Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly.

Braver Angels ran a local workshop this past November, just before the holidays. This workshop helps participants understand the different roles family members play in family conversations and what can be done to prevent family divisions over politics.  

also on the program...

We’ll be focusing on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which is embarking on its ten-year historic preservation plan. We’ll also ask about the recent move by the PA State Archive into a new building, and have you ever wondered how to apply for a blue and gold historic marker?

Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly.
Braver Angels ran a local workshop this past November, just before the holidays. This workshop helps participants understand the different roles family members play in family conversations and what can be done to prevent family divisions over politics. &nbsp;
also on the program...
We&rsquo;ll be focusing on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which is embarking on its ten-year historic preservation plan. We&rsquo;ll also ask about the recent move by the PA State Archive into a new building, and have you ever wondered how to apply for a blue and gold historic marker?

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 3.06.2025: Braver Angels and The PA Historical & Museum Comission

State of Fair Housing

Prostate Cancer

(00:00:00)

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) formally released its State of Fair Housing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The report examines current housing conditions, patterns of discrimination, and structural challenges impacting access and affordability. It also advances key policy and enforcement recommendations, including strengthening protections against source-of-income discrimination, addressing disparate impact and segregation, improving code enforcement and habitability standards, and increasing accountability for affirmatively furthering fair housing.  The report brought together state leaders, civil rights advocates, and housing experts to address ongoing disparities and outline a path forward to ensure equal housing opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.

(00:22:22)
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor of the prostate gland. The prostate is a walnut-sized organ located in front of a man's rectum and below the bladder. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly, so chances for successful treatment increase if doctors catch the disease early. Your age and the stage of the cancer will help determine your treatment. For some men, doctors recommend active surveillance — closely monitoring the tumor — instead of treatment.

(00:00:00)
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) formally released its State of Fair Housing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The report examines current housing conditions, patterns of discrimination, and structural challenges impacting access and affordability. It also advances key policy and enforcement recommendations, including strengthening protections against source-of-income discrimination, addressing disparate impact and segregation, improving code enforcement and habitability standards, and increasing accountability for affirmatively furthering fair housing.&nbsp; The report brought together state leaders, civil rights advocates, and housing experts to address ongoing disparities and outline a path forward to ensure equal housing opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.
(00:22:22) Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor of the prostate gland. The prostate is a walnut-sized organ located in front of a man's rectum and below the bladder. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly, so chances for successful treatment increase if doctors catch the disease early. Your age and the stage of the cancer will help determine your treatment. For some men, doctors recommend active surveillance &mdash; closely monitoring the tumor &mdash; instead of treatment.

Fair Housing Gaps in Pennsylvania and Early Detection for Prostate Cancer: What Communities Need to Know

Recycling Electronic Waste

Chrissie Senecal

(00:00:00)

The rise in the everyday use of electronic items has alco contributed in an increase of electronic waste, filling already crowded landfills and increasing risks to the environment. How can electronic items be safely disposed of, and how can the public play a part in cutting down on e-waste? 

(00:23:53)

Historian Chrissie Senecal going to go through the stories of several of Medieval Europe’s most famous couples. As usual, all these stories are bizarre and/or tragic or have some unusual twist. 

(00:00:00)
The rise in the everyday use of electronic items has alco contributed in an increase of electronic waste, filling already crowded landfills and increasing risks to the environment. How can electronic items be safely disposed of, and how can the public play a part in cutting down on e-waste?&nbsp;
(00:23:53)
Historian Chrissie Senecal going to go through the stories of several of Medieval Europe&rsquo;s most famous couples. As usual, all these stories are bizarre and/or tragic or have some unusual twist.&nbsp;

How to Reduce Electronic Waste — Plus the Medieval Couples Who Redefined Love and Tragedy

Fangirls v. Sports Fans

Heart Month

(00:00:00)

Men are often celebrated for passionately supporting sports teams—spending money, getting emotional, and “fangirling” over players—while women are frequently mocked for showing the same level of enthusiasm for musicians, makeup, athletes, or concerts. The double standard treats identical behaviors differently depending on gender, even though both are simply forms of fandom and joy. We take a deep dive into this idea and stigma with Professor Mary Zaborskis from Penn State Harrisburg.

(00:21:03)

Born in 1947 as a “blue baby” with undiagnosed Tetralogy of Fallot, he was initially given little chance of surviving childhood. After moving to Carlisle, it took seven years before a cardiologist in Philadelphia agreed to treat him. Over the decades, he underwent multiple major heart surgeries: a Blalock‑Taussig‑Thomas shunt in 1958, a Waterston shunt in 1967, and finally a full TOF repair in 1980 by Dr. John Kirklin—an operation that transformed his stamina and daily life.
His long-term care continued through several cardiologists, most notably Dr. William Davidson at Penn State Hershey, who guided him through a pulmonary valve replacement in 2005 and later the implantation of an ICD to manage arrhythmias and ventricular tachycardia. After Dr. Davidson’s passing in 2022, he transitioned to the care of Dr. Elizabeth Adams.
Following Dr. Davidson’s advice, he became active in the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA), finding community, education, and purpose as a peer mentor for others with CHD—especially those with TOF. He emphasizes that people with congenital heart disease are never “fixed,” only “repaired,” and often require ongoing interventions throughout life.
Despite the challenges, he has lived a full, rich life, with a family he’s deeply proud of, and a personal mission to support and reassure others navigating CHD.

(00:00:00)
Men are often celebrated for passionately supporting sports teams&mdash;spending money, getting emotional, and &ldquo;fangirling&rdquo; over players&mdash;while women are frequently mocked for showing the same level of enthusiasm for musicians, makeup, athletes, or concerts. The double standard treats identical behaviors differently depending on gender, even though both are simply forms of fandom and joy. We take a deep dive into this idea and stigma with Professor Mary Zaborskis from Penn State Harrisburg.
(00:21:03)
Born in 1947 as a &ldquo;blue baby&rdquo; with undiagnosed Tetralogy of Fallot, he was initially given little chance of surviving childhood. After moving to Carlisle, it took seven years before a cardiologist in Philadelphia agreed to treat him. Over the decades, he underwent multiple major heart surgeries: a Blalock‑Taussig‑Thomas shunt in 1958, a Waterston shunt in 1967, and finally a full TOF repair in 1980 by Dr. John Kirklin&mdash;an operation that transformed his stamina and daily life. His long-term care continued through several cardiologists, most notably Dr. William Davidson at Penn State Hershey, who guided him through a pulmonary valve replacement in 2005 and later the implantation of an ICD to manage arrhythmias and ventricular tachycardia. After Dr. Davidson&rsquo;s passing in 2022, he transitioned to the care of Dr. Elizabeth Adams. Following Dr. Davidson&rsquo;s advice, he became active in the Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA), finding community, education, and purpose as a peer mentor for others with CHD&mdash;especially those with TOF. He emphasizes that people with congenital heart disease are never &ldquo;fixed,&rdquo; only &ldquo;repaired,&rdquo; and often require ongoing interventions throughout life. Despite the challenges, he has lived a full, rich life, with a family he&rsquo;s deeply proud of, and a personal mission to support and reassure others navigating CHD.

The Spark Weekly 3.06.2025: Braver Angels and The PA Historical & Museum Comission

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