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

CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

THE LATEST ON THE COVID-19 THE LATEST ON THE COVID-19 VACCINATION ROLLOUT IN VACCINATION ROLLOUT IN MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

>> THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE >> THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED UNDER PHASE GETTING VACCINATED UNDER PHASE ONE, BUT WE MOVED ONTO PHASE ONE, BUT WE MOVED ONTO PHASE TWO, ADULTS 75 YEARS AND OLDER.

TWO, ADULTS 75 YEARS AND OLDER.

>> THE AGAWAM LIONS CLUB LENDS A >> THE AGAWAM LIONS CLUB LENDS A HAND TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAND TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN AT HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN AT HOME.

HOME.

>> PUT A FORM OUT THERE, SENT >> PUT A FORM OUT THERE, SENT EMAILS TO PRINCIPLES -- EMAILS TO PRINCIPLES -- PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS SAYING PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS SAYING WE'RE DOING THAT.

WE'RE DOING THAT.

12 HOURS LATER WE HAD 150 12 HOURS LATER WE HAD 150 REQUESTS FOR DESKS.

REQUESTS FOR DESKS.

>> AND HOW LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE >> AND HOW LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE FARING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS FARING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC.

OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> PEOPLE ARE WORKING AT HOME, >> PEOPLE ARE WORKING AT HOME, THEY'RE NOT OUT IN THE USUAL THEY'RE NOT OUT IN THE USUAL AREAS SO THE FOOT TRAFFIC IS AREAS SO THE FOOT TRAFFIC IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

BUSINESSES WE THINK OF AS MAIN BUSINESSES WE THINK OF AS MAIN STREET BUSINESSES.

STREET BUSINESSES.

>> 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.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

"CONNECTING POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THIS WEEK MASSACHUSETTS BEGAN THIS WEEK MASSACHUSETTS BEGAN THE SECOND PHASE OF ITS COVID-19 THE SECOND PHASE OF ITS COVID-19 VACCINATION ROLLOUT, WITH VACCINATION ROLLOUT, WITH ROUGHLY 450,000 RESIDENTS AGES ROUGHLY 450,000 RESIDENTS AGES 75 AND OLDER NOW ELIGIBLE TO 75 AND OLDER NOW ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A VACCINATION.

RECEIVE A VACCINATION.

BUT THE VACCINATION PROCESS HAS BUT THE VACCINATION PROCESS HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH DIFFICULTIES BEEN PLAGUED WITH DIFFICULTIES NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING HERE IN NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH RANKS 34TH MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH RANKS 34TH NATIONALLY IN PER CAPITA NATIONALLY IN PER CAPITA VACCINATIONS, AS REPORTED ON VACCINATIONS, AS REPORTED ON TUESDAY BY THE CENTERS FOR TUESDAY BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE STATE'S KNOW ABOUT THE STATE'S VACCINATION ROLLOUT, I SPOKE VACCINATION ROLLOUT, I SPOKE WITH DR. ANDREW ARTENSTEIN, THE WITH DR. ANDREW ARTENSTEIN, THE CHIEF PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVE AND CHIEF PHYSICIAN EXECUTIVE AND INCIDENT COMMANDER FOR COVID-19 INCIDENT COMMANDER FOR COVID-19 AT BAY STATE HEALTH.

AT BAY STATE HEALTH.

>> WE ARE INTO EARLY PHASE TWO >> WE ARE INTO EARLY PHASE TWO OF THREE PHASES.

OF THREE PHASES.

IF YOU'LL RECALL, PHASE ONE WAS, IF YOU'LL RECALL, PHASE ONE WAS, HAD TO DO LARGELY WITH HEALTH HAD TO DO LARGELY WITH HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND THAT'S BROADLY CARE WORKERS AND THAT'S BROADLY DEFINED PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL DEFINED PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL FIELD OF HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS FIELD OF HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS AND STAFF OF VARIOUS RESIDENTS AND STAFF OF VARIOUS LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND VARIOUS TYPES OF NURSING HOMES VARIOUS TYPES OF NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

THAT WAS PHASE ONE.

THAT WAS PHASE ONE.

THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE GETTING THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE GETTING VACCINATED UNDER PHASE ONE, BUT VACCINATED UNDER PHASE ONE, BUT WE'VE MOVED ON TO PHASE TWO, AND WE'VE MOVED ON TO PHASE TWO, AND THE FIRST EARLY STAGE OF PHASE THE FIRST EARLY STAGE OF PHASE TWO STARTED WITH THOSE ADULTS 75 TWO STARTED WITH THOSE ADULTS 75 YEARS AND OLDER.

YEARS AND OLDER.

SO IT WAS REALLY AN AGE BASED SO IT WAS REALLY AN AGE BASED CRITERIA AND THAT STARTED ON CRITERIA AND THAT STARTED ON FEBRUARY 1st.

FEBRUARY 1st.

>> IT WILL BE ABOUT A YEAR IN >> IT WILL BE ABOUT A YEAR IN MARCH SINCE WE WERE FIRST MARCH SINCE WE WERE FIRST ADVISED THE QUARANTINE, PRACTICE ADVISED THE QUARANTINE, PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND HERE WE SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND HERE WE ARE A YEAR LATER ALREADY DRT ARE A YEAR LATER ALREADY DRT DISTRIBUTING VACCINES.

DISTRIBUTING VACCINES.

THIS RAPID BASIS UNLIKE ANY THIS RAPID BASIS UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

OTHER.

HOW WAS THIS VACCINE ABLE TO BE HOW WAS THIS VACCINE ABLE TO BE CREATED AND RELEASED SO QUICKLY?

CREATED AND RELEASED SO QUICKLY?

>> THERE WAS INVESTIGATION MORE >> THERE WAS INVESTIGATION MORE THAN 15 YEARS AGO, IN 2003-2004 THAN 15 YEARS AGO, IN 2003-2004 THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK, ANLE DICK THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK, ANLE DICK OF, AN EPIDEMIC OF SARS, WHICH OF, AN EPIDEMIC OF SARS, WHICH IS A GENETICALLY RELATED VIRUS IS A GENETICALLY RELATED VIRUS TO THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES TO THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19.

COVID-19.

IT WAS NEW AT THE TIME, 15 PLUS IT WAS NEW AT THE TIME, 15 PLUS YEARS AGO, AND A LOT OF WORK WAS YEARS AGO, AND A LOT OF WORK WAS DONE AT THAT POINT DONE AT THAT POINT SCIENTIFICALLY TO DEVELOP A SCIENTIFICALLY TO DEVELOP A VACCINE.

VACCINE.

NOW THAT INFECTION SORT OF NOW THAT INFECTION SORT OF DISAPPEARED FROM THE FACE OF THE DISAPPEARED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH, BUT OTHER CORONAVIRUSES EARTH, BUT OTHER CORONAVIRUSES HAVE SINCE APPEARED AND THIS IS HAVE SINCE APPEARED AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

ONE OF THEM.

SO WE HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC SO WE HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY HAD SOME UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY HAD SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE VIRUS, THEY'RE OF THE VIRUS, THEY'RE GENETICALLY RELATED, SO IT'S GENETICALLY RELATED, SO IT'S SOME OF THE BASIC WORK HAD SOME OF THE BASIC WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE.

ALREADY BEEN DONE.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE HAD 40 ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE HAD 40 YEARS OF DEALING WITH H.I.V.

YEARS OF DEALING WITH H.I.V.

NOW, H.I.V.

IS A COMPLETELY NOW, H.I.V.

IS A COMPLETELY UNRELATED VIRUS, COMPLETELY UNRELATED VIRUS, COMPLETELY UNRELATED DISEASE.

UNRELATED DISEASE.

BUT THE SCIENCE THAT HAS MOVED BUT THE SCIENCE THAT HAS MOVED FORWARD RELATED TO THE STUDY OF FORWARD RELATED TO THE STUDY OF H.I.V.

HAS HELPED OTHER FIELDS H.I.V.

HAS HELPED OTHER FIELDS OF SCIENCE AS WELL.

OF SCIENCE AS WELL.

SO THAT'S HELPED SO THAT'S HELPED THE OTHER TWO THINGS THAT HAVE THE OTHER TWO THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED IS THERE HAS BEEN A HELPED IS THERE HAS BEEN A WORLDWIDE FOCUS ON COVID OVER WORLDWIDE FOCUS ON COVID OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THE LAST YEAR.

WHAT'S HAPPENED IS SCIENTISTS WHAT'S HAPPENED IS SCIENTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE TURNED THEIR ATTENTION AND TURNED THEIR ATTENTION AND FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION ON THIS FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION ON THIS ONE INFECTION AND THIS ONE ONE INFECTION AND THIS ONE DISEASE, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN DISEASE, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SOME SPECTACULAR ADVANCES.

SOME SPECTACULAR ADVANCES.

THEN FINALLY, GOVERNMENTS AND THEN FINALLY, GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE POURED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE POURED FOUNDING DOLLARS INTO THE FOUNDING DOLLARS INTO THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THIS SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THIS INFECTION, INCLUDING INFECTION, INCLUDING PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, AND THAT HAS REALLY HELPED PROPEL THAT HAS REALLY HELPED PROPEL SCIENCE FORWARD FAST, TO GET US SCIENCE FORWARD FAST, TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE NOW HAVE TO THE POINT WHERE WE NOW HAVE THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

>> SPEAKING OF SCIENCE, THIS >> SPEAKING OF SCIENCE, THIS VACCINE IS AN MRNA VACCINE.

VACCINE IS AN MRNA VACCINE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SCIENCE CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS INOCULATION AND HOW BEHIND THIS INOCULATION AND HOW IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE TRADITIONAL VACCINE THAT WE'RE TRADITIONAL VACCINE THAT WE'RE USED TO?

USED TO?

>> THESE ARE BASED ON THIS NOVEL >> THESE ARE BASED ON THIS NOVEL MRNA PLATFORM.

MRNA PLATFORM.

AND THE MESSENGER RNA BASICALLY AND THE MESSENGER RNA BASICALLY IS A SYNTHETIC GENETIC SEQUENCE IS A SYNTHETIC GENETIC SEQUENCE OF THE VIRUS, SO IT'S NOT THE OF THE VIRUS, SO IT'S NOT THE VIRUS, IT IS NOT EVEN THE ACTUAL VIRUS, IT IS NOT EVEN THE ACTUAL VIRUS AND CANNOT CAUSE ANYONE TO VIRUS AND CANNOT CAUSE ANYONE TO GET SICK WITH THE VIRUS.

GET SICK WITH THE VIRUS.

BUT IT'S JUST THE PIECE OF BUT IT'S JUST THE PIECE OF GENETIC MATERIAL THAT IS MADE IN GENETIC MATERIAL THAT IS MADE IN LABORATORIES THAT LOOKS JUST LABORATORIES THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE GENETIC MATERIAL FROM LIKE THE GENETIC MATERIAL FROM THE VIRUS, THAT WHEN IT'S THE VIRUS, THAT WHEN IT'S INJECTED INTO THE HUMAN BODY IT INJECTED INTO THE HUMAN BODY IT INSTRUCTS HUMAN CELLS TO MAKE INSTRUCTS HUMAN CELLS TO MAKE CERTAIN PROTEINS, THAT'S WHAT CERTAIN PROTEINS, THAT'S WHAT MESSENGER RNA DOES FOR US UNDER MESSENGER RNA DOES FOR US UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.

NORMAL CONDITIONS.

THIS TIME THE PROTEINS IT'S THIS TIME THE PROTEINS IT'S HAVING OUR BODIES CREATE ARE HAVING OUR BODIES CREATE ARE PROTEINS THAT STUD THE SURFACE PROTEINS THAT STUD THE SURFACE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

THE SPIKE PROTEIN.

THE SPIKE PROTEIN.

AND WHEN OUR BODY PRODUCES THAT AND WHEN OUR BODY PRODUCES THAT PROTEIN, IN RESPONSE TO THE PROTEIN, IN RESPONSE TO THE VACCINE, OUR BODY ALSO SEES IT VACCINE, OUR BODY ALSO SEES IT AS A FOREIGN SUBSTANCE AND AS A FOREIGN SUBSTANCE AND PRODUCES ANTIBODY AGAINST THAT PRODUCES ANTIBODY AGAINST THAT PROTEIN.

PROTEIN.

THOSE ANTIBODIES ARE WHAT THOSE ANTIBODIES ARE WHAT PROTECTS US, LIKE AN INVISIBLE PROTECTS US, LIKE AN INVISIBLE SHIELD AGAINST THE ACTUAL VIRUS SHIELD AGAINST THE ACTUAL VIRUS INFECTION AND DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTION AND DISEASE CAUSED BY THE VIRUS.

THE VIRUS.

SO IT PREVENTS VIRAL REPLICATION SO IT PREVENTS VIRAL REPLICATION BECAUSE THE VIRUS, THOSE BECAUSE THE VIRUS, THOSE ANTIBODIES STICK TO THE VIRAL ANTIBODIES STICK TO THE VIRAL PROTEINS AS THEY TRY TO GET IN PROTEINS AS THEY TRY TO GET IN OUR CELL, AND PREVENT IT.

OUR CELL, AND PREVENT IT.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE GIVING THE SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE GIVING THE BLUEPRINTS FOR A HOUSE, YOU BLUEPRINTS FOR A HOUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN A CONTRACTOR GIVES KNOW, WHEN A CONTRACTOR GIVES YOU BLUEPRINTS, THIS IS GIVING YOU BLUEPRINTS, THIS IS GIVING OUR BODY THE BLUEPRINTS TO MAKE OUR BODY THE BLUEPRINTS TO MAKE THESE PROTEINS TO PRODUCE THESE THESE PROTEINS TO PRODUCE THESE ANTIBODIES AGAINST THEM WHICH ANTIBODIES AGAINST THEM WHICH PROTECT US AGAINST THE VIRUS.

PROTECT US AGAINST THE VIRUS.

THAT MESSENGER RNA QUICKLY GOES THAT MESSENGER RNA QUICKLY GOES AWAY WHEN IT'S INJECTED INTO THE AWAY WHEN IT'S INJECTED INTO THE BODY, IT DOESN'T LAST FOR LONG, BODY, IT DOESN'T LAST FOR LONG, IT DOESN'T CAUSE ANY ILL IT DOESN'T CAUSE ANY ILL EFFECTS, BUT IT DOES ALLOW OUR EFFECTS, BUT IT DOES ALLOW OUR BODY TO CREATE THIS IMMUNE BODY TO CREATE THIS IMMUNE RESPONSE WHICH APPEARS TO RESPONSE WHICH APPEARS TO PROTECT AT VERY HIGH LEVELS, PROTECT AT VERY HIGH LEVELS, UPWARDS OF 95% AGAINST DISEASE UPWARDS OF 95% AGAINST DISEASE AND SEVERE DISEASE CAUSED BY THE AND SEVERE DISEASE CAUSED BY THE VIRUS.

VIRUS.

WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE YET WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE YET WHETHER IT PROTECTS AGAINST ALL WHETHER IT PROTECTS AGAINST ALL ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTIONS, WHICH ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTIONS, WHICH IS WHY EVERYONE STILL IS HEARING IS WHY EVERYONE STILL IS HEARING THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO WEAR MASKS, PHYSICAL SOCIAL WEAR MASKS, PHYSICAL SOCIAL DISTANCE, STAY HOME WITH DISTANCE, STAY HOME WITH SYMPTOMS, ALL -- SYMPTOMS, ALL -- WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, ALL WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY, ALL THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH THOSE PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS WE STILL NEED TO RECOMMENDATIONS WE STILL NEED TO FOLLOW UNTIL WE'RE OUT OF THE FOLLOW UNTIL WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS.

WOODS.

UNTIL ENOUGH VACCINE HAS GOTTEN UNTIL ENOUGH VACCINE HAS GOTTEN INTO ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE INTO ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HERD IMMUNITY AND WE'RE OUT OF HERD IMMUNITY AND WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS.

THE WOODS.

THAT'S STILL SEVERAL MONTHS THAT'S STILL SEVERAL MONTHS AWAY, MAYBE SIX OR MORE MONTHS AWAY, MAYBE SIX OR MORE MONTHS AWAY.

AWAY.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE >> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE AND DISCUSSION AROUND THIS AND DISCUSSION AROUND THIS VACCINE AND WHETHER IT IS SAFE VACCINE AND WHETHER IT IS SAFE OR NOT.

OR NOT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS YOU'VE HEARD AND MISCONCEPTIONS YOU'VE HEARD AND CAN YOU CLARIFY THEM FOR ANYONE CAN YOU CLARIFY THEM FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CONCERNS?

WHO HAS CONCERNS?

>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN AT LEAST IN >> WHAT WE'VE SEEN AT LEAST IN THE NEW BIG CLINICAL STUDIES OF THE NEW BIG CLINICAL STUDIES OF THE MESSENGER RNA VACCINES THAT THE MESSENGER RNA VACCINES THAT RESULTED IN THE EMERGENCY RESULTED IN THE EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION, THAT OVER 30,000 AUTHORIZATION, THAT OVER 30,000 PEOPLE WERE VACCINATED IN TOTAL.

PEOPLE WERE VACCINATED IN TOTAL.

AND OF THOSE PEOPLE, THERE WERE AND OF THOSE PEOPLE, THERE WERE ESSENTIALLY NO SERIOUS ADVERSE ESSENTIALLY NO SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS, MEANING THERE, OR VERY EVENTS, MEANING THERE, OR VERY FEW, VERY MINIMAL ADVERSE EVENTS FEW, VERY MINIMAL ADVERSE EVENTS OUT OF 30,000.

OUT OF 30,000.

NOW 28 MILLION AMERICANS AS OF NOW 28 MILLION AMERICANS AS OF YESTERDAY HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST YESTERDAY HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THESE VACCINES, AND ONE DOSE OF THESE VACCINES, AND ABOUT 7 MILLION HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT 7 MILLION HAVE RECEIVED TWO DOSES AND FULLY VACCINATED.

TWO DOSES AND FULLY VACCINATED.

IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE NONETHELESS.

NONETHELESS.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY AND THERE HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY FEW REPORTED SEVERE SIDE FEW REPORTED SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS.

EFFECTS.

NOW, THE SECOND DOSE MAY BE A NOW, THE SECOND DOSE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SIDE EFFECTS LITTLE BIT MORE SIDE EFFECTS THAN THE FIRST, AND THE SIDE THAN THE FIRST, AND THE SIDE EFFECTS TEND TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN EFFECTS TEND TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN IN THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER, AS IN THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER, AS OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO ARE OLDER.

OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO ARE OLDER.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY RELATED TO AND THAT'S PROBABLY RELATED TO SORT OF AN EXUBERANT IMMUNE SORT OF AN EXUBERANT IMMUNE RESPONSE, YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE A RESPONSE, YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE A MORE ACTIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM, SO MORE ACTIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM, SO THEY HAVE A MORE STIMULATED THEY HAVE A MORE STIMULATED IMMUNE SYSTEM, THAT'S ONE OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING YOUNG.

BENEFITS OF BEING YOUNG.

AND WHEN I SAY YOUNG, IN THE AND WHEN I SAY YOUNG, IN THE STUDIES THEY WERE REALLY THOSE STUDIES THEY WERE REALLY THOSE UNDER 55.

UNDER 55.

AS OF WHAT WE KNOW NOW, THERE AS OF WHAT WE KNOW NOW, THERE ARE NO SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, BUT ARE NO SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, BUT AGAIN THIS VACCINE HAS ONLY BEEN AGAIN THIS VACCINE HAS ONLY BEEN USED EVEN IN THE CLINICAL TRIALS USED EVEN IN THE CLINICAL TRIALS SINCE THE FALL.

SINCE THE FALL.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIX MONTHS, EVEN IN THE FOLKS WHO MONTHS, EVEN IN THE FOLKS WHO WERE PART OF THE INITIAL WERE PART OF THE INITIAL STUDIES.

STUDIES.

THAT'S NOT A LONG TIME, BUT IT THAT'S NOT A LONG TIME, BUT IT IS LONG ENOUGH TO SEE ANY IS LONG ENOUGH TO SEE ANY IMMEDIATE OR SHORT-TERM SERIOUS IMMEDIATE OR SHORT-TERM SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, AND THERE WERE SIDE EFFECTS, AND THERE WERE VERY FEW.

VERY FEW.

>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE LINDSAY >> STATE REPRESENTATIVE LINDSAY SABADOSA SPOKE WITH OUR RAY SABADOSA SPOKE WITH OUR RAY HERSHEL RECENTLY ABOUT THE HERSHEL RECENTLY ABOUT THE STATE'S VACCINE ROLLOUT AND STATE'S VACCINE ROLLOUT AND OFFERED HER PERSPECTIVE ON IT.

OFFERED HER PERSPECTIVE ON IT.

>> OUR LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH >> OUR LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH RIGHT NOW HAS THE CAPACITY TO RIGHT NOW HAS THE CAPACITY TO INOCULATE UP TO 1200 PEOPLE A INOCULATE UP TO 1200 PEOPLE A WEEK.

WEEK.

AND YET THEY WERE TOLD A FEW AND YET THEY WERE TOLD A FEW DAYS AGO THEY WERE ONLY GOING TO DAYS AGO THEY WERE ONLY GOING TO GET 100 DOSES.

GET 100 DOSES.

SO THAT MEANS THE STATE IS NOT SO THAT MEANS THE STATE IS NOT RELYING ON THOSE INFRASTRUCTURES RELYING ON THOSE INFRASTRUCTURES THAT ARE THERE.

THAT ARE THERE.

>> YOU CAN FIND MORE OF RAY'S >> YOU CAN FIND MORE OF RAY'S INTERVIEW WITH REPRESENTATIVE INTERVIEW WITH REPRESENTATIVE SABADOSA IN A DIGITAL EXTRA SABADOSA IN A DIGITAL EXTRA AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

THE TOPIC OF VACCINES CAN BE THE TOPIC OF VACCINES CAN BE CONTROVERSIAL, WITH SOME CITING CONTROVERSIAL, WITH SOME CITING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR MEDICAL RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS AS REASONS TO NOT BE EXEMPTIONS AS REASONS TO NOT BE VACCINATED.

VACCINATED.

ON JANUARY 15, THE MASSACHUSETTS ON JANUARY 15, THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESCINDED A MANDATE THAT WOULD RESCINDED A MANDATE THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED ALL CHILDREN OVER HAVE REQUIRED ALL CHILDREN OVER THE AGE OF 6 MONTHS ATTENDING THE AGE OF 6 MONTHS ATTENDING MASSACHUSETTS CHILD CARE, MASSACHUSETTS CHILD CARE, PRE-SCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, K-12 PRE-SCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN, K-12 OR COLLEGE TO GET THE FLU OR COLLEGE TO GET THE FLU VACCINE BY FEBRUARY 28.

VACCINE BY FEBRUARY 28.

THE MANDATE HAD DRAWN PROTESTS THE MANDATE HAD DRAWN PROTESTS BY SOME WHO ARGUED IT WAS A BY SOME WHO ARGUED IT WAS A GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, AND TAKE GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, AND TAKE ISSUE WITH BILLS AIMED AT ISSUE WITH BILLS AIMED AT RESTRICTING OR ENDING EXEMPTIONS RESTRICTING OR ENDING EXEMPTIONS FOR VACCINATIONS.

FOR VACCINATIONS.

SUPPORTERS OF THOSE EXEMPTIONS SUPPORTERS OF THOSE EXEMPTIONS IN CONNECTICUT HAVE CONCERNS, AS IN CONNECTICUT HAVE CONCERNS, AS LAWMAKERS IN THE STATE LAWMAKERS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE DISCUSS LEGISLATURE DISCUSS REINTRODUCING A BILL THAT WOULD REINTRODUCING A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS ELIMINATE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS FOR VACCINATIONS.

FOR VACCINATIONS.

"CONNECTING POINT"'S BRIAN "CONNECTING POINT"'S BRIAN SULLIVAN VISITED THE CAPITOL SULLIVAN VISITED THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN HARTFORD ON BUILDING IN HARTFORD ON JANUARY 6 AS OPPONENTS TO THE JANUARY 6 AS OPPONENTS TO THE MEASURE SHOWED UP TO VOICE THEIR MEASURE SHOWED UP TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.

CONCERNS.

>> PLACARDS LIKE THESE ARE >> PLACARDS LIKE THESE ARE USUALLY THE TYPES ONE MIGHT SEE USUALLY THE TYPES ONE MIGHT SEE AT A RALLY FOR WOMEN'S AT A RALLY FOR WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

BUT IN THIS CASE IT'S ABOUT BUT IN THIS CASE IT'S ABOUT ANOTHER HOT BUTTON ISSUE THAT ANOTHER HOT BUTTON ISSUE THAT AFFECTS CHILDREN.

AFFECTS CHILDREN.

IT WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 THAT IT WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 THAT THE CONNECTICUT STATE THE CONNECTICUT STATE LEGISLATURE ROLLED OUT A LEGISLATURE ROLLED OUT A PROPOSED BILL TO REMOVE THE PROPOSED BILL TO REMOVE THE STATE'S RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TO STATE'S RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TO MANDATORY VACCINATIONS FOR MANDATORY VACCINATIONS FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.

SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.

COVID-19 PUT THOSE PLANS ON COVID-19 PUT THOSE PLANS ON HOLD.

HOLD.

BUT AS THE NEW SESSION GETS BUT AS THE NEW SESSION GETS UNDER WAY, THEY, LAWMAKERS PLAN UNDER WAY, THEY, LAWMAKERS PLAN TO REVISIT THE ISSUE, AND AS TO REVISIT THE ISSUE, AND AS THEY WERE SWORN IN ON JANUARY 6 THEY WERE SWORN IN ON JANUARY 6 SEVERAL GROUPS REPRESENTING SEVERAL GROUPS REPRESENTING RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS AND PERSONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS AND PERSONAL LIBERTIES GATHERED AT THE LIBERTIES GATHERED AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN HARTFORD TO CAPITOL BUILDING IN HARTFORD TO MAKE THEIR VOICES OF OPPOSITION MAKE THEIR VOICES OF OPPOSITION HEARD.

HEARD.

>> WHAT THAT THREAT RIGHT NOW IS >> WHAT THAT THREAT RIGHT NOW IS THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO OPT THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO OPT OUT BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS OUT BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS CREED, AND IT'S PROTECTED BY ALL CREED, AND IT'S PROTECTED BY ALL KINDS OF LAWS AND THE KINDS OF LAWS AND THE CONSTITUTION, THAT WE DO NOT CONSTITUTION, THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO IDENTIFY WITH ANY HAVE TO IDENTIFY WITH ANY ORGANIZED RELIGION TO EXPRESS ORGANIZED RELIGION TO EXPRESS OUR FAITH FOR ANY REASON.

OUR FAITH FOR ANY REASON.

THE GOVERNMENT IS ASKING PEOPLE THE GOVERNMENT IS ASKING PEOPLE TO EITHER IDENTIFY WITH AN TO EITHER IDENTIFY WITH AN ORGANIZED RELIGION OR COMPLETELY ORGANIZED RELIGION OR COMPLETELY DISCOUNTING THEIR BELIEFS IN DISCOUNTING THEIR BELIEFS IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A FREE PUBLIC ORDER TO OBTAIN A FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND CONNECTICUT CONSTITUTION.

AND CONNECTICUT CONSTITUTION.

>> ACCORDING TO SOME PEOPLE THAT >> ACCORDING TO SOME PEOPLE THAT I ASKED THE NUMBERS WERE DOWN I ASKED THE NUMBERS WERE DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND THAT MAY HAVE HAD TO DO WITH AND THAT MAY HAVE HAD TO DO WITH THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES.

THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES.

BUT OVERALL THERE WERE STILL A BUT OVERALL THERE WERE STILL A COUPLE HUNDRED IN ATTENDANCE ON COUPLE HUNDRED IN ATTENDANCE ON THIS COLD JANUARY MORNING.

THIS COLD JANUARY MORNING.

AS A FIRST TIMER IT WAS AS A FIRST TIMER IT WAS INTERESTING FOR ME TO SEE INTERESTING FOR ME TO SEE EXACTLY WHO MADE UP THIS CROWD.

EXACTLY WHO MADE UP THIS CROWD.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS >> WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO REALLY JUST SUPPORT OF LIFE WHO REALLY JUST SUPPORT MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

MEDICAL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

REALLY THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE, REALLY THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE, AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS MORE THAN AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

ANYTHING ELSE.

>> I AM HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE >> I AM HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT IS GOOD FOR RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT IS GOOD FOR OUR BODY, IT IS NOT ABOUT OUR BODY, IT IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION OR ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S RELIGION OR ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM.

ABOUT FREEDOM.

IT'S ABOUT BEING FREE TO BE IT'S ABOUT BEING FREE TO BE AMERICAN.

AMERICAN.

>> WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE >> WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN.

WE FEEL THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS WE FEEL THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS REALLY GETTING INTO OUR LIVES IN REALLY GETTING INTO OUR LIVES IN A WAY THAT WE'RE NOT, WE DON'T A WAY THAT WE'RE NOT, WE DON'T AGREE WITH AND WE'RE NOT AGREE WITH AND WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH.

COMFORTABLE WITH.

IT'S MY CHILD, HIS BODY, MY IT'S MY CHILD, HIS BODY, MY CHOICE FOR HIS BODY.

CHOICE FOR HIS BODY.

>> THE CROWD MOVED BACK AND >> THE CROWD MOVED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE FRONT AND THE FORTH BETWEEN THE FRONT AND THE BACK OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN BACK OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN WHAT FELT LIKE A BIT OF A GAME WHAT FELT LIKE A BIT OF A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE BETWEEN THE OF CAT AND MOUSE BETWEEN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PEOPLE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PEOPLE TRYING TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.

TRYING TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.

ON THE PLUS SIDE, IT DID KEEP ON THE PLUS SIDE, IT DID KEEP EVERYONE MOVING ON THIS COLD EVERYONE MOVING ON THIS COLD MORNING, AND JUST MAYBE THE MORNING, AND JUST MAYBE THE RALLY GOERS HAD THEIR VOICES RALLY GOERS HAD THEIR VOICES HEARD.

HEARD.

RALLIES LIKE THIS ONE HERE TODAY RALLIES LIKE THIS ONE HERE TODAY AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING BEHIND AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING BEHIND ME ARE LARGELY SYMBOLIC.

ME ARE LARGELY SYMBOLIC.

BUT WITH TODAY BEING THE SAME BUT WITH TODAY BEING THE SAME DAY THAT THE NEW LEGISLATURE DAY THAT THE NEW LEGISLATURE GETS SWORN IN, MANY OF THE GETS SWORN IN, MANY OF THE CONSTITUENTS IN ATTENDANCE FEEL CONSTITUENTS IN ATTENDANCE FEEL THAT TODAY IS THE ONLY DAY THAT THAT TODAY IS THE ONLY DAY THAT THEIR LAWMAKERS WILL ACTUALLY THEIR LAWMAKERS WILL ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THEM.

LISTEN TO THEM.

THE FESTIVITIES EVENTUALLY MOVED THE FESTIVITIES EVENTUALLY MOVED DOWN THE ROAD TO THE PUBLIC DOWN THE ROAD TO THE PUBLIC SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING.

LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING.

HERE THERE WERE SEVERAL SPEAKERS HERE THERE WERE SEVERAL SPEAKERS ON HAND BOOSTING THE SPIRITS OF ON HAND BOOSTING THE SPIRITS OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.

THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THESE THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THESE GATHERINGS IS TO NOT ONLY HOPE GATHERINGS IS TO NOT ONLY HOPE THAT -- THAT -- HOLD THE LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE, HOLD THE LAWMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE, BUT TO GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

BUT TO GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

THIS CROWD IN PARTICULAR WAS THIS CROWD IN PARTICULAR WAS MOSTLY WOMEN, BUT THERE WERE MOSTLY WOMEN, BUT THERE WERE SOME MEN THERE.

SOME MEN THERE.

THIS ATTEND DEE WOULD LIKE TO THIS ATTEND DEE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE MEN AT THESE EVENTS.

SEE MORE MEN AT THESE EVENTS.

>> MEN SHOULD BE RISING UP TO >> MEN SHOULD BE RISING UP TO THE OCCASION, A LOT MORE CHURCH THE OCCASION, A LOT MORE CHURCH PASTORS SHOULD BE HERE TODAY.

PASTORS SHOULD BE HERE TODAY.

MEN SHOULD JUST BE HERE IN MEN SHOULD JUST BE HERE IN GENERAL SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF GENERAL SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THEIR FAMILY.

THEIR FAMILY.

>> AS LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON >> AS LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON DEBATE A NEW POSSIBLE COVID-19 DEBATE A NEW POSSIBLE COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE, WE TAKE A LOOK RELIEF PACKAGE, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY HERE AT THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY HERE IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, MANY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, MANY BUSINESSES WITH CAPACITY BUSINESSES WITH CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS BENEFITED FROM RESTRICTIONS BENEFITED FROM HAVING ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS.

HAVING ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS.

BUT WITH THE CHANGE OF SEASONS BUT WITH THE CHANGE OF SEASONS BRINGING FRIGID TEMPERATURES AND BRINGING FRIGID TEMPERATURES AND SNOW, THOSE OPTIONS ARE NOW SNOW, THOSE OPTIONS ARE NOW LIMITED OR NONEXISTENT.

LIMITED OR NONEXISTENT.

I SPOKE WITH RICK SULLIVAN, I SPOKE WITH RICK SULLIVAN, PRESIDENT OF THE ECONOMIC PRESIDENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF WESTERN DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, TO FIND OUT HOW MASSACHUSETTS, TO FIND OUT HOW LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE FARING LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE FARING DURING THE WINTER.

DURING THE WINTER.

>> SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES HAVE >> SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES HAVE DONE ACTUALLY FAIRLY WELL DURING DONE ACTUALLY FAIRLY WELL DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

SO WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SO WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SIGNIFICANT DEMAND HERE IN THE SIGNIFICANT DEMAND HERE IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTORS, YOU KNOW, MANUFACTURING SECTORS, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE DOING QUITE WELL.

THOSE ARE DOING QUITE WELL.

SOME OF THEM HAVE PIVOTED, THE SOME OF THEM HAVE PIVOTED, THE TERM OF THE DAY IF YOU WILL, TO TERM OF THE DAY IF YOU WILL, TO MAYBE GOING INTO SOME OTHER MAYBE GOING INTO SOME OTHER PRODUCTION LINES.

PRODUCTION LINES.

IF THEY CAN GET LONGER TERM IF THEY CAN GET LONGER TERM CONTRACTS FOR THINGS LIKE P.P.E.

CONTRACTS FOR THINGS LIKE P.P.E.

BUT IF YOU WERE IN THE BUT IF YOU WERE IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY OR ANYTHING RESTAURANT INDUSTRY OR ANYTHING THAT IS A VENUE, TRAVEL, TOURISM THAT IS A VENUE, TRAVEL, TOURISM RELATED, YOU ARE STILL RELATED, YOU ARE STILL STRUGGLING AND ARE GOING TO STRUGGLING AND ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO SOME CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO SOME DEGREE UNTIL WE REALLY ARE OUT DEGREE UNTIL WE REALLY ARE OUT OF THE COVID RESTRICTIONS AND OF THE COVID RESTRICTIONS AND THE GATHERING RESTRICTIONS.

THE GATHERING RESTRICTIONS.

AND OBVIOUSLY RESTAURANTS WHILE AND OBVIOUSLY RESTAURANTS WHILE THEY MIGHT HAVE GOT A BIT OF A THEY MIGHT HAVE GOT A BIT OF A REPRIEVE DURING THE SUMMER AND REPRIEVE DURING THE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL, YOU KNOW, EARLY FALL, YOU KNOW, MASSACHUSETTS DOES NOT REALLY MASSACHUSETTS DOES NOT REALLY LEND ITSELF TO OUTDOOR DINING LEND ITSELF TO OUTDOOR DINING EXPERIENCES.

EXPERIENCES.

>> AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THE >> AS YOU JUST MENTIONED, THE RESTAURANT CITY -- RESTAURANT CITY -- INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HARDEST HIT BY INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HARDEST HIT BY WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH COVID AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH COVID AND IT'S GARNERED A LOT OF MUCH IT'S GARNERED A LOT OF MUCH DESERVED ATTENTION.

DESERVED ATTENTION.

BUT WHAT BUSINESSES ARE ALSO BUT WHAT BUSINESSES ARE ALSO STRUGGLING THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN STRUGGLING THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN HEARING ABOUT BUT ALSO NEED SOME HEARING ABOUT BUT ALSO NEED SOME LIGHT SHINED ON THEM?

LIGHT SHINED ON THEM?

>> ANYTHING THAT IS CONSUMER >> ANYTHING THAT IS CONSUMER RELATED THAT IS KIND OF IMPULSE RELATED THAT IS KIND OF IMPULSE BUYING TO SOME DEGREE OR RELIES BUYING TO SOME DEGREE OR RELIES ON ANY KIND OF FOOT TRAFFIC.

ON ANY KIND OF FOOT TRAFFIC.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE IN SPRINGFIELD BECAUSE IF YOU'RE IN SPRINGFIELD OR ANY OF THE COMMUNITIES, YOU OR ANY OF THE COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM KNOW, PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME SO THEY'RE NOT OUT IN THOSE HOME SO THEY'RE NOT OUT IN THOSE USUAL AREAS.

USUAL AREAS.

SO THE FOOT TRAFFIC IS DOWN SO THE FOOT TRAFFIC IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN ANY OF THOSE SIGNIFICANTLY IN ANY OF THOSE KIND OF SMALLER CONSUMER AREAS, KIND OF SMALLER CONSUMER AREAS, KIND OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE KIND OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE THINK OF AS MAIN STREET THINK OF AS MAIN STREET BUSINESSES.

BUSINESSES.

>> IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN EARLY >> IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN EARLY JANUARY THAT THE PAYCHECK JANUARY THAT THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM, OR P.P.P., PROTECTION PROGRAM, OR P.P.P., WOULD REOPEN FOR NEW BORROWERS.

WOULD REOPEN FOR NEW BORROWERS.

WHAT SHOULD BUSINESSES BE AWARE WHAT SHOULD BUSINESSES BE AWARE OF WITH THIS LATEST ROUND AND OF WITH THIS LATEST ROUND AND WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?

AVAILABLE?

>> THEY CERTAINLY, FIRST AND >> THEY CERTAINLY, FIRST AND FOREMOST NEED TO BE WORKING WITH FOREMOST NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THEIR FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND IN THEIR FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND IN THOSE CASES THEIR LOCAL BANKS THOSE CASES THEIR LOCAL BANKS THEY DO BUSINESS WITH AND THEY DO BUSINESS WITH AND DECIDE, YOU KNOW, IF APPLYING DECIDE, YOU KNOW, IF APPLYING FOR AND GETTING A P.P.P.

MAKES FOR AND GETTING A P.P.P.

MAKES SENSE FOR THEM.

SENSE FOR THEM.

BUT IT'S A GOOD THING THAT THE BUT IT'S A GOOD THING THAT THE P.P.P.

PROGRAM HAS REOPENED P.P.P.

PROGRAM HAS REOPENED THE STATE DOES HAVE SOME OTHER THE STATE DOES HAVE SOME OTHER RAMP PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE RAMP PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE COVID RELIEF.

COVID RELIEF.

I THINK THE CITIES THAT ARE I THINK THE CITIES THAT ARE ENTITLEMENT COMMUNITIES HAVE ENTITLEMENT COMMUNITIES HAVE LEVERAGED THEIR COMMUNITY LEVERAGED THEIR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS WHICH DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS WHICH IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM, AND MADE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM, AND MADE IT AVAILABLE TO MOSTLY MAIN IT AVAILABLE TO MOSTLY MAIN STREET TYPE BUSINESSES.

STREET TYPE BUSINESSES.

AGAIN THE MOM AND POPS TO COME AGAIN THE MOM AND POPS TO COME IN WITH SOME GRANTS TO BE ABLE IN WITH SOME GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM WEATHER THE STORM TO HELP THEM WEATHER THE STORM AND PROVIDE SOME MUCH NEEDED AND PROVIDE SOME MUCH NEEDED CASH FLOW TO BE ABLE TO KEEP CASH FLOW TO BE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED AND TO PAY THE PEOPLE EMPLOYED AND TO PAY THE BILLS.

BILLS.

AND THERE'S NOW A GRANT PROGRAM AND THERE'S NOW A GRANT PROGRAM OUT THERE FOR CITIES, WHICH DOES OUT THERE FOR CITIES, WHICH DOES INVOLVE WORKING WITH REGIONAL INVOLVE WORKING WITH REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, TO KIND OF GET ORGANIZATIONS, TO KIND OF GET TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS OR OTHER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS OR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, ABLE TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, GET THE BUSINESSES BACK OPEN AND GET THE BUSINESSES BACK OPEN AND HOPEFULLY ALLOW US TO REALLY HOPEFULLY ALLOW US TO REALLY COME OUT OF THE COVID COME OUT OF THE COVID RESTRICTIONS WITH AN ECONOMY RESTRICTIONS WITH AN ECONOMY THAT'S VIBRANT.

THAT'S VIBRANT.

>> WITH THE START OF THE NEW >> WITH THE START OF THE NEW YEAR, THE TOPIC OF VACCINATIONS YEAR, THE TOPIC OF VACCINATIONS HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF MANY CONVERSATIONS SURROUNDING MANY CONVERSATIONS SURROUNDING THE PANDEMIC AND COVID-19.

THE PANDEMIC AND COVID-19.

SOME PEOPLE ARE ON BOARD, SOME SOME PEOPLE ARE ON BOARD, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO DECLINE THE PEOPLE WANT TO DECLINE THE VACCINATION.

VACCINATION.

IS THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY IS THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY DEPENDENT ON VACCINATIONS AND DEPENDENT ON VACCINATIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE IT?

IT?

>> I DO THINK THAT IT IS.

>> I DO THINK THAT IT IS.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL SAFE UNTIL, OBVIOUSLY, TO FEEL SAFE UNTIL, OBVIOUSLY, THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

SIGNIFICANTLY.

I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A DIRECT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S A DIRECT CORE -- CORE -- CORRELATION BETWEEN THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE AVAILABILITY AND DEPLOYMENT OF AVAILABILITY AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE VACCINE.

THE VACCINE.

I THINK THERE HAS BEEN I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT FRUSTRATION IN TERMS SIGNIFICANT FRUSTRATION IN TERMS OF THE ROLLOUT AND AVAILABILITY OF THE ROLLOUT AND AVAILABILITY OF THE VACCINE, AND WHEN PEOPLE OF THE VACCINE, AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IT, ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IT, AND IT HAS TAKEN LONGER THAN AND IT HAS TAKEN LONGER THAN PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT IT SHOULD PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT IT SHOULD TAKE.

TAKE.

IT'S UP TO GOVERNMENT TO GET IT IT'S UP TO GOVERNMENT TO GET IT OUT AND GET IT DISPERSED AND GET OUT AND GET IT DISPERSED AND GET IT INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS.

IT INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS.

I DO THINK THERE'S A DIRECT I DO THINK THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND PEOPLE FEELING SAFE AND US BEING PEOPLE FEELING SAFE AND US BEING ABLE TO TURN TO CORNER TO A MORE ABLE TO TURN TO CORNER TO A MORE VIBRANT ECONOMY.

VIBRANT ECONOMY.

>> BACK IN THE SUMMER WHEN WE >> BACK IN THE SUMMER WHEN WE LAST SMOKE WITH YOU, YOU WERE LAST SMOKE WITH YOU, YOU WERE FEELING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FEELING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE LONG-TERM PROGNOSIS OF OUR LOCAL LONG-TERM PROGNOSIS OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

ECONOMY.

NOW ALMOST SIX MONTHS LATER, ARE NOW ALMOST SIX MONTHS LATER, ARE YOU STILL FEELING OPTIMISTIC YOU STILL FEELING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY HERE IN WESTERN MASS?

HERE IN WESTERN MASS?

>> I AM.

>> I AM.

I CAN TELL YOU I THINK IF YOU I CAN TELL YOU I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE REAL ESTATE MARKET LOOK AT THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IN TERMS OF RESIDENTIALLY, YOU IN TERMS OF RESIDENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, IT IS STILL A SELLER'S KNOW, IT IS STILL A SELLER'S MARKET.

MARKET.

WE NEED ADDITIONAL INVENTORY.

WE NEED ADDITIONAL INVENTORY.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE EITHER GOING TO BE WORKING EITHER GOING TO BE WORKING REMOTELY OR FROM HOME OR SOME OF REMOTELY OR FROM HOME OR SOME OF THE HYBRIDS, THEY'RE GOING TO THE HYBRIDS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHERE THEY HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHERE THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE.

CHOOSE TO LIVE.

SO AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE SO AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNICATION AND WI-FI AND COMMUNICATION AND WI-FI AND BROADBAND, WESTERN MASS HAS A BROADBAND, WESTERN MASS HAS A COMPELLING CASE TO MAKE FOR COMPELLING CASE TO MAKE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY NEED TO INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO BOSTON OR NEW HAVE ACCESS TO BOSTON OR NEW YORK, BUT THEY CAN LIVE AND YORK, BUT THEY CAN LIVE AND EXPERIENCE A LOWER COST OF EXPERIENCE A LOWER COST OF LIVING IN A GREAT QUALITY OF LIVING IN A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN WESTERN LIFE HERE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

I ALSO THINK THAT AS COMPANIES, I ALSO THINK THAT AS COMPANIES, YOU KNOW, HAVE GONE THROUGH THE YOU KNOW, HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND THEY'VE LOOKED AT PANDEMIC AND THEY'VE LOOKED AT THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS PARTICULARLY THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS PARTICULARLY SOME OF THEIR FOREIGN SUPPLIERS, SOME OF THEIR FOREIGN SUPPLIERS, THEY SEE THAT SUPPLY CHAIN AS THEY SEE THAT SUPPLY CHAIN AS BEING UNRELIABLE, OR NOT AS BEING UNRELIABLE, OR NOT AS RELIABLE AS THEY WANT.

RELIABLE AS THEY WANT.

WE HAVE SOME EXTREMELY TALENTED WE HAVE SOME EXTREMELY TALENTED BUSINESSES OUT HERE IN WESTERN BUSINESSES OUT HERE IN WESTERN MASS, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE MASS, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING PRECISION MANUFACTURING, TALKING PRECISION MANUFACTURING, AND THERE'S AN ABILITY FOR THESE AND THERE'S AN ABILITY FOR THESE COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO ENTER COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO ENTER SOME SUPPLY CHAINS OF COMPANIES SOME SUPPLY CHAINS OF COMPANIES THAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE NOT IN.

THAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE NOT IN.

AND I CAN TELL YOU JUST AN AND I CAN TELL YOU JUST AN EX-DOTE ALLEY, ONE OF THE EX-DOTE ALLEY, ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT THE E. D. C. DOES SERVICES THAT THE E. D. C. DOES PROVIDE IS SITE SELECTION PROVIDE IS SITE SELECTION SEARCHES, AND OUR NUMBERS ARE UP SEARCHES, AND OUR NUMBERS ARE UP AND THE NUMBER OF I'LL SAY AND THE NUMBER OF I'LL SAY ACTIVE, POTENTIAL ACTIVE DEALS ACTIVE, POTENTIAL ACTIVE DEALS THAT WE HAVE IS HIGHER NOW THAN THAT WE HAVE IS HIGHER NOW THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN TWO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN TWO YEARS AGO.

YEARS AGO.

SO I AM OPTIMISTIC, I DO THINK SO I AM OPTIMISTIC, I DO THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, AND I THINK IN OPPORTUNITIES, AND I THINK IN SOME RESPECTS WESTERN SOME RESPECTS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS' BEST DAYS MAY MASSACHUSETTS' BEST DAYS MAY VERY WELL IN FRONT OF US AS WE VERY WELL IN FRONT OF US AS WE COME OUT OF COVID.

COME OUT OF COVID.

>> WITH MANY STUDENTS LEARNING >> WITH MANY STUDENTS LEARNING REMOTELY, FINDING AN ADEQUATE REMOTELY, FINDING AN ADEQUATE LEARNING SPACE AT HOME HAS BEEN LEARNING SPACE AT HOME HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

A CHALLENGE.

SOME KIDS ARE SETTING UP ON SOME KIDS ARE SETTING UP ON KITCHEN TABLES OR COUNTER TOPS, KITCHEN TABLES OR COUNTER TOPS, WHILE OTHERS ARE SITTING ON WHILE OTHERS ARE SITTING ON THEIR BEDS LOGGING INTO VIRTUAL THEIR BEDS LOGGING INTO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS AND TRYING TO MAKE CLASSROOMS AND TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF A LESS THAN A IDEAL THE BEST OF A LESS THAN A IDEAL SITUATION.

SITUATION.

THE AGAWAM LIONS CLUB RECOGNIZED THE AGAWAM LIONS CLUB RECOGNIZED THE ISSUES THAT MANY KIDS WERE THE ISSUES THAT MANY KIDS WERE HAVING AND STARTED THE NO-COST HAVING AND STARTED THE NO-COST STUDENT DESK PROGRAM, TO BENEFIT STUDENT DESK PROGRAM, TO BENEFIT AGAWAM STUDENTS.

AGAWAM STUDENTS.

CLUB MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MAKING CLUB MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MAKING DESKS IN THEIR GARAGES SINCE DESKS IN THEIR GARAGES SINCE LATE LAST YEAR AND GETTING THEM LATE LAST YEAR AND GETTING THEM INTO THE HOMES OF KIDS WHO NEED INTO THE HOMES OF KIDS WHO NEED THEM.

THEM.

DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THE STORY.

DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> OKAY, YOU'RE ALL SET, YOU'RE >> OKAY, YOU'RE ALL SET, YOU'RE WELCOME, HAVE A NICE DAY.

WELCOME, HAVE A NICE DAY.

>> ON A COLD JANUARY WEEKEND, >> ON A COLD JANUARY WEEKEND, DICK AND HIS FELLOW AGAWAM LIONS DICK AND HIS FELLOW AGAWAM LIONS CLUB MEMBERS DISTRIBUTED FREE CLUB MEMBERS DISTRIBUTED FREE DESKS TO TOWN RESIDENTS.

DESKS TO TOWN RESIDENTS.

WHAT STARTED AS A SIMPLE WHAT STARTED AS A SIMPLE CAMPAIGN TOOK OFF LIKE WILDFIRE, CAMPAIGN TOOK OFF LIKE WILDFIRE, ONCE THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE ONCE THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE ORGANIZATION PUT THE WORD OUT ORGANIZATION PUT THE WORD OUT THAT THEY WERE BUILDING DESKS THAT THEY WERE BUILDING DESKS FOR ANY AGAWAM STUDENT WHO FOR ANY AGAWAM STUDENT WHO NEEDED ONE.

NEEDED ONE.

>> WE HAVE SET OUT TO BUILD >> WE HAVE SET OUT TO BUILD MAYBE 20.

MAYBE 20.

WE'D GO SO FAR AS TO MAKE 40.

WE'D GO SO FAR AS TO MAKE 40.

PUT A FORM OUT THERE, SENT PUT A FORM OUT THERE, SENT EMAILS TO PRINCIPALS AND EMAILS TO PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS SAYING HEY WE'RE DOING TEACHERS SAYING HEY WE'RE DOING THIS.

THIS.

12 HOURS LATER WE HAD 150 12 HOURS LATER WE HAD 150 REQUESTS FOR DESKS.

REQUESTS FOR DESKS.

>> REALIZING THERE WAS A REAL >> REALIZING THERE WAS A REAL NEED FOR A FLAT WORK SURFACE IN NEED FOR A FLAT WORK SURFACE IN PEOPLE'S HOMES, THE CLUB MEMBERS PEOPLE'S HOMES, THE CLUB MEMBERS GOT TO WORK, CUTTING, GLUEING GOT TO WORK, CUTTING, GLUEING AND NAILING SMALL WOODEN DESKS.

AND NAILING SMALL WOODEN DESKS.

>> THIS IS VERY MUCH A COMMUNITY >> THIS IS VERY MUCH A COMMUNITY ACTIVITY.

ACTIVITY.

MANY MEMBERS OF OUR LIONS CLUB MANY MEMBERS OF OUR LIONS CLUB ARE INVOLVED, AS WELL AS MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY MAKING AND THEN OF THE COMMUNITY MAKING AND THEN DISTRIBUTING.

DISTRIBUTING.

AND THOSE FOLKS WHO CAN'T LAY AND THOSE FOLKS WHO CAN'T LAY HANDS ON THE PROJECT, THEY'RE HANDS ON THE PROJECT, THEY'RE DONATING MONEY.

DONATING MONEY.

>> THE LIONS CLUB RECEIVED HELP >> THE LIONS CLUB RECEIVED HELP FROM THE HOME DEPOT IN THE FORM FROM THE HOME DEPOT IN THE FORM OF TWO BY FOURS AND SHEETS OF OF TWO BY FOURS AND SHEETS OF PLYWOOD, AS WELL AS FUNDS TO PLYWOOD, AS WELL AS FUNDS TO HELP BUILD 150 MORE DESKS.

HELP BUILD 150 MORE DESKS.

>> I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS >> I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS RIGHT NOW HOME SCHOOLING AND I RIGHT NOW HOME SCHOOLING AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO EITHER SIT DOWN ON A COUCH OR TO EITHER SIT DOWN ON A COUCH OR IN THEIR ROOMS, AND SOMETIMES IN THEIR ROOMS, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE A DESK AND THEY THEY DON'T HAVE A DESK AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEIR DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEIR SUPPLIES.

SUPPLIES.

AND I THINK FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO AND I THINK FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE TO LEARN FROM HOME AND A HAVE TO LEARN FROM HOME AND A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS HAVING TO DO LOT OF THE SCHOOLS HAVING TO DO THAT, I THINK THIS KIND OF GIVES THAT, I THINK THIS KIND OF GIVES THE KIDS A PLACE TO PUT THEIR THE KIDS A PLACE TO PUT THEIR BELONGINGS AND KIND OF ATTACHES BELONGINGS AND KIND OF ATTACHES THEM TO A SCHOOL PURPOSE.

THEM TO A SCHOOL PURPOSE.

>> THE CLUB, WHICH HAS BEEN >> THE CLUB, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1944, SETTLED ON A AROUND SINCE 1944, SETTLED ON A SIMPLE DESIGN OF A TOP, TWO SIMPLE DESIGN OF A TOP, TWO SIDES, AND A BACK.

SIDES, AND A BACK.

THERE IS A STORAGE AREA THERE IS A STORAGE AREA UNDERNEATH AND EACH DESK IS UNDERNEATH AND EACH DESK IS SANDED AND RECEIVES TWO COATS OF SANDED AND RECEIVES TWO COATS OF POLYURETHANE.

POLYURETHANE.

THE LIONS CLUB SECRETARY, DICK THE LIONS CLUB SECRETARY, DICK LANDIER, HAS MADE OVER 80 DESKS LANDIER, HAS MADE OVER 80 DESKS IN HIS GARAGE, HE SAYS THE TOUGH IN HIS GARAGE, HE SAYS THE TOUGH PART IS HEARING THE STORIES FROM PART IS HEARING THE STORIES FROM THOSE IN NEED.

THOSE IN NEED.

>> THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST IMPACT >> THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST IMPACT IS THE FEEDBACK WE'RE GETTING IS THE FEEDBACK WE'RE GETTING FROM SCHOOL STAFF AND PARENTS.

FROM SCHOOL STAFF AND PARENTS.

THEY'RE GUT WRENCHING.

THEY'RE GUT WRENCHING.

WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE KNOCKING OFF WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE KNOCKING OFF FOR THE NIGHT YOU JUST KEEP FOR THE NIGHT YOU JUST KEEP GOING, BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMEBODY GOING, BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOMEBODY NEEDS IT.

NEEDS IT.

>> BACK AT THE PICKUP SITE AT >> BACK AT THE PICKUP SITE AT AGAWAM HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS A AGAWAM HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS A STEADY STREAM OF CARS WITH STEADY STREAM OF CARS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD SIGNED UP TO PEOPLE WHO HAD SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE A DESK.

RECEIVE A DESK.

>> WE'RE KEEPING THIS SUPER >> WE'RE KEEPING THIS SUPER SIMPLE, THERE'S NO ECONOMICS SIMPLE, THERE'S NO ECONOMICS NEED OR DETERMINATION, THERE'S NEED OR DETERMINATION, THERE'S NO HOUSEHOLD LIMIT.

NO HOUSEHOLD LIMIT.

DOES NOT MATTER WHO REQUESTS THE DOES NOT MATTER WHO REQUESTS THE DESK, WE'RE SIMPLY GOING TO GET DESK, WE'RE SIMPLY GOING TO GET A DESK IN THE HANDS OF STUDENTS.

A DESK IN THE HANDS OF STUDENTS.

>> MELISSA PICKED UP A COUPLE OF >> MELISSA PICKED UP A COUPLE OF DESKS FOR HER THREE CHILDREN AND DESKS FOR HER THREE CHILDREN AND TWO STEPCHILDREN, ALL LEARNING TWO STEPCHILDREN, ALL LEARNING REMOTELY AT HOME.

REMOTELY AT HOME.

>> IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM >> IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM DOING THIS AND GET FREE SPACES DOING THIS AND GET FREE SPACES FOR THEM TO DO THEIR WORK FOR THEM TO DO THEIR WORK PROPERLY, AND NOT AT THE KITCHEN PROPERLY, AND NOT AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.

TABLE.

>> IT'S PHENOMENAL, ESPECIALLY >> IT'S PHENOMENAL, ESPECIALLY WITH A CHILD OF SPECIAL NEEDS, WITH A CHILD OF SPECIAL NEEDS, HE REALLY NEEDS A PLACE TO SIT HE REALLY NEEDS A PLACE TO SIT AND FOCUS.

AND FOCUS.

AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS PERFECT.

AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS PERFECT.

>> TAKE CARE.

>> TAKE CARE.

>> AS GRATIFYING AS THIS PROJECT >> AS GRATIFYING AS THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN FOR THE LIONS CLUB, IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LIONS CLUB, IT ALSO REMINDED THEM OF HOW TOUGH ALSO REMINDED THEM OF HOW TOUGH THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN AND HOW THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN AND HOW FAMILIES EVERYWHERE ARE FAMILIES EVERYWHERE ARE STRUGGLING.

STRUGGLING.

BUT A SIMPLE GESTURE LIKE BUT A SIMPLE GESTURE LIKE PROVIDING A DECK TO THOSE WHO PROVIDING A DECK TO THOSE WHO NEED ONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NEED ONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THEY'RE HAPPY TO BE OF SERVICE.

THEY'RE HAPPY TO BE OF SERVICE.

>> WE WANT THE STUDENTS TO KNOW, >> WE WANT THE STUDENTS TO KNOW, WE'RE GIVING YOU THIS DESK, WE'RE GIVING YOU THIS DESK, WE'RE GIVING YOU A TOOL IN YOUR WE'RE GIVING YOU A TOOL IN YOUR TOOL KIT, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TOOL KIT, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE LEARNING PROCESS AS MUCH AS WE LEARNING PROCESS AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

POSSIBLY CAN.

WE'D LOVE TO TAKE THE PANDEMIC WE'D LOVE TO TAKE THE PANDEMIC AWAY, BUT I CAN'T DO THAT.

AWAY, BUT I CAN'T DO THAT.

TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN GIVE TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN GIVE YOU SOMETHING TANGIBLE AND A YOU SOMETHING TANGIBLE AND A MESSAGE THAT GOES ALONG WITH MESSAGE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

THAT, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING >> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2021.

POINT" FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2021.

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I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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