Broadway comes to Lancaster this holiday season with Elf the Musical, and local audiences are in for a treat. Ben Fankhauser, who plays Buddy the Elf, said performing at the Fulton Theatre has been a special experience. “I have fallen in love with the Fulton Theater and I hope that Lancaster residents realize that they have a Broadway-caliber performing arts venue right in their backyards,” he said. “I’m so excited to be doing Elf this holiday season because it’s about family, it’s about belonging… It’s full of heart and soul, and some amazing singing and dancing.”

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM), and the call to action is "All In for National Epilepsy Awareness Month.” This year's theme is about showing up and doing what we can to support epilepsy awareness. Each of us commits to taking action for the epilepsy community, by learning more about epilepsy, sharing a story, wearing purple, or supporting someone with epilepsy. Together, we can build a stronger, more informed community. 

Broadway comes to Lancaster this holiday season with&nbsp;Elf the Musical, and local audiences are in for a treat. Ben Fankhauser, who plays Buddy the Elf, said performing at the&nbsp;<a href="https://thefulton.org/">Fulton Theatre</a>&nbsp;has been a special experience. &ldquo;I have fallen in love with the Fulton Theater and I hope that Lancaster residents realize that they have a Broadway-caliber performing arts venue right in their backyards,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so excited to be doing&nbsp;Elf&nbsp;this holiday season because it&rsquo;s about family, it&rsquo;s about belonging&hellip; It&rsquo;s full of heart and soul, and some amazing singing and dancing.&rdquo;
November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM), and the call to action is "All In for National Epilepsy Awareness Month.&rdquo;&nbsp;This year's theme is about showing up and doing what we can to support epilepsy awareness. Each of us commits to taking action for the epilepsy community, by learning more about epilepsy, sharing a story, wearing purple, or supporting someone with epilepsy. Together, we can build a stronger, more informed community.&nbsp;

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 11.30.25: elf The Musical and Epilepsy Awareness Month

Journalist Roundtable

Braver Angels

(00:00:00)

Chesapeake Bay officials elected Gov. Josh Shapiro to lead a regional agreement to help clean and restore the waterway. he first-term Democrat will take the reins at a tumultuous time for the forty-year-old partnership. Gov. Josh Shapiro says he’s going to break Pennsylvania from its history of taking a BACKSEAT to Chesapeake Bay conservation. The group Shapiro will lead FAILED to meet many of the goals it set for its members more than ten years ago. Like CUTTING POLLUTION and BOOSTING WILDLIFE along the watershed.  But members extended the group’s deadlines to meet its goals to 2040.   Some environmental groups are criticizing the new plan as being UNAMBITIOUS. But many say they’re hopeful Shapiro’s leadership will help push the group to act more quickly. 

Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry is looking to open its rural dental education center and clinic at the site of a former Rite Aid in downtown Tamaqua. Temple has partnered with the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership on the project. The center awaits approval by the Temple University Board of Trustees. The proposed center would have 24 chairs and will host 20 dental students on the rural dentistry track. Dental students will complete the final two years of dental school at the Tamaqua campus and provide dental services to residents of Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties. Students will live in downtown Tamaqua, in an old department store that will be renovated into apartments. Temple told WVIA earlier this year that the dental school will cover students’ housing costs, which will be financially supported by tuition. The clinic also is expected to create about 20 new jobs. Temple’s dentistry school also started discussions with Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) about a dental hygiene program that will train six to 10 students. Argall chaired a public hearing through the Senate Majority Policy Committee about dental care shortages in rural Pennsylvania. Renovations on both the education center and student housing are expected to begin before the end of this year. Officials have said the center is expected to open for the Fall semester in September 2026.

Constellation Energy’s project to restart a nuclear reactor at the former Three Mile Island plant in Dauphin County is getting a boost from the federal government in the form of a one-billion-dollar loan. The energy produced there will power Microsoft AI data centers the project has drawn some opposition from the community surrounding the site, where a partial meltdown more than 40 years ago caused the nation’s worst nuclear power disaster.  Supporters have pointed to potential economic benefits such as construction jobs. And Constellation has said the plant will help offset data centers’ demand on the power grid. A company representative also says the taxpayer-backed loan will be repaid with full interest.  It’s being financed through the Trump administration’s Energy Dominance Financing Program focused on expanding the country’s energy infrastructure for the Artificial Intelligence industry. The TMI Unit 1 reactor is expected to be operational in 20-27.

(00:21:48)

Tips for Getting through the Holidays - practical tips for navigating difficult conversations with friends and others.

(00:00:00)
Chesapeake Bay officials elected Gov. Josh Shapiro to lead a regional agreement to help clean and restore the waterway. he first-term Democrat will take the reins at a tumultuous time for the forty-year-old partnership. Gov. Josh Shapiro says he&rsquo;s going to break Pennsylvania from its history of taking a BACKSEAT to Chesapeake Bay conservation. The group Shapiro will lead FAILED to meet many of the goals it set for its members more than ten years ago. Like CUTTING POLLUTION and BOOSTING WILDLIFE along the watershed.&nbsp; But members extended the group&rsquo;s deadlines to meet its goals to 2040.&nbsp; &nbsp;Some environmental groups are criticizing the new plan as being UNAMBITIOUS. But many say they&rsquo;re hopeful Shapiro&rsquo;s leadership will help push the group to act more quickly.&nbsp;
Temple University&rsquo;s Kornberg School of Dentistry is looking to open its rural dental education center and clinic at the site of a former Rite Aid in downtown Tamaqua. Temple has partnered with the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership on the project. The center awaits approval by the Temple University Board of Trustees. The proposed center would have 24 chairs and will host 20 dental students on the rural dentistry track. Dental students will complete the final two years of dental school at the Tamaqua campus and provide dental services to residents of Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties. Students will live in downtown Tamaqua, in an old department store that will be renovated into apartments. <a href="https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2025-07-20/filling-the-gap-temple-dental-to-start-rural-dentistry-track-open-tamaqua-campushttps://www.wvia.org/news/local/2025-07-20/filling-the-gap-temple-dental-to-start-rural-dentistry-track-open-tamaqua-campus" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-ogsc="rgb(26, 127, 195)">Temple told WVIA earlier this year</a>&nbsp;that the dental school will cover students&rsquo; housing costs, which will be financially supported by tuition. The clinic also is expected to create about 20 new jobs. Temple&rsquo;s dentistry school also started discussions with Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) about a dental hygiene program that will train six to 10 students. Argall chaired a public hearing through the Senate Majority Policy Committee about dental care shortages in rural Pennsylvania. Renovations on both the education center and student housing are expected to begin before the end of this year. Officials have said the center is expected to open for the Fall semester in September 2026.
Constellation Energy&rsquo;s project to restart a nuclear reactor at the former Three Mile Island plant in Dauphin County is getting a boost from the federal government in the form of a one-billion-dollar loan. The energy produced there will power Microsoft AI data centers the project has drawn some opposition from the community surrounding the site, where a partial meltdown more than 40 years ago caused the nation&rsquo;s worst nuclear power disaster.&nbsp; Supporters have pointed to potential economic benefits such as construction jobs. And Constellation has said the plant will help offset data centers&rsquo; demand on the power grid. A company representative also says the taxpayer-backed loan will be repaid with full interest.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s being financed through the Trump administration&rsquo;s Energy Dominance Financing Program focused on expanding the country&rsquo;s energy infrastructure for the Artificial Intelligence industry. The TMI Unit 1 reactor is expected to be operational in 20-27.
(00:21:48)
Tips for Getting through the Holidays - practical tips for navigating difficult conversations with friends and others.

Tips for Navigating Hard Conversations During the Holidays; Plus, The Weekly Journalist Roundtable.

Mayor-Elect Carr

Breakthrough Migraine Study

(00:00:00)

Chad-Alan Carr is the new Mayor of Gettysburg, after his November election win. Carr defeated incumbent Rita Frealing in the May Democratic primary by a few dozen votes.  Carr, an at-large member of the Gettysburg Borough Council, campaigned on improving transparency in the mayor’s office and delegating certain authorities to the Borough Council, specifically police oversight, taking a more ceremonial approach to the mayor’s office.

(00:22:17)

Dr. Steven Falowski, a functional neurosurgeon at Argires Mariotti, is helping lead a national study testing a new kind of migraine treatment: a small implant placed under the skin of the scalp that gently stimulates nerves linked to migraine pain. It’s discreet, drug-free, and works around the clock.

(00:00:00)
Chad-Alan Carr is the new Mayor of Gettysburg, after his November election win. Carr defeated incumbent Rita Frealing in the May Democratic primary by a few dozen votes.&nbsp; Carr, an at-large member of the Gettysburg Borough Council, campaigned on improving transparency in the mayor&rsquo;s office and delegating certain authorities to the Borough Council, specifically police oversight, taking a more ceremonial approach to the mayor&rsquo;s office.
(00:22:17)
<a href="https://www.argiresmarotti.com/doctors/steven-falowski" data-ogsc="" data-linkindex="4" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Dr. Steven Falowski</a>, a functional neurosurgeon at Argires Mariotti, is helping lead a national study testing a new kind of migraine treatment: a small implant placed under the skin of the scalp that gently stimulates nerves linked to migraine pain. It&rsquo;s discreet, drug-free, and works around the clock.

Breakthrough Migraine Study in Lancaster; Plus, Gettysburg's Mayor-Elect.

Philly Mom Freed In Time For Holidays

The Secret Lives of Chickens

(00:00:00)

Justina remained stuck on probation. Not because she posed any safety risk, but because she couldn’t afford the last $500 of restitution she owed. Despite finishing jail time, rehab, and community service, her probation kept restarting every six months due to the unpaid balance. Without a driver’s license following her DUI conviction, she had to travel an hour each way for brief check-ins, often with her infant son.

REFORM Alliance, founded by Jay-Z, Michael Rubin, and Meek Mill along with Philly advocate Latonya Myers and her group Above All Odds, is covering the remaining $500 under Pennsylvania’s updated probation reforms (Act 44 of 2023). As a result, Justina will finally gain her freedom before Thanksgiving.

(00:22:19)

Dr. Ashley McFalls is an associate professor of Neuroscience at Lebanon Valley College. In recent years, more and more people have decided to keep backyard chickens.  However, how to properly care for them can be a challenge because of the vast amount of misinformation on the internet.  Additionally, not many veterinarians are willing to treat chickens, even though they are quickly becoming a leading companion animal.  Dr. McFalls is using her neuroscience background to gain a better understanding chickens (cognition, emotion, evolutionary needs etc...) and also the impact of keeping backyard chickens on how folks view animal sentience.

 

(00:00:00)
Justina remained stuck on probation. Not because she posed any safety risk, but because she couldn&rsquo;t afford the last $500 of restitution she owed. Despite finishing jail time, rehab, and community service, her probation kept restarting every six months due to the unpaid balance. Without a driver&rsquo;s license following her DUI conviction, she had to travel an hour each way for brief check-ins, often with her infant son.
REFORM Alliance, founded by Jay-Z, Michael Rubin, and Meek Mill along with Philly advocate Latonya Myers and her group Above All Odds, is covering the remaining $500 under Pennsylvania&rsquo;s updated probation reforms (Act 44 of 2023). As a result, Justina will finally gain her freedom before Thanksgiving.
(00:22:19)
Dr. Ashley McFalls is an associate professor of Neuroscience at Lebanon Valley College. In recent years, more and more people have decided to keep backyard chickens.&nbsp; However, how to properly care for them can be a challenge because of the vast amount of misinformation on the internet.&nbsp; Additionally, not many veterinarians are willing to treat chickens, even though they are quickly becoming a leading companion animal.&nbsp; Dr. McFalls is using her neuroscience background to gain a better understanding chickens (cognition, emotion, evolutionary needs etc...) and also the impact of keeping backyard chickens on how folks view animal sentience.
&nbsp;

The Spark Weekly 11.30.25: elf The Musical and Epilepsy Awareness Month

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