The Montague Reporter Podcast brings you inside the making of this weekly newspaper and the stories we report. The Montague Reporter covers the five villages of Montague, Massachusetts and the surrounding towns of Gill, Erving, Wendell, and Leverett.
In a sleeper hit of a 100th episode (!), Sarah and Mike debrief some heavy losses suffered by both SNAP recipients and youth service workers in Franklin County, and recap the highlights of annual town meeting season. Plus Mike finally reveals his favorite village in the town of Montague-- his answer will shock you!Subscribe to the Montague Reporter newspaper at https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Sarah and Mike discuss several arboreal stories, as well as the denouement of the First Light hydroelectric relicensing saga, and a candidate's forum hosted by the Montague Reporter. Plus, Mike recaps a juicy scoop from the April 10th edition.Subscribe to the Montague Reporter at https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Sarah is back as host, and Mike joins her to discuss what has changed at the newspaper in the last few months, along with updates on the Falls Farm story, local impacts of federal funding uncertainty, and the latest Big Picture interview with the managing attorney at Community Legal Aid.If you want to save money on your weekly newspaper purchase, consider subscribing to the newspaper at https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Stella and Mike catch up on a slew of mostly bad news from the last month and a half. Main topics include: a haunting reprisal of the Gill-Montague school district's annual struggle to secure needed state aid; the current and potential impacts of the Trump administration's unprecedented austerity measures on local life (and the particular case of Montague beekeepers They Keep Bees); and a monkey wrench in the planned demolition of the Strathmore mill complex. Plus, trainwrecks! Roofs caving in! Newspaper editors' chairs collapsing!To read more from They Keep Bees and support their recovery efforts from hurricane and funding losses, check out their blog: https://www.theykeepbees.com/blogWatch the Wendell trainwreck video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGLyI6nzbkE&t=253sSubmit your own questions for Mike to podcast@montaguereporter.org, and subscribe to the paper at https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/.
Mike and Stella (sitting in for Sarah, who gave birth to a baby boy!) discuss a couple of particularly hot Gill-Montague school committee meetings, a proposal for a new full-time coordinator for three downtowns that met lukewarm reception, and a super cool series of reports on winter day trips. Got something to Ask the Editor about? Email podcast@montaguereporter.org and have your question featured on the next episode!
Podcast editor Stella Silbert joins Sarah and Mike as a co-host this week to discuss the new Community Health Center of Franklin County location in Montague City and possible housing development scenarios for the Kittredge estate in Leverett. Plus, Sarah makes an exciting announcement! We end with a gush session over this year's special wrapping paper edition (available now for purchase at https://montaguereporter.org/ and in local stores). Thanks for listening! Email podcast@montaguereporter.org to submit an "Ask the Editor" question for Mike to answer on a future episode!
In this pre-election episode, Sarah and Mike discuss an investigation reported by Sarah Robertson about a “humming” noise that many residents in Wendell have reported hearing. Plus, a social services organization in Montague renames itself to the Heartwing Center, and an update on the continuing story of Leisure Woods' owners attempt to increase lot rent. Thank you for listening! Do you have an Ask the Editor question to submit? Reach out to podcast@montaguereporter.org
Maggie Sadoway is currently the Editorial Assistant for the Montague Reporter. Join us to learn more about her work and her fascinating background in the world of newspapers and publishing. Reach out with questions or bonus episode ideas: podcast@montaguereporter.org
Mike Jackson pays tribute to Chris Sawyer-Lauçanno, the Poetry Page editor who died on October 3. Then Sarah and Mike discuss the interview Mike did with Caitlin Kelley, the director of Montague Public Libraries (there are 3 of them). The Rent Control Board in Orange approved an increase in lot rental rates, but by less than the amount originally requested by the owners. And a treasure hunt that several Montague Reporter community members participated in ends with someone finding treasure in Wendell State Forest. Ask the editor questions: podcast@montaguereporter.org Thank you for listening!
Mike joins Sarah to talk about updates for ongoing stories in the region: the development of the Kittredge estate in Leverett (and Amherst); the New Leaf battery project in Wendell that was recently withdrawn; and the ongoing process at Falls Farm to get in compliance with environmental regulations. Have an Ask the Editor submission? Keep them coming! podcast@montaguereporter.org
True Love Will Find You in the End is a new-ish satire column channelled through the comedians/writers Mo Schweiger and Bella Levavi. This is an interview with them. Podcast@montaguereporter.org montaguereporter.org/subscribe
Shout out to the MR's 999th and 1000th issues! Check newsstands for you, or subscribe at montaguereporter.org/subscribe Mike and Sarah discuss the ongoing story of erosion at a farm in Montague and Sunderland, and story updates. And a rent control board run by the town of Orange has been asked to consider the request by Leisure Woods Estate to raise rent on land there by 43%. Reach us at podcast@montaguereporter.org
Sarah and Mike discuss a complex story of Falls Farm's struggle with erosion; Erving's Union 28 superintendent's inherited challenge; and Mike's interview with outgoing Town Administrator Steve Ellis. Reach out with Ask the Editor (or any) questions: podcast@montaguereporter.org
Lots of Montague news in this episode! Montague has gotten funds totaling nearly $10 million to demolish the Strathmore Mill complex that lays between the canal and the Connecticut River. The Montague Selectboard saw a presentation from MassDOT on their plans to replace the bridges in the same vicinity in Turners, and the design phase is expected to last till 2027. Casella Waste Management is taking over trash collection in Montague starting in July. Subscribe to the paper: montaguereporter.org/subscribe Comments or Ask the Editor ideas? podcast@montaguereporter.org
Managing Editor Mike Jackson joins podcast host Sarah Brown-Anson in a wide ranging conversation about brick-and-mortar happenings in both Greenfield and Turners Falls. Plus, voters in Erving did not allocate money to demolish the International Paper Mill, so that complex of buildings may be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Mike joins Sarah on the podcast again to talk about a surprise A1 article about spiky shards in the road on Industrial Boulevard, Montague Selectboard discussions about redevelopment of the former Farren site in Montague City, and the mural project on the side of the Shea Theater. Subscribe to the paper: Montaguereporter.org/subscribe You can reach the podcast team at podcast@montaguereporter.org
Editor Mike joins podcast host Sarah for a discussion about complex budget preparation in the town of Erving. The town of Montague does its best to find a pesky infiltration and inflow ground water leak that is costing the town tens of thousands of dollars in sewage fees. Subscribe to the paper: montaguereporter.org/subscribe
Our perennial and most honored guest Mike joins Sarah to talk about the issues surrounding a potential battery energy storage site in Wendell; plus an inside look into the coverage of the sale of an Avenue A building and two winter fires in the Patch neighborhood. Reach out to us at podcast@montaguereporter.org Subscribe to the paper: montaguereporter.org/subscribe
Sarah Robertson recently was awarded the Paul Keough Award from the New England Water Environment Association. Congratulations, Sarah! All of Sharon Lerner's pieces about PFAS can be found here: https://theintercept.com/series/bad-chemistry/ Boston Globe article about PFAS in composting facility: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/06/science/when-organic-is-toxic-how-composting-facility-likely-spread-massive-amounts-forever-chemicals-across-one-town-massachusetts/
Mike and Sarah discuss the loss of millions of dollars of grant funds for local organizations due to a missed deadline; and the Gill Montague Regional School District is set to receive less Chapter 70 state aid than expected, and that means tough choices during budget season. Subscribe to the paper! montaguereporter.org/subscribe Reach out to us at podcast@montaguereporter.org
Sarah and Mike discuss the recommendation by a regional board that a new regional district be formed with six towns, including Gill and Montague. Plus, a discussion of the airport in Turners Falls that has had to search for a solution for too many deer on the runway. Order the Wrapping Paper Edition online here. https://montaguereporter.org/wrapping-paper/ Reach out to us at podcast@montaguereporter.org
Mike joins Sarah to discuss the possible visions for reuse of the old Farren spot in Montague City; the housing project on town-owned land in Erving that is moving forward; and continuing discussions of merging two local school districts. Order the Wrapping Paper Edition online here. https://montaguereporter.org/wrapping-paper/ Reach out to us at podcast@montaguereporter.org
Garth Shaneyfelt has been the Business Manager at the Montague Reporter since Fall 2022. He and Sarah discuss what that entails, and how the paper gets and spends its money. Reach out to the podcast: podcast@montaguereporter.org Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe
Sarah and Mike discuss the agreement on a collective bargaining agreement for teachers at the Gill-Montague school district. The paper broke the news that Erving voters rejected most expenditures at a special town meeting (thanks to reporter Katie Nolan). Plus a very important Ask the Editor segment where Mike describes the exhausting process of putting together the paper and asks for help. Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/ Ask the editor submissions can be sent to: podcast@montaguereporter.org
Mike and Sarah discuss September news items: two new members will join the the Gill-Montague School Committee, and a group of people is planning a new and different Falls Festival for October 21. Plus lightning round recent news updates. Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/ Ask the editor submissions can be sent to: podcast@montaguereporter.org
Sarah and Trouble discuss Trouble's column in the Montague Reporter, “Notes from the Heartfelt Cafe.” Have a columnist you would like to hear more from on the podcast? Email us with your ideas: podcast@montaguereporter.org
Mike discusses an Ask the Editor question about correcting mistakes in the newspaper. Montague town officials propose a zoning change to a town-owned parcel. Teachers at Gill-Montague Regional schools are still working without a contract and talks are now in arbitration. Submit ask the editor questions to podcast@montaguereporter.org
Did you know that there is a monthly travel column in the newspaper? It's called Travel With Max and it's written by Max Hartshorne. Sarah and Max discuss travel, travel writing, and why New Englanders can be boring.
Mike discusses the July 13, 2023 paper with Sarah. Community Health Center of Franklin County bought a location in Montague City and hopes to open it to provide medical care to patients in 2024. The Selectboard unanimously selected Casella to provide trash pickup services starting in July 2024. On Avenue A, a new record store called Music Connection will open. Send us Ask the Editor ideas: podcast@montaguereporter.org Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Sarah and Mike discuss two A1 news stories in the June 8, 2023 issue of the Montague Reporter newspaper. Plus - don't miss the Ask the Editor and non sequitur segments! Send us Ask the Editor ideas: podcast@montaguereporter.org Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Mike and Sarah are back for their first joint episode since March! Submit you questions for Ask the Editor to: podcast@montaguereporter.org
Mike and Nina come on the podcast to talk about the March 30th edition of the Reporter-- a themed issue about death and dying. More fun than it sounds! Outro music by She Said, featuring Nina Rossi on bass. Buy the album here: https://shesaid2.bandcamp.com/album/she-said And subscribe to the paper! https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Plus more info about how I got started with the podcast. Lights! Camera! Greenfield! is coming up and you can find more info here: https://gctv.org/lcg/ Subscribe to the Montague Reporter here: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Sarah and Mike discuss the pistons on the Turners Falls dam leaking fluid, school budgeting processes in Erving and Gill-Montague, and the negotiations that towns are having with FirstLight Power as it tries to renew its license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Plus: Ask the Editor and a short non sequitur Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Sarah Roberston joins Mike Jackson and Sarah Brown-Anson to discuss her recent stories on fuel assistance delays and sewage sludge disposal. You can read Sarah's article on fuel assistance delays: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/December-15-2022.pdf And the follow up: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/January-26-2023.pdf Sewage sludge disposal issues: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/March-2-2023.pdf
Mike and Sarah discuss the decision in Erving to set aside money for the demolition of the International Paper Mill complex. They also discuss an analysis piece on combined sewer overflow (abatement) and the history of projects in the town of Montague related to CSO abatement. Plus - non sequiturs and ask the editor. Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Sarah and Jae discuss their efforts on the subscription drive for the Montague Reporter newspaper. To see your subscription options, check out https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Sarah and Mike discuss the latest news about the Farren building in Montague City; the announcement of $975,000 in grant money for downtown sidewalks, and plans to update or replace the elementary schools in Montague. Plus, a series of missteps has lead to a very slow year in getting fuel assistance to applicants in Franklin County. Send in Ask the Editor questions: podcast@montaguereporter.org Order wrapping paper on our website: https://montaguereporter.org/
Mike is back on the podcast with Sarah to discuss an Ask the Editor question, important building news in Franklin County, and turkey day football coverage. Please be in touch if you would like to submit a jingle for the Ask the Editor segment! podcast@montaguereporter.org If you have Ask the Editor questions please submit them via email: podcast@montaguereporter.org, instagram: @montaguereporter , or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montaguereporter
Mike joins Sarah for a discussion of Montague's upcoming Historical Commission meeting on the Farren Care Center building. Jeff Singleton's article on the town-owned building that currently houses the Montague Center Library discusses the building's need for repairs as well as its long history in the town. Plus, the wrapping paper edition will be a fundraiser for the paper, and Sarah had a few favorites on A1 in this week's edition. If you have Ask the Editor questions please submit them via email: podcast@montaguereporter.org, instagram: @montaguereporter, or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montaguereporter
In this bonus episode, Sarah speaks with Nathan Frontiero, a writer who started contributing to the Montague Reporter earlier in 2022. If this episode gets you interested in writing for the Reporter, you can contact Mike Jackson at editor@montaguereporter.org.
Mike and Sarah discuss the efforts to increase safety for children taking the school bus on Route 63 in Leverett, and the listing of an estate for sale at the price of over $23 million, well over its assessed value. Plus an on-the-ground story of the Franklin County Fair — along with pictures — makes us smile. September 15 edition: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/September-15-2022.pdf September 8 edition: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/September-8-2022.pdf If you would like contact the podcast, email us at podcast@montaguereporter.org Montague Reporter website: https://montaguereporter.org/
I invited David Brule on the podcast to talk about his column, West Along the River, that has been appearing in the paper for decades now. We ended up talking about much more: his connections with France, language learning, how he learned about and explored deeply his family's roots in this area, and his writing process. Near the end of the conversation we also talked about his service on the Board of Directors for the Montague Reporter, which is a nonprofit organization. Reach out to the podcast at: podcast@montaguereporter.org Thank you for listening! Please tell a friend!
Sarah and Mike discuss the town of Montague's response to resident complaints regarding crime in downtown Turners Falls; and Mike's recent long pieces on the music scene. Plus a discussion of the new $1.50 price of the paper. This episode features the song "Theme For Bald Eagle Over Food City" from the album Bald Eagle Over Food City by Bromp Treb, the solo project of beloved former Turner's Falls resident Neil Cloaca Young. Listeners can find the album digitally at https://bromptreb.bandcamp.com/album/bald-eagle-over-food-city. Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/ Reach the podcast at podcast@montaguereporter.org Thanks for listening!
The future of the Strathmore complex is the subject of both an article by Jeff Singleton (July 14 edition) and a public meeting on July 26 at town hall. Mike and Sarah discuss the latest news about the Gill Montague Regional School Committee. Finally, Mike explains more about his editorial in the July 14 edition entitled “Being Bad.” July 14 edition link: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/July-14-2022.pdf If you would like contact the podcast, email us at podcast@montaguereporter.org Montague Reporter website: https://montaguereporter.org/
Mike and Sarah discuss the latest on bridge replacements, refurbishments, and closures in the town of Montague. They also mark the July 1 planned closure of beloved local business About-Face Computer Solutions. Plus, non sequiturs from Sarah and Mike. Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/ Reach the podcast at podcast@montaguereporter.org Thanks for listening!
Mike joins Sarah to talk about town meetings in Montague, Gill, Erving, Wendell and Leverett. Plus, the town election in Montague and non sequiturs. Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/ Reach the podcast at podcast@montaguereporter.org Thanks for listening!
Stephanie's new book is called EMDR Therapy and Sexual Health: A Clinician's Guide. https://stephaniebairdlmhc.wordpress.com/ Email: sexmatters@montaguereporter.org Recent columns: December - sex-positive TV shows: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/December-2-2021.pdf January - sex-related pain: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/January-6-2022.pdf February - body hair: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/February-3-2022.pdf March - relationship affairs: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/March-3-2022.pdf April - sexual trauma awareness month: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/April-7-2022.pdf
Mike and Sarah discuss the local filming of "Money Game," the leaking of hydraulic fluid from the Turners Falls dam, and the extra special photo spread in the B section in this week's paper. Read the April 14, 2022 edition here: https://montaguereporter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/April-14-2022.pdf Subscribe: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/
Heather Hamilton and Spencer Shorkey discuss science communication and the monthly Science Page in the Montague Reporter. Heather's email address: heather.sc.hamilton@gmail.com Spencer's website: http://spencersphere.science/
In this special 50th episode we talk about the podcast's origins and our vision for its future. Mike Jackson hosts, with guests Sarah Brown-Anson and Stella Silbert. Do you want to share ideas about the podcast? Email podcast@montaguereporter.org
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