Montague Reporter Podcast

As this episode’s recording coincided with the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Sarah and Mike took the opportunity to reflect on how big historical events affect daily life, leading to a discussion of September’s special historical section from the 1890s. Then they move on to a story about developing collaboration between the various “quasi-governmental” entities managing essential services in Montague. The rest of the episode offers a helpful primer on what to expect this fall election season in Franklin County. Expect to leave this episode a higher-information voter than you started!

If you’re curious whether Mike ended up going to the Franklin County Fair, the Diemand Farm 90th anniversary, or something else last weekend, submit your ask-the-editor questions to [email protected].

For detail on all of these stories, read the Montague Reporter! https://montaguereporter.org/read/  

After checking in on Mike’s health stats following the first round of the biweekly publication schedule, we hear the harrowing story of how an AI app snafu delayed printing the most recent edition of the paper. Then Sarah and Mike discuss the developing news around Food City’s pending sale, a spotlight on the Summer Eats meal program, and the results of last month’s divisive library funding vote. Stick it out for the non sequiturs to find out what music genre Mike is just finally getting into.

Wishing Maggie Sadoway a speedy recovery!

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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 June 11 edition of the paper, and that is very cool. 

Check it out at https://montaguereporter.org/read/

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 roof in Gill, sawmill in Leverett, and selectboard races in Erving and Montague. Listeners who stick it out are rewarded with a stimulating discussion of the arcane system of water and fire district management in Montague, a topic that has been in the news multiple times recently. 

See the video of the candidates’ forum for the Montague selectboard race here: https://vimeo.com/1189594713

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 union contract negotiations. 

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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 this discussion. Then, a lightning round of other important news topics, non-sequiturs, and an interesting disclosure about why Mike’s feelings about daylight savings might seem a little disproportionate at first glance.

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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 health from our editor!

Send your editor questions to [email protected]! And direct your words of encouragement and wiiiiiidddddeee format photos to [email protected].

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 Reporter content: a dam gets undammed and a pit gets filled. Looking at the future, a glut of elections is forecast for this year in Montague.  

Submit your own question for the editor at [email protected]!

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! Montague is getting a new one.
• Dogs sometimes don’t last forever when they are deemed dangerous by the town selectboard and that is sad for everyone (but all dogs considered in the recent hearings are still around!)
• Empty lots in the Patch don’t last forever! New apartment buildings are going up!

Montague Reporter T-shirts don’t last forever! Support the paper and buy yours now! https://montaguereporter.org/

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 interesting meeting he had with folks from a locally headquartered media advocacy group.

Check out our previous episode on the six-town regionalization proposal for more background on that story.

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