Feedback with Dan Holzman

Every city has challenges.  Every city has opportunities.  The question is:  How do you balance growth, investment, public safety, neighborhood quality of life, and preserving what makes a community unique?  Those are some of the conversations happening right now in the City of Reading.  From redevelopment projects and housing concerns to public safety initiatives and upcoming community events, city leaders are making decisions that will impact residents for years to come.  Jack Gombach, Managing Director for the City of Reading, talks about what’s happening in the city today, where Reading is headed tomorrow and how residents can become part of that future.

For many people, there comes a point when careers slow down, children grow up, and life changes.  The questions become:  Where do I put my time?  Where do I put my heart?  Tom Frebel, Volunteer for Baseballtown Dream League, found the answers to those questions with the Dream League.  Baseballtown Dream League  is a program that provides children and adults with special needs the opportunity to experience the joy of baseball, teamwork, friendship, and community.  It doesn’t just change the lives of the athletes but as Tom’s story validates, it changes the volunteers too!

Planning with purpose.  Turning your money into meaning.  Chris Briscoe, Senior Vice President and Director of Financial Planning and Lisa Ashcroft, Vice President and Wealth Advisor both of Girard, a Univest Wealth Division provide important information answering the question - why financial planning matters.  They teach us in this episode that financial planning isn’t just about preparing for the future, it’s about giving you the confidence to live fully today.  When your money is aligned with your purpose, you are not just building wealth, you are building a life that truly means something.

We are getting to know a woman who has spent much of her life serving the City of Reading, not just as an elected official but as a storyteller, community advocate, preservationist, and civic leader.  Meet Donna Reed, the President of Reading City Council.  Donna has dedicated decades to serving Reading and helping preserve its history, strengthen its neighborhoods and advocate for its residents.  Whether you live in Reading or are simply interested in the people who help shape our communities, this interview offers an opportunity to learn from someone whose life has been deeply connected to the city she serves.

Did you know that Berks County, PA is home to one of the most unique aviation museums in the county and host of World War II Weekend. Bruce Pollock, Mid-Atlantic Air Museum joins us to tell us about how thousands of visitors travel from across the country and around the world to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds, music, aircrafts, vehicles and stories of the Greatest Generation.  It’s more than an air show.  It’s more than a reenactment.  It’s a living history experience that honors the men and women who lived through one of the most significant periods in world history!

This episode of Real Life with Toni Reece is filled with laughter as we talk to Pat Cinfici, President of Boscov’s Travel!   This conversation is about travel, adventure, resilience, leadership and the stories that happen when people step outside of their everyday lives and explore the world. Pat rarely talks about herself, but after listening to today’s show, she leaves you wanting more of her wit, experience and her amazing stories from over 50 years in the travel business.

Today is a big day!  FEEDBACK becomes Real Life, A different kind of talk radio!  Hosted by Toni Reece. In our second hour we welcome Andrea Ebling, a Certified Breast Health Coordinator with Tower Health, talking about Mammogram Monday, prevention, and early detection. 

Today is a big day!  FEEDBACK becomes Real Life, A different kind of talk radio!  Hosted by Toni Reece. In our first hour we welcome Santo Marabella.  Santo is a playwright, author, educator and filmmaker.  He shares that being adopted and gay left him feeling isolated and that he didn’t belong.  His real story is about finding peace, which he did in the creative work that he does.  

The first hour of FEEDBACK is about homelessness, trauma, healing, dignity, and hope.  Joining us are Rob Turchi, CEO of Hope Rescue Mission and Kate Alley, Executive Director of the LightHouse Women and Children’s Center.   They have also invited a resident of Hope House to join us to share his journey from extreme desperation, attempt to commit suicide, losing his leg, hitting rock bottom and then hope by visiting the Hope Rescue Mission.  Very, very powerful testimony of coming back and enjoying your life again.  Our second hour of FEEDBACK is a conversation with Commissioner Christian Leinbach.  Commissioner Leinbach provides an update on the primary election numbers, looking for a new running mate, the Courthouse and 600 Penn Street and all of the amazing events happing in honor of America250PA Berks!

It’s all about reading today on FEEDBACK!  Joining us in our first hour is Gloria Foley Troup, creator of Stories and Songs with GiGi, a heartfelt YouTube channel designed to encourage families to read, sing, learn and connect with their children through stories and music.  Gloria has created something deeply personal, a digital legacy of love for her grandchildren, future generations and families everywhere!  In our second hour we learn about the Berks Book Bonanza, a beloved community event that has become much more than simply a giant used book sale. Judy Ellsworth, Manager of the Book Bonanza tells us the story that through hundreds of thousands of donated books, dedicated volunteers, and a passion for literacy the Bonanza has become a place where readers reconnect with stories, families make memories and books find entirely new lives.