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

5 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Jury convicts a man of first-degree murder for the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur

A jury found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur, finally bringing a measure of resolution to a case that had gripped hip-hop fans and lingered in the public imagination for decades.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Music

Dolly Parton estate announces 2-day festival ‘Dollyfest’ to celebrate her legacy

Dolly Parton is not done yet. The estate behind the icon, who died of cancer last week at age 80, has announced Dollyfest, a two-day festival to be held in Nashville and London across two consecutive weekends in 2027.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Trending

Closing arguments to begin in trial of man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur killing

Closing arguments are scheduled Monday in one of hip-hop's most anticipated trials for the man accused of orchestrating the death of Tupac Shakur. Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, faces a single count of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang in the killing of Shakur in Las Vegas nearly 30 years ago.

1 day ago in National, Trending

More storms possible at Grand Canyon where a flash flood killed at least 2 people, others missing

At least two bodies have been recovered since a major flash flood swept through the Grand Canyon, park officials said Monday, as search and recovery efforts continued for about 15 people still missing.

4 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Nashville’s airport would be renamed for Dolly Parton under Tennessee governor’s proposal

Nashville International Airport would be renamed for Dolly Parton under a proposal announced Friday by Tennessee's governor.