We encourage you to engage your programming chops with the Global Game Jam happening at Hampshire College. Game developers of all experience levels and ages will gather in Amherst to create games over the course of 48hrs, starting on Friday Jan. 30th, and being presented on Sunday Feb 1st. We speak with organizer Violet Henriques about the appeal of this sort of creation, and how to get involved. 

Then we’ll head off to Hatfield to one of the few estate wineries in the northeast who are keeping even their grapes local. Black Birch Vineyard truly leans into the fact that wine is a local farm product through their many vintages, and even in the ways they maintain their fields. Owners Michelle Kersbergen and Ian Modesto speak with us about bringing wine to western mass and some of the agricultural challenge such a venture presents. 

Plus our weekly chat with congressman Jim McGovern addresses the very dangerous situations in the US of increasing violent confrontations, not just ICE, and not just against elected officials, but on a global stage as well, and highlights the need for balance in the results of the upcoming midterm elections.