Photographer Chris Marion and a report on Cookies coming to Springfield
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
Release Date: 08/08/2024
What's happening in Congress with Richard Neal
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
On this week's podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking again with Congressman Richard Neal who gave me an insider's look at what is happening in the House. This conversation was recorded several days before House narrowly passed President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." After than converation, I'd like to share the health journey I've been on since January.
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Part two of the conversation with author Joe Citro
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
This week on the podcast, the second part of my conversation with author and folklorist Joseph Citro. As I mentioned last week, Joe’s many books collect odd histories and occurrences throughout New England have earned him an enviable reputation. Joe is not a ghosthunter. He researches and chronicles fascinating people, events, and the unexplainable. In today’s podcast, Joe relates when his success with his non-fiction books – remember he is also an acclaimed horror novelist – led to a possible ghostwriting job with self-proclaimed demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. That name...
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A conversation with writer Joseph Citro
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
It is a personal pleasure to share with you a two-part presentation of a conversation I recently had with my good friend Joesph Citro. I’ve had the good fortune of knowing him for decades as he not only just a great person he is also a very talented writer. A Vermonter through and through, Joe has established two careers as a writer – the first as an acclaimed horror novelist and the second as a folklorist and historian who has collected in book after book odd and inexplicable New England stories. With considerable research, Joe has recounted hundreds of stories about hauntings, odd...
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The economic importance of arts and culture to Springfield
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
My guest today is Karen Finn, the executive director of the Springfield Culture Partnership. If you’ve not heard of the partnership, here’s a little history, according to the organization’s website: In 2018, the , , and the partnered to form the Springfield Cultural Compact. The three partners work exclusively on cultural activities to boost the local economy through creative expression separately, signed a “cultural compact” on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at Springfield City Hall, to increase collaboration and partnership, together. "The compact includes...
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Talking about the Springfield Armory Museum
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
Today on the podcast my guest is Kelly Fellner the superintendent of the Springfield National Historic Site, one of the federal parks in Massachusetts (). The week starting April 19 is National Park Week and the museum has a number of events. Check out their on-line calendar at . Personally, I love the museum because the armory and the arsenal that preceded it has played such a major role in not just the history of Springfield and the Pioneer Valley but also the nation. I appreciate having the opportunity of speaking with Fellner about the history of the armory as well as the events offered by...
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Springfield Veterans Activities Committee launches fundraising efforts
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
Today on the podcast, I’ll share a discussion I recently had with three members of the Springfield Veterans Activities Committee, a non-profit organization, that is currently raising money to fund a monument in Springfield to denote the Global War on Terror. The city has monuments for veterans of WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. The committee is undertaking several up-coming fundraisers for the project. On April 16 from 5 to 8 p.m., there will be an event at Dewey’s Jazz Lounge at 232 Worthington Street in Springfield. The entry donation is $25, with an option to donate $25 more for free...
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News from Washington with Congressman Richard E. Neal
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
With all the turmoil happening daily in the Trump Administration, I welcomed the opportunity to speak once again with Representative Richard Neal over Focus Springfield and this podcast. Neal answered a number of questions which I think many people will find illuminating to what is happening on the federal level. And this week, I’ll talk about the new movies I’ve seen.
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The future of cannabis smoking lounges in Massachusetts
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
This week on the podcast we have an interview that was supposed to be very different. Steve Cary, the executive director of Focus Springfield community television, had labored for weeks negotiating an appearance of Cannabis Control Commissioners as part of a discussion about the effort the commission is undertaking in setting up the regulations for social consumption or in non-government-ese, cannabis smoking lounges. The commission’s website reports the commissioners should have these rules established sometime in the middle of this year. The commission agreed that two commissioners –...
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Talking once more with state Sen. Jake Oliveira
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
The year is still young from a legislative point of view here in Massachusetts and I recently had the pleasure of speaking once again with State Senator Jake Oliveira. The senator spoke about his own legislative agenda as well as clarifying for me the need for a rail station in Palmer, MA, for the upcoming increased west-east passenger rail service. It was a good talk and I hope you will listen. After the senator, I’ll talk about what I’m watching – movies, TV.
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A conversation with Ayanna Crawford
The Ink-stained Wretch with G. Michael Dobbs, News and Views from Western Massachusetts
On this week’s podcast, I speak with Ayanna Crawford, a woman who wears many hats. She is the chief of staff for state Rep, Orlando Ramos and has her own media consulting company. The reason for our talk this week is about a program – Take the Mic () – she has developed and runs that teaches young people – and adults as well – how to overcome their fears of speaking in public. She is having a special event on Feb. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. called “Empower Her Calendar Launch at The Venue at 1205 Liberty Street in Springfield, MA. It is a fundraiser for her Take the Mic...
info_outlineSpringfield photographer Chris marion is just not well known in the region, his work for the National Basketball Association has brought him new heights of recognition. He has literally been all over the word for the NBA. I spoke to him at his studio in the Gasoline Alley complex in Springfield. https://www.chrismarion.com
I also recorded a story about Cookes, the internationally known cannabis company, coming to Springfield. The long anticipated business is going into the South End on South Main Street.