A swim club near Philadelphia is at the center of what many say is a classic case of racial discrimination. Late last month, a group of predominantly black and Hispanic children from a summer camp in Philadelphia visited the Valley Club in Montgomery County. A camp official says they heard club members making racially-insensitive remarks and took their own children out of the pool. Then last week, the swim club refunded the camp's membership check.
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The swim club's president added fuel to the controversy when he said the campers changed the complexion of the pool. Later he said he used a poor choice of words and meant the campers made the pool too crowded.
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Whatever the motivation, the pool controversy shows that race and racial differences are still big issues in American society.
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With that backdrop, WITF is embarking on "Managing Our Diversity," a series devoted to examining the divisions, lack of communication and mistrust that sometimes exists in our diverse population and what can be done about it.
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On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we want to hear from listeners on the issues they feel are most important or are not discussed enough publicly or honestly when it comes to racial, ethnic, religious, or gender issues.
(Harrisburg) -- State House Republicans have introduced a $27.3 billion spending plan that leaders say would be balanced, despite having no new taxes. Though they're the minority party in the House, Republicans hope a proposal that boosts education funding and holds the line for state parks, hospitals and universities will win support from across the aisle. House Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) says those spending levels are possible due to a more even plan of what to cut.
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Obviously, there's some elements of the budget that are mandated, you know, we're required by law to fund regardless. Those items are funded. Then, we went with pretty much a 12-percent across-the-board cut." The plan would attempt to boost tax revenue by providing amnesty to scofflaws. It also calls for expanding gas drilling on state land, use of some "rainy day" money, and it would pull from an account that pays doctors' malpractice premiums. So-called "walking around money" would be zeroed out. The proposal was put forth the day after House Democrats announced they would bring the Senate Republicans' budget plan up for a vote in the near future.
It seems there are a lot of people who have fantasized about the idea of running a Bed & Breakfast Inn. Mary White is a noted expert on the subject, having been involved in promoting and marketing B&B’s for over a decade on her website, BnBFinder.com. Her new book, Running A Bed & Breakfast for Dummies, explores the topic in detail.  And if you’re thinking of a summer getaway, the book also covers the benefits of staying at a Bed & Breakfast.  Heather Muha brings Mary White into the Creative Zone to talk about the book.
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(Dillsburg) -- For most children, summertime in Central Pennsylvania means sunshine and freedom. But for those living with the loss of a parent or sibling, it's hard to be as carefree since the pain doesn't stop when school is out. The inaugural gathering of Camp Koala is hoping to change that.
Ah, Quebec!  It's not quite Paris, Avignon or Nancy, but it is a little bit of French culture, language, and cuisine just a day's drive away from Harrisburg. I have to admit, though, that the scenery is the best from Harrisburg into Upstate New York. The 2-hour or so drive from Montreal to Quebec City was nothing to write home or even blog about. It's mostly commercial and industrial territory, and the roads significantly worsen as soon as you cross the border from New York. For some reason, I imagined there'd be quaint little towns nestled in valleys as you'd find driving in France, but that was not to be. Just the strip malls, auto repair shops and the like. Yet once you actually drive into Quebec City and into the gates of its old town, disappointment turns to delight at the cobblestone streets, hanging baskets of begonias and petunias, and ornate wrought iron balconies like those in my hometown of New Orleans.
(Harrisburg) -- State House Republicans have introduced a $27.3 billion spending plan that leaders say would be balanced, despite having no new taxes. Though they're the minority party in the House, Republicans hope a proposal that boosts education funding and holds the line for state parks, hospitals and universities will win support from across the aisle. House Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) says those spending levels are possible due to a more even plan of what to cut.
It seems there are a lot of people who have fantasized abo
ut the idea of running a Bed & Breakfast Inn. Mary White is a noted expert on the subject, having been involved in promoting and marketing B&B’s for over a decade on her website, 
(Dillsburg) -- For most children, summertime in Central Pennsylvania means sunshine and freedom. But for those living with the loss of a parent or sibling, it's hard to be as carefree since the pain doesn't stop when school is out. The inaugural gathering of Camp Koala is hoping to change that.
Ah, Quebec!  It's not quite Paris, Avignon or Nancy, but it is a little bit of French culture, language, and cuisine just a day's drive away from Harrisburg. I have to admit, though, that the scenery is the best from Harrisburg into Upstate New York. The 2-hour or so drive from Montreal to Quebec City was nothing to write home or even blog about. It's mostly commercial and industrial territory, and the roads significantly worsen as soon as you cross the border from New York. For some reason, I imagined there'd be quaint little towns nestled in valleys as you'd find driving in France, but that was not to be. Just the strip malls, auto repair shops and the like. Yet once you actually drive into Quebec City and into the gates of its old town, disappointment turns to delight at the cobblestone streets, hanging baskets of begonias and petunias, and ornate wrought iron balconies like those in my hometown of New Orleans.
