The Spark

There’s been reports of a surge in cases of a respirator virus in China that has evoked dark echoes of the start of the covid-19 pandemic almost five years ago. The Chinese cases are reported to be infectious with Human Metapneumoia Virus known to doctors as HMPV. Dr. Richard Jackson, Adjunct Professor of Biology and Chemistry at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology says the virus is similar to a cold. “HMPV is actually a rather common virus that causes cold symptoms. So, think of the fall, early winter, midwinter and you get a cold. About 10 to 15 % of cases are actually caused by HMPV.” The symptoms of an HMPV infection are also similar to the common cold. “Runny nose, cough, tiredness, sore throat, swelling in your throat, sneezing, maybe low-grade fever.” Dr. Jackson shared a misconception about HMPV. “I think that one thing we need to realize is China, they did not come from what we would say a verified source was, and so it caused a lot of fear. About two or three weeks after those first reports came out, the World Health Organization came out with a report that said the increase in HMPV in northern China, which is happening this time of year in all the northern climates, was within the expected range. And so just like we were talking about two weeks ago here in the United States, the range was, we had some people that were a little above the average, some areas that were a little below. What happened in China was within the expected range, so it shouldn't have caused fear. And the other thing to remember is that when people hear virus out of China, they immediately think of COVID. And this was completely, this virus is completely different from COVID.” Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our weekly weather segment, ABC 27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso shared an overview about this week’s weather, the chances for early spring, and Groundhog Day. He also shared about a potential unusual pattern he’s been seeing heading into spring. Listen to the podcast to hear the report. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To the Hilt: A sword swallower’s history of sword swallowing will soon hit the shelves by the end of February. Co-Authors Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman were inspired to write this book through their interest in sword swallowing. For Dan, he became interested in sword swallowing in 1997. After he met the sword swallower, George the Giant, he learned there were only 12 in the world and began researching. “I founded the Swords Followers Association International, started collecting all these bios and all this research, putting it on our website, and I decided that needed to go into a book, “said Meyer. Dan reached out to Marc seven years ago to write the book. The book will share the historical significance of sword swallowing. “As far as we can tell, sword swallowing may have started about 4000 years ago, about 2000 B .C. back in ancient India. There's some information, some evidence that it might have been in Mesopotamia as well…It was actually it came to the United States about 1810, 1819, 1820 and then didn't really become popular in the United States until 1893 at the Chicago World's Fair. And then after that, circuses and sideshows started having sword swallowers and it's become kind of a little bit more popular since then, “said Meyer. For those who read the book, Dan and Marc puts numerous disclaimers to not attempt any of the acts done in the book. “We do mention in several places throughout the book that no one should try this at home. So, if they're a kid reading this book, they should they should not be inspired to try this. In fact, we talk about the fact that most books try to inspire you and this one, we strongly suggest that you do not get inspired, “said Hartzman. To the hilt, will also discuss myths and misconceptions about sword swallowing. “I've pulled a sword out of Dan's throat myself. And people swallow other things also to help prove that that this is where that there's no handle for that blade to go up in. No trickery at all, “said Hartzman. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Conestoga Susquehannock people are a Uriscoian speaking tribe indigenous to the Susquehanna River Valley and its tributaries which encompasses parts of present-day Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland according to tribal historian, Michael Mantooth. “Our oral history and the historical record support that we started in New York, and we actually traveled down the Susquehanna River. So periodically through time, as you track our people and where our villages were located, we move up and down the Susquehanna River throughout, you know, the seasons and throughout the years, and when, you know, a particular site would become depleted or unsafe, we would move to the opposite side of the river or further north or further south.” Present day, there are under 100 members remaining of the Conestoga Susquehannock people today. According to Mantooth, most of the tribe are over 70 years old. “So, you know, it puts us in a situation where it's now or never in terms of recognition of our tribal history. It's now or never in terms of return of our treaty guaranteed land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. You know, it's interesting that today there's a prevailing myth of our extinction, despite 175 plus years of documented history of asking for that land back, not just as indigenous people, but specifically and consistently identifying as Conestoga people over this period of time. You know, so today we're really in a push. You know, we're reaching out to politicians. We're trying to rebuild those relationships to try to preserve our history because it is like every major source still lists us as extinct despite all of this documentation.” Listen to the podcast to hear more about the tribe, how colonization impacted the tribe, and the five common myths about Native Americans that Mantooth addressed. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer N. Sellitti is a lawyer and shipwreck hunter. She is also the author of The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit-And-Run Off the Coast of Nantucket. The book will be released on February 28. The book tells the story of the collision that sane Le Lyonnais and its aftermath. The Le Lyonnais collided with the ship called the Adriatic off the coast of Nantucket in November of 1856. And it's the story of both the collision, how 18 people survived this disaster, and the aftermath of the collision, which actually had some political consequences involving the way shipping regulations in the North Atlantic developed from the mid -19th century as nations were grappling with what happened when two ships from different countries met.” Jennifer spent a decade researching the ship, the people on board, the circumstances of the collision, and the circumstances of people who survived in lifeboats. Some of the research involved divers from her team D/V Tenacious, to locate Le Lyonnais. “So, what we do is we map the historical data to the hang locations, and then we go out with a side scan sonar. We imagine the ocean floor. We spent two years imagining the ocean floor to find potential targets. And then last summer, we went out to dive several targets, and one of them turned out to be the ship that we were looking for, the Le Lyonnais, and we put divers on it to confirm that identification.” Jennifer wrote this book for those who are not familiar with shipwrecks and hopes readers takes away the importance of shipwreck preservation. “I tried to educate readers just on the importance of our maritime history. It's estimated that there are about four million ships on the ocean floor all around the world. We have many, many ships off the east coast of the United States. And each one of those ships really has a story to tell. When you think about what happened to the people on those ships, the stories of the people who lived, the stories of the people who died, there's so much history.” Jennifer will continue exploring the Le Lyonnais, and shipwrecks off the coast of New Jersey and off the coast of Nantucket. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Asia Tabb speaks with Dr. Mark Glick about his parent's story: Dr. Glick is the only living child of Polish Holocaust survivors. His mother, Sonia, was interned as a teenager in Stutthof concentration camp, after her parents and brother were killed. She was liberated by the Russian army while on a death march in 1945. His father, Eli, escaped with two of his sisters. Eli’s parents and three other siblings were killed. Eli and his sisters spent the war hiding in caves in the forest. His parents met and married shortly after the end of the war and spent three years in a DP (displaced persons) camp. They ultimately immigrated to the United States, arriving in Philadelphia in 1951. They moved to Waterbury Connecticut in 1963, where they owned and operated a small meat & grocery store. Of Sonia’s family, only two cousins survived. They immigrated to Israel after the war. Of Eli’s family, only his two sisters survived. Sonia and Eli are no longer alive. Dr. Glick served as the physician and group leader for the March of the Living trip three times between 2007 and 2013, accompanied by his children. Dr. Glick is a retired cardiologist. He did his medical training at the Pennsylvania State University Hershey Medical Center and the Medical College of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. He worked in private practice as a cardiologist, and as director of noninvasive cardiac services until 2018. Dr. Glick has three grown children and resides in Hummelstown with his wife. He is an avid photographer and gardener. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's edition of The Spark Weekly. Penn Pilot offers showcase aerial photography of Pennsylvania’s landscape from the 1930’s to the 80’s. This tool was started by the Pennsylvania Geological Survey, according to Maurie Kelly, Director of Informatics with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment at Penn State University. But upfront: This week’s Journalist Roundtable focuses on the inauguration of Donand Trump and the actions he’s already taken, a new legislative lesion in Harrisburg overshadowed by the death of a state House member. Our journalists this week will be Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Jordan Wilkie, WITF’s Chief Democracy Reporter. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Journalist Roundtable segment for January 24 included Spotlight PA’s Stephen Caruso and WITF’s Democracy reporter Jordan Wilkie. The roundtable segment focused what we can expect policy wise in the new year, Donald Trumps pardoning January 6 criminals, and dismissing pending cases, and the Attorney General investigation into voter fraud. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fort Indiantown Gap is hosting what’s known as a war fighter exercise, an event to train and evaluate military units for large scale combat operations. More than 3,000 personnel are taking part between now and mid-February. Col. Kevin Potts, Garrison Commander at Fort Indiantown Gap says it’s a large-scale collective training exercise. “We're really, it's an it's not so much on the ground like normal soldiers were normal units come and train where they go out. They train in the field, and they do marksmanship qualifications and road marches and things of that nature.” The exercise trains the commanders and their staff in military decision making. “Well, fighting a mock battle in a computer system. So, it's kind of like a gaming system, but it integrates the life scenario of soldiers doing the work on the ground inside a computer system. And there's an enemy operating. So, they have a decision in the fight. So is a is a fight the fight the enemy can make a decision and then it changes how they react, how the forces or forces react to what they do.” This type of exercise focusses on command and control rather than many troops. “So, a normal brigade commander will have about 3 or 30 500 to 4000 soldiers under him. This is a division level. So you're talking 12, 12,000 soldiers. So instead of bringing 12,000 soldiers to fight, you know, on the terrain, which is extremely expensive, this is their staff. And they do it in a computer simulated world, which reduces 12,000 to 2500. And that includes everybody that needs to be involved in it. So, it's an it's a force reduction or cost reduction, but it's still it gets you to be able to work the method, the processes, the equipment and the procedures on how to actually do the exercise or the operation.” Due to the large number of military personnel, there will be an increase in traffic in the area. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia Tabb speaks with Maurie Kelly, Director of Informatics with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment at Penn State University and Scott Hoffman, Retired USGS Scientist and Geographer about the Penn Pilot Project, which is a database that allows you to access Historical Aerial Photography. Check out the website here! Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Zurn of Uncharted Lancaster speaks about the petroglyphs at Safe Harbor. 1,000-year-old rock art on the Susquehanna River which is located a half mile south of Safe Harbor Dam. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Tomaso gives us his weekly weather report! He talks low temps, and the warmer weather coming in this weekend. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harrisburg-based A Miracle 4 Sure is an organization which provides services to formerly incarcerated individuals, mainly women of color, to allow them the opportunity to resume their lives as productive members of society. Services include education, mentoring and advocacy for individuals and their children as they successfully transform their lives after incarceration and other life changing experiences. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asia Tabb speaks with Charles Stewart, Host and Producer of the It's Not History podcast. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County is a non-profit organization that advocates for the preservation of architecturally and historically significant buildings in Lancaster County. Danielle Keperling, Executive Director of The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County has been working with the trust since 2001. “We are a county wide organization that advocates and educates about the importance of historic preservation. It was founded in the late 60s as a response to the urban renewal, where all the buildings in town, in the downtown center and then also in the southeast portion of town were being torn down in the name of progress.” For Keperling, historic preservation is important for Lancaster County due to it’s history attached to the buildings. “It has, you know, over 300 years of agriculture or that agriculture architecture. So, there's, you know, there's, you know, from the very early 1700s all the way to modern times. And there's a variety of architecture that you can see just in a one block span downtown.” The trust has saved many buildings. They also work with property owners to protect historic sites. “So we do have easements on a little bit over 30 properties. So those are properties that we actually monitor and and work with the homeowners to maintain that go. That goes with the deed. And, you know, its input into perpetuity so it goes with the deed. No regardless of who the owner is. But if people call us and need advice on, you know, this is what we want to do the contractors recommend. We will definitely, you know, send information or, you know, I've even gone out to look at different projects just to help because that's what we're here for. We're here to educate and help people make good choices.” Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lafayette Bicentennial Tour planning committee in Lancaster County is preparing for a tour this summer. Kathleen Hood, Coordinator of the Lafayette200 Bicentennial in Lancaster and Western Chester Counties, says this is part of the nationwide commemoration that is the brainchild of the nonprofit, The American Friends of Lafayette. “The whole goal of this commemoration is to celebrate, commemorate Lafayette's triumphant farewell tour of America in 1824 and ’25. This nonprofit reached into various communities that Lafayette actually visited to identify coordinators who would assemble planning committees. Hundreds of events are being planned nationwide to trace Lafayette's footsteps and the exact dates in the exact order in the 24 states Lafayette visited on his tour here in Lancaster County.” The commemoration will take place July 27-29. The committee will host multiple events showcasing Lafayette’s journey through Lancaster. “Well, our committee has been planning for the past three years the events that will basically be walking in the footprints of Lafayette by mirroring where he went, with whom he met, what he did while visiting our very area in 1825.” Hood shared the importance of remembering and honoring the history of Maquis de Lafayette and his moments in Lancaster. “I would say that it's absolutely no wonder that Lafayette's 13 month farewell tour of the then 24 states in 1824 and 1825 has become called the Triumphal Tour. Wherever he went, his journey along the Lafayette Trail, he was treated like the biggest celebrity that this country had ever seen. He was a true rock star in 1825 here in Lancaster County. And we're looking to recreate that excitement, that passion and that true understanding of what this American hero actually gave to each and every one of us.” Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PEW Research Center conducted a study to explore if college was worth it in 2024. Richard Fry was the Senior researcher on that project. As costs are rising, the college debate is always a huge discussion. Also, on the program Asia speaks with David T. Miller about a Martin Luther King Jr. Event taking place January 20th, and the importance of Dr. Kings work. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Journalist Roundtable segment for January 17 included WVIA’s Rural Government Reporter Isabela Weiss and WPSU Sydney Roach. The roundtable segment focused on Sydney’s reporting on schools and hospitals in rural communities struggling to remain financially solvent. Isabela shared about her report on the newly formed rural population revitalization commission working to address those problems. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Interdenominational Minister’s Conference (IMC) of Greater Harrisburg is preparing to host their 47th annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast. The event is sold out, however IMC President and Pastor of Wesley Union AME Zion Church in Harrisburg, David T. Miller sat down with us on The Spark to share the impact of this event. “The things that we do to really make it effective is when we come together, we go across denominational lines just like Dr. King there. We have individuals who are Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostal, Jewish, Protestant, Presbyterians all come together for this breakfast. And by doing that, we show the community, according to the Greek word, that how we can all come together no matter our religious background. Dr. King even once said the most segregated hour of the day is Sunday morning because people go to their respective churches and the nominations.” Breakfast brings the community together regardless of their denominations, while showcasing local non-profit organizations in our area. This year, IMC will also honor educators in our community. “As we come together, we recognize people in all their faiths. We have rabbis pray during our breakfast, speak during our breakfast and communicate and connect with other nonprofits. Now, here's the great thing about how we get together with other nonprofits. Have them come and set up booths and tables to let other people know how they can get involved with outreach in the local area, in the community and abroad.” Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation with The Spark Host Asia Tabb and David T. Miller. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre is a beloved Lancaster experience. The theatre opened in 1967 by Deborah and Thomas Prather. Deborah and her husband Thomas, always dreamed to own a theatre in Lancaster instead of going to Hazleton, Lancaster, and Harrisburg. “So, we designed it, built it off of Route 30 in Lancaster. We wanted to go to Lancaster address because of the tourism industry. And so, after the answer to prayers and lots of wishes from friends and contractors, we opened on April 3rd, 1987, with a production of A Chorus Line, “said Debroah. Will Prather is the son of Thomas and Deborah, and now the Executive Producer of Prather Productions. Initially, he said he did not want to go into the family theater business. “I wanted to do I wanted to go in the hospitality industry. I was very fortunate that I was accepted at Cornell University's hotel school, and I got a great education and learned a lot about business. And then I took a job in the corporate world, and that didn't last very long, “said Will. Shortly after, Debroah asked Will if he wanted to return to the business and take over while she retired in 1993. “36 years later, I'm still here, still running the business, managing growth, managing 300 employees and lots of various challenges that we've encountered as a business. But I've always had the support of my parents. My mom has been incredibly supportive through some really challenging times. But the future is bright for the industry, and I'm just honored to be a second-generation business owner and entrepreneur, “said Will. According to Will, the overall guest experience is what sets the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre apart from other venues in the area. “You know, everything from free parking, which is plentiful to a really terrific meal, very Pennsylvania Dutch local flavors, and then a professional production that is on the caliber of anything else you will see in this community. So, when you bring all those things together and offer them at a valuable price and we also are also really known for our service. We have employees that have been with us from the very, very beginning. We're a very caring operation. We take care of our people and in turn, they take care of our guests who really make the magic happen, “said Will. CLICK HERE to see the upcoming shows from the theatre. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.