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River Rat Race returns in 60th year with 194 canoers
Despite a morning of rain, sleet and remnants of snow, the 60th annual River Rat Race started right on time at 1 p.m. on Saturday, sending 194 canoes down the Millers River from Athol to Orange.

Runners turn out for Big Cheese 5K in Athol
ATHOL — Waking up to raw temperatures, rain and 2-3 inches of snow on the ground failed to deter many who signed up to run in the annual Big Cheese 5K, which has become a big part of River Rat Race weekend.
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Sports

Victory Lap with Jessica Lapachinski: You need character, and you need culture
Old school coaching tells us to leave emotion out of sport.We’ve heard it all before – Toughen up! We need you! Get it together! Stop crying!



Opinion

My Turn: What is a serious person?
For the past few months several pundits and former government officials, both Democrat and Republican, have said, referring to the Trump administration, “These are not serious people.” They said this about RFK, Jr. (as he emphasized the value of treating measles with cod liver oil and vitamin A); about Pete Hegseth (during his nomination process and as Signalgate unfolded); and about Donald Trump himself (as he mused about a third term saying that tariffs are taxes on other countries, mentioned the possibility of invading Greenland, and imposed tariffs on an island of penguins).





Your Daily Puzzles

An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."

A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.

Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.

Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.

Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Business

Northfield’s Wild Geese Decluttering helps clients achieve comfort through organization
NORTHFIELD — Home organization can feel like a daunting task, especially after years of collecting items.


Arts & Life

The cost of addiction: New novel draws on Valley backdrop to explore how substance use upends people’s lives
Several years ago, Mattea Kramer, an Amherst writer and researcher who’s studied and written about the federal budget as well as drug policies at state and federal levels, spent time interviewing a number of women in the Greenfield jail who were part of a recovery program for substance use.
Obituaries

Amherst, MA - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dorothy M. (Dandelske) Thornton at the age of 95. She was born in West Haven, CT on August 28, 1929, the daughter of Louis and Elizabeth (Schulz) Dandelske. She ... remainder of obit for Dorothy M. Thornton

Montague, MA - Nancy Ellen Warsawski passed away peacefully March 26th surrounded by family at Baystate Springfield after a long battle with Cancer. Nancy is survived by her husband Joseph Warsawski, sons Jake and Sean Boyle, stepso... remainder of obit for Nancy Ellen Warsawski

Templeton, MA - Our April "rested her eyes" for the final time on April 7, 2025 at her sheltered home where she was able to return to after a short battle with cancer. Surrounded by the A team, she leaves behind her parents, Bill and Da... remainder of obit for April Young

Greenfield, MA - Mark "Breezy" A. Brzezinski, 70, of Mill Street passed away Monday 3/31/25, at the Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield. He was born in Greenfield on January 23, 1955, and was the son of Edward and Joyce (Lyna... remainder of obit for Mark A. Brzezinski