Montague Reporter Podcast

Mike is tired! The wind-down of town meeting season across each of our idiosyncratic coverage towns, a contentious vote around funding for a new library in downtown Turners Falls, and a sensitive story about the technical school graduation ceremony have been keeping our editor busy in these final weeks before the biweekly summer schedule begins. But, there is a regionally specific crossword in the...

In a fun “ask the editor,” Mike talks about making the recent historical section of archival Turners Falls Reporter excerpts from 1894— and unintentionally answers a bonus question: why might a newpaper editor carry around a kazoo at all times? Then, Sarah and Mike dive into the highlights from annual town meetings and elections across several of our coverage towns: library in Montague, school roo...

Though bookended by an ask-the-editor segment about AI and a non-sequitur about the Iran war, the meat of this episode zooms in and focuses on the more provincial matter of town leadership. Mike introduces the two candidates running for an open selectboard seat, as well as the new “double” fire chief of Turners Falls and Montague Center. Then to a more contentious story about the Baystate nurses u...

After clearing the post-its and coffee mugs aside, an “Ask the Editor” question prompts an impromptu reading of the index. The fun then abruptly drops off, as Mike and Sarah discuss selectboard members declining to seek reelection, and the multi-layered budgetary quagmires in our towns that might influence such a decision. A refresher on selectboard and town meeting responsibilities is folded into...

After a lighthearted “Ask the Editor” segment, Sarah and Mike gradually descend into the doom and gloom of budgetary drama in our local towns, by way of two building projects that voters will consider this year. Listeners who stick it out through this morass will be rewarded with discussion of a sweet human interest story from the January 29 edition, plus some unexpected tips on winter sinus healt...

In our first episode of the new year, Sarah and Mike acknowledge the overwhelming national and international backdrop of the current moment before diving deep into a different time altogether—1893 Turners Falls. They discuss the special archival section from the New Years Day edition of the paper and answer listener questions about it. Then, back to the present for some bread-and-butter Montague R...

Catching up after a little gap, Sarah and Mike recap a potpourri of stories from the last 6 weeks: Permits don’t last forever! A prospective solar development in Wendell whose permit was approved in 2018 hits yet another snag— will this be the final blow? Industrial buildings don’t last forever! We get an update on the ongoing Strathmore mill demolition saga. Police chiefs don’t last forever! Mont...

Smoke from a downtown Turners Falls fire still hung in the air as Sarah and Mike sat down to record this episode on Friday October 10th. They dig into the politics surrounding a postponed vote on the proposed six-town regional school district and also discuss another nearby regional school district that made the news. Then, after an update on solar regulations in Wendell, Mike debriefs an interest...

In this episode, after an Ask the Editor question about censorship goes existential, Mike and Sarah discuss a plot twist in the six-town school regionalization saga and revisit an EBT theft story that began in May. Plus: melons, blue comics, pessimism frosting, newspaper-themed weddings, and poetic indices. Intrigued? Confused? Listen to find out! Subscribe to the Montague Reporter newspaper at ht...

After an ode to ice cream and popsicles, Sarah and Mike cover a few irksome news items of the summer. They discuss the potential impacts of a regional health insurer’s sudden rate increase and the results of a recent tax vote in Wendell, as well as a pending solary array development in that town. They then give a very humane, un-sensationalized recap of recent churn in the Montague Police Departme...

River-related news has dominated the pages of the Montague Reporter so far this summer. Mike and Sarah discuss the recent drawdown of the Turners Falls dam, the vintage graffiti it revealed, and a new tax deal negotiated between the town and First Light Power. Plus, an update on a battery storage facility approved to be built outside Judd Wire. But first, learn how you and your little ones can fit...

Catching up with the cornucopia of late spring news, Sarah and Mike offer a smorgasbord of the major stories that have been reported since mid-May. They cover the turnover of both the Gill-Montague School District’s current superintendent and its graduating high school seniors, as well as write-in candidate Marina Goldman’s last-minute victory in the Montague selectboard election. Other topics inc...

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/subscr...

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://m...

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...

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 feature...

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 htt...

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 As...

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 s...

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@m...

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