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PODCAST

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

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All Episodes

21:36

Trends in remote, hybrid, and return to office mandates

The Spark ·

2024/07/19

Philadelphia has mandated all city employees to return to their offices if employed full-time, as of July 15. Mayor Cherelle Parker made the announcement, saying she wants to create a more visible and accessible government. The decision ends the city’s virtual work policy that was put in place in 2021 and essentially returns employees to pre-pandemic scheduling. Ryan Unger the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC President and CEO, stopped by The Spark to speak with host Asia Tabb about how the

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22:39

Terrarium Therapy: Grow your creativity, bury your...

The Spark ·

2024/07/18

Kim Bailor is the owner of Terrarium Therapy which was established in 2017. Terrarium Therapy offers workshops, team building functions, fundraising events, and virtual events. In the podcast, Kim speaks with Asia about the connection between plants, soil, and happiness.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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12:23

York County SPCA without power

The Spark ·

2024/07/18

The York County SPCA is without power due to Tuesday night's storms, and will not have power until this weekend. The current canine population is large, and the shelter is in dire need of emergency foster homes for the dogs until the power is restored. The York County SPCA will provide all resources for the foster parents including food, toys, crates, medication, and more. Last week, the shelter had to cancel their Splish Splash Adoption bash over the weekend due to two canine's testing positive for

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12:23

Susquehanna Folk Festival Returns

The Spark ·

2024/07/17

The 5th annual Susquehanna Folk Festival returns August 9 and will run until August 11. The festival will take place at the Appell Center in downtown York, Pa for a weekend of music, dancing, family activities and more. Peter Winter Lee is the Executive Director of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society. He says the music society is South Central Pennsylvania’s grassroots for home and traditional folk music. For Lee, folk music has always been a part of his life. “I play in a Celtic Scottish Americana

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22:34

Carlisle Events celebrates 50 years

The Spark ·

2024/07/17

Carlisle Events returns for another season, while celebrating 50 years of bringing vintage car lovers together. More than 400 cars will be on display at the auction while featuring vehicles from more than a century of auto history. For the big anniversary, the fairgrounds will have a wall of events that were held in Carlisle. Bill Miller Jr. the Co-Owner of Carlisle Events, and Main Street Manager Stacey Gould with the Downtown Carlisle Association joined the Spark to talk about the impact Carlisle

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24:54

Reforming Democracy Forum

The Spark ·

2024/07/16

F&M’s Center for Public Opinion Research has conducted a random-sample survey of 900 Lancaster County Residents. Typically, about 60 attend the two-day forum. Those who attend are briefed about topics and issues they are asked to deliberate about. On day 1, attendees are asked to discuss topics and potential solutions to challenges. On Day 2, they deliberate and identify solutions and recommendations in small groups while moderated. Professor Stephen K Medvic and Berwood Yost, the Director for

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22:01

What's new to come at Pennsylvania State Parks

The Spark ·

2024/07/16

The Pennsylvania Department of Conversation and Natural Resources oversees 124 parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn, and Planning Chief in the Resource Management and Planning Division of DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks Rachel Eckman made an appearance on the Spark with host Asia Tabb to chat about what new parks are in the works, and what’s new to come to the PA DCNR. Listen to the podcast above to hear more about plans for the rest of the season.Support WITF:

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21:25

Local mother pushes for early testing of Krabbe Disease

The Spark ·

2024/07/15

Lesa Brackbill is a wife, mother, advocate, and author raising awareness about Krabbe Disease. Her daughter Victoria was born in July 2014 and began exhibiting symptoms of Krabbe Disease in January 2015. “She was perfectly healthy, so we thought. And it wasn't until she was five months old that everything changed. She became a completely different baby. It was it was kind of like a light bulb or a light switch had been flipped. She had stopped smiling, talking, laughing, playing, you name it. And we

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42:01

The Spark Weekly 07.14.2024: SS United States and The...

The Spark ·

2024/07/14

Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly: The SS United States Conversancy has issued a $500,000 emergency fundraiser to rehome America’s flagship. The SS United States has been docked at Pier 82 in Philadelphia since 1996. “SS United States or America’s flagship is the nation’s only remaining great ocean liner. She smashed the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage in 1952, and she is an extraordinary symbol of American achievement and excellence and technological innovation

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20:30

CASA in need of volunteers

The Spark ·

2024/07/13

The Cumberland County Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASA) is in dire need of volunteers to work with abused and/or neglected children involved in the child warehouse court system. CASA Outreach Coordinator Virginia Koser, and CASA Volunteer Art McNulty, made an appearance on The Spark to talk about why people should volunteer. "I've been assigned two kids. One's a little bit on the older side, so it's required less of my involvement. But it has been an absolute pleasure to work with

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19:54

What to know about Ozempic and weight loss drugs

The Spark ·

2024/07/12

Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, Kelly Clarkson, and Tracy Morgan have all tried the Ozempic drug for weight loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic in 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as an effective weight loss tool. The hype surrounding the injectable drug has led to an increase in sales and shortages. But is Ozempic safe for those struggling with weight loss? Dr. Taraneh Soleymani, the Director of Obesity Medicine at Penn State Health Medical Group,

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20:32

Youth Summer Sports Fest

The Spark ·

2024/07/12

The Dauphin County’s Drug and Alcohol Services is hosting its first annual ‘Youth Summer Sports Fest’. It began in June, and will continue every Wednesday until August 14 from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Basketball, soccer, volleyball, and other outdoor activities will be held at local parks around Harrisburg giving young people a positive alternative activity to take part in while school is out. “So, with prevention, you know, what we try to do is provide as many alternatives to risky behaviors, basically. So,

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21:51

How the COVID-19 shutdown affected the pandemic babies

The Spark ·

2024/07/11

The pandemic babies who were toddlers, and preschoolers are now school aged showing signs of learning loss, speech delays, behavioral problems and more. Ms. Denean Bressi serves as the Director of Special Education and Student Services at the Susquenita School District. Bressi expressed the students were affected in many ways depending on age level. The students that were in kindergarten and preschool growth were stifled a little more than the older students. “It had a lot of impact. From the

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21:04

Chesapeake Bay improves to health grade to C+, first...

The Spark ·

2024/07/11

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES)’s 2023/2024 Watershed Report Card found the Chesapeake Bay has improved its health score for the first time in 20 years. According to the report card, the Chesapeake Bay received a C+. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Vice President for Environmental Protection and Restoration Alison Prost stopped by The Spark to share her thoughts on the progress. “Pennsylvania was a standout. The Susquehanna River basin has improved its grade and is

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21:25

York County SPCA hosting half price dog adoption event

The Spark ·

2024/07/10

The York County SPCA is hosting a half price dog adoption event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday July 14 at the Brougher Companion Animal Shelter. The Communications Director, Kristen Dempwolf, says this event lower barriers for those looking to adopt a dog. "the process of an adoption can be a little intimidating to people. You know, there are some rescues and some shelters that, it really feels like you have to go through a lot just to get in the door to meet an animal. And something we've worked

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21:10

NRG Energy Reduction Tips during the heat wave

The Spark ·

2024/07/10

The cost of keeping cool during the summer heat is expected to rise 12 percent this year, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Daniel McCunney the Communications Senior Manager for the East Region for NRG. On average, consumers on average see their bills increase from June through September. According to McCunney, solar panels are a great way to reduce energy consumption. “Solar panels can help lower your energy bills. They’ll make your house more energy efficient

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23:13

Former Elected PA leaders launches the Democracy...

The Spark ·

2024/07/09

A bipartisan election protection group is banding together to support the security of American elections. The Spark host Asia Tabb spoke with former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell(D-PA), Former U.S. Rep Melissa Hart (R-PA), and former State House speaker Keith McCall (D-PA) about leading the Pennsylvania Democracy Defense Project. The project Is hoping to restore American’s confidence during elections. “I thought there were so many questions raised over the 2020 election and its aftermath, and some of

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22:59

Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania and UPMC Veteran...

The Spark ·

2024/07/09

There are dozens of organizations that support our veterans here in Central Pennsylvania. Marc Miagala the Director of the UPMC Veteran Care Services, and Bill Habacivch the Executive Director of Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania joined Asia Tabb on the Spark to talk about the need for those programs. The Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania mission is to combat homelessness among veterans by providing support and services needed to promote an empowered life filled with strength and purpose. “In part,

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21:01

Journalist Roundtable: November Election Coverage...

The Spark ·

2024/07/08

For our latest Journalist Roundtable on The Spark, WITF’S Democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie sat down to speak with Asia Tabb about the November Election Coverage. Wilkie also spoke with Asia about election research, community engagement, and more. Wilkie has even taken it upon himself to learn more about the express vote XL ballot machine that’s used in Cumberland County for elections. You can connect with Jordan by emailing him at Jordan_wilkie@witf.org.Support WITF:

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21:46

America's flagship in dire need of new home

The Spark ·

2024/07/08

The SS United States Conversancy has issued a $500,000 emergency fundraiser to rehome America’s flagship. The SS United States has been docked at Pier 82 in Philadelphia since 1996. “SS United States or America’s flagship is the nation’s only remaining great ocean liner. She smashed the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage in 1952, and she is an extraordinary symbol of American achievement and excellence and technological innovation. And there’s nothing like her left anywhere. And we are

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