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

AS KIDS RETURN TO SCHOOL IN SOME WESTERN MASS COMMUNITIES, WE CHECK IN ON ONE DISTRICT TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING.

>> KIDS WERE RUNNING IN, PARENTS WERE LIKE, SEIA!

HAVE A GREAT DAY?

WE ARE SEE GLAD TO SEE KIDS.

IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING.

>> WORKING REMOTELY THAT IS HAYED WHAT OFFICE LIFE LOOKS LIKE SO WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE?

>> SHOULD I GET MORE SPACE?

DO YOU HAVE ROOM TO EXPAND?

TO KEEP MY PEOPLE FARTHER APART?

DO I INCREASE THE SIZE OF MY CUBICLES TO CREATE MORE SEPARATION.

>>> AND NORTH ADAMS MAYOR TOM BERNARD ON HIS DECISION TO NOT SEEK REELECTION.

>> THINKING ABOUT THE CONTINUED RECOVERY, THAT WORK AND A CAMPAIGN, I FELT LIKE I COULD DO TWO OF THOSE THINGS BUT NOT THREE.

>>> DETAILS ON THOSE STORIES AND MORE UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

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

>>> GOOD EVENING.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

SINCE LAST MARCH AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOLYOKE STUDENTS LIKE MANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN LEARNING REMOTELY.

NOW NEARLY ONE YEAR LATER, THE HOLYOKE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO BEGIN WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING THROUGH A HYBRID MODEL.

WHAT THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS IN PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN RETURNING HOME I SPOKE WITH THE PRINCIPAL AT THE E.N.

WHITE SCHOOL AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING WITH THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> OUR SCHEDULE VARIES.

SO FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, PRE-K AND K THEY ARE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY OF FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY.

AND THEN WE CLOSE AND DEEP CLEAN ON WE UNDERSTAND.

O-WEDNESDAY.

IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO COME IN FOR HYBRID LEARNING WE STILL HAVE THE REMOTE OPTION.

SO WHEN YOU GO INTO MY PRE-K, K CLASSES YOU WILL ANYWHERE FROM EIGHT TO 10 STUDENTS, SIX FEET APART IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND THEN A LARGE 60-" KISS PLAY WITH 10 OTHER ZOOMING IN FROM HOME.

IN FIRST AND SECOND GRADE, THE COHORTS ARE BROKEN UP INTO TWO COHORTS.

SO EITHER A, YOU COME ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, OR B, YOU COME ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

SO THE COHORTS ARE A LITTLE SMALLER.

AGAIN, THE REMOTE OPTION IS STILL THERE.

SO WHEN I WENT TO VISIT THIS MORNING, I COULD SEE FRIENDS IN THE CLASSROOM AND THEN I COULD ALSO SEE FRIENDS ON THE DISPLAY.

SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THAT HAPPENING.

>> SO WITH THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS BEING BACK IN SCHOOL FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW, AND THE NEXT COHORT JUST BEGINNING THIS WEEK, HOW HAS IT BEEN GOING?

HOW HAVE THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BEEN?

HOW DID IT TOO HE WILL TO WELCOME EVERYBODY BACK?

>> IT WAS AMAZING.

IT WAS AMAZING.

BROUGHT TEAR TO MY EYES.

BROUGHT TEARS TO SOME KIDS' EYES.

THEY WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE THEIR TEACHERS.

IT WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.

GENERALLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR PRE-K, K KIDS THERE'S A LOT OF TEARS, SEPARATION ANXIETY THEY DON'T WANT TO GO.

WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THAT.

OR VERY FEW OF THAT ON OUR FIRST DAY FOR THEM ON FEBRUARY 22nd.

KIDS WERE RUNNING IN.

PARENTS WERE LIKE, SEE YA, HAVE A GREAT DAY!

TEACHERS WERE SO GLAD TO SEE THE KIDS.

IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING.

IT WAS A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND KIDS WERE READY TO LEARN.

IT WAS GREAT.

>> SO GOVERNOR BAKER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL STUDENTS FULL TIME BACK IN SCHOOL BY APRIL.

AND JUST LAST WEEK, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED A PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOW EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JEFF RILEY TO FORCE DISTRICTS TO GO BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

WOULD THAT JUST BE ONLY A MONTH AWAY, HOW REALISTIC IS IT AND WHAT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE WOULD YOU NEED?

I AM IN FAVOR OF STUDENTS RETURNING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

OUR STUDENTS HAVE LOST SO MUCH MORE THAN ACADEMICS IN THIS YEAR.

THEY HAVE LOST THEIR FRIENDSHIPS WITH THEIR PEERS.

AND SOCIALIZATION, AND SO I'M A BIG FAN AND WANT KIDS BACK.

I DO THINK WE WOULD NEED SOME SPECIFIC GUIDANCE FROM -- AROUND WHAT PROTOCOLS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE SHARING THAT WITH FAMILIES.

BECAUSE FAMILIES REALLY WANT THEIR KIDS TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL BUT THEY REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOING TO BE SAFE.

>> YOU TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL TOLL THAT THIS REMOTE LEARNING HAS TAKEN OUT ON THE STUDENTS.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S REALLY ALMOST BEEN A YEAR SINCE WE HAVE BEEN REMOTE LEARNING.

WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT ARE YOU OFFERING THE STUDENTS?

AND IS IT POSSIBLE TO CREATE AS NORMAL OF AN ENVIRONMENT AS POSSIBLE OCCURRING THIS TIME BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THEM?

>> ONE SPECIFIC THING IS, WE HAVE A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CRICK CRUMB LULLED THE GREAT BODYSHOP THAT WE USE.

AND I ADJUSTED IT THIS YEAR WHERE IT WAS TAUGHT BY OUR SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT COUNSELOR, MR. GONZALEZ.

PURPOSELY SO THAT HE WOULD HAVE A TOUCH POINT WITH EVERY SINGLE STUDENT, EVERY SINGLE WEEK AT E.N.

WHITE.

SO HE COULD SEE THE KIDS ZOOMING AND BE ABLE TO TOUCH BASE SO THAT THEY HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

THAT HAS BEEN SUPER HELPFUL.

IT'S AMAZING TO ME HOW SOME OF OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, SECOND, FIRST GRADE, WERE REALLY HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ANXIETY TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL.

AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR TEACHERS AND OUR PARENTS AND OUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.

AND OUTSIDE AGENCIES THAT SUPPORT OUR KIDS THROUGH THERAPY.

TO ENSURE THEY'RE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE TO COME BACK TO SCHOOL.

WE HAVE A GOOD GRIP ON WHAT THE KIDS NEED.

BUT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME FALLOUT FROM THIS COVID LOCK DOWN FOR A YEAR THAT WE WON'T SEE FOR SIX TO 12 MONTHS.

>> GOVERNOR BAKER ALSO RECENTLY ANNOUNCEDED ON MARCH 11th TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

SO AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, HOW IMPORTANT WAS THIS FOR YOU?

>> I AM DANCING.

I ALREADY HAVE MY FIRST SHOT APPOINTMENT.

IT'S THURSDAY.

TEACHERS WHO WERE INNER WANTED -- NERVOUS WANTED TO MAYBE WAIT FOR A VACCINE BEFORE RETURNING DECIDED TO RETURN IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR KIDS.

SO I APPLAUD THEM FOR THAT.

BUT GETTING THIS NEWS THIS WEEK REALLY WAS A GAME CHANGER.

PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE BIT SAFER, YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE PROTECTED.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> AS AN ADMINISTRATOR WHO HAS HAD TO LEAD YOUR STAFF AND INTO THIS NEW ADAPTATION OF LIFE AND LEARNING DURING A PANDEMIC, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?

AND WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR?

>> ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT PEOPLE COME FIRST BEFORE PAPER, RIGHT?

SO MY KIDS, MY FAMILIES, MY STAFF, THEY COME FIRST.

THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS, THE CORRECT LUMBER, THE ASSESSMENTS -- CURRICULUM, THE ASSESSMENTS, THE EVALUATIONS, I CAN GET THOSE DONE.

BUT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT I SUPPORT EVERY DAY ARE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THEIR ROLE, WHETHER IT BE PARENT OR TEACHER OR STUDENT.

IT'S BEEN A VERY TRYING YEAR FOR MANY, MANY PEOPLE.

AND I LEARNED TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM COMPLIANCE AND TAKE A STEP FORWARD TO BUILDING STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILIES.

THAT REALLY WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF MOST OF THE WORK I DID THIS YEAR.

>>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND IDEAS THAT MATTER MOST TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANY TIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT INCLUDING PART THREE OF OUR ONGOING DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE SERIES, "REMOTE LEARNING," WHICH KINGS THE CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS OF BOTH PARENTS AND STUDENTS AS THEY NAVIGATE EDUCATION DURING COVID.

>> PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A GREAT WI-FI CONNECTIONS OR WERE IN MORE REMOTE PARTS OF THE BERKSHIRES REALLY DIDN'T, WEREN'T ABLE TO LIKE ATTEND AND JUST KIND OF FELL BEHIND.

>> DON'T MISS THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF OUR THREE-PART EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL SERIES "REMOTE LEARNING," AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AS THE REGION AND THE COUNTRY SLOWLY MAKES THEIR WAY TOWARD RELAXING CERTAIN COVID-19 LOCK DOWNS, MANY OF US ARE STARTING TO ENVISION A TIME WHEN WE CAN STOP WORKING AT OUR KITCHEN TABLES AND RETURN TO THE OFFICE.

BUT WHAT WILL THOSE OFFICES LOOK LIKE WHEN WE DO RETURN?

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER GUESS US A LOOK AT OFFICE LIFE AFTER COVID AND THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.

>> FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THINGS HAVE BEEN PRETTY QUIET IN THE REGION'S OFFICE BUILDINGS.

MOST COMPANIES SENT THEIR EMPLOYEES HOME LAST SPRING AND MANY HAVE YET TO RETURN.

>> IF YOU WOULD ASK ME IN JANUARY A YEAR AGO IF WE WOULD WORK REMOTE, I WOULD TELL YOU I HAVE TWO ANSWERS.

NO AND HELL NO.

>> DESPITE THAT FEELING BEN IS STILL HAVING HIS EMPLOYEES WORK REMOTELY.

HE'S PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HARKINS GROUP, MANAGEMENT COME IN SPRINGFIELD.

WHEN COVID SPIKED LAST MAMA HE KNEW HE COULD NOT KEEP HIS EMPLOYEES IN THE OFFICE.

>> WE HAD ALL THE TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE.

ON MARCH THE 12th, WE SAID HALF THE STAFF WILL WORK FROM HOME, AND THEN THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY, ALL STAFF BEGAN WORKING FROM HOME.

WE REALIZED THAT WE COULD DO IT AND IT WAS JUST NOT SAFE ENOUGH FOR US TO BE HERE.

>> THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC SHUTTERED THOUSANDS OF U.S.

RESTAURANTS, GYMS, AND STORES, KEPT OFFICE WORKERS AT HOME, AND LEFT HOTEL ROOMS SITTING EMPTY.

EVAN PLOT KIN IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NAI PLOTKIN A THIRD GENERATION COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT COMPANY IN SPRINGFIELD.

>> IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO NOTICE THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING ANYMORE.

EVERYBODY WAS WORKING REMOTELY IN THE BEGINNING.

AND IT'S STILL PRETTY MUCH THAT WAY.

I JUST NOW STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE COMING BACK.

WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN.

IT'S KIND OF LYING SEEING THE FIRST ROBIN IN SPRING, YOU KNOW?

>> PLOTKIN'S COMPANY MANAGES OFFICE SPACE AROUND THE REGION INCLUDING SEVERAL IN DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD.

AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, HE SAYS THERE WAS A CONSENSUS THAT EVERYONE WORKING AT HOME WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE DOING SO.

BUT AS THE MONTHS WORE ON, THE BASIC HUMAN NEED FOR SOCIAL INTERACTION MADE ITSELF FELT.

MANY WORKERS ARE ANXIOUS TO RETURN TO THE WORKPLACE IN SOME CAPACITY.

>> WITHIN MY COMPANY, AND OUTSIDE THE COMPANY, THE MAJORITY ARE, WE CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO BE TOGETHER, TO -- I THINK THERE'S A HUMAN NEED TO BE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY.

>> IT'S A SIMILAR STORY AT 1500 MAIN STREET, CORD, TO THE PRINCIPAL FOR THE McMILLION CAN GROUP, THE COMPANY THAT MANAGES THE 28-STORY OFFICE TOWER.

>> COMMON SENSE WOULD TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT STAYING AT HOME AND WORKING REMOTELY.

WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

WE'RE EXPERIENCING PEOPLE SAYING, SHOULD I GET MORE SPACE?

DO I HAVE ROOM TO EXPAND?

TO KEEP MY PEOPLE PHATTER APART?

DO I INCREASE THE SIZE OF MY CUBICLES TO CREATE MORE SEPARATION?

BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, THERE SEEMS TO BE A PENT-UP FRUSTRATION THAT PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK INTO A NORTHHAMPTONAL ROUTINE AND HAVE THAT SOCIALIZATION.

>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE COUNTING ON THAT SOCIALIZATION IS RAY BARRY, OWN EARN OF WHITE LION BREWING.

AFTER SIX YEARS OF HARD WORK HE AND HIS TEAM ARE ON THE VERGE OF OPENING YOUR WOULDERY AND TAP ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF TOWER SQUARE.

>> IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE'VE BEEN MINDFUL OF THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, THE SAFETY OF OTHERS.

WE HAVE BEEN SLOWLY BUILDING OUT THE PROCESS AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING 2021 AND BEING ABLE TO OPEN UP OUR DOORS AGAIN AS LONG AS THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS US TO.

AND ADD ANOTHER EXPERIENCE FOR DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD.

>> BUT GETTING EMPLOYEES BACK SAFELY IS THE BIG QUESTION.

DIVIDERS, PLEXIGLASS, LARGER CUBICLES?

ALL QUESTIONS THAT ALLISON ARNOLD HEARS FROM HER CUSTOMERS EVERY DAY.

>> THE FIRST BIG TREND THAT WE NOTICED OBVIOUSLY WAS DIVIDERS THAT WE CREATED A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

STUFF THAT CAN STAND ON A DESK, STUFF THAT CAN HANG, STUFF THAT CAN BE MOUNTED ON WORK SURFACES.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE NOTICED ONCE PEOPLE WERE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT GETTING EMPLOYEES BACK INTO THE WORK SPACE.

>> BACK IN SPRINGFIELD, ED IS ALREADY WORKING ON A PLAN FOR WHEN HIS EMPLOYEES COME BACK TO THE OFFICE.

>> WE'VE LOOK WOULD AT QUITE A FEW SPACES IN OUR BUILDING.

OUR LANDLORD IS REALLY TERRIFIC ABOUT THAT, REASONING US EXTRA SPACE IF WE NEEDED IT.

I THINK I'M AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ABOUT 150% MORE SPACE THAN WE HAVE NOW FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

JUST SO PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MOVING AROUND ROOM.

>>> ANOTHER WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS MAYOR IS NOT SEEKING REELECTION THIS YEAR AS NORTHAMPTON MAYOR TOM BERNARD JOINS ALEX MORRIS ANNOUNCING THEIR CURRENT TERMS WILL BE THE LAST ONES IN OFFICE.

RAY HERSHEL SPEAK SPOKE WITH MAYOR BERNARD ABOUT HIS DECISION TO STEP DOWN AND WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR HIM AND THE CITY OF NORTH ADAMS.

>> A LOT OF THINGS CAME TOGETHER FOR THIS DECISION.

CERTAINLY WHAT THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN LIKE FOR LEADERS EVERYWHERE IN WHAT, ALMOST A FULL YEAR, A YEAR AT THE END OF THIS WEEK, I THINK, OF CRISIS RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT DID A LOT OF THINGS.

ONE, IT TOOK FOCUS AND PUT IT WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE.

BUT IN DOING THAT IT TOOK MY FOCUS OFF OF SOME REALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GET DONE.

THINGS AROUND LONG-TERM FISCAL AND CAPITAL PLANNING.

AND NOW THAT THINGS ARE TRENDING IN A GOOD DIRECTION, IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'VE OUT OF THE WOODS ENOUGH TO SAY THAT WE'RE IN FULL RECOVERY MODE.

BUT AS WE CAN LOOK AHEAD AND SAY, WELL, THERE'S STILL TUNNEL TO GO BUT WE CAN START TO SEE THE LIGHT.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO REALLY FULLY COMMIT MYSELF AND MY TEAM TO WORKING ON THOSE THINGS THAT I DIDN'T REALLY GET A CHANCE TO DO AS DEEPLY AND CONSISTENTLY AS I WANTED TO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR.

AND THINKING ABOUT THE CONTINUED RECOVERY.

THAT WORK AND A CAMPAIGN, I FELT LIKE I COULD DO TWO OF THOSE THINGS BUT NOT THREE.

SO I DECIDED I WOULD RATHER SPEND THE TIME REMAINING TO ME DOING THE WORK AND THEN LEAVE IT IN A POSITION TO HAND IT OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> AS YOU CONCLUDE YOUR LAST TERM IN OFFICE IN NORTH ADAMS, MAYOR, WHAT WILL BE YOUR PRIORITIES?

WHAT'S YOUR PRIORITY LIST LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET DONE BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE?

>> YOU KNOW, PASSING A GOOD BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, UPDATING OUR CAPITAL PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE CITY IS POSITIONED FOR SUCCESS.

WE HAVE A LOT -- WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OTHER CONVERSATIONS, RAY.

A LOT OF THINGS TO RECOMMEND NORTH ADAMS.

A LOT OF PROGRESS.

A LOT OF INVESTMENT.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE RECOVER WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY, BOTH IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE AREA OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR REPUTATION AND FOR A CULTURAL INDUSTRIAL AND CENTER FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION, BUT A PLACE THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO LIVE, A PLACE THAT IS WELCOMING, A PLACE THAT IS INCLUSIVE.

AND A PLACE WHERE OUR FUNDAMENTALS ARE AS SOLID AND SOUND AS WE CAN MAKE THEM.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF I.

AND A COUPLE OF CONCERNING ITEMS COME UP RECENTLY.

ONE OF THEM BEING THE CONDITION OF OUR FIRE HYDRANTS THAT WE REALLY GOT A WAKE-UP CALL ON AROUND TWO RECENT FIRES.

AND MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK THAT I AM DOING IS ADDRESSING THOSE THINGS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE AS SAFE AS WE CAN BE, WE'RE INVESTING WHERE WE NEED TO BE, AND WE ARE DOING IT IN A WAY THAT'S SUSTAINABLE FOR A COMMUNITY THAT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, STILL STRUGGLES WITH OUR UNDERLYING ECONOMICS.

>> MAYOR, HOW HARD DID COVID-19 HIT YOUR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, IN TERMS OF ECONOMC DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP?

WHAT KIND OF HIT DID NORTH ADAMS TAKE AS A RESULT OF COVID-19?

>> WE TOOK A BIG HIT LIKE EVERYBODY DID.

FIRST OF ALL, WE LOST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE -- AND THEN PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ALSO LOST FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DON'T LIVE HERE BUT THAT AFFECT IS FELT.

WE HAD PEOPLE WHO CAME DOWN WITH COVID AND SUFFERED AND STRUGGLED AND WERE HOSPITALIZESSED.

WE HAD BUSINESSES CLOSE.

WE HAD BUSINESSES STRUGGLE.

AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THOSE STRUGGLES AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE RECOVERY.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT BY PAYING ATTENTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDAMENTALS, PAYING ATTENTION TO SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND MASKING AND PREVENT SZYCH AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES, WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE IT.

AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE OR DIMINISH THE IMPACT ON ANY INDIVIDUAL, ON ANY FAMILY, ON ANY COMMUNITY MEMBER, BUT WE DID A GOOD JOB MANAGING THROUGH THIS CRISIS.

>> CAN YOU LOOK BACK JUST AND GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU FEEL YOU THINK YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED?

WHAT YOUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE BEEN IN NORTH ADAMS OVER YOUR LAST TWO TERMS?

>> I WOULD SAY AGAIN IT IS THE WORK OF OUR FOUNDATION.

ADDRESSING THINGS LIKE TRANSITIONS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.

HIRING A NEW POLICE CHIEF.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING A FIRE CHIEF.

UPDATING OUR ZONING.

BRINGING IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE GOT A REALLY GOOD MASS WORKS GRANT LAST YEAR IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC FOR $2.4 MILLION TO SUPPORT BOTH INFRASTRUCTURE WORK IN OUR BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ALSO WORK THAT WILL SUPPORT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT DOWN THE ROAD.

IT'S MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THE MOMENTUM FOR NORTH ADAMS AS POSITIVE AS IT CAN BE.

>> YOU ANNOUNCED EARLY IN THE LAST YEAR OF YOUR TERM THAT YOU WOULDN'T SEEK REELECTION AT THIS POINT.

ANY THOUGHTS ON WHERE TOM BERNARD MAY END UP IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO?

PRIVATE SECTOR?

IS PUBLIC SECTOR STILL A POSSIBILITY?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE?

>> HONESTLY, RAY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TODAY BEING VIKSEDED A WE GET FURTHER INTO THE YEAR AND I START NETWORKING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS AND CONSIDER SOME OPTIONS.

BUT ALSO TRYING TO CARVE OUT SOME TIME TO REFLECT AND TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE TOTALITY OF MY CAREER UP TO POINT, HAVING WORKED IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR, HAVING WORKED IN HIGHER ED, NOW HAVING WORKED IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

WHAT IS IT THAT TAKES ALL THOSE THINGS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT IS EXCITING, THAT'S ENGAGING.

AND STILL GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF SOME POSITIVE USE.

>> AND MAYOR ONE FINAL QUESTION.

JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR QUICK THOUGHTS ON HOW NORTH ADAMS HAS FARED IN TERMS OF COVID DISTRIBUTION AND ROLLOUT?

HAS YOUR CITY GOTTEN ITS FAIR SHARE OF DOSES AND GONE AS SMOOTHLY AS YOU ANTICIPATED?

>> LET'S TAKE BOTH THOSE.

IT'S GONE INCREDIBLY SMOOTHLY BECAUSE FROM DAY ONE, FROM DAY ONE A YEAR AGO, WE'VE HAD A CLOSE, TRUSTING, TRUSTED COLLABORATIVE CONNECTION THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRES.

AND WHETHER IT'S BEEN OUR INITIAL RESPONSE, WHETHER IT'S BEEN CONNECTING WITH OUR HUMAN SERVICE PARTNERS, OR WHETHER IT'S THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TO SET UP OUR VACCINATION CLINICS AND MODELS, WE HAVE DONE IT REALLY WELL, WHICH IS WHY THE GOVERNOR AND OTHERS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE WORK IN THE BERKSHIRES.

BUT WE HAVE THE SAME CHALLENGE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES, WHICH IS VACCINE SUPPLIES STILL REMAINS THE CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US.

AND I WAS TALKING WITH SOME FOLKS THE OTHER DAY AT OUR CLINIC.

AND THEY WERE MAKING THE POINT, IT TAKES THE THE SAME AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO VACCINATE 300 PEOPLE AS IT DOES A THOUSAND.

AND WE WOULD RATHER HAVE THOSE THOUSAND APPOINTMENT DAYS AS OFTEN AS WE CAN BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO GET US THROUGH.

THAT'S GOING TO GET OUR FOLKS VACCINATED.

THAT'S GOING TO CREATE THE SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND SAFETY AND SECURITY AND PROGRESS THAT WE NEED TO REOPEN OUR ECONOMY, TO GET PEOPLE BACK IN SCHOOL.

SO IN WE'RE PROBABLY, I THINK,.

DATA IS WE'RE PROBABLY GETTING 10% OF OUR ALLOCATION STATEWIDE ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED.

I I UNDERSTAND WHY SOMETIMES IT CAN FEEL LIKE WAITING FOR CONCERT TICKETS OR BUYING A LOTTERY TICKET TO TRY AND GET A COVID APPOINTMENT.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO MANAGE, TO CONNECT OUR COUNCILS ON AGING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE DOING AS WE HAVE SINCE DAY ONE OF OUR PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

>>> MONUMENT MOUNTAIN IS A WELL KNOWN HIKING SPOT IN GREAT BARRINGTON.

SO POPULAR, IN FACT, THAT USA TODAY NAMED THE MOUNTAIN TO ITS LIST OF 50 MOST BEAUTIFUL SITES IN THE U.S.

LITERARY GIANTS LIKE HERMAN MELVILLE AND NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE DREW INSPIRATION FROM THE VIEWS AT THE PEAK AND ENA ESTIMATED 20,000 HIKERS MAKE A HIKE TO THE TOP.

"CONNECTING POINT"'S DAVE FRASER VISITED THE MOUNTAIN THIS PAST AUTUMN TO EXPLORE ITS HISTORY AND BEAUTY.

>>> I'VE BEEN HIKING IT SO LONG, I DON'T REMEMBER PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

I DON'T REMEMBER HOW I ACTUALLY GOT STARTED WITH IT.

BUT IT'S A WONDERFUL MOUNTAIN.

THE VIEWS ON THE TOP ARE FASCINATING.

YOU CAN SEE GREAT VIEWS OF THE BERKSHIRES, INCLUDING MOUNT GRAYLOCK, MOUNT EVERETT TO THE SOUTH, IN THE SOUTHERN BERKSHIRES.

I THINK YOU CAN SEE PART OF THE NEW YORK STATE BORDER.

YOU CAN SEE THE CATSKILLS.

>> MONUMENT MOUNTAIN IS PART OF THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS WHICH IS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION.

MONUMENT IS ACTUALLY ONE.

OUR OLDEST RESERVATIONS GIVEN TO US IN 1899 BY CHARLES BUTLER.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO US AND HAS QUITE A SIGNIFICANCE HERE IN THE REGION.

FIRST AS A SACRED SITE FOR THE STOCKBRIDGE MOHICAN TRIBE.

THEN AS A PLACE OF LITERARY IMPORTANCE BECAUSE OF WHERE HERMAN MELVILLE AND NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE MET FOR A VERY FAMOUS PICNIC IN 1850 AND WHY THE IDEA FOR "MOBY DICK" CAME FROM.

USA TODAY JUST NAMED MONUMENT MOUNTAIN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

I CAN SEE WHY THEY MADE THAT CHOICE AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE WHO DO THE HIKE AND VISIT THE MOUNTAIN ALSO CAN SEE WHY IT IS DESIGNMENTED AS ONE OF MASSACHUSETTS'S MOST BEAUTIFUL SITES.

>> I THINK WE'RE LUCKY.

I THINK I TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT WE LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH HIKING.

>> IT'S A CHALLENGE TO GET TO THE TOP.

AWESOME VIEWS.

AND IT'S CLOSE BY MY HOMETOWN.

WHY I DON'T THINK YOU CAN EVER NOT APPRECIATE IT.

BUT YOU COME UP HERE BECAUSE IT'S SO NICE.

AND YOU APPRECIATE EVEN MORE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

>> THE PEAK IS AT 1642 FEET.

THAT'S ABOUT A 700-FOOT CLIMB FROM THE PARKING LOT WHERE YOU ENTER THE TRAIL.

IT'S ABOUT 500 ACRES AND THERE'S ROUGHLY 3.5 MILES OF TRAIL THERE.

IT'S FUN TO WORK IN THE SHADOW OF MONUMENT MOUNTAIN.

I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO BE DOING WHAT I DO FOR THE TRUSTEES, TO HAVE SUCH INSPIRING PLACES, TO KEEP OUR WORK GOING AND INSPIRING NEW MEMBERS AND FUTURE STEWARDS OF THE MANY PROPERTIES THAT WE MANAGE ACROSS THE STATE.

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

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

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

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

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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