Allison McDonald, Managing Editor & Web Producer, has lived in Amherst for 20 years. She has more than 30 years experience in communications and marketing in consumer products, retail, and nonprofit organizations. She currently leads communications and marketing for ProLiteracy, a nonprofit that provides funding, professional learning, and digital and print resources for adult literacy and basic education programs around the world.

Allison served on Town Meeting and was elected to School Committee in 2018; she served as Chair of the Regional School Committee 2020-2021, and as Chair of the Amherst School Committee 2020-2023.

Founders

A native of Washington, D.C., Nick Grabbe has lived in Amherst for 38 years. He was a copy editor for five daily newspapers, then was managing editor of the Valley Advocate and Worcester Magazine in their early years. He was an Amherst-based editor and writer for the Bulletin and Gazette from 1980 to 2013. In retirement, he founded a blog on simple living and his low-carbon lifestyle called Adventures in the Good Life. He was elected to the Charter Commission, and with Mandi Jo Hanneke coordinated a blog called A Better Amherst about the new form of government. In 2021 he published a memoir called “Print and Privilege” (Off the Common Books).

Sarah Marshall has lived in Amherst since 2011. Before coming to Amherst, she was a scientist at an environmental consulting company in the Boston area for many years.  In Amherst, she serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals, served on the Recreation Commission and the Community Preservation Act Committee, and has served on other short-term committees including the North Common Working Group and the Middle School Grade-Span Advisory Committee.

Nick and Sarah conveyed all responsibilities for The Amherst Current to Allison McDonald on November 1, 2023.