Chester News

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield will close St. Ann's and St. Louis de France churches in West Springfield, joining those parishes with Immaculate Conception Parish to create the new St.

R obert Delong, a former U.S. Navy corpsman, has been elected commandant of the Massachusetts State Department of the Marine Corps League.

R obert Delong, a former U.S. Navy corpsman, has been elected commandant of the Massachusetts State Department of the Marine Corps League.

ROCKLAND : Chloe Rose Fleury was born June 26, 2008, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center.

The Westfield River was designated wild and scenic under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1993, but its first opportunity to receive federal funds to promote water quality and recreation is only now ...

The International Association of Lions Clubs recently donated $5,000 for diabetes education at Day Kimball Hospital.

Two scenic trails in the county will be getting money for expansion and repairs, thanks to a $1.5 billion transportation bond bill that passed in the state's House of Representatives.

Thunderstorms swept through the Pioneer Valley Tuesday night, knocking down trees and electricity as well.

House Speaker Sal DiMasi, Attorney General Martha Coakley, and nearly a dozen district attorneys stand united behind a bill that would toughen child abuse laws.

The state's new education commissioner has been sworn in, making a pledge to try to bring greatness to public schools.

Cries for help, heard by at least four people, set off a large-scale search of a section of the Westfield River this morning.

Five months after his unanimous selection by the Board of Education, Mitchell Chester is set to be formally sworn-in as the state's new education commissioner. via WBZ-AM Allston

“We look forward to watching Rick continue to succeed in his career.”

Clinton High School Class of 1957 presented a plaque in memory of deceased class members. via The Item Extra

Cell Phones for Soldiers and the Leicester Lions Club are collecting unwanted used cell phones. via Worcester Telegram & Gazette

The medical van owned by Veterans Hospice Homestead of Fitchburg will stop at three locations this week: *Thursday: Knights of Columbus , 110 South Main St., Gardner, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. *Friday: ... via Worcester Telegram & Gazette

“They are the only predator of night flying insects and we need them for the mosquitoes, grasshoppers, crickets and moths, some of which become agricultural pests”

A mysterious disease has killed hibernating bats in New York and Vermont, is spreading into Massachusetts, and may already be in Connecticut. via The Waterbury Connecticut Republican

In response to Jane Blake's query "Is Age Costing Greylock Height?" with regard to how and when Mount Greylock's height was determined, I have the following paraphrased from the Berkshire Evening Eagle, July 7, ... via Berkshire Eagle

The mysterious affliction ravaging bat populations in New York is now confirmed in two more caves, in Massachusetts and Vermont.

"White nose syndrome" is named for the white ring of fungus found on some stricken bats and has now been found in a Chester, Mass., mine and the Aeolus Cave in Dorset, Vt., says Alan Hicks, a state wildlife biologist in New York.

White nose has been discovered in more than a dozen caves, almost all of them in eastern New York. One other Vermont cave has been affected. Vermont wildlife biologist Scott Darling says about 23,000 bats hibernate at Aeolus, the largest wintering spot in New England. Read more

Leonard Stetz of Blandford will serve three years in state prison after pleading guilty to distributing heroin. via MassLive.com

The Route 9 Veterans Forum Cable Access Show has partnered with the Bergquist family for Cell Phones for Soldiers to recycle used cell phones. via Worcester Telegram & Gazette