The Spark

In the bustling city of Kolkata, nestled amidst a population of 14 million, Dr. Dhiman Chattopadhyay's journey from the world of journalism to academia, reads like a gripping novel. Eschewing the family tradition of teaching, Dr. Chattopadhyay carved his path, propelled by a passion for storytelling and a fervent desire to illuminate the world through the lens of journalism. His foray into the field took a seismic turn when he found himself thrust into the heart of India's worst railway tragedy, a harrowing act of domestic terrorism claiming over 400 lives. Undeterred by the enormity of the task, Dr. Chattopadhyay’s coverage served as a voice of truth amidst the chaos, cementing his reputation as a formidable force in the world of journalism. But it was not merely tragedy that marked his career; Dr. Chattopadhyay stood witness to history, capturing poignant moments such as the passing of Mother Teresa, an experience that would leave an indelible imprint on his journalistic soul.

Transitioning seamlessly, Dr. Chattopadhyay's expertise traversed borders, landing him in the bustling newsrooms of prestigious publications like the Times of India, Mid-Day, Business Today, and Asian Age. His journalistic odyssey was peppered with encounters with global luminaries, from engaging with the Clintons to sharing moments of wisdom with the Dalai Lama. Yet, amidst the weighty matters of state and society, Dr. Chattopadhyay found himself intertwined with the glitz and glamour of the world stage. A chance encounter with a young Priyanka Chopra, then a budding beauty queen, offered a glimpse into the intersection of fame and fate. His ascent within the journalistic echelons was meteoric, propelling him to head news bureaus at a mere 27 years of age, defying convention by assuming the mantle of a daily newspaper's editor by the age of 30.

However, Dr. Chattopadhyay's journey wasn't confined to ink-stained pages and breaking news; he embraced the technological tide, dissecting the impact of social media on Indian journalism and penning insightful treatises on global journalistic practices. As the first Indian journalist to soar aboard the Airbus A-380's maiden commercial voyage, Dr. Chattopadhyay's career was emblematic of a relentless pursuit of truth, traversing continents and generations, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of journalism. Today, ensconced in academia, his wealth of experience enriches the minds of future journalists, ensuring that his legacy endures beyond the bylines and headlines of yesteryears.

Dr. Chattopadhyay has also authored two books Indian Journalism and the Impact of Social Media and Global Journalism in Comparative Perspective

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Erik Larson is perhaps America’s preeminent non-fiction history writer. His best-selling books stand out for their storytelling narratives, but also their attention to detail, especially when it comes to what the historical characters in his books actually said or wrote. There’s no speculation – Larson only quotes what is verified.

Larson’s newest book is about the period between Abraham Lincoln’s election in November, 1860 and the start of the Civil War, with the bombardment of Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

Erik Larson was with us on The Spark Thursday to talk about The Demon of Unrest – A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War.

Larson has said he would never write about the Civil War but during the COVID pandemic in 2020, came upon a book about the beginning of the Civil War and was intrigued.

The unrest at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 to stop the certification and protest the election of President Joe Biden by Trump supporters also drew parallels in Larson's mind. The Vice President, who would certify Lincoln's election victory in 1861 was John C. Breckenridge, a candidate for president who Lincoln had just defeated and there was speculation the South would attack Washington to disrupt Lincoln's inauguration.

One of the heroes in the story is Major Robert Anderson, the commanding officer at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. South Carolina had seceded from the United States after Lincoln's election, believing he planned to abolish slavery. Anderson was a southerner and former slave owner but was loyal to the U.S. Army and did his valiant best to keep the fort from falling into South Carolina's hands until he and his 75 men were overwhelmed and had to surrender. That sparked the beginning of the Civil War.

Erik Larson will be appearing with NPR’s Steve Inskeep Saturday at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Harrisburg at 2 p.m. Tickets are still available through Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

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In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Tec Centro, a division of SACA, stands as a beacon of bilingual education and vocational training, addressing the pressing need for skilled workers in the region. Annually, Tec Centro's state-of-the-art workforce programs reaches over 1,200 individuals, offering vital education and skills training to those grappling with unemployment, underemployment, and poverty. And across the United States, a significant dilemma looms over numerous businesses; a surplus of skilled trades job openings juxtaposed with a scarcity of qualified individuals to fill them. Forbes reports that over 53% of workers in skilled trades are approaching retirement age, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Shockingly, only 1 in 5 high school graduates express interest in pursuing trade jobs, exacerbating the workforce deficit and leaving employers scrambling for solutions.

National Skilled Trades Day (May 1st) emerges as a crucial initiative to shed light on the immense value of skilled trades professions in the American landscape. For decades, societal emphasis has tilted heavily towards steering young individuals exclusively towards traditional college pathways post-graduation, disregarding the immense potential and merit inherent in skilled trades. Consequently, many college graduates find themselves burdened by staggering debt and confronted by a stagnant job market upon completion of their studies. In stark contrast, trade professions often require only certification for employment, enabling individuals to enter the workforce swiftly and with minimal debt. Moreover, these roles frequently offer competitive wages, alongside benefits and healthcare coverage, further enhancing their allure and viability as viable career options.

The advent of National Trades Day brings a spotlight to the trades industry, which is experiencing a notable resurgence, particularly among Generation Z, affectionately termed the "tool-belt generation" by social observers. This resurgence arrives at a critical juncture, as the impending retirement wave among skilled trade workers looms large. Forbes underscores this trend, highlighting a 53% retirement age threshold among skilled trade workers. Additionally, another Forbes study reveals a 20% surge in student enrollment in vocational programs like Thaddeus Stevens College and Tec Centro, signaling a promising shift towards embracing skilled trades education. So, in essence, Tec Centro and initiatives like National Skilled Trades Day are pivotal in bridging the workforce gap, championing the value of vocational education, and empowering individuals to pursue fulfilling and prosperous careers in the trades industry.

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American’s 250th birthday or Semiquincentennial will be in two years. Plans are already being made for celebrations around the country.

The State Museum in Harrisburg has gotten a head start with an exhibit called Pennsylvania in Watercolor by artist Nick Ruggieri. Ruggieri's project involved visiting all 67 counties to paint a representative scene he chose for each one – often a historic site, natural feature, or signature industry.

There’s a program at the State Museum this Sunday at 2 p.m. to highlight the exhibit.

With us on The Spark Wednesday were Curt Miner, Director of Interpretation and Amy Hammond, Sr. Curator of Cultural History at the State Museum in Harrisburg, who talked about the paintings in the exhibit,"It's really versatile. There's a lot of different perspectives that you can approach this particular collection. I noticed that there were, certain themes that really stood out. Industry, which is one and it is certainly the coal mining, was an important one, but also mills and, some industries that we don't necessarily go to anymore. And there's also transportation. He addressed transportation. There's architecture from the 18th century into the 20th century. There are historic sites that he captured. And, it's really fascinating to see the different things that he was able to find within each county."

One of the unique aspects of the paintings is that they were painted with watercolors as Hammond described,"He was really a master watercolor artist. And what I think was appealing about that media was that it's portable. So he did travel to all the counties and he did preliminary sketches, and he brought his watercolors with him because they were easy to take along. And also watercolors is a great media for landscapes because it captures light. And he was able to to manipulate it and paint in a certain way that is sometimes different painting to painting, depending on what he was trying to portray."

Miner said Ruggieri was well known in Harrisburg as the art director of the Harrisburg Patriot-News newspaper,"He comes to the Harrisburg area as a 12 year old immigrant from Italy. His father was a shoemaker. Nick is unusually talented at art and he goes to William Penn. Graduates from William Penn High School in Harrisburg, then goes to art school in New York, actually goes to Italy to study as well, and returns in the 1940s to get his first hitch in the newspaper business in Harrisburg. But he develops a very strong attachment to Harrisburg and Pennsylvania. And in 1971, four years, five years out from the Bicentennial, he proposes a project to his publisher, which is this idea of traveling across Pennsylvania and visiting all 67 counties to do one particularly iconic scene for each of those counties. And, this is his passion for four years. Take some four years to complete this, what he ends up with, I think over 80 paintings. So he did two or more for some counties, in particular. And the exhibit premieres at the then William Penn Memorial Museum in September of 1975. It's the first that we're aware of statewide art project completed by a single artist. And it gets rave reviews because Nick understood Pennsylvania as a series of places that were often highly localized."

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Imagine a dream job that entails traveling around Pennsylvania -- eating ice cream – and getting paid for it.

It will become a reality for someone.

The American Dairy Association North East is looking to identify their first ever honorary "Chief Ice Cream Officer" to visit creameries and dairy farms throughout Pennsylvania in July – National Ice Cream Month. The person selected will vlog about their experiences, document their journey and create content for social media. And they’ll earn $5,000 for their efforts.

To talk about the Ice Cream Roads Trip on The Spark Wednesday was Patrick Carney, Vice President, Marketing and Digital Strategy with the American Dairy Association North East,"It's the greatest job I've ever heard of, right? I get to go around Pennsylvania, eat ice cream for just a couple of weeks, make $5,000. And we've had so many people already applying. I think the person that we will ultimately bring on board is going to have a mixture of creativity, originality, and of course, a love of ice cream and adventure, because going all around Pennsylvania and getting to go on actual dairy farms all over the state is going to be a lot of fun. And we want somebody who's really enthusiastic about dairy and really loves ice cream."

Carney indicated about 20 dairy farms and creameries are being identified throughout the state.

He said the Chief Ice Cream Officer would have choices as to what they like and what flavors to sample,"We want them to have fun so they'll pick whatever they want to do, whatever flavor that suits them. What's really cool is that there are so many great dairy farms in Pennsylvania that have these creameries, and a lot of them have fun, unique flavors that are unique to their farm and their creamery, and not always the flavors that we enjoy from the grocery store or our local ice cream parlor. So really getting a taste of the local ice cream is going to be great. Whether they want to try samples of a lot of flavors stick to one flavor at each farm. We're going to let them choose and really just talk about the experience."

Apply to become Chief Ice Cream Officer here.

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As the school year winds down, parents and guardians across the Midstate are in the midst of a frenzy, scrambling to secure spots for their kids in summer camps and activities. In an effort to ease the stress of summer activity sign-ups, The Spark (our beloved community forum) is here to offer a helping hand. Today, we were thrilled to welcome Jennifer Eley, the Director of Education, to shed light on the exciting lineup of events and programs slated for the upcoming summer season at our esteemed Public Media Center

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Horticulturalist Eric Jo Shaffer was on The Spark Tuesday and talked about container gardens for those who decide to grow their plants or flowers in containers,

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Vicki and Mike Deitzler, motivated by their late son Evan's passion for film, spearheaded the establishment of the Mount Gretna International Film Festival (MtGIFF). They approached Kerry Royer, Director of the Mt. Gretna Art Show, to initiate this endeavor, aiming to complement the renowned art show and aligning with Lebanon County's designation of 2024 as the "Year of the Arts." Cody Hassler, head Broadcast Video teacher at Cedar Crest High School, is aiding in managing the film submission and judging process, leveraging his connections to the program where Evan was once an active member. Additionally, three of Cody's students serve on the MtGIFF committee. Janice Balmer, a resident and volunteer of Mt. Gretna, has been enlisted to ensure the smooth operation of the volunteer team for the festival. Set to debut on August 18, 2024, from 12-3pm, the inaugural MtGIFF aims to provide a platform for both emerging and established filmmakers, reflecting their collective dedication to cinema as an art form.

The festival coincides with Mount Gretna's esteemed Outdoor Art Show, which has garnered national recognition and is also celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. Held at the iconic Mount Gretna Playhouse, nestled within the wooded enclave of Pennsylvania's Chautauqua, the event promises a screening of carefully selected films alongside an awards ceremony, offering attendees a comprehensive experience celebrating the arts. With its roots deeply entrenched in the community and a mission to honor Evan's memory while fostering a vibrant cultural atmosphere, the Mount Gretna International Film Festival emerges as a testament to the enduring power of cinema and the arts to unite and inspire.

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A White woman Pheobe Kilby contacted Betty Kilby Baldwin – a Black woman – saying she suspected they are connected through slavery. That started a conversation and led to a book called Cousins.

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The Fulton Theatre's decision to dissolve its IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) committee has sparked discontent among some of its members. Kareena Rios, a former committee member, shared her insights on the matter during an interview on The Spark. Rios expressed disappointment, suggesting that the committee, tasked with addressing diversity and equity within the theater, was doomed from the start. The dissolution of the committee raises questions about the theater's commitment to inclusivity and representation within its operations. Rios's commentary sheds light on potential shortcomings in the theater's approach to diversity initiatives. The decision to disband the committee comes amid broader conversations about equity and inclusion in the arts and entertainment industry. It underscores the complexities and challenges inherent in implementing meaningful change within institutions. The theater's move has not only disappointed its former committee members but also prompted reflections on the efficacy of diversity initiatives in the entertainment sector. As stakeholders and observers continue to grapple with these issues, the incident at the Fulton Theatre serves as a reminder of the ongoing work needed to foster genuine inclusivity and equity within cultural institutions, and Lancaster City.

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