Smart Talk Friday: Pa. restaurants and taverns struggling; Naming streams

Pennsylvania’s restaurants and taverns are struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

First came stay-at-home orders in March. Then, customers could dine outdoors and eventually seating for a limited number of customers indoors was permitted. If a diner wanted an alcoholic drink, they had to have it with food or what was called a meal.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced earlier this week that restaurants could return to 50% capacity on September 21. However, the governor also said no alcohol could be sold after 10 p.m. and sitting at a bar for just to drink was not permitted.

While some restaurants owners say the increased capacity is a step in the right direction, it still may not be enough to keep them from losing money.

Appearing on Friday’s Smart Talk to discuss one of the state’s largest industries and its struggles are Chuck Moran, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association and Jim DeLisio, owner of the Racehorse Tavern in York County and president of the York County Tavern Association.

Also, streams and creeks are an important part of Pennsylvania’s natural landscape. They provide habitat for native species, mitigate flooding, and offer boundless recreation opportunities.

There are more than 85-thousand miles of rivers and streams in the state, and protecting these waters is vital to their health. Only five percent of fresh-water creeks and streams in the U.S. are named; an important distinction for water conservation and pollution control. Water quality experts say that named streams are more likely to be protected from litter and unwanted runoff.

So, what goes into naming creeks and waterways? Joining Smart Talk on Friday is Jennifer Runyan, a researcher with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to talk about the process of naming geographic features.

 

 

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