Horticulturalist Erica Jo Shaffer was on The Spark Thursday at the height of the growing season with gardening tips.

May can be the best late spring month but there’s a lot of do to keep the plants, flowers, trees and garden healthy and thriving.

We’ve had a lot of rain this month so how does it affect the garden, what fertilizers are the most effective that are also environmentally friendly, how the insects in the garden – some are bad but others are essential. Are you feeding birds or even hummingbirds this spring?

These are all topics Erica addressed on the program.

Horticulturalist Erica Jo Shaffer was on The Spark Thursday at the height of the growing season with gardening tips.
May can be the best late spring month but there’s a lot of do to keep the plants, flowers, trees and garden healthy and thriving.
We’ve had a lot of rain this month so how does it affect the garden, what fertilizers are the most effective that are also environmentally friendly, how the insects in the garden – some are bad but others are essential. Are you feeding birds or even hummingbirds this spring?
These are all topics Erica addressed on the program.

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.

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&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/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, host Asia Tabb 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 WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at&nbsp;<a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

Erica Jo Shaffer with gardening tips

Keystone Markers

Gettysburg Womens Sports

(00:00:00)

Jack Graham—Executive Director with the Keystone Marker Trust—specializes in preserving Pennsylvania’s historic cast‑iron keystone markers, which once stood at entrances to towns and along bridges across the state. Beginning in the 1920s, the Pennsylvania Department of Highways installed these distinctive blue‑and‑gold markers at nearly every community large enough to have a post office. Although thousands once existed, only a small number remain today.

The Historical Society of Perry County is hosting Jack for a presentation on the markers’ history, significance, deterioration, and the ongoing work to restore and protect them.

(00:22:23)

Gettysburg College has announced the addition of three new women’s varsity sports:
Women’s Wrestling – launching Fall 2026 as the 25th varsity sport
Women’s Acrobatics & Tumbling – debuting in 2027–28
Women’s Flag Football – debuting in 2027–28

These are the first new varsity programs since women’s golf in 2000–01. The new additions strengthen Gettysburg’s nationally competitive Division III athletics program, which ranked 29th nationally in the Learfield Directors’ Cup last year.

(00:00:00)
Jack Graham&mdash;Executive Director with the Keystone Marker Trust&mdash;specializes in preserving Pennsylvania&rsquo;s historic cast‑iron keystone markers, which once stood at entrances to towns and along bridges across the state. Beginning in the 1920s, the Pennsylvania Department of Highways installed these distinctive blue‑and‑gold markers at nearly every community large enough to have a post office. Although thousands once existed, only a small number remain today.
The Historical Society of Perry County is hosting Jack for a presentation on the markers&rsquo; history, significance, deterioration, and the ongoing work to restore and protect them.
(00:22:23)
Gettysburg College has announced the addition of three new women&rsquo;s varsity sports:
<ul>
<li>Women&rsquo;s Wrestling &ndash; launching Fall 2026 as the 25th varsity sport</li>
<li>Women&rsquo;s Acrobatics &amp; Tumbling &ndash; debuting in 2027&ndash;28</li>
<li>Women&rsquo;s Flag Football &ndash; debuting in 2027&ndash;28</li>
</ul>
These are the first new varsity programs since women&rsquo;s golf in 2000&ndash;01. The new additions strengthen Gettysburg&rsquo;s nationally competitive Division III athletics program, which ranked 29th nationally in the Learfield Directors&rsquo; Cup last year.

Preserving Pennsylvania’s Past While Building Its Future: Keystone Markers and New Women’s Sports Take the Spotlight

Chrissie Senecal

Fred Rogers

(00:00:00)

Local historian and Shippensburg University professor Chrissie Senecal explores the stories of influential Pennsylvania women of Irish descent, connecting Women’s History Month with the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Senecal examines three notable women, focusing on why each is historically significant, how their Irish identity shaped their paths, and what tied them to Pennsylvania’s evolving social landscape. She also places their achievements within the broader trends of their eras, offering rich historical context and a fresh look at the resilience, cultural pride, and impact of Irish‑American women in the Commonwealth.

(00:22:24)

Communication professor Ed Arke reflects on the lasting impact and mission of Fred Rogers, whose gentle approach to children’s media shaped generations. With more than 25 years of teaching and a background in broadcast journalism - including years at a host with us at WITF - Arke now introduces his first‑year college students to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as part of a seminar exploring Rogers’ legacy. Arke’s research highlights Fred Rogers as an early pioneer of media literacy, long before the field was formally recognized. Through slow, thoughtful communication, emotional honesty, and unwavering respect for children, Rogers taught young viewers how to understand the world and their feelings, a mission that continues to influence educators, creators, and families today.

(00:00:00)
Local historian and Shippensburg University professor Chrissie Senecal explores the stories of influential Pennsylvania women of Irish descent, connecting Women&rsquo;s History Month with the spirit of St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day. Senecal examines three notable women, focusing on why each is historically significant, how their Irish identity shaped their paths, and what tied them to Pennsylvania&rsquo;s evolving social landscape. She also places their achievements within the broader trends of their eras, offering rich historical context and a fresh look at the resilience, cultural pride, and impact of Irish‑American women in the Commonwealth.
(00:22:24)
Communication professor Ed Arke reflects on the lasting impact and mission of Fred Rogers, whose gentle approach to children&rsquo;s media shaped generations. With more than 25 years of teaching and a background in broadcast journalism - including years at a host with us at WITF - Arke now introduces his first‑year college students to&nbsp;Mister Rogers&rsquo; Neighborhood as part of a seminar exploring Rogers&rsquo; legacy.&nbsp;Arke&rsquo;s research highlights Fred Rogers as an early pioneer of media literacy, long before the field was formally recognized. Through slow, thoughtful communication, emotional honesty, and unwavering respect for children, Rogers taught young viewers how to understand the world and their feelings, a mission that continues to influence educators, creators, and families today.

Honoring Heritage and Heart: Irish‑American Trailblazers and the Enduring Legacy of Fred Rogers

Student ICE Protests

Dan Tomaso

Erica Jo Shaffer

(00:00:00)

We spotlight student activism in York, where William Penn High School students organized powerful walkouts protesting increased ICE enforcement and advocating for classmates living in fear of deportation. Their grassroots movement - sparked by a single social media post - has inspired students across multiple districts to join in solidarity. We break down how the protests grew, why students felt compelled to speak out, and the personal stories driving their courage.

(00:11:48)

Then, we shift gears as meteorologist Dan Tomaso dives into the latest weather patterns and what to expect as winter transitions toward warmer days.

(00:23:26)

Finally, Erica Jo Shaffer helps us welcome spring with fresh insights, seasonal inspiration, and what this time of year means for our community.

(00:00:00)
We spotlight student activism in York, where William Penn High School students organized powerful walkouts protesting increased ICE enforcement and advocating for classmates living in fear of deportation. Their grassroots movement - sparked by a single social media post - has inspired students across multiple districts to join in solidarity. We break down how the protests grew, why students felt compelled to speak out, and the personal stories driving their courage.
(00:11:48)
Then, we shift gears as meteorologist Dan Tomaso dives into the latest weather patterns and what to expect as winter transitions toward warmer days.
(00:23:26)
Finally, Erica Jo Shaffer helps us welcome spring with fresh insights, seasonal inspiration, and what this time of year means for our community.

Erica Jo Shaffer with gardening tips

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