>> COMING UP -- WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A COLLECTIVE ART PROJECT THAT'S COLLECTIVE ART PROJECT THAT'S RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS TO RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS TO HELP FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY.

HELP FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY.

>> AND I WANTED IT TO BE ALL >> AND I WANTED IT TO BE ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY, GETTING PEOPLE ABOUT COMMUNITY, GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE TOGETHER.

CREATIVE TOGETHER.

>>> AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY TRADITION >>> AN ANNUAL HOLIDAY TRADITION DRAWS TO A CLOSE AFTER 30 YEARS.

DRAWS TO A CLOSE AFTER 30 YEARS.

>> NEXT YEAR I MADE A WHOLE >> NEXT YEAR I MADE A WHOLE BUNCH OF HANDMADE PLYWOOD BUNCH OF HANDMADE PLYWOOD PICTURE TYPE OF DECORATIONS.

PICTURE TYPE OF DECORATIONS.

PEOPLE JUST STARTED TO COME UP PEOPLE JUST STARTED TO COME UP ON THE LAWN.

ON THE LAWN.

>>> AND A COUPLE OF FAMILIAR >>> AND A COUPLE OF FAMILIAR FACES, AND VOICES, FROM LOCAL FACES, AND VOICES, FROM LOCAL RADIO JOIN US HERE AT NEPM.

RADIO JOIN US HERE AT NEPM.

>> STOP IT.

>> STOP IT.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKES US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKES US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT"IS PROVIDED BY OUR POINT"IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY LNS CAPTIONING LNS CAPTIONING WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM WWW.LNSCAPTIONING.COM >> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR >> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THAT EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THAT THE REGION HAS TO OFFER, AND THE REGION HAS TO OFFER, AND TODAY, WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM TODAY, WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM OUR HOME BASE, THE STUDIOS AT OUR HOME BASE, THE STUDIOS AT NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA WHERE NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA WHERE WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS TO WE HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE.

SHARE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT A LITTLE WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT A LITTLE LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT OUR FIRST STORY TODAY TAKES BUT OUR FIRST STORY TODAY TAKES US TO BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

US TO BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

THIS PAST CHRISTMAS MARKED THE THIS PAST CHRISTMAS MARKED THE END OF A LONG TIME HOLIDAY END OF A LONG TIME HOLIDAY TRADITION IN THE NORTHERN TRADITION IN THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES.

BERKSHIRES.

AFTER ILLUMINATING HIS HOME IN AFTER ILLUMINATING HIS HOME IN NORTH ADAMS WITH FABULOUS NORTH ADAMS WITH FABULOUS DISPLAY OF LIGHTS EVERY DECEMBER DISPLAY OF LIGHTS EVERY DECEMBER FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES, FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES, WAYNE ARNOLD DECIDED THAT 2022 WAYNE ARNOLD DECIDED THAT 2022 WOULD BE HIS LAST.

WOULD BE HIS LAST.

BUT BEFORE THE YEAR DREW TO A BUT BEFORE THE YEAR DREW TO A CLOSE, "CONNECTING POINT'S" CLOSE, "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN PAID A VISIT TO BRIAN SULLIVAN PAID A VISIT TO THE CORNER OF EAST MAIN STREET THE CORNER OF EAST MAIN STREET AND PARK AVENUE FOR ONE FINAL AND PARK AVENUE FOR ONE FINAL LOOK AT THE DISPLAY WHICH HAS LOOK AT THE DISPLAY WHICH HAS BROUGHT SO MUCH JOY TO THOUSANDS BROUGHT SO MUCH JOY TO THOUSANDS OVER THE YEARS.

OVER THE YEARS.

>> IT'S PROBABLY A SAFE BET TO >> IT'S PROBABLY A SAFE BET TO SAY THAT IN EVERY TOWN IN EVERY SAY THAT IN EVERY TOWN IN EVERY COUNTY IN EVERY STATE THERE'S COUNTY IN EVERY STATE THERE'S ALWAYS THAT ONE PERSON WHO TAKES ALWAYS THAT ONE PERSON WHO TAKES THEIR CHRISTMAS DECORATING THEIR CHRISTMAS DECORATING SKILLS TO A LEVEL THAT FAR SKILLS TO A LEVEL THAT FAR EXCEEDS ALL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS.

EXCEEDS ALL OF THEIR NEIGHBORS.

BUT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS' BUT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS' SMALLEST CITY, THE LOCALS DON'T SMALLEST CITY, THE LOCALS DON'T MIND BESTOWING THOSE DUTIES UPON MIND BESTOWING THOSE DUTIES UPON ONE MAN.

ONE MAN.

OF COURSE, A COLLECTION LIKE OF COURSE, A COLLECTION LIKE THIS ONE DOESN'T ACCRUE THIS ONE DOESN'T ACCRUE OVERNIGHT.

OVERNIGHT.

>> I THINK THE WHOLE THING >> I THINK THE WHOLE THING STARTED WHEN I WAS A KID AND WE STARTED WHEN I WAS A KID AND WE WOULD GO SEE MY AUNT EVERY WOULD GO SEE MY AUNT EVERY THANKSGIVING AND COMING BACK THANKSGIVING AND COMING BACK HOME WE WOULD GO DOWN MAIN HOME WE WOULD GO DOWN MAIN STREET OF EAST HAMPTON AND THEY STREET OF EAST HAMPTON AND THEY WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THEIR WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THEIR DECORATIONS UP BY THEN.

DECORATIONS UP BY THEN.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS A COOL I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS A COOL THING.

THING.

WHEN I BECAME A HOMEOWNER I WHEN I BECAME A HOMEOWNER I THOUGHT, LET'S TRY SOME THOUGHT, LET'S TRY SOME DECORATIONS.

DECORATIONS.

THE FIRST YEAR WAS FIVE OR SIX THE FIRST YEAR WAS FIVE OR SIX SETS OF LIGHTS AROUND THE SETS OF LIGHTS AROUND THE PILLARS OUT FRONT.

PILLARS OUT FRONT.

NEXT YEAR I MADE A WHOLE BUNCH NEXT YEAR I MADE A WHOLE BUNCH OF HANDMADE PLYWOOD PICTURE TYPE OF HANDMADE PLYWOOD PICTURE TYPE OF DECORATIONS.

OF DECORATIONS.

THAT LED FROM 1988, 1989, FROM THAT LED FROM 1988, 1989, FROM FIVE OR SIX THINGS IN THE YARD FIVE OR SIX THINGS IN THE YARD TO OVER 400.

TO OVER 400.

>> INCLUDED IN NEARLY 400 >> INCLUDED IN NEARLY 400 DECORATIONS, 100 EXTENSION DECORATIONS, 100 EXTENSION CORDS, 1,200 FEET OF CABLE AND CORDS, 1,200 FEET OF CABLE AND 12,000 LIGHTS.

12,000 LIGHTS.

THIS CORNER HAS BECOME A THIS CORNER HAS BECOME A DESTINATION FOR FOLKS FROM ALL DESTINATION FOR FOLKS FROM ALL OVER FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE OVER FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE PAST THREE DECADES, WAYNE PAST THREE DECADES, WAYNE ARNOLD'S ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO ARNOLD'S ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO JUST PUT DECK RACES ON THE LAWN.

JUST PUT DECK RACES ON THE LAWN.

>> PEOPLE DIDN'T START COMING ON >> PEOPLE DIDN'T START COMING ON THE LAWN UNTIL ABOUT FOUR OR THE LAWN UNTIL ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AFTER I STARTED.

FIVE YEARS AFTER I STARTED.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE BY THAT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE BY MISTAKE.

MISTAKE.

PEOPLE JUST STARTED TO COME UP PEOPLE JUST STARTED TO COME UP ON THE LAWN.

ON THE LAWN.

SO THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, I SO THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, I SAID THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.

SAID THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.

WE PUT A SIGN OUT FRONT THAT WE PUT A SIGN OUT FRONT THAT SAID YOU ARE WELCOME TO LOOK SAID YOU ARE WELCOME TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE WHAT THERE IS.

AROUND AND SEE WHAT THERE IS.

>> AND SEE WHAT THERE IS THEY >> AND SEE WHAT THERE IS THEY HAVE DONE.

HAVE DONE.

KIDS AND ADULTS HAVE BEEN KIDS AND ADULTS HAVE BEEN GETTING A KICK OUT OF WALKING GETTING A KICK OUT OF WALKING THROUGH THIS ORNAMENTAL MAZE OF THROUGH THIS ORNAMENTAL MAZE OF LIGHTS FOR GENERATIONS.

LIGHTS FOR GENERATIONS.

THE VISITORS TO THE BROT IN 2022 THE VISITORS TO THE BROT IN 2022 WOULD BE THE LAST TO SEE THIS WOULD BE THE LAST TO SEE THIS YARD IN ALL ITS FLOIR BECAUSE YARD IN ALL ITS FLOIR BECAUSE SADLY ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME SADLY ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END.

TO AN END.

ARNOLD HAD, NOT LOOKING AT HIS ARNOLD HAD, NOT LOOKING AT HIS ELECTRIC BILL, BUT HOW MUCH WORK ELECTRIC BILL, BUT HOW MUCH WORK WAS INVOLVED FOR MAKING A FLOAT WAS INVOLVED FOR MAKING A FLOAT WHEN HE WAS CHOSEN FOR GRAND WHEN HE WAS CHOSEN FOR GRAND MARSHAL IN THE 2022 PARADE.

MARSHAL IN THE 2022 PARADE.

>> WHILE I WAS DOING THAT I >> WHILE I WAS DOING THAT I SAID, YEAH, THIS IS IT.

SAID, YEAH, THIS IS IT.

I'M READY.

I'M READY.

ATHLETES SAY THEY KNOW WHEN THEY ATHLETES SAY THEY KNOW WHEN THEY WANT TO RETIRE AND I GUESS WANT TO RETIRE AND I GUESS THAT'S THE WAY IT HIT ME.

THAT'S THE WAY IT HIT ME.

>> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN EXAC >> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN EXAC LY WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALL OF LY WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALL OF THESE DECORATIONS.

THESE DECORATIONS.

ONE THING FOR SURE, 2023 MARKS A ONE THING FOR SURE, 2023 MARKS A NEW ERA ON THIS CORNER LOT.

NEW ERA ON THIS CORNER LOT.

467 EAST MAIN STREET WILL BE A 467 EAST MAIN STREET WILL BE A YARD LIKE ANY OTHER, SURELY YARD LIKE ANY OTHER, SURELY SOMEONE WILL TAKE THE BATON AND SOMEONE WILL TAKE THE BATON AND HAVE A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE, AT HAVE A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE, AT LEAST DURING THE MONTH OF LEAST DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

DECEMBER.

>> WELL, IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO >> WELL, IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A DARK YARD, UNFORTUNATELY.

BE A DARK YARD, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT THERE'S PEOPLE AROUND, YOU BUT THERE'S PEOPLE AROUND, YOU KNOW.

KNOW.

THERE IS THE SAMPSON HOUSE DOWN THERE IS THE SAMPSON HOUSE DOWN THE STREET.

THE STREET.

THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT SEEM THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT SEEM TO BE DOING MORE AND MORE EVERY TO BE DOING MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, SO, YEAR TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, SO, YEAH, THERE'S LIFE AFTER THE YEAH, THERE'S LIFE AFTER THE ARNOLDS.

ARNOLDS.

>>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKES US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, MAKES US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

AND IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL AND IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, NORTH ADAMS RESIDENT EXCLUSIVE, NORTH ADAMS RESIDENT WAYNE ARNOLD REFLECTS ON THE WAYNE ARNOLD REFLECTS ON THE MOST LASTING MEMORIES FROM HIS MOST LASTING MEMORIES FROM HIS ANNUAL "ARNOLD FAMILY CHRISTMAS ANNUAL "ARNOLD FAMILY CHRISTMAS DISPLAY," WHICH CAME TO A CLOSE DISPLAY," WHICH CAME TO A CLOSE THIS PAST CHRISTMAS AFTER 30 THIS PAST CHRISTMAS AFTER 30 YEARS.

YEARS.

>> LISTEN TO THE LAUGHTER OF THE >> LISTEN TO THE LAUGHTER OF THE KIDS IS ALWAYS GOOD.

KIDS IS ALWAYS GOOD.

NOTHING LIKE THE SOUND OF A NOTHING LIKE THE SOUND OF A LAUGHING KID, AS FAR AS I'M LAUGHING KID, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

CONCERNED.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> ON JANUARY 14TH, THE >>> ON JANUARY 14TH, THE SPRINGFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SPRINGFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES THE LEGACY OF DR. CELEBRATES THE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WITH ITS "AUDACITY OF HOPE" CONCERT.

ITS "AUDACITY OF HOPE" CONCERT.

THE ORCHESTRA WILL BE LED BY THE ORCHESTRA WILL BE LED BY GUEST CONDUCTOR KEVIN SCOTT AND GUEST CONDUCTOR KEVIN SCOTT AND WILL ALSO FEATURE A SPECIAL WILL ALSO FEATURE A SPECIAL SPOKEN WORD PRESENTATION BY SPOKEN WORD PRESENTATION BY SPRINGFIELD'S POET LAUREATE, SPRINGFIELD'S POET LAUREATE, MAGDALENA GOMEZ.

MAGDALENA GOMEZ.

I SPOKE WITH SCOTT AND GOMEZ TO I SPOKE WITH SCOTT AND GOMEZ TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR ARTISTIC LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR ARTISTIC COLLABORATION AND THE IMPORTANCE COLLABORATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSIVITY IN THE CREATIVE OF INCLUSIVITY IN THE CREATIVE ARTS.

ARTS.

>> I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT POETRY >> I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT POETRY IS PERFORMED, IS TO BE PERFORMED IS PERFORMED, IS TO BE PERFORMED EITHER AS THEATER OR AS A EITHER AS THEATER OR AS A COMPANION WITH MUSIC BECAUSE COMPANION WITH MUSIC BECAUSE POETRY IS RHYTHM AND RHYTHM IS POETRY IS RHYTHM AND RHYTHM IS SOMETHING THAT COMES NATURALLY SOMETHING THAT COMES NATURALLY FROM THE CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS OF FROM THE CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS OF THE BODY, FROM THE HEART, WHEN THE BODY, FROM THE HEART, WHEN WE SPEAK, WE MAKE ANY WE SPEAK, WE MAKE ANY INTONATION, WE ARE BORN TO INTONATION, WE ARE BORN TO MUSIC.

MUSIC.

WORDS ARE ALSO MEANT TO HAVE WORDS ARE ALSO MEANT TO HAVE THEIR OWN MUSICALITY IN EVERY THEIR OWN MUSICALITY IN EVERY DAY LIFE, NOT JUST IN POETRY.

DAY LIFE, NOT JUST IN POETRY.

THERE IS A MUSICALITY AND THERE IS A MUSICALITY AND TONALITY THAT CHANGES DEPENDING TONALITY THAT CHANGES DEPENDING ON WHO WE'RE SPEAKING TO.

ON WHO WE'RE SPEAKING TO.

WHEN I SPEAK WITH YOU AND KEVIN WHEN I SPEAK WITH YOU AND KEVIN I'M REALLY HAPPY SO THOSE I'M REALLY HAPPY SO THOSE RHYTHMS CHANGE.

RHYTHMS CHANGE.

>> THIS IS A PRETTY MONUMENTAL >> THIS IS A PRETTY MONUMENTAL CONCERT.

CONCERT.

KEVIN YOU FOCUS ON THE WORKS OF KEVIN YOU FOCUS ON THE WORKS OF ALL BLACK COMPOSERS.

ALL BLACK COMPOSERS.

YOU ARE KNOWN FOR ADVOCATING FOR YOU ARE KNOWN FOR ADVOCATING FOR NEW, UNKNOWN, NEGLECTED NEW, UNKNOWN, NEGLECTED COMPOSERS.

COMPOSERS.

YOU LIKE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE YOU LIKE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMPOSERS.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMPOSERS.

WHAT MISCONCEPTIONS OR WHAT MISCONCEPTIONS OR CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED BEING CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED BEING A BLACK COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR A BLACK COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR YOURSELF?

YOURSELF?

>> A LOT.

>> A LOT.

THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT SOCIETY HAD TAKEN CLASSICAL SOCIETY HAD TAKEN CLASSICAL MUSIC AS A DOMAIN OF WHITE, MUSIC AS A DOMAIN OF WHITE, EUROPEAN MALES WHO HAVE EUROPEAN MALES WHO HAVE DOMINATED THE REPERTOIRE FOR DOMINATED THE REPERTOIRE FOR CENTURIES, AND THIS IS TRUE.

CENTURIES, AND THIS IS TRUE.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN BLACK BUT THERE HAVE BEEN BLACK COMPOSERS THERE AT THE SAME COMPOSERS THERE AT THE SAME TIME.

TIME.

THE PROBLEM IS VERY FEW PEOPLE THE PROBLEM IS VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS LEGACY.

KNOW ABOUT THIS LEGACY.

ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK COMPOSERS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK COMPOSERS CAME FROM PORTUGAL.

CAME FROM PORTUGAL.

YOU HAVE OTHER COMPOSERS, JUSTIN YOU HAVE OTHER COMPOSERS, JUSTIN HOLLAND, A BLACK MAN FROM HOLLAND, A BLACK MAN FROM AMERICA WHO EMIGRATED TO EUROPE, AMERICA WHO EMIGRATED TO EUROPE, A GUITAR VIR TURKS OSO.

A GUITAR VIR TURKS OSO.

FRANCES JOHNSON WAS A GREAT FRANCES JOHNSON WAS A GREAT BANDMASTER WHO PLAYED BEFORE BANDMASTER WHO PLAYED BEFORE QUEEN VICTORIA.

QUEEN VICTORIA.

SO MANY COMPOSERS YOU CAN'T SO MANY COMPOSERS YOU CAN'T BEGIN TO NAME.

BEGIN TO NAME.

GEORGE WALKER, THE FIRST BLACK GEORGE WALKER, THE FIRST BLACK COMPOSER TO WIN THE PULITZER COMPOSER TO WIN THE PULITZER PRIZE IN MUSIC.

PRIZE IN MUSIC.

JESSE MONT FWOMRY, MICHAEL JESSE MONT FWOMRY, MICHAEL ABLES, KNOWN FOR SCORES FOR ABLES, KNOWN FOR SCORES FOR JORDAN PEELE MOVIES.

JORDAN PEELE MOVIES.

CHRIS BOWERS, WHO DID CHRIS BOWERS, WHO DID BRIDGERTON, WROTE A VERY BRIDGERTON, WROTE A VERY WONDERFUL VIOLIN CONCERTO AND WONDERFUL VIOLIN CONCERTO AND OTHER MANY, MANY COMPOSERS I OTHER MANY, MANY COMPOSERS I CAN'T BEGIN TO NAME.

CAN'T BEGIN TO NAME.

THE LEGACY IS THERE, YET PEOPLE THE LEGACY IS THERE, YET PEOPLE STILL DON'T KNOW IT.

STILL DON'T KNOW IT.

>> MAGDALENA, PART OF YOUR >> MAGDALENA, PART OF YOUR ARTISTIC VISION IS TO BUILD ARTISTIC VISION IS TO BUILD UNITY AND CREATE INTIMACY UNITY AND CREATE INTIMACY THROUGH EMPATHY.

THROUGH EMPATHY.

HOW ARE THE KREE WRAYTIVE ARTS A HOW ARE THE KREE WRAYTIVE ARTS A MEANS TO EXPAND CULTURAL MEANS TO EXPAND CULTURAL CONVERSATION?

CONVERSATION?

>> WHAT THE ARTS DO, I THINK MY >> WHAT THE ARTS DO, I THINK MY GOAL FOR THEM IS THEY HELP US GOAL FOR THEM IS THEY HELP US LET GO OF EGO AND STOP THINKING LET GO OF EGO AND STOP THINKING ABOUT SUCCESS IN LIFE AS ABOUT SUCCESS IN LIFE AS MATERIAL CAPITAL.

MATERIAL CAPITAL.

BUT START SEEING SUCCESS IN LIFE BUT START SEEING SUCCESS IN LIFE IN HOW UNIFIED WE CAN BE AS IN HOW UNIFIED WE CAN BE AS PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

BECAUSE THAT IS OUR GREATEST BECAUSE THAT IS OUR GREATEST SOCIAL CAPITAL, IS BEING SOCIAL CAPITAL, IS BEING UNIFIED.

UNIFIED.

WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THE ARTS, WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THE ARTS, WHETHER IT BE THE THEATER OR WHETHER IT BE THE THEATER OR VISUAL ART.

VISUAL ART.

IN A MUSEUM, YOU ARE LOOKING AT IN A MUSEUM, YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING, YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU, WHAT TO THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU, WHAT TO THEY THINK?

THEY THINK?

THERE IS INTERACTION SPOKEN OR THERE IS INTERACTION SPOKEN OR UNSPOKEN.

UNSPOKEN.

THINGS HAPPEN IN AUDIENCES.

THINGS HAPPEN IN AUDIENCES.

I ALWAYS WANT AUDIENCES TO FEEL, I ALWAYS WANT AUDIENCES TO FEEL, I KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.

I KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.

THAT IS WHY I TRY TO WRITE IN THAT IS WHY I TRY TO WRITE IN THE VERNACULAR OF THE EVERYDAY, THE VERNACULAR OF THE EVERYDAY, IN THE WORDS OF THE EVERYDAY.

IN THE WORDS OF THE EVERYDAY.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MEET IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MEET EACH OTHER IN THE ART.

EACH OTHER IN THE ART.

AND THAT IS WHAT ART IS FOR ME.

AND THAT IS WHAT ART IS FOR ME.

YOU KNOW, IT IS A MEETING PLACE YOU KNOW, IT IS A MEETING PLACE WHERE WE CAN UNABASHEDLY, WHERE WE CAN UNABASHEDLY, LOVINGLY AND FREELY EXPRESS THE LOVINGLY AND FREELY EXPRESS THE MOST INTIMATE PARTS OF OURSELVES MOST INTIMATE PARTS OF OURSELVES WITH EACH OTHER, EVEN WITH WITH EACH OTHER, EVEN WITH STRANGERS.

STRANGERS.

IN TRUTH THERE REALLY AREN'T ANY IN TRUTH THERE REALLY AREN'T ANY STRANGERS.

STRANGERS.

>> SO REFLECTING ON THE LEGACY >> SO REFLECTING ON THE LEGACY OF DR. KING AND HIS NOTION THAT OF DR. KING AND HIS NOTION THAT ONE SHOULD BE JUDGED ON THE ONE SHOULD BE JUDGED ON THE CONTENT OF YOUR CHARACTER AND CONTENT OF YOUR CHARACTER AND NOT THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.

NOT THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE CLASS CAT WHERE DO YOU SEE THE CLASS CAT MUSICAL GENRE HEADING IN THE MUSICAL GENRE HEADING IN THE NEXT GENERATIONS OR I GUESS MORE NEXT GENERATIONS OR I GUESS MORE IMPORTANTLY WHERE DOES IT NEED IMPORTANTLY WHERE DOES IT NEED TO HEAD TO INCLUDE MORE TO HEAD TO INCLUDE MORE INCLUSIVITY?

INCLUSIVITY?

>> I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR >> I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THE MUSIC FIRST AND THEN REALIZE THE MUSIC FIRST AND THEN REALIZE WHO WROTE THE MUSIC.

WHO WROTE THE MUSIC.

MEET THE COMPOSER.

MEET THE COMPOSER.

UNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE FIRST.

UNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE FIRST.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRE-CONCERT LECTURE, WE ARE PRE-CONCERT LECTURE, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR MUSIC, GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR MUSIC, OUR EXPERIENCES AND HOPEFULLY OUR EXPERIENCES AND HOPEFULLY THE AUDIENCE WILL UNDERSTAND THE AUDIENCE WILL UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE COMING FROM.

WHERE WE ARE COMING FROM.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BLACK ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT BLACK COMPOSERS IS THAT THE FIRST COMPOSERS IS THAT THE FIRST THING PEOPLE WILL THINK IS, OH, THING PEOPLE WILL THINK IS, OH, WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING IN A WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING IN A WHOLE GANG OF ARRANGEMENTS LIKE WHOLE GANG OF ARRANGEMENTS LIKE BARRY WHITE.

BARRY WHITE.

NOTHING AGAINST BARRY WHITE.

NOTHING AGAINST BARRY WHITE.

HE WAS A GREAT COMPOSER AND HE WAS A GREAT COMPOSER AND ARRANGER HIMSELF.

ARRANGER HIMSELF.

THAT IS THE STEREOTYPE.

THAT IS THE STEREOTYPE.

THEY THINK THE MUSIC IS GOING TO THEY THINK THE MUSIC IS GOING TO SOUND LIKE THE BARRY WHITE SOUND LIKE THE BARRY WHITE ORCHESTRA.

ORCHESTRA.

THEY HEAR, OH, NO, THIS IS THEY HEAR, OH, NO, THIS IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, WE CAN BRING RAP, WE CAN I MEAN, WE CAN BRING RAP, WE CAN BRING GOSPEL, WE CAN BRING FOLK, BRING GOSPEL, WE CAN BRING FOLK, WE CAN BRING SOUL, WE CAN BRING WE CAN BRING SOUL, WE CAN BRING JAZZ, ALL OF THAT, AT THE SAME JAZZ, ALL OF THAT, AT THE SAME TIME WE STILL HONOR AND RESPECT TIME WE STILL HONOR AND RESPECT THE GREAT TRADITION THAT STARTED THE GREAT TRADITION THAT STARTED IN THE SYMPATHY WITH HYDEN AND IN THE SYMPATHY WITH HYDEN AND MOZART AND WORKED ITS WAY TO THE MOZART AND WORKED ITS WAY TO THE PRESENT DAY.

PRESENT DAY.

>> MAGDALENA, DO YOU WANT TO >> MAGDALENA, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE SOME OF YOUR CLOSING SHARE SOME OF YOUR CLOSING THOUGHTS ABOUT EVERYTHING WE THOUGHTS ABOUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TODAY AND THE EVENT IN GENERAL?

AND THE EVENT IN GENERAL?

>> YES, I DO.

>> YES, I DO.

FOR ME, THIS EVENT IS AN FOR ME, THIS EVENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SPRINGFIELD AND OPPORTUNITY FOR SPRINGFIELD AND OUR REGION TO COME TOGETHER AND OUR REGION TO COME TOGETHER AND EXPERIENCE AN HISTORIC MOMENT EXPERIENCE AN HISTORIC MOMENT WHICH REALLY SHOULDN'T BE AN WHICH REALLY SHOULDN'T BE AN HISTORIC MOMENT.

HISTORIC MOMENT.

IT IS THE 21st CENTURY AFTER IT IS THE 21st CENTURY AFTER ALL.

ALL.

BUT IT IS HAPPENING AND WE NEED BUT IT IS HAPPENING AND WE NEED TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR IT.

TO CELEBRATE AND HONOR IT.

AND IT IS GOING TO BE AN AND IT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERGENERATIONAL GATHERING.

INTERGENERATIONAL GATHERING.

IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE WILL NOT LOOK SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE WILL NOT LOOK AT CLASSICAL MUSIC ONLY THROUGH AT CLASSICAL MUSIC ONLY THROUGH A WHITE SUPREMACIST EURO CENTRIC A WHITE SUPREMACIST EURO CENTRIC LENS.

LENS.

WHICH TURNED ME OFF ABOUT WHICH TURNED ME OFF ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE UNITED CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE UNITED STATES.

STATES.

I DIDN'T KNOW THE LIBRARY OF I DIDN'T KNOW THE LIBRARY OF KEVIN.

KEVIN.

HE IS OPENING MY HEART AND EYES.

HE IS OPENING MY HEART AND EYES.

I LOVED EUROPEAN CLASSICAL MUSIC I LOVED EUROPEAN CLASSICAL MUSIC EVEN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL EVEN WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.

AND COLLEGE.

I KNEW ALL THE COUNTENANCE OF I KNEW ALL THE COUNTENANCE OF THIS PLANET HAVE CLASSICAL THIS PLANET HAVE CLASSICAL MUSIC.

MUSIC.

I CONSIDER THE MUSIC OF THE I CONSIDER THE MUSIC OF THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA A ABORIGINAL PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA A FORM OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

FORM OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

IT IS A MUSIC THAT INFORMED AND IT IS A MUSIC THAT INFORMED AND TOUCHED MY SOUL, MY WRITING, AND TOUCHED MY SOUL, MY WRITING, AND OPENED MY MIND TO BE A BETTER OPENED MY MIND TO BE A BETTER WRITER.

WRITER.

SO I SEE THIS AS THE OPPORTUNITY SO I SEE THIS AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE ACROSS RACIAL, ETHNIC, TO MOVE ACROSS RACIAL, ETHNIC, AGE, IDENTITY, YOU KNOW, JUST AGE, IDENTITY, YOU KNOW, JUST BREAK DOWN ALL THOSE BARRIERS, BREAK DOWN ALL THOSE BARRIERS, COME BE WITH THIS MUSIC, COME BE COME BE WITH THIS MUSIC, COME BE WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO LOVE YOU AND BE WITH YOU AND TO LOVE YOU AND BE WITH YOU AND LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN TOGETHER.

LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN TOGETHER.

BECAUSE THE AUDIENCE IS AS BECAUSE THE AUDIENCE IS AS IMPORTANT AS EVERY PERFORMER.

IMPORTANT AS EVERY PERFORMER.

>>> IN DECEMBER, ARTIST JO HESS >>> IN DECEMBER, ARTIST JO HESS BEGAN A COLLECTIVE ART PROJECT:A BEGAN A COLLECTIVE ART PROJECT:A COMMUNITY FESTIVAL AND A COMMUNITY FESTIVAL AND A FUND-RAISER ALL ROLLED INTO ONE FUND-RAISER ALL ROLLED INTO ONE CALLED "THE SOCIAL FABRIC CALLED "THE SOCIAL FABRIC PROJECT" TO BENEFIT THE FOOD PROJECT" TO BENEFIT THE FOOD CENTER OF WESTERN MASS.

CENTER OF WESTERN MASS.

USING COLORED SCRAPS SHE HAD USING COLORED SCRAPS SHE HAD COLLECTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, COLLECTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AS WELL AS WOOL DONATED FROM AS WELL AS WOOL DONATED FROM LOCAL FARMERS, HESS, ALONG WITH LOCAL FARMERS, HESS, ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, CREATED A LARGE FELT RUG THAT CREATED A LARGE FELT RUG THAT WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF IN JANUARY WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF IN JANUARY AT BOMBYX CENTER FOR ARTS & AT BOMBYX CENTER FOR ARTS & EQUITY IN FLORENCE.

EQUITY IN FLORENCE.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THE STORY.

THE STORY.

>> INSIDE THE BOMBYX CENTER IN >> INSIDE THE BOMBYX CENTER IN FLORENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, A FLORENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, A UNIQUE COMMUNITY EVENT IS TAKING UNIQUE COMMUNITY EVENT IS TAKING PLACE.

PLACE.

THE CREATION OF A LARGE FELT RUG THE CREATION OF A LARGE FELT RUG USING COLORED SCRAPS AS WELL AS USING COLORED SCRAPS AS WELL AS WOOL DONATED FROM LOCAL FARMERS.

WOOL DONATED FROM LOCAL FARMERS.

THE PROJECT IS BEING ORGANIZED THE PROJECT IS BEING ORGANIZED BY JO HESS, HER DAD, AND A SMALL BY JO HESS, HER DAD, AND A SMALL GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS.

GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS.

>> I WORK WITH MY DAD TO MAKE >> I WORK WITH MY DAD TO MAKE MEDIUM SIZED RUGS, BUT I HAVE MEDIUM SIZED RUGS, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE BIGGER ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE BIGGER RUGS.

RUGS.

I WANTED IT TO BE ABOUT I WANTED IT TO BE ABOUT COMMUNITY, GETTING PEOPLE TO COMMUNITY, GETTING PEOPLE TO CREATE SOMETHING AND SYNCHRONIZE CREATE SOMETHING AND SYNCHRONIZE OUR BODIES AND WORK TOGETHER IN OUR BODIES AND WORK TOGETHER IN ALMOST LIKE A DANCE.

ALMOST LIKE A DANCE.

>> AT THIS YEAR'S RUG MAKING >> AT THIS YEAR'S RUG MAKING PROJECT, HESS USED PROJECT, HESS USED PERCUSSIONISTS AND MUSICIANS TO PERCUSSIONISTS AND MUSICIANS TO JAM TO THE RUG MAKERS WORK.

JAM TO THE RUG MAKERS WORK.

THEY HELPED KEEP THE BEAT FOR THEY HELPED KEEP THE BEAT FOR FELT MAKERS WHILE SPONTANEOUS FELT MAKERS WHILE SPONTANEOUS COMMUNAL ART.

COMMUNAL ART.

>> DRUMMING IS MAINLY BECAUSE WE >> DRUMMING IS MAINLY BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE AND IF EVERYONE IS NOT AND IF EVERYONE IS NOT SYNCHRONIZED IT IS HARD TO MOVE SYNCHRONIZED IT IS HARD TO MOVE THE RUG FORWARD.

THE RUG FORWARD.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE NEW ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE NEW PEOPLE THAT IT JUST REALLY HELPS PEOPLE THAT IT JUST REALLY HELPS TO HAVE THE DRUM.

TO HAVE THE DRUM.

>> THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE >> THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE PROJECT WERE SPENT DESIGNING THE PROJECT WERE SPENT DESIGNING THE SURFACE AND ARRANGING THE COLORS SURFACE AND ARRANGING THE COLORS OF THE RUG.

OF THE RUG.

THEN THE GROUP MOVED ON TO THEN THE GROUP MOVED ON TO TURNING THE WOOL INTO CLOTH, TURNING THE WOOL INTO CLOTH, USING TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES USING TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES THAT HESS LEARNED WHEN SHE THAT HESS LEARNED WHEN SHE TRAVELED TO TURKEY.

TRAVELED TO TURKEY.

>> I WENT TO TURKEY TO LEARN >> I WENT TO TURKEY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FELT MAKING AND MORE ABOUT FELT MAKING AND SPECIFICALLY TO LEARN HOW TO SPECIFICALLY TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE RUGS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE MAKE RUGS BECAUSE A LOT OF THE FELT MAKING YOU WOULD ENCOUNTER FELT MAKING YOU WOULD ENCOUNTER AROUND HERE WOULD BE SMALL AROUND HERE WOULD BE SMALL THINGS OR THIN GARMENTS, THIN THINGS OR THIN GARMENTS, THIN FELT.

FELT.

IT STARTS OUT REALLY BIG AND IT STARTS OUT REALLY BIG AND FLUFFY AND AIRS THERE -- AIRY FLUFFY AND AIRS THERE -- AIRY AND SOFT.

AND SOFT.

THE STOMPING AND BEATING OF THE THE STOMPING AND BEATING OF THE FIBERS SHOCKS THEM INTO TIGHTER FIBERS SHOCKS THEM INTO TIGHTER AND TIGHTER.

AND TIGHTER.

BY THE TIME YOU ARE DONE IT IS BY THE TIME YOU ARE DONE IT IS THIS HARD LEATHER-LIKE FABRIC THIS HARD LEATHER-LIKE FABRIC THAT IS ALMOST HALF THE SIZE OF THAT IS ALMOST HALF THE SIZE OF THE ORIGINAL.

THE ORIGINAL.

>> THE COLLABORATIVE ASPECT IS >> THE COLLABORATIVE ASPECT IS WHAT HESS FINDS MOST EXCITING WHAT HESS FINDS MOST EXCITING ABOUT HER WORK.

ABOUT HER WORK.

THE MOMENTS OF COMPLETE THE MOMENTS OF COMPLETE COMMUNITY WHERE CREATIVITY, COMMUNITY WHERE CREATIVITY, PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCES ARE SHARED.

RESOURCES ARE SHARED.

THINGS ARE ABLE TO BE PRODUCED THINGS ARE ABLE TO BE PRODUCED THAT ONE PERSON ALONE WOULDN'T THAT ONE PERSON ALONE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

>> LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID IT I >> LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID IT I DIDN'T TELL ANYONE WHAT THEY DIDN'T TELL ANYONE WHAT THEY COULD DO.

COULD DO.

PEOPLE COULD DO WHATEVER THEY PEOPLE COULD DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED FOR THE PATTERN.

WANTED FOR THE PATTERN.

PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT EACH PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT EACH OTHER OR THE WHOLE AND THEY DID OTHER OR THE WHOLE AND THEY DID THEIR OWN THING AND LEFT.

THEIR OWN THING AND LEFT.

THIS YEAR I DID A CIRCULAR THIS YEAR I DID A CIRCULAR MEDALLION AND DID SOME LINES SO MEDALLION AND DID SOME LINES SO IT HAD A FORM.

IT HAD A FORM.

PEOPLE WERE LIKE, OH THERE IS PEOPLE WERE LIKE, OH THERE IS PINK OVER HERE SO LET'S BRING PINK OVER HERE SO LET'S BRING PINK TO THIS SIDE.

PINK TO THIS SIDE.

OR THERE ARE SQUIGGLES.

OR THERE ARE SQUIGGLES.

THE RUG WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF THE RUG WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF AND THE PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED AND THE PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE FOOD BANK OF WESTERN TO THE FOOD BANK OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

>>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT >>> AND IF YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY, YOU CAN FIND MORE ONLINE STORY, YOU CAN FIND MORE ONLINE AS FELT MAKER AND ARTIST JO HESS AS FELT MAKER AND ARTIST JO HESS DISCUSSES HOW SHE DECIDED WHO DISCUSSES HOW SHE DECIDED WHO WOULD RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS FROM WOULD RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS FROM THE AUCTION OF HER COMMUNITY RUG THE AUCTION OF HER COMMUNITY RUG PROJECT IN A DIGITAL EXTRA.

PROJECT IN A DIGITAL EXTRA.

>> JUST THINKING WHAT WOULD BE >> JUST THINKING WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST UNIVERSALLY HELPFUL THE MOST UNIVERSALLY HELPFUL THING WE CAN DO THAT EVERYONE THING WE CAN DO THAT EVERYONE WOULD AGREE HELPS THE MOST WOULD AGREE HELPS THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ALL OVER AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ALL OVER WESTERN MASS.

WESTERN MASS.

>> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS >> THAT DIGITAL EXTRA IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> WELL, THE NEWS IS OUT!

>>> WELL, THE NEWS IS OUT!

MONTE BELMONTE AND KALIIS SMITH, MONTE BELMONTE AND KALIIS SMITH, LONG TIME RADIO PERSONALITIES IN LONG TIME RADIO PERSONALITIES IN THE PIONEER VALLEY, HAVE JOINED THE PIONEER VALLEY, HAVE JOINED NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA TO NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA TO CREATE A NEW RADIO SHOW AND CREATE A NEW RADIO SHOW AND PODCAST CENTERED AROUND PODCAST CENTERED AROUND COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT BROUGHT MONTE AND KALIIS SO WHAT BROUGHT MONTE AND KALIIS TO PUBLIC MEDIA?

TO PUBLIC MEDIA?

AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THEIR NEW SHOW?

THEIR NEW SHOW?

I SAT DOWN WITH MY NEW I SAT DOWN WITH MY NEW COLLEAGUES TO FIND OUT MORE COLLEAGUES TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEM AND WHAT THEY HAVE IN ABOUT THEM AND WHAT THEY HAVE IN STORE FOR LISTENERS IN THE STORE FOR LISTENERS IN THE REGION.

REGION.

>> WHAT I REALLY LOVE DOING ON >> WHAT I REALLY LOVE DOING ON THE MORNINGS WITH THE RIVER WAS THE MORNINGS WITH THE RIVER WAS TO PLAY A LOT OF MUSIC AND TO PLAY A LOT OF MUSIC AND THINGS, BUT ALSO TO HAVE THINGS, BUT ALSO TO HAVE INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS WITH INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE INTERESTING PEOPLE OF THE THE INTERESTING PEOPLE OF THE VALLEY.

VALLEY.

NOT ON WHAT YOU DO AT NOT ON WHAT YOU DO AT "CONNECTING POINT," FINDING "CONNECTING POINT," FINDING THOSE STORIES AND BRINGING THEM THOSE STORIES AND BRINGING THEM TO THE AIRWAVES.

TO THE AIRWAVES.

I WON'T BE WAKING UP AT 2:15 IN I WON'T BE WAKING UP AT 2:15 IN THE MORNING ANYMORE, WHICH TAKES THE MORNING ANYMORE, WHICH TAKES ITS TOLL AFTER A DECADE AND AND ITS TOLL AFTER A DECADE AND AND A HALF PLUS.

A HALF PLUS.

>> I CAN IMAGINE.

>> I CAN IMAGINE.

>> A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS AND >> A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS AND SENSIBILITIES I BROUGHT TO THAT SENSIBILITIES I BROUGHT TO THAT SHOW I'M HOPING TO BRING TO SHOW I'M HOPING TO BRING TO NEPM.

NEPM.

>> IT IS A DIFFERENT FORMAT.

>> IT IS A DIFFERENT FORMAT.

YOU ARE NOT SPINNING RECORDS SO YOU ARE NOT SPINNING RECORDS SO YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO HAVE YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.

CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO ON THIS ADVENTURE?

FORWARD TO ON THIS ADVENTURE?

>> FOCUSING AND BRAINSTORMING >> FOCUSING AND BRAINSTORMING WHO I WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WHO I WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH.

WITH.

I WAS DOING A LOT OF PLATE I WAS DOING A LOT OF PLATE SPINNING AND CARRIES SPINNING AND CARRIES RESPONSP RESPONSP RESPONSIBILITIES OTHER THAN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OTHER THAN THE SHOW.

SHOW.

LOOKING AT BIG PICTURE AND GO LOOKING AT BIG PICTURE AND GO AFTER BIGGER PICTURES IN A AFTER BIGGER PICTURES IN A SERIES IS WHAT I'M EXCITED SERIES IS WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT.

ABOUT.

>> KALIIS, YOU AND MONTE HAVE >> KALIIS, YOU AND MONTE HAVE BUILT UP A RAPPORT.

BUILT UP A RAPPORT.

WHAT WILL YOUR ROLE BE?

WHAT WILL YOUR ROLE BE?

>> I THINK A FOIL FOR THAT.

>> I THINK A FOIL FOR THAT.

MONTE LIKES -- IT IS NOT THAT WE MONTE LIKES -- IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE BOTH NOT INVESTED IN ARE BOTH NOT INVESTED IN COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE CLEARLY COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE CLEARLY ARE.

ARE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T GET A ONE OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO DO IS TALK TO ARTISTS CHANCE TO DO IS TALK TO ARTISTS COMING THROUGH TOWN AND SOME OF COMING THROUGH TOWN AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE MAKING CREATIVELY THE PEOPLE MAKING CREATIVELY THINGS I WAS REALLY INTERESTED THINGS I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN.

IN.

I THINK SOME OF THOSE I THINK SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE A LOT MORE OF CONVERSATIONS ARE A LOT MORE OF WHAT I WILL END UP DOING AND WHAT I WILL END UP DOING AND BRINGING ON.

BRINGING ON.

STILL FOCUSING A LOT ON THE ARTS STILL FOCUSING A LOT ON THE ARTS AND ARTS AND CULTURE.

AND ARTS AND CULTURE.

>> WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE AS >> WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE AS A MULTITALENTED ARTIST, YOU ARE A MULTITALENTED ARTIST, YOU ARE PART OF SEVERAL BANDS AND AN PART OF SEVERAL BANDS AND AN ESTABLISHED WRITER.

ESTABLISHED WRITER.

IT MAKES SENSE TO FOCUS ON THE IT MAKES SENSE TO FOCUS ON THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE REGION.

ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE REGION.

>> OH, YEAH, THAT IS WHAT I'M >> OH, YEAH, THAT IS WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.

I WHY THE SWITCH TO PUBLIC MEDIA?

MEDIA?

WHAT DROVE THAT DECISION?

WHAT DROVE THAT DECISION?

>> I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A FAN OF >> I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN A FAN OF PUBLIC MEDIA.

PUBLIC MEDIA.

AS A KID I GREW UP WATCHES AS A KID I GREW UP WATCHES SESAME STREET AND MR. ROGERS SESAME STREET AND MR. ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD.

NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN COLLEGE I WAS TURNED ON TO IN COLLEGE I WAS TURNED ON TO PUBLIC RADIO.

PUBLIC RADIO.

VERY INTENTIONALLY WHEN I VERY INTENTIONALLY WHEN I STARTED MY RADIO SHOW MODELLED STARTED MY RADIO SHOW MODELLED AFTER A LOT OF THE THINGS I LIKE AFTER A LOT OF THE THINGS I LIKE IN PUBLIC MEDIA.

IN PUBLIC MEDIA.

THERE CAN BE TONGUE-IN-CHEEK THERE CAN BE TONGUE-IN-CHEEK HUMOR, BUT YOU ARE NOT JUST HUMOR, BUT YOU ARE NOT JUST GOING FOR LOWEST COMMON GOING FOR LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR TO GET RATINGS.

DENOMINATOR TO GET RATINGS.

I HAVE BEEN LIKENING PUBLIC I HAVE BEEN LIKENING PUBLIC IMMEDIATE TO TO FOOD CO-OPS.

IMMEDIATE TO TO FOOD CO-OPS.

YOU CAN GO TO ANY SUPERMARKET YOU CAN GO TO ANY SUPERMARKET AND GET FOOD, BUT YOU GET AND GET FOOD, BUT YOU GET INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN YOU SHOP AT A FOOD CO-OP.

YOU SHOP AT A FOOD CO-OP.

IT IS COMMUNITY BUILDING.

IT IS COMMUNITY BUILDING.

THAT IS WHAT PUBLIC MEDIA DOES, THAT IS WHAT PUBLIC MEDIA DOES, TOO, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE A PART TOO, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF IT.

OF IT.

>> INVESTS IN COMMUNITY IS YOUR >> INVESTS IN COMMUNITY IS YOUR THING.

THING.

YOU HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION OF THE YOU HAVE BEEN A CHAMPION OF THE COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

YOU ARE WELL KNOWN FOR MONTE'S YOU ARE WELL KNOWN FOR MONTE'S MARCH WHICH SUPPORTS THE FOOD MARCH WHICH SUPPORTS THE FOOD BANK OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

BANK OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

WHY HAVE YOU ALWAYS DECIDED TO WHY HAVE YOU ALWAYS DECIDED TO MAKE BEING A COMMUNITY CHAMPION MAKE BEING A COMMUNITY CHAMPION PART OF YOUR WORK AS AN PART OF YOUR WORK AS AN ENTERTAINER?

ENTERTAINER?

>> BECAUSE I CAN'T ALLOW MYSELF, >> BECAUSE I CAN'T ALLOW MYSELF, I GUESS, MORALLY TO GO FOR THOSE I GUESS, MORALLY TO GO FOR THOSE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATORS TO LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATORS TO JUST GET ATTENTION.

JUST GET ATTENTION.

I FEEL LIKE COMMUNITY IS ALL I FEEL LIKE COMMUNITY IS ALL WE'VE GOT.

WE'VE GOT.

OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHO WE ARE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHO WE ARE WITH EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS WITH EACH OTHER AS HUMAN BEINGS IS ALL WE'VE GOT.

IS ALL WE'VE GOT.

IT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP BEING THE IT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

MOST IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.

IF WE CAN BETTER CONNECT OUR IF WE CAN BETTER CONNECT OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE 413 TO THE NEIGHBORS AND THE 413 TO THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS OTHER INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND EXPLORING THE DIFFERENT AND EXPLORING THE DIFFERENT PARTS WE MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN PARTS WE MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT.

ABOUT.

THAT'S WHY I FEEL LIKE THAT IS THAT'S WHY I FEEL LIKE THAT IS WHAT ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS.

WHAT ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

AT THE BASE OF EVERYTHING WE ARE AT THE BASE OF EVERYTHING WE ARE LOOKING AT AND MAKING IS LOOKING AT AND MAKING IS COMMUNITY AND MAKING THOSE BONDS COMMUNITY AND MAKING THOSE BONDS STRONGER.

STRONGER.

WHETHER IT IS THROUGH ARTS AND WHETHER IT IS THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE OR SIMPLE CONVERSATIONS CULTURE OR SIMPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE DOING INTERESTING WITH PEOPLE DOING INTERESTING THINGS OR REDISCOVERING COOL THINGS OR REDISCOVERING COOL THINGS ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THINGS ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WE WEREN'T AWARE OF.

WE WEREN'T AWARE OF.

GETTING TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE GETTING TO THE FOUNDATION OF THE STUFF THAT DRAWS US TOGETHER IS STUFF THAT DRAWS US TOGETHER IS KIND OF THE POINT.

KIND OF THE POINT.

>> AND SO SPEAKING TO THAT >> AND SO SPEAKING TO THAT POINT, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT THE POINT, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT THE AUDIENCE GETS OUT OF THIS NEW AUDIENCE GETS OUT OF THIS NEW RADIO SHOW.

RADIO SHOW.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE FROM IT?

COMMUNITY TO TAKE FROM IT?

>> GO OUT AND FIND SOMETHING NEW >> GO OUT AND FIND SOMETHING NEW YOU LOVE ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE.

YOU LOVE ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE.

BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO DISCOVER.

NEW TO DISCOVER.

THERE IS NO WAY YOU KNOW THERE IS NO WAY YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT IS HERE EVERYTHING ABOUT WHAT IS HERE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HELP YOU A AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN HELP YOU A LITTLE BIT IN THAT.

LITTLE BIT IN THAT.

>> IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING FOR ME >> IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING FOR ME TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK IF I HAD A TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK IF I HAD A GUEST ON THE AIR THAT HAD A BOOK GUEST ON THE AIR THAT HAD A BOOK OUT AND THEY HAD A BIG EVENT IN OUT AND THEY HAD A BIG EVENT IN REGARDS TO THEIR BOOK RELEASE.

REGARDS TO THEIR BOOK RELEASE.

OH, I HEARD ABOUT YOU ON THE OH, I HEARD ABOUT YOU ON THE RADIO AND OUR EVENT WAS SOLD RADIO AND OUR EVENT WAS SOLD OUT.

OUT.

IT IS THIS CULTURE BUILDING IT IS THIS CULTURE BUILDING CULTURE.

CULTURE.

SO THE RADIO ITSELF BECOMES PART SO THE RADIO ITSELF BECOMES PART OF THE CURATORS OF CULTURE IN OF THE CURATORS OF CULTURE IN THE AREA AND OTHER PEOPLE HEAR THE AREA AND OTHER PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT AND GO EXPERIENCE THAT ABOUT IT AND GO EXPERIENCE THAT CULTURE AND IT BECOMES THIS KIND CULTURE AND IT BECOMES THIS KIND OF REVOLVING DOOR OF GIVING OF REVOLVING DOOR OF GIVING FEEDBACK LOOP WITHIN THE FEEDBACK LOOP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

YOU WANT TO SET IT UP AS A YOU WANT TO SET IT UP AS A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP.

RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR >> SO WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FROM THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF FROM THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THIS SHOW?

THIS SHOW?

>> I WANT TO HEAR THE IDEAS OF >> I WANT TO HEAR THE IDEAS OF THINGS WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THINGS WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT YET.

YET.

WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING THE LAST WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS AND WEEKS OF COUPLE OF DAYS AND WEEKS OF THINGS WE CAN TALK ABOUT GOING THINGS WE CAN TALK ABOUT GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE FOR A FIVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE FOR A FIVE DAY AWEEK SHOW.

DAY AWEEK SHOW.

I'M SURE THERE ARE TONS OF I'M SURE THERE ARE TONS OF STONES UNTURNED.

STONES UNTURNED.

WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THIS WHEN PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THIS BEING SOMETHING ON THE AIRWAVES BEING SOMETHING ON THE AIRWAVES RELATIVELY SHORTLY, I HOPE THEY RELATIVELY SHORTLY, I HOPE THEY REACH OUT AND SAID DID YOU KNOW REACH OUT AND SAID DID YOU KNOW XYZ HAPPENED IN CHICKAPEE KIND XYZ HAPPENED IN CHICKAPEE KIND OF THING.

OF THING.

AND WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE LIVE AND WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE LIVE AUDIENCE INTERACTION.

AUDIENCE INTERACTION.

THAT IS ANOTHER GREAT THING THAT IS ANOTHER GREAT THING RADIO DOES, IT BECOMES A RADIO DOES, IT BECOMES A REALTIME SOUNDING BOARD AND IT REALTIME SOUNDING BOARD AND IT IS USUALLY A LOT KINDER THAN IS USUALLY A LOT KINDER THAN SOCIAL MEDIA.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> THAT IS NOT -- PHRASE COMES >> THAT IS NOT -- PHRASE COMES TO MIND ABOUT BARS AND FLOORS.

TO MIND ABOUT BARS AND FLOORS.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

SO BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH SO BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE AUDIENCE IN REAL TIME.

THE AUDIENCE IN REAL TIME.

ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A BIG ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A BIG NEWS STORY THAT HAPPENED THAT NEWS STORY THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY FOR THE AUDIENCE TO BE ABLE DAY FOR THE AUDIENCE TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT AND REACH A WIDER TO INTERACT AND REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE THAN JUST THEIR KITCHEN AUDIENCE THAN JUST THEIR KITCHEN TABLES.

TABLES.

I THINK IT IS AN INTERESTING I THINK IT IS AN INTERESTING OPPORTUNITY.

OPPORTUNITY.

>> SO FOR THOSE LISTENERS WHO >> SO FOR THOSE LISTENERS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH MORNINGS WITH ARE FAMILIAR WITH MORNINGS WITH MONTE, THEY HAVE GOTTEN USE TO MONTE, THEY HAVE GOTTEN USE TO THE FAMILIAR VOICES OF THE THE FAMILIAR VOICES OF THE GUESTS YOU HAVE HAD ON OVER THE GUESTS YOU HAVE HAD ON OVER THE YEARS.

YEARS.

WILL LISTENERS OF THIS NEW SHOW WILL LISTENERS OF THIS NEW SHOW BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THOSE VOICES, WILL THERE BE NEW THOSE VOICES, WILL THERE BE NEW VOICES ON THE SHOW?

VOICES ON THE SHOW?

>> BOTH.

>> BOTH.

KALIIS SMITH BECAME POPULAR AND KALIIS SMITH BECAME POPULAR AND SHE WILL CONTINUE TO NERD OUT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO NERD OUT >> THERE WILL ALWAYS BE NEW >> THERE WILL ALWAYS BE NEW BOARD GAMES AND I WILL GET THEM.

BOARD GAMES AND I WILL GET THEM.

>> I HAVE A RESIDENT ASTRONOMER >> I HAVE A RESIDENT ASTRONOMER WHO IS EAGER TO PARTICIPATE.

WHO IS EAGER TO PARTICIPATE.

THE WORD NERD EMILY BREWSTER.

THE WORD NERD EMILY BREWSTER.

I HOPE TO TALK ABOUT FOOD AND I HOPE TO TALK ABOUT FOOD AND WINE WITH WINE SNOBS.

WINE WITH WINE SNOBS.

I HAD A CHAT WITH McGOVERN, I HAD A CHAT WITH McGOVERN, GOVERNING WITH McGOVERN.

GOVERNING WITH McGOVERN.

A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ASK THEIR A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ASK THEIR CONGRESSMAN QUESTIONS.

CONGRESSMAN QUESTIONS.

SO THAT AND MORE.

SO THAT AND MORE.

>>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANY TIME AT ANY TIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKES US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

MAKES US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE CARE.

CARE.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHO SHE IS >> DO YOU KNOW WHO SHE IS TALKING ABOUT?

TALKING ABOUT?

>> I THINK SHE IS TALKING ABOUT >> I THINK SHE IS TALKING ABOUT YOU.

YOU.

>> NO.

>> NO.

STOP IT.

STOP IT.

>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR OUR