“That’s a wrap!” on season 4 of Connecting Point! After eight months, and over a hundred shows, Connecting Point is going on hiatus for the summer. But don’t worry, we’ll be back next October with more stories that connect you to the people, places, and ideas that matter most to western New England!
Before checking out for the summer, the Connecting Point production crew took a moment to reflect on their favorite stories from the season:
Tony Dunne, Connecting Point Producer
My favorite segment this season has to be the series I did on Northampton’s iconic Iron Horse Music Hall. This one venue holds so much history and so many stories, and the diversity of the artists and acts who’ve played there throughout its 35-year history is staggering! On a personal level, it encompassed all of my favorite things – music, history, performance and art, all neatly tied up in one package. The feedback that we received about these segments from the community was incredible; clearly it’s a place that has touched the lives of so many in the region and beyond.
Dave Fraser, Connecting Point Executive Producer
As someone who grew up skiing at Mt. Tom, when it came time this season to pick a segment for our “Gone But Not Forgotten” series, the choice was obvious – Lost Ski Trails of the region. Mt. Tom was an obvious choice, but I also explored the old Berkshire Snow Basin in Cummington, with the help of Jeremy Davis from NELSAP. Hiking up the old mountain and seeing remnants of the old rope tow and other bits and pieces of the once-vibrant ski area filled me with nostalgia, and a bit of a longing for a simpler time now past. Exploring history has a funny way of doing just that, especially history that has personal ties to one’s interests and experiences.
Aliz Koletas, Host & Producer of Connecting Point
Picking my favorite or best segment on Connecting Point this past season is like asking a parent to pick their favorite child- impossible. I couldn’t even begin to tell you which segment stuck out to me the most because they all have touched me in some way. So I’ll take the easy way out and talk about the segment that I feel best epitomized our name- connecting point. With our constant focus on connecting the community and the people in western New England, nowhere was that more evident than when our Purple Hearts Reunited segment aired on our web site as a web premiere before being broadcast on Veterans Day. A local man John Garvey watched just a glimpse of that interview before realizing that perhaps Captain Fike from Purple Hearts Reunited could do what he couldn’t 10 years previously- find the rightful owner of the military dog tags his young son found on their property a decade earlier. Long story short? Captain Fike and Purple Hearts Reunited connected with the veteran’s family and returned that special keepsake to the family.
This story also ties in with how WGBY will be exploring issues facing military veterans as they return from war and acclimate to civilian life- as we research this important issue over the summer and into the fall, I’ll always be reminded of this story that public media can be a powerful tool in connecting people to help solve important issues!
Jim Madigan, Host & Producer of Connecting Point & WGBY’s Director of Public Affairs
“The interview that really stands out for me was the chance to sit down with Col. Tim Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, as we marked the one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. What really struck me was his discussion of how he watched surveillance tapes and saw so many people walk by the 2 unattended backpacks that held the explosives. It really brought home how we all can play a part in our own safety and security just watching for anything that may seem out of place.”
Remember, all of the segments from this season can be viewed on our YouTube channel. Do you have a favorite segment from this season? Leave us a note in the comments!
