¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CUFL TOUR IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

INCLUDING A BUSINESSMAN TURNED ARTIST WHO FINDS HIS INSPIRATION IN NATURE.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THIS PIECE OF WORK.

>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A COMIC BOOK CHARACTER STEPS OFF THE PAGE INTO THE REAL WORLD?

>> YOU NEED TO BREAK -- HIS LIFE IS BORG.

SO HE -- BORING.

SO HE CLIMBS OUT OF THE COMIC AND ENDS IN THE BOY'S BACKPACK!

>> AND WE'LL VISIT AN ICON YICK BERK SUNSHINES EATERY WITH A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

>> IT'S A GATHERING PLACE.

I CHOSE THE TOWN OF ADAMS TO MOVE TO AND PART OF THE REASON WAS THIS DINER CAR.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

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

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EACH WEEK THIS SUMMER, WE'RE EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, IN THE HEART OF HAM SHIRE COUNTY.

THEM SMITH COLLEGE, THIS COMMUNITY KNOWN AS "THE PARADISE CITY ASK THE HAS A RICH HISTORY AND SOME OF ITS MOST FAMOUS RESIDENTS HAVE INCLUDED SOJOURNER TRUTH AND PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIGE.

NORTHAMPTON HAS A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYONE.

AND SPEAKING OF ART, OUR FIRST STORY TODAY IS ABOUT A MAN WHO CAS WALLED -- WAS CALLED TO BE AN ARTIST AFTER A STORIED CAREER IN REAL ESTATE.

BUSINESSMAN AND THRILL THROPPIST HAROLD GRINSPOON HAS ALWAYS HAD A LOVE OF NATURE, ESPECIALLY TREES IN ALL FORMS, BEING TAKEN WITH THE BEND AND REACH OF FALLEN BRANCHES, LOGS, AND CHARRED TREE STUMPS.

BUT IT WAS A DOWNED CHERRY TREE IN HIS OWN BACKYARD THAT STIRRED HIM TO TO WHAT HE CALLS A PERSONAL AWAKENING AND A LIGHT-IN-LIFE VOCATION AS A CULTURING.

-- SCULPTURE.

DAVE FRASER HAS HIS STORY.

>> HAROLD GRINSPOON BECAME AN ARTIST LESS THAN 10 YEARS AGO.

WORKING MOSTLY WITH RECLAIMED WOOD FROM DOWNED TREES AND BRANCHES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

HE SUFFERED FROM THROAT AND TONGUE CANCER IN THE EARLY 1980s, IS HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE AT AGE 90, WATCHING HIS IDEAS BLOSSOM INTO REALITY.

>> IT'S VERY JOYFUL.

IT'S VERY REFRESHING.

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO KEEP YOUR MIND SHARPER.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

AND SOMETIMES YOUR BODY JUST AGES A LITTLE BIT, BUT IF YOU'RE -- TO HAVE A MIND AND WORK WITH IT -- >> HIS CULTURES ARE RISEN OUT OF A LIFE IN BUSINESS AND ESTABLISHING THE FOUNDATION, WHICH PROVIDES LITERACY AND HERITAGE FOR JEWISH CHILDREN.

PEOPLE CLOSE TO GRINS SPOON SAY HE'S ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT IMPACTFUL ITEM OR SCULPTURE HE CAN CREATE.

>> HIS CREATIVE MIND IS ALWAYS THINKING SO HE PROWSES AN TECH -- BROWSES ANTIQUE SHOPS, THROUGH THE FAIR, AND CERTAIN ITEMS CATCH HIS EYE.

THIS CAN BE A TOP.

THIS COULD BE A POINT OF INTEREST.

THIS COULD BE A GREAT BASE.

AND HE BUYS THEM UP ASK BRINGS THEM TO THE SHOP.

AND HE MENTIONED TODAY HE HAD 12 NEW ONES IN HIS MIND.

AND THAT'S EXCITING.

AND IT SHOCKS ME SOMETIMES, HE'S WAY AHEAD ME AND I DON'T KNOW THEY'RE DONE ON PAPER LEFT.

>> HE BEGAN RETRIEVING UNIQUE SPECIMENS OF WOOD WHILE ON HIKES HE TOOK AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT AT HIS HOME HIS INSPIRATION FOR TREE SCULPTURES WAS BORN.

>> I THINK THE CHERRY TREE THAT FELL DOWN IN MY BACKYARD.

A BIG MASSIVE HIGH CHERRY TREE.

AND IT WAS CURLED.

SO WE CUT THAT UP AND -- [INAUDIBLE] AND WE JUST KEPT ON GOING AND NOW WE'RE DOING LOTS OF OTHER THINGS BESIDES WOOD.

>> RECENTLY HE HAS MOVED INTO WORKING WITH STAINLESS STEEL SPEERS AND RODS, GLASS GLOBES AND OTHER FOUND OBJECTS.

EVEN OLD BICYCLES HAVE MADE THEIR WAY INTO HIS WORKS.

>> SIMPLE CONCEPT.

WOW.

BICYCLES.

JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> GRINSPOON'S TOWERING CUP ACTUALS -- SCULPTURES ARE THE COLLECTION OF EFFORTS THAT MARRY HIS VISION REFLECTED IN HIS SKETCHES WITH THEE LO JIS, THE OF TRANSPORTING, TRANSFORMING, AND PRESERVING FALLEN TREES.

HE ESTABLISHED AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR STUDIO SPACE IS AT COULD CORPORATE PROPERTY WHERE HER CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS ARE BASED.

THE TREES ARE ALLOWED TO DRY FOR AS LONG AS EIGHT MONTHS.

>> PROBABLY TAKES OVER A YEAR, A YEAR'S TIME FOR THE CONCEPT TO THE FINISHED PRODUCT, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SEVERAL PIECES AT ONE TIME.

AND YOU GO THROUGH THEM CHANGING YOUR CONCEPT, CHANGING YOUR IDEA.

YOU'RE ALWAYS MOVING THE IDEA AROUND.

>> ALTHOUGH ITS CREATION CAME LATE IN LIFE, HIS ART HAS BEEN PER COLLATING -- PERCOLATING OVER MANY YEARS.

HE CONTINUES TAEXPAND HIS GROWING AND GENEROSITY.

ART HAS BEEN THE GIFT THAT UNLOCKED MORE UNDERSTANDING THAN I COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

>> WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN NATURE, YOU EXAMINESLY WORK OUT -- PHYSICALLY WORK OUT AND THESE ENDORPHINS, I GUESS THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD.

THEY TAKE OVER.

AND IF YOU'RE A CRANKY MEAN OLD GUY, YOU BECOME A SMILEY WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING.

>> THE MIXTURE OF, YOU KNOW, AGING OUT AND YET BEING VIBRANT.

HE'S FIGHTING AGAINST TIME AND HE WANTS TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY SINGLE MOMENT AND DAY THAT HE HAS AND IT'S A GREAT WAY TO LIVE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE TEAM AT HAROLD GRINSPOON SCULPTURES CREATE UNIQUE PIECES OF ART THAT ARE VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE PIONEER VALLEY IN PARKS, TOWN GREENS, AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN A DIGITAL EXTRA.

>> WE VISIT THE PROPERTY TOGETHER AND IT'S MAKING THE CONNECTION WITH WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT AND WHAT THE SCULPTURE IS ABOUT.

SOMETIMES THE SCULPTURE MATCHES BETTER THAN THE NAME OF THE SCULPTURE.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR AND GRILL ADMINISTRATOR DIANE DEGROAT HAS WORKED ON OVER 150 BOOKS, AND SHE CAN NOW ADD ONE MORE TO HER LIST.

HER LATEST IS ENTITLED, "THE ADVENTURES OF ROBOKID," AND IT TAKES READERS TO AN INSPIRING JOURNEY OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A HERO BY TELLING THE STORY OF A CHILD LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD WHO ENCOUNTERS A COMIC BOOK CHARACTER.

THE BOOK TOUCHES ON TOPICS SUCH AS ANXIETY AND EXPLORES THE COURAGE IT TAKES TO COPE WITH THESE EMOTIONS.

>> I THOUGHT I KNEW SO MUCH ABOUT BOOKS AND HAD READ SO MANY OTHER AUTHORS' BOOKS TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR STORIES.

I THOUGHT HOW HARD COULD IT BE.

I FOUND OUT IT WAS HARD AND I FOUND OUT I WAS NOT A VERY GOOD WOULD IT -- WRITER.

SO I TOOK CLASSES, I PRACTICED, I JOINED A CRI TEEN GROUP -- CRITIQUE GROUP, BUT MOST OF YOU WILL I STARTED READING AND READING GOOD BOOKS AND THAT'S HOW YOU LEARN ABOUT GOOD WRITING.

I REALLY WORKED AT IT TO BECOME A WRITER.

AND IT WASN'T EASY.

ILLUSTRATION WAS REALLY EASY, BUT WRITING, AND IT'S STILL HARD.

IT'S NOT NATURAL FOR ME.

SO I HAVE TO WORK AT IT.

>> SO THIS BOOK TAKES US ON AN INSPIRING JOURNEY WHERE A REAL BOY, IN LIFE -- HIS LIFE IS INTERSECTED BY A COMIC BOOK HERO.

TELL ME ABOUT THE ADVENTURES.

>> IT STARTS OUT WITH HENRY IS THE BOY.

AND HE HAS SOME SELF-ESTEEM ISSUES AND IS AFRAID IN THIS CASE WITHOUT GIVING A LOT AWAY, IT'S ABOUT SWIMMING IN THE DEEP WATER.

AND HE'S AFRAID AND ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME, THE COMIC BOOK CHARACTER WE SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOOK WHAT HIS LIFE IS.

AND HE NEEDS A BREAK.

HIS LIFE IS BORING.

SO HE CLIMBS OUT OF THE COMIC AND ENDS UP RIGHT IN THE BOY'S BACKPACK!

AND COMES JUST AT THE RIGHT TIME SO THAT HENRY FEELS THAT IF HE'S WITH HIM, HE CAN DO ANYTHING.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF I THINK HAVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND FEELING YOU CAN DO SOMETHING WITH A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT BEFORE.

SO I THINK IT'S POSITIVE THINKING.

THAT WOULD BE THE LESSON IN THE BOOK, YES.

>> SO YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT WHEN YOU'RE ILLUSTRATING A BOOK, YOU ARE ALWAYS LEARNING SOMETHING NEW.

AND BEING THAT THIS STYLE OF BOOK WAS NEW, IT WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF CREATION FOR YOU, WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE?

>> WELL, IT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MEDIUM.

I HOLD UP THE BOOK, YOU CAN SEE THE BOY'S PART IS A VERY SOFT PENCIL DRAWING AND THE CAULKIC BOOK PART IS A -- COMIC BOOK PART IS A LINED DRAWING, BUT IT'S NOT PEN CELL, IT'S CHARCOAL.

AND IT'S NOT A LINE DRAWING.

IT'S DIGITAL ART.

AND THE COMPUTER.

SO I'VE BEEN USING PHOTOSHOP FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS TO INCORPORATE IT INTO -- EVEN MY GILBERT BOOKS, YOU CAN'T TELL, BUT THERE'S THE DIGITAL ART IN THERE.

AND ALSO THE CHARLIE, THE WRENCH DOG BOOKS, THERE'S SOME DIGITAL ART, BUT YOU CAN'T SEE IT.

BUT I LOVE USING PHOTOSHOP.

AND I LOVE CHARCOAL AS A DRAWING MEDIUM.

I DO A LOT OF FIGURE DRAWING AND I JUST OF LO IT.

SO I COMBINE THE TWO THINGS.

AND I FIGURED OUT, WELL, THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE EVERYONE IS TELLING ME I HAVE TO COME UP WITH A FRESH STYLE AND I WAS REALLY GETTING TIRED OF WATERCOLOR.

SO HEY, WHY DON'T I TRY THIS!

SO I WAS ABLE TO COMBINE THE CHARCOAL DRAWINGS, SCAN THEM IN, PUT THEM IN THE COMPUTER, AND THEN COLOR IT IN WITH DIGITAL COLOR.

AND COMBINING THE TWO AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.

>> SO SPEAKING OF ALL THIS DRAWING IN THE DIGITAL AND THE COMBINING, IT BRINGS ME TO ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT CHILDREN ALWAYS ASK YOU, WHICH IS WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS.

AND FOR ME AS SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT AN ARTIST, I ALWAYS LOVE TO ASK THE QUESTION, LIKE HOW DO YOU CONCEPTUALIZE THESE DRAWINGS?

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

WHAT'S YOUR PROCESS LIKE?

>> TO GET THE DRAWINGS I FIRST HAVE TO GET THE STORY, OF COURSE.

AND IT IS VERY STRANGE BECAUSE I WEAR TWO DIFFERENT HATS.

WHEN I'M WRITING I WEAR AN AUTHOR'S CAP AND WHEN I'M ILL STRAYING I WEAR -- ILL STRAYING -- ILLUSTRATING I WEAR AN ARTIST'S CAP.

IN THIS CASE I HAD TO FULLY DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE THE VISUAL WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE WRITING.

SO I WOULD JUST MAKE ROUGH SKETCHES AS I'M WRITING IT AND THE TEX IS THE REALLY JUST DIALOGUE -- TEXT IS REALLY JUST DIALOGUE.

SO THE ILLUSTRATION WAS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WRITING OF THE STORY.

BUT ONCE I HAD THE IDEA AND THE STORY, THEN I COULD HANDLE IT VISUALLY.

>> SO YOU'VE BEEN VERY OPEN, EVEN IN THIS INTERVIEW, ABOUT DEALING WITH SOME CHALLENGES, DEALING WITHYJECTION, TRYING TO -- WITH REJECTION, TRYING TO GET BETTER AT CERTAIN CRAFTS.

SO HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO HANDLE ANY OF THAT NEGATIVE FEEDBACK AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHEN IT COMES TO COURAGE, PERSEVERANCE, AND NOT GIVING UP?

>> ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION.

UP UNTIL RECENTLY, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN WORKING CONTINUOUSLY FOR ALL THOSE YEARS AND IT WAS ONLY AFTER I INVESTED ABOUT THE LAST 20 YEARS INTO THE GILBERT AND THE CHARLIE BOOKS, THAT I -- AND WHEN I FINISHED I REALIZED I WAS OUT OF THE LOOP.

IT WAS MUCH, MUCH HARDER.

AND THE -- AND THE FIELD HAD CHANGED.

SO IT WAS WITH PERSEVERANCE AND FINALLY GETTING AN AGENT ALSO FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT REALLY HELPED ME.

IT'S NOT EASY.

AND FOR SOMEONE EVEN TO BREAK INTO THE FIELD NOW, IT REALLY TAKES PERSEVERANCE AND I THINK BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL, EVEN IF US OLD FOLKS, WE SAY WE JUST DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE FELT IF YOUR WORK WAS GOOD, YOU WOULD GET PUBLISHED.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

TOUGH DO RESEARCH.

YOU HAVE TO PROMOTE YOURSELF.

AND YOU HAVE TO REACH OUT TO YOUR AUDIENCE INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING THERE AND WAITING FOR THEM TO COME TO YOU.

REALLY IMPORTANT.

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

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

WITH OVER 45 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A PROFESSIONAL ILLUSTRATOR, DIANE DEGROAT HAS MASTERED MANY WAYS TO CREATE HER ILLUSTRATIONS, WHETHER IT BE OLD-FASHIONED PENCIL AND PAPER -- ON PAPER OR USING MORE ADVANCED COMPUTER SOFTWARE.

IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, DEGROAT OFFERS US AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TOOLS AND METHODS SHE USES TO CREATE HER ART.

>> AND THIS WAY I HAVE THE HEAD.

IT'S ABOUT THIS BIG.

AND I GET -- I COULD PHOTOGRAPH HIM AT ALL DIFFERENT ANGLES AND I USE THE PHOTOGRAPHS TO COPY THE ILLUSTRATIONS WHEN I'M DRAWING PENRY IN -- HENRY IN CHARCOAL.

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

>>> COMFORT FOOD, FAST SERVICE, AND REASONABLE PRICES -- SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, RIGHT?

ADD A GREAT LOCATION AND THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

THAT WAS THE VISION LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR PETE OLESKIEWICZ HAD WHEN HE PURCHASED THE SHUTTERED MISS ADAMS DINER IN THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY TOWN OF ADAMS BACK IN AUGUST OF 2022.

HE'S BEEN SEEING HIS PLAN COME TO TRUE BUSINESS.

-- TO TRUE BUSINESS.

-- FRUITION BRINE AS THE STORY.

>> LATELY, THE SIDEWALKS ARE SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE AND THE SPACES AREN'T SO EASY TO COME BY.

SO WHY THE UPTICK IN ACTIVITY?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT MAY HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE RE-OPENING OF A ONCE DORMANT LANDMARK LUNCH COUNTER.

>> OUR DOWNTOWN IS BUILT FOR PLACES LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE KIND OF A RESTAURANT DESERT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

THE DINER HAS INFUSED SOME MORE LIFE INTO OUR DOWNTOWN.

AND YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THAT POP UP AROUND THE DINER TO SUPPORT IT.

BUT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO HAVE THIS PARTICULAR DINER CAR RE-OPEN.

>> IT'S A SENTIMENT THAT'S ECHOED BY THE SOUNDS OF FORKS ON PLATES, ORDERS COMING THROUGH THE KITCHEN, AND THE STEADY HUM OF CHATTER.

IT WAS IN AUGUST OF 2022 THAT LOCAL RESTAURANT YOUR PETE OLESKIEWICZ FINALIZED THE PURCHASE OF THE MISS ADAMS DINER, BUT THAT WAS JUST THE FIRST LEG IN THE LONG JOURNEY THROUGH RETURNING THIS ONCE GREAT EATERY TO PROMINENCE HERE IN TOWN.

>> BEFORE I HAD BOUGHT IT, THE BUILDINGS WAS CLOSED FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.

AND I ENDED UP BUYING THE BUILDING AND AFTER BEING SHUTTERED FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME, IT NEEDED SOME WORK.

IT NEEDED UPDATED WIRING AND SOME PLUMING AND EQUIPMENT.

-- PLUMBING AND EQUIPMENT, ROOF WORK.

IT WAS QUITE AN ADVENTURE, BUT IT TOOK 15 MONTHS FROM THE TEAM I PURCHASED THE BUILDING UNTIL WE OPENED.

SO ANOTHER BIG FACTOR OF THAT WAS TRYING TO GET STAFF.

LUCKILY, RIGHT THREE WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I FOUND A CREW THAT I PUT TOGETHER AND WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE.

>> THIS DINER CAR IS A WORCESTER MODEL FROM THEN TEEN -- 1949 AND THE HISTORY IS SEEN HANGING ON THE WALLS, WHETHER IT'S A FUNNY SCENE OR -- SIGN OR A BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO.

BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FOOD.

EVEN FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO WERE A PART OF ITS HISTORY.

>> I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THE DINER ITSELF OTHER THAN IT'S GOT GOOD FOOD.

I CAME HERE AS A YOUNG ADULT BACK IN THE '70S.

AND WHEN MY WIFE AND I, WE WON'T -- DON'T GO FOR BIG RESTAURANTS.

WE LIKE THE HOLE IN THE WALL DINERS.

>> FROM COAST TO COAST, DINERS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR THREAD IN THE AMERICAN TAPPEST TRI -- TAPESTRYR FOR OVER A CENTURY.

AND A CHILDHOOD MEMORY IS COMING TO A DINER LIKE THIS ONE WITH OUR FAMILIES.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S MOM TAKING HER BOYS OUT FOR A SPECIAL TREAT LUNCH AT THE COUNTER.

OR HERE THREE GENERATIONS ALL AT ONE TABLE ENJOYING THE OUTDOOR EATING EXPERIENCE.

OTHERS TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER AND DECIDED IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE TOGETHER FOREVER, MIGHT AS WELL MAKE IT OFFICIAL RIGHT HERE.

>> WE WERE SITTING AT THE COUNTERONE DAY DISCUSSING POSSIBLE WEDDING VENUES AND MY BOSS SAID WHY DON'T YOU JUST GET MARRIED HERE.

SO WE SENT OUT INVITE.

WE GAVE THEM TO PEOPLE THAT I KNEW WHO WORKED HERE AND SOME OF MY REGULAR CUSTOMERS.

SOME OF MY FAMILY CAME FROM OUT OF STATE AND WE ENDED UP GETTING MARRIED IN THE BACK PATIO.

>> SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE DINER IN 1872, AS A MOBILE FOOD WAGON FOR THE OVERNIGHT WORKERS IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE DINER EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUELY AMERICAN.

FROM THE COFFEE TO THE FOOD, RIGHT DOWN TO THE WORKING CLASS FOLKS WHO TEND TO BE THE MOST REGULAR CUSTOMERS.

THE MISS ADAMS DINER CHECKS ALL OF THOSE BOXES.

>> IT'S A GATHERING PLACE.

I CHOSE THE TOWN OF ADAMS TO MOVE TO IN 2006.

AND PART OF THE REASON WAS THIS DINER CAR.

IT WAS CLOSE TO MY HOUSE.

IT WAS IN WALKING DISTANCE.

AND I SAW IT AS A PLACE WHERE I COULD KIND OF GET A CUP OF COFFEE AND MEET WITH NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS, AND JUST -- ENJOY LIFE HERE.

>> BETWEEN RUNNING THE DINER DURING THE DAY, HIS OTHER RESTAURANT THE NEXT TOWN OVER AT NIGHT, AND SERVING ON THE NORTH ADAMS CITY COUNCIL, THE FIRST PRIORITY HAVE BEEN GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP FOR PETE.

BUT THE MAIN FOCUS IS KEEPING HIS REGULARS HAPPY AND MAKING NEW REGULARS IN THE PROCESS.

>> I'M HOPING THEY COME IN, THEY ENJOY THEIR MEAL.

THEY FOUND IT WAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.

THE PRICE WAS RIGHT.

THE TASTE WAS THERE.

AND THEY TALK TO THEIR FRIENDS AND WE CAN JUST CONTINUE ON BUILDING MORE FRIENDS AND MORE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE JUST TO KEEP COMING IN.

>>> AND FOR MORE ABOUT THE MISS ADAMS DINER, LOG ON TO OUR WEB PAGE AS OWNER PETE OLESKIEWICZ DISCUSSES THE MAKE, MODEL NUMBER, AND HISTORY OF THE CLASSIC DINER CAR THAT'S NOW HIS RESTAURANT IN THE DIGITAL EXTRA.

>> THIS ONE WAS PLACED IN ITS CURRENT POSITION IT'S NOW IN, IN 1949.

THERE WAS AN EXISTING STRUCTURE THAT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA AS WELL AS ALL OF THE STORIES YOU'VE SEEN IN THIS EPISODE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AFTER HELPING HER YOUNG DAUGHTER BUILD ON HER PUBLIC SPEAK SKILLS, AYANNA CRAWFORD REALIZED THAT LEARNING THIS SKILL SET MAY BE SOMETHING THAT OTHER YOUNG GIRLS NEEDED AS WELL.

SOON AFTER CRAWFORD FOUNDED THE "TAKE THE MIC" PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM BY LEARNING THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

NOW IN ITS EIGHTH YEAR, CRAWFORD JOINS ME TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> WHEN GIRLS HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, WHEN GIRLS HAVE A MESSAGE TO SAY THAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT, THAT BUILDS THEY'RE SELF ESTEEM, THAT MAKES THEM SAYING THAT THEY CAN CONVEY IT TO WHOMEVER THEY'RE SPEAK TO.

SO IN ANYTHING THAT ANYONE DOES, IF YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING AND YOU UNDERSTAND OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND YOU YOURSELF ARE VERY COMMANDING OF THAT MESSAGE, THEN IT COMES ACROSS THAT WAY, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S AN ART TO PUBLIC SPEAKING.

THERE'S AN ART TO CONVERSATIONS.

AND THERE'S AN ART TO LISTENING, BECAUSE I THINK WE OFTEN DON'T DO ENOUGH OF THAT, RIGHT?

WE DON'T LISTEN ENOUGH.

AND SO IF WE LISTEN MORE, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO OTHERS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HEAR FROM THEM.

>> AND TAKE THE MIC IS -- HAS AFTER-SCHOOL SESSIONS AS WELL AS SUMMER SESSIONS.

AND YOU DESCRIBE IT AS A FUN AND INTERACTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

SO CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT A SESSION LOOKS LIKE AND HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO REALLY ENCOURAGE THESE YOUNG ADULTS AND STUDENTS TO OPEN UP AND BE THEMSELVES DURING THESE PROGRAMS?

>> IN THE BEGINNING, IT'S SORT OF A LITTLE TRICKY, BUT WE GET THEM ENGAGED.

SO WE ALLOW THEM TO DO ICEBREAKERS.

WE KNOW THAT ICEBREAKERS ARE A WAY TO LET YOUR HEY DOWN A BIT, GET ENGAGED -- HAIR DOWN A BIT, BET ENGAGED AND ACTIVE.

WE START OFF WITH OUR INITIAL CLASS, WHICH IS OUR INTRODUCTORY TO PUBLIC SPEAKING.

WE DO A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.

WE HAVE THE GIRLS DO INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES, ROLE PLAYING, AND WE GIVE THEM SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES TO DO TO SHOW THAIS CARE PUBLIC SPEAKING.

WE MIGHT HAVE THEM READ A POEM OR A TONGUE TWISTER.

WE MIGHT HAVE THEM READ A SHORT ESSAY.

SOMETHING TO ENGAGE THEM AND GET THEM EXCITED.

AND THEN ALSO WITHIN THE PROGRAM, WE HAVE A CREATIVE WRITING CLASS.

WE HAVE A COMPUTER CLASS.

WE HAVE A NUTRITION CLASS THAT WE DO WITH THE GIRLS.

WE ALSO HAVE WHAT TO WEAR, WHAT NOT TO WEAR.

HEALTH AND BEAUTY, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT ALL THOSE COMPONENTS, WITH YOUR PRESENTATION AND WITH YOUR -- WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, OLS CONVEYS A MESSAGE, TOO, IN HOW YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF IS ALSO GOING -- EXUD SOME OF THAT -- EXUDE SOME OF THAT POSITIVITY AND UNDERSTANDING IN TERMS OF YOUR PRESENTATION.

SO WE HAVE GUEST SPEAKERS THAT COME EACH OF THE DAYS THAT WE'RE SCHEDULED.

SO WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN SPEAKERS THAT COME AND THEIR NOT ONLY THEIR CAREERS BUT ALSO HOW PUBLIC SPEAKING HAS IMPACTED THEIR LIVES AND THEIR CAREERS.

AND SO IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO HEAR FROM OTHER WOMEN AND OTHER PERSPECTIVES AND HOW PUBLIC SPEAKING HAS COME ABOUT FOR THEMSELVES.

AND THEN WE HAVE A CEREMONY AT THE END, WHERE EACH GIRL WILL BE ABLE TO PRESENT A TOPIC OF THEIR CHOICE ON COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT AND THEY PRESENT IT TO THEIR PEERS AND WE ALL GET TO LISTEN TO THE SKILLS AND THEIR PRESENTATION AT THE END.

>> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW POWERFUL THAT PRESENTATION AT THE END MUST BE, SEEING THE TRANSITION AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THESE CHILDREN!

WHAT HAS BEEN MAYBE ONE MOMENT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP THAT YOU'VE WORKED WITH THAT HAS REALLY STUCK WITH YOU IN A MOMENT OF TRANSFORMATION THAT YOU'VE SEEN?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT GOES BACK TO MY FIRST INITIAL PROGRAM.

AND MY FIRST INITIAL PROGRAM WAS WHAT WE CALLED A SEMINAR.

IT WAS A ONE-DAY TAKE THE MIC SEMINAR.

WE HAD ABOUT 45 GIRLS.

THERE WERE TWO GIRLS THAT WEREN'T SURE IF THEY WANTED TO COME.

THEY WERE VERY, VERY SHY.

EVEN IN THEIR PEER GROUPS WITH THEIR FRIENDS, THEY DIDN'T REALLY TALK AT ALL, NOTHING.

AND AFTER OUR PROGRAM, THE PARENT AND THE FRIEND SAID, OH, MY GOODNESS, MY FRIEND IS TALKING.

SHE LOVED YOUR PROGRAM.

IT WAS ALMOST AS IF YOU CURED HER FROM BEING SHY!

SHE LOVED IT.

AND SO FROM THAT DAY ON, SHE GRADUALLY GAINED MORE CONFIDENCE IN HER OWN PUBLIC SPEAKING.

SHE BECAME A BETTER SPEAKING WITH HER FRIENDS AND HER SCHOOL AND HER PARENTS.

AND FOR THAT REASON ALONE, I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND THAT WAS IN 2014.

>> SO NOW EIGHT YEARS LATER, HERE WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT GROW AND WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF "TAKE THE MIC"?

>> I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC SPEAKING COURSE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

I BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC SPEAKING SHOULD BE STARTED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE, WHETHER IT BE FIRST GRADE, SECOND GRADE, BUT EMBEDDED IN THE CURRICULUM.

I BELIEVE EVERY CHILD IN EVERY SCHOOL AROUND THE COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE AN OFFER -- OFFER A PUBLIC SPEAKING COURSE AND I WOULD LOVE FOR TAKE THE MIC TO BE AT EVERY SCHOOL AND EVERY DISTRICT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THE SKILLS THAT THEY GAIN AS A PUBLIC SPEAKER IS GONNA BE SO BENFESSIONAL FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE.

¶ -- BENEFICIAL FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE.

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

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

OU THANKS TO THE CITY OF NORTHAMPTON FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

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

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE CARE!

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