On Today's Show: CRNtalk.com
The "Wine Guru" - Joel M. Fisher, PhD -
wine columnist for the Culinary Connection of the Chefs de Cuisine Association of California. He was a Contributing Editor of Patterson's Beverage Journal.
Jim Lane - InnKeeper "Inn By The Bandstand" Exeter, New Hampshire
The award-winning Inn by the Bandstand is the premier lodging establishment in Exeter, New Hampshire. This wonderful inn is an 1809 historic home located in the heart of downtown Exeter. Only two blocks from the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy, eight miles to the seacoast and beaches, and 20 minutes from Portsmouth, this charming inn offers nine antique furnished guest rooms, all with private baths and a delicious full breakfast. We have all the modern conveniences with a touch of the past including wireless internet! The inn is a reminder of days when the world moved a bit slower and the people were friendlier. It is surrounded by quaint shops, fine restaurants. You can explore our downtown bookstore, toy store, Chocolatier, Exeter Fine Crafts and many fine gift shops such as Serendipty which offers green and fair trade items from around the world. Stroll around the river walk near the Academy boat house or have a picnic in the park. We also have the American Independence Museum and museum shop, plus historical self-guided tours to broaden your knowledge and interest of this area and its importance in our nation's founding history. Bring your laptop! The Inn by the Bandstand features complimentary wireless Internet in all rooms throughout the house! Just ask for an access card upon check in.
The Strasburg Rail Road - Weekly Dining Car Tarin Service
June 9, 1832 The Strasburg Rail Road was incorporated by a special Act of the Pennsylvania Legislature. Andrew Jackson was President of the United States. Over the next hundred years, the Strasburg Rail Road would become an important part of the transportation network in Central Pennsylvania, carrying both freight and passengers.
The War Years Although passenger travel dwindled with the advent of the electric trolley in 1901, the need to transport freight during World War I and World War II kept the railroad going.
1957 Few freight revenues, mounting operating costs and a series of damaging storms led owners to petition the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for abandonment. Local industrialist and railroad enthusiast Henry K. Long along with Donald E. L. Hallock organized a group of individuals to purchase the property and restore it. Shares of stock sold for $450 to raise enough money for the purchase.
November 1, 1958
Twenty-four stockholders (named vice presidents) purchased the Strasburg Rail Road for $18,000 from the Homsher Estate, but the railroad was inoperable. Tracks desperately needed repair. At some locations the tracks were totally buried underneath farm fields, leading one investor to suggest that the privately-held railroad company join the local 4-H Club.
January 4, 1959
The first passenger train in forty years departs from the Strasburg station. The train was pulled by Engine No.1, the Plymouth locomotive, powered by gasoline.
September 1, 1960
At 7:00 pm, Number 31 takes its inaugural roundtrip run on the Strasburg Rail Road, returning steam locomotion to America's oldest shortline railroad. William Moedinger was at the throttle. Visitors begin to come from around the country to ride behind the steam locomotive.
June 9, 2007
Strasburg Rail Road celebrates its 175th birthday. From its early years as a connecting railroad with the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, to its rebirth as a living experience of authentic steam railroading, the Strasburg Rail Road is truly a legacy for all to enjoy.
2008
America's oldest short-line celebrates 50 years since its rebirth. In 1958, twenty-four visionaries breathed new life into Strasburg Rail Road, saving it from abandonment - keeping it alive to educate and entertain for generations to come.
Joel Cliff - Media Relations Manager - Lancaster County
Perhaps the most well known component of Lancaster County tourism is the region's Old Order Amish community. Lancaster County is home to more than 25,000 Old Order Amish, the oldest and second largest community in the United States. The Amish lead a frugal, humble life. They prefer horse drawn buggies to automobiles and shun modern technology.
The Amish came to America from Europe in the late 1600s and early 1700s in search of the religious freedom they desired. Today, the Amish live a life of humility and simplicity, much as they did when they first settled in Pennsylvania. The Amish dress in Plain clothing and do not own things like cars or computers. Their homes do not have electricity, telephones, or other modern conveniences that the "English" (how the Amish refer to their non-Amish neighbors) take for granted. The Amish are true to their values and to the communities in which they live. Always willing to lend a helping hand, the Amish could be compared to one big extended family. If one Amish family is experiencing a hardship, such as unemployment, a health issue or death or property loss, the whole community rallies together to offer assistance. Close knit communities have been a constant since the Amish first settled in North America three centuries ago. The traditional nuclear, multigenerational households practiced by the Amish keep men working outside the home while the women tend to the house and children. Farming is an important part of their lifestyle. The Amish initially settled in Lancaster County because of its fertile soil; about half of the Amish still do work in agriculture, but in recent years, some Amish have chosen to trade in their crops for small businesses. Construction, woodworking, iron making and other businesses run by the Amish help provide them with a sturdy income and provide a service to the community. Some Amish entrepreneurs have also set