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

YOU'VE HEARD OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE, BUT WHAT ABOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORTED MUSIC?

>> WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING IS, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENT SLICE, A WILDER SLICE, OF WHAT JAZZ IS.

>>> A NEW WESTFIELD STATE PROGRAM HARNESSES THE POWER OF MUSIC TO HEAL.

>> I WOULD WORK WITH CLIENTS WHO HAVE PTSD TO HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO BETTER MANAGE FLASH BABIES AND GEFL COPING SKILLS TO HELP THINGS -- THEM FUNCTION IN A COMMUNITY.

>> AND CONJURE UP SOME FAMILY-FRIENDLY FALL FUN GETTING LOST IN THE STALKS AT HICKS FAMILY FARM.

>> THE FUN GOES BEYOND JUST THE CORN MAZE.

THERE'S A GIANT GAME OF CHECKERS.

MINI GOLF WHERE A DAD CAN TEACH HIS DAUGHTER THE FINER POINTS OF PUTTING OR NOT.

>> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> GOOD EVENING.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR CPR.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

WITH PLENTY OF LOCAL FARMS IN THE AREA, MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH FARM SHARES, WHERE IN EXCHANGE FOR PAYING A LOCAL FARMER UP FRONT, THEY PROVIDE YOU WITH A SHARE OF THEIR HARVEST EACH WEEK.

FOR THE PAST DECADE, THAT SAME COMMUNITY SUPPORT MODEL HAS ALSO HELPED SUSTAIN LOCAL MUSIC.

PIONEER VALLEY JAZZ SHARES USES THE SAME MONEY UP FRONT, PRODUCT LATER CONCEPT TO MAINTAIN A VIBRANT JAZZ MUSIC SCENE HERE IN WESTERN MASS.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US THIS STORY.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> I HAVE ALWAYS RESPONDED TO MUSIC AND SOUND IN A MORE PROFOUND WAY THAN OTHER SENSES, I WOULD SAY.

AND GREW UP PLAYING BARITONE HORN IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

AND ALWAYS HAD A DEEP RELATIONSHIP TO MUSIC.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> IN AN EFFORT TO BRING MORE JAZZ TO THE REGION, GLEN SEAL ALONG WITH HIS WIFE STARTED JAZZ SHARES IN 2012.

IT'S BASED ON THE COMMUNITY SUSTAINED AGRICULTURE, CSA, OR FARM SHARE MODEL, WHERE STAKEHOLDERSEN SURE THE SUCCESS OF THE FARM BY PREPAYING FOR FOOD.

JAZZ SHARE MEMBERS PURCHASE SHARES TO PROVIDE THE CAPITAL NEEDED TO PRODUCE CONCERTS AT VENUES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.

>> THE YAD WAS TO PRODUCE -- IDEA WAS TO PRODUCE 10 CONCERTS IN A SEASON, BASICALLY ONE A MONTH.

BUT BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING MUSICIANS FAR OUTSTRIPS THAT, AND WE HAVE ADOPTED A CULTURE OF "YES" AS FAR AS WE CAN TAKE IT.

THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING 16 CONCERTS.

>> IT'S A GRAD ROOSES ALL- -- GRASSROOTS ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT THEY SPRUCED TO FRIENDS.

>> WERE DON'T WE INVITE SOME FRIENDS OVER AND PITCH THE IDEA AND SEE IF WE COULD GET 100 PEOPLE TO BUY IN AT $125 EACH AND KE PRO DEDUCE -- PRODUCE A SEASON OF CONCERTS.

>> THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO AND THEY'RE STILL GOING STRONG PRODUCING 10 AND SOMETIMES MORE CONCERTS EACH YEAR IN HAMPTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.

>> WHAT YOU'RE LIKELY TO HEAR AT A JAZZ SHARES CONCERT CAN VARY WILDLY FROM THE MOST FREE ATONAL, ARITHIC -- ARHYTHMIC WAY OF ORING MUSIC TO IN THE POCKET, JAZZ, OR AN EVANS TRIO COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS.

THAT WILL BE IN THE TRADITION AND YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZABLE.

SO WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING IS, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENT SLICE, A WIDER SLICE OF WHAT JAZZ IS.

IN PLACE, ADMISSION TO JAZZ SHARES CONCERTS COMES WITH PROOF OF VACCINATION AT THE DOOR AND THE WEARING OF MASKS.

BUT FOR THIS SEASON, THEY HAVE MANY CONCERTS SCHEDULED THROUGH FEBRUARY, INCLUDING FOUR THIS MONTH.

>> THEY'RE ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE WORK IN SO MANY DIFFERENT VENUES.

THAT'S ANOTHER THING.

WE SORT OF TRAVEL THROUGH THE VALLEY.

SO YOU KNOW, WE WERE AT THE SHEA THEATER.

GOSHEN AT THE INSTITUTE OF MUSICAL ARTS.

WE'LL BE AT THE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL.

SO EACH VENUE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, SO THE FEELING IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> OUR CAMERAS WERE ABLE TO CATCH STEPH RICHARD AT THE INSTITUTE FOR THE MUSICAL ARTS IN GAUCHEN.

RICHARDS IS KNOWN FOR HER EXPERIMENTS IN JAZZ AND CLAB RACES WITH -- COLLABORATIONS WITH DIFFERENT ARTISTS.

JASON ROBINSON PERFORMED AT THE NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY ARTS TRUST RECENTLY.

ROBINSON IS A SAX PHONIST AND COMPOSER AND TEACHES MUSIC AT AMHERST COLLEGE.

>> IT IS TRULY SATISFYING.

IT'S MY CALLING, I WOULD SAY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY, WE JUST SAY, ANOTHER ONE IN THE BOOKS.

WE'VE DONE ABOUT 100 JAZZ SHARE SHOWS.

AND YOU KNOW, IN MY CAREER IN THE VALLEY, I'VE PRODUCED, YOU KNOW, OVER 300 SHOWS.

¶ ¶ .

>> AND SO WE KEEP ADDING MORE TO THE BOOK.

AND IT IS -- IT IS TRULY GRATIFYING.

[APPLAUSE] ¶ ¶ .

>>> THIS PAST FALL SEMESTER, A NEW BACHELORS -- BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAM LAUNCHED AT WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY THAT TAPS INTO THE POWER OF MUSIC TO AID IN HEALING.

WESTFIELD STATE IS THE FIRST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MASSACHUSETTS AND JUST THE SECOND PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN NEW ENGLAND THAT OFFERS MUSIC THERAPY AS A COLLEGE MAJOR.

I SPOKE WITH TIMOTHY HONIG, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF THE BACHELOR'S OF MUSIC IN SMIEWS THERMODYNAMICKY -- MUSIC THERAPY DEGREE PROGRAM ATS WITHFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHY THE PROGRAM BEGAN AND THE BENEFITS THAT IT HAS TO OFFER.

>> THE POWER OF MUSIC HELPS PEOPLE AFFECT REALLY -- REAL LEASING CHANGE IN THEIR -- REAL LASTING CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES.

IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROFESSIONAL MUSIC THERAPIST, WE CAN TAILOR USUALLY INTERACTIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCES THAT HELP TAP INTO WHAT MOTIVATES AND DRIVES CLIENTS AND ALSO LEADS TOWARD LASTING CHANGE IN PHYSICAL NEEDS OR EMOTIONAL NEEDS OR SOCIAL AREAS.

>> WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY IS THE FIRST PUBLIC INSTITUTION IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ONLY THE SECOND IN NEW ENGLAND TO OFFER A DEGREE IN MUSIC THERAPY.

WHY DID THE UNIVERSITY WANT TO ADD THIS DEGREE TO ITS PROGRAM?

>> WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY HAS A PROBUST MUSIC DEPARTMENT WITH A WIDE RANGE OF OFFERINGS.

AND WESTFIELD ALSO HAS A LOT OF ENERGY AROUND THE ARTS IN HEALTH SCIENCES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND THEY FOUND THIS HOLE WHERE MUSIC THERAPY WOULD FIT QUITE WELL.

IT ALLIANCE WITH HOW THE UNIVERSITY ENVISIONS ITSELF CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SERVING REAL NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE'RE FINDING THAT THE NETWORK OF EXPERTISE THAT OUR FACULTY HAVE WORKS SO WELL FOR HELPING TO EDUCATE AND TRAINING NEW MUSIC THERAPISTS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WE ARE IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

>> SO THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE FOUR YEARS LONG INCLUDING AN ININTERPRETSHIP AND IS INDIVIDUALIZED TO MEET THE STUDENTS' SPECIFIC SKILLS AND BACKGROUND.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT THE PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE AND THE PROCESS TO PURSUE THIS DEGREE AT WESTFIELD STATE.

>> SO THE DEGREE IS A BACHELOR OF MUSIC.

AND THAT SPEAKS HOW -- TO HOW IT A MUSIC-FOCUSED DEGREE, SO WE HELP STUDENTS LEARN A HIGH LEVEL OF ARTISTRY AND TO BECOME REALLY VERSATILE PERFORMING MUSICIANS, LEARNING GUITAR, SINGING, PERCUSSION, LEARNING DIGITAL MUSIC PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES.

WE WEAVE IN LEARNING FROM COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY AND IN HEALTH SCIENCES AND IN CULTURAL STUDIES.

THAT LETS STUDENTS REALLY KNOW THE BREADTH OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT CLINICAL SCENARIOS THEY MIGHT BE WORKING ON.

SO STUDENTS WILL HAVE FOUR YEARS OF COURSEWORK, BEGINNING IN THEIR SECOND YEAR ALREADY THEY START INDIVIDUAL MENTORSHIP RELATIONSHIPS WITH ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL MUSIC THERAPISTS OUT IN THE FIELD PROVIDING MUSIC THERAPY TO REAL CLIENTS.

THEN AFTER THAT FOUR YEARS OF COURSEWORK, WE'LL SET THEM UP WITH AN INTERNSHIP AT A FACILITY FOR USUALLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

AND THAT'S THE CASE FOR ALMOST EVERY MUSIC THERAPY DEGREE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

>> UPON COMPLETION OF THIS PROGRAM, WHAT WOULD A CAREER IN MUSIC THERAPY LOOK LIKE MORE OR LESS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT MUSIC THERAPY THAT I FIND SO EXCITING IS THAT THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERYONE.

AND THERE'S A PLACE FOR EVERY INTEREST.

SO A CAREER IN MUSIC THERAPY MIGHT LOOK LIKE GETTING A JOB IN AN AREA FACILITY INSTITUTION LIKE BAY STATE HOSPITAL IN SPRINGFIELD, WHICH EMPLOYS A COUPLE MUSIC THERAPISTS.

IT COULD BE WORKING IN A SCHOOL WORKING WITH LET'S SAY STUDENTS WHO HAVE LEARNING DISABILITIES OR ARE AUTISTIC OR HAVE SOME LEARNING DIFFERENCE OR NONTIP CAT WHERE THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM MUSIC.

A CAREER MIGHT ALSO LOOK LIKE A PRIVATE PRACTICE, WHERE THE MUSIC THERAPIST IS ACTUALLY A BUSINESS OWNER.

ABOUT A QUARTER OF MUSIC THERAPISTS IN THE COUNTRY OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

WHERE THEY SERVE CLIMATES AT LOTS OF DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS -- CLIENTS AT LOTS OF DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AND HOMES TO PROVIDE -- WELL, A REALLY WELL-ROUNDED FROM A.

AND SO ANY MUSIC THANK YOU VERY MUCHIST WILL FIND THEIR NEAR WHERE THEY CAN -- INITIAL WHERE THEY CAN -- NICHE WHERE THEY CAN TAP INTO THAT PRACTICE.

>> YOU'RE A BOARD CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPISTS.

YOU'VE WORKS IN INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT, CANCER INSTITUTIONS AND MORE.

HAVE YOU SEEN AND WITNESSED A GROWING DEMAND FOR THIS PROFESSION IN RECENT TIMES?

>> NATIONWIDE THERE ARE MORE.

¦ SHAPIROY -- THEY'RE -- MORE MUSIC THERAPY POSITIONS THAN THERAPISTS TO FILL THEM.

MUSIC THERAPY IS UNDERDEVELOPED IN NEW ENGLAND.

SOMETHING THAT'S INSPIRING TO ME IS TRAINING A WORKFORCE THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW MUSIC THERAPY TO GROW SO WE CAN PROVIDE THESE BENEFITS TO OUR CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SOME KINDS OF BENEFITS THAT I'VE SEEN AND THAT'S GROUNDED IN RESEARCH ARE AREAS LIKE HELPING CLIENTS MORE FULLY MANAGE CHRONIC PAIN.

IN MY WORK IN PSYCHIATRIC CARE, I WOULD WORK WITH CLIENTS WHO HAVE PTSD TO HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO BETTER MANAGE FLASHBACKS AND DEVELOP COPING SKILLS TO HELP THEM FUNCTION IN A COMMUNITY WITHOUT BEING SO VULNERABLE TO THEIR TRAUMA.

BUT MUSIC IS ALWAYS TOUCHING US AT MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.

SO IF WE'RE IN A SCHOOL WORKING ON HELPING A STUDENT LEARN BETTER, IT'S ALSO HELPING THEM SOCIALLY.

IT'S ALSO HELPING THEM EMOTIONALLY.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE AS MUSIC THERAPISTS CAN PROVIDE THAT'S UNIQUE, THAT'S WORKING WITH PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS OF THEIR HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

>> NOW, AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS PRESENTED YOUR WORK REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY, AND EVEN INTERNATIONALLY, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO NOW HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE DIRECTING THIS NEW DEGREE LOCALLY HERE AT WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY?

>> IT IS SO INSPIRING TO ME TO WORK WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE SUCH STRONG CONNECTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE.

WHO WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THEIR PASSION FOR MUSIC TO GIVE BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TUFTED THEIR LIVES.

-- TOUCHED THEIR LIVES.

SO BEING IN THIS POSITION TO HELP CULTIVATE REALLY STELLAR MUSIC THERAPISTS IS SO INSPIRING TO ME, NOT JUST FOR THEM BUT THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE CONSUMERS IN OUR AREA THAT THEY CAN TOUCH AND WHOSE LIVES THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> AUTUMN HAS FINALLY ARRIVED IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BRINGING WITH IT CHANGING LEAVES, CHILLY NIGHTS, AND, OF COURSE, PLENTY OF FALL FUN LIKE APPLE PICKING, PUMPKIN CARVING, AND CORN MAZES.

THROUGH THE MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, LOCALS AND TRAVELERS ALIKE CAN MAKE A PIT STOP AT HICKS FAMILY FARM, LOCATED ALONG THE SCENIC MOHAWK TRAIL.

THE FARM BOASTS AN IMPRESSIVE CORN MAZE THAT HOSTS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY SCAVENGER HUNT BY DAY AND A FRIGHTENINGLY GOOD HAUNTED MAZE BY NIGHT.

NOW IN IT'S 11 YEAR, IT'S GROWN MORE POPULAR AND GETS BIGGER EACH YEAR TO ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING CROWDS THAT SHOW UP LOOKING TO GET LOST IN THE STALKS.

CONNECT CPR'S BRIAN SULLIVAN CALIFORNIA -- "CONNECTING POINT" IT'S BRIAN SULLIVAN TRAVELED TO FRANKLIN COUNTY TO BRING US THIS NEXT STORY.

>> IN THIS POINT IT APPEARS THERE'S A PLACE INSIDE THE CORNFIELD TO GAIN A BETTER VANTAGE POINT.

FROM HERE WE CAN SEE PEOPLE WALKING IN AND OUT.

AND FAMILIES ACTUALLY BUYING TICKETS TO DO THE SAME.

MAYBE THIS ISN'T JUST SOME RUN OF RUN-OF-THE-MILL SIDE OF THE ROAD CORN MAZE.

>> WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS AT THE HICKS FAMILY FARM SINCE OUR DAUGHTER WAS 1 YEARS OLD.

SO MAYBE LAST SEVEN YEARS.

AND SO IT'S A FAMILY TRADITION EVERY OCTOBER, WE COME HERE.

>> EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FROM THE FIRST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER TO THE LAST DAY OF OCTOBER, VISITORS TRAVEL FROM NEAR AND FAR TO THE TOWN OF SHARLAMONT, MASSACHUSETTS.

THE CORN MAZE THAT BEGAN AS A MEANS OF SUPPLEMENTING INCOME HAS NOW TURNED INTO AN ANNUAL TRADITION.

>> 11 YEARS AGO, MY FAMILY WENT OUT OF THE DAIRY BUSINESS AND WE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FARM GOING.

SO WE DID GO INTO THE BEEF BUSINESS.

WE HAD 35 HE HAD OF -- HEAD OF CATTLE.

AND WE STARTED THE IDEA OF START ARE -- STARTING THE CORN MAISES.

>> THERE'S A GIANT GAME OF CZECHERS -- GAME OF CHECKERS AVAILABLE, MINI GOLF, THEY'VE GOT BABY GOATS WHOSE CUTE FACTOR BREAKS THE SCALE.

AND FOR MANY OF THE LOCAL KIDS, THIS PLACE IS THEIR RITE OF PASSAGE.

>> I'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE I WAS REALLY YOUNG.

SO PROBABLY LIKE 5 YEARS.

AND ORIGINALLY I JUST DID THE WONDERING THE DAY, BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET SCARED BECAUSE I WAS SO YOUNG.

BUT NOW I WORK IN THE NIGHT ONE AND I SCARE PEOPLE AND -- IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

>> YES, IT'S TRUE, THAT WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, THESE WINDING PATHS WHERE THE KIDS AND ADULTS GET TO HAVE FUN DURING THE DAY TURN INTO ONE OF THE SPOOKIER HAUNTED CORN MAZES IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

BUT THE HAUNTING DOESN'T START UNTIL EARLY OCTOBER.

AND SINCE THE MAZE CHANGES SHAPE EVERY YEAR, NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT A PLAN.

>> AROUND MARCH OR APRIL WE'LL GET TOGETHER ON A RAINY DAY AND THINK OF SOME DIFFERENT PADS, DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, WHERE WE WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE GO.

AND YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF MAP IT OUT ON A PIECE OF PAPER.

AND COME YOU KNOW, JUNE, WE PLANT THE CORN AND COME OUT AND PROCESS THE PATHS.

>> AND THE PROCESSOR IN CHIEF IS NONE OTHER THAN PAUL HICKS' SISTER JOANN.

>> I COME OUT WHEN THE CORN IS JUST THIS HIGH.

AND I JUST START MAKING PATHS.

I DO HAVE A MAP THAT I WORK WITH.

IF SOME CORN DOESN'T COME UP IN ONE SPOT, I MIGHT MOVE THE PATH OVER.

I GOT A LITTLE JOP DEERE TRACTOR WERE WITH A BLADE ON AND IT AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO SHARP ANGLES, EVERYTHING IS IN CIRCLES AND I START AROUND THE FOURTH OF JULY.

>> IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE BECAUSE IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS EASY WHEN THEY PLANTED THE FIRST CORNFIELDS YEARS AGO.

>> MY BROTHER SAYS, JO JO, WE NEED A CORN MAISES.

AND I THOUGHT OKAY.

SO I ONLY HAD A HOE AND RAKE.

AND EVERY MORNING ABOUT 6:00 BEFORE IT GETS TOO HOT.

AND JUST -- I LIKE MAKING THINGS.

>> ASIDE FROM MAKING THESE TRAILS, JOAN IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ALL OF THE SIGNS ALONG THE WAY, INCLUDING THE JOKES THAT THE MAZE WANDERERS PASS BY ON THEIR QUEST TO FIND THE ITEMS ON THE SCAVENGER HUNTLITION.

THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS CHICKENS.

I THINK I PASSED SOME OF THEM.

MY ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO STICK AROUND TILL NIGHTFALL FOR THE HAUNTED MAZE.

I'LL USE ANY EXCUSE TO HEAD OUT TO THE COUNTRY, BUT IT WAS EXTRA SPECIAL TO BE JOINED BY SO MANY OTHERS WHO DECIDED TO STOP BY IN THE LITTLE TOWN.

>> I LIKE IT THAT IT'S ENTERTAINING PEOPLE.

AND WE GET PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.

AND YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE NEVER BEEN ON A TRACTOR BEFORE OR EVEN SEEN A LIVE CHICKEN OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO WE'RE BRINGING THAT TO EVERYBODY.

NIEWKS ¶ ¶ .

>>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FALL IN NEW ENGLAND, CAN'T FORGET THE SUNNING FOLIAGE DURING THE AUTUMN MONTHS.

SOME OF THE BEST VIEWS CAN BE TAKEN IN FROM OCTOBER MOUNTAIN, THE LARGEST STATE FOREST IN MASSACHUSETTS.

IN A DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, JOIN FOLKLORIST JOE DURWIN AND MASSACHUSETTS DCR PARK SUPERVISOR ALEXANDER GILLMAN AS THEY EXMORE THE COLORFUL HISTORY OF BRIGHT ESTATE TURNED NATURE RESERVE.

>> THE FORMER SECRETARY OF THE NAVY UNDER GROVER CLEVELAND BEGAN BUYING LOTS WHAT'S NOW OCTOBER MOUNTAIN FOREST.

>> HE HAD BUILT A LARGE LODGE CALLED THE ANTLERS.

THERE WAS HORSE BANS, A ATWATER TOWER -- WATER TOWER.

ABOUT 10,000 ACRES.

>> HERDS OF ELK AND BISON AND MOOSE AND PHEASANT AND QUAIL WERE BROUGHT IN AND THE LAKES WERE STOCKED WITH BASS.

>> IT DIDN'T LAST FOREVER.

>> YOU CAN FIND THIS INTERVIEW AS WELL AS EXTRA FEATURE, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT AND SO MUCH MORE ON NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> AFTER LIVING THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, WE CAN USE A LITTLE MORE LAUGHTER IN OUR LIVES, AND HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY IS LOOKING TO BRING THE JOY BACK TO WESTERN MASS AS THEY EXPAND THEIR OPERATION IN HADLEY.

THE ORGANIZATION WILL NOW INCLUDE THE SPACE NEXT DOOR TO THEM TO BE APPROPRIATELY CALLED THE NEXT-DOOR LOUNGE, WHICH OFFICIALLY OPENS ON OCTOBER 30TH.

I SPOKE WITH HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY PRESIDENT PAMELA VICTOR TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE EXPANSION, THE PROGRAMS THEY OFFER, AND HOW THE ORGANIZATION FOSTERS COMMUNITY THROUGH CONNECTION AND LAUGHTER.

>> SO THE NEXT DOOR SPACE, THE LOUNGE WILL BE OUR B OFFICE.

SO IT -- BOX OFFICE.

SO IT WILL OPEN AT 5:00.

OUR SHOWS START AT 7:00.

SO IF YOU WANTED TO COME IN, GET A TICKET, AND ESPECIALLY ORDER IN DINNER OUR BRING IN DINNER.

SO YOU CAN HANG OUT THERE FOR A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE THE SHOW.

WE HAVE A GAME AREA.

YOU CAN PLAY SOME GAMES.

WE HAVE THIS LOVELY LIVING ROOM AREA WHERE YOU CAN HANG OUT ON CHAIRS.

THEN EVERYBODY WILL GO NEXT DOOR ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, SEE THE SHOW, BE WILDLY ENTERTAINED, AND THEN THEY'RE INVITED TO COME BACK NEXT DOOR, IF THEY'D LIKE, FOR MORE DRINKS, MORE FUN, AND THEN OUR AFTERSHOW, OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORTED SHOW, AT 9:00 P.M., IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR SMALL CABARET THEATER IN THE NEXT DOOR LOUNGE.

>> PAM, YOUR MISSION TO BRING MORE LAUGHTER, JOY, AND EASE TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHAT'S REALLY DRIVEN YOUR BUSINESS.

YOU WILL BE DOING EXACTLY THAT THROUGH WITH THE EXPANSION WITH THE NEXT DOOR LOUNGE.

WHY WAS NOW THE PERFECT TIME FOR HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY TO GROW?

>> OH, THAT'S HILARIOUS.

IT WASN'T THE PERFECT TIME!

[LAUGHTER] IT WAS A TERRIBLE TIME!

BUT WE GOT IF PERFECT -- PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.

I'M IN A SMALL ARTS NONPROFIT IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

NOTHING HAS GONE PERFECTLY IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

AS WE SAY IN IMPROV, YOU CAN'T CHOOSE THE SCENE THAT YOU'RE IN.

YOU JUST PLAY THE SCENE THAT YOU'RE IN.

AND THIS IS THE SCENE WE'RE IN.

WE HAD THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND NEXT DOOR TO TAKE ON THE FORMER TAROOM.

AND WE TOOK IT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PART OF OUR VISION.

AT HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY, MY BUSINESS PARTNER SCOTT AND I ALWAYS HAVE WANTED TO HAVE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN CONVENE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY ARE WELL IMPORTANT CORE VALUES TO US.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL DECISION.

AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE, BECAUSE FOR THE NEXT 20 MONTHS YOU'LL BE EXPLORING HOW TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESS.

IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU'VE TAKEN THIS GIVE IT A SHOT APPROACH TO A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S HOW YOUR CAREER STARTED IN COMEDY.

WHY DO YOU TAKE THIS IMPROV APPROACH TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE COMES OUT OF THE NEXT 20 MONTHS AT THE NEXT DOOR LOUNGE?

>> TO MISUSE "TED LASSO," A LINE FROM "TED LASSO," IMPROVE RO PROFESSOR IS LIGHTS.

I'M AN -- IMPROV IS LIFE.

I USE IMPROVISATION TO APPROACH MY PROFESSIONAL AND MY PERSONAL LIFE.

AND SO THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WE'RE GOING TO DO AN ENVIRONMENT.

-- EXPERIMENT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GOING TO GO.

WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.

CAN I MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT I LOVE EXPERIMENT.

I GAVE MYSELF ONE YEAR TO SEE IF I COULD MAKE A LIVING THROUGH IMPROVISATION IN WESTERN MASS NAS, WHICH SEEMED -- MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH SEEMED CRAZY AT THE TIME.

THE EXPERIMENT NEXT DOOR, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WHAT -- WHAT THE LOUNGE IS CALLED.

SO WE'RE DOING THE EXPERIMENT NEXT DOOR.

WE'RE GIVING OURSELVES 20 MONTHS TO SEE IF IT IS FINANCIALLY VIABLE.

>> NOW, HAPPIER VALLEY COMEDY IS MORE THAN JUST IMPROV SHOWS.

YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE IN THE COMMUNITY OFFERING A VARIETY OF RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS THAT HAPPIER VALLEY HAS TO OFFER?

>> SO THERE ARE THREE MAIN BRANCHES DO THE COMPANY.

LIKE YOU SAID, AS OF OCTOBER 30TH, WE'RE GOING TO START BACK UP OUR SHOWS EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY NIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A DIFFERENT IMPROV SHOW EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT.

AND THEN ANOTHER BRANCH IS A FULL MULTI-LEVEL CALMED KNEE SCHOOL WHERE WE HAVE A FULL CURRICULUM OF IMPROV CLASSES FROM AIM TERRIFIED AND I WANT TO DIP MY TOE IN THE WATER TO GET ME ON THE STAGE, COACH.

IT'S READY.

-- I'M READY.

MOST OF OUR STUDENTS TAKE IMPROV BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S CHEAPER THAN THERAPY.

IT'S FUN, IT'S COMMUNITY.

IT'S A WAY FOR ADULTS TO PLAY TOGETHER.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CONNECTION OPPORTUNITY.

WE ALSO HAVE A STAND-UP STORYTELLING -- STORYTELLING--BASED STAND UPCLASSES AS WELL.

AND THE THIRD BRANCH IS THE PROFESSIONAL -- I'M NOT TEACHING IMPROV PER SE BUT I'M USING THE TENETS AND EXERCISES TO FACILITATE GROWTH IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LIKE COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, INNOVATIVE THINKING, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR NEW BRANCH WHICH IS WELLNESS AND WELL-BEING.

SO IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING SELF-CARE AND RESILIENCE HABITS.

>> I LOVE THAT, BECAUSE JUST -- TAKING IMPROV TO ANOTHER LEVEL THAT I DIDN'T EVEN THEY IT COULD -- THINK IT COULD GO.

I KNOW ONE OF YOUR COMMITMENTS AS AN ORGANIZATION IS TO USE IT AS A TOOL TO AMPLIFY A PERSON'S VOICE.

IN WHAT WAYS IS IMPROV EFFECTIVE AND EMPOWERING AN INDIVIDUAL AND HOW CAN IT CHANGE SOMEBODY'S LIFE?

>> SO IMPROVISATION IS FANTASTIC FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY, FOR BUILDING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE.

BUT THEN ALSO IMPROVISATION OFFERS THIS BLUEPRINT FOR LIFE THAT IS SO USEFUL.

WE FROM A MAKING EACH OTHER LOOK GOOD.

WE PRACTICE BEING OF SERVICE TO EACH OTHER AND WE PRACTICE USING OUR AUTHENTIC VOICES, WHICH I THINK IN BUSINESS AND OUR PERSONAL LIVES IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL THAT EACH ONE OFS HAS -- ONE OFS HAS.

>> THERE ARE -- ARE THERE ANY CURRENT CLASSES THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN TAR BAKE -- PARTAKE IN?

>> ACTUALLY, THERE ARE.

ON OCTOBER 30TH WE STILL HAVE SOME SPACE OPEN IN OUR WORKSHOP.

IT'S A TWO-HOUR WORKSHOP CALLED IMPROV FOR SCAREDY CATS.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO TRY OUT IMPROVISATION IN A REALLY ACCEPTING SETTING.

AND GET SOME IDEA OF THE STUFF WE'RE DOING.

AND IF YOU DIG IT, WELL, WE'RE REYNOLD -- REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR OUR WEEKLY CLASSES.

WE ARE NOW OFFERING TWO JOY AND EASE OF IMPROV 1.

SO THAT'S MY WEEKLY IMPROV 1 CLASS.

AND I THINK THERE'S STILL PLACE IN THE STAND-UP STORYTELLING CLASS, TOO.

SO EITHER WAY, YOU CAN GET A SPACE IN THERE.

FROM ¶ ¶ .

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR OCTOBER 22nd, 2021.

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

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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