Close Up Radio
Close Up Radio with veteran award-winning broadcast TV and radio hosts/media personalities Jim Masters and Doug Llewelyn is an exciting, informative, entertaini
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Close Up Radio Welcomes Back Children’s Book Author Linda Stone
New Buffalo, MI - Linda Stone is making waves in the world of children’s literature by sharing heartfelt stories celebrating the joy and responsibility of pet adoption. Drawing on her own experiences with rescued dogs, Stone’s growing series of rhyming picture books gently teaches young readers about compassion, kindness, and the commitment that comes with welcoming a four-legged friend into the family.Linda Stone’s career has been anything but ordinary. She began as a bakery owner just days before her 21st birthday, running Ramberg’s Bakery in Union Pier, Michigan, for over 20 years alongside her brother. After attending floral school in Chicago, Stone opened her own flower shop, where she continues to design by appointment, relishing the quiet creativity her work allows.Stone’s entry into children’s literature was unexpected and deeply personal. “The book project came as a total surprise,” she recalls. “It was never something I’d planned.” The inspiration for her debut book, “Bubbles’ Troubles,” came to her through a vivid dream about her own dog, Bubbles, a lovable street dog turned shelter resident and, eventually, a cherished family member. Stone captured Bubbles’ journey from street life to adoption in the pages of her first book, donating proceeds to the shelter where Bubbles found her second chance.Stone’s stories are more than just entertaining rhymes—they are purposeful tales that shine a light on real issues faced by shelter animals. “I want to help children understand what happens to homeless pets and share the lifelong bonds that form through adoption,” explains Stone. Her books spark conversations around responsibility, ensuring young readers realize the importance of caring for animals, not just when they are puppies but throughout their lives.Following “Bubbles’ Troubles,” Stone’s great niece inspired the next book in the series: “Teddy Spaghetti,” which features another of her beloved rescue dogs. The series also includes “Home is the Very Best Place to Be,” a book especially suitable for preschoolers, which gently introduces the idea of choosing and caring for a pet.“Bubble’s Troubles” and “Home is the Very Best Place to be” are brought to life with colorful illustrations by Matthew Smith, a New York-based artist whose collaboration with Stone began through a serendipitous connection. Both author and illustrator embarked on their first book together, and their partnership continues to charm families and animal lovers alike.Stone’s dedication to animal welfare extends far beyond her books’ pages. A portion of proceeds from every sale supports the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana, the very shelter that rescued Bubbles. Stone donates signed copies directly to the shelter, allowing them to keep 100% of the profits from on site sales. She is also seeking to expand partnerships with other shelters, offering books free of charge for fundraising and education.“I believe in giving back,” says Stone. “These shelters are doing vital work, and if my books can help even a little, that’s a win for everyone—especially the animals.”Encouraging Compassion and ResponsibilityLinda Stone’s books don’t shy away from real-life challenges faced by rescue animals, including abandonment and adjustment to new homes. Through honest storytelling, she encourages empathy and thoughtful decision-making for families considering adoption. “I want to raise awareness and help kids understand both the joys and the responsibilities of owning a pet,” she explains. Her stories also touch on the importance of spaying and neutering, supporting the goal of more shelters being able to operate as no-kill facilities.Looking Ahead: More Adventures for Bubbles and TeddyThe adventures of Bubbles and Teddy are far from over. Stone is currently developing two new titles: “Bubbles and Teddy: Fun on the Run,” which explores the importance of doing the right thing, and “Bubbles and Teddy Rule the School,” promising more rhyming adventures and life lessons for elementary-aged readers. Both books will continue to blend humor, heart, and gentle guidance, extending the series’ mission of nurturing empathy and responsibility.Faith and PerseveranceStone credits her creative journey to a sense of divine guidance and perseverance. “I believe that if you ask to be led in this life, you will be,” she reflects. Her approach to writing is rooted in commitment—showing up each day, trusting inspiration, and putting in the work, even when the path isn’t clear.About Linda StoneLinda Stone is a children’s book author, floral designer, and lifelong animal lover based in New Buffalo, Michigan. She writes rhyming picture books inspired by her rescue dogs, Bubbles and Teddy, with the mission of teaching young readers about compassion, kindness, and pet responsibility, and donates a portion of proceeds to animal shelters.For more information about Linda Stone and her children’s books, please visit https://bubblesandteddy.com/
Close Up Radio Spotlights Fundraising Expert Bonnie Squires of Squires Consulting
Philadelphia, PA - Bonnie Squires’ name may be best recognized as a familiar byline for readers of the Mainline Times and Suburban, but her roots in advocacy, public service, and consulting run deeper than her decades-long column. As the founder of Squires Consulting and a celebrated veteran fundraiser, Bonnie’s extraordinary career stands as proof that persistence, dedication, and humor can open both doors and minds in public life.Bonnie’s journey began close to home, inspired by her mother’s hands-on commitment to community service within the Jewish philanthropic world. “My mother was a perennial volunteer for charities, so I guess I got it from her,” she shares. That early exposure set Bonnie on a path where she would deftly blend communications, fundraising, and consulting without ever losing her sense of purpose or her wit.A Philadelphia native with dual degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Bonnie’s career took flight as Special Assistant to the President of Temple University, the late Peter Liacouras. Over eight years, Squires found herself the go-to problem solver, juggling so many roles she jokes about the number of business cards she needed. “When Peter needed a job done that others had failed at, he’d always call Bonnie and I’d get the job done,” she recalls. Among her many achievements, she coordinated a capital campaign at Temple University that raised a record-setting $100 million in the 1980s. How? “You have to be honest. You have to set a good example. And you have to believe in the cause you’re campaigning for,” she says, emphasizing that she never took on work she did not believe in.Squires’ expertise extends to the world of political campaigning and nonprofit governance. Whether chairing committees, supporting candidates, or running for commissioner in Lower Merion Township at the request of the Democratic Party, Bonnie relished the challenges. Door-to-door canvassing offered unexpected rewards, from discovering private art collections to making unlikely connections. A self-described people person, Bonnie found that these in-person exchanges were where influence truly happened.As a consultant, Squires has developed particular skill working with the disability and mental health community, including projects with Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health. Her firsthand understanding stems from lifelong friendships with families navigating mental disabilities, allowing her to bring insight and empathy to sensitive causes.Bonnie’s knack for storytelling and publicity found a natural outlet in media and communications. At Temple University, she wrote, directed, and produced television commercials, most notably featuring the then-untarnished Bill Cosby, who volunteered as a spokesperson. “He was wonderful at the time. He paid special attention to the parents of students who I introduced him to,” she shares. These campaigns helped raise Temple’s public profile and attract new applicants in a competitive era for higher education.But it is her writing that has become Bonnie Squires’ most public platform. For over 50 years, her weekly opinion column has offered sharp commentary, humor, and analysis on politics, human rights, and current events. “I write whatever I want. Nobody checks on me or assigns topics. And whatever I send to the editor, he puts up on line and prints in the paper that week,” she says. Whether skewering political figures or celebrating community wins, Bonnie’s writing process is equal parts research, inspiration, and old-fashioned gumption.Recognition for her work continues to follow her. Recently named “Power Woman of the Month, Bonnie received two plaques commemorating the honor and a memorable photo opportunity with comedian Howie Mandel at her synagogue’s centennial. “He was so charming and funny and wonderful. He was great to me. So I had my picture taken with him. And that’s what I sent out with that press release,” she laughs.Asked about the secret to successful fundraising, Bonnie distills it to trust, sincerity, and shared vision. “Fundraisers must believe in the cause or the institution or whatever it is they’re collecting money for,” she shares. Her career proves that with integrity and a bit of tenacity, even the most daunting goals can be met. She tells young women entrepreneurs, “Never give up. There’s always a brighter day coming. And women are just as strong and even smarter than men.”As for the future, Squires intends to keep writing her beloved weekly column and consulting for causes that align with her values. Her faith, she says, is a personal anchor that she discovered independently as a child and furthered through six eye-opening trips to Israel and five decades of friendship with an Israeli family.Bonnie Squires’ story is one of service, self-direction, and steadfastness, rooted in Philadelphia and shaped by the communities she has served. With Squires Consulting and her weekly column, she remains a vital, outspoken presence in public affairs and continues to find new ways to make her voice heard.For more information about Bonnie Squires, please visit http://www.squiresconsulting.com/
Part 1: Close Up Radio Spotlights Retired Urban Planner Richard G. Bickel
Ardmore, PA - Urban planning in the Philadelphia region has a long, storied history, and few have lived it quite like Richard G. Bickel. From a humble beginning in Montgomery County to overseeing major regional initiatives at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Bickel’s five-decade career maps an evolving landscape of communities, challenges, and solutions threaded together by a commitment to public engagement and pragmatic action.Now retired, Bickel offers his vast experience as a Senior Advisor with Econsult Solutions, a national consultancy with a unique model: blending the fresh energy of its 35-member staff with the wisdom of over 60 senior advisors. For Bickel, retirement has meant selective participation. “If there’s something interesting, I’m happy to get involved,” he says, “but otherwise, I’m enjoying my retirement.”The Accidental PlannerSurprisingly, Bickel didn’t always have his sights set on city grids or transit corridors. “I wanted to be a doctor. I was fascinated by medical dramas in the ‘60s and liked the idea of helping people,” he recalls. Yet, after a run-in with organic chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, Bickel pivoted to sociology and anthropology, areas that more closely matched his curiosity about people, places, and communities. A fateful urban geography course introduced him to the world of planning, prompting him to stay at Pitt for a Master’s in Urban Regional Planning.Assigned as a community planner in Norristown, his first major project took Bickel to Rahway Avenue, a small minority neighborhood surrounded by dead-end streets. Residents were content with their unique arrangement and wanted no thoroughfare slicing through their peace and quiet. Bickel listened—and his recommendation to preserve the neighborhood’s layout became his first successful study. “That experience taught me an important lesson for planning. You cannot go into a community and impose your ideas. You need to talk to people and listen.”From County to Region: A Career Built on CollaborationBickel’s subsequent work at the Montgomery County Planning Commission involved helping local governments with zoning, subdivision, and comprehensive plans. He describes a professional culture “where relationships are critical to implement plans.” This collaborative spirit followed him to the regional stage at DVRPC, where he dealt directly with federal transportation policies, complex funding streams, and the challenge of aligning the interests of nine counties across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.Later, his move to SEPTA deepened his insight into transportation planning—a world of acronyms, technical studies, and, at times, public skepticism. “Credibility is something that planners deal with. You go to a meeting and people wonder, ‘Who is this guy from the county?’” Over time, Bickel learned that trust, transparency, and a willingness to educate are a planner’s best tools.Bickel’s roles also placed him on federal research panels and the American Planning Association, where he served as chapter president for Eastern Pennsylvania, (a uniquely Pennsylvanian position, considering the state had three separate chapters reflecting its diverse regions). He became an advocate for broader perspectives, always returning to the fundamentals: “All transportation issues start with demographics, population, and employment. That’s where planning begins.”Lessons Learned and Challenges AheadThrough the years, Bickel has navigated a shifting landscape of priorities: from infrastructure renewal in the Northeast to managing travel demands and the delicate politics of public-private partnerships. He’s witnessed the rise of NIMBYism (Not in My Back Yard) and the perennial challenge of affordable housing—all issues that remain front-and-center today.Asked about his relationship with technology, Bickel is candid. “No, I don’t use AI now, and I didn’t then. But I was fortunate to have great technical people around me.” His focus has always been people, places, and plain language, qualities that served him well as a communicator and consensus-builder.Bickel is under no illusions about the ease of reform. “If you want to see the ultimate in someone who got things done, it was Robert Moses. He was an implementer, but he didn’t want to be bothered by the concerns of people.” For Bickel, the better path is clear: “Selling planning is a communications effort and requires trying to get people to understand your concepts. And a successful planner is always prepared for compromise.”Richard G. Bickel’s decades of work in urban planning offers more than a resume, it provides a blueprint for how cities and regions can tackle the obstacles ahead. Honored to have worked with planning commission members who were citizen-based at the local, county, and regional levels, as well as elected officials at all levels, his advice for the next generation is simple: “You need a comprehensive approach to implementation and not get sidelined into just one thing. Talk to people, listen, and be ready to adapt.”As the Philadelphia region continues to grow and change, it does so with the benefit of Bickel’s wisdom. His story stands as a reminder that great planning starts, and ends, with people.About Richard G. BickelRichard G. Bickel is a retired urban planner who has served with distinction at the Montgomery County Planning Commission, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). He is currently a Senior Advisor at EconSalt, supporting thoughtful, pragmatic approaches to urban planning nationwide.For more information about Richard G. Bickel, please visit https://econsultsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Bickel-Richard-G.-Bio-1.pdf/ and https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/526916/richard-g-bickel-faicp-celebrated-for-excellence-in-the-field-of-urban-planning/
Part 1: Close Up Radio Spotlights Honored Attorney Sherry H. Joseph
Chicago, IL -- Sherry H Joseph (she always includes the middle initial as a tribute to her father) was a senior attorney at Lewis Brisbois, a large and multi layered law firm. She was in their Medical Malpractice division, which handles cases where the physician or facility involved is insured and uses their firm to handle claims. Any time a person goes to a medical facility, such as a dialysis center, hospital, laboratory, etc. and makes a claim against a practitioner, they go to work, assessing the viability of the claim, potential conflict of interest, and whether to go to court or settle.The law firm, which boasts over 40 specialties, decides if there is a plausible claim of negligence (an outcome far beyond the normal complication) and if the case is defensible. This is the perfect situation for someone with her skills and knowledge, because before studying law, this gifted attorney worked for large pharmaceutical chains (in store management.) During her career she rose from a paralegal certificate to an associate’s degree, and then a BS in Organizational Behavior. Recognizing her potential and passion, the attorneys she worked with encouraged her to go to law school, which she finally did and on a merit scholarship. Ms. Joseph got her JD and worked for a boutique firm and as a judicial law clerk before joining the current sophisticated practice.Ms. Joseph is a natural born fighter, who grew up in poverty and was determined to become something special. She yearned to find out if she could get into the same institutions as those born to privilege and to keep advancing. It wasn’t always easy, particularly since her father and inspiration died just before she began law school, but she achieved her dreams. He had been the only involved and nurturing parent in her life, and it was a tough time.“My family were immigrants, and I came to Chicago from St. Croix USVI when I was just 9. It’s not a matter of race or gender or culture that kept me climbing. A lower class income was the first hurdle I faced. Now, I know all about scaling mountains, many of them. Men and women from all walks of life have been integral to my quest.”Ms. Joseph emphasizes that no matter how big the obstacle is, you can tackle it once you set a goal and find information about the steps to get there. Her gift for research was useful in her education and her early position as a judicial law clerk for three different top judges, two in Cook County and one in Northern Illinois US District Court.She also stresses that malpractice cases are largely state court cases, and the law can vary from state to state. Additionally, working in a large firm like Lewis & Brisbois has perks and drawbacks. The cases might be interesting, and they pay higher, but there is less interaction with other attorneys than when she worked in a boutique firm. Her current place of practice also strives to give women a voice and has several advocacy programs for women, particularly at the early to mid-career level.“I was recruited there for my medical malpractice knowledge. They always welcomed my opinion and wanted to put me on a partner track.”While her work consumes a good deal of her time, this proud attorney enjoys the fine arts, including galleries, museums, and opera, and makes time to travel. Her last vacation involved tours in France, England and Italy.In her radio show, Sherry H Joseph will talk about these hobbies, the struggle to make strides no matter what odds were against her, and top cases when her expertise made the difference. One she is proud of, which ended up in her very first trial, was Epic vs. Dr. Herrera. She joined the team late in the case, brought herself up to speed, and realized in studying the case that the doctor really had done all that she could for the patient. During jury selection, she felt a vibe about a certain juror and fought to ensure that he was not excluded due to his young age. It worked for her benefit. She is still asked to speak about that case today, and it all still resonates with her. When you pick a jury, she says, it is not about people with deaf ears, it is about who will really listen to evidence and grasp the facts.Ms. Joseph will go into detail about what it was like to learn the law, build a network of contacts even in a family that never had a lawyer in it, and how to reach out to other attorneys for advice. She pays it forward today, meeting and counseling lawyers and law students through LinkedIn and her alma mater DePaul University College of Law. Ms. Joseph won’t get involved in speaking and mentoring unless she knows she has the time to devote to them. Mentors, or as she calls them, guiding angels, have a terrific value to legal hopefuls and she mentions an employment law attorney named Laurie J. Wasserman as a role model and empowering figure in her own channel.Learn more about Sherry H. Joseph’s life, past struggles, and future aspirations in this two-part interview.For more information about this influential woman and attorney, please visit https://marquistoplawyers.com/2025/10/23/sherry-joseph/
Close Up Radio Spotlights Dentistry Educator and Researcher Dr. Shankargouda Patil
South Jordan, UT - From digital health platforms to light-based therapies for oral cancer, Dr. Shankargouda Patil’s career spans much of the emerging frontier in dentistry.Dr. Patil serves as Director of Translational Science and Digital Health Innovation at Roseman University College of Dental Medicine, where he works at the intersection of clinical care, education, data science, and public health. Trained in India and later earning a doctorate in Italy, his experiences exposed him to both resource-rich academic centers and clinics in low-resource settings.One strand of his work is digital health. It is a broad term that covers artificial intelligence, data science, and computational biology applied to oral diseases. Dr. Patil and his colleagues are laying the groundwork to combine de-identified health records with imaging and biological data to build decision-support systems that can sit alongside a dentist in the clinic.“Dentistry generates a huge amount of information, but most of it remains locked in charts and servers,” he said. “Our goal is to convert that into something like a map - a tool that helps the clinician see risk earlier and choose treatments that fits the individual patient.” The datasets feeding these models include radiomics, which are patterns extracted from dental and oral images and, in some projects, genomic markers. Patient identities are stripped out before analysis, he said, so that large-scale trends can be studied without exposing personal details. The long-term aim is to harness artificial intelligence algorithms to act as tools that can assist dental surgeons to flag high-risk lesions sooner, help during follow-up intervals and support more precise planning for both restorative and surgical care.Oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders form another core focus of his work. Dr. Patil emphasizes that some of these conditions are preventable yet remain unevenly distributed, with incidence, stage at diagnosis, and survival strongly influenced by geography, access to care, and socioeconomic factors. In response, his research group is working on approaches that join early detection with minimally invasive treatment. His team’s current focus is on image-guided photodynamic therapy, a light-based method that uses specialized drugs to target abnormal cells. When the area is illuminated with a specific wavelength of light, the drug is activated, and those cells are selectively damaged while most surrounding tissue is spared.In parallel with his research, Prof. Patil has been active in rethinking how dentists are trained. In his teaching at Roseman, traditional lectures are supplemented with game-based assessments, including quiz platforms that let faculty see, within minutes, which concepts students have understood and which remain uncertain. These platforms function as rapid feedback systems for both students and instructors to identify areas for improvement before students enter clinical practice. Work is also underway to integrate anatomy and other foundational subjects with augmented and virtual reality tools, which simulate the sequence and feel of clinical procedures. According to Prof. Patil, these simulators and immersive environments act as rehearsal spaces, providing an intermediate training step between plastic models and live patients, with an emphasis on safety and competence.Beyond the university, Dr. Patil supports community-based screening and public education on major oral cancer risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus, as well as HPV vaccination. He believes that prevention and early detection as core components of dental practice.Dr. Patil describes his approach to technology as cautious as well as forward-looking. He stresses that AI and digital tools are intended to assist, not replace, clinical judgment. His interest in safe and reliable care is informed in part by experiences from his youth in rural India, where informal “tooth men” treated patients with rudimentary instruments in areas where formal dentistry had not yet taken root. Those early observations of the consequences of delayed or inadequate care spurred his interest in research and continue to shape his focus on leveraging technology for early diagnosis and timely treatment.As artificial intelligence moves deeper into dentistry and the burden of oral cancer continues to fall unevenly, Patil’s work traces a wide arc: from using data to guide early detection, incorporation of AI, photodynamic therapy, and curriculum design. Taken together, these projects reflect a steady, if understated, attempt to increase access to dental care equitably.For more information about Dr. Shankargouda Patil, please visit https://www.shankargoudapatil.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/shankargouda-patil-bds-mds-phd-frcpath-uk-fds-rcps-ficd-fpfa-1692966/
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