Sarah and Mike discuss several arboreal stories, as well as the denouement of the First Light hydroelectric relicensing saga, and a candidate's forum hosted by the Montague Reporter. Plus, Mike recaps a juicy scoop from the April 10th edition.

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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.

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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's annual struggle to secure needed state aid; the current and potential impacts of the Trump administration'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' 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&t=253s

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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!

Podcast editor Stella Silbert joins Sarah and Mike as a co-host this week to discuss the new Community Health Center of Franklin County location in Montague City and possible housing development scenarios for the Kittredge estate in Leverett. Plus, Sarah makes an exciting announcement! We end with a gush session over this year's special wrapping paper edition (available now for purchase at https://montaguereporter.org/ and in local stores).

Thanks for listening! Email podcast@montaguereporter.org to submit an "Ask the Editor" question for Mike to answer on a future episode!

In this pre-election episode, Sarah and Mike discuss an investigation reported by Sarah Robertson about a “humming” noise that many residents in Wendell have reported hearing. Plus, a social services organization in Montague renames itself to the Heartwing Center, and an update on the continuing story of Leisure Woods’ owners attempt to increase lot rent.

Thank you for listening! Do you have an Ask the Editor question to submit? Reach out to podcast@montaguereporter.org

Maggie Sadoway is currently the Editorial Assistant for the Montague Reporter. Join us to learn more about her work and her fascinating background in the world of newspapers and publishing.

Reach out with questions or bonus episode ideas: podcast@montaguereporter.org

Mike Jackson pays tribute to Chris Sawyer-Lauçanno, the Poetry Page editor who died on October 3. Then Sarah and Mike discuss the interview Mike did with Caitlin Kelley, the director of Montague Public Libraries (there are 3 of them). The Rent Control Board in Orange approved an increase in lot rental rates, but by less than the amount originally requested by the owners. And a treasure hunt that several Montague Reporter community members participated in ends with someone finding treasure in Wendell State Forest.

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Thank you for listening!