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

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.

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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!

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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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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!

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