(Harrisburg) -- A number of midstate tavern owners are hoping a proposal in the legislature will help them level the playing field with social clubs. Don Kirkpatrick of Red Crown Bowling Center in Harrisburg sees too many of his customers leave after a game for the VFW or the Elks club. He says it's because they offer some things he can't. "They have cheaper prices on their alcohol and also they have all these small games of chance. The people like to play them," he says. "It could just mean additional revenues every week for us to put us on an even keel with the clubs." Kirkpatrick is the secretary of the Tri County Licensed Beverage Association, which is backing a measure that would allow licensed establishments offer small games of chance. Under the plan, taverns would also have to designate a percentage of the profits from the games to a charity. They would pay a tax on the revenue, but the levy would not apply to clubs or volunteer charitable groups that have previously been allowed to operate small games of chance. Tavern owners will take part in a rally at the state Capitol tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. in support of the proposal.

Radio Smart Talk for Monday, March 15: In Latin, "sylva" means woods. That's where the name "Pennsylvania" comes from: "Penn's Woods." But would William Penn recognize his woods today? Could the name of our Commonwealth someday become nothing more than an ironic legacy? Is Pennsylvania's forest disappearing?  We'll ask Secretary John Quigley from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – and we'll welcome your questions and comments about state efforts to protect and preserve our natural world.

On March 20, The Harrisburg Singers and Trinity Lutheran Church, Camp Hill, will launch the inaugural American Composer’s Festival. The goal of the festival is to bring in a noted American composer to conduct a celebration of his or her music.This year, composer K. Lee Scott has been chosen. He is known as one of America’s foremost composers of music for the church. Six local church choirs will join the Harrisburg Singers in the performance: Trinity Lutheran Church in Camp Hill; Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church; Camp Hill United Methodist Church; Camp Hill Presbyterian Church; Messiah Lutheran Church, Harrisburg; and Zion Lutheran Church, Hummelstown.  The concert begins Saturday evening at 7:30. You can hear our feature on the choral festival below.  

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Kathleen A. Pavelko

President and CEO

WITF, Inc.