Montague Reporter Podcast
News & Politics
About
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.
Episodes
- From 1894 to 2026: historical archives and today’s town governance
Mike shares insights from historical newspaper archives and discusses current town governance topics, including library, school, and selectboard matters in Montague and nearby towns. The episode also covers the water and fire district mana…
- Municipal functionality within global chaos: changes in town leadership, large public gatherings
This Montague Reporter Podcast episode discusses town leadership, introducing candidates for a selectboard seat and a new fire chief. It also covers contentious Baystate nurses union contract negotiations, with brief mentions of AI and the…
- Gloomy Chorus 2: 2 Gloomy 2 Handle
The Montague Reporter Podcast episode "Gloomy Chorus 2: 2 Gloomy 2 Handle" covers selectboard members not seeking reelection and complex town budget issues. It also reviews selectboard and town meeting roles, discusses other news, and touc…
- A Gloomy Chorus: Funding new tech school and library buildings amidst a challenging financial landscape
This episode of the Montague Reporter Podcast covers local budgetary challenges regarding proposed new library and technical school buildings. The discussion also includes a human interest story and advice on winter sinus health.
- The Seriousness of Doing Things Well Locally: depression of 1893, dam, pit, ballot glut
The Montague Reporter Podcast's first episode of the year explores the 1893 Turners Falls depression using archival newspaper sections and answers listener questions. It also provides updates on local projects, including a dam and a pit, a…
- Things that don’t last forever, and stories that feel like they do
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…
- Crabs in a Barrel: local struggles over school districts and solar batteries against the national backdrop of austerity and media suppression
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 distr…
- Back to the Grind: early fall stories of school district regionalizaion and EBT theft reimbursement efforts
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 comic…
- Ice cream and other topics: towns grapple with health insurance increase, Wendell budget & batteries, cop drama
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, a…
- Summer Catch-up: events calendar highlights, river stories, and new battery
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 a…
- Late Spring Sampler Platter: Pizza! Turnovers! Asparagus! and much more!
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…
- EBT Theft; Annual Town Meetings; AmeriCorps Cuts
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 reve…
- Trees, Trees, Trees; WQCs; and a totally non-sensational non sequitur about the Montague PD
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 edit…
- Updates and uncertainties, Big Picture interview, and Sarah is back
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 w…
- Collapses and Trainwrecks: GMRSD budget deficit, local impact of federal funding precarity, Strathmore snag and more
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 imp…
- GMRSD drama, downtown dreams, and day trips
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,…
- Community health care comes to Montague, Kittredge estate housing non-proposals, and Sarah's big news!
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 Levere…
- An original MR investigation, MCSM becomes Heartwing Center, updates on Leisure Woods
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…
- Maggie Sadoway on the joys and challenges of being Editorial Assistant
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:…
- Updates on Montague libraries, Orange rent control board decision, and treasure hunt in Wendell
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…
- Stories that straddle town lines
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 Fa…
- The comedians behind the MR satire column, True Love Will Find You in the End
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
- Orange rent control board mulls proposal, farm erosion continues
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…
- New farm struggles to hold dirt; Erving updates, exit interview with Steve Ellis
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)…
- Go Time: Strathmore Mill demo funds, bridge plans discussed, new trash collector
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 Ma…
- Storefront and building changes in Franklin County, Erving paper mill stays standing for now
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 Internat…
- Spilled steel shards shred tires, Montague selectboard plans slow and fast projects
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 mura…
- Erving’s budget puzzle, Montague DPW tries to find expensive infiltration and inflow
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 tho…
- Wendell battery regs; Avenue A building; two house fires in the Patch
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 i…
- Sarah Robertson on her award-winning environmental reporting
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-chemistr…
- Budget season begins with local loss of housing funds, school money shortfall
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 mean…
- New school regionalization recommended, too many deer at TF airport
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…
- Farren reuse possibilities, Erving housing project, school district merger talks continue
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.…
- Garth Shaneyfelt on managing the business of the MR
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…
- Contract approved for Gill-Montague teachers, Erving voters strike down spending, Mike stays up all night to make the paper
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 report…
- School committee vacancies filled, new Falls Fest in the Falls, lightning round news
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. S…
- Trouble Mandeson on local food and her column Notes from the Heartfelt Cafe
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
- Zoning change proposals spark discussion, teachers begin school year without contract
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 a…
- Max Hartshorne on his column, Travel With Max
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.
- Health center location bought, trash pickup provider to change, Avenue A businesses
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…
- Work-to-rule in schools, little fruit buds destroyed by freeze
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 t…
- East Spoke stays open for now, Montague searches for better trash collection
Mike and Sarah are back for their first joint episode since March! Submit you questions for Ask the Editor to: podcast@montaguereporter.org
- Facing Endings: Mike and Nina Discuss Last Month's Death Theme Issue
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://shes…
- Ian Hamilton on GCTV's film contest
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/
- Three topics related to FirstLight Power: dam pistons, school budgeting, relicensing negotiations
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 F…
- Sarah Robertson on juicy stories and reporting scoops
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/up…
- Erving takes the next step with paper mill, combined sewer overflow analysis
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…
- An inside look at the Montague Reporter subscription drive
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/
- Saying goodbye to town buildings and welcoming grant money; why fuel assistance is so slow
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 mis…
- Building and infrastructure news and the return of turkey day football
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 segm…