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.

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! 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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