In 50 STATES OF MURDER: An Atlas of American Crime, true crime master Harold Schechter, reveals lesser known, darkly fascinating cases that, taken together, form a unique criminal history of all 50 states in the US!

 

This week, libraries across the country, including the Cumberland County Library System, are taking part in National Banned Books Week, a celebration of the freedom to read and an effort to raise awareness about attempts to remove books from public shelves.

In&nbsp;50 STATES OF MURDER: An Atlas of American Crime, true crime master&nbsp;Harold Schechter, reveals lesser known, darkly fascinating cases that, taken together, form a unique criminal history of all 50 states in the US!
&nbsp;
This week, libraries across the country, including the Cumberland County Library System, are taking part in National Banned Books Week, a celebration of the freedom to read and an effort to raise awareness about attempts to remove books from public shelves.

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>.

The Spark Weekly 10.12.2025: 50 STATES OF MURDER: An Atlas of American Crime; Banned Book Week with Cumberland County Library Systems

100 Years of Harrisburg Art 

LensWorthy Photography

(00:00:00)

We begin with the Art Association of Harrisburg, founded in 1926 by visionary civic leader Gertrude Olmsted McCormick. What began during the Coolidge presidency in a world shaped by world wars, the Great Depression, and seismic cultural change has grown into a 100‑year artistic anchor for the region. Through shifting art movements, evolving technology, and nearly twenty presidential administrations, the Association has remained a beacon for artists, students, teachers, and patrons.

We explore the legacy of its founding mothers, the decades‑long leadership of Carrie, the creation of the beloved Gallery Walk, and the storied history of the Bal Masque, which has traveled from the old Penn Harris Hotel to Strawberry Square, the Hilton, and now for its 100th anniversary celebration the King Mansion on April 26, 2026.

(00:22:29)

Then we shift to the present with Jemar Sweets, a travel photographer and Millworks artist whose business, LensWorthy Imagery, captures culture, color, and connection across the globe. From Harrisburg and Hershey to Colombia, Greece, Jamaica, and beyond, Jemar’s work blends adventure with artistry. When he’s not behind the camera, he’s exploring new foods, performing improv, and immersing himself in the stories of the places he visits.

(00:00:00)
We begin with the&nbsp;Art Association of Harrisburg, founded in 1926 by visionary civic leader Gertrude Olmsted McCormick. What began during the Coolidge presidency in a world shaped by world wars, the Great Depression, and seismic cultural change has grown into a 100‑year artistic anchor for the region. Through shifting art movements, evolving technology, and nearly twenty presidential administrations, the Association has remained a beacon for artists, students, teachers, and patrons.
We explore the legacy of its founding mothers, the decades‑long leadership of Carrie, the creation of the beloved Gallery Walk, and the storied history of the Bal Masque, which has traveled from the old Penn Harris Hotel to Strawberry Square, the Hilton, and now for its 100th anniversary celebration the King Mansion on April 26, 2026.
(00:22:29)
Then we shift to the present with Jemar Sweets, a travel photographer and Millworks artist whose business, LensWorthy Imagery, captures culture, color, and connection across the globe. From Harrisburg and Hershey to Colombia, Greece, Jamaica, and beyond, Jemar&rsquo;s work blends adventure with artistry. When he&rsquo;s not behind the camera, he&rsquo;s exploring new foods, performing improv, and immersing himself in the stories of the places he visits.

Past, Present, and the Pictures We Make: Celebrating Harrisburg’s Artistic Story

Dairymens

Mushroom Farmers

Alpacas

Maple Syrup

Dairy Princess

Secretary Russell Redding

This episode includes all of our segments from Wednesday and Thursday this week from the 2026 Farm Show. All you need to know all in one place!

Featured this year is:

Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith

Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA, managing the Farm Show booth Gale Ferranto

President of PA alpaca owners and breeders' association- owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace

Northwest Maple Association Member Laura Dengler

Bradford County Dairy Princess Sophia Tice

and finally

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding

This episode includes all of our segments from Wednesday and Thursday this week from the 2026 Farm Show. All you need to know all in one place!
Featured this year is:
Dairymen's Executive Director Dave Smith
Committee Member of The Mushroom Farmers of PA, managing the Farm Show booth Gale Ferranto
President of PA alpaca owners and breeders' association- owner Crimson Skye Farm Karen Nace
Northwest Maple Association Member Laura Dengler
Bradford County Dairy Princess Sophia Tice
and finally
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding

The Spark Weekly: The 2026 Farm Show 

Journalist Roundtable

Nursery Rhymes

(00:00:00)

First, Mi Xian and Mark Fazollah of Spotlight PA join us to discuss their reporting on undercounted and misreported rapes in the State College area. Their investigation reveals how gaps in data, institutional practices, and reporting systems can obscure the reality of sexual violence. They walk us through what they uncovered, why these discrepancies matter, and how communities are affected when the numbers meant to protect them fall short.

(00:22:21)

Then, we shift from modern reporting failures to the deep past with Chrissie Senecal, historian at Shippensburg University, for a journey into the origins and evolution of nursery rhymes. Chrissie explores how many familiar rhymes trace back to medieval Europe, shaped by the politics, fears, humor, and social tensions of their time. We dig into the “dark” or hidden meanings encoded in rhyme and rhythm, how these verses transformed from adult commentary to children’s entertainment, and why they’ve endured for centuries.

(00:00:00)
First, Mi Xian and Mark Fazollah of Spotlight PA join us to discuss their reporting on undercounted and misreported rapes in the State College area. Their investigation reveals how gaps in data, institutional practices, and reporting systems can obscure the reality of sexual violence. They walk us through what they uncovered, why these discrepancies matter, and how communities are affected when the numbers meant to protect them fall short.
(00:22:21)
Then, we shift from modern reporting failures to the deep past with Chrissie Senecal, historian at Shippensburg University, for a journey into the origins and evolution of nursery rhymes. Chrissie explores how many familiar rhymes trace back to medieval Europe, shaped by the politics, fears, humor, and social tensions of their time. We dig into the &ldquo;dark&rdquo; or hidden meanings encoded in rhyme and rhythm, how these verses transformed from adult commentary to children&rsquo;s entertainment, and why they&rsquo;ve endured for centuries.

The Spark Weekly 10.12.2025: 50 STATES OF MURDER: An Atlas of American Crime; Banned Book Week with Cumberland County Library Systems

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