Asia Tabb has a conversation with historian Tim Smith surrounding how the Civil War has turned Gettysburg into a tourism attraction for generations to come. 

Asia Tabb has a conversation with historian Tim Smith surrounding how the Civil War has turned Gettysburg into a tourism attraction for generations to come.

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>.

Adams County Historian Talks Civil War and Gettysburg Tourism

Now that daylight saving time ended this past weekend, it’s usually a time where people can feel a little more blue than usual. According to Dr. Ahmad Hameed, Psychiatrist at Penn State Health, it’s called seasonal depression.

“This kind of depression, which is affiliated to a particular season and generally it happens in fall and winter. And when the seasons, then one gets back to not being sad and depressed during this time. Individuals who have seasonal affective disorder, which is which is what it was previously called, have low mood, lower energy issues with focus, concentration, their irritability and changes in sleep pattern, “said Hameed.

If you notice you feel a little more depressed during the fall or winter months, then it’s important to reach out to a mental health expert to dig a little bit deeper into it. Dr. Rafat Omar, Psychologist at UPMC suggests reaching out to a therapist if you think you are struggling with seasonal depression.

“I mean, you know, as with any other depression, you know, there are things that we can do to manage it, to mitigate it, to help the person get through it. So, it's not something that necessarily is going to come and disrupt your life and you're just a passive victim to it. So, I want people to feel comfortable knowing that they are empowered to do something about it, to help alleviate it a little bit as much as they can, “said Omar.

Daylight saving time doesn’t directly cause mental health conditions, but it can intensify those who are currently battling depression or anxiety.

“Well, you know, you look at what happens when daylight savings time comes around, the lights get longer, the days get shorter, there's less sunlight. Typically, with the time of year, it gets colder out. So, you know, there's less that people are. Able to do in some regards, you know, less time, but they're able to spend outside and especially for people who enjoy being outdoors, this becomes a challenge for them. So even though it's not a direct cause. That impacted because as we know, with depression, as the depression worsens, the activity level drops. As the activity level drops, the depression worsens even more. So that sort of snowball effect, coupled with the lack of benefits that we get from the sunlight because there's fewer sunlight hours kind of combined to create the perfect storm, so to speak, for more depressive symptoms, “said Hameed.

Now that daylight saving time ended this past weekend, it’s usually a time where people can feel a little more blue than usual. According to Dr. Ahmad Hameed, Psychiatrist at Penn State Health, it’s called seasonal depression.
“This kind of depression, which is affiliated to a particular season and generally it happens in fall and winter. And when the seasons, then one gets back to not being sad and depressed during this time. Individuals who have seasonal affective disorder, which is which is what it was previously called, have low mood, lower energy issues with focus, concentration, their irritability and changes in sleep pattern, “said Hameed.
If you notice you feel a little more depressed during the fall or winter months, then it’s important to reach out to a mental health expert to dig a little bit deeper into it. Dr. Rafat Omar, Psychologist at UPMC suggests reaching out to a therapist if you think you are struggling with seasonal depression.
“I mean, you know, as with any other depression, you know, there are things that we can do to manage it, to mitigate it, to help the person get through it. So, it's not something that necessarily is going to come and disrupt your life and you're just a passive victim to it. So, I want people to feel comfortable knowing that they are empowered to do something about it, to help alleviate it a little bit as much as they can, “said Omar.
Daylight saving time doesn’t directly cause mental health conditions, but it can intensify those who are currently battling depression or anxiety.
“Well, you know, you look at what happens when daylight savings time comes around, the lights get longer, the days get shorter, there's less sunlight. Typically, with the time of year, it gets colder out. So, you know, there's less that people are. Able to do in some regards, you know, less time, but they're able to spend outside and especially for people who enjoy being outdoors, this becomes a challenge for them. So even though it's not a direct cause. That impacted because as we know, with depression, as the depression worsens, the activity level drops. As the activity level drops, the depression worsens even more. So that sort of snowball effect, coupled with the lack of benefits that we get from the sunlight because there's fewer sunlight hours kind of combined to create the perfect storm, so to speak, for more depressive symptoms, “said Hameed.

Mental Health experts weigh in on seasonal depression

A study for the advocacy group PennEnvironment found microplastics present in waterways throughout Pennsylvania, making it a major concern in the fight against pollution. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastics that is not biodegradable according to Faran Saviz, Zero Waste Advocate with PennEnvironment.

“There are some you can see in the visible environment, especially tiny plastic pellets called nurdles that are used to make larger plastic products. But a lot of these microplastics you just can't see, but they're out there, “said Saviz.

PennEnvironment has done two projects for testing microplastics and has tested over 100 waters in Pennsylvania.

“We found microplastics in every single waterway that we've tested. Our most recent one was on some of our cleanest, most important waterways around the state. They're called exceptional value, high quality or class A cold water trout streams. So, these are sort of the best of the best that we have. And unfortunately, we found microplastics in every single one that we tested. Meaning it doesn't matter if it's the cleanest waterway or the dirtiest. It doesn't matter if there's visible litter or absolutely nothing at all. Pristine nature. These plastics are polluting everything everywhere, “said Saviz.

Harry Campbell, PA Science Policy and Advocacy Director at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says research suggests humans ingest about 2,000 particles of microplastics a week over the course of a year.

“That can get into our hearts, into our brains, into our bloodstream, into our lungs through. And it can affect a whole myriad of systems with either physical irritation or the impacts of those compounds that make up that plastic particle as they begin to degrade, whether it be in the environment or in our bodies, those compounds that make up that plastic start to degrade into their individual chemical components. And those components can act as singularly or synergistically in combination to cause cancers to affect even mental health learning rates and other factors that are a direct correlation to our own health and well-being, “said Campbell.

A <a href="https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/center/resources/microplastics-found-in-pennsylvanias-cleanest-streams/#:~:text=PennEnvironment%20Research%20%26%20Policy%20Center%20tested,in%20every%20one%20of%20them.">study</a> for the advocacy group <a href="https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/center/">PennEnvironment</a> found microplastics present in waterways throughout Pennsylvania, making it a major concern in the fight against pollution. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastics that is not biodegradable according to Faran Saviz, Zero Waste Advocate with PennEnvironment.
“There are some you can see in the visible environment, especially tiny plastic pellets called nurdles that are used to make larger plastic products. But a lot of these microplastics you just can't see, but they're out there, “said Saviz.
PennEnvironment has done two projects for testing microplastics and has tested over 100 waters in Pennsylvania.
“We found microplastics in every single waterway that we've tested. Our most recent one was on some of our cleanest, most important waterways around the state. They're called exceptional value, high quality or class A cold water trout streams. So, these are sort of the best of the best that we have. And unfortunately, we found microplastics in every single one that we tested. Meaning it doesn't matter if it's the cleanest waterway or the dirtiest. It doesn't matter if there's visible litter or absolutely nothing at all. Pristine nature. These plastics are polluting everything everywhere, “said Saviz.
Harry Campbell, PA Science Policy and Advocacy Director at the <a href="https://secure.cbf.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app30065a?df_id=1561&amp;mfc_pref=T&amp;1561.donation=form1&amp;s_src=00O3MEMAPPMEMAPPWEB0000001L06&amp;s_subsrc=0000_FR_PA_ACQ_GBR_gs_xx&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAoae5BhCNARIsADVLzZfqnvdg_On-xsTCtdqK8XjkLYFY8mCAaEEsnpNLcV5WsLHcK1TqGl0aArigEALw_wcB&amp;NONCE_TOKEN=94D28237271F45C12A9276D0B53D8B5F">Chesapeake Bay Foundation</a> says research suggests humans ingest about 2,000 particles of microplastics a week over the course of a year.
“That can get into our hearts, into our brains, into our bloodstream, into our lungs through. And it can affect a whole myriad of systems with either physical irritation or the impacts of those compounds that make up that plastic particle as they begin to degrade, whether it be in the environment or in our bodies, those compounds that make up that plastic start to degrade into their individual chemical components. And those components can act as singularly or synergistically in combination to cause cancers to affect even mental health learning rates and other factors that are a direct correlation to our own health and well-being, “said Campbell.

Study finds microplastics in waterways throughout Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Art Educators Association is celebrating 75 years in 2024. The organization has a huge impact on art educators throughout the state according to Ashley Gogoj, Chair of the Art and Program Design Department in the Carlisle Area School District

“So, providing professional development opportunities for teachers, providing art shows and opportunities for teachers to showcase their students work. And I know firsthand when I was a brand New York art educator 19 years ago, my program supervisor at the time said, This is an organization you really shouldn't get involved with. So I started going to conferences, attending workshops. I was on board for a period of time. So it just really provides a lot for our teachers, which then goes directly down to our students. So, you know, I think Pennsylvania is a leading state in art education, and that is because of Ohio, “said Hoffman.

The organization also involves the youth with programs such as the National Art Honor Society. Ben Hoffman, President of the Pennsylvania Art Educators Association says they work to create opportunities for students as much as possible.

“We have some great sponsors who, you know, can that give students scholarships or supplies back to those students and those educators. And then for that National Honor Society, just something to, you know, add to the conversation is Pennsylvania is not doing this work alone. We are an affiliate of the National Art Education Association, which I believe right now is just shy or almost 17,000 are educators across the nation and overseas. So there's every state has an agency or organization doing this work, “said Hoffman.

The <a href="https://www.paea.org/">Pennsylvania Art Educators Association</a> is celebrating 75 years in 2024. The organization has a huge impact on art educators throughout the state according to Ashley Gogoj, Chair of the Art and Program Design Department in the Carlisle Area School District
“So, providing professional development opportunities for teachers, providing art shows and opportunities for teachers to showcase their students work. And I know firsthand when I was a brand New York art educator 19 years ago, my program supervisor at the time said, This is an organization you really shouldn't get involved with. So I started going to conferences, attending workshops. I was on board for a period of time. So it just really provides a lot for our teachers, which then goes directly down to our students. So, you know, I think Pennsylvania is a leading state in art education, and that is because of Ohio, “said Hoffman.
The organization also involves the youth with programs such as the National Art Honor Society. Ben Hoffman, President of the Pennsylvania Art Educators Association says they work to create opportunities for students as much as possible.
“We have some great sponsors who, you know, can that give students scholarships or supplies back to those students and those educators. And then for that National Honor Society, just something to, you know, add to the conversation is Pennsylvania is not doing this work alone. We are an affiliate of the National Art Education Association, which I believe right now is just shy or almost 17,000 are educators across the nation and overseas. So there's every state has an agency or organization doing this work, “said Hoffman.

Adams County Historian Talks Civil War and Gettysburg Tourism

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