The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts

In this week's program, I will be presenting a recording of the debate I moderated for Focus Springfield between incumbent state Sen. Adam Gomez and challenger Malo Brown, a member of the Springfield City Council.

There's not a lot of local races here in the region but this is an important one. If you live in Springfield or Chicopee I hope you take time to listen.

I want to emphasize the statement Councilor Brown makes about Gomez being incarcerated is simply not true. It's difficult as a moderator to fact-check live, but I want to make it clear the statement is inaccurate.

And if you want to watch the debate, you can at https://focusspringfield.com/state-senate-debate/?fbclid=IwY2xjawE1wvlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSw9LfVHDg9_5YEdsa1dLlKKflj-h-fSM7pPTnweE1I78QfOsDyxsMMGAA_aem_FTka4402VPRYkHDw2XYsfg

This week on the podcast I speak with John Dobrydnio of Amherst, who, in my book, is a real renaissance guy. John describes himself as a monster kid, who is someone who fell in love with horror films at a young age and has been enjoying them his entire life. He loves them so much that he has been hosting, along with his friend Marty Caron, their own horror film show called Graveyard Cinema since 2016.

It's seen on more than 20 cable access stations in Massachusetts and it streams nationally on The Monster Channel (https://themonsterchannel.com).

But John is also a life-long music fan who has recently released his own new music (which can be seen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCps7h53qoOmttROWazdSokA ). As Johnny D and the Moonlighters, John's music reflects the songs he heard in his youth.

And we talk about both music and horror films in this interview.

I also relate my experiences at the great vintage film ferstival CapitolFest in this episode.

Springfield photographer Chris marion is just not well known in the region, his work for the National Basketball Association has brought him new heights of recognition. He has literally been all over the word for the NBA. I spoke to him at his studio in the Gasoline Alley complex in Springfield. https://www.chrismarion.com

I also recorded a story about Cookes, the internationally known cannabis company, coming to Springfield. The long anticipated business is going into the South End on South Main Street.

Many people in the greater Springfield area have wondered about the former MacDuffie School property. It was sold to John Foley in 2011 to continue its educational mission.

To be clear the name MacDuffie and its curriculum was acquired by a company that established a private school in Granby, MA at the site of the former St. Hyacinth's Seminary.

I recently sat down to interview Angelene Huang the woman who worked with a group of investors to purchase the school and her Head of School Beth Moriarty for Focus Springfield. We sat in Angel House one of the buildings on the campus that is being renovated. Some of the buildings have been closed and still reflect the damage of the 2011 tornado. Huang is intent on reopening all the buildings.

The two women met at the New York Military Academy where Huang had been brought in to revitalize that school. After her success there she wanted to do the same at another school.

Please watch this edition of Government Matters on Focus Springfield (it will be available on-line), but right now you can listen to our conversation.

For my tip this week, I'll tell you about two great books about aspects of movie history you may not have considered.

"Ethernight Club" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Maple Leaf Rag" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week on the program we will have Chris Maza. You may know him from his role as a long-time reporter and now managing editor at Reminder Publishing. Yes, Chris survived working with me for years. You might also know him for his podcast called Maza's Musings.

We are talking about another of his endeavors – helping foster kids and their families through the work of All Our Kids, Inc.. The seventh annual Homebrew Showcase for All Our Kids will take place at Paddy's Irish Pub on Saturday, July 27, 2024, from 12-3 p.m. The Pub is located at 1060 Wilbraham Road, Springfield.

This beer-tasting event is a lot of fun. Entry at the door is $20. Additionally, raffle tickets can be purchased in advance online. Designated drivers receive free entry, though a donation is appreciated. This is a 21+ event.

"Maple Leaf Rag" and "Ethernight Club" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We have a two-fer with interviews this edition with one about politics and one about a local artist.

First up is State Sen. Adam Gomez whose district includes much of Springfield and part of Chicopee and who is up for re-election. He is being challenged by Springfield City Councilor Malo Brown. I had the opportunity of speaking with Gomez on "Government Matters," the program on Focus Springfield that I host. Steve Cary, the executive director of Focus Springfield, graciously allowed me to share the audio here on this podcast.

If you want to learn more about what legislation Gomez supports, go to https://adamgomezma.com.

Springfield's Ken Harris is a writer, an actor and a puppeteer and he has a new one-man show he will be performing three times in the region. The show is "Foes of a Minimum Wage Guard" and it is playing on July 21 at 1 p.m. at the Castle of the Knights in Chicopee; on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. at Gasoline Alley on Albany Street in Springfield; and on Aug. 24 at 6 p.m.at Holyoke Media, 1 Court Plaza, Holyoke. To learn more go to his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.harris.16547.

Bob Charland has become a bit of a legend in Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut through his non-profit organization, Pedal Thru Youth.

Originally starting as an effort in his home's garage to repair donated bikes and get them to kids who want a bike but can't afford one, Bob and his volunteer staff now have programs including getting backpacks of necessities to homeless people, baby clothes to those who need them and now medical equipment.

He works with the Hampden County Sheriff's department, various municipal police departments, emergency food pantries, schools and other organizations to get these items to people who really need them.

Bob is a humble guy who is far more interested in helping someone out rather than in public praise. I appreciate him taking some time from his labors to sit down in his huge headquarters in West Springfield.

Pedal Thru Youth can be reached at its website www.pedalthruyouth.org

Plus this week, I rant about faith and politics and offer a tip about a great breakfast place.

My guest this week is an up-and-comic cartoonist and writer named Tanner T. Ogle. The Easthampton resident has just released two new comics that don't featured a superhero, but instead a mediocre attorney who is the epitome of Murphy's Law – "anything that can go wrong will go wrong."

Working in the medium since 2018, he has been featured in two anthology books, and now has completed two solo volumes featured his unlikely hero, Murph: "Murph starring in Blunderdog" and "Giant Sized Murph."

Murph involves the hapless attorney narrowly avoiding the machinations of a crooked prison warden. I found the books to be different and fun. In this age of superheroics they are refreshing.

Tanner and I talk about the creative process and the challenges creatives have in getting their work to the public.

Tanner will be appearing at the Springfield Comic Con at the MassMutual Center July 13-14.

To buy his books go to www.lesserknowncomcis.com.

Perhaps the best known "lost" film of the past 30 years, the 1994 version of the venerable comic book "The Fantastic Four," is currently the subject of a Change.org petition effort to finally and legitimately release the film. Marty Langford, the director of the acclaimed "Doomed! The Untold Story of Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four," talks with G. Michael Dobbs about the film and the new effort to make it available to all fans of the comic book series. Also, Mike gives unsolicited advice to candidates running for local seats this summer and his tip of the week.

Art historian and former teacher David Barsalou of Chicopee, MA, is now featured in the new documentary, "Wham! Blam! Roy Lichtenstein and the Art of Appropriation," by director Jim Hussy. Dave started his reserach years ago that Licentenstein, whose work now fetches milltions of dollars in auction, was ripping off images created by comic book artists. Dave talks to me about his long journey. Also in this episode I rant about Massachusetts Gov. Healey and her recent trip to Rome and offers the first weekly tip.