Skip to main content
Montague Reporter Podcast

Montague Reporter Podcast

By Sarah Brown-Anson

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.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Bonus episode: Valley Eye Radio brings Montague Reporter content to the valley

Montague Reporter PodcastFeb 08, 2021

00:00
17:41
Wendell battery regs; Avenue A building; two house fires in the Patch
Mar 06, 202439:27
Sarah Robertson on her award-winning environmental reporting

Sarah Robertson on her award-winning environmental reporting

Sarah Robertson recently was awarded the Paul Keough Award from the New England Water Environment Association. Congratulations, Sarah!


All of Sharon Lerner's pieces about PFAS can be found here: https://theintercept.com/series/bad-chemistry/


Boston Globe article about PFAS in composting facility: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/06/science/when-organic-is-toxic-how-composting-facility-likely-spread-massive-amounts-forever-chemicals-across-one-town-massachusetts/

Feb 14, 202426:41
Budget season begins with local loss of housing funds, school money shortfall
Feb 07, 202437:60
New school regionalization recommended, too many deer at TF airport
Jan 15, 202430:19
Farren reuse possibilities, Erving housing project, school district merger talks continue
Dec 06, 202334:58
Garth Shaneyfelt on managing the business of the MR

Garth Shaneyfelt on managing the business of the MR

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

Nov 01, 202323:21
Contract approved for Gill-Montague teachers, Erving voters strike down spending, Mike stays up all night to make the paper

Contract approved for Gill-Montague teachers, Erving voters strike down spending, Mike stays up all night to make the paper

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

Oct 24, 202339:10
School committee vacancies filled, new Falls Fest in the Falls, lightning round news

School committee vacancies filled, new Falls Fest in the Falls, lightning round news

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

Sep 25, 202331:08
Trouble Mandeson on local food and her column Notes from the Heartfelt Cafe

Trouble Mandeson on local food and her column Notes from the Heartfelt Cafe

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

Sep 19, 202322:25
Zoning change proposals spark discussion, teachers begin school year without contract

Zoning change proposals spark discussion, teachers begin school year without contract

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

Aug 29, 202332:25
Max Hartshorne on his column, Travel With Max

Max Hartshorne on his column, Travel With Max

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.

Aug 22, 202321:06
Health center location bought, trash pickup provider to change, Avenue A businesses
Jul 25, 202332:16
Work-to-rule in schools, little fruit buds destroyed by freeze
Jun 12, 202330:23
East Spoke stays open for now, Montague searches for better trash collection

East Spoke stays open for now, Montague searches for better trash collection

Mike and Sarah are back for their first joint episode since March!

Submit you questions for Ask the Editor to: podcast@montaguereporter.org

May 30, 202331:57
Facing Endings: Mike and Nina Discuss Last Month's Death Theme Issue

Facing Endings: Mike and Nina Discuss Last Month's Death Theme Issue

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/

Apr 21, 202332:17
Ian Hamilton on GCTV's film contest

Ian Hamilton on GCTV's film contest

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/

Apr 11, 202323:50
Three topics related to FirstLight Power: dam pistons, school budgeting, relicensing negotiations

Three topics related to FirstLight Power: dam pistons, school budgeting, relicensing negotiations

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/

Mar 22, 202342:42
Sarah Robertson on juicy stories and reporting scoops

Sarah Robertson on juicy stories and reporting scoops

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

Mar 16, 202330:09
Erving takes the next step with paper mill, combined sewer overflow analysis

Erving takes the next step with paper mill, combined sewer overflow analysis

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/

Feb 15, 202337:17
An inside look at the Montague Reporter subscription drive

An inside look at the Montague Reporter subscription drive

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/

Feb 01, 202315:30
Saying goodbye to town buildings and welcoming grant money; why fuel assistance is so slow

Saying goodbye to town buildings and welcoming grant money; why fuel assistance is so slow

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/

Jan 10, 202330:10
Building and infrastructure news and the return of turkey day football
Dec 07, 202239:14
Update on Farren building, Montague Center roof repairs, and other A1 favorites
Nov 01, 202228:08
Nathan Frontiero on being a stringer for the Montague Reporter
Oct 10, 202228:16
Two stories from Leverett and the Franklin County Fair
Sep 20, 202235:22
David Brule on his West Along the River column and Board service

David Brule on his West Along the River column and Board service

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!

Sep 01, 202235:46
Residents' crime complaints, long-form music writing in the paper
Aug 22, 202227:56
Future of Strathmore complex, school committee openings, and Mike's perspective on 'being bad'
Jul 25, 202234:26
Town of Montague Bridge roundup, About-Face Computer to close on July 1
Jun 21, 202222:47
Town meeting season at the Montague Reporter
May 25, 202226:08
Stephanie Baird on the Sex Matters column
May 20, 202225:13
Movie filming, dam oil leak, special photo section

Movie filming, dam oil leak, special photo section

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/

Apr 19, 202222:19
The Science Page and science communication in the Montague Reporter
Apr 08, 202218:32
50th episode of the Montague Reporter Podcast!

50th episode of the Montague Reporter Podcast!

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

Apr 04, 202226:58
A deeper dive into the Montague police log
Mar 24, 202218:32
Bonus episode: Stomping and its Discontents

Bonus episode: Stomping and its Discontents

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.

Mar 03, 202208:46
A not-quite-comprehensive review of hydroelectricity in Franklin County
Feb 21, 202223:35
Celebrating the Children's Page in the Montague Reporter
Jan 17, 202221:32
Four possible futures for Montague highway garage; Pandemic strains institutions
Jan 12, 202224:17
Bonus episode: The Montague Reporter redaction project
Jan 05, 202221:05
Beginning of Montague budget season, possible dingle land transfer, amusing non sequiturs
Dec 14, 202123:49
Bonus episode: Sarah Robertson on PFAS in drinking water
Nov 23, 202123:14
Spotlight on Montague City: Farren Care Center update and other neighborhood news

Spotlight on Montague City: Farren Care Center update and other neighborhood news

Mike tells Sarah about recent reporting on what’s happening in the village of Montague City.

Thanks for listening! Tell a friend!

Read the newspaper: montaguereporter.org/read

Thank you to Stella Silbert for editing the podcast!

You can reach us @ podcast@montaguereporter.org -- but it does go to my spam box.

Nov 14, 202125:37
Solar editorial, Buckland police chief story
Oct 23, 202128:15
Leverett Pond; housing and evictions update with Sarah Robertson
Sep 24, 202124:05
Volunteer ask, Candidates for Selectboard, and Montague “cop stuff”

Volunteer ask, Candidates for Selectboard, and Montague “cop stuff”

Mike and Sarah discuss volunteer opportunities at the Montague Reporter, and Mike’s recent reporting on the special selectboard election, as well as current town business taken up at a recent selectboard meeting.

The Montague Reporter Instagram account has 649 followers - join the ranks: https://www.instagram.com/montaguereporter/

Contact us: podcast@montaguereporter.org

Subscribe and read this week's edition: montaguereporter.org/subscribe

Sep 15, 202130:09
Joshua Shanley on the Connecticut River Flood of 1936

Joshua Shanley on the Connecticut River Flood of 1936

Josh’s website: http://www.newenglandfloods.org/

You can learn more about “Connecticut River Valley Flood of 1936” and purchase it here: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467145770

Read a longer form of this conversation in this week's Montague Reporter newspaper: https://montaguereporter.org/ 

Reach out to us at podcast@montaguereporter.org

Subscribe to the paper: https://montaguereporter.org/subscribe/

Jul 21, 202122:10
Prominent Avenue A building sold, federal money funds local projects

Prominent Avenue A building sold, federal money funds local projects

Sarah and Mike discuss changes to the St Katz building on Avenue A, as well as what local towns plan to do with the federal funds becoming available through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Contact us at podcast@montaguereporter.org or 413-586-8666.

Thanks for listening! Tell a friend!

Jul 06, 202123:00
Bonus Episode: Trish Crapo on Art Beat column and creativity
Jun 17, 202123:48
Big picture A1 news: redistricting and police advisory group feedback
May 26, 202128:43