Montague Reporter Podcast

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of the Kittredge estate in Leverett (and Amherst); the New Leaf battery project in Wendell that was recently withdrawn; and the ongoing process at Falls Farm to get in compliance with environmental regulations.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

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.

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

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 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/

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!

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/

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

This episode is the audio accompaniment to an item in the March 3rd, 2022 edition of the Montague Reporter, which can be found on page B1, entitled "Stomping and its Discontents: An Audio-Enhanced Police Log Retrospective." You should listen with the March 3rd edition of the paper in front of you!

Thanks to Galen Huckins for the audio accompaniment, Emily Alling for curation, and Nina Rossi for illustrations.