>>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A LOOK AT 130 YEARS OF BASKETBALL, AND IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE!

>> THE BALL WOULD BE STUCK IN THE PEACH BASKET.

IT TOOK A WHILE UNTIL SOMEONE HAD THE BRILLIANT IDEA, LET'S CUT THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

>> WE'LL EXPLORE WHAT THE NEW UMASS CENTER HAS TO OFFER.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING FACEMASK ABOUT HOW JAZZ IS CREATED IN REAL TIME.

>> AND WE'LL HEAD TO THE PIRK ISOLATED SHOWERS TO GRAB SOME FOOD AND A BREW IN A FORMER CITIESERY FACTORY.

>> IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SAY LET ME BE YOUR CHEF SO YOU CAN CONCENTRATE ON MAKING AMAZING BEER AND I'M GOING TO USE THAT BEER TO COMPLIMENT THE FOOD AND COOK WITH IT.

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

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

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

I'M TONY DUNNE, IN FOR SIDES.

OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT STARTS OFF WITH A QUESTION.

IF I ASKED YOU WHAT JAMES NAISMITH, A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT, AND A LOCAL COL ALL HAVE IN COMMON, WOULD YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

HERE'S A CLUE.

THEY ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SPORT THAT WAS INVENTED 130 YEARS AGO.

WELL, IF YOU GUESSED BASKETBALL, YOU'RE CORRECT.

AND PRODUCER DAVE FRASER SHARES THE STORY OF HOW IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> ON CAMPUS OF SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE, THE JAITION OF DR. JAMES NAISMITH IS REALLYETED AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

THE GAME HE INVENTED HAPPENED JUST A SHORT DISTANCE DOWN THE ROAD IN THE CITY'S MASON SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD, INSIDE THIS BUILDING, WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT.

ACROSS THE STREET A MONUMENT WITH PANELS HELP TELL THE STORY OF HOW THIS 30-YEAR-OLD PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR CREATED AN ATHLETIC DISTRACTION THAT BECAME A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON.

>> FROM THE VERY HUMBLE ORIGINS OF THIS GAME, IT HAS GROWN INTO A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON WITH IMMENSE POPULARITY.

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS IN THE WORLD.

>> JUDD GYM IS THE OLDEST BUILDING ON CAMPUS AND IT HOUSES THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY MUSEUM, THAT INCLUDES ARTIFACTS AND PEOPLE PEOPLIA -- MEMORABILIA RELATED TO NAISMITH.

>> AS THE LEGEND HAS IT, PUT UP THESE PEACH BASKETS THAT DIDN'T HAVE AN OPENING UPNEATH THEM.

AFTER EACH TIME THAT A BASKET WAS SCORED, THEY WOULD GO BACK AND HAVE A JUMP BALL.

THE BALL WOULD BE STUCK.

IT TOOK A WHILE UNTIL SOMEONE HAD THE BRILLIANT IDEA, LET'S CUT THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

>> SINCE THAT INITIAL INTRODUCTION IN DECEMBER OF 1891, THE GAME QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND AND AROUND THE WORLD, IMPACTING THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS ACROSS ALL AGES.

BASKETBALL IS NOW PLAYED AROUND THE GLOBE BY BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

NAOMI GRAVES IS THE HEAD COACH FOR THE SPRINGFIELD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT AT AN EARLY AGE.

>> WELL, I THINK IT WAS THE BACKYARD FUN THAT YOU PLAYED WITH BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, GIRLS AND BOYS, IN THE BACKYARD.

EVERYBODY HAD A BASKETBALL.

I GREW UP WHERE BASKETBALL WAS REALLY IMPORTANT UP IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND THEN IN MY SCHOOL, IT WAS -- I WAS TALL AND I LIKED THE GAME, SO COACH IDENTIFIED ME AS A PLAYER AND TAUGHT ME THE GAME AND THEN BEFORE YOU KNEW IT, I FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

>> THE GAME PLAYED TODAY IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT NAISMITH ENVISIONED WHEN HE FIRST INTRODUCED IT.

HIS INITIAL 13 RULES INCLUDED NO DRIBBLING, DUNKING, OR THREE-POINT POINTERS.

THERE WAS NO SHOT CLOCK BUT GOAL TENDING WAS LEGAL.

NAISMITH RECALLED THAT FIRST GAME IN A 1939 RADIO INTERVIEW IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> THE BOYS BEGAN KICKING AND PUNCHING IN THE QLICHS BEFORE I COULD PULL THEM APART, ONE BOY WAS KNOCKED OUT, SEVERAL OF THEM HAD BLACK EYES, AND ONE HAD A DISLOCATED SHOULDER.

SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.

>> THE RULES WOULD BE MODIFIED TO INCLUDE DRIBBLING AND FOULS.

AND OTHER CHANGES WOULD EVOLVE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

IN 1892, LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER NAISMITH CREATED THE SPORT, SMITH COLLEGE GYMNASTICS INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCED THE GAME TO WOMEN'S ATHLETICS AND BY 1905, BASKETBALL WAS OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS A PERMANENT WINTER SPORT.

CHARLIE BROCK IS IN HIS 24TH SEASON AS THE COACH OF THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AT SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE.

>> THE GAME HAS CHANGED SO MUCH IN THE 40-PLUS YEARS, 45 YEARS I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN IT, AND PART OF THAT'S RULE CHANGES AND PART OF THAT'S THE WAY THE GAME IS PLAYED AND THE ATHLETICISM AND THE SKILL SET OF THE PLAYERS CERTAINLY TODAY.

IT ISN'T SOMETHING WE TALK ABOUT DAILY.

BUT THE KIDS KNOW AND FEEL THE IMPACT OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE PLAYING AT THE BIRTHPLACE OF BASKETBALL AND IT'S GOT SOMEWHAT OF A MYSTIQUE TO IT.

>> THE REACH OF THE GAME IS VERY, VERY WIDE.

I KNOW OVER THE YEARS, WHEN I'VE SPOKEN WITH BASKETBALL PLAYERS HERE, I'M IN MY 23RD YEAR OF TEACHING AND I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW A NUMBER OF THE PLAYERS, AND UNIFORMLY, THEY FEEL A GREAT SENSE OF JOY AND PRIDE OF PLAYING THE GAME AT THE PLACE WHERE IT STARTED.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> LAST YEAR THE UMASS AMHERST FINE ARTS CENTER KICKED OFF THEIR FALL SEASON WITH A VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES AND PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING THE RE-REOPENING OF THE UNIVERSITY'S ART GALLERIES AFTER BEING CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19.

WE SPOKE WITH JAMILLA DERIA, DIRECTOR OF THE FINE ARTS CENTER, TO FIND OUT HOW THE LOCAL ARTS SCENE IS PREVAILING DURING THE PANDEMIC AND LEARN ABOUT THE REST OF THE SEASON.

>> WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE'RE OPEN, THAT WE ARE WELCOMING AUDIENCES BACK, AND YOU KNOW, THE CAMPUS, AS WELL AS THE FINE ARTS CENTER, HAS SAFETY AT THE TOP OF OUR AGENDA.

AND WE ARE MAKING -- WE'VE JUST COMPLETED SOME EXTENSIVE PLANNING TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE CAN COME TO OUR CAMPUS, BE SAFE, AND ENJOY EVENTS.

>> SO JAMILLA, YOU STARTED AT THE UMASS FINE ARTS CENTER IN 2019 AND JUST ONE YEAR AFTER YOU BEGAN, BOOM, THE PANDEMIC HITS.

SO HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT AND WHAT HAPPENED TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGE THAT IS HAVE COME WITH THAT?

>> IT WAS CERTAINLY A BAPTISM BY FIRE.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE SAW IT COMING AND CERTAINLY NO ONE WAS REALLY PREPARED FOR A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

WE GOT THE OFFICIAL NOTICE THAT OUR BUILDINGS WERE CLOSED ON MARCH 16TH OF 2020.

AND BY APRIL 4TH, WE WERE BACK UP AND OPERATING VIRTUALLY.

FROM APRIL 4TH 2020, UP THROUGH THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, WE'VE PUT ON 75 VIRTUAL SHOWS.

SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A LOT OF FIGURING OUT AS WE WERE GOING, BUT I THINK THAT THIS TEAM HAS BECOME SO ADEPT AT NOT ONLY IN-PERSON PRESENTATIONS, WHICH WE ALL LOVE TO DO, WHICH IS WHY WE GOT INTO THIS BUSINESS, BUT NOW WE ARE WONDERFUL PRODUCERS OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMS AND NOW WE'RE ALSO GOING OUTDOOR AND HAVING MORE OUTDOOR EVENTS IN PUBLIC -- AND PUBLIC ART EVENTS AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE WARMER MONTHS OF THIS SEMESTER AND NEXT.

>> SPEAKING OF THE 75 VIRTUAL EVENTS THAT YOU ADD, LIKE MANY OF US, THIS WAS A NEW AVENUE FOR YOU TO EXPLORE COURAGE THE PANDEMIC -- DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SUCCESSES THAT CAME OUT OF THOSE VIRTUAL EVENTS AND DO YOU THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE ON BEYOND THE PANDEMIC?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE GREAT THING ABOUT VIRTUAL EVENTS IS THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY A BIT MORE AFFORDABLE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE HAVE MORE MONEY TO INVEST IN THE ARTISTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WORK.

SO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY PARTNER WITH ARTISTS AND PRESENT A NUMBER OF WORLD PREMIERES.

WE ALSO EXPANDED HOW WE PRESENT ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE PARTNERED WITH JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER AND WINTON MARCELAS.

THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, WE INVOOTED THEM TO TEACH -- INVITED THEM TO TEACH A SIX-PART COURSE OF JAZZ AS A TOOL -- WHETHER YOU'RE A JAZZ LOVER OR NOT, THERE'S SOMETHING FANTASTIC ABOUT HOW JAZZ IS CREATED IN REAL TIME.

A LOT OF JAZZ IS IMBROFSATION AND -- IMPROVISATION AND IT'S IMPROVISATION AT A MASTERFUL LEVEL.

IN TUNE WITH THEIR OWN SPHRU AND THE SOUND THAT -- INSTRUMENT AND THE SOUND THAT THEY'RE DEVELOPING BUT THEY'RE ALSO LISTENING AND CO-CREATING WITH THEIR ENSEMBLE MATES.

AND I THINK THAT WAS AN EXCITING NEW MODEL FOR US IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY PRESENTING EXCITING WORKS BUT REALLY BRINGING YOU INTO THE -- THESE MASTERS' WORKSHOPS TO REALLY KIND OF HEAR THEIR PERSPECTIVES, HEAR THEIR VOICES, LOOK HOW THEY APPROACH THE DETAIL OF NEW WORK.

>> THE SAME IS ALWAYS -- SAYING IS ALWAYS, THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

WE HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME Y.

IS THAT EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT DURING THESE CHALLENGING THYMES THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

OUR NOT ONLY -- ART NOT ONLY HELPS US LEARN BETTER BUT IT HELPS US LIVE BETTER.

WE'RE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER, EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF HUMAN CREATIVITY, ENJENNEWT, WONDER -- INGENUITY, WONDER.

AND I THINK THAT -- I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, AS WE AS A SOCIETY KIND OF SOCIALLY ISOLATE, AS WE DEAL WITH SUCH SERIOUS ISSUES, AS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE RECKONING OF SORT OF RACE RELATIONS IN THE COUNTRY GROWING, ECONOMICAL INEQUALITY, MORE THAN EVER DO WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER THROUGH THE ARTS TO HELP REALLY CREATE BRIDGES, BECAUSE WE'VE LOST A LOT OF BRIDGES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AS WE'VE POLARIZED.

AND I DON'T THINK OF ANY BETTER FORM THAN SORT OF A RICH ARTS EXPERIENCE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOT -- YOU KNOW, DIGITAL ENEMIES.

WE'RE NEIGHBORS.

WE ARE A COMMUNITY.

WE'RE FRIENDS.

AND THE ARTS ARE HERE FOR ALL OF US.

>> AS YOU KNOW, ARTISTS, PERFORMERS, AND EVEN VENUES LIKE THE UMASS FINE ARTS CENTER HAVE ALL HAD TO BE CREATIVE AND RETHINK HOW ARTISTRY IS PRESENTED.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PREVAILING TRENDS THAT YOU ARE WITNESSING IN RESPONSE TO LOCAL AND NATIONAL ARTISTS PLUS IN PLACE DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I TOUCHED ON THE NEED FOR ALL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS TO BECOME MORE VERSATILE.

TO NOT ONLY BE IN-PERSON PRESENTERS, BUT VIRTUAL PRESENTERS AND ALSO OUTDOOR PRESENTERS.

I THINK ANOTHER SORT OF CHALLENGE THAT I THINK COVID REALLY BROUGHT TO THE FORE FOR ALL OF US AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR DECADES NOW, BUT I THINK COVID REALLY BROUGHT US TO SORT OF A RECKONING POINT, IS THAT WE NEED TO OPEN OUR DOORS TO MORE AUDIENCES.

WE CERTAINLY LOVE THE AUDIENCES THAT COME NOW, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE'RE 46 YEARS OLD AS AN ORGANIZATION.

SOME OF OUR -- SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME TO OUR VERY FIRST PERFORMANCE IN OCTOBER OF 1975 ARE STILL AROUND TODAY.

AND THEY COME BACK AND WE LOVE THEM.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T YET SEARCH.

AND -- SERVE.

AND I THINK THAT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE FINE ARTS CENTER BUT NATIONALLY, WE NEED TO BE AGE TO NOT ONLY REFLECT -- TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY REFLECT A WHOLE RANGE OF CULTURES AND COMMUNITIES TO OUR AGES, BUT WE HAVE TO TURN THE CAMERA AND LOOK AT THE AUDIENCE TO SEE IF WE ARE A REFLECTING THAT IN THE HOUSE.

AND IF WE'RE NOT, THEN THERE'S SO MUCH WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE HERE.

THIS IS A VERY DIVERSE AREA.

BUT THEN IF YOU GO INTO SOME OF OUR THEATERS, YOU DON'T -- IT DOESN'T REFLECT THAT DIVERSITY.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR GREAT LESSON COMING OUT OF COVID IS THAT THAT IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE SIDELINED, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE OUR CENTRAL WORK, THAT THE FINE ARTS CENTER AND OUR BUILDING HAS BEEN RENAMED AFTER OUR VERY FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHANCELLOR, DR. BROMMERY, SO THE BROMMERY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, WE'RE HERE NOT ONLY TO PRESENT DIVERSE ARTS BUT FOR DIVERSE AUDIENCES.

¶ YOU -- ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT ELSE IS COMING UP THIS SEASON AT THE UMASS HAMHERST FINE ARTS CENTER, GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW TO CBS.

AS DIRECTOR JAMILLA DERIA GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON ALL THE EXCITING THINGS STILL TO COME.

>>> IN THE BERKSHIRE COUNTY OF DALTON, THE BUILDING KNOWN AS THE STATIONERY FACTORY HAS A HISTORY THAT DATES BACK TO A TIME WHEN INDUSTRIAL MILLS COULD BE PFUND UP AND DOWN THE RIVER AND RULED THE DAY.

IT'S BEEN RE-PURPOSED NOW AND HOUSES OVER 20 INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING A CRAFT BREWERY AND RESTAURANT THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT AS A MODERN DAY ASSEMBLY LINE OF A DIFFERENT KIND.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN PAIRED A VISIT TO THE SHIRE-BREU-HOUS AND BRINGS US THE STORY.

>> THE CENTRAL BIRK ISOLATED SHOWERS OF DALTON, IS A PLACE THAT ROUGHLY 6500 PEOPLE CALL HOME.

IT'S ONE KID GREW UP TO WIN THE MOISTURE, HAVE A SPORTS COMPLEX -- WORLD SERIES, HAVE A SPORTS COMPLEX NAMED AFTER IT.

THE UNITED STATES GETS ITS CURRENCY PAPER FROM AND THERE WAS A STATIONERY HERE.

IT MAY NOT BE THE PAPER FACTORY IT ONCE WAS, BUT THE BUILDING HOISTS OVER 20 BUSINESSES.

SOME OF THEM MINIATURE FACTORIES IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

HERE AT THE SHIRE-BREU-HOUS, THERE'S A BREW UNDERWAY ALREADY THE -- BEFORE THE SUN HAS MADE ITS FIRST APPEARANCE AND THAT'S PAR FOR THE COURSE IN THE LIFE AFTER -- LIFE OF A BEER MAKER.

>> TYPICAL IS EIGHT TO 10 HOURS ALL TOLD FROM START TO FINISH.

SO DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH CELLAR WORK WE DO, WE'LL MASH EARLY IN THE MORNING, 6:00, 6:30, AND WE'LL FINISH AROUND 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON.

THEN WE CLEAN THE BREWHOUSE AFTER THAT.

AND THEN THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE MIGHT BE DOING DURING THE DAY.

>> SHIRE-BREU-HOUS IS THE BRAINCHILD OF NICK WHALEN AND ANDREW CRANE, WHO OPENED THE DOORS TO THIS 8,000-SQUARE-FOOT BASEMENT BREWERY RESTAURANT IN THE SUMMER OF 2015.

-- 2017.

THE PLACE LOOKS TO BE IN TIP-TOP CONDITION NOW, THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO MARK, WHO WAS TASKED WITH THE CAR.

[RY WORK TO MAKE IT -- CARPENTRY WORK TO MAKE IT LOOK THIS WAY.

>> THE FIRST TIME I SAW THIS SPACE IT WAS FULL OF HEAVIEST EQUIPMENT, INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY, FORKLIFTS, OLD PUMPS, AND IT WAS BASICALLY A GENERAL STORAGE AREA.

SO MY FIRST TASK DOWN HERE WERE TO CLEAN UP THE SPACE TO MAYBE ATTRACT A TENANT SUCH AS OURSELVES NOW.

IT'S FUN.

WE LIKE TO COME TO WORK.

WE CAN WE HAVE EACH OTHER'S BACKS.

IT'S FUN TO LEARN EVERY DAY AS WELL.

WE TAKE IN EVERYTHING WE CAN GET FROM EACH OTHER AND OTHER BREWERS AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A CULINARY AND SCIENCE EXPERIMENT ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE HAVE FUN WITH IT.

>> IT EVEN LOOKS LIKE A GIANT SCIENCE EXPERIMENT AND THEY USE LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY'RE DOING THAT'S NOT OFTEN HEARD IN THE OUTSID WORLD.

BUT THE ONE PART THE OUTSIDER LIKE ME COULD UNDERSTAND IS WHEN THEY GET RID OF THESE SPENT GRAINS.

THIS HAPPENS WHEN MOST OF THE SUGARS, PROTEINS, AND NUTRIENTS HAVE BEEN EXTRACTED FROM THE MALT DURING THE MASH AND THE CIRCLE OF LIFE CONTINUES AS THE SPENT GRAIBS ARE THEN PLACE -- GRAINS ARE THEN PLACED IN THE BARRELS AND LEFT UPSTAIRS FOR THE LOCAL FARMERS TO PICK AND UP RE-USE.

>> THESE GUYS MIGHT BE DONE WITH THIS PORTION OF THE BREWING PROCESS, BUT TODAY IS REALLY CONSIDERED DAY ZERO.

NEXT SUP THE FERMENTATION PROCESS.

THAT WILL PROBABLY TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEY CAN START PUTTING IT INTO BARRELS AND CANS.

LUCKILY THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF THOSE BARRELS IN STOCK, SO THEY CAN HAVE 12 ON TAP HERE AT THE BAR.

BUT THOSE TAPS WOULDN'T START POURING UNTIL AT LEAST 4:30 IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE RESTAURANT OPENS.

PRIOR TO COVID, THE BREW CREW ALSO RAN THE RESTAURANT END OF THINGS.

2020 GAVE THEM SOME TIME TO RETHINK HOW TO OPERATE BOTH ENDSES OF THE BUSINESS.

ENTER A CULINARY GROUP WITH A SOLUTION.

>> RESTAURANTS AND BRUCEYS ARE -- BREWERIES ARE BOTH 24-HOUR JOBS.

YOU CAN'T DO BOTH.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN A DAY, NOT ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO BE FOCUSED ON ONE THING OR THE OTHER.

SHIRE-BREU-HOUS SEEMED LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SAY GUYS, LET ME BE YOUR CHEF SO THAT YOU CAN CONCENTRATE ON MAKING AMAZING BEER AND I'M GOING TO USE THAT BEER TO COMPLEMENT THE FOOD AND COOK WITH IT.

>> COMING FROM PITTSFIELD, NICK IS THE LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD.

BUT TO SPEAK WITH HIM, IT'S ALMOST AS IF HE HASN'T TAKEN THE TIME TO REALIZE WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR.

>> IT'S BEEN GO GO GO FOR FIVE, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS NOW.

YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO REFLECT ON IT.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET TO THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE STILL IN BUSINESS AND MAKING BETTER BEER THAN WE EVER MADE.

SO I REALLY JUST WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A NICE BEER AND NICE GOOD WITH GOOD COMPANY.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

GOOD FOOD, GOOD DRINK, GOOD FRIENDS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> EVERIY "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DIDN'T STOP -- DOESN'T STOP THERE.

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

THIS WEEK MEMBERS OF THE SHIRE-BREU-HOUS AND RESTAURANT DISCUSS THE PAST, NOT ONLY OF THEIR OWN FORMER LIVES, BUT THE LIFE OF THE BUILDINGS THEY NOW WORK IN AS WELL -- >> MY PARENTS BOTH WORKED IN THIS BUILDING BACK IN THE '80S AND '90S.

AND MY DAD CAN TAKE ME THROUGH UPSTAIRS AND SAY I BUILT THAT WALL, AND THIS USED TO BE HERE, THAT USED TO BE THERE.

IT'S FUN TO THINK OF THE HISTORY.

BUT TO WHEN THE BUILDING WAS BUILT AND THE REHAB, THE IDEA THAT NICK AND ANDREW HAD TREES AND GARN BOARD FROM THEIR PROPERTY -- BARN BOARD FROM THEIR PROPERTY, BROUGHT IT IN.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW.

A NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AVERY MALTZ STRUGGLED AS A TEEN DEALING WITH AN UNDIAGNOSED LEARNING DISABILITY AND ENDURING HOMOFOAMIC BEWLEYING IN SCHOOL.

-- HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING IN SCHOOL.

AFTER GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, MALTZ TOOK SEVERAL YEARS OFF BEFORE FINDING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND HAS BEEN AWARDED THE WELLS FARGO SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE POINT FOUNDATION.

WE SPOKE WITH MALTZ TO HEAR HOW THE SCHOLARSHIP WILL HELP THEM FURTHER THEIR PASSION OF BUILDING COMMUNITY, AMPLIFYING MARGINALIZED VOICES, AND USING NATURAL SCIENCES TOWARD CREATING A MORE ACCESSIBLE WORLD.

>> MY FAMILY MOVED UP WHEN I WAS 13.

WE WERE LOOKING FOR A MORE ACCEPTING PLACE TO BE.

WE HAD BEEN ON LONG ISLAND FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

BEFORE THAT MANHATTAN WHICH WAS REALLY NICE.

BUT I ENDED UP STAYING AFTER HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE I REALLY LIKED THE COMMUNITY AND IT WAS AN EASY PLACE TO LIVE.

>> AND I KNOW THAT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, YOU DIDN'T PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION RIGHT AWAY.

YOU WERE DEALING WITH AN UNDIAGNOSED LEARNING DISABILITY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ALSO DEALT WITH SOME HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING IN YOUR PAST SCHOOL.

SO AFTER TAKING SO MUCH TIME OFF OF SCHOOL AFTER GRADUATION, YOU DECIDED TO PURSUE SCHOOL AT HOME YOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WHAT WAS THE DRIVING FACTOR BEHIND THE HAD A TE -- THAT DECISION?

>> IT WAS REALLY GETTING DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD.

AND I DID TRY TO GO TO COLLEGE STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT I NEEDED.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE WAY THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM WORKED.

I JUST -- I KNEW THAT I NEEDED HELP IN THIS WAY, SO I DECIDED TO PURSUE TESTING AND WHEN I GOT MY DIAGNOSIS, I DECIDED TO -- TO TRY AGAIN WITH SCHOOL AND SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

>> AND IT REALLY DID PAY OFF, BECAUSE YOU, CONGRATULATIONS, HAVE BEEN AWARDED WITH THE WELLS FARGO SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE POINT FOUNDATION, WHICH IS THE NATION'S LARGEST MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS.

HOW DID IT FEEL TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR AND HOW WILL THE SCHOLARSHIP HELP YOU SUCCEED WITH YOUR GOALS?

>> IT FELT AMAZING!

YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, JUST -- YEAH, RECEIVING THAT SCHOLARSHIP WAS INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN, I JUST -- I THOUGHT ABOUT WHO I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HOW DIFFICULT IT HAD BEEN TO BE BULLIED FOR BEING QUEER AND ALL THE STRUGGLES I WENT THROUGH AFTER THAT.

AND IT JUST FELT LIKE -- EVERYTHING HAD COME FULL CIRCLE.

AND YEAH, IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

THE SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN SUPER HELPFUL.

BUT ALSO THE PROGRAMMING THAT POINT OFFERS IS REALLY AMAZING.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO LIKE ONE-ON-ONE COACHING.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF TRAINING IN -- LIKE THE TRANSFER PROCESS, BECAUSE I AM WORKING ON TRANSFERRING TO A FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.

AND SO YEAH, THEY JUST HAVE SOMEONE FOR EVERY PART OF THE PROCESS TO OFFER SUPPORT.

>> YOU ARE A PEER TUTOR, SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTOR, AND ALSO PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE NEURODIVERSITY CLUB.

WHAT LIVES YOU TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN YOU WILL A ALL OF -- IN ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AND WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, THE EASY ANSWER IS THAT IT'S REALLY FUN.

[LAUGHTER] BUT YEAH, ASIDE FROM THAT, I REALLY -- I REALLY DO FEEL STRONGLY JUST FROM MY OVER PATH IN LIFE, YOU KNOW, THAT I DON'T -- I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FALL THROUGH THE TRACKS IN THE WAY -- CRACKS IN THE WAY THAT I DID AND I DON'T HAVE ANY REGRETS.

I THINK IT'S ALL PART OF IT.

AND YEAH, SPENDING MY 20S DOING OTHER THINGS AND COMING BACK TO SCHOOL HAS BEEN PART OF MY PATH, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE.

AND I JUST THINK THAT EVERYONE BENEFITS WHEN WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK -- IT JUST FEELS VERY BASIC TO ME TO BE LOOKING OUT IN THAT WAY AND TO BE CONNECTED AND TO HELP OTHERS CONNECT IN.

>> LET'S SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK WHAT YOU'RE STUDYING IS FASCINATING.

YOU HAVE REALLY FOUND YOUR PASSION FOR RESEARCH AND STEM, WHICH IS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.

SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE EXPLORING IS UNDERSTANDING HOW DIFFERENT CULTURES RELATE TO THE NATURAL WORLD THAT THEY INHABIT.

HOW DOES YOUR PASSION FOR NATURAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE GO HAND IN HAND, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK MANY PEOPLE THINK ABOUT HOW RELATABLE THEY ARE, SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> AS I STARTED TO GO THROUGH MY STUDIES, I STARTED TO REALIZE THAT, LIKE, EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED!

AND WE CAN'T IGNORE THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF INSTANCES WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARE TIED INTO SYSTEMIC ISSUES OF RACISM.

AND SO YEAH, I REALIZED THAT I -- THERE'S REALLY NO WAY FOR ME TO FULLY BE EFFECTIVE IN THE WAY THAT I WANT TO BE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THINGS THROUGH A LENS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.

>> NOW, WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU SHARE WITH OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN FACING SIMILAR STRUGGLES YOU HAVE OR STRUGGLES IN GENERAL -- WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM TO FIND A COMMUNITY OR AN OUTLET FOR THEMSELVES?

>> TRY TO REACH OUT TO SOMEONE.

LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WHO'S GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH A SIMILAR ISSUE OR SOMEONE WHO HAS GONE THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR.

AND EVEN IF NOT, THEN LIKE THERE'S SOMEONE AROUND YOU WHO KNOWS SOMEONE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE IN MOMENTS WHERE I REALLY HAVE BEEN CONFUSED BY SOMETHING OR HAVEN'T REALLY KNOWN HOW TO OVERCOME A PROBLEM.

I JUST KIND OF FIGURE OUT LIKE WHO I NEED TO CONNECT WITH, WHO -- WHO WILL EITHER CONNECT ME TO A RESOURCE OR JUST LISTEN OR -- OR BE ABLE TO HELP ME THROUGH IT.

AND IT'S SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED AS A STUDENT.

LIKE IF I HAVE A QUESTION OR I'M CONFUSED ABOUT SOMETHING, CHANCES ARE SOMEONE ELSE IN THE CLASS IS, TOO.

SO I'LL ALWAYS RAISE MY HAND AND ASK THE QUESTION!

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> AND FOR MORE FROM AVERY MALTZ, GO ONLINE RIGHT NOW TO NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT, AS THEY SHARE SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE GREENHOUSE AND WHAT THEY ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING ITS CARETAKER IN A DIGITAL EXTRA.

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

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

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY THURSDAY AND SATURDAY AT 7:30 P.M.

RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M TONY DUNNE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT!

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

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