Mahar 50+ Club donates to scholarship committee
ORANGE — Muriel Holden, who chairs the Mahar 50+ Club, recently presented a $9,726 donation to Jeff Cole, the Orange Scholarship Committee’s president.
This check, along with the $880 that was already given to the Orange Scholarship Foundation this year, brings to $10,606 the amount raised by Ralph C. Mahar Regional School alumni for scholarships.
The Mahar 50+ Club holds a dinner fundraiser on the third Saturday of September. Several raffles are held, with all proceeds going to scholarships. During the COVID-19 pandemic, donations were solicited from alumni, but no dinner was held.
Club membership is offered to anyone who graduated from Mahar at least 50 years ago. Each graduating class has a representative on the planning committee, and attempts are made to contact each graduate and invite them to attend the reunion in September. Contact Maureen Riendeau at mriendeau@mass.rr.com or Sandi Eklund at sandi_clint@yahoo.com if you have not been receiving notice.
Pioneer Junior Women’s Club reports successful season
ORANGE — The Pioneer Junior Women’s Club has reported another successful gift-giving season, collecting $2,989 from 19 people and organizations.
Also, $1,550 was generated from the Athol/Orange Santa Fund golf tournament, and the members of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve collected toys.
The donations ranged in size from $25 to $500.
DCR plans Quabbin Reservoir programs
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation has some upcoming programs at the Quabbin Visitor Center at 100 Winsor Dam Road in Belchertown.
All programs are scheduled for 2 p.m. and are held in person. Seating is limited to 45 people. Programs will go virtual in the event of inclement weather. Visit tinyurl.com/MassDCRprograms to register.
- On Feb. 1, there will be a virtual hike of the road to Dana Common. Dana was one of the four towns disincorporated and abandoned to create the Quabbin Reservoir. Along the old road to Dana Common are foundations, fields, walls and trees that tell the story of the towns now long gone.
- On Feb. 15, a ranger will share an in-depth look into how the ranger division keeps the public and the natural/cultural landscape safe, while providing insights into what a day on the job looks like as a ranger.
- “The Frozen Quabbin: Glacial Geology in Our Watershed” will be held on Feb. 22. People are invited to join an exploration of the genesis of some of the landforms exhibited in the Quabbin and Ware River Watersheds, discuss diagnostic tools used both in the field and at home, and use sediments and geomorphology to try to recreate the ancient landscape from the time when the Quabbin was frozen.
- A presentation titled “The BEAR Necessities – Get to Know Your Neigh-BEARS” is scheduled for March 8. It will take a lighthearted look at some of the fun facts about one of the largest residents of the state.
New Salem tax bills due
NEW SALEM — Fiscal year 2026 real estate and personal property third-quarter tax bills are due Feb. 2.
The third- and fourth-quarter tax bills were mailed on Dec. 31, 2025.
Contact the assessors at 978-544-5814 or assessors@newsalemma.org regarding assessed value, abatements/exemptions or address/owner changes. Exemption and abatement forms are available at newsalemma.org/assessors. If you have questions about paying your bill, contact the tax collector at taxcollector@newsalemma.org or 978-544-5775.
To look up tax bills or to make or schedule an online payment by bank payment, credit/debit card, PayPal or Venmo, go to newsalemma.org and click the “Online Payments” and “Bill Lookup” link.
Non-cash payments can be deposited in the 24-hour tax payment drop box in front of Town Hall at 15 South Main St. or mailed to the tax collector — 24 South Main St., New Salem, MA 01355. You can use postal orders in place of cash. Cash payments of exact change can be made on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon.
New Salem veterans’ opinions sought
NEW SALEM — The Selectboard is seeking input from local veterans regarding the town’s participation in the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans’ Service District.
Veterans are encouraged to share their perspectives and experiences to help inform the Selectboard’s consideration of whether the town should remain in the district.
Contact Town Coordinator Emily Hill at towncoordinator@newsalemma.org or 978-544-6437 with feedback.