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.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/10/14/0/4d8ff5bb-ceed-4117-b171-851d17added9_mrp10.9.26.mp3

After reflecting on where we are in the municipal cycle this time of year, Sarah and Mike debrief the recent highly anticipated local elections, in which Franklin County voters approved funding for a new tech school building and shot down a six-town school regionalization proposal nearly 10 years in the making. They also discuss the shuttering of both the Center School in Greenfield and LightLife Foods in Turners Falls, as well as the downtown graffiti story that got everyone talking. And as if that wasn’t enough loss this fall, Mike’s car has bit the dust! But, a new era of poetry is on the horizon for the Montague Reporter, so we have that to look forward to! Sell Mike your old car! Email editor@montaguereporter.org. Ask Mike a question! Email podcast@montaguereporter.org.

Autumn's losses and moving forward: election post-mortem, closures, graffiti

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/9/17/2/fae367f5-2097-4361-afd2-bc1949ac0c47_mrp9.11.26.mp3

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 podcast@montaguereporter.org. For detail on all of these stories, read the Montague Reporter! <a href="https://montaguereporter.org/read/" rel="nofollow">https://montaguereporter.org/read/</a>

A lesson in history and civics: Panic(s) of the 1890s, special district summit, election rundown

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/7/12/21/69b4080a-f4ed-424f-af4e-57c1246a80c7_mrp7.10.26.mp3

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! Support the paper: <a href="https://montaguereporter.org/donate/" rel="nofollow">https://montaguereporter.org/donate/</a>

The value of a grocery store, a meal, and a library: Food City sale, Summer Eats, library vote wrap-up

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/19/17/9d53bdbb-0213-4254-8783-f37b3ac0b63c_mrp6.12.26.mp3

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/

Full of Dilemmas: Montague library debate, Gill budget logistics, FCTS graduation snafu

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/12/13/ecf5857b-aeca-4b9b-a17e-fa8db500d1a7_mrp5.8.26.mp3

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

From 1894 to 2026: historical archives and today’s town governance

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/14/0/a2a77e50-ce5f-4f60-bf52-d2cab7293ad1_mrp4.10.26.mp3

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.  Support the newspaper! https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

Municipal functionality within global chaos: changes in town leadership, large public gatherings

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/a35a4764-ad7d-4505-8f61-7af3b3712b5a_26-2-18_2F17e75997-97f6-96b5-6ec3-6da690d78e3c.mp3

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. Subscribe to the paper at montaguereporter.org/subscribe

Gloomy Chorus 2: 2 Gloomy 2 Handle

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/2fec2ed7-90d8-455d-b226-c70b09f1ffaa_26-1-18_2F9f539e4d-ec02-b270-0337-a7423442edf5.mp3

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 podcast@montaguereporter.org! And direct your words of encouragement and wiiiiiidddddeee format photos to editor@montaguereporter.org.

A Gloomy Chorus: Funding new tech school and library buildings amidst a challenging financial landscape

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/f316c596-092a-4682-ba29-e254c2a06063_26-0-21_2F802fc05d-5bd4-f62d-4b4a-8040bee786a2.mp3

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 podcast@montaguereporter.org!

The Seriousness of Doing Things Well Locally: depression of 1893, dam, pit, ballot glut

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/1908bb12-6457-4cfc-b2dc-9bd6317f3da1_25-11-9_2F3a62b823-e366-72a7-b5ac-731f63dbff0f.mp3

Catching up after a little gap, Sarah and Mike recap a potpourri of stories from the last 6 weeks:<ul><li>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?</li><li>Industrial buildings don’t last forever! We get an update on the ongoing Strathmore mill demolition saga.</li><li>Police chiefs don’t last forever! Montague is getting a new one.</li><li>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!)</li><li>Empty lots in the Patch don’t last forever! New apartment buildings are going up!</li></ul> Montague Reporter T-shirts don’t last forever! Support the paper and buy yours now! https://montaguereporter.org/

Things that don’t last forever, and stories that feel like they do

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/b6319eb6-17c7-4c11-856e-ea94222d729c_25-9-17_2F352e05bc-f4b5-55a8-d0cd-1ffb2b41b3a5.mp3

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. Subscribe to the Montague Reporter at https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

Crabs in a Barrel: local struggles over school districts and solar batteries against the national backdrop of austerity and media suppression

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/c7054663-149e-447b-b595-d942c8816879_25-8-24_2F0bced5f5-501d-44bc-73cf-41995c83c592.mp3

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 https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

Back to the Grind: early fall stories of school district regionalizaion and EBT theft reimbursement efforts

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/d382d484-3798-4a1a-a8ff-5137f8be4215_25-7-19_2F66228aa9-ffa7-eeb5-7a9b-b42ce6956393.mp3

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 Department. Plus, school merger fantasies and BULBS BULBS BULBS!  Read, support, and check out the fall bulb fundraiser at https://montaguereporter.org/

Ice cream and other topics: towns grapple with health insurance increase, Wendell budget & batteries, cop drama

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/11da3bec-7986-497f-aa71-ac23398726c0_25-6-22_2F4f8459a7-634b-6ec1-bae3-9d34dcd5aac5.mp3

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 fecal education and a Kate Bush flash mob workshop into one fun-filled day next week! Subscribe to the Montague Reporter! https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

Summer Catch-up: events calendar highlights, river stories, and new battery

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/3193450e-7f35-4054-a3d4-7baa378d3bfe_25-5-25_2Fda662aff-126a-e3cd-d1a1-ddb5801077e8.mp3

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 include the Turners Falls Thunder’s victory in the state softball championship, Ben Gagnon’s series of articles on local food producers, and the opening of a new playground in Montague Center. Support the Montague Reporter! Subscribe at https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

Late Spring Sampler Platter: Pizza! Turnovers! Asparagus! and much more!

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/a1b8204b-649e-44cd-965a-fd50752fa262_25-4-21_2Fbbc1aa23-f586-e4e7-4dfc-10a81cecc59d.mp3

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/subscribe/

EBT Theft; Annual Town Meetings; AmeriCorps Cuts

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/f2c92f7c-4b6f-434e-9430-5005ba6b6be0_25-3-29_2F91a1ab61-2268-f21a-ed37-dd515a1c206a.mp3

Sarah and Mike discuss several arboreal stories, as well as the denouement of the First Light hydroelectric relicensing saga, and a candidate&#39;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/

Trees, Trees, Trees; WQCs; and a totally non-sensational non sequitur about the Montague PD

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/3711488c-03af-4c26-80d2-68c52d05a4fc_025-3-1_2F8644918a-0cf6-b570-c8a1-a9d149353266.mp3

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://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

Updates and uncertainties, Big Picture interview, and Sarah is back

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/748e8637-2bc9-4ccb-8a4d-be16b653710e_025-2-2_2F4c5230c7-4ed2-8532-42b4-437bf4aef3bb.mp3

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&#39;s annual struggle to secure needed state aid; the current and potential impacts of the Trump administration&#39;s unprecedented austerity measures on local life (and the particular case of Montague beekeepers They Keep Bees); and a monkey wrench in the planned demolition of the Strathmore mill complex. Plus, trainwrecks! Roofs caving in! Newspaper editors&#39; chairs collapsing! To read more from They Keep Bees and support their recovery efforts from hurricane and funding losses, check out their blog: https://www.theykeepbees.com/blog Watch the Wendell trainwreck video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGLyI6nzbkE&amp;t=253s Submit your own questions for Mike to podcast@montaguereporter.org, and subscribe to the paper at https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/.

Collapses and Trainwrecks: GMRSD budget deficit, local impact of federal funding precarity, Strathmore snag and more

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/11/15/c0548f90-97be-4b61-80f3-23426f953e52_25-0-19_2F955ea647-4d1b-9785-1677-b1deedc2fcba.mp3

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 featured on the next episode!