiles in 1984, when she spent a summer near Conrad, a small town north of Great Falls, protesting Montana’s nuclear weapons. She camped outside of a launch facility, or silo, with a group of other protesters. Every morning and night she kept a wordless vigil over the weapon inside.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAAMHERST — More than $800,000 in Community Preservation Act money could support development of affordable housing and provide financial support for low- and moderate-income individuals and families who rent their homes. The CPA Committee is beginning to evaluate 15 proposals that total almost $3.1 million in spending. Outside of $1.72 million in applications for five active recreation projects, including what would be the town’s first pickleball courts, the largest application is the $550,000 sought by the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust. That proposal, brought forward by Greg Richane, the town’s housing coordinator, would be used for assorted projects. The most significant is $400,000 that would go toward so-called “development equity” for supportive housing at 457 Main St., the former VFW site that is now used as a staging area for the Jones Library project.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAAMHERST — Amherst’s first pickleball courts, which would be constructed at Groff Park, 83 Mill Lane, and a bathroom for the Plum Brook soccer fields, are among six active recreation projects seeking $1.72 million from the Community Preservation Act account. Amherst Recreation Director Rey Harp, supported by the Department of Public Works, recently submitted an $850,000 request to get the pickleball courts built at the South Amherst location and make associated Americans with Disabilities Act improvements. “This proposal is to request the additional funding needed to complete the installation of public pickleball courts and will fund the permitting, surface prep and drainage work, install a construction access and extend the ADA access trail to the courts, and then toconstruct the pickleball courts with all the necessary appurtenances such as fencing, nets, and any necessary sound attenuating features,” Harp wrote in the application.
Amherst Bulletin · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAAMHERST — On the main floor of the Simeon Strong House, long, thick pieces of rough-cut wood, many of which date back to the home’s 1750s construction, rest on short pillars made from both large and small stones. Exposed after removing the wide-plank flooring and subflooring during renovations to stabilize the Amherst History Museum’s longtime home at 67 Amity St., the uncovered floor joists near the main entrance also provide insights into the construction techniques used in constructing one of the town’s oldest buildings. For Michael Emmons, director of Historic Preservation & Architectural Research at Historic Deerfield, who recently toured the building with representatives from the Amherst Historical Society and Teagno Construction Inc., this area above the home’s crawl space appears to have held up well over nearly 300 years. “Structurally, these are good-sized joists, well supported on stone piers,” Emmons said.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAGorth joins Eric Carle Museum board of trustees PHILLIP GORTH AMHERST — The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has appointed Phillip W. Gorth to its board of trustees. Gorth is an Amherst native and a graduate of Amherst College, where he studied law, jurisprudence and social thought. He subsequently built a career in finance and investment management in New York City and attended Columbia Business School, participating in the Value Investing Program. Since 2014, he has focused on managing personal investments and philanthropy. Gorth maintains deep ties to the Amherst community and a strong commitment to supporting the people and institutions that have shaped him. He established a scholarship at Amherst College that gives special consideration to students who demonstrate excellence in writing and service to the Amherst community.
Amherst Bulletin · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAAMHERST — During World War II, a recruiting slogan stated, “She’s a WOW.” For those playing for the East Amherst Eggheads team, knowing that WOW stood for “Woman Ordnance Worker” earned five points. It also crowned Tim Hope, Josh Polak and Kurt Sundeen as champions at the recent Amherst Trivia Bee. In what organizer John Page of the Amherst Education Foundation said was a record-setting year, 24 teams and more than 100 players faced off for recognition as mavens of arcane knowledge, with many local businesses, nonprofits and community organizations sponsoring teams. Held at The Drake in downtown Amherst, the 32nd contest raised $14,140 to support grant applications from teachers and staff at the Amherst, Amherst-Pelham Regional and Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett schools, to bring students innovative projects and learning opportunities.
Amherst Bulletin · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAAMHERST — Suggestions related to transportation and parking in Amherst can be made through a new online request form, with any ideas submitted to get a reviewed and discussed by the Transportation and Parking Commission. The service requests, which can be made at amherstma.gov/TPR, include any permanent changes to roads and sidewalks, such as placement of crosswalks, speed limits and truck restrictions, and improvements, amenities or traffic-calming measures. Bicycle and pedestrian safety concerns can also be noted, along with requests to change parking or to close roads and sidewalks for the long term, though for more immediate issues, such as potholes or missing street signs, residents should continue to use SeeClickFix. After review, any recommendations for change will be sent to the Town Council and Town Manager Paul Bockelman for approval and implementation.
The Duncan Banner · Gardner, MA
Nearby: Gardner, MAVirginia Craig, born Oct. 30, 1924, just outside of Boston, in Gardner, Massachusetts, attributes her longevity and good health to taking good care of herself. Tamara Gregor / The Duncan Banner Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... “It’s been a good life,” Virginia Craig said while reflecting on over 100 years of life and love.Craig, born Oct. 30, 1924, just outside of Boston, in Gardner, Massachusetts, attributes her longevity and good health to taking good care of herself.kAm$96 46=63C2E65 96C `__E9 3:CE952J 2=@?8D:56 7C:6?5D H:E9 2 42?2DE2 82>6 @? ~4E] aa[ a_ac[ 2?5 D96 EFC?65 `_a ~4E] b_[ a_ae]k^Am kAmrC2:8 92D 82E96C65 H:E9 7C:6?5D E@ A=2J 42?2DE2[ 3C:586 2?5 >2?J @E96C 42C5 82>6D 7@C D6G6C2= J62CD]k^AmkAmrC2:8 D2:5 D96’D <6AE :? 8@@5 962=E9 3J H2=<:?8 2== 96C =:76 F?E:= 9:A AC@3=6>D 3682?] q67@C6 E96?[ rC2:8 H2=<65 2?5 5:5 2== @7 96C @H?