The Spark

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For nearly 40 years, The Pennsylvania Bakery in Camp Hill has been more than a place to buy desserts—it’s been a community cornerstone built on faith, family, and a steadfast commitment to quality.

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A new October poll from Franklin & Marshall College suggests that many Pennsylvanians are feeling uncertain about the direction of the state — and the health of democracy itself.

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Alex Monroe’s journey in track and field is one of dedication, growth, and coming full circle. A former Mifflin County athlete and Lock Haven University competitor who ran on the international stage, Monroe is now returning to his roots—not as a runner, but as a coach leading the next generation.

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What began as an informal experiment with a single camera and a borrowed guitar has evolved into one of WITF’s most vibrant projects — WITF Music.

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In 50 STATES OF MURDER: An Atlas of American Crime, true crime master Harold Schechter, reveals lesser known, darkly fascinating cases that, taken together, form a unique criminal history of all 50 states in the US!

This week, libraries across the country, including the Cumberland County Library System, are taking part in National Banned Books Week, a celebration of the freedom to read and an effort to raise awareness about attempts to remove books from public shelves.

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Lancaster’s vibrant theater scene is getting a thought-provoking addition this month as the Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre presents Streamers, a powerful drama set during the height of the Vietnam War.

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For many in Central Pennsylvania, surf fishing might seem like a distant coastal pastime, but Matt Bryson, a Harrisburg/Hershey resident, has turned the sport into a personal passion and a competitive triumph.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, libraries across the country, including the Cumberland County Library System, are taking part in National Banned Books Week, a celebration of the freedom to read and an effort to raise awareness about attempts to remove books from public shelves.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A historic log cabin in downtown Gettysburg is being restored to become the town’s first dedicated Black History Museum, highlighting the lives and legacy of the Hopkins family and the wider Black community in the area.

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A new report from the PA Health care Cost Containment Council outlines why Pennsylvanians stay in the hospital-the types of procedures they undergo.  Using data collected from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, this type of fact-based information showing the overall total number of cases performed at a facility level reflects the degree of experience a facility has in caring for patients who undergo a procedure.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 50 STATES OF MURDER: An Atlas of American Crime, true crime master Harold Schechter, reveals lesser known, darkly fascinating cases that, taken together, form a unique criminal history of all 50 states in the US!

Filled with hundreds of dark tales of murderous mayhem, 50 STATES OF MURDER is a chilling work of storytelling and an authoritative survey of the United States’ homicidal history. Schechter explores each state’s most grizzly, gruesome, and notorious murders that have passed into regional lore.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The internationally acclaimed saxophone quartet Ensemble du Bout du Monde — whose name translates to “the ensemble at the edge of the world” — will bring their genre-bending blend of classical, contemporary, and experimental music to Perry County on October 11.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.