The Spark
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, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.Follow the podcast:
The Hershey Theatre to close for a year
The Hershey Theatre, a historic landmark in Derry Township, has announced it will close its doors for 2025 for renovations. Donald Papson, Executive Director of the MS Hershey Foundation, says the theatre will undergo major renovations. “We're hoping to be able to renovate the seats and actually w…
20:56
Journalist Roundtable: Major breaking news events in Harrisburg, and Harrisburg SD to create its own police department
Our Journalist Roundtable segment for December 20 included Pennlive reporter Jenna Wise. Jenna joined The Spark to discuss her article on The Harrisburg School Department to create it’s own police department. She also discussed her coverage on major breaking news in the City of Harrisburg in the pa…
21:15
Mechanicsburg Teacher selected to join the Scholastic Teacher Fellows Cohort
Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, announced its selection of 12 educators from across the country to join the Company’s third annual Teacher Fellows Cohort. During the school year, these skilled K-8 educators will work alongside Scholastic Education Solutio…
21:35
Joy to the Burg Christmas album raises money for Harrisburg unhoused
Joy to the Burg is an annual Christmas album that features holiday selections from local artists to raise money to benefit Central Pennsylvania residents experiencing homelessness. Proceeds from the album will go to street outreach through Christian Churches United. In 2019, Sheldon Jones was conc…
22:02
PA middle school students urged to participate in National Civics Bee
The National Civics Bee is an annual competition that is led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. that provides an opportunity for middle school students to showcase their civic knowledge and become more engaged in their communities. The civic bee is very important to the Pennsylvan…
21:48
Local Caver shares safety tips for spelunking
Underground caves are a complex, underground ecosystem that must be treated with care and responsibility. Pat Minnick is a member of the Franklin County Grotto which is a local chapter of the National Speleological Society. Minnick shared some of the dangers of the popular recreational activity. “…
21:47
Troy Ott named dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences
A few months ago, Dr. Troy Ott became the dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. In that role, he oversees Penn State’s founding college, which includes the statewide reach of Penn State Extension and embodies the university’s status as Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant institution. A…
20:28
Central Pa Music Hall of Fame celebrates past, present, and future artists from the state
The Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame is a multi-room museum of autographed albums, guitars, and so much more. Brandon Valentine, Executive Director and Founder of the Central Pa Music Hall of Fame, opened the museum in 2023. “You’ll see the plaques on the walls with pictures of the artists,…
22:25
Christmas Magic at Rocky Ridge County Park, returns for 41st year
Christmas Magic at Rocky Ridge County Park has been going strong for the community for 41 years. The holiday tradition started in 1984 following an energy crunch that made it difficult for decorating. “Folks just were there a lot of the Christmas lights in York area, and so they came together, the…
21:03
AAA Central Penn offers mature driving courses for older drivers
AAA Central Penn has been reminding mature drivers to stay safe on the roads. AAA Central Penn service the nine-county region in Central Pennsylvania. It has about ten branches and the driving school is in Lancaster. “So, these are classroom courses that offer a mandatory insurance discount upon …
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