Category: Smart Talk

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, September 5, 2018:

York is undergoing several revitalization projects in an effort to bolster economic development in the area. The historic Yorktowne Hotel is being renovated, and the Landmark Properties Project is responsible for updating two more buildings in the city. In addition, the York Plan 2.0 Innovation District is a project that focuses on developing the Northwest Triangle and bringing it into our technological future. Thursday’s Smart Talk Road Trip takes us to Martin Library, where we’ll discuss the city’s revitalization work.

The Yorktowne Hotel opened in 1925. In 2015 the York County Industrial Development Authority (YCIDA) purchased the property, and the following year the building closed as the more than $36 million renovation project began. The hotel is scheduled to reopen late next year as part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Though the building will have updated facilities, it will maintain its characteristic old-fashioned charm.

After reopening, the Yorktowne Hotel is expected to employ around 100 people. Even while under renovation, it maintains a role in the York community. At the beginning of last year, over 2,500 items from the hotel were donated to local non-profits. YCIDA partnered with the York College Hospitality Management Program to enable three students to be part of the renovation process. Last year, the building was made available to York County police to use for training exercises.

Two more York city locations are being updated as part of the Landmark Properties Project. Buildings at 101 E. Market St. and 335-351 W. Market St. are getting makeovers, which are expected to conclude this month. Royal Square Development & Construction (RSDC) is spearheading this project to create updated retail and apartment spaces in these buildings.

Joining us on our Road Trip to talk about these initiatives are York Mayor Michael Helfrich, Dylan Bauer, vice president of development for RSDC, Kevin Schreiber, president and CEO of York County Economic Alliance, and Andrew Staub, marketing and communications manager of Downtown Inc.

Another revitalization effort in the city is the York Plan 2.0 Innovation District. The project, led by York Exponential, aims to create a technology-based innovation hub in the northwest corner of York city. The estimated cost of the development is $64 million, which will go toward creating and renovating property to house robotic device production, design workshops, and space for offices and laboratories. John McElligott, CEO of York Exponential, hopes to break ground on the project at the end of this year.

McElligott joins Mayor Helfrich, Schreiber and Staub on Thursday’s Smart Talk to discuss the York Plan 2.0 Innovation District.

Development comes with concerns about inclusion. Mayor Helfrich faced backlash from members of York’s minority community after suggesting a plan to form a contract with the York County Economic Alliance and use their staff to supplement York’s Department of Economic and Community Development. Members of the city’s minority population expressed fears that their voices would be minimized or left out of the redevelopment process, that economic development would be outsourced, and that gentrification could displace minority residents. 

Mayor Helfrich’s plan for revitalization in York focuses on expansion and inclusion. For example, he wants to add two new employees (the maximum the budget will allow) to the Department of Economic and Community Development. One of these employees, he has said, should be fluent in Spanish in order to better communicate with the city’s Latino community. The city’s revitalization efforts have also focused on including low-income residents. 

We talk about these topics with Thursday’s guests, as well.

“Today’s Smart Talk Road Trip LIVE remote broadcast is supported by Roof Advisory and CGA Law Firm.”

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What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, September 5, 2018:

The hot summer weather may not elicit thoughts of autumn tailgating and indoor cooking, but the transition into fall is here and with that, different cooking styles and recipes.  Cooking moves inside in the fall and as the traditional grilling season winds down. Some of the foods we cook and how we cook them are changing, too. Tailgating, for example, is about make-ahead grilling options and delicious desserts prepared without a kitchen at hand, so the recipes must be easy and transportable.

Appearing on Wednesday’s Smart Talk is Chef Donna Desfor, host of WITF Cooks and founder of There’s a Chef in My Kitchen, to talk about seasonal cooking and tailgating. Desfor and Now That’s A Mouthful co-host Cherie Krause are in the studio.

Also, on Smart Talk, we look back in history at the woman who was called Harrisburg’s most successful entrepreneur of the 20th Century.  Mary Sachs opened her “ladies shop” in downtown Harrisburg in 1918.  At the time, it was a one-of-a-kind retail clothing store for women, giving ladies access to New York City fashions.

According to the Historic Harrisburg Association, Mary Sachs was said to have impeccable taste and a strong business acumen. Her store remained a vital part of the downtown Harrisburg retail landscape for more than 60 years before it was purchased by Hess’s Inc. of Allentown and eventually closed.

Mary Sachs died in 1960, but a charitable trust in her name continues to provide scholarships for young women entering the fields of fashion and merchandising.  The centennial recognition of the Mary Sachs store opening is scheduled on Thursday, from noon to 1pm at the Mary Sachs Building, 208 North Third Street, Harrisburg.

Joining us on Smart Talk to discuss Mary Sachs’s legacy is historian Jeb Stuart, Paul Hoch and Bill Greenberg, grand nephews and trustees of the Mary Sachs Trust and David Morrison, executive director of Historic Harrisburg.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, September 4, 2018:

Last week, Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections took an unprecedented step by locking down the 25 correctional facilities in the state prison system after a rash of illnesses among some prison employees. Administrators believe the employees may have been exposed to synthetic drugs and that the lockdown is precautionary.

Pennsylvania is not the only state grappling with illnesses related to unknown substances.  

The lockdown came the same day 29 people at an Ohio prison were treated for accidental drug exposure, and the same week five inmates in Arkansas died of suspected overdoses. In every case, officials are not able to say which drugs were involved, or how they got into the prisons.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Susan McNaughton said that while staff exposure is not unusual, the numbers are climbing. Since the beginning of August 6^th, 29 employees developed symptoms in 13 separate incidents, at nine different prisons.

Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel appears on Tuesday’s Smart Talk to explain the situation. For more information on the lockdown, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections website.

Also on Smart Talk, September is Hunger Action Month. A national nonprofit organization started Hunger Action Month more than 10 years ago to encourage community involvement in the fight against hunger. Now every September, food banks across the nation join the effort to raise awareness of the problem and encourage volunteers to get involved.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is leading the effort in our area, hoping to create a lasting impact and feed Americans in need. Volunteers are encouraged to join the movement by making donations or volunteering their time during the month of September. The yearly recognition is intended to be more than a temporary effort and to remind Americans that hungry families need their help all year.

Joining us on Smart Talk to talk about the initiative are Joe Arthur, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Executive Director, and food bank volunteer Paul Smith.

 

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What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, August 31, 2018:

What issue is most important to voters in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race this fall?  According to the latest Franklin and Marshall College poll released Thursday, voters are motivated by President Donald Trump’s performance in office. 

Trump is more important to how voters vote than immigration, healthcare, taxes or education.  Not surprisingly, those planning to vote for a Democrat say voting against Trump is the deciding factor in their decision. The poll also found that 38% of those surveyed believe Trump is doing an excellent or good job.  That’s about the same approval rating former President Barack Obama had at this point in his presidency.

F and M pollster and political analyst Terry Madonna appears on Friday’s Smart Talk to provide insight into the poll’s findings.

A little over two months before the November election, the poll has incumbent Democrat, Gov. Tom Wolf leading his Republican challenger, former State Senator Scott Wagner 51% to 32% with 14% undecided.  Another incumbent — Democrat Bob Casey has 48% to 29% edge over Republican Congressman Lou Barletta.

What are the others issues important to voters and are there any trends?  These are questions we’ll examine on Friday’s Smart Talk. 

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What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, August 30, 2018:

Labor unions in the United States are in a transition period. On the one hand, leaders point to battles won in West Virginia and Missouri as examples of labor union strength and relevance. The American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia and the West Virginia Education Association successfully negotiated a five percent pay raise for West Virginia Teachers and, recently, Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected the state’s right-to-work legislation. That legislation would have prevented unions from requiring workers in collective bargaining units to pay mandatory fees.

On the other hand, there are those who don’t support unions and cite the recent Supreme Court ruling against mandatory union fees by public sector unions as a blow to union strength. They also say a steady decline in union membership indicates American workers are not inclined to unionize.

As Americans prepare to celebrate Labor Day and the traditional end-of-summer holiday weekend, Smart Talk will discuss membership trends and union relevance with Richard W. Bloomingdale, president of the PA AFL-CIO.

Also, the book “Rethinking America: From Empire to Republic“ takes a closer look into events leading up to the Revolutionary War. It was written by author and professor Dr. Andrew Shankman and Yale University history professor Dr. John Murrin, Ph.D.

The book “explains why a constitutional argument within the British Empire escalated to produce a revolutionary republic.” The authors look at the politics of Anglicization from the colonial period up to the start of the American Revolution.

Dr. Andrew Shankman is a history professor at Rutgers University-Camden and will join Smart Talk on Thursday to talk about the book collaboration and essays he authored with Dr. Murrin.

 

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What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, August 29, 2018:

Dr. Daniel Wubah, the new president of Millersville University, will join Wednesday’s Smart Talk to discuss the new school year and his vision for the University.

Dr. Wubah comes to Pennsylvania from Virginia as a former provost and senior advisor to the president of Washington and Lee University. He brings with him more than 25 years of experence in higher education, having held administrative and teaching roles. Millersville University classes began on Monday, giving Dr. Wubah a few days to take in the new semester.

Millersville University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1855 as a Normal School to prepare teachers for the classroom. More than 160 years later, the University has grown significantly in it’s academic offerings and is a top-rated liberal arts institution. Millersville University is located on over 250 acres just outside of Lancaster City and is one of the 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). 

Conversations with college and university leaders are important to Smart Talk, as these schools play a large role in our local communities. We will discuss current issues related to higher education, like high school student preparedness and college affordability. 

Listeners can call 1-800-729-7532 or email smarttalk@witf.org with questions or comments.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, August 28, 2018:

(THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE OF SMART TALK FROM JUNE 19, 2018)
Eighteen-year-old Meredith Demko was killed in a Lancaster County car crash in July, 2014. The driver of the other vehicle had been arrested twice previously for driving under the influence and was driving with his license suspended. His blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit and he had heroin in his system at the time. Even though the driver’s actions resulted in a death and he had multiple offenses, he wasn’t automatically charged with a felony that would result in a longer prison sentence. Pennsylvania is one of just a handful of states where fatal DUIs aren’t treated as automatic felonies.

In fact, Pennsylvania is considered to have some of the most lenient DUI laws in the country. But a few lawmakers and parents who lost children to drunk or impaired drivers are trying to change that.

Meredith’s father and mother, Chris and Susan, co-founded the group Pennsylvania Parents Against Impaired Driving and have fought a passionate battle to make DUI laws tougher. The Demkos are on Tuesday’s Smart Talk. Also with us are Republican State Senator John Rafferty and Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman.

In Pennsylvania, first-time DUI offenders don’t automatically have their driver’s licenses suspended or serve time in jail. The severity of the penalty often depends on the driver’s blood-alcohol level.

Repeat offenders account for about 40% of all fatal DUI-related crashes and tens of thousands continue to drive without a vaild license.

Should DUI laws be toughened in Pennsylvania?

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What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, August 27, 2018:

(THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE OF SMART TALK FROM MAY 30, 2018)
The number of Lyme Disease cases doubled in the U.S. over the past two decades.

The illness is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected deer or black-legged ticks. These ticks feed on the blood of mammals, such as mice, raccoons, deer and humans.

So, what’s behind the increase in Lyme Disease?

Mary Beth Pfeiffer, author of the new book Lyme The First Epidemic of Climate Change, writes that warmer temperatures are a big factor in the spread of the disease. Ticks that couldn’t survive in some regions are now thriving. Even though it has nothing to do with climate change, Pfeiffer says ticks are hard to kill and they adapt well. She writes that another reason humans are coming into contact with ticks more often is many places that once were forests or fields have been developed and animals, like deer, are living in woodlots or closer to humans.
The book also delves into the controversies surrounding the diagnosis of Lyme Disease and whether the thousands of people who show symptoms of Lyme are suffering from chronic Lyme Disease — something many reputable medical professionals discount.

Mary Beth Pfeiffer appears on Monday’s Smart Talk.

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As students and teachers head back to class, Smart Talk takes a look at some of the challenges facing Pennsylvania public schools. Appearing on Friday’s the program are Ronald Cowell, executive director of The Education Policy and Leadership Center, John Callahan, chief advocacy officer with Pennsylvania School Boards Association, and superintendent of Cumberland Valley School District Dr. Frederick Withum.

There are many issues and questions to address on the program and among the topics we’ll consider with the panel are:

School funding — what will it take to be more equitable in Pennsylvania?
School safety — what are schools doing to keep students safe?
Standardized testing
Graduation requirements — some new in Pennsylvania this year
Teacher shortages — does Pennsylvania have one or is it restricted to rural and inner city areas?
Unfunded mandates
Academic areas in which Pennsylvania is strong and weak
Recent state legislation impacting education
Scheduling — specifically, what time should classes begin?
For more information, check out these resources:

Economic Policy Institute report on teacher compensation
Pennsylvania School Boards Association report on mandates
Pennsylvania State Education Association news

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What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, August 23, 2018:

Barns are a significant part of the rural Pennsylvania landscape. In Adams County alone, over 2,000 barns reflect the rural culture of the state and are representative of Pennsylvania to many people.

However, over the years, barns have slowly moved away from their original agricultural functions, like housing livestock and storing grain. Now, many structures are used for storage or remain vacant. The barns eventually deteriorate if they are not used.
What would Pennsylvania look like if barns were not part of the landscape? The Historic Gettysburg Adams County (HGAC) organization works to preserve historic and architecturally significant buildings. Their barn preservation program is one several efforts to preserve and protect Pennsylvania barns.

Barn preservation program designer Curt Musselman, and preservation specialist David Maclay, HGAC, appear on Thursday’s Smart Talk, along with Jonathan Slade, producer of the documentary Barns of the Susquehanna Valley which airs Thursday, Aug. 23, at 8 p.m. on WITF TV.

Also, they are a summer nuisance and, while they may seem excessive, an abundance of mayflies is a great indicator of improved water quality.
On the flip side, mayflies do bring an unwanted danger on bridges. Vehicles are at risk of sliding on the buildup of dead mayflies, causing accidents. An accident two years ago on the Route 462 bridge between Wrightsville and Columbia was caused by piles of the insects. They are attracted to light, so as they die, the carcasses pile up under the lights of the bridge. John Wallace, an entomology professor at Millersville University, has partnered with Wrightsville Borough to study ways to reduce the number of mayflies on the bridge.
Dr. Wallace will discuss mayflies Thursday and be joined by Wrightsville Borough President Eric White.

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