Monte Belmonte

Monte Belmonte

Monte Belmonte 6am - 10am

Having grown up in the suburbs of Boston, I always thought Western Mass was a desolate wasteland. Now I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Well, I guess I can imagine it but I don’t WANT to live anywhere else. On this page you’ll find conversations with some of the people I find most interesting in our Valley. Authors, astronomers, astronauts and other people that start with letters other than “a.”

I got my start in radio impersonating Al Gore while off the air on Election Day 2000, and since that election dragged on and on, so has my radio career. I love bringing music and my “low minded humor for high minded people” (Wine Squirrel copyright 2017) to people of the Valley every weekday morning.

Thursday, September 30, 202109/30/2021

Placemaking and Pig-mending at The Mill District

In Podcasts

Meet Hannah Rechtschaffen and Andy Haase from the new Mill District General Store in Amherst. Learn about the burgeoning business…

Wednesday, September 29, 202109/29/2021

Kickshaw, Zugzwang & Ytterbium: More Winning Scrabble Words

In Podcasts

Word Nerd Emily Brewster, resident wordster, from Merriam-Webster gives us the meaning to these amazing Scrabble/Banagrams/Words with Friends words. https://soundcloud.com/939theriver-1/more-winning-scrabble-words-word-nerd?si=34341b7770114322814345d0e03a9d7f

Wednesday, September 29, 202109/29/2021

The Thing Itself with Christopher Janke

In Podcasts

Greenfield artist, Christopher Janke (full disclosure-husband of The Word Nerd) takes us through his enlightened exhibit at the UMass Fine…

Tuesday, September 28, 202109/28/2021

Does The Valley have a rabies problem? HEAVY PETTING

In Podcasts

Hear what Dr. Steve from Sunderland Animal Hospital has to say about the recent spate of rabies cases in the…

Tuesday, September 28, 202109/28/2021

Jamilla Deria and the 2021/22 UMASS FAC Season

In Podcasts

Meet the new(ish) director of the UMass Fine Arts Center, who was happy to return to her home haunts and…

Monday, September 27, 202109/27/2021

Two White Dwarves make a Snow White Supernova: Mr. Universe

In Podcasts

Hampshire College astronomer Dr. Salman Hameed on how astronomers solved a 900 year old mystery. https://soundcloud.com/939theriver-1/2-white-dwarves-make-a-snow-white-supernova-mr-universe

Monday, September 27, 202109/27/2021

The Weather Nut Theme Song

In Podcasts

J.J. O’Connell from the band SPOUSE and the meteorological legend, Dave Hayes The Weather Nut, join Monte to talk about…

Friday, September 24, 202109/24/2021

The Best Grape on Earth?

In Podcasts

Ringo at State Street thinks it is. Monte and The Wine Snobs taste through 3 great Rieslings. https://soundcloud.com/939theriver-1/the-best-grape-on-earth-wine-snob

Thursday, September 23, 202109/23/2021

Saving The Drake

In Podcasts

Gabrielle Gould from the Amherst Business improvement District and the Downtown Amherst Foundation is working to bring live performance back…

Thursday, September 23, 202109/23/2021

Why is it so hard to get Democrats to do the same thing?

In Podcasts

Congressman McGovern gives us his thoughts on the White House get-together about Biden’s infrastructure plans. Plus what is going on…

Recent Headlines

20 hours ago in Sports, Trending

NFL division races tighten after a weekend full of surprises and upsets

The race for division titles in the NFL got tighter in Week 13. The Rams, Colts and Steelers became the latest first-place teams to lose Sunday. The Eagles and Ravens lost Thursday. The Patriots play Monday night. Five of the eight divisions have two teams tied for the top spot or separated by less than a game.

20 hours ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Why Cyber Monday could break spending records despite economic uncertainty

Deals promoted as some of the best of the holiday season are expected to keep people across the United States glued to their computers and smartphones as the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon wraps up on Cyber Monday.

6 days ago in National, Trending

Trump spares turkeys — but not his political opponents — at annual pardoning ceremony

President Donald Trump didn't bring much holiday cheer Tuesday when bestowing ceremonial pardons on two Thanksgiving turkeys, dispensing more insults than goodwill at the traditional White House ritual.

6 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

What’s open on Thanksgiving? Not much, as many stores rest — or prepare — ahead of Black Friday

With Thanksgiving and the formal launch of the holiday shopping season this week, Americans will again gather for Turkey Day meals before knocking off items on their Christmas gift lists.

6 days ago in Sports, Trending

Under a cloud, the Olympic flame begins its journey to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics

The Olympic flame began its journey Wednesday to the Milan Cortina Winter Games — missing a little of its usual magic. Bad weather lashing western Greece forced organizers to move the torch-lighting ceremony indoors, from Olympia's ancient stadium and temples to a nearby museum.