As today is Christmas Eve, the entire Spark Team at WITF FM thought it would be great to read a Christmas story on air. Ryan McCrory, Executive Director of the Dauphin County Library System, read "I Got the Christmas Spirit" by Connie Schofield-Morrison.

 

Listen to the podcast to hear the story.

As today is Christmas Eve, the entire Spark Team at WITF FM thought it would be great to read a Christmas story on air. Ryan McCrory, Executive Director of the Dauphin County Library System, read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Got-Christmas-Spirit-Connie-Schofield-Morrison/dp/1681195283">"I Got the Christmas Spirit"</a> by Connie Schofield-Morrison.
&nbsp;
Listen to the podcast to hear the story.

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.

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 <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

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 <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

A Christmas Eve story by the Dauphin County Library System

Visioncorps is accepting Braille letters to send to Santa. Kids who submit a letter will hear back even if it is after Christmas. Erika Rothermel is a teacher of the blind and visually impaired at Visioncorps.

“So being able to write a letter to Santa is a long standing tradition that children have been doing for years. But being able to open it up to the Braille population has been a new adventure. And it's, yeah, something fun to include everybody. So we started doing that here at Vision Core about five years ago, “said Rothermel.

9-year-old JJ Maldonado took advantage of the opportunity and is looking forward to hear back from Santa soon.

“I asked for a microphone.. and a police car, “said Maldonado.”

Maldonado’s mother, Yaritza Riversa says Visioncorps has helped with JJ’s journey. JJ was diagnosed with cancer at just a month old.

“He was born with cancer. It's a genetic type of cancer. But he's that one person that was actually born without mom and dad having that gene. And it is bilateral, meaning he has it in both eyes, “said Rivera.

He began chemo at just three months old and underwent a lot of chemo and radiation.

“He actually got his right eye removed at the age of three years old. And that's kind of where the vision kind of went down a little bit. I'm the only eye he had. And so, yeah, and then Vision Corp kicked in and helped so much during this transition because it's definitely tough and they made it so much easier, especially for JJ and myself, because, you know, as a mom, it's like, what do I do? Not knowing this is on you. So, they have been a blessing to us. And even though JJ is now in school when he's 13, they still involved him and everything, and they're there for him no matter what. Just on a on a regular time. You know, they check up on Jay and make sure he's doing great. So they're amazing and we are so blessed to have them, “said Rivera.

According to JJ, learning braille can be challenging.

“It's really hard to learn all the contractions and all how to like type with your fingers and how to read properly. It's been a hard journey, “said Malonado.

When JJ grows up, he wants to be a rapper. Listen to the podcast link to her his performance.

There is no deadline for letter submission this holiday season. For those looking to send their letters to Santa in braille, letters can be addressed:

Santa’s Attention, VisionCorps (Erika Rothermel, head elf)

244 N. Queen St. Lancaster, Pa. 17603

<a href="https://visioncorps.net/">Visioncorps</a> is accepting Braille letters to send to Santa. Kids who submit a letter will hear back even if it is after Christmas. Erika Rothermel is a teacher of the blind and visually impaired at Visioncorps.
&ldquo;So being able to write a letter to Santa is a long standing tradition that children have been doing for years. But being able to open it up to the Braille population has been a new adventure. And it's, yeah, something fun to include everybody. So we started doing that here at Vision Core about five years ago, &ldquo;said Rothermel.
9-year-old JJ Maldonado took advantage of the opportunity and is looking forward to hear back from Santa soon.
&ldquo;I asked for a microphone.. and a police car, &ldquo;said Maldonado.&rdquo;
Maldonado&rsquo;s mother, Yaritza Riversa says Visioncorps has helped with JJ&rsquo;s journey. JJ was diagnosed with cancer at just a month old.
&ldquo;He was born with cancer. It's a genetic type of cancer. But he's that one person that was actually born without mom and dad having that gene. And it is bilateral, meaning he has it in both eyes, &ldquo;said Rivera.
He began chemo at just three months old and underwent a lot of chemo and radiation.
&ldquo;He actually got his right eye removed at the age of three years old. And that's kind of where the vision kind of went down a little bit. I'm the only eye he had. And so, yeah, and then Vision Corp kicked in and helped so much during this transition because it's definitely tough and they made it so much easier, especially for JJ and myself, because, you know, as a mom, it's like, what do I do? Not knowing this is on you. So, they have been a blessing to us. And even though JJ is now in school when he's 13, they still involved him and everything, and they're there for him no matter what. Just on a on a regular time. You know, they check up on Jay and make sure he's doing great. So they're amazing and we are so blessed to have them, &ldquo;said Rivera.
According to JJ, learning braille can be challenging.
&ldquo;It's really hard to learn all the contractions and all how to like type with your fingers and how to read properly. It's been a hard journey, &ldquo;said Malonado.
When JJ grows up, he wants to be a rapper. Listen to the podcast link to her his performance.
There is no deadline for letter submission this holiday season. For those looking to send their letters to Santa in braille, letters can be addressed:
Santa&rsquo;s Attention, VisionCorps (Erika Rothermel, head elf)
244 N. Queen St. Lancaster, Pa. 17603

Visioncorps offering blind children to send Christmas letters in Braille

The Jewish week-long festival will take place in just a few days. This year, Hanukkah falls on the night of December 25 and ends on January 2. Zach Benjamin, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Harrisburg and Marc Kline, Interim Rabbi of the Temp Ohev Shalom joined to the spark to share more information.

The history of Hanukkah begins 2200 years ago.

“The Syrian Greeks were in control of what we now call Israel Palestine, and they brought Greek culture, which was replacing the existing Jewish culture, and they trashed the temple and didn't destroy, but they trashed and were sacrificing pigs on the altar. And Jews said, we can't let this happen. And so Matthias and Judah Maccabee and their followers warred against the Syrian Greeks and they defeated the Greeks and rededicated the temple. The rest of the story becomes a matter of different versions of history. The story everybody seems to know is that when they went to light the lights on the altar, they had one cruise of oil that hadn't been destroyed. They thought it would last for one day and it lasted for eight. That story's first written about 500 years later. Many of the versions of the story, though, deal with the fact that we changed the practice from Pagan to to God at the altar, that people stopped the war to rededicate themselves to God. So whatever story you're looking at, we're looking at bringing the light of peace and faith over the ugliness of paganism and war, “said Kline.

Zach Benjamin explained the significance of sundown and those eight days of Hanukkah.

“Well, in at its most basic, the Hebrew calendar and the Gregorian calendar, what we think of as our typical calendar, they're different in a number of ways. The Hebrew calendar has 13 months. The our Western calendar has 12 months. And another way that they are different is that the Hebrew day begins at sundown and goes from sundown to sundown. And thus Hanukkah, like all other Jewish observances, begins at sundown on the first day. And Hanukkah lasts eight days. And so it goes until sundown.”

 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about Hanukkah.

The Jewish week-long festival will take place in just a few days. This year, Hanukkah falls on the night of December 25 and ends on January 2. Zach Benjamin, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Harrisburg and Marc Kline, Interim Rabbi of the Temp Ohev Shalom joined to the spark to share more information.
The history of Hanukkah begins 2200 years ago.
&ldquo;The Syrian Greeks were in control of what we now call Israel Palestine, and they brought Greek culture, which was replacing the existing Jewish culture, and they trashed the temple and didn't destroy, but they trashed and were sacrificing pigs on the altar. And Jews said, we can't let this happen. And so Matthias and Judah Maccabee and their followers warred against the Syrian Greeks and they defeated the Greeks and rededicated the temple. The rest of the story becomes a matter of different versions of history. The story everybody seems to know is that when they went to light the lights on the altar, they had one cruise of oil that hadn't been destroyed. They thought it would last for one day and it lasted for eight. That story's first written about 500 years later. Many of the versions of the story, though, deal with the fact that we changed the practice from Pagan to to God at the altar, that people stopped the war to rededicate themselves to God. So whatever story you're looking at, we're looking at bringing the light of peace and faith over the ugliness of paganism and war, &ldquo;said Kline.
Zach Benjamin explained the significance of sundown and those eight days of Hanukkah.
&ldquo;Well, in at its most basic, the Hebrew calendar and the Gregorian calendar, what we think of as our typical calendar, they're different in a number of ways. The Hebrew calendar has 13 months. The our Western calendar has 12 months. And another way that they are different is that the Hebrew day begins at sundown and goes from sundown to sundown. And thus Hanukkah, like all other Jewish observances, begins at sundown on the first day. And Hanukkah lasts eight days. And so it goes until sundown.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Listen to the podcast to learn more about Hanukkah.

The history of Hanukkah

Kwanzaa honors unity, pride, and African traditions from December 26 to January 1. This celebration brings people together by sharing stories, lighting candles, and community. Naaja Rodgers, Professor of Africana studies at Dickinson College says Kwanzaa is a Kiswahili word.

“So it's actually a Kiswahili word, which means maternal, your Kwanzaa, which means first fruits. So essentially Kwanzaa means first fruit. And these are typically celebrations that are held throughout Africa.”

Kwanza was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga. He was a part of a cultural nationalist group that promoted African culture.

“The Watts riots in Los Angeles and just the racial tensions going on during the Black Power movement inspired him to think about what we can do to kind of help African people as a collective Pan-African. Keep that theme intact. How can we ensure that black people are able to reason to remember and prepare for the new Year as opposed to just like the commercialization of Christmas where it's like a hustle and bustle, you're shopping and then you give a gift and then you go on to the new year.”

There are seven principles of Kwanzaa:
Umoja (Unity)
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
Nia (Purpose)
Kuumba (Creativity)
Imani (Faith)

Kwanzaa honors unity, pride, and African traditions from December 26 to January 1. This celebration brings people together by sharing stories, lighting candles, and community. Naaja Rodgers, Professor of Africana studies at Dickinson College says Kwanzaa is a Kiswahili word.
&ldquo;So it's actually a Kiswahili word, which means maternal, your Kwanzaa, which means first fruits. So essentially Kwanzaa means first fruit. And these are typically celebrations that are held throughout Africa.&rdquo;
Kwanza was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga. He was a part of a cultural nationalist group that promoted African culture.
&ldquo;The Watts riots in Los Angeles and just the racial tensions going on during the Black Power movement inspired him to think about what we can do to kind of help African people as a collective Pan-African. Keep that theme intact. How can we ensure that black people are able to reason to remember and prepare for the new Year as opposed to just like the commercialization of Christmas where it's like a hustle and bustle, you're shopping and then you give a gift and then you go on to the new year.&rdquo;
There are seven principles of Kwanzaa:
<ul>
<li>Umoja (Unity)</li>
<li>Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)</li>
<li>Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility</li>
<li>Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)</li>
<li>Nia (Purpose)</li>
<li>Kuumba (Creativity)</li>
<li>Imani (Faith)</li>
</ul>

A Christmas Eve story by the Dauphin County Library System

In 1 playlist(s)

The Spark

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips