Athol Daily News · Springfield, MA
Winchendon, MA – Rolland F. Rochon, 89, of Otter River Road, Winchendon, former executive of Union Twist Drill and longtime corporator of Athol Savings Bank, died Monday, November 9, at Quabbin Valley Healthcare after a brief hospice stay.He was the husband of the late Helen M. Rochon (Shepardson), who died in 2019. The couple married in 1958 and raised their four children in Phillipston.Born in Springfield, MA, he was the son and only child of Ernest L. and Irene L. (Lamothe) Rochon. He is survived by his four children: Deborah A. (Rochon) Knott of Laurel, Maryland; Paul F. Rochon of Wrentham; and Glenn D. Rochon and Daniel F. Rochon, both of Winchendon; as well as two grandsons: Evan M. R. Knott of Woodstock, GA and Braden W. R. Knott of Bowie, MD; and two great-grandsons: Henry and Avery Knott of Bowie, MD. He also leaves behind a close friend, Elaine St.
The Berkshire Edge · West Springfield, MA
Nearby: West Springfield, MALend Me a Tenor Majestic Theater in West Springfield, Mass. Written by Ken Ludwig Directed by Myka Plunkett “Ridi, Pagliaccio” Eight talented actors make up the cast of this farcical comedy. On a set designed by Daniel David Rist, with six doors defining two rooms in a very blue Cleveland hotel suite, the company play out the story of a single night at the Opera House, where a visiting celebrity is singing the title role in “Pagliacci.” Through a series of errors, the singer is presumed dead and must be replaced at the last minute. Comedy ensues. Director Myka Plunkett has pulled out the stops and has added a sense of reality to this show that makes it all the funnier. Doors slam, but not as often as in other productions; mistakes in judgement rule; women emote and men react. The production is as funny as it needs to be, and the company gives us enough joy to make the experience very worthwhile. In fact, this is a better production than any I have seen in recent years.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Chicopee, MA
Nearby: Chicopee, MAROBERT SAMUEL BAZLUKE WILLIAMSBURG, MA – Robert Samuel Bazluke, 71, of Williamsburg, passed away unexpectedly at home Monday.Bob was born in Chicopee to the late Jane (Kuziak) Bazluke and the late Robert S. Bazluke. He spent his early years as a child in Chicopee and the family moved to Haydenville when Bob was 9 years old. Bob attended the Williamsburg and Hampshire Regional School Systems.He held many jobs over the years, most notably the Hazen Paper Company, PKC Plumbing, USA Recycling, and most recently Valley Recycling. Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating, cornhole, cards, bowling, and golf. Also, Lois and Bob loved going to tag sales.Bob was an avid hunter and he had two deer that were officially recognized by the NortheastBig Buck Club, which qualified him to make it into the record book. He also was a longtime member of the Williamsburg Rod and Gun Club and the Beaver Brook Golf Course.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · South Hadley, MA
Nearby: South Hadley, MASOUTH HADLEY – The PVIAC Class B Championship football game stood still in the third quarter. The field was quiet as medical personnel tended to South Hadley linebacker Joe Quatacker, who lay motionless at the 10-yard line after tackling Springfield International Charter School running back Ashton Chambers. Quatacker came around and gave his teammates a motivational jester before leaving in an ambulance. South Hadley then made all the noise down the stretch to pull away and win the championship, 22-0, on a rainy Thursday night. “It feels great. We (just) played Lee and Rockland – two tough losses. It feels great to win again, being the Western Mass. Championship,” South Hadley senior Lincoln Belsky said. “We get a plaque in our school, and it feels awesome being able to walk past it every day and see that.” The Tigers rallied for Quatacker. “He went down and went unconscious. It’s an injury you don’t see happen a lot, especially in high school sports,” Belsky said.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · South Hadley, MA
Nearby: South Hadley, MASOUTH HADLEY — Town Meeting voters this week rejected a proposal to install cameras on school bus stop arms to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses, with many residents citing concerns about surveillance and data breaches. The article failed 70-24, with two abstentions. In January 2025, Gov. Maura Healey signed a law allowing cameras mounted on school bus stop arms to record vehicles that illegally pass buses. Municipalities that adopt the law can contract with a third-party company that uses artificial intelligence to review footage and issue citations. Student safety at bus stops is a concern across the region, including in South Hadley. Police Chief Jennifer Gundersen previously told the Gazette that with six or seven buses carrying children each day, one violation per bus per day over a 180-day school year would total 1,080 to 1,260 violations.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Easthampton, MA
Nearby: Easthampton, MAEasthampton, MA – Jonathan S. Watling, age 35, passed away on Sept 29. He was born in Northampton MA, on Feb 26, 1991, the son of Kevin Watling and the late Denise Ann LeBeau.Jonathan attended Easthampton public schools and went on to graduate from Smith Vocational High School of Northampton in 2009. He worked for Boulanger’s Plumbing, Pelican Products, and other various jobs in the community over the years.Growing up in Easthampton, Jon enjoyed spending time with his friends, creating music and films, skateboarding, and taking walks with his dog’s Oreo and Scout. He was a free spirit whose company will be greatly missed by those who knew him. Especially his grandmother Gloria. He is survived by his grandmother Gloria LeBeau, father Kevin Watling, grandparents Kenneth & Carol Roberts, and Aunt Tina LeBeau.He was predeceased by his mother Denise A.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Easthampton, MA
Nearby: Easthampton, MAEASTHAMPTON — Robert “Bob” Biardi went by many nicknames: The Bread Man, Elbows, Bingo Bob. While each has its own story, perhaps what his friends and family remember most was simply how much joy he brought to everyone. Biardi died Nov. 2 at 91, having lived in Easthampton for 65 years. Biardi’s friends and family gathered at the Northampton Elks Lodge to reminisce and spend time together after his funeral on Monday. Asked what she remembers most about her father, Terri Brodeur barely knew where to begin. “Oh my gosh. Every good thing that you can possibly imagine. Where to start?” she said. Biardi spent his life showing up for his friends and family, and his care for the Easthampton community shone through his involvement with youth sports and the spirit he brought to everything he did. “Everybody knew him,” said Biardi’s wife, Judy Biardi.
WorldAtlas · Granby, CT
Nearby: Granby, CTPeace and quiet in New England can take on many forms. In Granby, Connecticut, historic farmland gives way to woodlands, with trails winding through ancient meadows and shaded forests. Bath, New Hampshire, keeps its historic character around a centuries-old covered bridge, and Winter Harbor, Maine, offers a quieter base for exploring Acadia's Schoodic Peninsula. Further north, Millinocket opens onto the vast wilderness surrounding Mount Katahdin. These 11 small towns reveal a quieter side of New England, where a little distance from the crowds can make all the difference. Granby, Connecticut The Holcomb family farmed large portions of Granby, Connecticut for two centuries. Today, the Holcomb Farm maintains 10 miles of hiking trails through the local woodlands and 2 miles of mowed meadow paths across the 300 acres of preserved land. The Holcomb Tree Trail showcases nearly 100 tree species, each labeled with botanical names.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Northampton, MA
Nearby: Northampton, MANORTHAMPTON — Cara Taylor and Kim Rosen, a married Florence couple who each carry decades of experience working as ceramic and textile artists, respectively, have combined forces to open a joint studio and showroom. The years-vacant, roughly 1,400-square-foot site of the former Green Mountain Power Equipment store at 187 Locust St. has been transformed. Taylor’s side holds a full display of woven ceramic bowls, vases and salt-and-pepper shakers. On Rosen’s side, intricately designed fabrics and wallpapers hang on the walls. While Taylor and Rosen previously worked near one another in side-by-side studios on Cottage Street in Easthampton, they have never worked in their own shared space before. Textile and wallpaper designer Kim Rosen, left, and ceramic artist Cara Taylor talk with the Gazette during an interview at their shared studio and showroom in Florence on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. DANIEL JACOBI II / Staff Photo “I have been in my own space there for maybe 12 years.
Amherst Bulletin · Belchertown, MA
Nearby: Belchertown, MABELCHERTOWN — The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority on Thursday dropped its proposal to withdraw an additional 20 million gallons a day from the Quabbin Reservoir in response to loud opposition from communities surrounding the watershed. Opposition boiled over in September, when more than 130 people packed Belchertown Town Hall to speak against the request. Commenters said MWRA had not justified the size of the withdrawal or disclose the destination. The outcry continued throughout the monthlong public comment period, culminating in more than 1,000 submissions from residents, municipal officials and legislators. These concerns ultimately led the agency to rescind its request, MWRA Interim Executive Director Stephen Estes-Smargiassi wrote in a Thursday letter to the Water Resources Commission.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Hadley, MA
Nearby: Hadley, MAHadley, MA – Lance James ByronFebruary 18, 1940 – November 3, 2026Lance James Byron, 86, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2026, on Cape Cod, surrounded by his family. Born in Concord, New Hampshire, Lance was the son of the late John and Barbara (Forbes) Byron and the eldest of seven children. He grew up in Hadley, Massachusetts, where he would spend much of his life, and graduated from Hopkins Academy. He continued his education at Arnold College of the University of Bridgeport, earned a master’s degree from Springfield College, and completed an advanced graduate degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.Lance began his teaching career in Irvington, New Jersey, where he met Alice Marshall, who would become his wife and lifelong companion. At the time, he was teaching alongside Alice’s parents, Walter and Francis Marshall.
Amherst Bulletin · Hadley, MA
Nearby: Hadley, MAGarden report — indoors: a cactus has buds. It should be in bloom by Thanksgiving. It used to bloom earlier but has become a Thanksgiving cactus. Nice to have some color this time of year. Good news — two green tomatoes turned red and I ate them. There are two more that need to turn red. Real tomatoes in November, what a treat! *** Bethany Dickerson of North Hatfield sent me an email about the preview of the spring semester for Five College Learning in Retirement classes that will be held Nov. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church on North Maple Street in Hadley. Moderators will be present to discuss their offerings. The event is free and open to the public. *** Nancy Ratner of Amherst sent me an email about the Friends Who Paint Art Sale to benefit the Amherst Survival Center. The sale will be held Nov. 21 from 12-2:30 p.m. at the Hadley Library. About 30 artists will participate, she wrote.