>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

WE EXAMINE HEALTH INEQUITIES IN WE EXAMINE HEALTH INEQUITIES IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> HIGHER RATES OF ILLNESS, >> HIGHER RATES OF ILLNESS, HIGHER RATES OF DEATH.

HIGHER RATES OF DEATH.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PATTERN UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PATTERN ISN'T NEW.

ISN'T NEW.

>>> ONE WOMAN TURNS HER PERSONAL >>> ONE WOMAN TURNS HER PERSONAL TRAGEDY INTO AN EFFORT TO HELP TRAGEDY INTO AN EFFORT TO HELP OTHERS.

OTHERS.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT >> THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY SUFFERING.

ARE REALLY SUFFERING.

WE ARE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO WE ARE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED A THOSE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED A VOICE.

VOICE.

>>> AND WRONG-TIME NORTHAMPTON >>> AND WRONG-TIME NORTHAMPTON MAYOR DAVID NARKEWICZ ON HIS MAYOR DAVID NARKEWICZ ON HIS DECISION NOT TO SEEK REELECTION.

DECISION NOT TO SEEK REELECTION.

>> I AM GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS >> I AM GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF I CAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF NORTHAMPTON, AND TRY TO FINISH NORTHAMPTON, AND TRY TO FINISH SOME OF THE BIG PROJECTS THAT I SOME OF THE BIG PROJECTS THAT I WANT TO GET ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE WANT TO GET ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE MY TERM ENDS.

MY TERM ENDS.

ABOUT THEN I WILL ASSESS WHAT'S ABOUT THEN I WILL ASSESS WHAT'S OUT THERE.

OUT THERE.

>>> DETAILS ON THOSE STORIES AND >>> DETAILS ON 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.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

>>> EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC >>> EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LAST YEAR, THE TOPIC OF BEGAN LAST YEAR, THE TOPIC OF HEALTH AND ACCESSIBILITY HAS HEALTH AND ACCESSIBILITY HAS BEEN A PRIMARY CONCERN FOR MANY BEEN A PRIMARY CONCERN FOR MANY OF US.

OF US.

HOWEVER, AS COVID-19 REMAINS AS HOWEVER, AS COVID-19 REMAINS AS A THREAT, HEALTH INEQUITIES HAVE A THREAT, HEALTH INEQUITIES HAVE BEEN SURFACING TO THE FOREFRONT, BEEN SURFACING TO THE FOREFRONT, ESPECIALLY AMONG COMMUNITIES OF ESPECIALLY AMONG COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

COLOR.

I SPOKE WITH DR. VANESSA I SPOKE WITH DR. VANESSA MARTINEZ-RENUNCIO, PROFESSOR OF MARTINEZ-RENUNCIO, PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT HOLYOKE ANTHROPOLOGY AT HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, TO GAIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, TO GAIN INSTATE ON HOW THESE INEQUITIES INSTATE ON HOW THESE INEQUITIES HAVE EXISTED HISTORICALLY IN HAVE EXISTED HISTORICALLY IN COMMUNITIES EVER COLOR AND WHAT COMMUNITIES EVER COLOR AND WHAT SOLUTIONS CAN BE OFFERED TO HELP SOLUTIONS CAN BE OFFERED TO HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS WHO RESIDE WITHIN RESIDENTS WHO RESIDE WITHIN THEM.

THEM.

>> FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WE >> FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WE ARE SEEING HIGHER RATES OF ARE SEEING HIGHER RATES OF ILLNESS, HIGHER RATES OF DEATH.

ILLNESS, HIGHER RATES OF DEATH.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PATTERN UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PATTERN ISN'T NEW.

ISN'T NEW.

AND WE SEE IT WITH CHRONIC AND WE SEE IT WITH CHRONIC DISEASE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE DISEASE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE HISTORICALLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF HISTORICALLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

COLOR.

SO COVID IS JUST FOLLOWING THE SO COVID IS JUST FOLLOWING THE PATTERN THAT WE'VE SEEN, THE PATTERN THAT WE'VE SEEN, THE HELL INEQUITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN HELL INEQUITIES THAT WE'VE SEEN FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE WHY.

UNDERSTANDING THE WHY.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE WHY AND THE TALKING ABOUT THE WHY AND THE WHY NOT BEING RACIAL GENETICS OR WHY NOT BEING RACIAL GENETICS OR THE BIOLOGY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE BIOLOGY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT RATHER THE WAYS IN WHICH BUT RATHER THE WAYS IN WHICH INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, THE INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, THE ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT, THE ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT, THE NEIGHBORHOODS, LOW RESOURCE NEIGHBORHOODS, LOW RESOURCE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU ARE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT YOU ARE SEEING SORT OF LARGE COMMUNITIES SEEING SORT OF LARGE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BEING IN THESE OF COLOR BEING IN THESE LOW-RESOURCE NEIGHBORHOODS.

LOW-RESOURCE NEIGHBORHOODS.

TOXIC ENVIRONMENT.

TOXIC ENVIRONMENT.

SO THINKING ABOUT ISSUES OF SO THINKING ABOUT ISSUES OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

CLIMATE CHANGE.

SO YOU ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE SO YOU ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVING THESE CONNECTIONS.

PEOPLE HAVING THESE CONNECTIONS.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO FULLY DISSIPATE THE SEEM TO FULLY DISSIPATE THE MISINFORMATION OR THE FAKE MISINFORMATION OR THE FAKE INFORMATION OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION THAT WE STILL HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE STILL HAVE AROUND SORT OF THIS IDEA THAT AROUND SORT OF THIS IDEA THAT IT'S IN THE BIOLOGY OF PEOPLE OF IT'S IN THE BIOLOGY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

COLOR.

OR THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE OR THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE BONES.

BONES.

OR THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE OR THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE CULTURE.

CULTURE.

BUT INSTEAD IT'S REALLY ABOUT BUT INSTEAD IT'S REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL UNDERSTANDING INSTITUTIONAL OPPRESSION AND LOW RESOURCES IN OPPRESSION AND LOW RESOURCES IN COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITIES.

>> HOW DO SOCIAL INEQUITIES >> HOW DO SOCIAL INEQUITIES IMPACT ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE IMPACT ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN WAYS THAT MIGHT NOT BE SO WAYS THAT MIGHT NOT BE SO OBVIOUS?

OBVIOUS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S EASIER >> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND SORT OF FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND SORT OF THE, YOU KNOW, PERSON WHO BLOCKS THE, YOU KNOW, PERSON WHO BLOCKS YOU FROM GETTING A JOB OR WHO YOU FROM GETTING A JOB OR WHO CALLS YOU A BAD NAME.

CALLS YOU A BAD NAME.

IT'S MUCH HARDER TO UNDERSTAND IT'S MUCH HARDER TO UNDERSTAND THE WAYS IN WHICH INSTITUTIONS THE WAYS IN WHICH INSTITUTIONS LIKE EDUCATION -- AND BELIEVE LIKE EDUCATION -- AND BELIEVE ME, I AM A HIGHER ED PROFESSOR, ME, I AM A HIGHER ED PROFESSOR, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

BUT THE WAYS IN WHICH EDUCATION BUT THE WAYS IN WHICH EDUCATION OR THE MEDIA OR OUR GOVERNMENT OR THE MEDIA OR OUR GOVERNMENT REALLY WORK TOGETHER IN WAYS TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER IN WAYS TO REALLY BLOCK ACCESS.

REALLY BLOCK ACCESS.

AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE TALK AND, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE TALK THAT I GAVE WAS ABOUT THINKING THAT I GAVE WAS ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE CAN HOLD ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE CAN HOLD OUR POLICYMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE, OUR POLICYMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

AND THINK ABOUT THE WAY, NOT AND THINK ABOUT THE WAY, NOT JUST IN IMPLEMENTING POLICIES JUST IN IMPLEMENTING POLICIES BUT ALSO IN FOLLOWING THEM BUT ALSO IN FOLLOWING THEM THROUGH, RIGHT?

THROUGH, RIGHT?

LIKE REALLY UNDERSTANDING, OK, LIKE REALLY UNDERSTANDING, OK, WE NEED TO MAKE THIS CHANGE.

WE NEED TO MAKE THIS CHANGE.

HOW MUCH CHANGE DO WE MAKE?

HOW MUCH CHANGE DO WE MAKE?

AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT IT'S AND HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT IT'S HAPPENING, RIGHT?

HAPPENING, RIGHT?

THAT THESE CHANGES ARE THAT THESE CHANGES ARE HAPPENING.

HAPPENING.

>> AS A CHANGE, CULTURAL AND >> AS A CHANGE, CULTURAL AND MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, YOU MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGIST, YOU DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH AS USING DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH AS USING A HISTORICAL LENS IN AN A HISTORICAL LENS IN AN ANTI-RACIST PERSPECTIVE.

ANTI-RACIST PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHY IS WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO USE THIS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO USE THIS APPROACH?

APPROACH?

>> THE HISTORY ALLOWS US TO SEE >> THE HISTORY ALLOWS US TO SEE PATTERNS.

PATTERNS.

BUT I THINK THE HISTORICAL BUT I THINK THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTANDING TODAY.

TO UNDERSTANDING TODAY.

AND TO UNDERSTAND BOTH THE AND TO UNDERSTAND BOTH THE THINGS THAT HAVE NOT CHANGED AND THINGS THAT HAVE NOT CHANGED AND THE WAYS IN WHICH CHANGE HAS THE WAYS IN WHICH CHANGE HAS HAPPENED, RIGHT?

HAPPENED, RIGHT?

IN TERMS OF AN ANTI-RACIST LENS, IN TERMS OF AN ANTI-RACIST LENS, I THINK THAT RACE FIRST I THINK THAT RACE FIRST PERSPECTIVE REALLY ALLOWS ME TO PERSPECTIVE REALLY ALLOWS ME TO BETTER ENGAGE, NOT JUST IN BETTER ENGAGE, NOT JUST IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AS A LATINA COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AS A LATINA WITH LIGHT SKIN, RIGHT?

WITH LIGHT SKIN, RIGHT?

BUT ALSO IN WHITE COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO IN WHITE COMMUNITIES, AND BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT AND BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND REALLY PUSH THESE ISSUES AND REALLY PUSH PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN WAYS THAT PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN WAYS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL BUT ALSO PUSH ARE MEANINGFUL BUT ALSO PUSH THEM OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE, THEM OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

SO IN MY TALK, I SPOKE ABOUT THE SO IN MY TALK, I SPOKE ABOUT THE GROWTH MODEL, WHICH IS NOT MY GROWTH MODEL, WHICH IS NOT MY OWN,.

OWN,.

BUT IT'S SORT OF MAKES AN BUT IT'S SORT OF MAKES AN ARGUMENT, RIGHT, THAT WHEN WE ARGUMENT, RIGHT, THAT WHEN WE ARE IN OUR COMFORT ZONE WE DON'T ARE IN OUR COMFORT ZONE WE DON'T NECESSARILY ENGAGE WITH NEW NECESSARILY ENGAGE WITH NEW INFORMATION.

INFORMATION.

BECAUSE WE'RE JUST COMFORTABLE.

BECAUSE WE'RE JUST COMFORTABLE.

THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO STAY, THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO STAY, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

BUT IF WE MOVE TO A STRETCH BUT IF WE MOVE TO A STRETCH ZONE, A PLACE WHERE NEW ZONE, A PLACE WHERE NEW INFORMATION IS POSSIBLE, WE CAN INFORMATION IS POSSIBLE, WE CAN ENGAGE.

ENGAGE.

IT'S INNOVATIVE, RIGHT?

IT'S INNOVATIVE, RIGHT?

IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN THINK IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN THINK OF NEW IDEAS AND INNOVATION AND OF NEW IDEAS AND INNOVATION AND CREATIVE WAYS TO STRATEGIZE, CREATIVE WAYS TO STRATEGIZE, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

LIKE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES POSTED LIKE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES POSTED SOMETHING ON FACEBOOK ABOUT SOMETHING ON FACEBOOK ABOUT CREATING AN ANTI-RACIST READING CREATING AN ANTI-RACIST READING GROUP IN HOLYOKE, AND ASKED FOR GROUP IN HOLYOKE, AND ASKED FOR FACILITATORS FOR THE COMMUNITY, FACILITATORS FOR THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

AND THIS IS POST GEORGE FLOYD.

AND THIS IS POST GEORGE FLOYD.

AND I SAID, SURE.

AND I SAID, SURE.

SO I ENGAGED A COLLEAGUE OF MINE SO I ENGAGED A COLLEAGUE OF MINE AND A FRIEND, AND WE ARE AND A FRIEND, AND WE ARE HOLDING, WE ARE CO-FACILITATING HOLDING, WE ARE CO-FACILITATING ANTI-RACIST BOOK CLUB.

ANTI-RACIST BOOK CLUB.

LIKELY TOGETHER AND HAVING A LIKELY TOGETHER AND HAVING A DISCUSSION AND BRINGING IT TO DISCUSSION AND BRINGING IT TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THE LOCAL LEVEL.

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT OUR LOCAL HOW DOES THIS IMPACT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY HERE IN HOLYOKE?

COMMUNITY HERE IN HOLYOKE?

SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE TYPES SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO OF THINGS THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE REALLY THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGING WITH NEW INFORMATION.

ENGAGING WITH NEW INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW, HOW CAN THEY MAKE A YOU KNOW, HOW CAN THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

DIFFERENCE?

THAT'S REALLY THE POINT.

THAT'S REALLY THE POINT.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> ARE THERE ANY COMMUNITIES >> ARE THERE ANY COMMUNITIES WHERE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO WHERE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO EQUALIZE SOME OF THESE EQUALIZE SOME OF THESE INEQUITIES?

INEQUITIES?

AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THEM?

AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THEM?

>> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS WE SEE >> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS WE SEE THROUGHOUT HISTORY WHERE THROUGHOUT HISTORY WHERE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING SO, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING RECONSTRUCTION IS A GREAT PLACE RECONSTRUCTION IS A GREAT PLACE TO SEE, OK, BLACKS GAIN SOME TO SEE, OK, BLACKS GAIN SOME ACCESS INTO GOVERNMENT, INTO ACCESS INTO GOVERNMENT, INTO HAVING SMALL BUSINESSES, INTO -- HAVING SMALL BUSINESSES, INTO -- RIGHT?

RIGHT?

AND THEN WE SAW SORT OF A AND THEN WE SAW SORT OF A SHUTDOWN OF THOSE RESOURCES, OF SHUTDOWN OF THOSE RESOURCES, OF THAT EXPERIENCE.

THAT EXPERIENCE.

AND THEN WE SEE POST CIVIL AND THEN WE SEE POST CIVIL RIGHTS.

RIGHTS.

FAIR HOUSING ACT.

FAIR HOUSING ACT.

WE SEE A VARIETY OF LEGISLATION WE SEE A VARIETY OF LEGISLATION THAT REALLY BENEFITED PEOPLE OF THAT REALLY BENEFITED PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, COLOR, AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND THEN WE SAW A BACKLASH, YOU AND THEN WE SAW A BACKLASH, YOU KNOW, IN THE LATE '70s, EARLY KNOW, IN THE LATE '70s, EARLY '80s, RIGHT?

'80s, RIGHT?

SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WITH SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WITH PROGRESS COMES A BACKLASH.

PROGRESS COMES A BACKLASH.

AND SO WE HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST AND SO WE HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST THOSE BACKLASHES BECAUSE WHAT THOSE BACKLASHES BECAUSE WHAT HISTORY HAS SHOWN US IS THAT HISTORY HAS SHOWN US IS THAT WE'RE NOT ALWAYS JUST MOVING WE'RE NOT ALWAYS JUST MOVING FORWARD.

FORWARD.

WE ARE MOVING IN A DIRECTION -- WE ARE MOVING IN A DIRECTION -- LET'S CALL IT FORWARD.

LET'S CALL IT FORWARD.

AND PEOPLE PUSH US BACK.

AND PEOPLE PUSH US BACK.

AND WE MOVE A LITTLE BITTED FOR AND WE MOVE A LITTLE BITTED FOR AND PEOPLE PUSH US BACK.

AND PEOPLE PUSH US BACK.

SO WHAT HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US IS SO WHAT HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US IS TO JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

TO JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

AND ADDRESS THE BACKLASHES WHEN AND ADDRESS THE BACKLASHES WHEN THEY HAPPEN, RIGHT?

THEY HAPPEN, RIGHT?

WHATEVER THOSE LOOK LIKE.

WHATEVER THOSE LOOK LIKE.

SO IF YOU ARE ME, YOU ARE GIVING SO IF YOU ARE ME, YOU ARE GIVING TALKS LIKE THIS.

TALKS LIKE THIS.

YOU ARE TEACHING COURSES.

YOU ARE TEACHING COURSES.

YOU ARE ENGAGING WITH RESEARCH YOU ARE ENGAGING WITH RESEARCH IN SPRINGFIELD ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN SPRINGFIELD ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND RACIAL JUSTICE.

AND RACIAL JUSTICE.

YOU ARE -- RIGHT?

YOU ARE -- RIGHT?

SO I AM HOPING THAT THE WORK SO I AM HOPING THAT THE WORK THAT I DO WITH MY STUDENTS, THE THAT I DO WITH MY STUDENTS, THE SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT THAT SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT THAT THE STUDENTS ARE DOING, WITH THE THE STUDENTS ARE DOING, WITH THE ORGANIZATION THAT I WORK WITH, ORGANIZATION THAT I WORK WITH, THAT THEY ARE LEARNING THIS THAT THEY ARE LEARNING THIS INFORMATION AND THAT THEY THEN INFORMATION AND THAT THEY THEN PAY IT FORWARD.

PAY IT FORWARD.

AND THAT IS MY HOPE.

>>> AT THE AGE OF SIX MARILYNN HONIG LOST HER MOTHER AND THREE HONIG LOST HER MOTHER AND THREE SIBLINGS IN A DEVASTATING HOUSE SIBLINGS IN A DEVASTATING HOUSE FIRE.

FIRE.

AS A RESULT HONIG SPEND HER AS A RESULT HONIG SPEND HER CHILDHOOD AND PART OF HER YOUNG CHILDHOOD AND PART OF HER YOUNG ADULT LIFE EITHER HOMELESS OR ADULT LIFE EITHER HOMELESS OR LIVING IN FOSTER CARE.

LIVING IN FOSTER CARE.

RATHER THAN ALLOWING HER PAST TO RATHER THAN ALLOWING HER PAST TO DEFINE HER FUTURE, SHE USED IT DEFINE HER FUTURE, SHE USED IT AS A MEANS TO HELP MAKE OTHERS' AS A MEANS TO HELP MAKE OTHERS' LIVES BETTER BY START, UP A LIVES BETTER BY START, UP A COMMUNITY PAGE ON FACEBOOK TO COMMUNITY PAGE ON FACEBOOK TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF HOUSE FIRES.

ASSIST VICTIMS OF HOUSE FIRES.

THE NON-PROFIT PROGRAM, THE NON-PROFIT PROGRAM, BERKSHIRE HELPING HANDS, HAS BERKSHIRE HELPING HANDS, HAS TOUCHED COUNTLESS LIVES AND TOUCHED COUNTLESS LIVES AND CONTINUES TO GROW.

CONTINUES TO GROW.

"CONNECTING POINT"'S BRIAN "CONNECTING POINT"'S BRIAN SULLIVAN TRAVELED TO NORTHERN SULLIVAN TRAVELED TO NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY AND BRINGS US BERKSHIRE COUNTY AND BRINGS US THIS STORY.

THIS STORY.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN SIGNS THAT >> THERE ARE CERTAIN SIGNS THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES THAT GIVE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES THAT GIVE THE AREA ITS UNIQUE CHARM.

THE AREA ITS UNIQUE CHARM.

NOT TO MENTION A SLIGHT ELEMENT NOT TO MENTION A SLIGHT ELEMENT OF DANGER.

OF DANGER.

THERE ARE CITEDS TO BE TAKEN IN THERE ARE CITEDS TO BE TAKEN IN THAT GUARANTEE ITS VISITORS SOME THAT GUARANTEE ITS VISITORS SOME UNIQUE VISUALS.

UNIQUE VISUALS.

WHILE THE SNOW BOUND VIEW WHILE THE SNOW BOUND VIEW FINDERS MAY BE OFF LIMITS NOW, FINDERS MAY BE OFF LIMITS NOW, THE VIEWS ARE STILL THERE FOR THE VIEWS ARE STILL THERE FOR THE TAKING.

THE TAKING.

FOR CENTURIES STUDENTS HAVE BEEN FOR CENTURIES STUDENTS HAVE BEEN LEAVING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME LEAVING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME OR COMMUTING TO THIS AREA TO OR COMMUTING TO THIS AREA TO HAVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN HAVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

HIGHER EDUCATION.

MYSELF INCLUDED.

MYSELF INCLUDED.

DOWNTOWN NORTH ADAMS ALWAYS DOWNTOWN NORTH ADAMS ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE A UNIQUE NEW SEEMED TO HAVE A UNIQUE NEW ENGLAND LOOK AND FEEL ABOUT IT.

ENGLAND LOOK AND FEEL ABOUT IT.

FIRST TIMERS HERE MAY THINK THAT FIRST TIMERS HERE MAY THINK THAT THE LANDSCAPE EPITOMIZES THE THE LANDSCAPE EPITOMIZES THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES.

NORTHERN BERKSHIRES.

MOUNTAINS AS A BACK DROP.

MOUNTAINS AS A BACK DROP.

OLD ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN OLD ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN FORESTRY.

FORESTRY.

THE STORY THAT DOESN'T MAKE THE THE STORY THAT DOESN'T MAKE THE BROCHURE IS THAT ONLY OR TWO BROCHURE IS THAT ONLY OR TWO BLOCKS AWAY THERE ARE COUNTLESS BLOCKS AWAY THERE ARE COUNTLESS PEOPLE IN NEED OF LIFE'S BASIC PEOPLE IN NEED OF LIFE'S BASIC ESSENTIALS.

ESSENTIALS.

THAT SENTIMENT CAN BE APPLIED TO THAT SENTIMENT CAN BE APPLIED TO THE NEXT TOWN OVER AND THE NEXT THE NEXT TOWN OVER AND THE NEXT TOWN OVER FROM THERE AND SO ON.

TOWN OVER FROM THERE AND SO ON.

SO WHILE THINGS MAY APPEAR SO WHILE THINGS MAY APPEAR PEACEFUL, LOOKING DOWN FROM HIGH PEACEFUL, LOOKING DOWN FROM HIGH ATOP THE HAIRPIN TURN, OR ATOP THE HAIRPIN TURN, OR WALKING ACROSS THE QUADRANGLE OR WALKING ACROSS THE QUADRANGLE OR THE COLLEGE CAMPUS, THERE IS THE COLLEGE CAMPUS, THERE IS TRIAL A LOT OF THIS TYPE OF TRIAL A LOT OF THIS TYPE OF SEENRY TO GO AROUND.

SEENRY TO GO AROUND.

WE WERE OUT DELIVERING CARE WE WERE OUT DELIVERING CARE PACKAGES FOR THE BERKSHIRE PACKAGES FOR THE BERKSHIRE HELPING HANDS.

HELPING HANDS.

>> MANY PEOPLE THINK OF THE WE >> MANY PEOPLE THINK OF THE WE ARE SHIERS AS AN AFFLUENT ARE SHIERS AS AN AFFLUENT COUNTY.

COUNTY.

THEY THINK OF THE ARTS AND THE THEY THINK OF THE ARTS AND THE THEATER AND THE BEAUTIFUL THEATER AND THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS MOUNTAINS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS APPEALING.

APPEALING.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE TOTAL REALITY.

TOTAL REALITY.

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY SUFFERING, THAT ARE REALLY SUFFERING, PRECOVID, POST COVID.

PRECOVID, POST COVID.

DAY TO DAY THEY ARE TRYING TO DAY TO DAY THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

MAKE ENDS MEET.

WE ARE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO WE ARE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED A THOSE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED A VOICE AND THAT REALLY NEED SOME VOICE AND THAT REALLY NEED SOME HELP.

HELP.

>> THE BHH IS A FACEBOOK >> THE BHH IS A FACEBOOK COMMUNITY GROUP THAT STARTED IN COMMUNITY GROUP THAT STARTED IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF 2019 AFTER A THE EARLY MONTHS OF 2019 AFTER A STRING OF HOUSE FIRES OCCURRED.

STRING OF HOUSE FIRES OCCURRED.

THE GOAL WAS TO USE A PAGE AS A THE GOAL WAS TO USE A PAGE AS A VEHICLE TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE VEHICLE TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE DONATIONS THAT WOULD GET THE DONATIONS THAT WOULD GET THE AFFECTED FAMILIES BACK ON THEIR AFFECTED FAMILIES BACK ON THEIR FEET.

FEET.

THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR THE VOLUNTEER DRIVEN NON-PROFIT THE VOLUNTEER DRIVEN NON-PROFIT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

AND AS HANDY BECAUSE THE YEAR AND AS HANDY BECAUSE THE YEAR 2020 ADDED A WHOLE NEW 2020 ADDED A WHOLE NEW DEMOGRAPHIC TO THEIR LIST OF DEMOGRAPHIC TO THEIR LIST OF RECIPIENTS.

RECIPIENTS.

>> WHEN COVID HIT, WE HEARD THAT >> WHEN COVID HIT, WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A NEED OF ELDERLY TO THERE WAS A NEED OF ELDERLY TO ACCESS THINGS LIKE TOILET PAPER, ACCESS THINGS LIKE TOILET PAPER, PAPER TOWELS, HAND SANITIZERS.

PAPER TOWELS, HAND SANITIZERS.

JUST THINGS THAT THEY REALLY JUST THINGS THAT THEY REALLY NEEDED LIKE SOAP AND NEEDED LIKE SOAP AND DISINFECTANT WE WANT STARTED TO DISINFECTANT WE WANT STARTED TO MAKE THESE BAGS.

MAKE THESE BAGS.

AND WE ADD A FEW LITTLE CUTE AND WE ADD A FEW LITTLE CUTE THINGS LIKE A STRESS BALL, A THINGS LIKE A STRESS BALL, A LARGE-PRINT CROSS WORD PUZZLE LARGE-PRINT CROSS WORD PUZZLE BOOK.

BOOK.

FUZZY SOCKS.

FUZZY SOCKS.

JUST COMFORTING THINGS THAT GIVE JUST COMFORTING THINGS THAT GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO AND JUST THEM SOMETHING TO DO AND JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT PEOPLE REALLY LET THEM KNOW THAT PEOPLE REALLY CARE ABOUT THEM AND PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEM AND PEOPLE REMEMBER THEM.

REMEMBER THEM.

>> BERKSHIRE HELPING HANDS NOW >> BERKSHIRE HELPING HANDS NOW HAS A PERMANENT HOME OFFICE IN HAS A PERMANENT HOME OFFICE IN THE OLD BEAVER MILL IN NORTH THE OLD BEAVER MILL IN NORTH ADAMS AFTER BOUNCING AROUND ADAMS AFTER BOUNCING AROUND SEVERAL LOCALES BEFORE.

SEVERAL LOCALES BEFORE.

THE OFFICE MITE NOT BE THE THE OFFICE MITE NOT BE THE BIGGEST SPACE UNDER THE SUN BUT BIGGEST SPACE UNDER THE SUN BUT IT'S JUST THE RIGHT SIZE FOR A IT'S JUST THE RIGHT SIZE FOR A SMALL ASSEMBLY LINE OF SMALL ASSEMBLY LINE OF VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE MORE THAN VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP OUT.

HAPPY TO HELP OUT.

>> IF MAYOR TIN NEEDS HELP ON A >> IF MAYOR TIN NEEDS HELP ON A WEEKEND, I WILL COME IN AND WE WEEKEND, I WILL COME IN AND WE WILL DO, PUT BAGS TOGETHER FOR WILL DO, PUT BAGS TOGETHER FOR THE ELDERLY OR THE HOMELESS.

THE ELDERLY OR THE HOMELESS.

AND JUST TAKE AN HOUR OR TWO TO AND JUST TAKE AN HOUR OR TWO TO GET TOGETHER ON A SUNDAY AND GET TOGETHER ON A SUNDAY AND JUST PUT SOME PACKETS TOGETHER JUST PUT SOME PACKETS TOGETHER FOR PEOPLE.

FOR PEOPLE.

>> IF THE FACEBOOK PAGE IS THE >> IF THE FACEBOOK PAGE IS THE VEHICLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO VEHICLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO DONATE, THEN THE VEHICLES OF THE DONATE, THEN THE VEHICLES OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE THE ACTUAL MEANS VOLUNTEERS ARE THE ACTUAL MEANS BY WHICH THE CARE PACKAGES GET BY WHICH THE CARE PACKAGES GET DELIVERED.

DELIVERED.

UNLESS, OF COURSE, THEY HAVE UNLESS, OF COURSE, THEY HAVE PERMISSION TO USE THE NORTH PERMISSION TO USE THE NORTH ADAMS COUNCIL ON AGING VAN AS ADAMS COUNCIL ON AGING VAN AS THEIR DELIVERY SYSTEM.

THEIR DELIVERY SYSTEM.

SINCE IT FALLS UNDER THE PURVIEW SINCE IT FALLS UNDER THE PURVIEW OF TAKING CARE OF SENIORS, IT OF TAKING CARE OF SENIORS, IT ONLY MADE SENSE.

ONLY MADE SENSE.

DRIVER KEVIN HEMPSTEAD OBLIGED DRIVER KEVIN HEMPSTEAD OBLIGED IN LETTING US TAG ALONG.

IN LETTING US TAG ALONG.

HE IS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IN HE IS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IN CLARKSBURG.

CLARKSBURG.

HE IS ONE OF THE MOST PLEASANT HE IS ONE OF THE MOST PLEASANT PEOPLE I HAVE COME ACROSS IN PEOPLE I HAVE COME ACROSS IN THIS LINE OF WORK.

THIS LINE OF WORK.

ALL OF THE PEOPLE I MET FOR THIS ALL OF THE PEOPLE I MET FOR THIS PROJECT, ALL ADMITTEDLY OF PROJECT, ALL ADMITTEDLY OF MODEST MEANS, SEEMED TO ACTUALLY MODEST MEANS, SEEMED TO ACTUALLY ENJOY GIVING UP THEIR TIME TO ENJOY GIVING UP THEIR TIME TO HELP THOSE IN GREATER NEED THAN HELP THOSE IN GREATER NEED THAN THEMSELVES.

THEMSELVES.

>> I MYSELF WILL PROBABLY DO >> I MYSELF WILL PROBABLY DO THIS UNTIL THE DAY I DIE.

THIS UNTIL THE DAY I DIE.

I MEAN THE NEED IS THERE.

I MEAN THE NEED IS THERE.

AND IF I AM HERE TO HELP AND AND IF I AM HERE TO HELP AND EVERYBODY AT BERKSHIRE HELPING EVERYBODY AT BERKSHIRE HELPING HANDS IS HERE TO HELP THE NEED HANDS IS HERE TO HELP THE NEED WILL NEVER GO AWAY, WILL NEVER GO AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY.

UNFORTUNATELY.

SO WE'RE HERE TO FILL THE GAP SO WE'RE HERE TO FILL THE GAP AND STEP UP TO THE PLATE FOR AND STEP UP TO THE PLATE FOR THESE PEOPLE.

>>> THERE WILL BE A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP FOR AT LEAST TWO LEADERSHIP FOR AT LEAST TWO MAJOR WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS MAJOR WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS CITIES AFTER THIS FALL'S CITIES AFTER THIS FALL'S ELECTIONS.

ELECTIONS.

MAYORS ALEX MORSE OF HOLYOKE AND MAYORS ALEX MORSE OF HOLYOKE AND DAVID NARKEWICZ OF NORTHAMPTON DAVID NARKEWICZ OF NORTHAMPTON HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS NOT TO SEEK REELECTION.

NOT TO SEEK REELECTION.

BOTH MAYORS HAVE GUIDED THEIR BOTH MAYORS HAVE GUIDED THEIR CITIES THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING CITIES THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING TIMES, INCLUDING THE COVID-19 TIMES, INCLUDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

PANDEMIC.

"CONNECTING POINT"'S RAY "CONNECTING POINT"'S RAY HERSCHEL TALKS WITH EACH MAYOR HERSCHEL TALKS WITH EACH MAYOR ABOUT THEIR DECISION TO STEP ABOUT THEIR DECISION TO STEP DOWN AND FUTURE PLANS.

DOWN AND FUTURE PLANS.

HE BEGINS TONIGHT BY SPEAKING HE BEGINS TONIGHT BY SPEAKING WITH OUTGOING NORTHAMPTON MAYOR WITH OUTGOING NORTHAMPTON MAYOR DAVID NARKEWICZ.

DAVID NARKEWICZ.

>> I HAVE HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF >> I HAVE HAD THE GREAT HONOR OF SERVING NOW WHAT WILL BE OVER SERVING NOW WHAT WILL BE OVER TWO DECADES IN MUNICIPAL TWO DECADES IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN NORTHAMPTON.

GOVERNMENT IN NORTHAMPTON.

AND I FEEL THAT IT WAS TIME FOR AND I FEEL THAT IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO STEP BACK AND TO ALLOW ME TO STEP BACK AND TO ALLOW OTHER FOLKS TO STEP FORWARD AND OTHER FOLKS TO STEP FORWARD AND BRING THEIR IDEAS AND THEIR BRING THEIR IDEAS AND THEIR ENERGY TO HELP LEAD OUR CITY ENERGY TO HELP LEAD OUR CITY FORWARD.

FORWARD.

>> MAYOR, YOU HAVE GOT NEARLY A >> MAYOR, YOU HAVE GOT NEARLY A YEAR LEFT ON YOUR TERM.

YEAR LEFT ON YOUR TERM.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, DO YOU AT THIS POINT IN TIME, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OF WHAT YOUR HAVE ANY IDEAS OF WHAT YOUR FUTURE MIGHT HOLD IN TERMS OF FUTURE MIGHT HOLD IN TERMS OF EITHER THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EITHER THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR?

SECTOR?

>> I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR IDEA.

>> I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR IDEA.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN I MEAN, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC SERVICE PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF ONE FORM OR ANOTHER MY ENTIRE OF ONE FORM OR ANOTHER MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE, WHETHER MY PRIOR ADULT LIFE, WHETHER MY PRIOR CAREER AS A CONGRESSIONAL AIDE.

CAREER AS A CONGRESSIONAL AIDE.

I WAS ALSO IN THE AIR FORCE.

I WAS ALSO IN THE AIR FORCE.

AND SO I'M GOING TO SERVE OUT AND SO I'M GOING TO SERVE OUT THE REMAINDER OF MY YEAR.

THE REMAINDER OF MY YEAR.

I AM GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS I I AM GOING TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF CAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF NORTHAMPTON, AND TRY TO FINISH NORTHAMPTON, AND TRY TO FINISH SOME OF THE BIG PROJECTS THAT I SOME OF THE BIG PROJECTS THAT I WANT TO GET ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE WANT TO GET ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE MY TERM ENDS.

MY TERM ENDS.

AND THEN I'LL ASSESS WHAT'S OUT AND THEN I'LL ASSESS WHAT'S OUT THERE.

THERE.

WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC OR PRIVATE WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR.

SECTOR.

I THINK I HAVE SOME SKILLS THAT I THINK I HAVE SOME SKILLS THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO AN MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO AN ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY.

ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY.

AND I WILL JUST TAKE IT THERE.

AND I WILL JUST TAKE IT THERE.

BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING CLEARLY MAPPED OUT NOW.

CLEARLY MAPPED OUT NOW.

AND CERTAIN NOT RUNNING FOR AND CERTAIN NOT RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

OFFICE.

THAT'S ONE THING I THINK I CAN THAT'S ONE THING I THINK I CAN SAY WITH GREAT CLARITY.

SAY WITH GREAT CLARITY.

I'M NOT SEEKING ANY ADDITIONAL I'M NOT SEEKING ANY ADDITIONAL ELECTED OFFICES.

ELECTED OFFICES.

>> MAYOR NARKEWICZ, HOW >> MAYOR NARKEWICZ, HOW DIFFICULT HAS THIS PAST YEAR DIFFICULT HAS THIS PAST YEAR BEEN AS MAYOR OF NORTHAMPTON?

BEEN AS MAYOR OF NORTHAMPTON?

HAS THIS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT HAS THIS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT YEAR THAT YOU'VE SERVED AS THE YEAR THAT YOU'VE SERVED AS THE CITY'S MAYOR?

CITY'S MAYOR?

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE'S A >> I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE'S A MAYOR ANYWHERE IN AMERICA WHO MAYOR ANYWHERE IN AMERICA WHO WOULDN'T SAY THAT COVID, SERVING WOULDN'T SAY THAT COVID, SERVING DURING COVID WAS NOT THE MOST DURING COVID WAS NOT THE MOST CHALLENGING.

CHALLENGING.

I MEAN, JUST, IT'S JUST I MEAN, JUST, IT'S JUST OBVIOUSLY A ONCE IN A CENTURY OBVIOUSLY A ONCE IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC.

PANDEMIC.

AND IT HAS CHALLENGED US.

AND IT HAS CHALLENGED US.

BUT IN MANY WAYS, I THINK IT'S, BUT IN MANY WAYS, I THINK IT'S, FOR ME AT LEAST IT'S AFFIRMED FOR ME AT LEAST IT'S AFFIRMED THE WORK THAT WE DO.

THE WORK THAT WE DO.

AND IT'S MADE ME PROUD OF THE AND IT'S MADE ME PROUD OF THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE APPOINTED TO PEOPLE THAT I'VE APPOINTED TO KEY POSITIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY KEY POSITIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND I THINK WE'VE RISEN TO THE AND I THINK WE'VE RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE AND WORKED REALLY HARD CHALLENGE AND WORKED REALLY HARD TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS AND TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS AND MAKE DECISIONS, SOMETIMES MAKE DECISIONS, SOMETIMES WITHOUT A LOT OF INFORMATION.

WITHOUT A LOT OF INFORMATION.

BUT MAKE DECISIONS IN THE BEST BUT MAKE DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY.

INTERESTS OF THE CITY.

SO IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING.

SO IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING.

BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I'VE PREPARED FOR, THIS IS WHAT I'VE PREPARED FOR, AND WHEN YOU ARE MAYOR, PART OF AND WHEN YOU ARE MAYOR, PART OF TAKING THAT OATH IS BEING ABLE TAKING THAT OATH IS BEING ABLE TO LEAD IN UNKNOWN SITUATIONS.

TO LEAD IN UNKNOWN SITUATIONS.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE I'M PROUD OF AND SO I FEEL LIKE I'M PROUD OF THIS WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, AND THIS WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT OUT OF THE WE'RE OBVIOUSLY NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

WOODS YET.

BUT, YES, DEFINITELY THE MOST BUT, YES, DEFINITELY THE MOST CHALLENGING.

CHALLENGING.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IN MANY BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IN MANY WAYS, I THINK GRATIFYING.

WAYS, I THINK GRATIFYING.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE DONE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE DONE A REALLY STRONG JOB, AND IT'S A A REALLY STRONG JOB, AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN TESTAMENT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK FOR OUR CITY AND TRAIN WHO WORK FOR OUR CITY AND TRAIN FOR THESE THINGS.

FOR THESE THINGS.

AND HAVE REALLY COME THROUGH IN AND HAVE REALLY COME THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH.

THE CLUTCH.

>> MAYOR, COULD YOU TALK A >> MAYOR, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPECIFIC LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACED AS CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACED AS MAYOR OF NORTHAMPTON DURING MAYOR OF NORTHAMPTON DURING COVID AS IT RELATES, FOR COVID AS IT RELATES, FOR EXAMPLE, TO YOUR BUDGET, TO THE EXAMPLE, TO YOUR BUDGET, TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY?

LOCAL ECONOMY?

JUST HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT HAS JUST HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT HAS COVID HAD ON THAT?

COVID HAD ON THAT?

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

NORTHAMPTON MORE THAN MOST NORTHAMPTON MORE THAN MOST COMMUNITIES DOES DERIVE A LARGE COMMUNITIES DOES DERIVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE FROM PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE FROM REVENUE SOURCES LIKE MEALS TAX REVENUE SOURCES LIKE MEALS TAX AND HOTEL-MOTEL TAX.

AND HOTEL-MOTEL TAX.

MORE RECENTLY, CANNABIS TAXES.

MORE RECENTLY, CANNABIS TAXES.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY PARKING.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY PARKING.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRETTY LARGE BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRETTY LARGE PARKING SYSTEM AND WE RELY ON PARKING SYSTEM AND WE RELY ON VISITORS TO COME TO NORTHAMPTON VISITORS TO COME TO NORTHAMPTON FOR SHOWS AND FOR RESTAURANTS OR FOR SHOWS AND FOR RESTAURANTS OR RETAIL.

RETAIL.

SO THAT PIECE OF IT HAS BEEN SO THAT PIECE OF IT HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING.

VERY CHALLENGING.

WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT DROPS.

WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT DROPS.

SOME OF THESE REVENUE SOURCES SOME OF THESE REVENUE SOURCES ARE DOWN 70 AND 80% WHERE THEY ARE DOWN 70 AND 80% WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN A YEAR AGO THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A YEAR AGO THIS TIME.

TIME.

SO THAT MADE US HAVE TO MAKE SO THAT MADE US HAVE TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS DURING SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS DURING THE LAST BUDGET.

THE LAST BUDGET.

AND WE'RE NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF AND WE'RE NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS FOR THE UPCOMING THE PROCESS FOR THE UPCOMING JULY 1st BUDGET.

JULY 1st BUDGET.

AND AGAIN WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE AND AGAIN WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SOME SIMILAR DECISIONS.

SOME SIMILAR DECISIONS.

AND THEN JUST OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND THEN JUST OUR LOCAL ECONOMY GENERALLY, BECAUSE NORTHAMPTON GENERALLY, BECAUSE NORTHAMPTON IS HEAVILY BASED ON RESTAURANTS, IS HEAVILY BASED ON RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, SERVICE ECONOMY, RETAIL, SERVICE ECONOMY, EDUCATION.

EDUCATION.

OBVIOUSLY HIGHER EDUCATION AS OBVIOUSLY HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL AS THE MANY PERFORMANCE WELL AS THE MANY PERFORMANCE VENUES WE HAVE FROM THE CALVIN VENUES WE HAVE FROM THE CALVIN TO THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

TO THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

MANY OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CLOSED MANY OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CLOSED OR SEVERELY LIMITED.

OR SEVERELY LIMITED.

SO IT'S AFFECTED THE LARGER SO IT'S AFFECTED THE LARGER ECONOMY AS WELL.

ECONOMY AS WELL.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A MAJOR SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THIS AND A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THIS AND A MAJOR CHALLENGE TO TRY TO BUILD CHALLENGE TO TRY TO BUILD BUDGETS DURING.

BUDGETS DURING.

>> MAYOR NARKEWICZ, AS YOU LOOK >> MAYOR NARKEWICZ, AS YOU LOOK BACK OVER YOUR MANY YEARS IN BACK OVER YOUR MANY YEARS IN OFFICE IN NORTHAMPTON, WHAT OFFICE IN NORTHAMPTON, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE YOUR BIGGEST WOULD YOU SAY ARE YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS ?

WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHMENTS ?

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN MOST PROUD OF AS MAYOR?

BEEN MOST PROUD OF AS MAYOR?

>> IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING >> IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING ECONOMICALLY.

ECONOMICALLY.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK I'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT IS I'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT IS REALLY TRYING TO HELP BUILD REALLY TRYING TO HELP BUILD STABILITY IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL STABILITY IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR OUR CITY.

STABILITY FOR OUR CITY.

WHEN I GOT ELECTED WE WERE JUST WHEN I GOT ELECTED WE WERE JUST COMING OUT OF THE LAST GREAT COMING OUT OF THE LAST GREAT RECESSION.

RECESSION.

AND SO WE WERE FACING AND SO WE WERE FACING CHALLENGING BUDGETS AND DEPLETED CHALLENGING BUDGETS AND DEPLETED RESERVES.

RESERVES.

SO I'VE REALLY MADE IT A SO I'VE REALLY MADE IT A HALLMARK OF MY ADMINISTRATION TO HALLMARK OF MY ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO REBUILD AND PREPARE FOR TRY TO REBUILD AND PREPARE FOR THE NEXT, THE NEXT TIME THAT WE THE NEXT, THE NEXT TIME THAT WE FACE THIS.

FACE THIS.

LITTLE DID I KNOW WE WOULD BE LITTLE DID I KNOW WE WOULD BE PREPARING FOR COVID-19.

PREPARING FOR COVID-19.

BUT EVEN THEN, WE HAVE COME INTO BUT EVEN THEN, WE HAVE COME INTO COVID-19 IN VERY STRONG COVID-19 IN VERY STRONG FINANCIAL CONDITION.

FINANCIAL CONDITION.

AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO AS A CITY, WHETHER TRY TO DO AS A CITY, WHETHER IT'S FUNDING HIGH-QUALITY IT'S FUNDING HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS OR BUILDING BIKE TRAILS SCHOOLS OR BUILDING BIKE TRAILS OR PRESERVING OPEN SPACE OR OR PRESERVING OPEN SPACE OR HAVING A ROBUST ARTS PROGRAM, HAVING A ROBUST ARTS PROGRAM, ALL OF THAT COMES BACK TO HAVING ALL OF THAT COMES BACK TO HAVING FINANCIAL STABILITY AND THE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY FUND THOSE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY FUND THOSE PROGRAMS AND FUND THOSE, THAT, PROGRAMS AND FUND THOSE, THAT, THOSE VALUES THAT A BUDGET THOSE VALUES THAT A BUDGET REALLY REPRESENTS.

REALLY REPRESENTS.

>> YEAH, YOU SUCCESSFULLY, OF >> YEAH, YOU SUCCESSFULLY, OF COURSE, STEERED THE CITY TOWARD COURSE, STEERED THE CITY TOWARD APPROVING TAX OVERRIGHTS.

APPROVING TAX OVERRIGHTS.

I THINK TWICE IN TERMS OF THE I THINK TWICE IN TERMS OF THE CITY FINANCES.

CITY FINANCES.

AND YOU WENT THROUGH A CHARTER AND YOU WENT THROUGH A CHARTER CHANGE AS WELL.

CHANGE AS WELL.

WHAT WOULD YOUR MESSAGE BE AS, WHAT WOULD YOUR MESSAGE BE AS, YOU COMPLETE YOUR LAST TERM IN YOU COMPLETE YOUR LAST TERM IN OFFICE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OFFICE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE OF NORTHAMPTON?

NORTHAMPTON?

WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE THEM WITH?

LEAVE THEM WITH?

>> REALLY JUST THANKING THEM FOR >> REALLY JUST THANKING THEM FOR THIS HONOR.

THIS HONOR.

IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE HONOR IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE.

AND PRIVILEGE.

NORTHAMPTON IS A GREAT CITY.

NORTHAMPTON IS A GREAT CITY.

AND WE HAVE SO MUCH, SO MANY AND WE HAVE SO MUCH, SO MANY POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

EVEN IN THE MIDST OF COVID, IT'S EVEN IN THE MIDST OF COVID, IT'S REALLY SHOWN US HOW PEOPLE COME REALLY SHOWN US HOW PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, WHETHER IT'S PEOPLE TOGETHER, WHETHER IT'S PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING TO SUPPORT THOSE IN VOLUNTEERING TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED, OR VOLUNTEERING TO HELP NEED, OR VOLUNTEERING TO HELP FEED PEOPLE, OR VOLUNTEERING TO FEED PEOPLE, OR VOLUNTEERING TO HELP PEOPLE GET VACCINATED.

HELP PEOPLE GET VACCINATED.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A GREAT I MEAN, IT'S JUST A GREAT COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO LEAD SO IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO LEAD THIS COMMUNITY AND TO HOPEFULLY THIS COMMUNITY AND TO HOPEFULLY LEAD IT IN AD FOR AND POSITIVE LEAD IT IN AD FOR AND POSITIVE DIRECTION.

DIRECTION.

I THANK EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED I THANK EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED ME AND GAVE ME THAT OPPORTUNITY ME AND GAVE ME THAT OPPORTUNITY OVER THESE 10 YEARS.

>>> NEXT FRIDAY ON "CONNECTING POINT," RAY HERSCHEL SPEAKS WITH POINT," RAY HERSCHEL SPEAKS WITH HOLYOKE MAYOR ALEX MORSE ABOUT HOLYOKE MAYOR ALEX MORSE ABOUT HIS DECISION NOT TO SPEAK HIS DECISION NOT TO SPEAK REELECTION.

REELECTION.

>>> WE'VE BEEN FEELING WINTER'S >>> WE'VE BEEN FEELING WINTER'S FULL EFFECT THE LAST FEW WEEKS FULL EFFECT THE LAST FEW WEEKS IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND WITH IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND WITH SEVERAL SNOWSTORMS AND FRIGID SEVERAL SNOWSTORMS AND FRIGID TEMPERATURES.

TEMPERATURES.

WHILE SOME PREFER TO STAY WHILE SOME PREFER TO STAY INDOORS WHERE IT'S WARM, DAVE INDOORS WHERE IT'S WARM, DAVE ROTHSTEIN DOES NOT.

ROTHSTEIN DOES NOT.

THE SNOW PROVIDES HIM THE CHANCE THE SNOW PROVIDES HIM THE CHANCE TO CREATE HIS FAVORITE ARTWORK, TO CREATE HIS FAVORITE ARTWORK, SNOW SCULPTURES.

SNOW SCULPTURES.

"CONNECTING POINT"'S ROSS "CONNECTING POINT"'S ROSS LIPPMAN MET ROTHSTEIN IN HEATH LIPPMAN MET ROTHSTEIN IN HEATH TO SEE HOW HE TURNS OVER TWO TO SEE HOW HE TURNS OVER TWO TONS OF SNOW INTO HIS LATEST TONS OF SNOW INTO HIS LATEST SCULPTURE.

SCULPTURE.

>> MY NAME IS DAVE ROTHSTEIN.

>> MY NAME IS DAVE ROTHSTEIN.

AND WE ARE HERE MAKING A SNOW AND WE ARE HERE MAKING A SNOW SCULPTURE ON BURNT HILL IN ITO, SCULPTURE ON BURNT HILL IN ITO, MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

IN SOME RESPECTS, IT'S GLORIFIED IN SOME RESPECTS, IT'S GLORIFIED SNOW PERSON.

SNOW PERSON.

AND SO I THINK IT'S ART.

AND SO I THINK IT'S ART.

IT'S A CREATIVE OUT LET.

IT'S A CREATIVE OUT LET.

AND ANYONE CAN DO IT.

AND ANYONE CAN DO IT.

I DON'T THINK OF IT AS AN I DON'T THINK OF IT AS AN ELEVATE THE FORM OF ART.

ELEVATE THE FORM OF ART.

IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO PASS THE IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO PASS THE WINTER AND ENJOY IT WHEN YOU ARE WINTER AND ENJOY IT WHEN YOU ARE GETTING SOME CABIN FEVER.

>>> I IMAGINE IT'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST TWO 12-HOUR CASE SO AT LEAST TWO 12-HOUR CASE SO MAYBE ANOTHER THIRD DAY.

MAYBE ANOTHER THIRD DAY.

I'LL GOING UP TOP.

IT'S AMAZING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF SNOW WHEN YOU INTEGRITY OF SNOW WHEN YOU COMPRESS IT DOWN, THE THINGS YOU COMPRESS IT DOWN, THE THINGS YOU CAN DO.

CAN DO.

>> OH, THE VIEWS ARE STUNNING.

>> OH, THE VIEWS ARE STUNNING.

IT'S GOT A SOUL OF ITS OWN.

IT'S GOT A SOUL OF ITS OWN.

>> I WAS GOING TO DO IT ORIENTED >> I WAS GOING TO DO IT ORIENTED THAT WAY SO YOU COULD SEE IT THAT WAY SO YOU COULD SEE IT FROM THE HOUSE.

FROM THE HOUSE.

BUT THIS VIEW WITH THE TREES.

BUT THIS VIEW WITH THE TREES.

>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INQUIRIES.

>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INQUIRIES.

WE PUT IT OUT THERE ON INSTAGRAM WE PUT IT OUT THERE ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK.

AND FACEBOOK.

WHAT'S THIS GOING TO BE?

WHAT'S THIS GOING TO BE?

PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT IT IS.

WHAT IT IS.

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> WE LIKE A WINTER RIDE AND IT >> WE LIKE A WINTER RIDE AND IT WAS A GREAT DESTINATION.

WAS A GREAT DESTINATION.

IT LOOKS LIKE LIFE GIVES YOU IT LOOKS LIKE LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, YOU MAKE ELEMENT LEMONS, YOU MAKE ELEMENT NON-AID.

NON-AID.

LIFE GIVES YOU SNOW, YOU MAKE LIFE GIVES YOU SNOW, YOU MAKE SNOW SCULPTURES.

SNOW SCULPTURES.

AND HE DOES IT.

AND HE DOES IT.

I DON'T COULD IT BUT IT'S FUN TO I DON'T COULD IT BUT IT'S FUN TO WATCH SOMEBODY ELSE GET PLEASURE WATCH SOMEBODY ELSE GET PLEASURE OUT OF ALL THIS WORK.

OUT OF ALL THIS WORK.

>> IT'S LOOKING EXACTLY THE WAY >> IT'S LOOKING EXACTLY THE WAY IT SHOULD.

IT SHOULD.

SO I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

SO I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

SO NICE TO HAVE ALL MY FRIENDS SO NICE TO HAVE ALL MY FRIENDS OUT HERE.

OUT HERE.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOKS LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK.

LOOK.

AND FINISHED ON TIME.

AND FINISHED ON TIME.

IT'S NOT A CLOUDY DAY.

IT'S NOT A CLOUDY DAY.

THREE DIMENSIONAL.

THREE DIMENSIONAL.

IT HAS COLOR JUST LIKE IT WAS IT HAS COLOR JUST LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED.

DESIGNED.

SO IT'S NICE WHEN IT COMES OUT SO IT'S NICE WHEN IT COMES OUT THAT WAY.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR FEBRUARY 12th, POINT" FOR FEBRUARY 12th, 2021.

2021.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT AND MORE DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT AND MORE ONLINE ANY TIME AT ONLINE ANY TIME AT NEPM.ORG/"CONNECTING POINT."

NEPM.ORG/"CONNECTING POINT."

AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT AND PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA.

ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA.

FOR MORE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE, FOR MORE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND IDEAS THAT MATTER PLACES AND IDEAS THAT MATTER MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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