The Spark

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 some sensory things as well, “said Stolzfus. For children, play based education is extremely important for children as they learn through discovering things for themselves. The museum also offers STEM courses for children to help them succeed in the future. “The best way to develop skills is through that hands on that play based learning play, because learning is also important, because it helps kids to basically pretend to be what they're going to be as adults as well. So, it gives them a really good preparation for their future ahead, “said Stolzfus. There are many exhibits that offer educational opportunities. A fan favorite at the museum is the heating and HVAC exhibit. Patti Van Brederode, Art and Museum Director, the construction site exhibit is also popular among the visitors. “It has to do with how air flows and the kids get to put in these giant tubes that we have on the wall with an H back system in them. They can put there clear these tubes and they can put colorful handkerchiefs in there and see which way they go. And they can change the direction and flow of the air and change the way the handkerchiefs fly around. And that is, I think, one of the most fun things, “said Brederode. Patti also teaches art classes at the museum. “So, my kiddos come in, I teach one week is one lesson, so and I teach on Tuesdays and Wednesdays twice each day and I get to do the fun stuff with kids. We get to make a mess, and their caregivers don't have to worry about cleaning it up too much. We only tidy in class and so I'm there for both the kids and the caregiver so the caregivers get a minute to relax and play with their kiddos that they bring along. We do things that you wouldn't necessarily do at home, but I also send and give information so that each family can also expand upon that play at home because, you know, play is actually children's work. And so we what I get to do is I get to show kids what they are capable of, “said Brederode. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia speaks with Richard Fry, a senior researcher at Pew Research Center, about a study he conducted on whether college is worth it in 2024. If you would like to see the study, click here Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 afterschool violence in that a student, if they see something or hear something, either in school or on social media or just in talking with friends, that they can actually report it to us anonymously without any judgment or any questions.” The office soon realized after launching the program that the program did more than prevent school violence. “It actually became a program that would take a lot of steps geared toward mental health concerns among students, whether it's actually for themselves or for others. So, a lot of our top tip types that we actually receive are actually geared towards mental health concerns of our students. Since it’s launch in 2019, the program has had a huge impact on community and the schools in Pennsylvania. “I can safely say that we have averted potential school shootings through intervention and collaboration with police in our schools, and that was based off of threats that were received by another student who reported it to us. I can also say that we have five students who actually were considering suicide, and we were able to intervene and get students’ help in their students who were obviously struggling. And somebody else reported that they had concerns. So, we were able to intervene in that way as well. Our program continues to be a national leader of school safety, said one. We've received over approximately 170,000 tips and so on for the program.” Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 metabolisms so they can stop the dysfunctional yoyo diet cycle and learn to maintain fitness and health for the rest of their lives. Jill Harbarcuk has been a high-level nutrition coach and personal trainer for over eight years. She is a functional nutrition coach, PN, Level 2 Master Health Coach, and National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach but most importantly, she has a talent for understanding the deeper psychological needs of her clients, which has led to hundreds of success stories. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

The 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show highlights Pennsylvania’s agriculture. It is also the largest indoor agricultural event in the country. The Spark Team traveled to the farm show to experience food vendors, live animal exhibits, farmers and more. On this episode of The Spark, you’ll hear from King View Mead, the Steinmetz Family Farm, Altmeyer’s Western Wear, The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, and the Future Farmers of America. You will also hear commentary from Producers Emma Halsey and David Payne. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers are pushing for new laws to better protect seniors from elder financial abuse. Kevin Shivers, President and CEO of PACB, and Christina Carden, VP of Marketing and Communication at Cross State Credit Union Association were guests on The Spark to shed light on this issue. Below is a op-ed from PACB that explains their partnership on this effort and what they would like to see happen in 2025. Letter to Santa to Protect Older Pennsylvanians Dear Santa, Older Pennsylvanians deserve a new law to help protect them from financial exploitation. Elder financial exploitation comes in many forms. Scammers are constantly targeting older adults through a variety of schemes, like romance scams and investment frauds. Tech support scams were the most reported last year by older adults. Criminals pose over the phone as tech or customer service representatives, impersonating technology, banking, or government officials to convince victims that foreign hackers have infiltrated their bank account. They then instruct the victim that to “protect” their money, they should move it to a new account – one secretly controlled by the scammers. Nameless, faceless scammers are constantly finding new ways to steal money from older adults. Sadly, even people known and trusted by an older adult can be the perpetrators of elder financial exploitation. In these situations, a family member, friend, or someone else known to the older adult exerts pressure on financial decisions, asks for sums of money, or convinces the older adult to sign over investments, real estate, or other assets through the use of manipulation, intimidation, or threats. On a positive note, these scams often raise the suspicions of trained bank employees who are effective guards against financial abuse of older adults. Recognizing the warning signs of frauds and scams is a goal that is shared by many, including the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers and AARP Pennsylvania. That is why this holiday season, we are urging older Pennsylvanians to be on high alert for scammers, fraudsters, and manipulators who want to steal their money, their financial information, and even their identity. We believe if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam. But this is where our wish list gets a bit longer. Currently, the state’s Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA) does not mandate reporting of elder financial abuse. We believe this act also needs to be updated to allow banks and credit unions to place a temporary hold on transactions they suspect are fraudulent and report the matter to the local area agency on aging and law enforcement. Providing this “safe harbor” will ensure banks play an even more active role in preventing elder financial abuse, while adding a needed device to the Commonwealth’s toolbox to detect and deter frauds and scams. While we’ll be good and working hard on this effort, we hope you can help make our wish for the Commonwealth to pass a law to better protect older Pennsylvanians from elder financial abuse can come true in the new year. Kevin Shivers, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers Bill Johnston-Walsh, State Director, AARP Pennsylvania Listen to the podcast to hear the interview. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Pennsylvanians have been experiencing cold weather for the past week. ABC 27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso says it’s due to low pressure that has been keeping slightly below average temperatures. “It's not extremely cold, but it's cold enough that we're seeing highs around freezing, maybe a little bit below nighttime. Temperatures in the 20s, nighttime temperatures in the teens and the coldest spots, but also the really persistent wind. And I think that's what people really get tired of this time of the year, that when we keep getting these drops of cold air coming in from the north, unfortunately, that means we keep getting rounds of cold air. Chances for some light snow.” Temperatures from this month compared to last year’s are about five to ten degree below average. “It seems like every passing snowstorm we get is maybe 1 or 2in. And so, heading into late Friday night, early Saturday morning, we do expect another kind of brush by of light snow, 1 to 2in, likely two inches might be really the high point at this at this stage. And then early next week, there's another type of clipper that usually means some light snow. Maybe it's Monday or Tuesday timeframe and then possibly another next Thursday into Friday.” Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg is inviting high school students in Central Pennsylvania to take part in their annual Martin Luther King Jr. International Poetry and Storytelling Festival on January 19. This year’s theme is “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Joyce Davis, President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg, says she hopes students stop and think about the ideals of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and what it means to their life today. “We must accept finite disappointment, meaning that that disappointment is now limited but infinite. We can never give up this infinite hope that this will be a better world. It is going to be. And it's only going to happen if we don't give up and don't suffer despair, “said Davis. On Wednesday February 15 at 5:30 The 3rd annual Central Pennsylvania Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Commemorative banquet will take place at the Hershey Lodge. Dr. Wanda Knight, Professor of Art Education and African American studies at Penn State Harrisburg says this banquet is always held on Dr. Kings Birthday. “I want to say that again, January 15th, we know we have a holiday, but that typically may not be his birthday. So, what people to make sure they recognize his birthday, which is January 15th, always. And this this case, January 15th, falls on a Wednesday. And the whole purpose of the banquet is to enhance community engagement among local organizations. And I'm thinking about our organizations, our businesses, our residents. Also, the banquet is designed to strengthen community ties and promote unity and collective responsibility, collective responsibility. And that's really key to what Dr. King's vision of a more just and equitable society, “said Knight. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Harpster, owner of Harpster Farms in Huntingdon County, developed a friendship with the late President Jimmy Carter through their love of fly fishing. Harpster met Cater in 1978 at a Spruce Creek Rod and Gun Club member meet up. “I didn't know he was coming.” The former president arrived in his helicopter and landed on Harpster’s field. He offered to cut his fence so the president and first lady Rosalynn could get to the stream. However, the president did not allow him to do that. “I had barbed wire that separated the field that turned to the area where he was going to go fishing because wheat pasture cattle at that time. And I don't want them to cut their boots. So, I wanted to cut the barbed wire so they wouldn't cut our fishing boats. And they wouldn't let me do that. And they just crawled over the wall’.” When the day ended, Wayne was not sure that he’d see the president again, however his friendship lasted well over 40 years. “I didn't know if I'd ever see him again. But 12. For the next year. The time came again. And our friendship began.” Over the years, Harpster and Cater went on trips around the world that included Mexico and even China. “We had a lot in common. And so, we become more than just friends. We become buddies. And of course, we would do a lot of things together. We would shoot groundhogs in the summertime.” President Cater passed away at 100 years old died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 29, at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. He was 100, the longest-lived president in U.S. history. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Adams County Historical Society has recently announced it has assumed ownership and management of the iconic Shriver House Museum, located in downtown Gettysburg. Abbie Hoffman is the new Director of the Shriver House Museum and believes that this will help to tell the story from a civilian perspective of life during the Civil War era. “The Shriver House Museum is dedicated to telling the civilian experience during the Battle of Gettysburg. And what the beauty of the museum is that we take visitors behind the scenes to take them into a home with the family behind the lines during the battle. And we help them view the battle from 1863 through the eyes of just one common family. So, it's kind of a chance for visitors to see things behind the scenes and walk as if a family would have walked. Del and Nancie Gudmestad were the previous owners of the museum. Their journey began in 1984 when they moved to Gettysburg and opened its first Bed-and-Breakfast, the Old Appleford Inn. Realizing the lack of focus on the town’s 2,400 civilians during the battle, they sold the inn and pursued their dream of telling these stories. In 1996, they purchased the long-abandoned Shriver House and painstakingly restored it to its Civil War appearance. According to Abbie, the Adams County Historical Society did not have much of a downtown Gettysburg presence. So, when they were approached by the Gudmestads about taking over, it was an opportunity they could not refuse. “Having a downtown location was of huge interest to us beyond the fact of having this museum which fit perfectly into our mission and things that we're trying to continue on with. So, it was honestly, it was a perfect fit into what we were looking forward to. We weren't really expecting it, but at the same time we were very, very interested and happy to kind of see how that might fit into our plans of expansion over the historical society.” The Shriver House Museum will reopen on March 1, 2025. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. “He had two parents who were very different from each other, but he really seemed to get the best of both of them. So, his mother was a pretty strict Mennonite. She was very hard working, family focused. He went to school until he was 14, but she really wanted him to have an apprenticeship and learn a trade. His father was a dreamer. He changed jobs a lot. He always had big ideas to earn money and move the family around a lot, which was a bit unsettling.” Hershey originally started making candy, years before he found success with milk chocolate. In 1876, he opened his own candy business in Philadelphia, however, his business would not last for long. “He eventually went bankrupt. He traveled around the United States to different locations Chicago, Denver, New Orleans. And then he ended up in New York. And he started another candy business there. And he just couldn't sell enough to pay his bills. And he rented an extra kitchen space when he was in New York. And the rent kept going up and up and he just couldn't afford it. So, he had to declare bankruptcy a second time. And I think this is where his mother's sort of drive to never, never give in kicks in. He moved back to Lancaster, borrowed some money and started focusing on one type of candy, which was caramels, and started the Lancaster Caramel Company and got a huge order from a man in England. And that's kind of where things started to take off. So, he started that company in around 1886. By 1893 or 4, he had over 1300 people working for him.” Listen to the podcast to hear more about the Milton S. Hershey story. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brightside Opportunities Center in Lancaster is changing lives with its innovative programs from fitness and wellness to education and youth initiatives. Sally Winchell, Wellness Director at Brightside, has been at the center for ten years. Winchell helped to design the layout of the fitness center. “We have strength and conditioning. We have some Zumba classes. We have a senior pound class. I work with younger people with lifting weights, doing personal training all the way up through people that are in their 90s, “said Winchell. Isiah Perry, Program Director at Brightside says the center offers nutrition programs as well. “Through these nutrition programs that we're doing with seniors, but also for the kids. Sally came into Stem camp and did a whole day all about nutrition, how to read a food label. My kids, we call them food detectives. What to stay away from Red dye is terrible for you. Sugar in these sodas is three times your daily limit. We're uplifting them to make healthy choices so that they can live of, well, vibrant life, “said Perry. Sometimes, participants can be a little hesitant when joining due to fear or self-doubt. However, Perry and Winchell work hard to build confidence among people in their fitness programs. “Or some people believe, I want to do this by myself and get down to a certain level before I enter into a public space. And the educational programs, I see the same thing with the youth, where they are shy to explore educational activities outside of the classroom. And that can be with learning loss due to Covid, whether or not confidence in their abilities, whether that's math or reading. But really that self-doubt is something that we have to overcome by instilling a sense of community and giving them a purpose, “said Perry. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where the Nile Meets the Sea: Mystery of the Great Giza Sphinx is a fictional tale about two characters Geb and Luna. Local author, Andreja B. Gunjaric was a guest on The Spark to share more details about her debut book. “Where the Nile Meets the Sea is a fictional adventure tale about GEB and Luna, their prehistoric siblings in the late Stone Age. And they go on a long adventure along the Nile River, where the Nile meets the sea is the point. In the Nile River's meeting with the Mediterranean, where the river separates, and the ancient Egyptian gods once lived as humans in my story. And that is where the primary action takes place. But Gabert Luna follows the Northern Star. Their father has told them stories about the North Star and how he believes that ancestor souls pass through the spiraling stars into the heavens, and they hope to meet their ancestors there.” Gunjaric was inspired to write the book during the Covid lockdowns as she began researching her genealogy. She knew that her ancestors were originally from Switzerland and was traced back to the 1300’s. However, her husband didn’t know much about his genealogy. “My husband knew nothing about his other than they had come from a particular country that once was aligned along the Roman Empire, the Eastern and Western Roman Empire. And so we researched on 23 and me, we submitted DNA samples, and we also consulted cousins that were older than Andrew to learn more about our ancestors and discovered the village from which they came. And after that, I began to trace the migration of people and how they arrived at the country where they eventually ended up living and decided I wanted to write a story about the migrations of people over a series of time. And this is really the first of six books. This discusses a migration from ancient Africa up to Dagger Land, which is a part of the North Sea, submerged between the British Isles and the European continent. Ten percent of Where the Nile Meets the Sea royalties earned will be donated to Tree Aid, a international NGO supporting communities to tackle poverty and the climate crisis through the power of trees. Their project supports the Great Green Wall- an initiative to prevent the Sahara desert’s expansion by planting a wall of trees from Senegal to Sudan. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 metabolisms so they can stop the dysfunctional yoyo diet cycle and learn to maintain fitness and health for the rest of their lives. “So my background in school is in psych psychology and wanting to help people. So I went to school to eventually do a clinical psychology path, and I totally diverted and went this direction because I see nutrition and fitness as a way to proactively prevent disease and help mental health and anxiety and depression and all those things. So yeah, that's kind of my, my background wanting to help people and being able to prevent disease rather than deal with it once it comes and deal, “said Cracco. Jill Harbarcuk has been a high-level nutrition coach and personal trainer for over eight years. She is a functional nutrition coach, PN, Level 2 Master Health Coach, and National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach but most importantly, she has a talent for understanding the deeper psychological needs of her clients, which has led to hundreds of success stories. “Mine wasn't necessarily school related. When I was pregnant, I was on bed rest and gained a lot of weight. And one of the goals I set afterwards was to compete in a bodybuilding competition. And it just kind of spiraled into wanting to be a trainer and then coaching online. It's definitely evolved from a physique focus to now just to kind of add on to what Jesse said, just a health focus and being proactive about your health and just feeling good inside and out, really, “said Harbarcuk. In this podcast episode, Jill and Jesse spoke with The Spark Host Asia Tabb and fitness trackers, body image, weight loss drugs, pricing of healthy food, and more. Listen to the podcast to hear more from this conversation. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Braver Angels segment for the Month of January was about managing strong emotions and important relationships at the start of a new presidential administration. David Lapp, Co-founder of Braver Angels and Director of Citizens Commission on Immigration, and Rhona Myers, Braver Angels member, spoke about separating feelings about political leaders and people in our lives. They also shared what happens when two opposing sides no longer interact with one another as they want to associate with those who agree with them also on the program; The holidays are usually a time for socializing, celebrations, and cocktails. However, some people decide to bring in the new year by not indulging in alcohol at all by participating in Dry January. Dry January is a month where one refrains from drinking any alcohol as a personal challenge. According to Dr. Melissa Brown, UPMC Clinical Psychologist, society has played a role in the challenge of becoming more popular. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The iconic strawberry drop in the City of Harrisburg was established in 1990 the same year that the Hilton opened. “When the Hilton was finally built, and downtown Harrisburg was really on the rebound and Market Square had been completely redesigned. And the newer buildings there and so forth. So, Market Square was a destination to really want to go to and to be proud of, “said David Morrison, Executive Director of the Historic Harrisburg Association. The late Mayor Reed decided this would be the perfect opportunity to promote the downtown area while bringing in the new year. “They felt that a celebration in Market Square would be a good thing to do and that a strawberry for Strawberry Alley, which is what Strawberry Square is named for. It goes right through Market Square, “said Morrison. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Residents in Lancaster were in for a treat on New Year’s Eve when the iconic red rose made its return after a small hiatus. The original rose made it’s debut in 1993 and its creator is Victor Capecce, Professor of Emeritus at Millersville University. The idea of the rose rising was born out of the Lancaster County Artists Association. “It was nearly eight feet in diameter. The base, the foundation based that I had created was actually two pieces of right inch plywood side by side.” Listen to the podcast to hear Capecce’s story. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Braver Angels segment for the Month of January was about managing strong emotions and important relationships at the start of a new presidential administration. David Lapp, Co-founder of Braver Angels and Director of Citizens Commission on Immigration, and Rhona Myers, Braver Angels member, spoke about separating feelings about political leaders and people in our lives. They also shared what happens when two opposing sides no longer interact with one another as they want to associate with those who agree with them. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The holidays are usually a time for socializing, celebrations, and cocktails. However, some people decide to bring in the new year by not indulging in alcohol at all by participating in Dry January. Dry January is a month where one refrains from drinking any alcohol as a personal challenge. According to Dr. Melissa Brown, UPMC Clinical Psychologist, society has played a role in the challenge of becoming more popular. “I think it's just as we it became popular, just as we, you know, as a society have started to become more conscious of our health and, and focused on how certain substances might not be as safe for us or as healthy for us as maybe we once thought about, “said Dr. Brown. Dr. Adam Barnathan, UPMC Addiction Medicine Specialist, says the benefits of participating are quite notable. “So, we do have medical data on the long-term effects of dry January. So, the benefits range from better sleep to weight loss to ongoing reduction even past one month extending out to six months. So, people who do participate tend to reduce their drinking long term, “said Dr. Barnathan. Dr. Brown suggests creating a goal when participating in dry January. “Once they set that intention, then they can certainly look at their lifestyle and then how can they follow through with that? So being very conscious of your goals and very specific with them is just one great way and great place to start, “said Dr. Brown. For those who drink alcohol excessively, it is important to reach out to a medical provider in case severe withdrawal take effect. “If you have what we call a diagnosable alcohol use disorder where you're at risk for detox or severe withdrawal effects, and that should be done under medical supervision. This is targeted more towards people who fall into the problematic or heavy drinking, which is a lot more people than you would believe. So, it's upwards of seven drinks per week for females and upwards of 14 drinks for males. And that's really who the target audience is, “said Dr. Barnathan. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.