♪ ♪ >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A MULTIMEDIA PERFORMER INCLUDING A MULTIMEDIA PERFORMER AND ARTIST SINGING SONGS OF LOVE AND ARTIST SINGING SONGS OF LOVE AND LIBERATION.

AND LIBERATION.

>> WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO >> WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO CONNECT WITH OUR SOULS, OUR CONNECT WITH OUR SOULS, OUR BODIES, OUR MINDS.

BODIES, OUR MINDS.

AND WE'RE NEVER REALLY JUST ONE AND WE'RE NEVER REALLY JUST ONE THING.

THING.

>> PHOTOGRAPHER TURNED >> PHOTOGRAPHER TURNED ENTREPRENEUR LENNY UNDERWOOD ENTREPRENEUR LENNY UNDERWOOD PUTS HIS SOCKS ON ONE AT A TIME, PUTS HIS SOCKS ON ONE AT A TIME, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS, HE MADE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS, HE MADE THEM HIMSELF.

THEM HIMSELF.

>> CREATED MY OWN PATHWAY AND >> CREATED MY OWN PATHWAY AND MENTORING OTHER BUSINESSES ALONG MENTORING OTHER BUSINESSES ALONG THE WAY AND BEING THAT EXAMPLE THE WAY AND BEING THAT EXAMPLE FOR MY COMMUNITY AND OTHERS FOR MY COMMUNITY AND OTHERS AROUND ME WAS COMPELLING.

AROUND ME WAS COMPELLING.

>>> AND BITE INTO ONE OF THE >>> AND BITE INTO ONE OF THE BEST HOT DOGS IN THE STATE AT AN BEST HOT DOGS IN THE STATE AT AN ICONIC EATERY IN NORTH ADAMS.

ICONIC EATERY IN NORTH ADAMS.

>>> 12 SEATS, COUPLE OF GRILLS, >>> 12 SEATS, COUPLE OF GRILLS, LOTS OF DOGS, LOTS OF BURGERS, LOTS OF DOGS, LOTS OF BURGERS, AND LOTS OF LOCALS COMING IN.

AND LOTS OF LOCALS COMING IN.

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

"CONNECTING POINT."

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

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

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

COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EACH WEEK THIS SUMMER WE'RE EACH WEEK THIS SUMMER WE'RE EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM THE COLLEGE TOWN OF AMHERST, THE COLLEGE TOWN OF AMHERST, MASSES N HAMPSHIRE -- MASSES N HAMPSHIRE -- MASSACHUSETTS, IN HAMPSHIRE MASSACHUSETTS, IN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

COUNTY.

PERHAPS KNOWN BEST AS THE HOME PERHAPS KNOWN BEST AS THE HOME OF THE FLAGSHIP SCHOOL AND THE OF THE FLAGSHIP SCHOOL AND THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE UNIVERSITY MASSACHUSETTS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, THE TOWN ALSO LAYS CLAIM SYSTEM, THE TOWN ALSO LAYS CLAIM TO PRESTIGIOUS AMHERST COLLEGE.

TO PRESTIGIOUS AMHERST COLLEGE.

WITH MORE THAN 30,000 STUDENTS WITH MORE THAN 30,000 STUDENTS LIVING HERE DURING THE ACADEMIC LIVING HERE DURING THE ACADEMIC HERE, IT'S NO WONDER THEY BOSE A HERE, IT'S NO WONDER THEY BOSE A ROBUST RETAIL AND DINING THEME ROBUST RETAIL AND DINING THEME AS WELL AS PLENTY OF ARTS, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF ARTS, CULTURE, AND MUSIC BOTH IN TOWN CULTURE, AND MUSIC BOTH IN TOWN AND NEARBY.

AND NEARBY.

AND SPEAKING OF MUSIC, OUR FIRST AND SPEAKING OF MUSIC, OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT SOUNDS A SWEET STORY TONIGHT SOUNDS A SWEET NIGHT.

NIGHT.

DIANA ALVAREZ IS AN EXPANSIVE DIANA ALVAREZ IS AN EXPANSIVE MULTIMEDIA ARTIST AND EDUCATOR.

MULTIMEDIA ARTIST AND EDUCATOR.

HER SOULFUL MUSIC IS BILINGUAL HER SOULFUL MUSIC IS BILINGUAL AND SHE SAYS THE INTEND IS -- AND SHE SAYS THE INTEND IS -- INTENT BEHIND HER ORIGINAL SONGS INTENT BEHIND HER ORIGINAL SONGS IS TO EXHAUST QUEER LOVE, IS TO EXHAUST QUEER LOVE, LIBERATION, AND TO FIERCELY SING LIBERATION, AND TO FIERCELY SING OUT AGAINST OPPRESSION.

OUT AGAINST OPPRESSION.

SHE GREW UP IN SOUTH TEXAS BUT SHE GREW UP IN SOUTH TEXAS BUT NOW CALLS THE PIONEER VALLEY HER NOW CALLS THE PIONEER VALLEY HER HOME, AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER HOME, AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US HER STORY.

BRINGS US HER STORY.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> FOR A LONG TIME IN MY LIFE, I >> FOR A LONG TIME IN MY LIFE, I KNEW THAT I WAS A SINGER.

KNEW THAT I WAS A SINGER.

I WAS A VOCALIST, AND A WRITER.

I WAS A VOCALIST, AND A WRITER.

AND I KNEW I WANTED TO WRITE AND I KNEW I WANTED TO WRITE SONGS AND EVENTUALLY I REALIZED, SONGS AND EVENTUALLY I REALIZED, AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, LOSING FAMILY, THAT I -- I LOSING FAMILY, THAT I -- I REALIZED I NEEDED TO CENTER ART REALIZED I NEEDED TO CENTER ART IN MY WORLD.

IN MY WORLD.

AND I NEEDED TO DO THAT IN A WAY AND I NEEDED TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT FELT THAT MY WHOLE SELF WAS THAT FELT THAT MY WHOLE SELF WAS BEING PART OF THE PRACTICE.

BEING PART OF THE PRACTICE.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> WELL, I DON'T REALLY IDENTIFY >> WELL, I DON'T REALLY IDENTIFY WITH THE WORD "HISPANIC."

WITH THE WORD "HISPANIC."

IT IS A TERM OF -- THAT WAS IT IS A TERM OF -- THAT WAS GIVEN TO US IN COLONIZATION AND GIVEN TO US IN COLONIZATION AND I -- I IDENTIFY AS A CHICANA, I -- I IDENTIFY AS A CHICANA, CHICKINA X HUMAN, A PERSON OF CHICKINA X HUMAN, A PERSON OF MEXICAN-AMERICAN ANN SAYS TRI.

MEXICAN-AMERICAN ANN SAYS TRI.

I WAS JUST FINISHING MY FM A I WAS JUST FINISHING MY FM A PROGRAM AT STAIRAU LAWRENCE PROGRAM AT STAIRAU LAWRENCE COLLEGE -- STAIR YOU A LAWRENCE COLLEGE -- STAIR YOU A LAWRENCE COLLEGE IN WRITING AND I CAME COLLEGE IN WRITING AND I CAME OUT HERE WITH MY FIRST QUEER OUT HERE WITH MY FIRST QUEER LOVE AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS LOVE AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THIS AREA AS A QUEER HAVEN.

AREA AS A QUEER HAVEN.

AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED BY WHAT AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED BY WHAT I HAD HEARD WAS A VIBRANT ART I HAD HEARD WAS A VIBRANT ART SCENE.

SCENE.

♪ WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY ♪ WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES ♪ MAKES ♪ >> I WORK IN MULTIPLE MEDIUMS AS >> I WORK IN MULTIPLE MEDIUMS AS A SINGER/SONGWRITER.

A SINGER/SONGWRITER.

AS A POET, COMPOSER, FILMMAKER.

AS A POET, COMPOSER, FILMMAKER.

AND I'M ALSO A SCHOLAR AND AND I'M ALSO A SCHOLAR AND EDUCATOR.

EDUCATOR.

BUT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS IS I BUT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS IS I SIT DOWN AND I TRY TO CREATE AN SIT DOWN AND I TRY TO CREATE AN EXPERIENCE WHERE I'M CONNECTING EXPERIENCE WHERE I'M CONNECTING TO OTHER HUMANS, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO OTHER HUMANS, BECAUSE WE HAVE BODIES.

BODIES.

WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO CONNECT WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO CONNECT WITH OUR SOULS, OUR BODIESES OUR WITH OUR SOULS, OUR BODIESES OUR MINDS, AND WE'RE NEVER REALLY MINDS, AND WE'RE NEVER REALLY JUST ONE THING.

JUST ONE THING.

SO IT'S JUST MY WAY OF BEING SO IT'S JUST MY WAY OF BEING HONEST ABOUT IT.

HONEST ABOUT IT.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> I USE THAT WORD AS MY STAGE >> I USE THAT WORD AS MY STAGE NAME.

NAME.

[INAUDIBLE] ONE, BECAUSE I WANT [INAUDIBLE] ONE, BECAUSE I WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT Ph.D OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT Ph.D SCHOLARS CAN BE -- CAN LOOK LIKE SCHOLARS CAN BE -- CAN LOOK LIKE ME AND CAN DO ALL THE THINGS I ME AND CAN DO ALL THE THINGS I DO AND CAN BE ARTISTIC.

DO AND CAN BE ARTISTIC.

AND THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO CALL AND THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO CALL OURSELVES BADASS FOR EVERYTHING OURSELVES BADASS FOR EVERYTHING WE DO!

WE DO!

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> I FEEL LIKE THESE PROFOUND >> I FEEL LIKE THESE PROFOUND LIFE LESSONS HAVE COME FROM JUST LIFE LESSONS HAVE COME FROM JUST WALKING.

WALKING.

AND IT STARTED AS A GRIEF AND IT STARTED AS A GRIEF PRACTICE WHEN I LOST FAMILY.

PRACTICE WHEN I LOST FAMILY.

I STARTED GOING OUT TO HIKE I STARTED GOING OUT TO HIKE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND JUST -- EARLY IN THE MORNING AND JUST -- YOU KNOW, TRYING TO CONNECT WITH YOU KNOW, TRYING TO CONNECT WITH THE LAND.

THE LAND.

AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING AND I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THAT OUR FULL BODY ABOUT THE WAY THAT OUR FULL BODY IS ENGAGED.

IS ENGAGED.

WE'RE SWEATING.

WE'RE SWEATING.

OUR BLOOD IS FLOWING.

OUR BLOOD IS FLOWING.

IT REALLY SHIFTS SOMETHING FOR IT REALLY SHIFTS SOMETHING FOR ME INTERNALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, ME INTERNALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, WHEN I GO FOR A HIKE.

WHEN I GO FOR A HIKE.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER OFTEN I'LL YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER OFTEN I'LL START WRITING.

START WRITING.

I'LL JUST DO A FREE WRITE.

I'LL JUST DO A FREE WRITE.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> IN 2020 WE WERE PLAYING >> IN 2020 WE WERE PLAYING VIRTUALLY SO MUCH.

VIRTUALLY SO MUCH.

AND I WOULD PUT SO MUCH ENERGY AND I WOULD PUT SO MUCH ENERGY INTO A VIDEO OR INTO A VIRTUAL INTO A VIDEO OR INTO A VIRTUAL SHOW AND SOMETIMES YOU SEE SHOW AND SOMETIMES YOU SEE PEOPLE IN THE CHAT AND THAT WAS PEOPLE IN THE CHAT AND THAT WAS GREAT.

GREAT.

BUT MANY TIMES IT WAS LIKE BUT MANY TIMES IT WAS LIKE PUTTING ALL THIS ENERGY OUT PUTTING ALL THIS ENERGY OUT INTO -- AND IT WOULD JUST FALL INTO -- AND IT WOULD JUST FALL FLAT.

FLAT.

SO I TRY TO HOLD ON TO THOSE SO I TRY TO HOLD ON TO THOSE MOMENTS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD TELL MOMENTS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD TELL ME HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO THEM, ME HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO THEM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE -- I'M NOT JUST CREATING WE'RE -- I'M NOT JUST CREATING FOR MYSELF TO LISTEN TO MYSELF.

FOR MYSELF TO LISTEN TO MYSELF.

I'M REALLY TRYING TO REACH OTHER I'M REALLY TRYING TO REACH OTHER HUMANS.

HUMANS.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >>> ENTREPRENEUR LENNY >>> ENTREPRENEUR LENNY UNDERWOOD'S STORY IS A LITERAL UNDERWOOD'S STORY IS A LITERAL EXAMPLE OF A DREAM COME TRUE.

EXAMPLE OF A DREAM COME TRUE.

AFTER DREAMING ONE NIGHT OF AFTER DREAMING ONE NIGHT OF OWNING A SOCK LINE BUSINESS, HE OWNING A SOCK LINE BUSINESS, HE FOLLOWED HIS INTUITION AND JUST FOLLOWED HIS INTUITION AND JUST A FEW YEARS LATER, UPSCALE SOCKS A FEW YEARS LATER, UPSCALE SOCKS WAS BORN.

WAS BORN.

OUR ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED OUR ALREADY AN ESTABLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER SINCE 2004, HE PHOTOGRAPHER SINCE 2004, HE LAUNCHED THIS NEW VENTURE IN LAUNCHED THIS NEW VENTURE IN 2016 AND I SPOKE WITH HIM TO 2016 AND I SPOKE WITH HIM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS PATHWAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS PATHWAY TO ENTERSHIP.

ENTERSHIP.

>> -- ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

>> -- ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

>> I WOKE UP, TOLD A FRIEND >> I WOKE UP, TOLD A FRIEND ABOUT IT.

ABOUT IT.

WE BOTH THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT WE BOTH THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA.

IDEA.

BUT NEITHER OF US EVER WORKED IN BUT NEITHER OF US EVER WORKED IN RETAIL BEFORE.

RETAIL BEFORE.

SO A WHOLE YEAR IT BUGGED ME HOW SO A WHOLE YEAR IT BUGGED ME HOW TO GET STARTED, HOW TO FORM UIZE TO GET STARTED, HOW TO FORM UIZE THE IDEA -- FORM ULIES THE IDEA.

THE IDEA -- FORM ULIES THE IDEA.

BUT SOMETHING IN ME SAID IT WAS BUT SOMETHING IN ME SAID IT WAS NEVER THE PERFECT TIME.

NEVER THE PERFECT TIME.

I KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY I WILL I KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY I WILL FIND RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE FIND RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP ME BE A HUMAN ABLE TO HELP ME BE A HUMAN RESOURCES OR FINANCIAL RESOURCES RESOURCES OR FINANCIAL RESOURCES OR JUST BOOTSTRAP THE WHOLE OR JUST BOOTSTRAP THE WHOLE BUSINESS MYSELF, WHICH I ENDED BUSINESS MYSELF, WHICH I ENDED UP DOING.

UP DOING.

BUT WHAT MADE IT SO COMPELLING BUT WHAT MADE IT SO COMPELLING WAS JUST -- I ENJOY FASHION AND WAS JUST -- I ENJOY FASHION AND IT WAS ANOTHER ASPECT OF ME IT WAS ANOTHER ASPECT OF ME EXPRESSING MY CREATIVE SIDE EXPRESSING MY CREATIVE SIDE THROUGH FASHION AND JUST -- THROUGH FASHION AND JUST -- SOMETHING I'VE NEVER, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING I'VE NEVER, YOU KNOW, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO AS A HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO AS A BUSINESSMAN.

BUSINESSMAN.

>> NOW, SPEAKING OF BUSINESSES, >> NOW, SPEAKING OF BUSINESSES, BEFORE UPSCALE SCOKS -- SOCKS, BEFORE UPSCALE SCOKS -- SOCKS, YOU WERE AN ESTABLISHED YOU WERE AN ESTABLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER WITH YOUR COMPANY PHOTOGRAPHER WITH YOUR COMPANY UNDERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY.

UNDERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY.

YOU STARTED THAT BACK IN YOU STARTED THAT BACK IN COLLEGE.

COLLEGE.

SO YOU'VE BEEN DOING PHOTOGRAPHY SO YOU'VE BEEN DOING PHOTOGRAPHY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> WHAT IS IT ABOUT >> WHAT IS IT ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP THAT'S ALWAYS ENTREPRENEURSHIP THAT'S ALWAYS INTRIGUED YOU SOME WHY WAS THAT INTRIGUED YOU SOME WHY WAS THAT THE CAREER PATHWAY YOU DECIDED THE CAREER PATHWAY YOU DECIDED TO TAKE N.?

TO TAKE N.?

>> I WOULD SAY IT WAS BY >> I WOULD SAY IT WAS BY ACCIDENT BECAUSE WHEN I WAS ACCIDENT BECAUSE WHEN I WAS DOING IN PHOTOGRAPHY IN EVEN IN DOING IN PHOTOGRAPHY IN EVEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS MORE OF A HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS MORE OF A HOBBY.

HOBBY.

IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT I IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT I THOUGHT WOULD TURN INTO A THOUGHT WOULD TURN INTO A LONG-TERM CAREER.

LONG-TERM CAREER.

MY FAMILY WOULD ENCOURAGE ME TO MY FAMILY WOULD ENCOURAGE ME TO GET A REAL JOB.

GET A REAL JOB.

THAT WAS JUST A HOBBY AND THAT WAS JUST A HOBBY AND NOTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME -- I NOTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME -- I WOULD END UP BEING A STARVING WOULD END UP BEING A STARVING ARTIST OR I WOULD NEED THAT ARTIST OR I WOULD NEED THAT SUPPORT.

SUPPORT.

I JUST KNEW THAT CREATING MY OWN I JUST KNEW THAT CREATING MY OWN PATHWAY AND WAY TO FIND PATHWAY AND WAY TO FIND FINANCIAL WEALTH AND -- AND EVEN FINANCIAL WEALTH AND -- AND EVEN MENTORING OTHER BUSINESSES ALONG MENTORING OTHER BUSINESSES ALONG THE WAY, AND BEING THAT EXAMPLE, THE WAY, AND BEING THAT EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, FOR MY COMMUNITY AND YOU KNOW, FOR MY COMMUNITY AND OTHERS AROUND ME WAS COMPELLING OTHERS AROUND ME WAS COMPELLING AND GREAT IN ITSELF.

AND GREAT IN ITSELF.

AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL JUST TO AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL JUST TO SEE IT ALL BLOSSOM.

SEE IT ALL BLOSSOM.

>> YOU ARE A NATIVE OF >> YOU ARE A NATIVE OF SPRINGFIELD, BORN AND RAISED.

SPRINGFIELD, BORN AND RAISED.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY PREVALENT IN UPSCALE REALLY PREVALENT IN UPSCALE SOCKS.

SOCKS.

YOU HAVE GIVENNATIONS TO SQUARE YOU HAVE GIVENNATIONS TO SQUARE ONE -- DONATIONS TO SQUARE ONE, ONE -- DONATIONS TO SQUARE ONE, FRIENDS OF THE HOMELESS.

FRIENDS OF THE HOMELESS.

WAS IT -- WHAT IS IT ABOUT WAS IT -- WHAT IS IT ABOUT GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU REALLY CONNECT WITH?

THAT YOU REALLY CONNECT WITH?

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> YEAH, WELL, TO WHOM MUCH IS >> YEAH, WELL, TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED.

GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIRED.

SO I FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S MY DUTY SO I FEEL AS THOUGH IT'S MY DUTY TO -- IN WHATEVER FASHION THAT TO -- IN WHATEVER FASHION THAT MAY BE, CONTRIBUTE BACK TO MAY BE, CONTRIBUTE BACK TO COMMUNITY IN KIND OR FINANCIAL COMMUNITY IN KIND OR FINANCIAL WAY.

WAY.

WHEN I HAD THE VISION FOR UPSALE WHEN I HAD THE VISION FOR UPSALE SCOKS, I WANT -- UPSCALE SOCKS, SCOKS, I WANT -- UPSCALE SOCKS, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD AN I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD AN ARM THAT WAS PHILIN THROPPIC AS ARM THAT WAS PHILIN THROPPIC AS WELL.

WELL.

SO SUIT THE SOULS OF THOSE, SO SUIT THE SOULS OF THOSE, THAT'S JUST THAT.

THAT'S JUST THAT.

SUIT THE SOULS OF THE SUIT THE SOULS OF THE COMMUNITY -- SOLES OF THE COMMUNITY -- SOLES OF THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CREATIVITY OF THE BUSINESS.

CREATIVITY OF THE BUSINESS.

YOU DESIGN FROM SPECIAL SOCKS YOU DESIGN FROM SPECIAL SOCKS FOR CERTAIN CAUSES.

FOR CERTAIN CAUSES.

AND YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FROM AND YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FROM CLASSIC ARGYLE, COTTON CANDY CLASSIC ARGYLE, COTTON CANDY LEOPARD, AND EVEN YOU PAY HOMAGE LEOPARD, AND EVEN YOU PAY HOMAGE TO SPRINGFIELD AS THE CITY OF TO SPRINGFIELD AS THE CITY OF FIRSTS.

FIRSTS.

WHAT'S THE PROCESS T CREATIVITY WHAT'S THE PROCESS T CREATIVITY PROCESS THAT GOES IN BEHIND PROCESS THAT GOES IN BEHIND DESIGNING THE SOCKS?

DESIGNING THE SOCKS?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

YOU?

>> SO A LOT OF WHAT YOU HAVE >> SO A LOT OF WHAT YOU HAVE SAID COMES FROM, YOU KNOW, SAID COMES FROM, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT INSPIRATION THAT I MAY DIFFERENT INSPIRATION THAT I MAY SEE WITHIN THE AREA OR SOMEONE SEE WITHIN THE AREA OR SOMEONE MAY SHARE AN IDEA WITH ME.

MAY SHARE AN IDEA WITH ME.

OR I MAY DREAM ABOUT AN IDEA.

OR I MAY DREAM ABOUT AN IDEA.

SO THEY COME IN SEVERAL SO THEY COME IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORM.

DIFFERENT FORM.

AND SO I MAY GO BACK AND FORTH AND SO I MAY GO BACK AND FORTH ON WHAT COLORS OR WHAT I SHOULD ON WHAT COLORS OR WHAT I SHOULD INCLUDE IN THAT DESIGN.

INCLUDE IN THAT DESIGN.

>> NOW, I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY >> NOW, I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING QUESTIONS TO ANSWER, BUT DO YOU QUESTIONS TO ANSWER, BUT DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE DESIGN THAT HAVE A FAVORITE DESIGN THAT YOU'VE CREATED OR IS THERE YOU'VE CREATED OR IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T CREATED YET THAT'S BEEN ON YOUR CREATED YET THAT'S BEEN ON YOUR MIND?

MIND?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

>> GREAT QUESTION.

SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE -- MY SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE -- MY FAVORITE COLOR IS BLUE.

FAVORITE COLOR IS BLUE.

I REALLY LIKE ARGYLE SOCKS.

I REALLY LIKE ARGYLE SOCKS.

IT HAS BLUES AND GREEN, AS WELL IT HAS BLUES AND GREEN, AS WELL AS I LIKE TO SEE A FIRST SOCK AS I LIKE TO SEE A FIRST SOCK BECAUSE IT'S REPRESENTING WHERE BECAUSE IT'S REPRESENTING WHERE I'M FROM, AND THE FEEDBACK HAS I'M FROM, AND THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT AND I THINK BEEN REALLY GREAT AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN MY NUMBER ONE SELLER THAT'S BEEN MY NUMBER ONE SELLER OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

SO THOSE ARE I WOULD SAY THE SO THOSE ARE I WOULD SAY THE ONES THAT STICK OUT OF MY HEAD ONES THAT STICK OUT OF MY HEAD FOR NOW.

FOR NOW.

AND I HAVE QUITE A BIT OF STYLES AND I HAVE QUITE A BIT OF STYLES COMING OUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE COMING OUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE THAT ARE MORE THEME-BASED AS THAT ARE MORE THEME-BASED AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE WELL AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

CAUSE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

>> LENNY, YOU HAVE TWO >> LENNY, YOU HAVE TWO BUSINESSES THAT HEAVILY RELY ON BUSINESSES THAT HEAVILY RELY ON CONSUMERS, RIGHT?

CONSUMERS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> SO WITH PHOTOGRAPHY, YOU RELY >> SO WITH PHOTOGRAPHY, YOU RELY ON THE PEOPLE, AND THEN THE ON THE PEOPLE, AND THEN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY, BOTH HAVE BEEN RETAIL INDUSTRY, BOTH HAVE BEEN HIT REALLY HARD DURING THIS HIT REALLY HARD DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

PANDEMIC.

SO HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO STAY SO HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO STAY AFLOAT DURING THESE REALLY AFLOAT DURING THESE REALLY TRYING TIMES AND WHAT HAVE YOU TRYING TIMES AND WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?

LEARNED?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

EYE -- I'VE LEARNED THAT I EYE -- I'VE LEARNED THAT I WASN'T IN THIS JOURNEY BY MYSELF WASN'T IN THIS JOURNEY BY MYSELF AND WE HAD TO RELY OTHER ON AND WE HAD TO RELY OTHER ON PEOPLE AROUND US FOR THAT MORAL PEOPLE AROUND US FOR THAT MORAL SUPPORT.

SUPPORT.

AND MY FAITH, SO PRAYER AND JUST AND MY FAITH, SO PRAYER AND JUST REALLY BELIEVING IN THAT WE'RE REALLY BELIEVING IN THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER, AND I JUST HAVE TO BE TOGETHER, AND I JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

PATIENT.

DO MY PART AS WELL, SO APPLYING DO MY PART AS WELL, SO APPLYING FOR GRANTS LOCALLY OR FOR GRANTS LOCALLY OR NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE.

NATIONALLY, STATEWIDE.

THOSE RESOURCES ARE STILL THOSE RESOURCES ARE STILL AVAILABLE.

AVAILABLE.

SO TAPPING INTO THOSE AS MUCH AS SO TAPPING INTO THOSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

POSSIBLE.

BEING CREATIVE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BEING CREATIVE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN APPROACH SALES, SO UTILIZING MY APPROACH SALES, SO UTILIZING MY SOCIAL MEDIA.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

MANY OF THE MODELS THAT YOU HAVE MANY OF THE MODELS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN ON MY PAGE NEVER MET BEFORE SEEN ON MY PAGE NEVER MET BEFORE UNTIL I STARTED REACHING OUT UNTIL I STARTED REACHING OUT FOR, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THEIR FOR, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THEIR INTEREST.

INTEREST.

SO THAT ALLOWED ME TO GET SO THAT ALLOWED ME TO GET CREATIVE IN HOW I APPROACH, YOU CREATIVE IN HOW I APPROACH, YOU KNOW, MARKETING UPSALE SOCKS -- KNOW, MARKETING UPSALE SOCKS -- UPSCALE SOCKS.

UPSCALE SOCKS.

>> YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING >> YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING RESOURCES.

RESOURCES.

WHAT ARE -- WHAT LOCAL RESOURCES WHAT ARE -- WHAT LOCAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO YOU -- HAVE BEEN ABLE TO YOU -- AVAILABLE TO YOU TO HELP SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO YOU TO HELP SUPPORT YOU?

YOU?

>> SO I HAD WHEN THE IDEA FOR >> SO I HAD WHEN THE IDEA FOR UPSCALE SOCKS IN 2014, IN 215 -- UPSCALE SOCKS IN 2014, IN 215 -- 2015 I WAS THE SECOND COHORT FOR 2015 I WAS THE SECOND COHORT FOR SPARK HOLYOKE.

SPARK HOLYOKE.

NOW CALLED EFORALL OUT OF NOW CALLED EFORALL OUT OF HOLYOKE AND THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE HOLYOKE AND THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE IN ME GETTING THE FOOTING, NOT IN ME GETTING THE FOOTING, NOT NECESSARILY GIVING ME THE NECESSARILY GIVING ME THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF MY QUESTIONS, ANSWERS TO ALL OF MY QUESTIONS, BUT IT GAVE ME DIRECTION SO THAT BUT IT GAVE ME DIRECTION SO THAT I KNEW, OKAY, WELL, I CAN SURVEY I KNEW, OKAY, WELL, I CAN SURVEY 100 INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY 100 INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY AND GET FEEDBACK ON WHAT KIND OF AND GET FEEDBACK ON WHAT KIND OF STYLES OR COLORS THAT THEY LIKE STYLES OR COLORS THAT THEY LIKE WHEN THEY SHOP FOR SOCKS.

WHEN THEY SHOP FOR SOCKS.

SO IT CERTAINLY -- IT'S BEEN A SO IT CERTAINLY -- IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL RESOURCE IN THE WONDERFUL RESOURCE IN THE GREATER SPRINGFIELD COMMUNITY GREATER SPRINGFIELD COMMUNITY AMONGST SO MANY OTHERS THAT ARE AMONGST SO MANY OTHERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND -- [INAUDIBLE] AVAILABLE AND -- [INAUDIBLE] ANOTHER ONE, WHERE IF YOU'RE IN ANOTHER ONE, WHERE IF YOU'RE IN A SMALL BUSINESS OR IN COLLEGE, A SMALL BUSINESS OR IN COLLEGE, THEY HAVE THE SUMMER COLLEGIATE THEY HAVE THE SUMMER COLLEGIATE PROGRAM THROUGH UMASS AS WELL.

PROGRAM THROUGH UMASS AS WELL.

SO TAPPING INTO THOSE LOCAL SO TAPPING INTO THOSE LOCAL INCUBATORS OR START-UP BUSINESS INCUBATORS OR START-UP BUSINESS PROGRAMS IS VITAL.

PROGRAMS IS VITAL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> THERE'S PERHAPS NOTHING MORE >>> THERE'S PERHAPS NOTHING MORE QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN THAN A QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN THAN A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED HOT DOG.

GOOD OLD-FASHIONED HOT DOG.

IN THE SUMMERTIME HERE IN IN THE SUMMERTIME HERE IN NEW ENGLAND, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH NEW ENGLAND, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH UBIQUITOUS, BE IT AT A BACKYARD UBIQUITOUS, BE IT AT A BACKYARD BARBECUE OR A NEIGHBORHOOD BARBECUE OR A NEIGHBORHOOD EATERY.

EATERY.

BUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SERVE BUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO SERVE HOT DOGS FOR OVER A SEN DRY?

HOT DOGS FOR OVER A SEN DRY?

BRINE TRAVELED TO NORTH ADAMS BRINE TRAVELED TO NORTH ADAMS AND JACK'S HOT DOGS TO FIND OUT AND JACK'S HOT DOGS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY'VE SERVED UP THIS HOW THEY'VE SERVED UP THIS AMERICAN CLASSIC SINCE 1917.

AMERICAN CLASSIC SINCE 1917.

>> EAGLE STREET IN NORTH ADAMS >> EAGLE STREET IN NORTH ADAMS HAS ONLY ONE WAY IN WITH AN HAS ONLY ONE WAY IN WITH AN ENTRANCE THAT LOOKS LIKE ENTRANCE THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FROM A HISTORY BOCK OF SOMETHING FROM A HISTORY BOCK OF WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THE MODERN WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THE MODERN AMERICAN TREAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AMERICAN TREAT WOULD LOOK LIKE INTO THE 20TH CENTURY.

INTO THE 20TH CENTURY.

THERE'S ONE BUSINESS THAT THERE'S ONE BUSINESS THAT APPEARS AS THOUGH IT'S BEEN HERE APPEARS AS THOUGH IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE SHOVELS FIRST HIT THE SINCE SHOVELS FIRST HIT THE GROUND IN THIS SECTION OF GROUND IN THIS SECTION OF DOWNTOWN.

DOWNTOWN.

AND SINCE 1917, IT'S MANAGED TO AND SINCE 1917, IT'S MANAGED TO OUTLIVE NEARLY EVERY OTHER LOCAL OUTLIVE NEARLY EVERY OTHER LOCAL BUSINESS THAT'S POPPED UP HERE BUSINESS THAT'S POPPED UP HERE FROM WORLD WAR I TO PRESENT DAY.

FROM WORLD WAR I TO PRESENT DAY.

SO HOW DOES SOMETHING SIMPLE SO HOW DOES SOMETHING SIMPLE SURVIVE OVER A CENTURY'S WORTH SURVIVE OVER A CENTURY'S WORTH OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS AND CA OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS AND CA TATROVEs -- CAS TROVE?

TATROVEs -- CAS TROVE?

>> WE PUT OUT OUR FOOD >> WE PUT OUT OUR FOOD EFFICIENTLY AND CHEAPLY.

EFFICIENTLY AND CHEAPLY.

IT'S ALWAYS FRESH, INEXPENSIVE.

IT'S ALWAYS FRESH, INEXPENSIVE.

AND PEOPLE, WE RELY ON REPEAT AND PEOPLE, WE RELY ON REPEAT CUSTOMERS.

CUSTOMERS.

IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS.

IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS.

>> 12 SEATS, COUPLE GRILLS, >> 12 SEATS, COUPLE GRILLS, FRIES, LOTS OF DOGS, LOTS OF FRIES, LOTS OF DOGS, LOTS OF BURGERS, STEAM BURNED, AND LOTS BURGERS, STEAM BURNED, AND LOTS OF -- STEAMED BUNS, AND LOTS OF OF -- STEAMED BUNS, AND LOTS OF LOCALS COMING IN.

LOCALS COMING IN.

THAT'S THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS.

THAT'S THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS.

AND EVEN THOUGH NORTH ADAMS HAS AND EVEN THOUGH NORTH ADAMS HAS TRENDED MORE ARTSY AND TOURISTY, TRENDED MORE ARTSY AND TOURISTY, JACK'S HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TOWNY JACK'S HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TOWNY SPOT FOR GENERATIONS OF SPOT FOR GENERATIONS OF WORKING-CLASS FOLKS, WHETHER AT WORKING-CLASS FOLKS, WHETHER AT THE HOSPITAL T BANK, HANGING THE HOSPITAL T BANK, HANGING SHEETROCK, POUNDING NAILS, OR SHEETROCK, POUNDING NAILS, OR DOING WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO DOING WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO TO MAINTAIN A BOTTOM LINE, THIS TO MAINTAIN A BOTTOM LINE, THIS HAS BEEN THEIR LUNCH COUNTER.

HAS BEEN THEIR LUNCH COUNTER.

>> THIS IS THE PEOPLE YOU NEED >> THIS IS THE PEOPLE YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.

TO TAKE CARE OF.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE WE CATER TO.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE WE CATER TO.

IT'S LIKE THE CHERRY ON THE IT'S LIKE THE CHERRY ON THE SUNDAE TO HAVE TOURISTS COME IN.

SUNDAE TO HAVE TOURISTS COME IN.

BUT I KNOW JANUARY, FEBRUARY, BUT I KNOW JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH, YOU NEED YOUR REGULAR AND MARCH, YOU NEED YOUR REGULAR CUSTOMERS IN HERE.

CUSTOMERS IN HERE.

AND THOSE REGULAR CUSTOMERS ARE AND THOSE REGULAR CUSTOMERS ARE YOUR CONTRACTORS, YOU KNOW, AND YOUR CONTRACTORS, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYBODY YOU JUST MENTIONED.

EVERYBODY YOU JUST MENTIONED.

>> THAT PHILOSOPHY OF TAKING >> THAT PHILOSOPHY OF TAKING CARE OF LOCALS WAS PREACHED BY CARE OF LOCALS WAS PREACHED BY JEFF'S GRANDFATHER, THE FIRST JEFF'S GRANDFATHER, THE FIRST GENERATION OF THIS GREEK FAMILY GENERATION OF THIS GREEK FAMILY ENTERPRISE.

ENTERPRISE.

NOW IN ITS FOURTH GENERATION NOW IN ITS FOURTH GENERATION WITH JEFF'S SON JOE IN THE MIX WITH JEFF'S SON JOE IN THE MIX MANNING THE GRILL.

MANNING THE GRILL.

APPARENTLY THE PHILOSOPHY WORKS, APPARENTLY THE PHILOSOPHY WORKS, BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL CUSTOMERS COMING IN WHO HAVE CUSTOMERS COMING IN WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ALL FOUR BEEN HERE FOR ALL FOUR GENERATIONS.

GENERATIONS.

>> I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 74 >> I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 74 YEARS!

YEARS!

CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?

CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?

I SAT IN THERE.

I SAT IN THERE.

I SAT THERE AND MY MOTHER SAT I SAT THERE AND MY MOTHER SAT NEXT TO ME.

NEXT TO ME.

74 YEARS.

74 YEARS.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE >> AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE TOWNIES.

TOWNIES.

IF MEMORY SERVES, THEY USED TO IF MEMORY SERVES, THEY USED TO LET COLLEGE CREEPS LIKE ME IN LET COLLEGE CREEPS LIKE ME IN HERE, TOO.

HERE, TOO.

BACK WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, NONE BACK WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, NONE OF US HAD CARS.

OF US HAD CARS.

SO WE ALMOST NEVER VEN TIERED SO WE ALMOST NEVER VEN TIERED OUT -- VENTURED OUT FROM ONE OUT -- VENTURED OUT FROM ONE BLOCK OF CAMPUS.

BLOCK OF CAMPUS.

BUT ON THE RARE OCCASIONS, WE BUT ON THE RARE OCCASIONS, WE WOULD WALK A FEW MORE BLOCKS TO WOULD WALK A FEW MORE BLOCKS TO COME DOWN HERE TO JACK'S.

COME DOWN HERE TO JACK'S.

TURNS OUT, THAT THE COUPLE OF TURNS OUT, THAT THE COUPLE OF BUCKS I HAD BACK IN 1995 WOULD BUCKS I HAD BACK IN 1995 WOULD STILL SERVE ME WELL NOW, AL STILL SERVE ME WELL NOW, AL THESE YEARS LATER.

THESE YEARS LATER.

IN THAT CASE, I'LL HAVE A CHILI IN THAT CASE, I'LL HAVE A CHILI CHEESEBURGER AND A DOUBLE CHEESE CHEESEBURGER AND A DOUBLE CHEESE ONIONS, MUSTARD, AND RELISH.

ONIONS, MUSTARD, AND RELISH.

I DID HAVE TO WONDER, FOR A I DID HAVE TO WONDER, FOR A PLACE THAT DOES ZERO ADVERTISING PLACE THAT DOES ZERO ADVERTISING AND ASIDE FROM THE JIEBILITY HOT AND ASIDE FROM THE JIEBILITY HOT DOG UP FRONT -- GIANT HOT DOG DOG UP FRONT -- GIANT HOT DOG OUT FRONT, NO MARKETING EITHER.

OUT FRONT, NO MARKETING EITHER.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO STAY HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO STAY AFLOAT WITH PRICES THAT DON'T AFLOAT WITH PRICES THAT DON'T REFLECT OUR DAY AND AGE?

REFLECT OUR DAY AND AGE?

>> OWNING THE PROPERTY IN.

>> OWNING THE PROPERTY IN.

IT KEEP MY PRICES DOWN.

IT KEEP MY PRICES DOWN.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING MY THAT'S ANOTHER THING MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS SAID.

GRANDFATHER ALWAYS SAID.

IF YOU OWN THE PROPERTY YOU'RE IF YOU OWN THE PROPERTY YOU'RE IN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY RENT.

IN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY RENT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TOE PAY MORTGAGE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TOE PAY MORTGAGE.

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PRICES DOWN.

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PRICES DOWN.

HE WAS ADAMANT ON KEEPING THE HE WAS ADAMANT ON KEEPING THE PRICES DOWN AS LOW AS YOU CAN.

PRICES DOWN AS LOW AS YOU CAN.

AND HE ALWAYS TOLD ME, YOU'RE AND HE ALWAYS TOLD ME, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET RICH OWNING NEVER GONNA GET RICH OWNING JACK'S, BUT IF YOU TAKE CARE OF JACK'S, BUT IF YOU TAKE CARE OF IT, IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

IT, IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

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

US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

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

CONTENT.

AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS DUE TO AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE BERKSHIRE THE PANDEMIC, THE BERKSHIRE MOUNTAINS FAERIE FESTIVAL MOUNTAINS FAERIE FESTIVAL RETURNED TO ADAMS, RETURNED TO ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS.

COSTUMES, ELF EARS, FAIRY WINGS, COSTUMES, ELF EARS, FAIRY WINGS, WIZARD REASONS, AND -- ROBES, WIZARD REASONS, AND -- ROBES, AND BROOK STICKS WERE ALL ON AND BROOK STICKS WERE ALL ON DISPLAY AT THE EVENT, WHICH WAS DISPLAY AT THE EVENT, WHICH WAS HELD IN JUNE.

HELD IN JUNE.

THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL WAS HELD IN THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL WAS HELD IN HONOR OF DIRECTOR AND ARTIST HONOR OF DIRECTOR AND ARTIST PHIL SELLERS WHO UNEXPECTEDLY PHIL SELLERS WHO UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY IN 2020, AND PASSED AWAY IN 2020, AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TAKES US PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TAKES US THERE IN THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE.

THERE IN THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE.

>> A KIND OF WHIMSICAL SENSE OF >> A KIND OF WHIMSICAL SENSE OF OUR KAYS AND WOES AND GOING BACK OUR KAYS AND WOES AND GOING BACK TO FANTASY AND FAIRY TALES AND TO FANTASY AND FAIRY TALES AND THINGS THAT PEOPLE NO MATTER THINGS THAT PEOPLE NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN THE WORLD HAVE WHERE THEY ARE IN THE WORLD HAVE STORIES AND LORE.

STORIES AND LORE.

THEY LOOK INTO THAT WHICH CAN'T THEY LOOK INTO THAT WHICH CAN'T BE SEEN.

BE SEEN.

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

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> GROWING UP IN THE HILLS OF >>> GROWING UP IN THE HILLS OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, ASTRIDE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, ASTRIDE ALWAYS -- ASTRID SHECKELS ALWAYS ALWAYS -- ASTRID SHECKELS ALWAYS HAD A KNACK FOR TELLING AND HAD A KNACK FOR TELLING AND DRAWING STORIES AND HAS MANAGED DRAWING STORIES AND HAS MANAGED TO TURN THOSE SKILLS INTO A TO TURN THOSE SKILLS INTO A FULL-TIME CAREER.

FULL-TIME CAREER.

NOW AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR AND NOW AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR, SHE CANS HAS ILLUSTRATOR, SHE CANS HAS RELEASED THE SECOND THE RELEASED THE SECOND THE INSTALLMENT OF HER POPULAR INSTALLMENT OF HER POPULAR CHILDREN'S SERIES ENTITLED, CHILDREN'S SERIES ENTITLED, "HECTOR FOX AND THE RAVEN'S "HECTOR FOX AND THE RAVEN'S REVENGE.

REVENGE.

>> SHE DISCUSSES WHAT SHE LOVES >> SHE DISCUSSES WHAT SHE LOVES MOST ABOUT THIS KIND OF WORK.

MOST ABOUT THIS KIND OF WORK.

>> I HAD DIFFICULTY LEARNING TO >> I HAD DIFFICULTY LEARNING TO READ WITH DYSLEXIA ISSUES.

READ WITH DYSLEXIA ISSUES.

SO I GRAPH WAITED -- GRAVITATED SO I GRAPH WAITED -- GRAVITATED NATURALLY TO BOOKS WHERE THE NATURALLY TO BOOKS WHERE THE ILLUSTRATIONS TOLD THE STORY, ILLUSTRATIONS TOLD THE STORY, WHERE YOU COULD LOOK AT THE BOOK WHERE YOU COULD LOOK AT THE BOOK AND THE -- THOUGH VISIONS AND THE -- THOUGH VISIONS CARRIED THE NARRATIVE.

CARRIED THE NARRATIVE.

AND ALSO WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I AND ALSO WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I WAS ALWAYS DRAWING AND TELLING WAS ALWAYS DRAWING AND TELLING STORIES THROUGH MY DRAWINGS AND STORIES THROUGH MY DRAWINGS AND MY DAD WOULD DRAW WITH ME.

MY DAD WOULD DRAW WITH ME.

MY MOM VERY PATIENTLY WOULD MY MOM VERY PATIENTLY WOULD LISTEN TO ALL THE STORIES I LISTEN TO ALL THE STORIES I WOULD TELL.

WOULD TELL.

SO IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT SO IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS NURTURED AND DEVELOPED WHILE WAS NURTURED AND DEVELOPED WHILE I WAS YOUNG AND I JUST KEPT I WAS YOUNG AND I JUST KEPT GOING WITH IT.

GOING WITH IT.

>> HOW GREAT IS THAT, IS THAT >> HOW GREAT IS THAT, IS THAT YOUR PARENTS WERE ABLE TO YOUR PARENTS WERE ABLE TO NURTURE THAT AND YOU REALLY NURTURE THAT AND YOU REALLY FOLLOWED A CAREER TO THAT FOLLOWED A CAREER TO THAT PATHWAY, AND NOW HERE WE ARE, PATHWAY, AND NOW HERE WE ARE, TALKING, BECAUSE YOUR RECENT TALKING, BECAUSE YOUR RECENT SECOND INSTALLMENT OF YOUR SECOND INSTALLMENT OF YOUR POPULAR "HECTOR FOX AND FRIENDS" POPULAR "HECTOR FOX AND FRIENDS" BOOK, WHICH -- WHICH HAS BEEN BOOK, WHICH -- WHICH HAS BEEN RELEASED.

RELEASED.

YOU FELT RIGHT AT HOME WHEN YOU FELT RIGHT AT HOME WHEN CREATING THIS SERIES.

CREATING THIS SERIES.

SO HOW WAS THAT SO AND WHERE DID SO HOW WAS THAT SO AND WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM FOR THIS THE IDEA COME FROM FOR THIS FOUR-PART INSTALLMENT?

FOUR-PART INSTALLMENT?

>> ALONG WITH DRAWING, I HAVE >> ALONG WITH DRAWING, I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ANIMALS.

ALWAYS LOVED ANIMALS.

SO BEING ABLE TO TAKE AND CREATE SO BEING ABLE TO TAKE AND CREATE THIS WORLD WHERE A GROUP OF THIS WORLD WHERE A GROUP OF ANIMALS THAT JUST GO ON THESE ANIMALS THAT JUST GO ON THESE ADVENTURES, JUST FELT REALLY -- ADVENTURES, JUST FELT REALLY -- IT DID FEEL LIKE COMING HOME AND IT DID FEEL LIKE COMING HOME AND IT -- I GUESS JUST DEVELOPING IT -- I GUESS JUST DEVELOPING CHARACTERS THAT SORT OF BREAK CHARACTERS THAT SORT OF BREAK THE STEREOTYPE.

THE STEREOTYPE.

THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A FOX AND THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A FOX AND HE'S NOT THE TYPICAL STORYBOOK HE'S NOT THE TYPICAL STORYBOOK FOX, YOU KNOW.

FOX, YOU KNOW.

MEAN AND ABOUT TO EAT EVERYBODY MEAN AND ABOUT TO EAT EVERYBODY AND -- AND KIND OF CREEPY.

AND -- AND KIND OF CREEPY.

AND HAS SORT OF A SLYNESS TO AND HAS SORT OF A SLYNESS TO HIM.

HIM.

HECTOR FOX IS VERY -- HE'S KIND.

HECTOR FOX IS VERY -- HE'S KIND.

HE'S -- HE IS SMART.

HE'S -- HE IS SMART.

BUT HE'S KIND AND HE'S CULTURED BUT HE'S KIND AND HE'S CULTURED AND HE LOVES BOOKS AND HAS AND HE LOVES BOOKS AND HAS PAINTINGS ON HIS WALLS AND JUST PAINTINGS ON HIS WALLS AND JUST GETS ALONG REALLY WELL WITH A GETS ALONG REALLY WELL WITH A WHOLE GROUP OF ANIMALS, MANY OF WHOLE GROUP OF ANIMALS, MANY OF THEM IN THE NATURAL WORLD WOULD THEM IN THE NATURAL WORLD WOULD BE HIS PREY BUT THEY GET ALONG BE HIS PREY BUT THEY GET ALONG REALLY WELL.

REALLY WELL.

IT'S VERY MUCH MY OWN IT'S VERY MUCH MY OWN IMAGINATION WHEN I WAS FIRST IMAGINATION WHEN I WAS FIRST STARTING OUT DOING BOOKS, STARTING OUT DOING BOOKS, EVERYTHING WAS VERY REALISTIC.

EVERYTHING WAS VERY REALISTIC.

SO IF YOU LOOK ME UP ON -- SEE A SO IF YOU LOOK ME UP ON -- SEE A BOOK LIST OF MY EARLIER WORKS, BOOK LIST OF MY EARLIER WORKS, THEY'RE MUCH MORE VERY GROUNDED THEY'RE MUCH MORE VERY GROUNDED IN REALITY.

IN REALITY.

AND THEN HERE WITH THIS SERIES, AND THEN HERE WITH THIS SERIES, JUST BEING ABLE TO LET MY JUST BEING ABLE TO LET MY IMAGINATION KIND OF RUN WILD WAS IMAGINATION KIND OF RUN WILD WAS REALLY FUN.

REALLY FUN.

AND TOOK ME DEFINITELY IN NEW AND TOOK ME DEFINITELY IN NEW PLACES AND JUST TRYING TO SEE PLACES AND JUST TRYING TO SEE HOW I COULD GET CHARACTERS IN -- HOW I COULD GET CHARACTERS IN -- OR CHARACTERISTICS IN THESE OR CHARACTERISTICS IN THESE ANIMALS TO REALLY COME TRUE.

ANIMALS TO REALLY COME TRUE.

>> IT'S JUST LIKE THE CHILD >> IT'S JUST LIKE THE CHILD INSIDE OF YOU THAT IMAGINES INSIDE OF YOU THAT IMAGINES YOU'D BE IN THE FOREST AND ALL YOU'D BE IN THE FOREST AND ALL THESE ANIMALS WOULD BE YOUR THESE ANIMALS WOULD BE YOUR FRIEND AND THEY'D TALK TO YOU.

FRIEND AND THEY'D TALK TO YOU.

SO I TOTALLY GET THAT.

SO I TOTALLY GET THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT YOUR BOOKS ARE AND I KNOW THAT YOUR BOOKS ARE CATERED TO YOUNG READERS.

CATERED TO YOUNG READERS.

SO WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ENJOY SO WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WRITING AND MOST ABOUT WRITING AND ILLUSTRATING FOR CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATING FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS?

BOOKS?

>> SO I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SHARE >> SO I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SHARE THESE FUN IMAGINATIVE STORIES THESE FUN IMAGINATIVE STORIES WITH CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE ILLUSTRATIONS AND THROUGH THE ILLUSTRATIONS AND REALLY LETTING THE ILLUSTRATIONS REALLY LETTING THE ILLUSTRATIONS DO THE TELLING.

DO THE TELLING.

WITH THIS KIND OF PICTURE BOOK, WITH THIS KIND OF PICTURE BOOK, YOU REALLY WANT THE TEXT AND THE YOU REALLY WANT THE TEXT AND THE ARTWORK TO WORK HAND IN HAND.

ARTWORK TO WORK HAND IN HAND.

LIKE IF YOU TAKE THE LIKE IF YOU TAKE THE ILLUSTRATIONS AWAY, THE STORY ILLUSTRATIONS AWAY, THE STORY ISN'T GOING TO WORK.

ISN'T GOING TO WORK.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS WOULD AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO GO OUTSIDE ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO GO OUTSIDE AND GO EXPLORING.

AND GO EXPLORING.

AND WHEN THEY COME ACROSS A AND WHEN THEY COME ACROSS A TREE, SAY, THAT WOULD BE TREE, SAY, THAT WOULD BE HECTOR'S TREE OR IN THE CASE OF HECTOR'S TREE OR IN THE CASE OF THIS NEW BOOK, OH, THERE'S A THIS NEW BOOK, OH, THERE'S A FEATHER.

FEATHER.

WHAT DOES THIS FEATHER ACTUALLY WHAT DOES THIS FEATHER ACTUALLY MEAN?

MEAN?

IS THERE MEANING BEHIND THIS IS THERE MEANING BEHIND THIS FEATHER?

FEATHER?

AND CAN THOSE -- ASK THOSE KIND AND CAN THOSE -- ASK THOSE KIND OF QUESTIONS, WHAT IF AND LET OF QUESTIONS, WHAT IF AND LET YOUR IMAGINATION GO.

YOUR IMAGINATION GO.

>> THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN YOUR >> THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN YOUR BOOK ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY BOOK ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING.

BREATHTAKING.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU DESCRIBE AND I KNOW THAT YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE AS CLASSIC REELSISM YOUR STYLE AS CLASSIC REELSISM AND WHIMSY.

AND WHIMSY.

HAS THAT ALWAYS BEEN THE STYLE HAS THAT ALWAYS BEEN THE STYLE THAT YOU WERE DRAWN TO AND WHY THAT YOU WERE DRAWN TO AND WHY IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS PIQUED YOUR INTEREST?

PIQUED YOUR INTEREST?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I -- AT FIRST WAS DOING A LOT OF I -- AT FIRST WAS DOING A LOT OF VERY REALISM.

VERY REALISM.

I HAVE A FINE ART BACKGROUND, SO I HAVE A FINE ART BACKGROUND, SO SOME OF THAT DOES COME IN, K4-S SOME OF THAT DOES COME IN, K4-S WHY MY ILLUSTRATIONS ARE WHY MY ILLUSTRATIONS ARE EXTREMELY DETAILED.

EXTREMELY DETAILED.

AS A CHILD I LOVED ILLUSTRATIONS AS A CHILD I LOVED ILLUSTRATIONS WHERE THE LONGER YOU LOOKED AT WHERE THE LONGER YOU LOOKED AT IT, THE MORE YOU SAW.

IT, THE MORE YOU SAW.

WHERE YOU COULD STAY WITH IT FOR WHERE YOU COULD STAY WITH IT FOR QUITE A WHILE AND I REALLY QUITE A WHILE AND I REALLY WANTED TO DO THAT WITH MY WANTED TO DO THAT WITH MY ILLUSTRATIONS.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

SO IT'S IMAGINATIVE, WHICH IS SO IT'S IMAGINATIVE, WHICH IS WHERE THE WHIMSY COMES IN.

WHERE THE WHIMSY COMES IN.

IT'S IMAGINATIVE.

IT'S IMAGINATIVE.

IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY HARD TO DO IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY HARD TO DO A WHOLE -- CREATE A WHOLE WORLD A WHOLE -- CREATE A WHOLE WORLD THAT'S PURELY FROM MY THAT'S PURELY FROM MY IMAGINATION.

IMAGINATION.

TAKES A LOT MORE WORK THAN LOOK TAKES A LOT MORE WORK THAN LOOK AT A REFERENCE PHOTO AND SAY AT A REFERENCE PHOTO AND SAY TREE, YEAH, BUT TO MAKE A TREE TREE, YEAH, BUT TO MAKE A TREE THAT RINGS TRUE FOR HECTOR'S THAT RINGS TRUE FOR HECTOR'S WORLD.

WORLD.

I THINK ONE REASON HECTOR'S I THINK ONE REASON HECTOR'S WORLD PROBABLY -- DOES HAVE A WORLD PROBABLY -- DOES HAVE A FAMILIAR FEEL TO IT, BECAUSE WE FAMILIAR FEEL TO IT, BECAUSE WE WALK OUTSIDE INTO OUR BACKYARD WALK OUTSIDE INTO OUR BACKYARD OR INTO A PARK OR SOMETHING AND OR INTO A PARK OR SOMETHING AND YOU WILL START SEEING THE TREES YOU WILL START SEEING THE TREES THAT ARE AROUND HIM OR THE THAT ARE AROUND HIM OR THE SWAMPY AREAS OR EVEN STONE SWAMPY AREAS OR EVEN STONE TOWERS AROUND THIS AREA, YOU CAN TOWERS AROUND THIS AREA, YOU CAN COME ACROSS A STONE TOWER IN THE COME ACROSS A STONE TOWER IN THE WOODS OR AN OLD FOUNDATION.

WOODS OR AN OLD FOUNDATION.

BUT IT DOES RING TRUE AND HAVE BUT IT DOES RING TRUE AND HAVE THIS NEW ENGLAND FEEL AND I THIS NEW ENGLAND FEEL AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS COMING THROUGH.

COMING THROUGH.

SO SOMETIMES I DO -- I SPEND A SO SOMETIMES I DO -- I SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING IN THE WOODS LOT OF TIME LOOKING IN THE WOODS AND BRINGING THAT INSPIRATION AND BRINGING THAT INSPIRATION INTO MY ARTWORK.

INTO MY ARTWORK.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHEN I WAS I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE LOOKING THROUGH THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN YOUR BOOK, ILLUSTRATIONS IN YOUR BOOK, IMMEDIATELY IT TRANSPORTED ME IMMEDIATELY IT TRANSPORTED ME BACK INTO MY CHILDHOOD.

BACK INTO MY CHILDHOOD.

AND I HONESTLY -- I HAD THIS AND I HONESTLY -- I HAD THIS SENSE OF THIS CAREFREE FEELING SENSE OF THIS CAREFREE FEELING THAT YOU ONLY TRULY HAVE WHEN THAT YOU ONLY TRULY HAVE WHEN YOUR YOUNG.

YOUR YOUNG.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> AS AN ARTIST, WHAT DO YOU >> AS AN ARTIST, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT READERS SEE AND FEEL HOPE THAT READERS SEE AND FEEL WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGING WITH YOUR WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGING WITH YOUR WORK?

WORK?

>> WELL, I REALLY HOPE THAT THEY >> WELL, I REALLY HOPE THAT THEY WILL DO WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING AND WILL DO WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING AND WHAT THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOKS WHAT THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOKS DO.

DO.

IT'S GO OUT AND GO EXPLORING.

IT'S GO OUT AND GO EXPLORING.

AND I ALSO HOPE THAT IT WILL BE AND I ALSO HOPE THAT IT WILL BE THIS KIND OF CAREFREE SAFE THIS KIND OF CAREFREE SAFE FEELING AS IN WHEN THE FEELING AS IN WHEN THE CHARACTERS ARE TOGETHER T IT CHARACTERS ARE TOGETHER T IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF THEY DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF THEY ENCOUNTER A GIANT OR IF THERE'S ENCOUNTER A GIANT OR IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF MYSTERY THEY'RE SOME KIND OF MYSTERY THEY'RE NEEDING TO SOLVE.

NEEDING TO SOLVE.

THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE SCARY BUT THAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE SCARY BUT IT'S NOT, BECAUSE THEY'RE IT'S NOT, BECAUSE THEY'RE TOGETHER.

TOGETHER.

AND TOGETHER THEY ARE IN A SAFE AND TOGETHER THEY ARE IN A SAFE PLACE.

PLACE.

AND THEY CAN HAVE THESE REALLY AND THEY CAN HAVE THESE REALLY FUN ADVENTURES.

FUN ADVENTURES.

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

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

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

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO THE TOWN OF OUR THANKS TO THE TOWN OF AMHERST FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

AMHERST FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

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

US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND TAKE CARE!

AND TAKE CARE!

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