March 31, 2021 | 3:00 PM

Smart Talk: Celebrating 50 years of WITF radio

Scott LaMar/WITF

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Scott LaMar was formerly the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.

Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.

In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.

The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.

LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.

A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.
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Staff reporting

Rex Athey / WITF

Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 9am and 7pm on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”

Airdate: Thursday, April 1, 2021

WITF-FM radio went on-the-air for the first time April 1, 1971. Fifty years ago, the station was a companion to WITF-TV Channel 33, that had been broadcasting since 1964.

At the time, WITF-FM’s mission was stated as, “to provide an alternative FM radio service, broadcasting the best in music, drama, public affairs, information and light entertainment.”

That included a classical music format with some jazz and folk mixed in. Over the years, the station grew and could be quite eclectic. There was the weekly Metropolitan Opera and even a Grateful Dead hour. WITF-FM was treasured in the arts community.

After becoming an affiliate of National Public Radio and ramping up the station’s regional and state news coverage, WITF-FM became the area’s most trusted news source on the radio dial.

Several current and former WITF managers, on-air hosts and journalists appear on Thursday’s Smart Talk to remember how the station has evolved over the past 50 years.

They include current President and CEO Ron Hetrick, WITF Board Chair Susan Eckert, former Executive Vice President Mike Ziegler, former Vice President of Programming, Traffic Director and classical music host Mitzi Trostle, three former news directors Ed Arke, Damon Boughamer and Scott Gilbert along with current Multimedia News Director Tim Lambert.

Read more about WITF-FM’s 50th anniversary here.

: Transforming Health reporter Ben Allen and WITF President and CEO Kathleen Pavelko during a pledge break in April 2016.

: The WITF news team in October 2017. Clockwise from top left: Craig Rhodes, Emily Previti, Tim Lambert, Kathleen Pavelko, Scott LaMar, Marie Cusick, Cara Williams Fry, Joe Ulrich, Katie Meyer, Rachel McDevitt and Brett Sholtis.

: Transforming Health reporter Ben Allen works at his desk in January 2017.

: An unidentified WITF employee in the mix-down room in the Hershey building. Suspected pre-1978.

: Peter Goldsmith, WITF’s Music Director until 1977, in a sound booth during the very early days of WITF FM.

: David Ginder, WITF Music Director from 1978 – 1985, selects the next classical tune to air on WITF FM, from the Hershey Community Building circa 1979.