North County

Years of talks about making renewable resources a bigger part of Massachusetts' energy consumption started to pay off this year, when the state government passed a new law with a strong emphasis on renewables.

Manufacturing got a lot of attention in this election year, and now that the results are in, many smaller companies are feeling cautiously optimistic about what the future holds.

Predicting the short-term future isn't terribly difficult. Preparing for it is.

Catholic Charities has picked a long-time government official and the former chief operating officer of the Mass Lottery Commission as the new executive director of Catholic Charities Worcester County.

A special ski train has kicked off service to Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, bringing riders to the slopes from Boston for a round-trip fare of $23.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus has requested the City Council sign off on $300,000 worth of eminent domain takings that will help protect the city's watershed.

The brewery at the Gardner Ale House has announced that it will distribute its beer under the name Moon Hill Brewing Co.

Joseph's House, a 140-unit apartment complex in Fitchburg, has received $290,000 in upgrades through Unitil and the MassSave program.

Mayhew Basque Plastics of Leominster will open a new production and distribution center in Westminster that will create 45 jobs with the potential for more.

Irving is a champion of Gardner, having brought a company to the city and redeveloped a former factory space into a new shopping plaza.