WITF Smart Talk Podcast

This past summer Robert W. Iuliano began serving as Gettysburg College 15th president.

Before arriving at Gettysburg, Iuliano spent 25 years at Harvard University performing different roles as former senior vice president, general counsel, and deputy to the president. Iuliano is a graduate of Harvard College and University of Virginia Law School.

During his time at Harvard, Iuliano was crucial in bringing back the ROTC program after decades long hiatus. He negotiated with the Army, Navy, and Air Force in 2011 after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Iuliano was integral in the relationship between MIT and Harvard which partnered together to create an online education platform, edX. After two years, the platform grew to over 1.6 million users in 195 countries across the globe.

Appearing on Wednesday’s Smart Talk is new Gettysburg College president Robert W. Iuliano to discuss his vision for the institution and higher education.

Also, the island nation of Haiti is a short two-hour flight from Miami, Florida, but for most Americans the country, and it’s problems, could be half a world away.

In 2010, Haiti experienced a catastrophic earthquake that took the lives of nearly 250,000 people and displaced about 1.5 million. Haiti never fully recovered from the devastation and problems continue to plague the country. Today, civil unrest and government instability threatens to destabilize the nation further. The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory in June, warning of protests and widespread criminal activity. The situation is so precarious that humanitarian aid groups have left the county and those remaining warn of critical shortages.

Joining Smart Talk on Wednesday to draw attention to the situation in Haiti are Jim Stauffer, past board member of the organization Youth With A Mission – Haiti, and Missionary Wayne Snow, who lives in St. Marc, Haiti, along with his family. Also on the program is Susan McDonald, a nurse from Lancaster County who started a non-profit called SHE-Haiti to provide clinical education opportunities for Haitian medical providers.

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On November 15, the South Central Pennsylvania Sickle Cell Council will welcome former Penn State All-American, NFL football player and current NFL assistant coach Bobby Engram to their annual fundraising event.  

Engram’s oldest daughter Bobbi died in 2018 from complications related to Sickle Cell Disease. Bobby Engram and his wife Deanna lead the Bobbi Engram Sickle Cell Foundation in their daughter’s name. 

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape of the blood cells. According to the Bobbi Engram Foundation, Sickle Cell Disease affects an estimated 100,000 people, the majority of whom are African Americans. The only cure for SCD is bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

Appearing on Smart Talk to discuss Sickle Cell Disease are Bobby Engram, Joe Robinson, executive director of the Southcentral Pennsylvania Sickle Cell Council, and Payton Williams, 20-year-old advocate who is living with SCD.   

Also, the Kings Gap State Park in Cumberland County is known for its scenic views and terrific hiking trails. Another attraction in the park is the Cameron-Maslund Mansion – a landmark that has a unique history of its own. 

We’ll hear about that history on Tuesday’s Smart Talk with Ron Turo, member of the Cumberland County Historical Society and Friends of Kings Gap and William C. Forrey, retired Director of the Pennsylvania State Parks and Founder of the Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, chair of the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society Government Affairs Committee and serves on the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council.

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When the United States officially entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, military mobilization began across the nation.

Some men who were not medically qualified for military service joined the Merchant Marine, instead of the armed forces. Others found their way to the waterfront through recruiting efforts and posters seeking mariners.

In either case, their service was essential to the war effort. Merchant Marines transported eight-thousand tons of cargo every hour, every day and they found themselves in the cross-hairs of enemy subs and U-boats. Off the coast of North Carolina lies the remains of nearly 100 World War II vessels and is the final resting place for nearly 1,700 men.

The seamen of the U.S. Merchant Marine suffered a higher casualty rate than any branch of service. Some estimates indicate that as many as 9,500 perished, nearly one in 26 mariners. However, there is no definitive casualty count because Merchant Mariners worked for both private companies and government agencies.

There is also no definitive count of vessels lost in the War, either, but numbers range from 990 to 1,600 ships.

“They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations and across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult and dangerous job ever undertaken.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt

After the War, there were no parades for the Mariners, and no hiring preference for jobs, either. In fact, many returned to find their contributions to America’s war effort were held in little regard. They received no government pensions, education or other benefits for their service. They also did not receive “credit” for their service, leaving many of them vulnerable for the Korean War draft a few years later.

Efforts to recognize WWII Merchant Mariners as veterans began immediately after the War, but most initiatives failed. After many legislative attempts, the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act passed in 1988 and extended limited veterans rights to Mariners who served during WWII.

Appearing on Smart Talk on Veterans Day to discuss their experience during and after the War are Merchant Mariners Bill Balabanow and Bill Kelley. Joining them to detail the national efforts to recognize Merchant Mariners are Sheila Sova, advocate with the American Merchant Marine WWII Veterans organization and David Alberg, Superintendent of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

 

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The first real blast of cold air this season might come as a shock when you walk out the door today. Temperatures in central Pennsylvania took a tumble over the past 24 hours as a cold front brought rain, wind and colder temps to the Midstate area.

Is this a taste of what we can expect for the remainder of fall? And what about snow predictions, will the weather prognosticators prove correct with their predictions for high snow totals this winter?

Meteorologist Eric Horst, Director of the Weather Information Center at Millersville University joins Smart Talk on Friday to talk about the weather trends we might expect this winter.

Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is now issuing the REAL-ID’s, but there is still some confusion about who, or even if you need one.

According to PennDOT, beginning October 1, 2020, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, photo ID card, or another form of federally-acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to board a domestic commercial flight or enter a federal building or military installation that requires ID.

Appearing on Friday’s Smart Talk  to discuss Pennsylvania’s implementation of the REAL ID are Alexis Campbell, Press Secretary at PennDOT and Kurt Myers, Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services at PennDOT.

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The United States is preparing for a potentially dangerous flu season this winter. This is based on data from Australia, as they have experienced one of their deadliest flu seasons on record. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention uses Australia as a predictor for our flu season.

The last severe outbreak that followed an Australian flu pattern was in 2017. Over 48 million people fell ill resulting in 79,400 deaths in the US, according to the CDC. Asthma and diabetes patients are three times more likely to die as a result of flu complications than other patients. Minnesota has already recorded one fatality this flu season.

While there is no official start date for flu season it typically spikes between October and February, petering off in April. The influenza virus causes a highly contagious illness that includes nausea, fatigue, fever, and headaches.

On Thursday’s Smart Talk we’ll discuss flu prevention, minimizing the virus, and the importance of flu vaccinations with Dr. John Goldman, MD., Infectious Disease Specialist at UPMC Pinnacle.

Also, President James Buchanan was the only president from Pennsylvania and the only US President who remained unmarried. Much speculation about Buchanan’s bachelorhood has come into question.

Appearing on Smart Talk is author of Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King, Thomas J. Balcerski, Ph.D. He looks to a new perspective on their relationship and challenges modern assumptions on past same-sex relationships.

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Even with a booming economy and low jobless rate, many Pennsylvanians are food insecure.

A recent report found that even a large percentage of those working full-time have trouble paying for essentials, like food.

WITF is partnering with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, the United Way of Pennsylvania and Giant Food Stores to focus on raising money to buy food for those in need.

Appearing on Smart Talk are Joe Arthur, Executive Director, Central PA Food Bank, Kristen Rotz, President of the United Way of Pennsylvania, and Matt Simon, Vice President and Chief Marketing officer with Giant Food Stores.

Today, show your gratitude and help fight hunger in Central Pennsylvania. For every dollar you give to WITF, Giant Food Stores will match it with a one pound donation of food to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank – up to 50,000 pounds for families in need. Help make this holiday season brighter for families across our region with your gift. Every gift makes a difference. Call 1-800-233-9483 to speak to a WITF volunteer.

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November 5 is Election Day, and in Pennsylvania that means along with the slates of judicial and local candidates, there’s a constitutional amendment on the ballot. We’ll kick off Tuesday’s Smart Talk with the latest news on Marsy’s Law, which is intended to help crime victims and is now facing a tumultuous court challenge.

In addition, PA Post’s Emily Previti and Doug Hill, Executive Director of the County Commissioners Association, weigh in on counties’ efforts to install new voting machines, and offer analysis of the changes the legislature recently made to Pennsylvania’s election laws.

In the second half of the show, Senator Maria Collett and Representative Danielle Friel-Otten, both Democrats, explain a legislative initiative to provide free menstrual products in all of Pennsylvania’s public bathrooms—and in particular, those located schools, prisons, and state-funded nonprofits.

Collett, Friel-Otten and other backers of the bills say their idea isn’t much different than requiring bathrooms to provide toilet paper. Plus, they say, it will make a big difference for poor people who need those menstrual products.

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Bucknell University researchers have spent the past three years testing two common vaping products. Their research has found that electronic cigarettes release potentially harmful levels of carbon monoxide – the same common, toxic gas that is found in a car’s tailpipe emissions, and which is also found in cigarette smoke.

Their findings are in sharp contrast to the vaping industry’s claims that electronic cigarettes are less dangerous than smoking.

This study happens to be published at a time that a lung ailment tied to vaping has claimed more than 34 lives across the country. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still warning people to stop vaping – drawing attention to the fact that there’s still a lot we don’t know about the risks of vaping.

Appearing on Smart Talk Monday to offer study details are Bucknell University Professors Dabrina Dutcher,Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry and chemical engineering and Karen Castle, Ph.D, Russell-Childers professor of chemistry.

Also, Applied Behavior Analysis is a type of therapy that can help children with autism and people dealing with things like addiction and PTSD.

But there aren’t enough applied behavior analysts in Pennsylvania to do the work.

Joining Smart Talk to discuss efforts to change that are Dr. Cheryl Tierney-Aves, MD, board-certified behavior and developmental pediatrician with Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Dr. Jonathan Ivy, applied behavior analyst and assistant professor of psychology, Penn State Harrisburg.

 

 

 

 

 

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Segment: Tracking paranormal activities Thru the Veil Investigations Services

It’s Halloween and Smart Talk is getting into the spirit of the season. There are people who claim to have experienced or seen what they describe as supernatural events; things that can’t be easily explained by laws of nature.

Perhaps what they’ve seen should be called Paranormal, or phenomena that occur outside normal experience or scientific explanation.

A mid-state team from Thru the Veil Investigations approach these events as very real phenomenon that should be investigated.

Joining Smart Talk on Thursday to provide insight to paranormal activity is Tom Shirey, a founder and lead investigator with Thru the Veil Investigations.

Jeanne Robertson has been traveling the country as a professional speaker for more than 55 years. Her unique blend of humor and life observations have earned her the title of American Humorist.

Robertson’s original material is delivered with her distinctive Southern accent, which adds a polite, but satirical overtone. She is a member of the Speakers Hall of Fame and she will appear at the Shippensburg Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 8.

Jeanne Robertson will appear on Smart Talk Thursday.

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