The Spark

Our Braver Angels segment for the Month of December was about maintaining relationships with those who have voted differently than you. Melissa Gizzi, Red Co-Chair of the Lower Susquehanna Alliance, and Bill Doherty, Co-founder of the national Braver Angels organization spoke about the Alliance’s “temperature” taking of everyone after the election. Bill, who has designed all Braver Angels workshops shares the Braver Angels efforts to minimize any fall out after the election. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This interview was recorded on November 19 at 3 p.m. For our journalist roundtable segment, we spoke with Pennlive reporters Joshua Vaughn and Juliette Rihl about their report on Former Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste accepting $350,000 from the founder of the county jail’s healthcare provider when he was in office and making decisions about the jail’s operations. Juliette realized a pattern during a report of Haste getting paid $60,000 a year to be a consultant to the county’s National Rifle Associations Outdoor show. “It turns out that that was actually the reason his position was created was based on a false rumor that the NRA was going to relocate the show unless the county, like, really closely maintained that relationship. Turns out the NRA has come out saying that was not the case. They were not planning on relocating the show. So we really don't know why this position needed to exist, given that the reason for its existence was proven to not be legitimate, “said Rihl. Haste resigned from office in 2021, and Juliette and Joshua began following the funds while Haste was in office. They discovered he was involved in giving millions of county dollars to the county’s tourism bureau, approving and funneling money to a county agency solar farm while he was living on the same friend the solar farm was being built on. “And his high school friend, it appears, had no former experience working on solar farms, was made the project manager and wound up getting $2 million worth of contracts to work on it over the last ten, 15 years, “said Rihl. As Joshua dug into this developing story, he learned that Haste received some form of income from PrimeCare, the medical company that provides healthcare services to the Dauphin County Prison. “Which is the local jail he had listed on his financial disclosures, his annual financial disclosure that he had received some income. So, about a month ago, we started asking about that. And it turns out he had a contract with Prime Care to be a consultant, generally working in other states. But he was getting paid again, 60,000 a year to be this consultant for this medical company while he was a commissioner and while he was on the prison board, ostensibly supposed to be oversight of how the medical care was being provided at the jail, “said Vaughn. Listen to the podcast to hear more about this in-depth report. _________ Since this conversation we received this update from Juliette and Joshua: The county has announced it will put out an RFP for medical care at the jail. This is the first time in nearly 40 years. PrimeCare has also provided notice to terminate it's contract early. The contract will now end at the end of May. PrimeCare intends to bid on the new contract. DA Fran Chardo has asked the AG to look into the payments Hoffman made to Haste. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Central Pennsylvanians experienced bitterly cold temperatures and according to ABC 27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso, the cold weather is a sign of more cold air outbreaks to come this season. “So, we dropped a couple of degrees this morning as that snow pushed through some of the snow squalls. And there were some areas of ice. And we cautioned everyone, you know, leading up to this that there could be some isolated trouble spots, especially in the higher elevations. Now, thankfully, again, in the valleys, it was above freezing leading into this. So, we avoided any major problems this morning.” Erie received over 50 inches of snow this week from a four-day period. “And this is the time of the year for that because the lakes are still relatively warm. And when I say relatively warm, 40s and 50s, but the air coming over top of them is very cold. So that air could be ten, 20 degrees coming in from Canada. And so that temperature difference, just the way a summertime thunderstorm works, is really a driver for nonstop snow. And that's why you may say to yourself, how do you get 40 to 50in of snow if you get stuck underneath one of these snow bands and 20 to 30 miles makes a difference. It really becomes a nonstop snow at 2 to 3 in per hour.” Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Historic Harrisburg Association has partnered with The Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania for their Elegant Progressions event on Saturday, December 7. Those who attend will have the opportunity to visit the Old Beaufort Hunt. Old Beaufort Hunt was a classic, English-style foxhunting club founded in 1929 by landowner Ehrman Mitchell in what was known as the Linglestown Valley. "And frankly, that organization is still in existence. They hunt in other parts of central Pennsylvania now because because the lingers Hound Valley is so built up. But the first house on the tour where we go for orders is called Fox Run Manor. And that's right in Beaufort Estates. And it dates from the 1930s, I believe. It's a wonderful colonial revival house and it looks like the Beaufort Estates area would have looked back in the 1920s, "said David Morrison, Executive Director of the Historic Harrisburg Association. This is the 33rd annual event that kicks off the holiday season while fundraising for local charity. "It's a progressive dinner and it's a very formal affair. We have orders in one house, dinner and another and dessert in a third house. And all of our guests are are chauffeured in motor coaches from start to finish so they don't have to drive at all to go to these houses. And it's catered. We have wonderful caterers and wine pairings, live music at every property, and the properties themselves are just spectacular, "said Morrison. Call 717-233-4646 or 717-652-8123 or CLICK HERE for more information. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Adam Zurn, the Executive Director of Uncharted Lancaster, America’s first Christmas tree was documented in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. “Believe it or not, it probably wasn't the first Christmas tree here in America, but it's definitely the first documented Christmas tree. Probably the people who first saw Christmas trees here in the United States were the guards in Carlisle guarding Hessian troops who were mercenaries the time during the Revolutionary War.” While the Germans were in America fighting the war, they brought the idea of Christmas tree’s and were allowed to decorate their barracks with them. “Believe it or not, the first recorded example of a Christmas tree is in 1821 by this Matthias, Zahm and in his 1821 diary he records this entry, and I quote Sally & our Thos was out for Christmas Trees on the hill at Kendricks sawmill. And so there we have this documented proof of this first, you know, Christmas tree. And they were here in Lancaster County. So, a neat little claim to fame here for our area.” It is unlikely that the first actual Christmas tree was in Lancaster County, let alone the united states, however it is the earliest recorded example of one. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder where Christmas traditions come from? Asia Tabb speaks with Shippensburg University Professor of History Christine Senecal all about Yule and other Pagan traditions that we now use during the holidays. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Donmoyer, director of the German Cultural Heritage Center speaks with us about the cancellation of the Kutztown Folk Festival. The festival has been around since 1950. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The start of rifle deer season began on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. According to Travis Lau, Pa Game Commission Communications Director, most participation takes place on opening weekend. “So, what we've seen is like in the firearms deer season, which is still the big one that we're that, you know, it sort of generates a lot more media requests than anything else. We have longer deer seasons, longer stretch deer seasons than we ever have in Pennsylvania, higher participation by hunters in earlier starting seasons. But we'll still see about 550,000 deer hunters out during the firearms deer season.” Deer hunting is very important in Pennsylvania as it helps to control the deer population. “You know, the deer are our state animal here in Pennsylvania. They influence a lot of the impact Pennsylvanians in a lot of positive ways. But at the same time, there are negatives there. So, it is a balancing act. You know, the annual deer harvest is an important means of managing that population to the objective. And the hunters really should be complimented for the work they do there. You know on the wit with hunters not only do hunters provide a public service in deer management and pay to do it, but then at the same time, through the purchase of their hunting licenses, they fund the conservation of all other wildlife species.” Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming up on The Spark Weekly; The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center is an open-air folklife museum and research center dedicated to preserving and celebrating Pennsylvania German folk culture, history, and language in a unique educational setting at Kutztown University. Also, on the Program Ambassadors for Hope is the only organization in Lancaster County with the sole function of supporting children as soon as the parent of a child is incarcerated. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Spark is hosting its annual book-as-gifts- guide. We spoke with Catherine Lawrence, co-owner of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, Travis Kurowski, (Ph.D) an assistance professor of creative writing at York College of Pennsylvania, and Carolyn Blatchley MLIS, Executive Director of Cumberland County Library System. The Midtown Schloar Bookstore recommendation can be found here. The Cumberland County Library Systems recommendations can be found here. Travis Kurowski Recommendations list below: NONFICTION Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music By Rob Sheffield I just ordered this book because I am in love with a woman who is the biggest Taylor Swift fan I have ever met. As it happens, I have only recently realized the most obvious thing about Swift’s music: It’s mostly about heartbreak. Our American Shakespeare of longing and distance, of regret and revenge, Swift’s oeuvre is analyzed from first album to last by best-selling Rolling Stone journalist Rob Sheffield in this new book. From the publisher: “Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music is the first book that goes deep on the musical and cultural impact of Taylor Swift. Nobody can tell the story like Rob Sheffield, the bestselling and award-winning author of Dreaming the Beatles, On Bowie, and Love Is a Mix Tape. The legendary Rolling Stone journalist is the writer who has chronicled Taylor for every step of her long career, from her early days to the Eras Tour. Sheffield gets right to the heart of Swift and her music, her lyrics, her fan connection, her raw power.” The Message By Ta-Nehisi Coates Baltimore native Ta-Nehisi Coates’s new book of nonfiction takes a risk in being human. I’ve been following Coates since his days reporting for The Atlantic where he made national attention making a persuasive case for reparation. Since then, he’s published a best-selling works of fiction and nonfiction, even written for Marvel Comics. This latest book from Coates is an analysis of how myths and stories shape cultures and nations, from Senegal to the ongoing war on Gaza. From the publisher: “In the first of the book’s three intertwining essays, Coates, on his first trip to Africa, finds himself in two places at once: in Dakar, a modern city in Senegal, and in a mythic kingdom in his mind. Then he takes readers along with him to Columbia, South Carolina, where he reports on his own book’s banning, but also explores the larger backlash to the nation’s recent reckoning with history and the deeply rooted American mythology so visible in that city—a capital of the Confederacy with statues of segregationists looming over its public squares. Finally, in the book’s longest section, Coates travels to Palestine, where he sees with devastating clarity how easily we are misled by nationalist narratives, and the tragedy that lies in the clash between the stories we tell and the reality of life on the ground.” Lovely One: A Memoir By Ketanji Brown Jackson The election was hard for everyone—every national election has been in recent memory. Memoirs from people behind the scenes in spaces shaped by such elections have always been popular, more recently they seem to be a source of sustenance. I cannot see the new memoir by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson—the first black woman and first public defender to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court—as anything else. From the publisher: “With this unflinching account, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson invites readers into her life and world, tracing her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court within the span of one generation.” FICTION The Vegetarian By Han Kang 2024 Nobel winner for Literature, Han Kang also won the 2016 Booker Prize for her most widely read novel, The Vegetarian, a short novel I read in a gulp years ago when it was first translated from the Korean into English by Deborah Smith. The power of The Vegetarian is...

For the second year, the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair will take place at the Mount Hope Estate and Winery. Yuletide at the Pa Renaissance Fair opens on Black Friday, November 29 and runs Saturdays and Sundays through December 15, 11 AM-4:30 PM. Candance Smith, Director of Sales and Communications at the Mount Hope Estate says the venue is very excited about it. "It kind of grew out of something that we did for several years. It was just an open house where we would open the mansion and allow people to walk through the the ground floor and look at the decorations. And we would have special beverage sales and we'd have carolers and things like that. And it was a free event, but we wanted to make it kind of a continuation of the actual Renaissance Faire because the Renaissance Faire goes for 11 weekends and is so popular. People are really sad when that last weekend comes. So we thought, why can't we just kind of. Light it right into the holiday season and kind of bring the two together." This is a family friendly event, that offers a new theme each weekend. "For instance, okay, we have a fairy weekend, we have a wizarding weekend, we have a time traveler's weekend. And the the the patrons really do support those weekends with their costuming. And it's amazing what guests come up with as far as their costume. And a lot of Comic-Con type costumes come in. So it's really it's really neat. We also see the traditional renaissance period costuming and the Knights and the Pirates and that kind of thing. So I like to say it's just a big playground for everybody just to come and have a good time." More information for the Pa Renaissance Faire can be found here. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The week of thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year. Students are returning home from college, deer hunters are heading to camp, and black Friday shopping keeps the roads busy. Since this weekend will kick off rifle deer season, Fritzi Schreffler, Safety Press Officer with District 8 Penndot suggests paying close attention to the roads and deer. “It is also mating season for the deer. So, they are off in search of love and not paying attention to what the drivers are doing, obviously. So, if you're in an area that is heavily populated by deer, you definitely want to be on the lookout in case they're running out, “said Schreffler. Lt. Adam Reed, Director of the Communications Office for the Pennsylvania State Police, says during this time of year drivers get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. “They get caught up in the rush to go see family for Thanksgiving or the shopping crush prior to Christmas. People get busy, and it's important that people take a step back and realize that their safety is the most important and the gifts could weigh the travel if it takes an extra few minutes to get to your destination. So be it. Take an extra minute, take a deep breath, and get where you're going safely, “said Reed. Reed says one of the biggest causes of crashes he sees is speeding. “Two of the biggest causes of crashes that we see, number one is speeding. And number two is follow too closely, especially when a driver is doing both of those things at once. It's a recipe for disaster, really. So even things that that might seem mundane, like don't speed, don't follow the car in front of you too closely. Going back to the last topic there, it's easy to forget about. It's easy to have that get lost in the in the rush of the holiday season. So slow down and leave some distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you, “said Reed. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week more people will be out shopping and spending time with their loved ones. ABC 27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso says Thanksgiving may be a little damp, and more chills this weekend. Meteorologist Dan Tomaso also shares more about where we stand in the drought season. Listen to the podcast for more information. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We learn more about the changes made to Southern Market, what it does for Lancaster, and what they are doing today. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia Tabb interviews Dr. Timothy Riley about holiday season stress and post-election stress, and what to do to keep yourself and others calm. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia Tabb speaks with Patrick Donmoyer, the Director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center about what it has to offer those who want to learn more about Pa. German culture. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ambassadors for Hope is the only organization in Lancaster County with the sole function of supporting children as soon as the parent of a child is incarcerated. “In addition to having a website with some educational resources, we are also reviewing children's book books that deal with parental incarceration so that we can make recommendations to school counselors, folks that are working with kids that have experienced parental incarceration. The family services advocate can give each child that she works with an age-appropriate book that deals with this subject. And the books all have a message of competency and resiliency so that the child knows I'm not alone in dealing with this, “said Mary Glazier, Vice Chair of Ambassadors for Hope. The program also offers teddy bears for children of incarcerated parents with their parents’ voices in them. Ambassadors for hope have gifted over 300 teddy bears to children in the past five years. “And let me tell you, children of all ages love a teddy bear that has their parents voice in it. And, you know, that's one of the most popular things, “said Glazier. Ambassadors for Hope also collaborate with other local organizations to advocate for children of incarcerated parents in Lancaster County. One of those organizations is Compass Mark. A program based on federal and state strategies for substance use and gambling prevention and follow a public health model of balancing risk factors with protective factors, or strengths. Terry Miller- Landon, Director of Programs for Compass Mark says they conduct research of that shares that will best support families dealing with incarceration. “We know that parental incarceration can impact behavior, for example. So, we're available to consult with schools. And we do we do try to make sure that school social workers are aware that we're here so that they are kind of keeping that extra eye if they know that a child's parent has been incarcerated and if that child needs to get referred to counseling or something, because there are some predictable things that happen when they're feeling that family fracturing, “said Terry Miller-Landon. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly. A new law now allows college athletes and even some in high school to benefit financially by allowing the use of the athlete’s name, image, or likeness (NIL). Phillip Petrina, an associate with the law firm McNees, Wallace & Nurick spoke with The Spark host Asia Tabb about the emergence of those deals. Also, on The Program; Six Irish dancers who train at the Doherty Petri School of Irish in Lancaster will join the group Riverdance to perform at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 17-year-old Isaiah Pujol is one of those six students that will be seen in front of millions of people. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ExtraGive in Lancaster is a day-long giving event that supports the work of nonprofit organizations in Lancaster County. ExtraGive is the region’s largest day of online giving, presented by Lancaster County Community Foundation and supported by High Foundation and Murry Foundation. It benefits more than 400 participating nonprofits that support issues and causes ranging from children and families to health and affordable housing, environmental and farmland preservation to arts and culture, and much more. Asia Tabb, the host of The Spark, interviewed Patrick Morrison, Director of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Cori Jackson, Communications Manager of the Ware Center, Brook Lenker, Executive Director of Keystone Trails Association, and Sam Bressi and Tracy Cutler Executive Vice President of the Lancaster County Community Foundation for their involvement participating in Lancaster's ExtraGive. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Around this time next week, many people will be preparing to eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. The Edge Farms is located in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. The Farm offers tours, educational programs, a live turkey farm and more. Black Edmonds of the Edge Farms shared what goes into day to day raising a turkey. “Turkeys are very, very social animals. So, one of the things we have to do is make sure that the space that they're in is well contained. So, we generally use electric fences because we move our turkeys and they move very regularly over pastureland, “said Edmonds. Alexandria Ferris of the Edge Farms says there are many benefits of purchasing poultry straight some the producer of the food. “Turkeys are often one of the most antibiotic filled foods that is in the grocery store, you know, across the industry. Yes. And so, again, with accountability, you want to know how the animal was raised. Our animals are all raised on pasture, and they are not given antibiotics, you know, broad spectrum or, you know, except in specific cases where an individual animal has an individual need and then they're often, you know, we separate them out because there are people who say, I don't want any antibiotics if they're not needed. And that's just something to keep in mind because many times if you grab an industrially produced turkey off of the shelf at the grocery store, if you were to test it right then and there, there would be antibiotics present in its meat “said Ferris. CLICK HERE or listen to the podcast to learn more about The Edge Farms. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.