First for September 29, 2017

The rise of Smyrna
Once-tiny Smyrna straddles New Castle and Kent counties and has mushroomed into one of Delaware’s largest municipalities. That growth has not only transformed this former agricultural town and its school district, but, through football, has brought a new sense of town pride.

Wilmington violence
A few weeks ago, the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Wilmington hosted a conference to look for solutions to solve Wilmington’s violence problem. The keynote speaker was Father Greg Boyle, author of Tattoos on the Heart and founder of Homeboy Industries, a social enterprise business that hires former gang members. He shared with attendees his organization’s approach to removing barriers to reach violent offenders.

Dustoff Convention
This month, the Vietnam War has been on the minds of many thanks to Ken Burns and Lynn Novic’s documentary that’s aired here on WHYY and around the country. This past weekend, a group of Vietnam veterans gathered in Delaware for their annual convention. Laughter and tears marked the reunion for these veterans who flew medical evacuation missions during the war.

First Person: Education
Eugene Young ran for Wilmington mayor last year and is now the CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. Also with us is Elizabeth Lockman, director of PACE (Parent Advocacy Council for Education). They are here to discuss a new education initiative called No Ceilings on Success.

First Experience: Model railroading
Model railroading has been going strong for generations. You may remember seeing these grand layouts as a kid, or maybe you took your kids to see them. The Delaware Seaside Railroad Club is working to keep the hobby of model railroading alive for future generations. For our First Experience this week we show you their hobby and how they are keeping it alive.