RU2 >>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING RU2 YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND RU2 CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, RU2 INCLUDING A FAMILY BUSINESS RU2 WHICH HAS STOOD THE TEST OF RU2 TIME.

RU2 >> MY POOR FATHER USED TO SAY, RU2 SEE YOU AT SCHOIK?

RU2 THAT'S MY -- 7:00?

RU2 THAT'S MY CADILLAC, BECAUSE AT RU2 THE TIME THE OVEN COST ABOUT AS RU2 MUCH AS THE CADILLAC DID.

RU2 >> IT'S LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND RU2 ACTION.

RU2 >> IT'S ONE OF THE LONGEST RU2 RUNNING QUEER FESTIVALS IN THE RU2 COUNTRY.

RU2 WE HAVE 113 FILMS BEING SHOWN.

RU2 >> IF YOU LOVE ASPARAGUS, WE'VE RU2 GOT THE PERFECT ICE CREAM FOR RU2 YOU.

RU2 YES, YOU HEARD IT CORRECTLY.

RU2 ASPARAGUS ICE CREAM.

RU2 >> IT IS A NEW NIC FLAVOR AND RU2 PEOPLE ARE POP UNIQUE FLAVOR, RU2 AND PEOPLE ARE I'M NOT SO SURE.

RU2 BUT IT WORKS.

RU2 >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND RU2 MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE RU2 CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND RU2 COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN RU2 NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON RU2 "CONNECTING POINT."

RU2 >>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT" POINT IS PROVIDED BY OUR RU2 CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

RU2 ♪ ♪ RU2 ♪ ♪ RU2 >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR RU2 JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR RU2 CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND RU2 COMMUNITY.

RU2 I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

RU2 EACH WEEK THIS SUMMER WE'RE RU2 EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN RU2 NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND RU2 TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM RU2 THE QUADRANGLE OUTSIDE OF THE RU2 SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS IN HAMPDEN RU2 COUNTY.

RU2 THERE'S A LOT TO CELEBRATE HERE RU2 THIS SUMMER,S 0 IT'S -- AS IT'S RU2 THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RU2 AMAZING WORLD OF DR. SEUSS RU2 MUSEUM, THE 20th ANNIVERSARY RU2 OF THE DR. MUSE NATIONAL RU2 MEMORIAL SCULPTURE GARDEN, AND RU2 THE OPENING OF TED'S HOUSE AND RU2 INNOVATION CENTER.

RU2 THESE ATTRACTIONS ALL HONOR RU2 SPRINGFIELD NATIVE DR. SEUSS, RU2 AND HIS INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS RU2 TO CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

RU2 BUT OUR FIRST STORY TAKES US RU2 MILES AWAY FROM THE STREETS OF RU2 THE CITY AND INTO THE IDYLLIC RU2 FARM LANDS OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.

RU2 ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED FOODS RU2 GROWN IN OUR REGION IS RU2 ASPARAGUS, AND THE ANNUAL CROP RU2 COMES FROM HADLEY, AND CAN RU2 CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST IN RU2 THE WORLD.

RU2 AS PRODUCER DAVE FRASER FOUND RU2 OUT, IT CAN BE EVEN BE FOUND IN RU2 ICE CREAM.

RU2 >> ALL RIGHT, THE GOOD STUFF.

RU2 IT IS A UNIQUE FLAVOR.

RU2 AND WHEN PEOPLE FIRST HEAR BIT, RU2 THEY'RE LIKE, I'M NOT SO SURE!

RU2 BUT IT WORKS.

RU2 >> MIXED WITH ASPARAGUS AND RU2 ALMONDS, HADLEY GRASS ICE CREAM RU2 IS AN ANNUAL TRADITION AT RU2 FLAYVORS OF COOK FARM IN HADLEY.

RU2 THE FAMILY-OWNED ICE CREAM STAND RU2 WILL MAKE SEVERAL GALLONS RU2 THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON.

RU2 >> MID TO LATE APRIL.

RU2 WE START GETTING PHONE CALLS RU2 ASKING IF IT'S READY.

RU2 WE'VE PEOPLE COME FROM BOSTON, RU2 FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE, ALL OVER, RU2 ASKING DO WE HAVE IT YET.

RU2 >> ASPARAGUS, OR HADLEY GRASS, RU2 AS IT IS STILL CALLED IN THESE RU2 PARTS, WAS ONCE A MAINSTAY OF RU2 THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND AN RU2 IMPORTANT SOURCE OF COMMUNITY RU2 SPIRIT.

RU2 DURING THE ANNUAL HARVEST, IN RU2 MAY AND JUNE, YOUNG AND OLD RU2 WOULD JOIN FORCES TO HELP PICK, RU2 SORT, TRIM, AND BUNCH A TOTAL OF RU2 ABOUT 50 TONS OF THE VEGETABLE RU2 BY HAND, EACH DAY.

RU2 >> NUMBER ONE, WE'VE GOT THE RU2 SOIL.

RU2 OUR SOIL PRODUCES DELICIOUS RU2 ASPARAGUS.

RU2 ANOTHER THING WE'VE GOT THE RU2 BROAD OPEN FIELDS.

RU2 YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO VERY FAR RU2 FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW TO RU2 HAVE HADLEY SOIL.

RU2 SO WE'VE GOT THE PLAIN ALONG THE RU2 RIVER T OLD FLOODPLAIN.

RU2 >> WHEN I WAS A KID, ASPARAGUS RU2 WAS HUGE IN HADLEY.

RU2 THERE WERE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS RU2 AND HUNDREDS OF ACRES.

RU2 SMEAFT, WHEN WE WENT -- RU2 SMEAFT -- AS A MATTER OF FACT, RU2 WHEN WE WENT TO SCHOOL IN THE RU2 MORNING, IT WOULD START LATER.

RU2 INSTEAD OF STARTING AT 8:00, RU2 SCHOOL STARTED AT 9:00 AND RU2 THAT'S SO ALL THE KIDS COULD GO RU2 OUT AND PICK IN THE MORNING.

RU2 >> WALLY'S FARM IS THE LARGEST RU2 GROWER IN TOWN.

RU2 A THIRD GENERATION FARMER, HE RU2 GROWS ON WHAT HE CALLS SOME OF RU2 THE BEST LAND IN THE WORLD.

RU2 >> RIGHT NOW, THE CROWNS ARE RU2 SENDING UP SHOOTS BECAUSE IT'S RU2 TIME TO GROW.

RU2 AND EVERY TIME THEY SEND UP A RU2 SHOOT, WE CUT IT OFF.

RU2 AND THEY SEND UP ANOTHER ONE AND RU2 WE CUT IT OFF.

RU2 AND THEY SEND IT ANOTHER ONE AND RU2 WE CUT IT OFF.

RU2 THIS GOES ON FOR SIX WEEKS.

RU2 >> SIX WEEKS OF HARVEST MEANS UP RU2 TO 40 ROUNDS OF CUTTINGS FROM RU2 EACH PLANT.

RU2 THE ROOT SYSTEM OF THE PLANT IS RU2 KNOWN AS THE CROWN.

RU2 THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND FALL, RU2 HEALTHY ASPARAGUS PLANTS PUMP RU2 NUTRIENTS DOWN INTO THE CROWN.

RU2 ONCE SPRING HITS, THE HEALTHY RU2 CROWNS ARE READY TO SEND SHOOTS RU2 SKYWARD.

RU2 HIS CREW WILL TYPICALLY HARVEST RU2 FROM THE SAME PLANT FOR UP TO 14 RU2 YEARS.

RU2 >> THERE'S NOTHING THAT EATS RU2 LIKE SPHRUTION.

RU2 IT'S THE FIRST -- ASPARAGUS.

RU2 IT'S THE FIRST THING OF THE RU2 SEASON.

RU2 AND THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT RU2 BEING FIRST.

RU2 IT'S A GOOD THING.

RU2 >> TOM IS A LIFELONG HADLEY RU2 RESIDENT AND THIRD-GENERATION RU2 FARMER WHO WAS NOT ONLY RU2 CONTINUING THE TRADITION GROWING RU2 ASPARAGUS, BUT ALSO SPEARHEADING RU2 A MISSION TO MAKE HADLEY THE RU2 OFFICIAL ASPARAGUS CAPITAL OF RU2 THE WORLD.

RU2 >> I CALLED UP MICHIGAN, RU2 MINNESOTA, CALIFORNIA, AND RU2 NEW JERSEY.

RU2 ALL BIG GROWERS OF ASPARAGUS.

RU2 THEY ALL KNEW OF HADLEY.

RU2 IT WAS AMAZING TO ME.

RU2 ALL OF THESE STATES AND OFFICES RU2 KNEW OF HADLEY ASPARAGUS, AND RU2 THEY SAID, NO, NO, THAT IS RU2 HADLEY'S CLAIM.

RU2 IT'S ALL YOURS.

RU2 SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD ABOUT RU2 THAT.

RU2 PEOPLE WANT IT FRESH, JUST RU2 PICKED.

RU2 ENGTHIS THAT -- THEY KNOW THAT.

RU2 THEY WANT TO COOK THAT LUNCH OR RU2 DINNER THAT NIGHT BECAUSE IT'S RU2 GOT SO MUCH FLAVOR.

RU2 SO IDEALLY, IF YOU CAN EAT IT 12 RU2 HOURS FROM BEING HARVESTED, RU2 YOU'RE GOLDEN.

RU2 YOU'LL LOVE IT.

RU2 >> BACK AT FLAYVORS OF COOK RU2 FARM, TIME IS RUNNING OUT IF YOU RU2 WANT TO TRY THIS YEAR'S HADLEY RU2 GRASS.

RU2 >> WE USUALLY HAVE IT THROUGH RU2 PROBABLY THE FIRST OR SECOND RU2 WEEK OF JUNE.

RU2 ONCE THE GROWING SAYS STOPS -- RU2 SEASON STOPS, WE HAVE IT UNTIL RU2 WE'RE OUT.

RU2 >> AND WHILE FOR MOST OF US A RU2 STOP AT AN ICE CREAM SHOP IS A RU2 SUMMER TREAT, FOR THE COOK RU2 FAMILY IT'S THEIR LIFE.

RU2 PLAY VORS OF COOK FARM ICE CREAM RU2 IS NESTLED BETWEEN A HANDFUL OF RU2 DAIRY COWS AND SOME OLD WOODEN RU2 BARNS ON THE PROPERTY OF COOK'S RU2 FARM IN HADLEY.

RU2 AND DEBBY COOK EXPLAINS HOW THE RU2 FAMILY HAS A, DAD WITH THE RU2 CHANGING TIMES TO REMAIN A RU2 STAPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

RU2 >> WE OPENED IN 1998.

RU2 THIS YES WAS BETH'S DREAM, MY RU2 MOTHER IN LAW'S DREAM.

RU2 SHE WORKED IN THE BARN AND SHE RU2 DIFFERENTED A -- WANTED A RU2 DIFFERENT KIND OF MESSY THAN THE RU2 BARN MESSY.

RU2 SHE ALWAYS DREAMED OF HAVING AN RU2 ICE CREAM SHOP.

RU2 SHE WAS VERY SOCIAL.

RU2 >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL RU2 EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE RIGHT NOW RU2 ON WEB PAGE AT RU2 NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

RU2 >>> THE CONNECTICUT LGHTS FILM RU2 FESTIVAL IS BACK FOR ITS THINK RU2 5TH YEAR.

RU2 THIS 10-DAY FESTIVAL, PRESENTED RU2 BY OUT FILM CT, IS TAKING PLACE RU2 FROM JUNE 3RD THROUGH THE 12TH RU2 IN HARTFORD, AND WILL FEATURE RU2 OVER 100 FILMS FROM OVER 25 RU2 COUNTRIES.

RU2 KNOWN AS BEING CONNECTICUT'S RU2 LONGEST RUNNING FILM FESTIVAL, RU2 THIS YEAR THE EVENT LOOKS RU2 FORWARD TO WELCOMING BACK RU2 ATTENDEES IN WESTERN AS WELL AS RU2 VURLLY.

RU2 I SPOKE TO FESTIVAL CO-DIRECTOR RU2 SHANE ENGSTROM TO LEARN MORE.

RU2 >> THE FESTIVAL ITSELF WAS RU2 STARTED BACK IN 1988, THE FIRST RU2 FESTIVAL.

RU2 BUT IT WAS PART OF A LARGER RU2 ORGANIZATION CALLED RU2 ALTERNATIVES.

RU2 AND THEY HAD LIKE THEATER RU2 PRODUCTIONS, THEY HAD A LITERARY RU2 MAGAZINE, AND IT WAS -- IT WAS RU2 KIND OF A -- YOU KNOW, AN RU2 OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LGBTQ RU2 COMMUNITY TO GET SOME ARTISTIC RU2 CONTENT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

RU2 SO THE FESTIVAL WAS PART OF RU2 THAT.

RU2 AND IT'S UNFORTUNATELY IT'S THE RU2 ONLY PART OF THE ORIGINAL RU2 ORGANIZATION THAT HAS CARRIED RU2 THROUGH FOR THE 35 YEARS.

RU2 >> I UNDERSTAND THAT EARLY IN RU2 THE YEARS OF THE FESTIVAL, YOU RU2 ALL WERE MET WITH SOME RU2 CHALLENGES.

RU2 AND YOU KNOW, BEING PART, THERE RU2 WAS NOT A LOT OF PUBLICITY AND RU2 ALSO EVENTS FOR THE LGBTQ RU2 COMMUNITY WEREN'T THAT COMMON RU2 THEN.

RU2 BUT THE FESTIVAL IS OBVIOUSLY RU2 STILL HERE 35 YEARS LATER!

RU2 SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THIS RU2 EVENT HAS GROWN AND HOW IT HAS RU2 SOUND SUCCESS -- FOUND SUCCESS RU2 THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

RU2 >> LIKE TO YOUR POINT, WHEN THE RU2 VERY FIRST FESTIVAL HAPPENED, RU2 THEY ACTUALLY SHOWED UP WITH TV RU2 CAMERAS THERE AND SO MANY PEOPLE RU2 WERE AFRAID TO BE SHOWN ON TV RU2 BECAUSE OF JUST THE ATMOSPHERE RU2 IN THOSE DAYS.

RU2 BUT A LOT HAS CHANGED SINGERS.

RU2 -- SINCE.

RU2 AND YOU KNOW, THE FESTIVAL HAS RU2 CONTINUED TO GROW YEAR OVER RU2 YEAR.

RU2 IT'S NOW LIKE A 10-DAY FESTIVAL, RU2 WHEREAS WHEN IT FIRST STARTED IT RU2 WAS A SHORT TWO PROGRAMS ON TWO RU2 SEPARATE WEEKENDS.

RU2 AND THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL WE HAVE RU2 113 FILMS BEING SHOWN FROM 28 RU2 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, OVER 10 RU2 DAYS, AND WE'RE ALSO ONLINE AS RU2 WELL AS IN THE THEATERS.

RU2 SO IT'S REALLY BLOSSOMED.

RU2 >> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS RU2 YEAR'S FESTIVAL.

RU2 IT WAS TWO PROGRAMS.

RU2 THIS YEAR 31 PROGRAMS FEATURING RU2 OVER 100 FILMS AND FEATURES SO RU2 WATCH.

RU2 WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT AT THIS RU2 YEAR'S FESTIVAL?

RU2 >> WE ALWAYS TRY TO FIND FILMS RU2 THAT REFLECT ALL ASPECTS OF THE RU2 LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

RU2 SO WE'LL HAVE DOCUMENTARIES.

RU2 WE WILL HAVE FEATURE FILMS.

RU2 WE'LL HAVE NINE DIFFERENT SHORTS RU2 PROGRAMS.

RU2 IN ALL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

RU2 GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, RU2 INTERNATIONAL, BIPOCK, AND WE RU2 TRY TO HIT ON ALL OF THE RU2 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES SO THAT RU2 PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RU2 SEE THEMSELVES ON THE BIG RU2 SCREEN.

RU2 >> WITH SO MANY DIVERSE FILMS RU2 AND SUCH A VARIETY OF THINGS TO RU2 CHOOSE FROM, WHAT ARE YOU RU2 PERSONALLY MOST EXCITED TO VIEW RU2 AT THE FESTIVAL?

RU2 >> I LOVE ALL OF THEM, HONESTLY!

RU2 BUT -- BUT WE HAVE SOME GREAT RU2 FILMS COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.

RU2 WE HAVE THE FILM, "KEEP THE RU2 CAMERAS ROLLING."

RU2 I DON'T IF YOU REMEMBER IT.

RU2 MTV REAL WORLD, WHEN PEDRO RU2 ZAMORA WAS FIRST INTRODUCED THE RU2 FIRST GUY TO BE ON TV WITH AIDS, RU2 AND LIVING IN A HOUSE, THERE'S A RU2 FASCINATING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT RU2 HIM.

RU2 THAT WILL BE SHOWING VIRTUALLY RU2 ONLINE AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY RU2 TO HAVE A Q & A WITH THE FILM'S RU2 CO-DIRECTORS.

RU2 SO THAT'S ANOTHER ASPECT OF RU2 HAVING A FESTIVAL THAT'S RU2 DIFFERENT THAN JUST -- CINEPLEX RU2 DOWN THE ROAD, IS YOU GET TO RU2 TALK TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE RU2 MAKING THE FILMS AND GETTING RU2 INSIGHTS FROM THEM.

RU2 ALSO, THERE'S A FILM THAT'S ONLY RU2 SHOWING AT HARTFORD CALLED RU2 "GREAT FREEDOM," WHICH IS AN RU2 AMAZING FILM SET IN GERMANY.

RU2 AND IT'S ABOUT THIS GUY WHO GOT RU2 OUT OF THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS, RU2 BUT THEN WAS PUT RIGHT BACK INTO RU2 PRISON AGAIN BECAUSE HE -- HE RU2 HAD VIOLATED PARAGRAPH 175, RU2 WHICH OUTLAWED BEING GAY IN RU2 GERMANY.

RU2 SO PEOPLE DON'T REALLY REALIZE RU2 THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS GOING RU2 ON BACK THEN.

RU2 AND IT'S A FASCINATING STORY.

RU2 REALLY WELL MADE.

RU2 AND IT WAS OSCAR SUFFICIENT FOR RU2 INTERNATIONAL FILM THIS YEAR.

RU2 IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE QUALITY RU2 OF THE FILMS WE'RE SHOWING.

RU2 >> THIS YEAR THE PARTIES ARE RU2 BACK, WHICH IS -- RU2 >> YES.

RU2 >> YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT.

RU2 TELL ME ABOUT THOSE AND WHAT RU2 YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST RU2 ABOUT BRINGING THEM BACK?

RU2 >> WE HAD OUR GREAT OPENING RU2 PARTY, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL, AT RU2 TRINITY COLLEGE.

RU2 BUT COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, ON RU2 CLOSING NIGHT, WE'RE ACTUALLY RU2 GOING TO BE HAVING OUR CLOSING RU2 NIGHT PARTY AT THE CONNECTICUT RU2 SCIENCE CENTER IN HARTFORD.

RU2 SO WE HAVE TWO FILMS SHOWING RU2 THAT NIGHT.

RU2 ONE AT APPLE CINEMAS ON FROM RU2 STREET IN HARTFORD, WHICH USED RU2 TO BE THE SPOTLIGHT THEATERS BUT RU2 IT CHANGED TO APPLE CINEMAS.

RU2 AND THAT ONE IS KIND OF THE RU2 WOMEN'S FEATURE FILM CALLED RU2 "GIRL PICTURE."

RU2 AND THEN THE MEN'S FILM IS RU2 CALLED "WILDHOOD."

RU2 WHICH IS PLAYING AT THE RU2 CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER.

RU2 THEY'RE JUST A BLOCK AWAY.

RU2 SO EVERYONE IS GOING TO COME RU2 TOGETHER FOR THE BIG PARTY RU2 AFTERWARDS.

RU2 AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT RU2 TIME.

RU2 WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, FOOD, DRINKS, RU2 MUSIC.

RU2 WE'LL HAVE A DJ.

RU2 SO IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT TIME.

RU2 >> SINCE 1912, THE BALBONI RU2 BAKERY IN AGAWAM HAS STOOD THE RU2 TEST OF TIME.

RU2 NOW BEING RUN BY THE FOURTH RU2 GENERATION OF THE WHREAM, RU2 THEY'RE STILL PRODUCING THEIR RU2 FAMOUS STAR BREAD, AMONG MANY RU2 OTHER TREAT CREATED FROM THAT RU2 TIME-HONORED COMBINATION OF RU2 YEAST, WATER, FLOUR, AND A HOT RU2 OVEN.

RU2 "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN RU2 SULLIVAN VISITED THE KING STREET RU2 NEIGHBORHOOD IN AGAWAM TO BRING RU2 US THE STORY.

RU2 >> SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO RU2 BEAT THE COMPETITION IS ON RU2 OUTLAST -- IS TO OUTLAST THEM, RU2 WHICH MEANS MAY TAINING A ROW RU2 BRO -- MAINTAINING A LOW RU2 PROFILE.

RU2 TUCKED AWAY IN A STREET, WITH AN RU2 ENTRYWAY NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN A RU2 BACKYARD SHED.

RU2 IT ALSO HELPS TO HAVE EQUIPMENT RU2 THAT WAS BUILT TO LAST.

RU2 >> YOU MIGHT HAVE -- [INAUDIBLE] RU2 THAT WAS BOUGHT DURING WOODROW RU2 WILSON'S PRESIDENCY.

RU2 AND THE ROLL SHEETER AND THE RU2 OVEN WAS ALSO DURING RU2 EISENHOWER'S PRESIDENCY.

RU2 AND THAT ROOM HERE NEXT TO ME RU2 WAS THE OLD HEARTH'S BRICK OVEN.

RU2 AND WE HAD IT REMOVED AND WE PUT RU2 THE NEW -- A NEW ROOM ON AND A RU2 NEW OVEN.

RU2 AND MY POOR FATHER USED TO SAY, RU2 SEE YOU AT 7:00?

RU2 THAT'S MY CADILLAC.

RU2 BECAUSE AT THE TIME, THE OVEN RU2 COST ABOUT AS MUCH AS THE RU2 CADILLAC DID.

RU2 >> THIS CLASSIC BAKERY IS A RU2 TUESDAY-THURSDAY, SATURDAY, AND RU2 SUNDAY OPERATION, WITH RU2 FOURTH-GENERATION MARK BALBONI RU2 HANDLING THE DAY-TO-DAY, RU2 INCLUDING DELIVERIES.

RU2 AND TWIN SISTER MONICA GIVES UP RU2 HER NURSING TITLE FOR A COUPLE RU2 OF DAYS TO WORK THE OVEN ON THE RU2 WEEKENDS.

RU2 AROUND THESE PARTS, THAT'S KIND RU2 OF A BIG DEAL.

RU2 >> THE OVEN IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED RU2 THE HEART OF THE BAKERY.

RU2 THAT'S WHERE THE BREAD GETS RU2 COOKED.

RU2 THERE'S A SPECIAL SKILL SET RU2 BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT RU2 DOESN'T GET BURNED.

RU2 IT'S NOT UNDERDONE, IT'S COOKED RU2 THROUGH.

RU2 AND TRADITIONALLY, FOR THE 110 RU2 SO YEARS BEFORE THIS, IT HAD RU2 BEEN A -- GUYS WERE IN THE OVEN RU2 ROOM THERE.

RU2 WERE NEVER ANY WOMEN.

RU2 SO I'M THE FIRST -- NOW MY RU2 COUSIN KARA, SHE DID GO IN THERE RU2 WITH HER DAD EVERY ONCE IN A RU2 WHILE AND I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT RU2 15 AT THE TIME AND I'M THINKING, RU2 THAT'S GOING TO BE ME ONE DAY.

RU2 AND HERE WE ARE.

RU2 IT'S -- RU2 >> WHEN WE DROPPED BY ON THIS RU2 SATURDAY MORNING, IT WAS ALREADY RU2 TIME FOR THE SECOND SHIFT.

RU2 AND THERE WERE THREE GENERATIONS RU2 IN THE HOUSE.

RU2 THIS INCLUDED MOPPINGA AND RU2 MARK'S FATHER KEN, WHO STARTED RU2 WORKING HERE WHERE -- WHEN HE RU2 WAS 7 YEARS OLD AND NOW HE GETS RU2 TO SEE THE LASTING LEGACY OF RU2 THIS 110-YEAR-OLD BAKERY.

RU2 >> THE ONLY -- [INAUDIBLE] AND RU2 BECAUSE THERE WERE PLENTY OF RU2 COMPETITORS BACK IN THE DAY.

RU2 SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, I CAME RU2 HERE WHEN I WAS A KID AND YOU RU2 KNOW, I LIKED IT SO MUCH I CAME RU2 BACK AND -- WHEN THEY GO OUT OF RU2 TIME, THEY MAKE IT A POINT TO RU2 COME HERE TO GET THE BREAD.

RU2 >> THE NUMBER ONE BREAD IN RU2 QUESTION THAT KEEPS THEM COMING RU2 BACK WOULD OF HALF -- WOULD HAVE RU2 TO HAVE THE STAR BREAD, OR HORN RU2 BREAD OR BOLOGNESE BREAD.

RU2 IT'S A FOUR-CORNERED CRUSTY RU2 SOURDOUGH BREAD AND BALBONI'S IS RU2 ONE OF THE FEW PLACES LEFT THAT RU2 STILL MAKES IT.

RU2 APPARENTLY, THEY'VE BEEN MAKING RU2 IT RIGHT FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

RU2 >> I GREW UP COMING HERE ON RU2 SUNDAYS TO GRAB BREAD, YOU KNOW, RU2 FOR SUNDAY DINNER.

RU2 AND I'VE JUST PRETTY MUCH KEPT RU2 DOING IT, YOU KNOW.

RU2 THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, RU2 GETTING MARRIED AND RAISING MY RU2 FAMILY.

RU2 YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN COMING HERE RU2 FOREVER.

RU2 WE CALL IT THE HIDDEN BAKERY IN RU2 OUR FAMILY BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU RU2 DRIVE RIGHT BY IT.

RU2 BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE RU2 FAMILY BUSINESSES IN TOWN AND WE RU2 LOVE SUPPORTING THEM.

RU2 THAT'S ANOTHER BIG REASON WE RU2 COME HERE.

RU2 >> THE FAMILY SEEMED PRETTY RU2 INTENT ON ME GETTING MY HANDS RU2 DIRTY THIS MORNING.

RU2 THE ONLY QUESTION WAS WHAT WOULD RU2 I MAKING.

RU2 WELL, AFTER SIZING ME UP, THEY RU2 DECIDED TO SET THEIR RU2 EXPECTATIONS A LITTLE LOWER FOR RU2 ME.

RU2 THE ORANGE PLAN WAS -- ORIGINAL RU2 PLAN WAS TO HAVE ME MAKE A STAR RU2 BREAD, BUT THAT'S TOO ADVANCED.

RU2 I'M MAKING SOME BREADSTICKS RU2 INSTEAD.

RU2 IT'S A PRETTY SAFE BET THAT RU2 THESE STICKS DIDN'T MAKE IT TO RU2 MARKET.

RU2 BUT NOW IN THE YEAR 2022, IT'S RU2 110 YEARS AND COUNTING THAT THE RU2 BALANCE BANOY -- BALBONI FAMILY RU2 IS DELIVERING TO SEVERAL RU2 MARKETS.

RU2 THE ONUS NOW RESTS ON THE RU2 SHOULDERS OF TWINS MARK AND RU2 MONICA.

RU2 STRESSFUL?

RU2 MAYBE.

RU2 FUN TO STILL BE ABLE TO WORK RU2 CLOSELY WITH FAMILY?

RU2 DEFINITELY.

RU2 >> IT'S GREAT WORKING TOGETHER.

RU2 I MEAN, IT REALLY BUILDS A BOND RU2 THAT YOU CAN'T GET IN ANY OTHER RU2 SORT OF SITUATION.

RU2 HERE AND THERE, THERE ARE TIFS RU2 AND WE GO BACK AND FORTH ON WHO RU2 HAS THE BETTER SKILLS AND/OR RU2 IDEAS FOR WHAT THE BREAD NEEDS.

RU2 BUT IN THE END, IT'S GREAT.

RU2 >>> EVERIY, "CONNECTING POINT" RU2 EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, RU2 CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT BAKE RU2 US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

RU2 BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

RU2 YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME RU2 FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND RU2 CONTENT.

RU2 IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL RU2 EXCLUSIVE, THIRD-GENERATION RU2 BREAD MAKER MARTIN BALBONI OF RU2 BALANCEONI -- BALBONI FAMILY RU2 BAKERY DISCUSSES THE CHANGES TO RU2 THE KING STREET NEIGHBORHOOD RU2 OVER THE YEARS AND WHERE HE SEES RU2 THE OPERATION GOING IN THE RU2 FUTURE.

RU2 >> IT WAS CENTERED AROUND THE RU2 MILLS.

RU2 THE PAPER MILLS.

RU2 AND PEOPLE USED TO WALK TO WORK RU2 BACK THEN.

RU2 AND THEY'D WALK TO WORK TO THE RU2 MILL AND COME BACK ON THEIR WAY RU2 HOME, STOP HERE AND BUY THEIR RU2 BREAD.

RU2 >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL RU2 EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT RU2 NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

RU2 >>> FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS RU2 OF HIS MOTHER, PITTSFIELD RU2 DMAITIVE AND AUTHOR KEVIN O'HARA RU2 BAKE A NURSE AND WENT TO THE RU2 SPEND THREE DECADES WORKING IN RU2 THE PSYCHIATRIC WARD AT RU2 BERKSHIRE MEDICAL CENTER.

RU2 HIS MOMENT BOY ENTITLED -- RU2 MEMOIR "INS AND OUTS OF A LOCKED RU2 WARD," TAKE RADARS ON A JOURNEY RU2 THROUGH HIS TIME AS O'HARA RU2 REFLECTS ON HIS CAREER OFFERING RU2 INAND IT'S INTO MESS AND HOW RU2 TREATMENTS HAVE CHANGED RU2 THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

RU2 >> I BELIEVE 4,000 PATIENTS CAME RU2 THROUGH TO TURNSTILES DURING MY RU2 TENURE THERE.

RU2 SO THAT'S HARD TO PINT POINT.

RU2 MEAN -- PINPOINT.

RU2 MANY ANECDOTES, MANY OF WHICH RU2 TOOK PLACE WHEN I WAS AN RU2 ORDERLY.

RU2 THEY WERE THE TRYING TIMES.

RU2 I RECALL ONE EVENT WHEN WE HAD RU2 THIS MAN WHO WAS FOREVER FELT AS RU2 THOUGH HE WAS CONSTIPATED THOUGH RU2 HE WASN'T.

RU2 AND HE WAS FOREVER ASKING FOR RU2 THE BED PAN.

RU2 AND ALWAYS ASKING FOR THE BED RU2 PAN.

RU2 AND SAY, DID I GO, JOE?

RU2 AFTER WARDS WE ROLLED HIM OFF RU2 THE BED PAN AND OF COURSE IT WAS RU2 EMPTY AND HE HAD GONE DEVICE RU2 ALREADY ANYHOW.

RU2 THIS WAS NO IND -- TWICE ALREADY RU2 ANYHOW.

RU2 THERE WAS NO END IN SITE.

RU2 I WAS OUTSIDE IN THE ALL-AFTER RU2 HE DREW THE CURTAINS AND PUT THE RU2 BED PAN BENEATH HIM, AND THERE RU2 WAS A BAKED POTATO ON THE CART.

RU2 SO WHEN I ROLLED HIM OVER, RU2 SLIPPED IT INTO THE BED PAN.

RU2 HE SHOUTED HIS REGULAR REFRAIN, RU2 DID I GO, JOE?

RU2 AND I TOOK THE BED PAN, I RU2 RUMBLED IT OVER HIS HEAD, I RU2 SAID, MY GOD, MR. REYNOLDS, DID RU2 YOU EVER.

RU2 AND FROM THERE ON HE SAID THAT'S RU2 THE MOTHER LODE I'VE BEEN RU2 WAITING ON.

RU2 AND SURE ENOUGH I CURED HIM!

RU2 [LAUGHTER] RU2 I CURED HIM, YOU KNOW.

RU2 SO THAT WAS JUST ONE MOMENT OF RU2 MANY, MANY MOMENTS.

RU2 BUT THAT ONE SEEMS TO COME TO RU2 MIND AND OF COURSE, BEING AN RU2 IRISHMAN SAVED BY A POTATO, RU2 THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.

RU2 >> MUCH LIKE THE STORY YOU JUST RU2 TOLD, YOU TAKE A HUMOROUS RU2 APPROACH TO A LOT OF STORIES.

RU2 WHEN YOU HEAR PSYCHIATRIC NURSE RU2 OR PSYCH UNIT, PSYCH WARD, YOUR RU2 MIND TENDS TO GO TO KIND OF A RU2 SERIOUS PLACE.

RU2 BUT YOU TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF RU2 THAT SERIOUSNESS OUT OF IT.

RU2 SO WHY DO YOU TAKE THIS APPROACH RU2 WHEN THINKING ABOUT THE STORIES RU2 AND TELLING THE STORIES?

RU2 >> WELL, HUMOR -- WELL, AS THEY RU2 SAY, HUMOR IS THE BEST MEDICINE RU2 AND IT WAS ALSO A GREAT RU2 BAROMETER TO HOW SOMEONE WAS RU2 DOING.

RU2 IT MADE LIGHT OF IT.

RU2 IT WAS TRENCH HUMOR, YOU KNOW.

RU2 FOXHOLE HUMOR, MORE OR LESS, BUT RU2 IT GOT YOU THROUGH DIFFICULT RU2 TIMES.

RU2 THERE ARE MANY, MANY THINGS.

RU2 THEY CALLED ME NURSE LIGHT.

RU2 IT WAS MY NICKNAME.

RU2 NURSE LIGHT, BECAUSE I HAD ONLY RU2 DONE MY 30 YEARS AS A RU2 PSYCHIATRIC NURSE.

RU2 I NEVER WENT TO ICU OR CCU.

RU2 OR TO MEDICAL UNIT.

RU2 SO I WAS ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS IN RU2 A MAYDAY SITUATION.

RU2 IN FACT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, RU2 I DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE RU2 BETWEEN A CARDIAC PADDLE AND A RU2 PING-PONG PADDLE, YOU KNOW?

RU2 SO I WAS DESPERATE.

RU2 BUT I WAS ALSO CALLED A PEZ RU2 NURSE BECAUSE ONE THING I COULD RU2 DO WELL WAS PASS MEDICATIONS.

RU2 ALTHOUGH IN THE BOOK I DO TALK RU2 ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MISTAKES.

RU2 FORTUNATELY THEY NEVER SENT RU2 ANYBODY TO ROOM 500.

RU2 THAT'S THE MORGUE.

RU2 BUT I HAD A COUPLE OF CLOSE RU2 CALLS.

RU2 BUT WE FIGURED OUT THAT OVER THE RU2 YEARS, I HAD DISHED OUT OVER RU2 250,000 PILLS.

RU2 >> OH, MY GOD!

RU2 >> YEAH.

RU2 THAT'S A LOT!

RU2 YOU KNOW, THAT'S A WHOPPING RU2 NUMBER.

RU2 THAT'S A QUARTER AFTER MILLION RU2 PILLS AND I THINK I MADE THREE RU2 OR FOUR MISTAKES.

RU2 >> THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

RU2 I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD RU2 TRACK RECORD, RIGHTER?

RU2 WE'RE ALL ALLOWED A COUPLE RU2 MISTAKES.

RU2 >> YEAH.

RU2 THAT I KNOW OF, ANYWAYS, RIGHT?

RU2 >> RIGHT.

RU2 AND I WANT TO TALK, BECAUSE SOME RU2 OF THIS STUFF THAT YOU'RE RU2 TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE LAUGHING RU2 BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, HUMOR IS RU2 GREAT MEDICINE.

RU2 BUT IT'S REALLY SOME SERIOUS AND RU2 HEAVY STUFF.

RU2 WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT RU2 YOURSELF DURING THESE THREE RU2 DECADES AS A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE?

RU2 >> NOTHING.

RU2 [LAUGHTER] RU2 ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

RU2 I'M BACK TO THE STARTING POINT.

RU2 GEES, I DON'T KNOW.

RU2 JUST A WHOLE WASH OF DIFFERENT RU2 EMOTIONS.

RU2 I LEARNED THAT PATIENTS RU2 GENERALLY TELL THE TRUTH LIKE RU2 CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY CHRONIC RU2 PATIENTS.

RU2 BUT I SAW ALL SORTS OF EMOTION.

RU2 AND IN THE BOOK, IT'S A REAL -- RU2 I SUPPOSE ROLLER COASTER OF RU2 EMOTION, BECAUSE SOME STORIES RU2 JUST AREN'T HAPPY.

RU2 AND THEY'LL NEVER BE HAPPY, RU2 RIGHT?

RU2 BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LINING RU2 BEHIND IT -- NICE LINING BEHIND RU2 IT.

RU2 AND YOU GET A SETS, PEOPLE WHO RU2 HAVE READ THE BOOK SAY IT GIVES RU2 A GREAT HUMANIZING TO A PATIENT RU2 AND THAT THEY'RE JUST LIKE US RU2 AND EVERYBODY IS JUST TRYING TO RU2 GET BY AS BEST THEY COULD.

RU2 AND THAT'S EVIDENT IN THE RU2 STORIES, NOT THE WAY I WROTE RU2 THEM, BUT THE WAY THEY WERE.

RU2 YOU KNOW, SO I TRIED TO BE AS RU2 TRUTHFUL AS I COULD ON THE PAGE RU2 WHEN I SPOKE AND WROTE ABOUT, RU2 YOU KNOW, PEOPLOUS STRUGGLING.

RU2 -- PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES, EVERY RU2 DAY STRUGGLES.

RU2 WE HAD A PATIENT WHO WAS VERY RU2 PARANOID.

RU2 TOOK HER OUT ON A PASS JUST TO RU2 SEE HOW SHE WAS DOING.

RU2 SHE WAS WITH US FOR EIGHT OR 10 RU2 DAYS BUT IT WAS TIME FOR HER TO RU2 TEST THE WATERS.

RU2 AND SHE SEEMED VERY GOOD INDOORS RU2 OR NUT THE COURTYARD.

RU2 BUT WHEN SHE WAS OUTSIDE, OUT OF RU2 THE BUILDING, A FELLA WALKED BY RU2 US WITH A BOMB T-SHIRT -- BOMA RU2 T-SHIRT, BUT SHE STARTED, YOU RU2 KNOW, WALLOWING AND HAD TO GO RU2 BACK BECAUSE SHE WAS CONVINCED RU2 THAT HE WORE THAT SWEATSHIRT TO RU2 MOCK HER BECAUSE SHE DID HAVE A RU2 JOB -- DIDN'T HAVE A JOB.

RU2 THAT'S HOW SENSITIVE PEOPLE CAN RU2 BE.

RU2 WE HAD ANOTHER GUY AND I SAW HIM RU2 WITH HIS SHOES ON THE WRONG FEET RU2 AND I POINTED IT OUT TO HIM.

RU2 I SAID, YOU HAVE THE SHOES ON RU2 THE RIGHT FEET.

RU2 HE SAID, I KNOW, I JUST WANTED RU2 TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WAKE RU2 UP WITH YOUR SHOE ON THE WRONG RU2 FOOT, YOU KNOW.

RU2 I SAID, OKAY!

RU2 GOT IT.

RU2 >> THAT COMPLETELY REMINDS ME OF RU2 A CHILD.

RU2 IT'S JUST LIKE I WANTED TO TRY A RU2 QUICK EXPERIMENT.

RU2 >> RIGHT.

RU2 >> KEVIN, THIS IS YOUR FOURTH RU2 MEMOIR TO DATE.

RU2 WHAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL TAKEAWAY RU2 THAT YOU HOPE READERS HAVE AFTER RU2 READING THIS BOOK?

RU2 >> A GREATER UNDERSTANDING, RU2 PERHAPS, OF THE INSTRUMENTALS OF RU2 THESE FOLKS.

RU2 I -- STRUGGLES OF THESE FOLKS.

RU2 STREET ALL THE TIME.

RU2 MOST PEOPLE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE RU2 THEM.

RU2 IT'S JUST A TOUGH OLD GO.

RU2 AND TO BE AWARE OF THAT, THAT RU2 THAT WOULD HELP.

RU2 IN FACT, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN RU2 IDEA, WE HAD A PATIENT AND HE RU2 WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE RU2 BECAUSE HE KEPT CROSSING, RU2 HITTING THE RED LIGHT TO CROSS A RU2 PEDESTRIAN RED LIGHT ON NORTH RU2 STREET HERE IN PITTSFIELD.

RU2 AND WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHEN HE RU2 WAS YEP WHY HE WAS DOING IT, I RU2 GUESS HE'D BEEN DOING IT AN HOUR RU2 OR TWO, BACK AND FORTH, TRAFFIC RU2 EVERYWHERE, RIGHT?

RU2 AND ASKED WHY HE DID IT, HE SAID RU2 IT'S THE ONLY TIME IN MY LIFE I RU2 FEEL LOOK I GET RESPECT.

RU2 >> AND FOR MORE FROM AUTHOR RU2 KEVIN O'HARA, HEAD OVER TO RU2 "CONNECTING POINT" ONLINE FOR A RU2 DIGITAL EXTRA AS HE READS RU2 EXCERPTS FROM HIS BOOK, "INS AND RU2 OUTS OF A LOCKED WARD," GIVING RU2 US A GLIMPSE OF WHAT LIFE WAS RU2 LIKE DURING HIS 30 YEARS AS A RU2 PSYCHIATRIC NURSE AT BERKSHIRE RU2 MEDICAL CENTER IN PITTSFIELD.

RU2 >> ONCE WE GOT HIM OFF THE RU2 STRETCHER, HE WALK WITH THE A RU2 WOBBLE AS IF PUNCHED DRUNK OR RU2 MAYBE HE HAD RICKETS AS A KID.

RU2 HE HAD LITTLE BODY ODOR, TRUE RU2 ENOUGH, BUT HIS WORN SHIRT AND RU2 STAINED PANTS STANK OF URINE AND RU2 MILD DUE.

RU2 HE WAS THE STRANGEST LITTLE DUDE RU2 WHO EVER GRACED OUR UNIT AND RU2 THAT'S SAYING A MOUTHFUL.

RU2 >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL RU2 EXTRA AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW ON OUR RU2 ONE WEB PAGE.

RU2 AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS RU2 EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

RU2 REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND RU2 ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW RU2 IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS RU2 EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY RU2 CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE RU2 ANYTIME AT RU2 NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

RU2 OUR THANKS TO THE SPRINGFIELD RU2 MUSEUMS FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

RU2 AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US RU2 AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR RU2 MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, RU2 CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE RU2 US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

RU2 I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

RU2 THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE RU2 CARE.

RU2 >>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING RU2 POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR RU2 CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

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