The Spark

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 … Continue reading "Road trip to Martin Library in York"

Mary Sachs’ store interior, 1932 / Photo courtesy of Jeb Stuart 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 … Continue reading "Tailgating season and the Mary Sachs ladies shop"

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 … Continue reading "Pennsylvania Prison Lockdown and Hunger Action Month"

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 … Continue reading "What do numbers in F and M poll mean?"

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 … Continue reading "The status of unions in Pennsylvania and the book Rethinking America"

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 … Continue reading "New Millersville University President Dr. Daniel Wubah"

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 … Continue reading "Should fatal DUI be a felony in Pennsylvania?"

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 … Continue reading "Author Mary Beth Pfeiffer Discussing Her book Lyme"

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 … Continue reading "Challenges facing Pennsylvania schools"

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 … Continue reading "Barn Preservation and Mayflies in Pennsylvania"