Spiral Path Farms is celebrating the 31st season of its Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA) . This farm is also one of two big organic farms in Perry County. Bethany Hinkle has been the CSA manager for two years. “So, a CSA is a relationship of mutual support and commitment between a local farm and its community. So as a member, you help support the farm for the duration of the growing season. And then the cost of your produce is locked in at the time you join and in return, our ...
Jan 31, 2025•22 min
Mental health experts say there’s been an increase in the number of people diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, since the covid pandemic. OCD is an anxiety disorder marked by fear, that if you don’t engage in a particular action, something awful is going to happen. Dr. Rafat Omar, psychologist with UPMC says we are using the term ‘OCD’ casually. “It kind of diminishes the severity of the actual disorder because that in and of itself does ...
Jan 30, 2025•22 min
There’s been reports of a surge in cases of a respirator virus in China that has evoked dark echoes of the start of the covid-19 pandemic almost five years ago. The Chinese cases are reported to be infectious with Human Metapneumoia Virus known to doctors as HMPV. Dr. Richard Jackson, Adjunct Professor of Biology and Chemistry at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology says the virus is similar to a cold. “HMPV is actually a rather common virus that causes cold symptoms. So, ...
Jan 30, 2025•12 min
For our weekly weather segment, ABC 27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso shared an overview about this week’s weather, the chances for early spring, and Groundhog Day. He also shared about a potential unusual pattern he’s been seeing heading into spring. Listen to the podcast to hear the report. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 30, 2025•12 min
To the Hilt: A sword swallower’s history of sword swallowing will soon hit the shelves by the end of February. Co-Authors Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman were inspired to write this book through their interest in sword swallowing. For Dan, he became interested in sword swallowing in 1997. After he met the sword swallower, George the Giant, he learned there were only 12 in the world and began researching. “I founded the Swords Followers Association International , started collecting...
Jan 29, 2025•22 min
The Conestoga Susquehannock people are a Uriscoian speaking tribe indigenous to the Susquehanna River Valley and its tributaries which encompasses parts of present-day Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland according to tribal historian, Michael Mantooth. “Our oral history and the historical record support that we started in New York, and we actually traveled down the Susquehanna River. So periodically through time, as you track our people and where our villages were located, we move up and ...
Jan 29, 2025•22 min
Jennifer N. Sellitti is a lawyer and shipwreck hunter. She is also the author of The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit-And-Run Off the Coast of Nantucket . The book will be released on February 28. The book tells the story of the collision that sane Le Lyonnais and its aftermath. The Le Lyonnais collided with the ship called the Adriatic off the coast of Nantucket in November of 1856. And it's the story of both the collision, how 18 people survived this disaster, and the aftermath of the col...
Jan 28, 2025•22 min
Today we are honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day. It’s a day to reflect on the lives lost, resilience of survivors, and lessons we must never forget. Dr. Mark Glick is the only living child of Polish Holocaust Survivors. “ My parents were born in Poland, about 35 miles apart. My father in a town called Vilna and my mother in a town called Oceana, which would be in modern day Belarus. ” When the holocaust came, it was very difficult for Glick’s parents. They had two differe...
Jan 27, 2025•23 min
On this week's edition of The Spark Weekly. Penn Pilot offers showcase aerial photography of Pennsylvania’s landscape from the 1930’s to the 80’s. This tool was started by the Pennsylvania Geological Survey, according to Maurie Kelly, Director of Informatics with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment at Penn State University. But upfront: This week’s Journalist Roundtable focuses on the inauguration of Donand Trump and the actions he’s already taken, a...
Jan 26, 2025•41 min
Our Journalist Roundtable segment for January 24 included Spotlight PA’s Stephen Caruso and WITF’s Democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie. The roundtable segment focused what we can expect policy wise in the new year, Donald Trumps pardoning January 6 criminals, and dismissing pending cases, and the Attorney General investigation into voter fraud. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 25, 2025•21 min
Fort Indiantown Gap is hosting what’s known as a war fighter exercise, an event to train and evaluate military units for large scale combat operations. More than 3,000 personnel are taking part between now and mid-February. Col. Kevin Potts, Garrison Commander at Fort Indiantown Gap says it’s a large-scale collective training exercise. “We're really, it's an it's not so much on the ground like normal soldiers were normal units come and train where they go out. They train in the...
Jan 24, 2025•22 min
Penn Pilot offers showcase aerial photography of Pennsylvania’s landscape from the 1930’s to the 80’s. This tool was started by the Pennsylvania Geological Survey, according to Maurie Kelly, Director of Informatics with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment at Penn State University. “They are part of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and they had thousands and thousands of paper photographs that were in file cabinets, essentially. And they appro...
Jan 24, 2025•22 min
Adam Zurn, Executive Director of Uncharted Lancaste r offers kayak tours to see the petroglyphs at Safe Habor . The petroglyphs are so significant because they are probably one of the oldest artifacts in all the Susquehanna Valley. There used to be thousands of petroglyph sites in the Lower Susquehanna, but with the buildings of dams they have been submerged. “There's a series of about six rocks with like significant carvings on them. The two big standouts are little Indian rock and big In...
Jan 23, 2025•22 min
Central Pennsylvanian's have been experiencing bitter cold conditions this past week. ABC 27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso says it's due to the artic outbreak which was a huge area of cold air. "It's almost like a big blob of cold air that came across the Arctic Ocean, ultimately into Canada and then into the United States." Tuesday morning's weather broke a record of the coldest morning since 1994, which was the coldest day in Harrisburg being recorded at -22 degrees. "So to put things into perspect...
Jan 23, 2025•12 min
Harrisburg-based A Miracle 4 Sure is an organization which provides services to formally incarcerated individuals, mainly women of color, to allow them the opportunity to resume their lives as productive members of society. Marsha Curry-Nixon, Executive Director of A Miracle 4 Sure, founded the non-profit organization in 2010. “I was really looking to find a way in which I give back. I am a formerly incarcerated mother of eight and I paroled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, after serving time ...
Jan 23, 2025•22 min
Charles Stewart is the Host and producer for the podcast, Itsnothistory.com . Stewart was always fascinated by history and worked on numerous documentary films. He began his journey with a podcast series called Conestoga Town. “I'm from Lancaster County. And growing up there, I was always fascinated by the Conestoga and subsequent rivers. And so, I thought, you know, hey, let's you know, and what happened to the people who those rivers are named after.” He began his podcast by asking...
Jan 22, 2025•12 min
The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County is a non-profit organization that advocates for the preservation of architecturally and historically significant buildings in Lancaster County. Danielle Keperling, Executive Director of The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County has been working with the trust since 2001. “We are a county wide organization that advocates and educates about the importance of historic preservation. It was founded in the late 60s as a response to th...
Jan 22, 2025•19 min
The Lafayette Bicentennial Tour planning committee in Lancaster County is preparing for a tour this summer. Kathleen Hood, Coordinator of the Lafayette200 Bicentennial in Lancaster and Western Chester Counties, says this is part of the nationwide commemoration that is the brainchild of the nonprofit, The American Friends of Lafayette . “The whole goal of this commemoration is to celebrate, commemorate Lafayette's triumphant farewell tour of America in 1824 and ’25. This nonprofit rea...
Jan 21, 2025•23 min
PEW Research Center conducted a study to explore if college was worth it in 2024. Richard Fry was the Senior researcher on that project. As costs are rising, the college debate is always a huge discussion. Also, on the program Asia speaks with David T. Miller about a Martin Luther King Jr. Event taking place January 20th, and the importance of Dr. Kings work. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 19, 2025•43 min
Our Journalist Roundtable segment for January 17 included WVIA’s Rural Government Reporter Isabela Weiss and WPSU Sydney Roach. The roundtable segment focused on Sydney’s reporting on schools and hospitals in rural communities struggling to remain financially solvent. Isabela shared about her report on the newly formed rural population revitalization commission working to address those problems. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener fo...
Jan 18, 2025•23 min
The Interdenominational Minister’s Conference (IMC) of Greater Harrisburg is preparing to host their 47th annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast. The event is sold out, however IMC President and Pastor of Wesley Union AME Zion Church in Harrisburg , David T. Miller sat down with us on The Spark to share the impact of this event. “The things that we do to really make it effective is when we come together, we go across denominational lines just like Dr. King there. We ...
Jan 17, 2025•25 min
The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre is a beloved Lancaster experience. The theatre opened in 1967 by Deborah and Thomas Prather. Deborah and her husband Thomas, always dreamed to own a theatre in Lancaster instead of going to Hazleton, Lancaster, and Harrisburg. “So, we designed it, built it off of Route 30 in Lancaster. We wanted to go to Lancaster address because of the tourism industry. And so, after the answer to prayers and lots of wishes from friends and contractors, we opened on April 3r...
Jan 16, 2025•23 min
World Braille Day celebrates the awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication for people who are blind or visually impaired. Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania has been providing services to people with vision impairment for more than 100 years. The organization offers support to the communities in Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, and Perry Counties. Cheryl Cuddy, CEO of Vision Resources of Central PA, has been involved with the agency for 20 years. “I have family...
Jan 16, 2025•23 min
January is National Blood Donation Month. BluePearl is the largest veterinary emergency and specialty provider, and is using the month to raise awareness about blood donations for pets. BluePearl has over 100 hospitals in 30 different states. Dr. Meghan Respess, National Blood Bank Director, has been trying to raise awareness since 2012. “It's been around for decades because in people, the need in the winter months is even greater than the rest of the year for a variety of reasons. But we ...
Jan 15, 2025•22 min
On the first day of the new year, many people around the country kick off a new start by heading outdoors. Dia Hitt, National Coordinator for First Day Hikes says this initiative began in 2012. “The original idea was started in one state and the state was Massachusetts. And they said, “You know what? Everybody on the first days is always talking about the resolutions and what they're going to do. And so, they said, why don't we take advantage of that and get people to come back out t...
Jan 15, 2025•22 min
The Hands-on-House in Lancaster offers a world of imagination and exploration for children of all ages. This year is the 25th anniversary. The mission of the museum is to learn through play according to Megan Stoltzfus, Lead Educator and Camp Director at the museum. “All of our exhibits are hands on. We have classes and with our classes, all of its hands on education. And we also have a special educational room called the Play Lab, where we have lots of hands-on activities, play based and ...
Jan 14, 2025•22 min
PEW Research Center conducted a study to explore if college was worth it in 2024. Richard Fry was the Senior researcher on that project. As costs are rising, the college debate is always a huge discussion. “Given the debates about college, a little bit better opportunities for those who haven't gone to college, it seemed like a good time to sort of both look at the economic data we have on, you know, the value of college.” PEW research began this survey about a year ago about the U.S...
Jan 14, 2025•22 min
School safety is more important than ever, and empowering students to speak up can make all the difference. Safe 2 Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Brittney Klein, Program Director of Safe 2 Say, says this program was created in 2019 and is mandatory that every school in the state participates. “The primary mission of this program was actually developed to avert school violence. It was developed to prevent after...
Jan 13, 2025•22 min
Coming up on The Spark Weekly. Milton S. Hershey is a man who turned sweet dreams into a global legacy. Hershey was born in 1857 near Hershey according to Amy Zeigler, Senior Director of The Hershey Story Museum, Hershey Gardens, and Hershey Community Archives. also, on the program. For many, the new year means new fitness and wellness goals. Jesse Cracco is a certified personal trainer , functional nutrition coach, and behavior change specialist who works with women to naturally speed up their ...
Jan 12, 2025•42 min
Our Journalist Roundtable segment for January 10 included Spotlight PA reporters Ed Mahon and Stephen Caruso. Ed shared about his report on how easy it is to obtain a Medical Marijuana card in Pennsylvania, as well as the latest on proposals to legalize adult recreational marijuana. Stephen discussed his reporting on the number and cost of special elections in Pennsylvania in 2024. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 11, 2025•22 min
