♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING WITH YOU THE CREATIVITY AND WITH YOU THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING AN ARTIST -- SCULPTURE INCLUDING AN ARTIST -- SCULPTURE WHO SPENT MORE THAN 50 YEARS WHO SPENT MORE THAN 50 YEARS HONING HIS CRAFT.

HONING HIS CRAFT.

>> TAKE A PIECE OF WOOD AND I >> TAKE A PIECE OF WOOD AND I KEEP IT HERE FOR OVER A YEAR KEEP IT HERE FOR OVER A YEAR SOMETIMES BEFORE I CAN FEEL THE SOMETIMES BEFORE I CAN FEEL THE ENERGY OF IT.

ENERGY OF IT.

THE VIBRATION OF IT.

THE VIBRATION OF IT.

>> AND AWARD WINNING LOCAL >> AND AWARD WINNING LOCAL AUTHOR'S NEW BOOK EXPLORES AUTHOR'S NEW BOOK EXPLORES TEENAGE LIFE IN THE AGE OF TEENAGE LIFE IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> NOW IT'S NOT JUST THAT YOU >> NOW IT'S NOT JUST THAT YOU DIDN'T GET INVITED TO THE PARTY.

DIDN'T GET INVITED TO THE PARTY.

I CAN SEE THE PHOTOS OF EVERYONE I CAN SEE THE PHOTOS OF EVERYONE ELSE WHO DID GET INVITED TO THE ELSE WHO DID GET INVITED TO THE PARTY!

PARTY!

>> AND WE'RE HEADING INTO THE >> AND WE'RE HEADING INTO THE WOODS TO EXPLORE THE NATURAL WOODS TO EXPLORE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF WORTHINGTON, BEAUTY OF WORTHINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

>> IT CONNECTs REALLY LARGE -- >> IT CONNECTs REALLY LARGE -- CONNECTS SOME REALLY LARGE CONNECTS SOME REALLY LARGE PARCELS OF PROTECTED LAND AND PARCELS OF PROTECTED LAND AND CREATES THESE NORTH/SOUTH CREATES THESE NORTH/SOUTH CORRIDORS WHICH ARE IMPORTANT TO CORRIDORS WHICH ARE IMPORTANT TO THE WILDLIFE.

THE WILDLIFE.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING MORE, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

POINT."

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

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR >> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTING.

JOINING US FOR CONNECTING.

YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

WE'RE COMING TO YOU TODAY FROM WE'RE COMING TO YOU TODAY FROM WORTHINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, IN WORTHINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, IN THE HEART OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

THE HEART OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

THIS RURAL COMMUNITY IS AN THIS RURAL COMMUNITY IS AN OUTDOOR LOVER'S PARADISE AND OUTDOOR LOVER'S PARADISE AND SOME OF THE BEST SPOTS FOR SOME OF THE BEST SPOTS FOR HIKING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN HIKING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND CAN BE FOUND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND CAN BE FOUND HERE.

HERE.

WE'LL EXPLORE ONE OF THEM, THE WE'LL EXPLORE ONE OF THEM, THE CONWELL PROOLT, WHICH IS -- CONWELL PROOLT, WHICH IS -- PROPERTY, WHICH IS MAINTAINED BY PROPERTY, WHICH IS MAINTAINED BY THE HILLTOWN LAND TRUST, LATER THE HILLTOWN LAND TRUST, LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT WE START WITH A STORY AFTER BUT WE START WITH A STORY AFTER MASTER CRAFTSMAN.

MASTER CRAFTSMAN.

AS LITTLE BOY IN JAMAICA, ELTON AS LITTLE BOY IN JAMAICA, ELTON TOOK AN OLD SCREWDRIVER THAT HE TOOK AN OLD SCREWDRIVER THAT HE FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHARPENED IT INTO A CHISEL, AND SHARPENED IT INTO A CHISEL, AND BEGAN TO CARVE WOOD.

BEGAN TO CARVE WOOD.

NOT KNOWING AT THAT TIME THAT NOT KNOWING AT THAT TIME THAT SCREWDRIVER WOULD LEAD TO A SCREWDRIVER WOULD LEAD TO A LIFETIME OF WOOD CARVING.

LIFETIME OF WOOD CARVING.

TODAY MORE THAN 50 YEARS AND TODAY MORE THAN 50 YEARS AND THOUSANDS OF PIECES LATER, HE THOUSANDS OF PIECES LATER, HE CONTINUES TO CARB OF AS WELL CONTINUES TO CARB OF AS WELL AS -- CARVE AS WELL AS EDUCATE AS -- CARVE AS WELL AS EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION AND HE THE NEXT GENERATION AND HE SHARES THE STORY WITH PRODUCER SHARES THE STORY WITH PRODUCER DAVE FRASER.

DAVE FRASER.

>> THIS IS MY LIFE.

>> THIS IS MY LIFE.

I SPEND MY TIME ALONE MOST OF I SPEND MY TIME ALONE MOST OF THE TIME, JUST CARVING.

THE TIME, JUST CARVING.

LISTENING TO MUSIC.

LISTENING TO MUSIC.

MUSIC REALLY INSPIRES ME TO DO MUSIC REALLY INSPIRES ME TO DO WHAT I DO.

WHAT I DO.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WITH CHISEL AND HAMMER, ELTON >> WITH CHISEL AND HAMMER, ELTON TRANSFORMS OLD TREE TRUNKS, TRANSFORMS OLD TREE TRUNKS, ROOTS, AND BRANCHES INTO ROOTS, AND BRANCHES INTO DELICATE AND DRAMATIC WORKS OF DELICATE AND DRAMATIC WORKS OF ART.

ART.

THE 73-YEAR-OLD NATIVE OF THE 73-YEAR-OLD NATIVE OF JAMAICA SAYS THE WORK HE DOES IS JAMAICA SAYS THE WORK HE DOES IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE RESPECT POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE RESPECT HE HAS FOR THE WOOD AND THE HE HAS FOR THE WOOD AND THE SPIRIT OF EVERY TREE.

SPIRIT OF EVERY TREE.

>> YOU CANNOT CARVE A PIECE OF >> YOU CANNOT CARVE A PIECE OF WOOD WITHOUT THE SPIRIT.

WOOD WITHOUT THE SPIRIT.

I CANNOT APPROACH IT.

I CANNOT APPROACH IT.

I HAVE TO TAKE A PIECE OF WOOD I HAVE TO TAKE A PIECE OF WOOD AND I KEEP IT HERE FOR OVER A AND I KEEP IT HERE FOR OVER A YEAR SOMETIMES BEFORE I CAN FEEL YEAR SOMETIMES BEFORE I CAN FEEL THE ENERGY OF IT.

THE ENERGY OF IT.

THE VIOLATION OF IT.

THE VIOLATION OF IT.

THE DIRECTION OF IT.

THE DIRECTION OF IT.

AND THEN I CARVE.

AND THEN I CARVE.

>> ON A RECENT WEEKDAY IN APRIL, >> ON A RECENT WEEKDAY IN APRIL, WE FOUND HIM IN HIS BACKYARD WE FOUND HIM IN HIS BACKYARD CARVING AMONGST THE MANY CARVING AMONGST THE MANY SCULPTURES HE HAS CREATED.

SCULPTURES HE HAS CREATED.

OUTDOORS ARE MORE AND INSIDE ARE OUTDOORS ARE MORE AND INSIDE ARE INC. MORE.

INC. MORE.

HE DESCRIBES IT UNIQUE AND HE DESCRIBES IT UNIQUE AND ANCIENT.

ANCIENT.

IT'S DIVERSE AND MULTI-CULTURAL.

IT'S DIVERSE AND MULTI-CULTURAL.

IT IS SPIRITUAL, CREATED FIRST IT IS SPIRITUAL, CREATED FIRST BY MOTHER NATURE, THEN RESEALED BY MOTHER NATURE, THEN RESEALED BY THE ARTIST HIMSELF.

BY THE ARTIST HIMSELF.

>> AND ALWAYS KNOW THAT YOU >> AND ALWAYS KNOW THAT YOU NEVER MAKE A PIECE OF WORK FOR NEVER MAKE A PIECE OF WORK FOR YOURSELF.

YOURSELF.

FOR YOUR COLLECTION.

FOR YOUR COLLECTION.

YOU ALWAYS CREATE FOR OTHER YOU ALWAYS CREATE FOR OTHER PEOPLE, FOR THE WORLD.

PEOPLE, FOR THE WORLD.

TO SEE, TO SEE SOMETHING THAT TO SEE, TO SEE SOMETHING THAT NEVER EXISTS NEVER EXISTS >> HE WAS THE YOUNGEST OF 12 >> HE WAS THE YOUNGEST OF 12 CHILDREN GROWING UP IN JAMAICA.

CHILDREN GROWING UP IN JAMAICA.

HE STUDIED AT AN ART SCHOOL WIN HE STUDIED AT AN ART SCHOOL WIN SOMETHING AWARDS AND SOMETHING AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

SCHOLARSHIPS.

HE MOVED TO THIS REGION FROM HE MOVED TO THIS REGION FROM NEW JERSEY IN 1982, AND SINCE NEW JERSEY IN 1982, AND SINCE THAT TIME HAS BECOME A FAMILIAR THAT TIME HAS BECOME A FAMILIAR FIGURE IN BOTH ARTISTIC AND FIGURE IN BOTH ARTISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES.

EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES.

>> THERE'S ONLY UNELEPHANT.

>> THERE'S ONLY UNELEPHANT.

SO FAR RIGHT NOW.

SO FAR RIGHT NOW.

-- ONE ELEPHANT SO FAR RIGHT -- ONE ELEPHANT SO FAR RIGHT NOW.

NOW.

I WON'T BE HERE FOREVER.

I WON'T BE HERE FOREVER.

SO THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE THING.

SO THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE THING.

GIVE IT BACK.

GIVE IT BACK.

I REALLY DO CLASSES ALSO.

I REALLY DO CLASSES ALSO.

I DO CLASSES HERE.

I DO CLASSES HERE.

AND DURING THAT TIME IT'S NOT AND DURING THAT TIME IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT CARVING.

ONLY ABOUT CARVING.

IT'S ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE.

IT'S ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCE.

SO I TRY TO GET INTO YOUR WORLD.

SO I TRY TO GET INTO YOUR WORLD.

TO SEE WHAT'S IN YOU.

TO SEE WHAT'S IN YOU.

WHAT -- WHAT I CAN HELP YOU WHAT -- WHAT I CAN HELP YOU WITH.

WITH.

BECAUSE I GOT TO DO IT.

BECAUSE I GOT TO DO IT.

>> SO WHAT I'M DOING IS REALLY >> SO WHAT I'M DOING IS REALLY JUST SHAPING IT.

JUST SHAPING IT.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST PROCESS AND THIS IS THE FIRST PROCESS THAT YOU GOT TO DO WHEN YOU THAT YOU GOT TO DO WHEN YOU CARVE.

CARVE.

>> HE PREFERS HARDWOODS LIKE >> HE PREFERS HARDWOODS LIKE MAPLE, BLACK WALNUT, CEDAR AND MAPLE, BLACK WALNUT, CEDAR AND ASH.

ASH.

HIS ART HAS LANDED IN EXHIBITS HIS ART HAS LANDED IN EXHIBITS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND AND OTHER ACROSS NEW ENGLAND AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND JAMAICA.

JAMAICA.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE WOOD >> WHEN YOU HAVE THE WOOD OUTSIDE, AND IT RAINS AND GOES OUTSIDE, AND IT RAINS AND GOES THROUGH THE WEATHER, IT CHANGES THROUGH THE WEATHER, IT CHANGES ITS OWN.

ITS OWN.

THIS WOOD IS ACTUALLY BLEEDING.

THIS WOOD IS ACTUALLY BLEEDING.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S READ INSIDE YOU CAN SEE IT'S READ INSIDE HERE -- RED INSIDE HERE.

HERE -- RED INSIDE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT WAS IN THE WOOD.

THAT'S WHAT WAS IN THE WOOD.

MAPLE TREES, THEY MAKE SYRUP MAPLE TREES, THEY MAKE SYRUP FROM I AM.

FROM I AM.

AND THAT'S ALL THESE -- FROM IT.

AND THAT'S ALL THESE -- FROM IT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT'S REALLY AND YOU CAN SEE THAT'S REALLY TRUE.

TRUE.

MAPLEWOOD.

MAPLEWOOD.

THE PROCESS OF WOOD CARVING IS THE PROCESS OF WOOD CARVING IS HARD WORK.

HARD WORK.

I CAN SAY.

I CAN SAY.

HARD WORK.

HARD WORK.

THE THING IS YOU HAVE TO COMMIT THE THING IS YOU HAVE TO COMMIT YOUR ENERGY, YOUR SPIRIT, TO YOUR ENERGY, YOUR SPIRIT, TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

USING A MALLET AND HAVE A CHISEL USING A MALLET AND HAVE A CHISEL IN THIS HAND AND GOING LIKE THIS IN THIS HAND AND GOING LIKE THIS ALL DAY LONG, IS NOT A JOKE.

ALL DAY LONG, IS NOT A JOKE.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] THIS IS SOME SERIOUS WORK.

THIS IS SOME SERIOUS WORK.

THAT'S WHY I CALL MY HANDS, THE THAT'S WHY I CALL MY HANDS, THE HANDS OF ONE HAND.

HANDS OF ONE HAND.

CARVING IS NOT MY HANDS.

CARVING IS NOT MY HANDS.

SOMEBODY IS USING IT TO DO THAT.

SOMEBODY IS USING IT TO DO THAT.

IT'S A GREAT ENERGY.

IT'S A GREAT ENERGY.

IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE.

IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS ALL MY I'VE BEEN DOING THIS ALL MY LIFE.

LIFE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

IN THE FRONT YARD OF WOOD IN THE FRONT YARD OF WOOD SCULPTURE ELTON'S HOME SITS A SCULPTURE ELTON'S HOME SITS A 12-FOOT WOOD CARVING THAT HE 12-FOOT WOOD CARVING THAT HE CALLS TREE SPIRIT.

CALLS TREE SPIRIT.

WHITES I'LL ONE OF MANY THAT WHITES I'LL ONE OF MANY THAT HE'S CREATED, TREE SPIRIT IS ONE HE'S CREATED, TREE SPIRIT IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITES AND HE EXPLAINS OF HIS FAVORITES AND HE EXPLAINS WHY IN THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE.

WHY IN THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE.

>> IT EVEN GOT A BEAUTIFUL HEART >> IT EVEN GOT A BEAUTIFUL HEART RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT HERE.

YOU SEE, EVERYTHING MAKE UP YOU SEE, EVERYTHING MAKE UP THIS.

THIS.

SO WHAT WAS IN THE TREE TELL -- SO WHAT WAS IN THE TREE TELL -- IT TELLS ME WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

IT TELLS ME WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

I DIDN'T DRAW ON IT.

I DIDN'T DRAW ON IT.

I JUST DO IT NATURALLY.

I JUST DO IT NATURALLY.

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

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AWARD-WINNING LOCAL AUTHOR >>> AWARD-WINNING LOCAL AUTHOR CRYSTAL IS BACK WITH HER CRYSTAL IS BACK WITH HER SOPHOMORE BOOK, ENTITLED, "NO SOPHOMORE BOOK, ENTITLED, "NO FILTER AND OTHER LIES."

FILTER AND OTHER LIES."

IT TELLS THE STORY OF A IT TELLS THE STORY OF A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO LIVES A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO LIVES A MADE-UP LIFE ONLINE WHICH MADE-UP LIFE ONLINE WHICH EVENTUALLY COMES CRASHING DOWN EVENTUALLY COMES CRASHING DOWN AROUND HER.

AROUND HER.

SHE JOINED ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW SHE JOINED ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE BOOK EXPLORES TEENAGE LIFE THE BOOK EXPLORES TEENAGE LIFE IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW HER CAREER AS AN AUTHOR HOW HER CAREER AS AN AUTHOR BEGAN.

BEGAN.

>> I LOVED LIBRARIES GROWING UP.

>> I LOVED LIBRARIES GROWING UP.

AND GOING TO BOOKSTORES.

AND GOING TO BOOKSTORES.

AND I THINK IT REALLY BEGAN AS AND I THINK IT REALLY BEGAN AS JUST KIND OF A FUN THING FOR MY JUST KIND OF A FUN THING FOR MY FAMILY TO DONE WITH US KIDS, FAMILY TO DONE WITH US KIDS, RIGHT.

RIGHT.

LIKE SUMMER BREAK.

LIKE SUMMER BREAK.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU HAVE THREE KIDS AT HOME.

THREE KIDS AT HOME.

IT'S LIKE, TAKE THEM TO THE IT'S LIKE, TAKE THEM TO THE LIBRARY, TO DO SOMETHING.

LIBRARY, TO DO SOMETHING.

AND SO WE FOUND OURSELVES AT OUR AND SO WE FOUND OURSELVES AT OUR LOCAL LIBRARY PRETTY OFTEN.

LOCAL LIBRARY PRETTY OFTEN.

WE WOULD CHECK OUT BOOKS.

WE WOULD CHECK OUT BOOKS.

AND I IMMEDIATELY LIKE FELL IN AND I IMMEDIATELY LIKE FELL IN LOVE WITH THESE STORIES THAT I LOVE WITH THESE STORIES THAT I WAS READING.

WAS READING.

AND I LOVED THAT -- I FELT LIKE AND I LOVED THAT -- I FELT LIKE I COULD GO ON THESE ADVENTURES I COULD GO ON THESE ADVENTURES WITHOUT ACTUALLY LEAVING MY WITHOUT ACTUALLY LEAVING MY HOUSE!

HOUSE!

OR ACTUALLY GOING ANYWHERE.

OR ACTUALLY GOING ANYWHERE.

SO I STARTED DAYDREAMING A LOT SO I STARTED DAYDREAMING A LOT AND WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF I AND WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF I STARTED MAKING UP THESE STORIES STARTED MAKING UP THESE STORIES AND WRITING THEM.

AND WRITING THEM.

AND SO I MEAN, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU AND SO I MEAN, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD REALLY BECOME AN AUTHOR.

COULD REALLY BECOME AN AUTHOR.

BUT AROUND LIKE THIRD GRADE I BUT AROUND LIKE THIRD GRADE I WAS LIKE, I LOVE WRITING.

WAS LIKE, I LOVE WRITING.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS.

MEANS.

BUT I'M GOING TO WRITE THESE FUN BUT I'M GOING TO WRITE THESE FUN LITTLE STORIES FOR ME AND MY LITTLE STORIES FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS.

FRIENDS.

AND SO THAT'S -- IT STARTED THAT AND SO THAT'S -- IT STARTED THAT EARLY FOR ME.

EARLY FOR ME.

AND THEN IT WASN'T PROBABLY AND THEN IT WASN'T PROBABLY UNTIL, GOD, PROBABLY ONLY A UNTIL, GOD, PROBABLY ONLY A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT I COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT I REALIZED, OH, YOU CAN MAKE THIS REALIZED, OH, YOU CAN MAKE THIS INTO A CAREER.

INTO A CAREER.

AND OR AT LEAST TRY TO.

AND OR AT LEAST TRY TO.

IF YOU'RE LUCKY, RIGHT?

IF YOU'RE LUCKY, RIGHT?

BUT YEAH, IT TOOK UNTIL I WAS BUT YEAH, IT TOOK UNTIL I WAS YOU KNOW, WELL IN MY 20S BEFORE YOU KNOW, WELL IN MY 20S BEFORE I THOUGHT, PERHAPS I CAN WRITE A I THOUGHT, PERHAPS I CAN WRITE A BOOK.

BOOK.

AND MAYBE SOMEONE WILL WANT TO AND MAYBE SOMEONE WILL WANT TO PUBLISH IT!

PUBLISH IT!

>> AND HERE WE ARE TALKING >> AND HERE WE ARE TALKING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO PUBLISHED BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO PUBLISHED BOOKS.

BOOKS.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR >> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR SOPHOMORE BOOK, NO FILTERS AND SOPHOMORE BOOK, NO FILTERS AND OTHER LIES.

OTHER LIES.

IT WAS RELEASED EARLIER THIS IT WAS RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND TELLS THE STORY AFTER YEAR AND TELLS THE STORY AFTER 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO IS LIVING A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO IS LIVING A MADE-UP LIFE ONLINE AND MADE-UP LIFE ONLINE AND INEVITABLY, THINGS GET MESSY.

INEVITABLY, THINGS GET MESSY.

>> YES!

>> YES!

>> TELL ME, WHERE DID THE >> TELL ME, WHERE DID THE INSPIRATION COME FROM TO WRITE INSPIRATION COME FROM TO WRITE THIS BOOK?

THIS BOOK?

>> SO THERE WERE A COUPLE OF >> SO THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT SORT OF INSPIRED ME THINGS THAT SORT OF INSPIRED ME FOR NO FILTER.

FOR NO FILTER.

SO ONE IS TRULY MY -- MY LOVE SO ONE IS TRULY MY -- MY LOVE AND OBSESSION WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND OBSESSION WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO LIKE I THINK A LOT OF US, I SO LIKE I THINK A LOT OF US, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON MY PHONE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON MY PHONE AND -- ON INSTAGRAM.

AND -- ON INSTAGRAM.

AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD A REALLY AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD A REALLY POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

BUT I WORKED IN IT AS WELL AS BUT I WORKED IN IT AS WELL AS LIKE A BRAND MANAGER.

LIKE A BRAND MANAGER.

AND I SOMETIMES GOT TO SEE THE AND I SOMETIMES GOT TO SEE THE NOT SO PRETTY SIDES OF IT.

NOT SO PRETTY SIDES OF IT.

AND SO IT GOT ME THINKING A LOT AND SO IT GOT ME THINKING A LOT ABOUT, WHOSE IT LIKE -- WHAT IS ABOUT, WHOSE IT LIKE -- WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A TEENAGER NOW AND IT LIKE BEING A TEENAGER NOW AND GROWING UP WITH THAT PERVASIVE GROWING UP WITH THAT PERVASIVE FEELING OF ALWAYS BEING ONLINE.

FEELING OF ALWAYS BEING ONLINE.

AND I THINK THAT -- WE DON'T AND I THINK THAT -- WE DON'T GIVE ENOUGH CREDIT TO YOUNG GIVE ENOUGH CREDIT TO YOUNG FOLKS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THAT.

FOLKS WHO ARE DEALING WITH THAT.

LIKE I GREW UP IN A TIME WHERE LIKE I GREW UP IN A TIME WHERE YOU ACTIVELY COULD CHOOSE TO GO YOU ACTIVELY COULD CHOOSE TO GO ONLINE AND IT WAS LIKE -- YOU GO ONLINE AND IT WAS LIKE -- YOU GO ON THE COMPUTER AND YOU LOG ON.

ON THE COMPUTER AND YOU LOG ON.

AND YOU COULD LOCAL OFF -- LOG AND YOU COULD LOCAL OFF -- LOG OF ON.

OF ON.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CHOICE AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CHOICE ANYMORE.

ANYMORE.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY JARRING SO I THINK IT'S REALLY JARRING AND REALLY TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE IN AND REALLY TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IN HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IN HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN AND YOUR WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND DOCUMENTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PRESSURES YOU THEN YOU HAVE THE PRESSURES YOU NORMALLY WOULD OF, YOU KNOW, DO NORMALLY WOULD OF, YOU KNOW, DO I FIT IN.

I FIT IN.

DO I HAVE FRIENDS, AM I POPULAR.

DO I HAVE FRIENDS, AM I POPULAR.

DO PEOPLE LIKE ME.

DO PEOPLE LIKE ME.

BUT NOW IT'S AMPLIFIED.

BUT NOW IT'S AMPLIFIED.

NOW, IT'S NOT JUST THAT YOU NOW, IT'S NOT JUST THAT YOU DIDN'T GET INVITED TO THE PARTY.

DIDN'T GET INVITED TO THE PARTY.

I CAN SEE THE PHOTOS OF EVERYONE I CAN SEE THE PHOTOS OF EVERYONE ELSE WHO DID GET INVITED TO THE ELSE WHO DID GET INVITED TO THE PARTY!

PARTY!

SO I WANTED TO EXPLORE THAT AND SO I WANTED TO EXPLORE THAT AND THAT FEELING I THINK OF JUST THAT FEELING I THINK OF JUST KIND OF LONELINESS AND THE KIND OF LONELINESS AND THE YEARNING FOR THAT VALIDATION YEARNING FOR THAT VALIDATION THROUGH CAT AND HOW SHE'S THIS THROUGH CAT AND HOW SHE'S THIS GIRL WHO SHE'S JUST TRYING TO GIRL WHO SHE'S JUST TRYING TO FIGURE HERSELF OUT AND SHE USES FIGURE HERSELF OUT AND SHE USES SOCIAL MEDIA AS SOMETHING -- SHE SOCIAL MEDIA AS SOMETHING -- SHE WANTS TO USE IT FOR THIS WANTS TO USE IT FOR THIS PROFESSIONAL REASON, TO GET PROFESSIONAL REASON, TO GET VALIDATION FOR HER ART.

VALIDATION FOR HER ART.

BUT REALLY SHE KIND OF WANTS THE BUT REALLY SHE KIND OF WANTS THE VALIDATION FOR HERSELF.

VALIDATION FOR HERSELF.

AND IT -- I THINK IT'S -- I HOPE AND IT -- I THINK IT'S -- I HOPE I CREATED SOMEONE WHO'S KIND OF I CREATED SOMEONE WHO'S KIND OF COMPLICATED IN THAT SENSE.

COMPLICATED IN THAT SENSE.

YEAH, OF COURSE, SHE DOES A BAD YEAH, OF COURSE, SHE DOES A BAD THING.

THING.

YOU SHOULD NEVER STEAL SOMEONE'S YOU SHOULD NEVER STEAL SOMEONE'S IDENTITY.

IDENTITY.

BUT WE KIND OF SEE HOW SHE WOULD BUT WE KIND OF SEE HOW SHE WOULD FEEL SO COMPELLED TO DO THAT.

FEEL SO COMPELLED TO DO THAT.

SO I WANTED TO KIND OF -- SO I WANTED TO KIND OF -- EXPLORE THAT THROUGH THE LENS OF EXPLORE THAT THROUGH THE LENS OF SOMEONE WHO DOES THE CATFISHING SOMEONE WHO DOES THE CATFISHING BECAUSE I THINK THAT SO MUCH -- BECAUSE I THINK THAT SO MUCH -- THAT'S SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING THAT'S SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING THAN SOMEONE BEING CATFISHED.

THAN SOMEONE BEING CATFISHED.

I FEEL THAT STORY IS TOO SAD, I FEEL THAT STORY IS TOO SAD, YOU KNOW!

YOU KNOW!

>> YOUR FIRST BOOK, FAT CHANCE, >> YOUR FIRST BOOK, FAT CHANCE, CHARLIE VEGA, AND THIS BOOK, CHARLIE VEGA, AND THIS BOOK, BOTH OF THEM HAVE A LOT OF BOTH OF THEM HAVE A LOT OF REPRESENTATION IN THAT BOOK.

REPRESENTATION IN THAT BOOK.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S A REALLY AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WRITING FOR IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WRITING FOR YOU.

YOU.

SO TELL ME WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT SO TELL ME WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT AND WHAT IMPACT WOULD IT HAVE AND WHAT IMPACT WOULD IT HAVE HAD ON LIKE A LITTLE CRYSTAL'S HAD ON LIKE A LITTLE CRYSTAL'S LIFE TO TO HAVE SEEN THAT LIFE TO TO HAVE SEEN THAT REPRESENTATION AS A YOUNG REPRESENTATION AS A YOUNG READER?

READER?

>> THAT IS SUCH A GOOD QUESTION.

>> THAT IS SUCH A GOOD QUESTION.

SO LITTLE CRYSTAL AS WE SAID WAS SO LITTLE CRYSTAL AS WE SAID WAS LIKE SUCH AN AVID READER.

LIKE SUCH AN AVID READER.

BUT I DEFINITELY WENT THROUGH BUT I DEFINITELY WENT THROUGH THIS MOMENT IN MY LIFE SINCE I THIS MOMENT IN MY LIFE SINCE I WAS GROWING UP WHERE I'M LIKE, I WAS GROWING UP WHERE I'M LIKE, I LOVE THESE BOOKS AND I LOVE LOVE THESE BOOKS AND I LOVE THESE CHARACTERS.

THESE CHARACTERS.

BUT DO THEY ACTUALLY LOVE ME BUT DO THEY ACTUALLY LOVE ME BACK, BECAUSE I NEVER SAW BACK, BECAUSE I NEVER SAW ANYBODY WHO LOOKED ANYTHING LIKE ANYBODY WHO LOOKED ANYTHING LIKE ME IN THESE BOOKS.

ME IN THESE BOOKS.

YOU KNOW, NONE OF THEM -- IT WAS YOU KNOW, NONE OF THEM -- IT WAS RARELY LATINA CHARACTERS.

RARELY LATINA CHARACTERS.

I FELT LIKE I NEVER SAW I FELT LIKE I NEVER SAW SPECIFICALLY BOCAN -- SPECIFICALLY BOCAN -- PUERTO RICAN CHARACTERS.

PUERTO RICAN CHARACTERS.

I RARELY EVER SAW FAT I RARELY EVER SAW FAT CHARACTERS.

CHARACTERS.

SO THERE WERE ALL THESE THINGS SO THERE WERE ALL THESE THINGS AND IDENTITIES THAT I HAD THAT I AND IDENTITIES THAT I HAD THAT I THOUGHT, WELL, I'M CLEARLY -- I THOUGHT, WELL, I'M CLEARLY -- I MUST BE ABNORMAL, BECAUSE I'VE MUST BE ABNORMAL, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN THESE IDENTITIES NEVER SEEN THESE IDENTITIES REFLECTED BACK AT ME.

REFLECTED BACK AT ME.

AND I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH AND I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH POWER IN HAVING REPRESENTATION POWER IN HAVING REPRESENTATION BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE STORIES.

STORIES.

ONCE YOU START TO SEE YOURSELF, ONCE YOU START TO SEE YOURSELF, YOU FEEL A LITTLE LESS INSECURE YOU FEEL A LITTLE LESS INSECURE ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND YOU CAN ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND YOU CAN SORT OF LOOK AT OTHERS AND FEEL SORT OF LOOK AT OTHERS AND FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE EMIF ATHETTIC A LITTLE BIT MORE EMIF ATHETTIC FOR THEM -- EMPATHETIC FOR THEM, FOR THEM -- EMPATHETIC FOR THEM, TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE!

FOR YOUR LIFE!

>> SO USUAL AN EXTREMELY BUSY >> SO USUAL AN EXTREMELY BUSY WOMAN.

WOMAN.

YOU HAVE A FULL-TIME CAREER ON YOU HAVE A FULL-TIME CAREER ON TOP OF YOUR WRITING CAREER.

TOP OF YOUR WRITING CAREER.

>> I DO.

>> I DO.

>> ON TOP OF BEING A MOM AND A >> ON TOP OF BEING A MOM AND A WIFE.

WIFE.

AND YOU RELEASED TWO BOOKS IN AND YOU RELEASED TWO BOOKS IN THE SPAN OF ONE YEAR.

THE SPAN OF ONE YEAR.

SO -- SO -- >> I DID!

>> I DID!

>> KUDOS TO YOU.

>> KUDOS TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHERE DID YOU FIND THE DRIVE >> WHERE DID YOU FIND THE DRIVE TO KEEP GOING?

TO KEEP GOING?

>> OH, MAN.

>> OH, MAN.

I ASK MIESM THE SAME THING -- I ASK MIESM THE SAME THING -- MYSELF THE SAME THINGS SOME MYSELF THE SAME THINGS SOME DAYS, BECAUSE CAN I JUST TAKE A DAYS, BECAUSE CAN I JUST TAKE A NAP!

NAP!

FOR ME A LOT OF IT IS JUST THE FOR ME A LOT OF IT IS JUST THE LOVE OF THE ACTUAL WRITING.

LOVE OF THE ACTUAL WRITING.

AND GETTING TO MEET WITH READERS AND GETTING TO MEET WITH READERS AND STUDENTS IS SOMETHING THAT AND STUDENTS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY, REALLY MOTIVATES ME.

REALLY, REALLY MOTIVATES ME.

SO I OBSERVE -- OBVIOUSLY MY SO I OBSERVE -- OBVIOUSLY MY BOOKS CAME OUT DURING THE BOOKS CAME OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, SO IT WAS REALLY HARD PANDEMIC, SO IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TALK TO ACTUAL TEENS READING TO TALK TO ACTUAL TEENS READING THE BOOKS.

THE BOOKS.

AND SO VERY RECENTLY I STARTED AND SO VERY RECENTLY I STARTED DOING THINGS LIKE SCHOOL VISITS DOING THINGS LIKE SCHOOL VISITS AND LIBRARY VISITS.

AND LIBRARY VISITS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FEEL LIKE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FILLING OUR CUP AND JUST LIKE FILLING OUR CUP AND JUST LIKE REFILLING THAT WELL, THAT IS IT REFILLING THAT WELL, THAT IS IT FOR ME, BECAUSE IT'S GETTING TO FOR ME, BECAUSE IT'S GETTING TO TALK -- YOU KNOW, FACE TO FACE TALK -- YOU KNOW, FACE TO FACE OR VIRTUALLY WITH YOUNG READERS OR VIRTUALLY WITH YOUNG READERS WHO SAY I'M EXACTLY LIKE CHARLIE WHO SAY I'M EXACTLY LIKE CHARLIE YOU ON I HAVE A FRIEND GROUP YOU ON I HAVE A FRIEND GROUP LIKE CAT'S FRIEND GROUP OR I LIKE CAT'S FRIEND GROUP OR I WANT A DOG LIKE CASH FROM "NO WANT A DOG LIKE CASH FROM "NO FILTER."

FILTER."

AND THOSE THINGS END UP MAKING AND THOSE THINGS END UP MAKING ME FEEL LIKE, THIS IS -- THIS IS ME FEEL LIKE, THIS IS -- THIS IS WHY I'M DOING THIS.

WHY I'M DOING THIS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND FOR MORE FROM AUTHOR >>> AND FOR MORE FROM AUTHOR CRYSTAL, LOG ON TO WE ARE PAGE CRYSTAL, LOG ON TO WE ARE PAGE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS SHE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS SHE SHARES AN EXCERPT WITH US FROM SHARES AN EXCERPT WITH US FROM HER SOPHOMORE BOOK, "NO FILTER HER SOPHOMORE BOOK, "NO FILTER AND OTHER LIES."

AND OTHER LIES."

IN THIS PASSAGE WE GET A GLIMPSE IN THIS PASSAGE WE GET A GLIMPSE OF HOW 17-YEAR-OLD CAT SANCHEZ OF HOW 17-YEAR-OLD CAT SANCHEZ BEGINS TO GET THE IDEA TO MAKE BEGINS TO GET THE IDEA TO MAKE UP A SEPARATE IDENTITY ON SOCIAL UP A SEPARATE IDENTITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

MEDIA.

>> IF MY WORK IS SO GOOD, HOW >> IF MY WORK IS SO GOOD, HOW COME IT FLOPS EVERY TIME I SHARE COME IT FLOPS EVERY TIME I SHARE IT ON INSTAGRAM?

IT ON INSTAGRAM?

IT MAKES ME SO UPSET!

IT MAKES ME SO UPSET!

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING WRONG, BUT MY ACCOUNT IS WRONG, BUT MY ACCOUNT IS PRACTICALLY DEAD.

PRACTICALLY DEAD.

JUST OVER 200 FOLLOWERS, WAY JUST OVER 200 FOLLOWERS, WAY LESS THAN 50 LIKES PER PHOTO, LESS THAN 50 LIKES PER PHOTO, AND NEXT TO ZERO COMMENTS.

AND NEXT TO ZERO COMMENTS.

YET MY AESTHETIC ON THE ACCOUNT YET MY AESTHETIC ON THE ACCOUNT IS AMAZING.

IS AMAZING.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA ONLINE AT EXTRA ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> MANAGED BY THE HILLTOWN LAND >>> MANAGED BY THE HILLTOWN LAND TRUST, THE CONWELL PROPERTY IS A TRUST, THE CONWELL PROPERTY IS A SCENIC FORESTED LANDSCAPE IN SCENIC FORESTED LANDSCAPE IN RURAL SOUTH WORDINGTON, RURAL SOUTH WORDINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

-- WORTHINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

-- WORTHINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IT HAS THREE MILES OF TRAILS IT HAS THREE MILES OF TRAILS WITH FEATURES INCLUDING CONWELL WITH FEATURES INCLUDING CONWELL POND AND EAGLE NEST RIDGE, AND POND AND EAGLE NEST RIDGE, AND "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN BRINGS US THE STORY.

SULLIVAN BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> ROUTE 112 MAY BE ONE OF THE >> ROUTE 112 MAY BE ONE OF THE LESSER TRAVELED HIGHWAYS IN LESSER TRAVELED HIGHWAYS IN MASSACHUSETTS, BUT THE NATIONAL MASSACHUSETTS, BUT THE NATIONAL BEAUTY AND NEW ENGLAND CHARM BEAUTY AND NEW ENGLAND CHARM FOUND ON THIS 54-MILE STRETCH OF FOUND ON THIS 54-MILE STRETCH OF ROAD CAN SURELY HOLD A CANDLE TO ROAD CAN SURELY HOLD A CANDLE TO SOME OF MORSE WES -- WELL-KNOWN SOME OF MORSE WES -- WELL-KNOWN TRAVELWAYS IN THE AREA.

TRAVELWAYS IN THE AREA.

DRIVERS CAN SOAK IN THE SOUNDS DRIVERS CAN SOAK IN THE SOUNDS OF THE WEST RANCH OF THE WEST OF THE WEST RANCH OF THE WEST FIELD RIVER OR GET AN FIELD RIVER OR GET AN ENGINEERING MARVEL KNOWN AS THE ENGINEERING MARVEL KNOWN AS THE KNIGHTSVILLE DAM IN HUNTINGTON.

KNIGHTSVILLE DAM IN HUNTINGTON.

BUT TODAY WE'RE HEADING TO BUT TODAY WE'RE HEADING TO WORTHINGTON, OR MORE ACCURATELY, WORTHINGTON, OR MORE ACCURATELY, SOUTH WORTHINGTON.

SOUTH WORTHINGTON.

THE DESTINATION, THE 70-ACRE THE DESTINATION, THE 70-ACRE CONWELL PROPERTY WHICH HAS ABOUT CONWELL PROPERTY WHICH HAS ABOUT THREE MILES OF OUTAND BACK THREE MILES OF OUTAND BACK TRAILS.

TRAILS.

IT'S A PARCEL THAT THE LAND IT'S A PARCEL THAT THE LAND TRUST HAS HAD SINCE 2017, BUT TRUST HAS HAD SINCE 2017, BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO OPEN IT TO THE WEREN'T ABLE TO OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO A LACK OF PARKING.

PUBLIC DUE TO A LACK OF PARKING.

THAT CHANGED AFTER THE BRIDGE THAT CHANGED AFTER THE BRIDGE WAS RENOVATED IN 2021.

WAS RENOVATED IN 2021.

>> WHEN WE RECEIVED THE DONATION >> WHEN WE RECEIVED THE DONATION OF LAND, THE PROPERTY HAD A OF LAND, THE PROPERTY HAD A LOVELY NETWORK OF TRAILS.

LOVELY NETWORK OF TRAILS.

BUT THERE WAS NO PLACE TO ENTER BUT THERE WAS NO PLACE TO ENTER THE PROPERTY FROM A PUBLIC ROAD THE PROPERTY FROM A PUBLIC ROAD WHERE PEOPLE COULD SAFELY PARK WHERE PEOPLE COULD SAFELY PARK THEIR CARS.

THEIR CARS.

SO WE EXPLORED A VARIETY OF SO WE EXPLORED A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR PARKING BEFORE OPTIONS FOR PARKING BEFORE OPENING THE LAND TO THE PUBLIC.

OPENING THE LAND TO THE PUBLIC.

AND EVENTUALLY THROUGH A AND EVENTUALLY THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH MASS WILDLIFE, PARTNERSHIP WITH MASS WILDLIFE, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FISHING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FISHING AND GAME, CREATED A PARKING AREA AND GAME, CREATED A PARKING AREA ON MASS WILDLIFE'S LAND JUST TO ON MASS WILDLIFE'S LAND JUST TO THE SOUTH WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK THE SOUTH WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK OVER A BRIDGE ALONG 112 THAT OVER A BRIDGE ALONG 112 THAT GOES OVER THE LITTLE RIVER AND GOES OVER THE LITTLE RIVER AND THEN ENTER THE NETWORK OF PUBLIC THEN ENTER THE NETWORK OF PUBLIC TRAILS ON THIS PROPERTY.

TRAILS ON THIS PROPERTY.

>> PROXIMITY TO THE MODERN WORLD >> PROXIMITY TO THE MODERN WORLD QUICKLY BECOMES A DISTANT MEMORY QUICKLY BECOMES A DISTANT MEMORY AS HIKERS TREK ACROSS THE HILLY AS HIKERS TREK ACROSS THE HILLY LANDSCAPE.

LANDSCAPE.

ASIDE FROM THIS LITTLE STREAM ASIDE FROM THIS LITTLE STREAM WHICH REQUIRES A HOP TO GET WHICH REQUIRES A HOP TO GET ACROSS, THE TRAILS ARE PRETTY ACROSS, THE TRAILS ARE PRETTY DRY AND CAN BE TAKEN ON IN A DRY AND CAN BE TAKEN ON IN A PAIR OF SNEAKERS.

PAIR OF SNEAKERS.

WINTER MONTHS WITH THE SNOW ON WINTER MONTHS WITH THE SNOW ON THE GROUND MAY REQUIRE FOR THE GROUND MAY REQUIRE FOR SUBSTANTIAL FOOTWEAR, BUT THE SUBSTANTIAL FOOTWEAR, BUT THE PROPERTY WASN'T OPEN TO THE PROPERTY WASN'T OPEN TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL EARLY SPRING OF PUBLIC UNTIL EARLY SPRING OF THIS YEAR, WHICH IN NEW ENGLAND THIS YEAR, WHICH IN NEW ENGLAND IS A GREAT TIME TO WATCH AND IS A GREAT TIME TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF WINTER LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF WINTER MELTING AWAY.

MELTING AWAY.

>> OPENING UP THIS PROPERTY HAS >> OPENING UP THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN VERY GRATIFYING.

BEEN VERY GRATIFYING.

IT'S A GREAT PIECE OF LAND FOR IT'S A GREAT PIECE OF LAND FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY, TO EXPERIENCE PEOPLE TO ENJOY, TO EXPERIENCE NATURE, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO NATURE, WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF EFFORT IN -- THROUGH A LOT OF EFFORT IN -- EFFORT.

EFFORT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT IT'S A GREAT IN ADDITION TO THAT IT'S A GREAT PARCEL OF LAND IN TERMS OF PARCEL OF LAND IN TERMS OF WILDLIFE.

WILDLIFE.

IT CONNECTS SOME REALLY LARGE IT CONNECTS SOME REALLY LARGE PARCELS OF PROTECTED LAND AND PARCELS OF PROTECTED LAND AND CREATES THESE NORTH/SOUTH CREATES THESE NORTH/SOUTH CORRIDORS, WHICH ARE REALLY CORRIDORS, WHICH ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR WILDLIFE.

IMPORTANT FOR WILDLIFE.

>> LUCKILY IN MY TRAVELS, I >> LUCKILY IN MY TRAVELS, I NEVER COME ACROSS ANY OF THAT NEVER COME ACROSS ANY OF THAT WILDLIFE, WHICH COULD INCLUDE WILDLIFE, WHICH COULD INCLUDE ANYTHING FROM BEARS TO MOOSE AND ANYTHING FROM BEARS TO MOOSE AND POSSIBLY BOBCATS.

POSSIBLY BOBCATS.

ALTHOUGH I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO ALTHOUGH I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE THE WOOD PECK THEY'RE SEE THE WOOD PECK THEY'RE CREATED THESE HOLES AND LEFT CREATED THESE HOLES AND LEFT THIS ENORMOUS PILE OF WOOD THIS ENORMOUS PILE OF WOOD SHAVINGS.

SHAVINGS.

BUT MORE THAN JUST THE SIMPLE BUT MORE THAN JUST THE SIMPLE ENJOYMENT OF TAKING IN THE ENJOYMENT OF TAKING IN THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF NATURE, SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF NATURE, THERE ARE HEALTHY PSYCHOLOGICAL THERE ARE HEALTHY PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL COMPONENTS TO AND PHYSICAL COMPONENTS TO HEADING OUT TO TRAILS LIKE THESE HEADING OUT TO TRAILS LIKE THESE AS WELL.

AS WELL.

IF IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME IF IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME KIND OF PRIMAL URGE THAT BRINGS KIND OF PRIMAL URGE THAT BRINGS US BACK TO NATURE, IT'S BECAUSE US BACK TO NATURE, IT'S BECAUSE THERE PROBABLY IS.

THERE PROBABLY IS.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT BEING IN STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT BEING IN THE FOREST HELPS TO BOOST THE THE FOREST HELPS TO BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND LOWER BLOOD IMMUNE SYSTEM AND LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE.

PRESSURE.

IT INCREASES FOCUS AND ENERGY, IT INCREASES FOCUS AND ENERGY, AND IT IMPROVES SLEEP.

AND IT IMPROVES SLEEP.

EEL TAKE THAT.

EEL TAKE THAT.

AS EASY AS IT IS TO FEEL AS EASY AS IT IS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WALKING ALONG THESE COMFORTABLE WALKING ALONG THESE TRAILS, IT'S JUST AS EASY TO GET TRAILS, IT'S JUST AS EASY TO GET LOST IN ANY WOODS HERE IN LOST IN ANY WOODS HERE IN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF MARKINGS ON THE ABUNDANCE OF MARKINGS ON THE TREES TO MAKE SURE THAT TREES TO MAKE SURE THAT TRAVELERS STAY ON THE RIGHT TRAVELERS STAY ON THE RIGHT PATH.

PATH.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THESE MARKINGS AND TRAILS THAT THESE MARKINGS AND TRAILS DIDN'T JUST APPEAR HERE BY DIDN'T JUST APPEAR HERE BY MAGIC.

MAGIC.

THEY WERE PUT HERE BY OTHER THEY WERE PUT HERE BY OTHER NATURE LOVERS WHO, IN ALL NATURE LOVERS WHO, IN ALL PROBABILITY, DIDN'T GET PAID FOR PROBABILITY, DIDN'T GET PAID FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

THEIR EFFORTS.

>> IT'S PEOPLE WHO DONATE THEIR >> IT'S PEOPLE WHO DONATE THEIR TIME TO US BECAUSE THEY CARE TIME TO US BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT PLACES LIKE CONWELL.

ABOUT PLACES LIKE CONWELL.

THEY HAVE JOINED US ON WORKDAYS THEY HAVE JOINED US ON WORKDAYS TO COME OUT AND YEAR SOME OF TO COME OUT AND YEAR SOME OF THESE TRAILS AND DO SOME THESE TRAILS AND DO SOME BLAZING.

BLAZING.

AND THEY'VE BEEN A BIG PART OF AND THEY'VE BEEN A BIG PART OF HELPING PEOPLE BECOME AWARE HELPING PEOPLE BECOME AWARE ABOUT THIS PLACE AND GETTING ABOUT THIS PLACE AND GETTING PEOPLE TO COME OUT HERE.

PEOPLE TO COME OUT HERE.

BUT THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO BUT THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO JOIN EACH OTHER TODAY IS BECAUSE JOIN EACH OTHER TODAY IS BECAUSE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.

OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND IF YOU LOVE TO EXPLORE >>> AND IF YOU LOVE TO EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS, HEAD OVER TO THE OUTDOORS, HEAD OVER TO "CONNECTING POINT" ONLINE FOR A "CONNECTING POINT" ONLINE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS THE COMMUNITY DIGITAL EXTRA AS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE LAND TRUST DISCUSSES THE CALMING LAND TRUST DISCUSSES THE CALMING EFFECT THAT BEING IN NATURE CAN EFFECT THAT BEING IN NATURE CAN HAVE ON ADULTS AND CHILDREN HAVE ON ADULTS AND CHILDREN PARTICULARLY, THOSE WITH ADHD.

PARTICULARLY, THOSE WITH ADHD.

>> BRINGING KIDS OUT INTO THE >> BRINGING KIDS OUT INTO THE WOODS, I PERSONALLY NOTICE THAT WOODS, I PERSONALLY NOTICE THAT THE BEHAVIOR OF KIDS IS A LOT THE BEHAVIOR OF KIDS IS A LOT EASIER TO MANAGE.

EASIER TO MANAGE.

I THINK WE'RE KINDER TO EACH I THINK WE'RE KINDER TO EACH OTHER OUT HERE.

OTHER OUT HERE.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE AT EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT/ NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT/ "CONNEC "CONNEC TING POINT."

TING POINT."

>>> INSPIRED BYVELA'S MUSIC -- >>> INSPIRED BYVELA'S MUSIC -- BY VENEZUELA'S PROGRAM, KIDS BY VENEZUELA'S PROGRAM, KIDS FROM HARMONY.

FROM HARMONY.

THIS FREE CLASSICAL MUSIC THIS FREE CLASSICAL MUSIC PROGRAMS CURRENTLY SERVES OVER PROGRAMS CURRENTLY SERVES OVER 60 ELEMENTARY TO HIGH 60 ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS IN SCHOOL-AGED STUDENTS IN PITTSFIELD AND NORTH ADAMS.

PITTSFIELD AND NORTH ADAMS.

I SPOKE WITH COURTY CLARK, AND I SPOKE WITH COURTY CLARK, AND SHAUN TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE SHAUN TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT THIS REMARKABLE PROGRAM IMPACT THIS REMARKABLE PROGRAM HAS HAD ON ITS STUDENTS.

HAS HAD ON ITS STUDENTS.

>> SO TYPICALLY, WITH SOCIAL >> SO TYPICALLY, WITH SOCIAL SERVICES, PEOPLE COME IN WHEN SERVICES, PEOPLE COME IN WHEN THERE'S ALREADY A PROBLEM OR AN THERE'S ALREADY A PROBLEM OR AN ISSUE IN THEIR LIVES.

ISSUE IN THEIR LIVES.

AND WITH KIDS FOR HARMONY, WE'RE AND WITH KIDS FOR HARMONY, WE'RE ESTABLISHING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES EARLY ON.

FAMILIES EARLY ON.

SO THEN LATER ON, DOWN THE ROAD, SO THEN LATER ON, DOWN THE ROAD, IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, THEY IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, THEY ALREADY HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM ALREADY HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO.

THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED TO.

>> AND RIGHT NOW THE PROGRAM >> AND RIGHT NOW THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVES OVER 60 CURRENTLY SERVES OVER 60 STUDENTS IN PITTSFIELD AND NORTH STUDENTS IN PITTSFIELD AND NORTH ADAMS IN THE BIRK SHEARS -- ADAMS IN THE BIRK SHEARS -- BERKSHIRES.

BERKSHIRES.

HOW HAVE YOU WITNESSED THIS ART HOW HAVE YOU WITNESSED THIS ART FORM IMPACT THE CHILDREN AND HOW FORM IMPACT THE CHILDREN AND HOW HAVE YOU WITNESSED THIS ART FORM HAVE YOU WITNESSED THIS ART FORM IN MUSIC IMPACT SOCIAL CHANGE?

IN MUSIC IMPACT SOCIAL CHANGE?

>> I THINK EVERY DAY I WITNESS >> I THINK EVERY DAY I WITNESS SOMETHING REALLY NICE HAPPENING SOMETHING REALLY NICE HAPPENING WITH OUR STUDENTS.

WITH OUR STUDENTS.

I THINK ONE OF OUR GOALS IN I THINK ONE OF OUR GOALS IN GENERAL IS TO GIVE THE STUDENTS GENERAL IS TO GIVE THE STUDENTS AN OUTLET TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT AN OUTLET TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.

THEMSELVES.

AND WE TRY TO DO THAT THROUGH A AND WE TRY TO DO THAT THROUGH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS, WHETHER IT'S PERFORMANCE OR WE WHETHER IT'S PERFORMANCE OR WE OFFER COMPOSITION TO OUR OFFER COMPOSITION TO OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.

STUDENTS AS WELL.

SO WHETHER A STUDENT IS SO WHETHER A STUDENT IS PRACTICING REALLY HARD AND PRACTICING REALLY HARD AND GETTING INTO AN AUDITION THAT GETTING INTO AN AUDITION THAT THEY WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THEY WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET INTO AND MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD INTO AND MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD THAT WAY OR JUST ACHIEVING, THEY THAT WAY OR JUST ACHIEVING, THEY PLAY A COUPLE MEASURES OF MUSIC PLAY A COUPLE MEASURES OF MUSIC REALLY WELL OR THEY COMPOSE A REALLY WELL OR THEY COMPOSE A PIECE OF MUSIC AND THEIR PEERS PIECE OF MUSIC AND THEIR PEERS ARE TELLING THEM, THAT WAS A ARE TELLING THEM, THAT WAS A GREAT PIECE, REALLY GREAT.

GREAT PIECE, REALLY GREAT.

AND THAT JUST MAKES THEM FEEL AND THAT JUST MAKES THEM FEEL GOOD AND YOU CAN TELL THAT GOOD AND YOU CAN TELL THAT MOTIVATES THEM TO KEEP GOING.

MOTIVATES THEM TO KEEP GOING.

THAT'S THE CHANGE THAT I SEE THAT'S THE CHANGE THAT I SEE EVERY DAY AND IT'S REALLY, EVERY DAY AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY REWARDING.

REALLY REWARDING.

>> I CAN IMAGINE THE CONFIDENT >> I CAN IMAGINE THE CONFIDENT BOOST THAT -- CONFIDENCE BOOST BOOST THAT -- CONFIDENCE BOOST THAT BEING PART OF THIS PROGRAM THAT BEING PART OF THIS PROGRAM GIVES THE STUDENTS.

GIVES THE STUDENTS.

>> I'VE ALSO SEEN A CHANGE IN >> I'VE ALSO SEEN A CHANGE IN THE FAMILIES AS WELL, BECAUSE THE FAMILIES AS WELL, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY GET TO SEE THEIR YOU KNOW, THEY GET TO SEE THEIR KIDS PERFORM AND IT JUST GIVES KIDS PERFORM AND IT JUST GIVES THEM HOPE AND IT LETS THEM THEM HOPE AND IT LETS THEM CELEBRATE THEIR KIDS.

CELEBRATE THEIR KIDS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THE GOAL OF OUR SOCIAL >> THE GOAL OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY, KIDS FOR SERVICE AGENCY, KIDS FOR HORMONE, IS -- HARMONY, IS TO HORMONE, IS -- HARMONY, IS TO PROVIDE AS MUCH ACCESS AS WE CAN PROVIDE AS MUCH ACCESS AS WE CAN TO THE PROGRAM.

TO THE PROGRAM.

SO WE MEET IN THE PUBLIC SO WE MEET IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SCHOOLS.

SO WE ELIMINATE THE SO WE ELIMINATE THE TRANSPORTATION NEED.

TRANSPORTATION NEED.

EVERYTHING IS AT NO COST.

EVERYTHING IS AT NO COST.

SO THAT ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM IS SO THAT ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM IS A REALLY BIG PART OF THE SOCIAL A REALLY BIG PART OF THE SOCIAL CHANGE.

CHANGE.

>> AND HAVING WORKED IN KIDS FOR >> AND HAVING WORKED IN KIDS FOR HARMONY, WHAT HAS A MOMENT BEEN HARMONY, WHAT HAS A MOMENT BEEN THAT HAS HAPPENED THAT HAS THAT HAS HAPPENED THAT HAS REALLY MADE YOU THINK TO REALLY MADE YOU THINK TO YOURSELF, WOW, THIS IS EXACTLY YOURSELF, WOW, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I DO WHAT I DO?

WHY I DO WHAT I DO?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS, >> WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS, WHEN THEY GET A LITTLE BIT WHEN THEY GET A LITTLE BIT OLDER, THEY AUDITION FOR SUMMER OLDER, THEY AUDITION FOR SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS.

MUSIC FESTIVALS.

AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE YOLA AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE YOLA NATIONAL FESTIVAL OUT IN NATIONAL FESTIVAL OUT IN LOS ANGELES.

LOS ANGELES.

AND IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET INTO AND IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET INTO THIS FESTIVAL, THEN IT'S AN THIS FESTIVAL, THEN IT'S AN ALL-EXPENSES PAID FLIGHT OUT IS ALL-EXPENSES PAID FLIGHT OUT IS THERE, ALL THE BOOM AND BOARD, THERE, ALL THE BOOM AND BOARD, AND EVERYTHING.

AND EVERYTHING.

-- ROOM AND BOARD AND -- ROOM AND BOARD AND EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

AND THEY BRA MUSIC INTENSIVELY AND THEY BRA MUSIC INTENSIVELY ALL DAY AND THEY GET TO MEET ALL DAY AND THEY GET TO MEET OTHER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND OTHER STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND A LOT OF THE TEACHERS GO OUT FOR A LOT OF THE TEACHERS GO OUT FOR A SYMPOSIUM.

A SYMPOSIUM.

SO WE GET TO SEE ALL.

SO WE GET TO SEE ALL.

STUDENTS GET TOGETHER AND STUDENTS GET TOGETHER AND PERFORM TOGETHER.

PERFORM TOGETHER.

AND THOSE BIG OPPORTUNITIES LIKE AND THOSE BIG OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT ARE WHAT MAKE THE EVERYDAY THAT ARE WHAT MAKE THE EVERYDAY LITTLE THINGS WORTH IT IS.

LITTLE THINGS WORTH IT IS.

>> I RUN THE COMPOSITION >> I RUN THE COMPOSITION PROGRAM, SO I'M CLOSE WITH THE PROGRAM, SO I'M CLOSE WITH THE KIDS AS THEY WORK TO KIDS AS THEY WORK TO CONSTRUCTING THEIR OWN PIECES.

CONSTRUCTING THEIR OWN PIECES.

AND RECENTLY ONE OF OUR AND RECENTLY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, DAVIS WAS ASKED TO STUDENTS, DAVIS WAS ASKED TO WRITE A FULL SYMPHONY, WHICH HE WRITE A FULL SYMPHONY, WHICH HE DID.

DID.

AND HANDING HIM THE PRINTED OUT AND HANDING HIM THE PRINTED OUT SCORE, HE WAS LIKE RUNNING SCORE, HE WAS LIKE RUNNING AROUND CELEBRATING, IT'S HERE, AROUND CELEBRATING, IT'S HERE, IT'S READY!

IT'S READY!

HE'S JUST -- HE'S JUST OVER THE HE'S JUST -- HE'S JUST OVER THE MOON AND HE'S SO EXCITED AND MOON AND HE'S SO EXCITED AND THAT'S JUST -- I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S JUST -- I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S JUST SO EXCITING TO SEE.

IT'S JUST SO EXCITING TO SEE.

>> TALKING ABOUT LIKE WRITING A >> TALKING ABOUT LIKE WRITING A FULL SYMPHONY, LIKE THIS IS SOME FULL SYMPHONY, LIKE THIS IS SOME HIGH-LEVEL MUSICAL EXCELLENCE HIGH-LEVEL MUSICAL EXCELLENCE AND SUCCESS THAT THE CHILDREN AND SUCCESS THAT THE CHILDREN ACHIEVE DURING KIDS FOR HARMONY.

ACHIEVE DURING KIDS FOR HARMONY.

I KNOW COURTNEY, YOU WERE I KNOW COURTNEY, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES TALKING ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES TRIP.

TRIP.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE TELL ME MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE COME ABOUT FOR THE STUDENTS THAT COME ABOUT FOR THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF >> WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT RANGE FROM OPPORTUNITIES THAT RANGE FROM SMALLER THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY SMALLER THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY TO BIGGER THINGS LIKE THE TRIP TO BIGGER THINGS LIKE THE TRIP TO LOS ANGELES.

TO LOS ANGELES.

WE PERFORMED FOR A LOT OF WE PERFORMED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS.

DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS.

SO THE KIDS CAN GET CONNECTED TO SO THE KIDS CAN GET CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WAY.

THE COMMUNITY THAT WAY.

THERE'S ALSO THROUGH THAT YOLA THERE'S ALSO THROUGH THAT YOLA NATIONAL FESTIVAL I WAS TALKING NATIONAL FESTIVAL I WAS TALKING ABOUT, THEY HAVE A MORE ABOUT, THEY HAVE A MORE INTENSIVE PROGRAM WHERE WE HAD A INTENSIVE PROGRAM WHERE WE HAD A STUDENT ABLE TO TRAVEL TO STUDENT ABLE TO TRAVEL TO SCOTLAND AND LONDON BEFORE THE SCOTLAND AND LONDON BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED TO CONNECT PANDEMIC HAPPENED TO CONNECT WITH OTHER NEW SITIONZ MORE ON A WITH OTHER NEW SITIONZ MORE ON A GLOBAL SCALE.

GLOBAL SCALE.

-- MUSICIANS MORE ON A GLOBAL -- MUSICIANS MORE ON A GLOBAL SCALE.

SCALE.

AND WE'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO AND WE'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO PERFORM WITH EMANAEL AX.

PERFORM WITH EMANAEL AX.

BEING ABLE TO WATCH THE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO WATCH THE STUDENTS WORK WITH HIM IS A REALLY WORK WITH HIM IS A REALLY FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE KIDS.

KIDS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS >> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE KIDS HAVE TAUGHT YOU THAT THE KIDS HAVE TAUGHT YOU ABOUT YOURSELVES DURING KIDS FOR ABOUT YOURSELVES DURING KIDS FOR HARMONY?

HARMONY?

>> PATIENCE.

>> PATIENCE.

FOR SURE.

FOR SURE.

[LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> AND JUST A CREATIVITY AND -- >> AND JUST A CREATIVITY AND -- IT'S -- AS THE KIDS GET OLDER, IT'S -- AS THE KIDS GET OLDER, IT'S JUST DEVELOPING THAT IT'S JUST DEVELOPING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, IS RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, IS REALLY, REALLY NICE.

REALLY, REALLY NICE.

AND JUST BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH AND JUST BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH THEM, NOT JUST ABOUT MUSIC BUT THEM, NOT JUST ABOUT MUSIC BUT ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN THEIR ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN THEIR LIVES, TOO, AND JUST BUILDINGS LIVES, TOO, AND JUST BUILDINGS THAT RELATIONSHIP -- BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP -- BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND FEELING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND FEELING LIKE YOU'RE A MENTOR TO THEM IS LIKE YOU'RE A MENTOR TO THEM IS REALLY NICE.

REALLY NICE.

IT -- REALLY MAKES THE WORK VERY IT -- REALLY MAKES THE WORK VERY VALUABLE.

VALUABLE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> 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 ANYTIME AT ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO THE HILLTOWN LAND OUR THANKS TO THE HILLTOWN LAND TRUST AND THE COMMUNITY OF TRUST AND THE COMMUNITY OF WORTHINGTON FOR HOSTING US WORTHINGTON FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

TODAY.

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 MAKE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND TAKE CARE.

AND TAKE CARE.

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