The Spark

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on fundraising campaigns and efforts for non-profit organizations throughout the country. Many adapted by becoming creative. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region was one of them. Board member Joe Holston came up with a golf challenge – playing 100 holes of golf in one day in which $60,000 was raised in August 2020. Two years later Holston and another board member are playing 144 holes of golf at Manada Golf Club in Grantville and are hoping to raise $144,000. How will that money be used for Big Brothers Big Sisters? With us today is Board Member, Joe Holston, and Events Manager, Rich Carroll.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Images from deeper into space than humans have ever seen from the James Webb Space Telescope captivated the world when they first released last month.

Located a million miles from Earth, the Webb telescope shows some of the earliest galaxies in the universe – located some 13.5 billion light years from Earth.

But what are we seeing and how can information be used?

Joining us is Dr. Ryan Trainor, an assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy at Franklin and Marshall College.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Surgeon general reported that from 2009 to 2019, the share of high school students who reported persistent feelings of hopelessness increased by 40 percent to more than one in three students. Then came the Covid-19 pandemic and in person classes canceled or conducted by a combination of in person and virtuaal or what became known as hybrid. Worse yet, the pandemic disrupted

many young people’s lives and educators took notice. They pointed to mental health as a major concern for students. In the recently adopted state budget, $200 million was provided for student mental health and school safety.

David Hein is the school board president at Parkland School District in Lehigh County; the 2022 president of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, and a member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and. Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murders that occurred 47 years ago don’t often get solved. But then again, there are tools and technology available today that wasn’t in 1975. That’s when 19-year-old Lindy Sue Biechler was stabbed to death in her Manor Township apartment in Lancaster County. The case was officially cold until just two weeks ago when police arrested 68 year old David Sinopoli of East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County. The break came when genetic genealogist CeCe Moore was able to connect DNA recovered from the crime scene to Sinopoli’s family ancestry. Joining us on today’s Smart Talk are Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams and CeCe Moore, Chief Genetic Genealogist at Parabon NanoLabs.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Civil War Battle of Hanover was fought on June 30th, 1863.

There were more than 300 casualties in the fighting and although it wasn’t considered a major engagement, Hanover proved to be significant because it delayed Confederate General Jeb Stuart’s calvary troops from meeting up with and providing intelligence to Commanding General Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg.

The Battle of Hanover will be commemorated starting Friday. Events also include the launch of the Heart of Hanover Trails.

We learn more on today’s Smart Talk from Matthew Jackson, Chief Editor of the Hanover Commemoration and editor of the social media hub, The Valley: For Good Change in the 717, Susquehanna Valley and Chesapeake Bay Watershed along with historian and author Jim McClure, who is the retired publisher of the York Daily Record and York Sunday News.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The often spectacular views we see from drones, drones being used in warfare or flying inexpensive drones ourselves are how most of us have become familiar with unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. However, there’s potential for drones to be used for many more purposes.

That's what the DR1 Group is working on. The non-profit organization promotes the use of drone technology for unmanned flights.

DR1 group has plans to open a facility in Columbia, Lancaster County – anchoring a business park on land that used to be an airstrip.

Todd Kishpaugh, a board member and one of the founders of DR1 Group said on Thursday's Smart Talk.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world has been captivated by the images deep into space captured by the Webb Telescope. The view from Cherry Spring State Park in Potter County in northern Pennsylvania may not be as far into space, but it provides one of the best looks into the nighttime sky as can be seen on Earth – at least on the east Coast. And there’s a new moon tomorrow night. Here to tell us about it is Curt Weinhold – a professional photographer who has a reputation of knowing more about Cherry Spring than anyone.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Fight the Bite” is a call to battle against mosquitoes in Pennsylvania. The state Department of Environmental is encouraging Pennsylvanians to protect themselves against mosquito bites and possibly West Nile Virus that mosquitoes can carry. There’s been on confirmed case of west Nile Virus so far this summer in the state. Welcome our guests Jennifer Stough, Water program Specialist for DEP’s Vector Management Program and Matt Helwig, an Aquatic Biologist Supervisor with DEP.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dickinson College has been a leader in Central Pennsylvania and on college campuses of pursuing and implementing environmentally sustainable practices. Dickinson’s latest project involves turning cow manure and food waste into biogas to generate electricity. We’re joined by Matt Steiman, the energy and livestock projects manager at Dickinson.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a hiatus in 2020 and a hybrid series of summer events last year due to COVID-19, the Susquehanna Folk Festival is back and will be held in person this year.

The 3rd annual festival will take place at the York Expo Center, August 12th through the 14th,a and will bring performances, indoor and outdoor activities, new traditions, onsite camping, and food trucks to central Pennsylvania.

Peter Lee, Executive Director of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society, said they’re excited to celebrate and honor folk music, art, and dance with the community.

“What Susquehanna Folk wants to do whether it’s a coffee house, or a concert, or a festival, is to just encourage people coming together and the community that rises around this music,” said Lee.

Lee said one thing that inspires him is that they organize a weekend festival with one paid employee, himself, and volunteers. He said this shows because they love the organization and the work that they do.

To buy tickets or volunteer visit sfmsfolk.org.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.