>>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A FIDDLER WHO BLENDS CLASSICAL, BLUEGRASS, AND SATURDAYIC INTO A STYLE ALL HER OWN.

>> IT IS NOT ABOUT PERFECTION.

IT IS ABOUT FUN.

IT'S ABOUT FEELING.

IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AND WHEN WE DO THAT, THEY CONNECT WITH US.

>> LOOKING BACK ON THE OVER -- AT OVER 30 YEARS OF JAZZ IN THE PIONEER VALLEY.

>> THERE WAS MORE ACTIVITY IN THE PIE WO NEAR AND AMHERST THAN THERE WAS IN MANY, MANY MAJOR CITIES IN THE U.S. >>> AND WE'RE IN WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, TODAY, TO CHECK OUT A PLACE WHERE BREAKFAST CAN BE DESSERT.

>> IT'S THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE THE MEALS ARE MADE TO ORDER.

RAKES OF BACON ARE SLICED BY HAND AND CUSTOMERS GET TO HANG THEIR PICTURES UP WHETHER THEY COLOR INSIDE THE LINES OR NOT.

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

>>> SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

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

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

WE'RE COMING TO YOU TODAY FROM WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, IN HAM DEB COUNTY.

-- HAMPDEN COUNTY.

KNOWN AS THE WHIP CITY DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE AND BUGGY WHIPPINGS HERE DURING THE 19TH CENTURY, TODAY WESTFIELD IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN AS A HOME TO SEVERAL UNIQUE BUSINESSES, WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY, AND MANY GREAT RESTAURANTS.

WE'LL EXPLORE ONE OF THEM, THE POPULAR EATERY KNOWN AS PANCAKE SUNDAES, A BETTER LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

WE BEGIN WITH SOME MUSIC TODAY.

FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF HER PLAYING CAREER IN NEW ENGLAND FIDDLE CONTESTS, SARAH MICHEL WAS KNOWN AS THE GIRL WITH THE RED HAT.

EVENTUALLY IT WAS HER PLAYING THAT WAS BEING RECOGNIZED.

TODAY THE SARAH THE FIDDLER, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN, COMBINES THE INFLUENCES OF CLASSICAL, BLUEGRASS, AND SATURDAYIC -- AND CELTIC MUSIC TO CREATE A UNIQUE STYLE AND SOUND.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASERBLINGS US HER STORY.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> HER MUSICAL JOURNEY BEGAN AT 4 WHEN SHE STARTED VIOLIN LESSONS USING THE SUZUKI METHOD.

BY AGE 6 SHE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE FIDDLE AND BEGAN COMPETING IN CONTESTS ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND.

>> I DO RECALL GETTING MY FIRST VIOLIN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD AT A SUZUKI CONVENTION.

I ALSO VIVIDLY REMEMBER MY MOM INVITING THE ENTIRE FAMILY OVER TO WATCH ME FOR MY FIRST PERFORMANCE AT MY HOUSE AND DROPPING IT.

[LAUGHTER] ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> DESPITE THAT LITTLE BLUNDER, SARAH HAS CONTINUED TO SHARE HER LOVE OF FIDDLE MUSIC ALL OVER THE REGION.

PLAYING AT FESTIVALS, IN NURSING HOMES, AT WEDDINGS, AND PARTIES.

A QUICK SIDE NOTE FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WONDERING, THE WORD FIDDLE AND VIOLIN ARE TWO NAMES FOR THE SAME INSTRUMENT.

IT'S TYPICALLY CALLED A VIOLIN.

IN A BLUEGRASS, IT'S MORE LIKELY TO BE CALLED A FIDDLE.

>> AS A CLASSICAL VIOLINIST, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO PLAY BY THE RULES.

AND YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS VERY SPECIFICALLY.

AND THE BEAUTY OF FIDDLING IS YOU CAN CHANGE IT EVERY TIME YOU PLAY IT.

YOU CAN MAY IT PLAIRCHT I DID.

AND NO DIFFERENTLY.

AND NO TWO FIDDLERS SHOULD EVER SOUND THE SAME.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> SARAH'S FIDDLE COLLECTION STARTED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AND CURRENTLY STANDS AT 102 AND OF THOSE ONLY 12 WERE NAD IN THE -- WERE NAD IN THE UNIVERSITY, WITH THE OLDEST IN 1870 IN BOSTON.

>> EVERY FILLEDLE HAS A DIFFERENT STORY.

EVERY FIDDLE HAS A DIFFERENT VICE TO TELL THAT STORY.

-- VOICE TO TELL THAT STORY.

I HAVE A COUPLE MADE FROM PINEWOOD BUT USUALLY IT'S SPRUCE AND MAPLE THAT MAKE UP THESE INSTRUMENTS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> SOME SING A LITTLE MORE SWEET THAN OTHERS.

SOME HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CHARACTER.

SOME OF THE OLDER VIOLINS HAVE DINGS AND SHOW THEY'RE SCARS.

AND TO ME THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM BEAUTIFUL, A THAT THEY'RE NOT PRISTINE AND PERFECT.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> ON STAGE SARAH IS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY HUSBAND KEITH DESYLVA ON DRUMS, JOSEPH ON PIANO AND ACCORDION, AND WILL ON GUITAR AND MANDOLIN.

THEIR PERFORMANCES TAKE AUDIENCES ON A MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM OLD TIME SING-ALONGS TO LIVELY POLKAS AND ROUSING REELS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> WHAT I LIKE TO DO IN A GROUP SETTING IS TO LET EVERY MUSIC THAT'S WORKING WITH ME SHINE.

SOMEBODY COMES TO US SARAH THE FIDDLER SHOW, YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

WE ALWAYS TRY TO FEED OFF OF AN AUDIENCE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> WE'RE NOT A GROUP THAT TYPICALLY FOLLOWS A VERY STRICT SET OF RULES AND GUIDELINES WHEN WE PLAY, MEANING SET LISTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE KIND OF LIKE THE SPONTANEITY OF OUR PROGRAM.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> WHEN WE'RE AS A GROUP HAVING FUN AND LAUGHING WHILE WE'RE PLAYING, WE'VE HAD SO MANY FOLKS SAY TO US, WE LOVE WATCHING YOU ON STAGE BECAUSE OF YOUR INTERACTION.

AND ALTHOUGH ALL OF US IN OUR OWN RIGHT ARE PRETTY SERIOUS MUSICIANS, WHEN WE GET TOGETHER, IT IS NOT ABOUT PERFECTION.

IT IS ABOUT FUN.

IT'S ABOUT FEELING.

IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AND WHEN WE DO THAT, THEY CONNECT WITH US.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> THIS YEAR MARKED THE END OF AN ERA FOR THE UMASS AMHERST MAGIC TRIANGLE JAZZ SERIES.

FOR THE PAST THREE DESCADES -- DECADES, GLENN SIEGEL, FOUNDING DIRECTOR, CURATED THIS ANNUAL EVENT WHICH PRESENTED PERFORMANCES FROM ARTISTS WITH BROAD RANGES OF STYLES, AND ARTISTS OF ALL STAGES OF THEY'RE -- THEIR CAREERS, INCLUDING SOME OF THE MOST CELEBRATED MUSICIANS IN JAZZ HISTORY.

AS SIEGEL PREPARATIONS FOR RETIREMENT, HE SPOKE WITH ME.

>> ORIGINAL CONCEPTION WAS TO PRODUCE TRIWERE -- TRIOS IN THIS SERIES.

SO THE FIRST YEAR WE DO THAT AND THE NAME COMES FROM A RECORD THAT I LOVE CALLED MAGIC TRIANGLE, WHICH FEATURED DON COOLAN, JOSEPH JARMAN, AND -- THREE HEROES OF MINE.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM.

AFTER THE FIRST YEAR DECIDED -- WE DECIDED TO BLOW UP THAT CONCEPT AND SINCE THEN HAVE PRODUCED DIFFERENT SIZED ENSEMBLES.

>> HAVING CURATED OVER 275 CONCERTS, BRINGING A RANGE OF CREATIVE ADDITIONS TO THIS AREA LIKE YOU MENTIONED, SUCH AS YOUSEF LATTIVE AND SAM RIVERS, JUST TO NAME A FEW, WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE TRIUMS AND EVEN CHALLENGES WITH -- TRIUMPHS AND EVEN THE CHALLENGES WITH A SERIES OF THIS CALIBER?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO PRODUCE LIVE MUSIC EVENTS, SO WE'VE HAD SNOWSTORMS AND MISSED FLIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THE MUSICIANS ARE SO WONDERFUL.

THEY'RE NATURAL STORYTELLERS, BOTH MUSICALLY AND OFF THE BANDSTAND.

SO THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE SO NUMEROUS.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO PIN DOWN.

PRODUCING A CONCERT WITH CECIL TAYLOR WHO IS ONE OF THE ICONS OF OUR MUSIC WAS A REAL TREAT.

YOU KNOW, DOING A CONCERT WITH LES DEBOI, THE GREAT TRUMPET PLAYER FROM CHICAGO, WAS A HIGHLIGHT.

I PRODUCED A CONCERT WITH HIS NEW YORK ORGAN QUINTET WITH GAMES CARTER AND DON AND AMINA AND FRANK LACY THAT.

WAS A REAL HIGHLIGHT.

ANDREW HILL, ONE OF MY ALL-TIME HEROES, WAS REALLY SPECIAL.

AND THAT WAS AT A TIME WHEN NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE WERE PRODUCING ANDREW HILL.

AND SO I LIKE TO THINK THAT I MADE A SMALL CONTRIBUTION AND -- IN REESTABLISHING HIM AMONG JAZZ GREATS.

SO YOUSEFS YOU MENTIONED WAS A REAL HIGHLIGHT.

I GOT TO PRODUCE A CONCERT WITH BROTHER UJEFF WHEN HE TURNED 8 -- YOUSEF WHEN HE TURNED 80 YEARS OLD AND WHEN HE TURNED 90 A DUO WITH ADAM RUDOLPH, WHICH ALSO WAS THE LAST CONCERT THAT WE DID.

>> NOW, ALTHOUGH THIS REGION IS VERY NOTORIOUS FOR I THINK THE CREATIVITY, THE CONCERTS, THE ART, THE ART, THE ARCHITECTURE AS YOU WERE MENTIONING WITH CECIL, BUT I REALLY AM INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT YOU THINK LOOKING BACK AT THE HISTORY OF THE MAGIC JAZZ -- TRIANGLE JAZZ SERIES, WHAT DO YOU THINK REALLY SET THIS SERIES APART FROM ALL OF THE OTHER CREATIVE ENDEAVORS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS REGION?

>> WELL, I LIKE TO THINK THAT THE ARTISTS I THINK THAT PRODUCED BY AND LARGE WERE PEOPLE WHO OTHER PRESENTERS WOULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT TO THE VALLEY.

IN PART BECAUSE THEIR MUSIC WAS MORE ADVENTUROUS OR AVANT GARDE THAN MOST PRESENTERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH OR THEY HAD CRITICAL REP PRUTATIONS BUT THEY -- REPUTATIONS BUT THEY WEREN'T IN THE PUBLIC EYE IN THE SAME WAY BUT THEY'D STATURE.

SO I THINK IN PART THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF AND THAT'S I THINK THE LASTING LEGACY.

SERIES, IS THAT WE BROUGHT TO THE VALLEY ARTISTS WHO WOULDN'T HAVE COME OTHERWISE OR BEEN INVITED OTHERWISE.

>> SO NOW, GLENN, AS THIS CHAPTER HAS ENDED FOR THE MAGIC TRIANGLE SERIES, WHAT WILL YOU MISS THE MOST ABOUT IT?

AND HOW DO YOU -- REALLY THINK THAT THIS LEGACY -- THIS LEGACY SHOULD CONTINUE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN THIS AREA?

>> I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO CONTINUE PRODUCING CONCERTS.

MY WIFE AND I, PRESENT SIS ALE -- PRISCILLA PAGE, STARTED PIONEER VALLEY JAZZ SHARES YEARS AGO.

THEY PRODUCED ONE IN OCTOBER OF THIS PAST YEAR.

I HOPE THAT OTHER PRESENTERS WILL PICK UP THE MANTEL.

THERE'S SO MANY MUSICIANS THAT DESERVE TO BE HEARD BY PIONEER VALLEY AUDIENCES.

SO HEIMFUL AS THE YEARS UN -- HOPEFUL THAT THE YEARS UNFOLD, AMBITIOUS PRODUCERS AND HISTORIANS WILL FIND WHAT WE'VE DONE AND REVIVE IT OR BUILD ON IT AND CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF CONCERTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSICSES.

-- MUSICIANS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ [APPLAUSE] >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DIDN'T STOP THERE.

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

>>> SINCE THE INAUGURAL SHOW IN 1990, THE MAGIC TRIANGLE JAZZ SERIES HAS BEEN OFFERING THE AMHERST REGION UNIQUE PERFORMANCES WITH AN AN ARRAY OF ARTISTS ALL WHILE TAKING PLACE IN AN INTIMATE VENUE.

IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THIS SERIES, GLENN SIEGEL, DESCRIBES TO US ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE CONVERSATIONS -- PERFORMANCES THAT HE'S CONCERNED -- EXPERIENCED.

>> IT HAD A TAP DANCER BRENDA BUFFALOINO.

AND IT ALSO HAD A SOUND ARTIST.

SHE'S ACTUALLY A HEALER, VICKY DODD IS HER NAME.

AND SHE HAD A TABLE -- A MASSAGE TABLE ON THE STAGE.

AND WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE.

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

>>> WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM WESTFIELD TODAY, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE ROSE GARDEN AT HISTORIC STANLEY PARK ON WESTERN AVENUE, A SPOT FOR RESIDENTS TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND 300 ACRES OF GARDENS, FIELDS, AND WALKING TRAILS.

AND HERE IN THE CITY OFS WITHFIELD, THERE'S A WEEKEND BREAKFAST SPOT THAT HAS ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A DINER WITH A TOUCH OF ICE CREAM SHOPPE PIZAZZ.

SINCE 215, CUSTOMERS FROM ALL OVER HAVE BEEN COMING TO PANCAKE SUNDAES FOR A UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE, AND "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN DROPPED BY DURING A BREAKFAST RUSH TO BRING US THIS NEXT STORY.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO OWNING AND RAUNING A RESTAURANT -- RUNNING A RESTAURANT, OFTENTIMES IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR.

FOR FRANK BALDWIN AT PANCAKE SUNDAES, THAT COULD BE DAD WORKING THE MIXER, MOM ON THE PHONE, AND RUNNING THE REGISTER, AND LITTLE SISTER ON THE GRILL.

>> EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY HAS WORKED HERE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.

RIGHT NOW IT IS -- IT IS KIND OF ALL OF US.

IT'S MOM, DAD, ME, MY YOUNGER SISTER LISA, BUT MY 6-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW HAS EVEN COME IN AND BUSED TABLES WHEN I'VE NEEDED HIS MOM TO FILL IN AS A SERVER.

YOU KNOW, THAT PHONE RINGS AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING AND SOMEBODY IS CALLING OUT.

YOU GOT TO CALL YOUR SISTER AND WAKE HER UP AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING ON HER ONE DAY OFF OF THE WEEK.

AND THEY COME IN.

THEY -- THEY'RE NOT EVEN RELUCTANT ABOUT IT.

THERE'S ALWAYS HERE FOR ME.

>> AS NEARLY ANYONE WHO'S HAD TO WORK CLOSELY WITH FAMILY CAN ATTEST, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE MOST ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.

SOMETIMES IT'S MISSION IMPOSITION.

LITTLE 4 LISA SEE -- LITTLE CITY LISA MAKES IT LOOK EASY.

>> WE'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS SINCE I I WAS BORN.

IT'S AN ONGOING JOKE THAT HE CALLS MICE HIS BROTHER AS WELL, BECAUSE -- ME HIS BROTHER AS WELL BECAUSE WE'RE BROTHERS.

WE WORK TOGETHER.

WE HANG OUT.

WE'RE STILL LIKE BEST FRIENDS.

SO WORKING TOGETHER, I THINK IT MAKES IT BETTER BECAUSE WE ARE SO CLOSE.

>> AND IT'S BEEN HELP FROM HIS FAMILY THAT'S ALLOWED BALDWIN TO PURSUE HIS CULINARY DREAMS OF MANAGING A KITCHEN AND TAKING ON A CREATIVE ENDEAVOR LIKE THIS ONE.

IT'S THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE THE MEALS ARE MADE TO ORDER.

BRICKS OF BACON ARE SLICED BY HAND AND CUSTOMERS GET TO HANG THEIR PICTURES UP WHETHER THEY COLOR INSIDE THE LINES OR NOT.

IT'S ALSO THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE A GRANDFATHER CAN BOND WITH HIS GRANDSON OR STACK A -- OVER A STACK OF PANCAKES AND AN OMELETTE.

>> IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME BECAUSE GROWING UP I DIDN'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF A GRANDFATHER.

SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO KNOW HOW TO BE A GRANDFATHER.

BUT I LOVE MY GRANDSON.

>> LOCATED IN A STRUCTURE THAT IS BUILT IN 1890, PART OF THE CHARM TO THE DINING EXPERIENCE HERE IS THE NOSTALGIA THAT'S BAKED INTO IT.

THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM HANDWRITTEN MEAL TICKETS TO THE PITTSBURGH ON THE WALL SHOWCASING JUST HOW HISTORIC THIS LITTLE SEX OF WESTFIELD IS.

THE BLISS HERE ON THE CORNER OF -- SECTION OF WESTFIELD IS.

SINCE 2015 THIS HAS BEEN THE SPOT THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMING TO FOR THAT UNIQUE PANCAKE EXPERIENCE.

>> THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME HERE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY THE BEST BREAKFAST I'VE HAD, HONESTLY.

IT'S JUST A GOOD TIME TO GET TOGETHER AND HAVE TIME, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WORKING, YOU KNOW, ALL WEEK.

YOU DON'T REALLY GET TO SEE FAMILY AS MUCH AS YOU WANT.

SO SUNDAY IS A GOOD TIME TO UNITE AND -- OVER A SPECIAL DELIVERS BREAKFAST.

>> AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE, ANY SEMBLANCE OF SIBLING RIVALRY IS OUT THE WINDOW.

HERE IT'S JUST ABOUT MAKING THE BEST-TASTING MEAL WITH OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION.

THAT AND THE GRATITUDE THEY HAVE FOR BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

>> I WANT THE PRESENTATION TO BE AMAZING BECAUSE -- WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT, I KNOW THAT I PUT IT OUT THERE AND I WANT IT TO BE THAT LIKE OH, MY GOD MOMENT.

AND THAT I GAVE THAT TO THEM.

>> IT'S BEEN A SUCH A BLESSING.

ATMOSPHERE IS MUCH MORE LOW KEY, BUT IT'S ALSO -- I KNOW THAT PERSON NEXT TO ME, THEY'RE GONNA DIG JUST AS HARD AS I AM WHEN THERE'S 15 ORDERS UP AND THERE'S A LINE OUT THE DOOR.

LIKE I KNOW SHE'S PUTTING IN 110% EFFORT AND THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST AND BEST PART.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> AND FOR A POIGNANT CODA TO OUR PANCAKE SUNDAES STORY, LOG ON TO OUR WEB PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL EXTRA AS PANCAKE SUNDAE'S KITCHEN MANAGER FRANK BALDWIN TALKS ABOUT OVERCOMING ADDICTION AND HOW HIS FAMILY AND THE RESTAURANT HAVE HELPED HIM MAINTAIN HIS SOBRIETY.

>> I OWN MY SOBRIETY AND MY PI MY NEW-FOUND LIFE TO PANCAKE SUNDAES.

SOMETHING I DIDN'T RISE WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING THAT IT'S A JOB EVERY DAY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD WORK EVERY DAY.

YOU GOT TO GET YOUR BUTT UP AND PUT THAT EFFORT IN.

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

>>> AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN'S AUTHOR AND POET LESLIE BULION HAS ENJOYED READING AND WRITING SINCE THE FOURTH GREAT.

NOW AFTER A FEW DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS, SHE'S THE AUTHOR OF SEVERAL CHILDREN'S BOOKS WITH HER MOST RECENT RELEASE ENTITLED, "SERENGETI PLAINS OF GRASS.

SHE JOINED ME TO DISCUSS HER CAREER AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS LYRICAL SALUTE TO AFRICA'S SARIN GET WERE PLAIN.

>> I STUDIED SCIENCE.

I BECAME A SOCIAL WORKER.

AND THEN A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAD BEEN MY FRIEND VERY LONG TIME, I WROTE HER A LETTER ABOUT SOME FEELINGS ABOUT PARENTING.

AND SHE HAPPENED TO BE THE EDITOR OF A PARENTING MAGAZINE, PARENTS' MAGAZINE, SHE SAID WHY DON'T YOU WRITE FOR THE MAGAZINE.

AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, BECAUSE I HAD BEEN TAKING A BREAK FROM BEING A SOCIAL WORKER.

MY CHILDREN WERE SMALL.

I DID THAT FOR A WHILE AND REALLY LOVED IT.

BUT THEN I TOLD HER SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS AND SHE SAID, THAT WOULD MAKE A GOOD CHILDREN'S STORY.

SO I THOUGHT, WELL, HER FIRST IDEA WAS SO GOOD, WHY NOT LISTEN TO HER SECOND IDEA!

AND I NEVER SOLD THAT STORY BUT I REALLY JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH THE LEARNING AND THE PROCESS AND I'VE ALWAYS LOVED CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND READ VORACIOUSLY MYSELF AND THEN WITH MY DAUGHTERS.

SO I THOUGHT, WELL, THIS REALLY FEELS RIGHT.

>> AND SO YOUR LATEST BOOK TITLED, SERENGETI PLAINS OF GRASS IS A LYRICAL SALUTE TO THE SERENGETI PLAIN.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE ABOUT THIS AREA IN PARTICULAR?

>> I WAS VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO SPEND SOME TIME IN EAST AFRICA.

IT WAS QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

BUT MY HUSBAND'S SISTER WAS WORKING THERE ON A TEACHING FELLOWSHIP.

AND SHE INVITED US TO COME.

AND IT JUST -- AFFECTED ME SO MUCH.

EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS -- EXPANSE, THE SPLENDOR, THE THEN THE ONES THAT WERE SORT OF HIDDEN UNDER THE TALL GRASS THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW WERE THERE BUT YOU KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.

AND I JUST ALWAYS WANTED TO GO BACK.

AND IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GO BACK THROUGH WRITING.

>> AND SO THIS BOOK WILL EXPLORE ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ANIMALS THAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IN THE SERENGETI PLAIN, AS WELL AS THE PRODUCTIVE ECOSYSTEM THAT EXISTS THERE.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO READ AND LEARN ABOUT IN THIS BOOK?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TANZANIA SARIN GETI PLAIN IS KNOWN FOR IS THE GREAT MIGRATION OF MORE THAN A MILLION WILDEBEESTS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ZEBRAS AND GAZELLE THAT IS MOVE THROUGH THE MAURA ECOSYSTEM INTO A LITTLE BIT OF KENYA, TOO.

NO.

EXACTLY IN A CIRCLE BUT THEY HAVE THIS CYCLE FOLLOWING THE RAINS AND THE MONSOONS.

SO THE BOOK FOLLOWS THAT INTO THE SERENGETI SHORT GRASS PLAIN, WHICH IS SORT OF THE SEESH PART OF THE SERENGETI.

AND FOLLOWS THE FOOD WEB FROM THE BASE OF THE FOOD WEB, WHICH IS -- [INAUDIBLE] THROUGH THE ANIMALS THAT EAT THE GRASS AND THEY'RE LARGE AND SMALL.

AND THEN ANIMALS THAT EAT OTHER PLANTS AND MOVING UP THROUGH ANIMALS THAT EAT THE SMALLER ANIMALS, ANIMALS THAT EAT THE BIGGER ANIMALS, THE TOP PREDATORS, AND THEN THE RECYCLERS THAT EAT ALL OF THE LEAVINGS OF THE ANIMALS AND THE SCAT OF THE ANIMALS.

AND RECYCLES IT BACK INTO THE SOIL TO FEED THE GRASS AND START THE CYCLE OVER AGAIN.

SO THERE'S KIND OF TWO THINGS GOING ON, THE MIGRATION CYCLE AND THE FOOD WEB.

>> SCIENCE IS ONE OF THOSE TOPICS AND SUBJECTS THAT IT APPEALS TO ANYONE OF ALL AGES.

BUT SOMETIMES IT CAN HAVE COMPLEX CONCEPTS TO EXPLAIN.

SO DO YOU EVER FIND IT CHALLENGING TO WRITE IN A WAY THAT CHILDREN CAN COMPREHEND THESE CONCEPTS?

>> ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT I WROTE A WHILE AGO AT THE SEA FLOOR CAFE, I DID STUDY OCEANA GRAF AND IT STARTED OUT TO BE A LITTLE BIT TOO COMPLEX BECAUSE I KNEW ABOUT THE SUBJECT.

BUT I APPROACH THE BOOKS THAT I'M WRITING FROM A BASIS OF CERTAINLY UNDERSTANDING BIYOJ AND -- BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY BUT NOT KNOWING THE INS AND OUTS OF A PARTICULAR AREA OR GOOD LIKE WHEN I WROTE ABOUT AMPHIBIANS I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM.

I'M APPROACHING THEM ABOUT NOTHING AND SOAKING EVERYTHING IN AND NOT TRYING TO TEACH EVERYTHING BUT JUST TRYING TO SHARE WHAT I FIND REALLY FASCINATING AND WHAT I CALL JUICY SCIENCE STORIES AND SOMETHING COOL THAT KIDS COULD REALLY RELATE TO.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT WRITING POETRY IS THAT YOU HAVE TO HONE EVERYTHING DOWN TO JUST A HANDFUL OF WORDS.

SO HOW ARE YOU GONNA GET THAT ACROSS IN JUST SO FEW WORDS.

AND THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S WHAT HELPS ME JUST MAKE IT INTO THIS LITTLE PACKAGE.

>> SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION.

YOU SAID THAT YOU WROTE ABOUT AMPHIBIANS BUT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT -- MUCH ABOUT AMPHIBIANS.

YOU TALK ABOUT SPIDERS, TO STICH BUGS AND BIRDS TO RANDOM BODY PARTS.

WHAT'S THE RESEARCH THAT GOES INTO WRITING YOUR NEXT SUBJECT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I HAVE SORT OF MULTI-PRONGED RESEARCH.

RUN OF THE THINGS I LOVE TO DO AND PART OF MY MISSION WHEN I MEET WITH KIDS IS TO TALK ABOUT GETTING OUTSIDE AND EXPLORING YOURSELF, HOWEVER YOU CAN.

ANY KIND OF HANDS-ON LEARN IS HOW I LEARN IT'S BEST FOR ME AND I THINK IT'S FUN FOR EVERYBODY TO GET OUT IN NATURE AND TO BE LEARNING THOSE THINGS.

SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT I ALWAYS DO, IS TRY TO GET OUT IN NATURE, HANDS-ON WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

AND THEN I READ VERY WIDELY.

I READ GIANT TEXTBOOKS ABOUT AMPHIBIANS AND GUIDEBOOKS.

AND THEN I START SORT OF DRILLING IN AND READING ABOUT SPECIFIC AMPHIBIANS THAT I THINK I CAN FIT INTO A BOOK BARKS -- BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAVE A THEME, THAT WAS AMPHIBIANS ACCROWT ABOUT AS.

THE TITLE GAME FIRST, SO IT WAS AMPHIBIAN ACROBATS.

WHO'S GOING TO GET TO BE IN THIS BOOK.

SO I LOOKED AT ALL OF THESE GREAT AGAIN LIKE JUICY SCIENCE STORIES ABOUT AMPHIBIANS AND REALLY HONED IN ON SPECIFIC ONES.

SO THAT IT WOULD COVER A BROAD RANGE OF WHAT THEY DO.

SO I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT WHAT MAKES AN AN AMPHIBIAN AN AMPHIBIAN AND TELL THIS ONE STORY ABOUT WHICH ONES ARE ACROBATS AND HOW I CAN FIT THEM INTO THE THEME.

AND I ALSO READ FICTION, BECAUSE I LIKE TO SORT OF CONNECT WITH THE EMOTION OF CHARACTERS IN BOOKS THAT ARE IN LOVE WITH THESE ANIMALS OR HAVING SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE ANIMALS.

AND I KNOW AN AUTHOR NAMED BILL HARLEY WHO WROTE NIGHT OF THE SPACE -- SO I READ THAT BOOK.

SO THERE WAS A KID PROTECTING THE SPADE FOOT TOADS.

I DO DIFFERENT KINDS OF RESEARCH AND START THE WRITING.

¶ ¶ >>> IF AND IF YOU LOVE TO, PLOR THE OUTDOORS, HEAD OVER TO "CONNECTING POINT'S" ONLINE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS CHILDREN'S AUTHOR AND POET LESLIE BULION SHARES SOME TIPS AND TRICKS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS ON HOW TO EXPLORE AND GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH NATURE.

>> AND I MAKE LITTLE NOTES ABOUT WHERE I'VE SEEN IT AND MAYBE WHAT THE CRITTER WAS DOING.

AND WHEN I WANT TO DRAW SOMETHING, I CAN BUT IN IT A BUG VIEWER AND -- PUT IT IN A BUG VIEWER AND TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT IT AND TAKE MY TIME DRAWING AND LET IT GO BACK OUTSIDE.

>> THAT'S AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB PAGE RIGHT NOW.

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

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

-- NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO THE CITY OF WESTFIELD AND STANLEY PARK FOR IT'SING US -- HOSTING US TODAY AND JOIN US EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE CARE.

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

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶