The Summer 2024 Olympics have officially kicked off in Paris, and a local doctor has the opportunity to practice medicine during the Olympic games. Dr. Mark Lavallee will serve as one of the International Weightlifting Federation's (IWF) Chief Medical Officers. Dr. Lavallee is a Sports Medicine Physician at UPMC in Harrisburg, Pa. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the medicine field including 27 years as the chairman of sports medicine for USA weightlifting. Dr. Lavallee sat down with The Spark host Asia Tabb about his journey to the Olympics and more in depth about his role as a IWF Chief Medical Officer.

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The 2024 Olympic Summer Games have officially kicked off in Paris and one Pennsylvania company has been tasked with outfitting the U.S. Women's and Men's gymnastics team. GK Elite has as partnered with thee USA gymnastics to provide on-mat attire for athletes include Simone Biles, Yul Moldauer, and Suni Lee. This year's collection drew inspiration from old Hollywood glamour. The custom-made outfits has 10,000 Swarovski crystals and some long sleeved leotards will be embellished with pearls. The gymnastics competition ends on August 5. In the podcast, Erica Schnebel, Director of Marketing at GK Elite was interviewed on The Spark about the company's involvement with the Summer Olympics.

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Coming up on The Spark Weekly;

There's a new tool created by the Pennsylvania State Police for individuals with autism to enhance interactions with law enforcement officers. The cards, which include a person’s name, contact information and emergency contacts, state that the cardholder has autism and urge officers to be patient and direct in their interactions.

As the demand for electric vehicles are on the rise, car dealerships and mechanics are faced with new challenges. Roger Cackovic is a dealer at RJ Cackovic Auto Sales, Service and Rental, and has been in the industry for over 60 years. Cackovic was a guest on The Spark and spoke with Asia about where the auto industry is going now that the demand of electric vehicles. Listen to the podcast to hear his perspective.

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WITF Music's Joe Urich speaks with Tony McManus, a world-renowned acoustic guitarist. Who is participating in The Mansion House Concert series August 24th.

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Ann Barshinger passed away at 100 years old, and leaves behind a lasting impact on the people she's served in Central Pennsylvania. Barshinger was known for her big heart and generosity. Over the years, she's donated millions to hospitals, colleges, churches, and many more organizations. Ann was also instrumental in the opening of Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, part of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health in 2013. Dr. Randall A. Oyer a founding executive medical director of the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute said cancer never touched her family, but wanted to provide support to the families that we impacted by cancer.

"People often ask Ann if she had cancer or if someone in her family had had cancer, and she said no. She had simply seen and felt the strain, the stress, the suffering that friends, or others that she knew had to deal with when they, faced the cancer diagnosis and she wanted to make sure that all cancer care was convenient with close to home, that people had better chances of being cured, and that people were treated like human beings, in their cancer treatment, "said Dr. Oyer.

Megan Tomsheck is the Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer with Vision Corps. Tomsheck has known Ann for 10 years says she lived to give, and her legacy will live on for generations to come.

" So many times we'd be out having breakfast and somebody would come up and thank her for her support of the Cancer Institute, because they recognized her, because they had a family member who received services. So, it just to watch her little spark go throughout the community. And the ripple effect was was amazing to watch something I'll always be thankful for the opportunity to to be part of, "said Tomsheck.

WITF was also a beneficiary of Ann's generosity. She had been a donor for over 20 years, and her foundation supported stipends for interns from York County, among other things.

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Amber Roadcap is the new Executive Director of the LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania. Roadcap has earned a degree from Penn State Health, and has a background in mental health. She started her career in crisis intervention at Geisinger Holy Spirit Hospital. She's also worked at Malvern Health where she helped to develop a LGBTQ+ based behavioral health program.

" I believe that when we are able to meet folks where they are, we are able to best serve. And I'm really huge on that of me just meeting the community where they are, meeting folks, where they are having that background in substance use counseling, behavioral health. I think will lend it to being able to, again, be a connector of resources. With our global population, with any population who is in need of housing. Finding a great therapist. And again, working with our agencies in behavioral health and substance use. And bringing some of the relationships that I've built over the years with me to connect folks."

In addition to welcoming Amber to her new role, just this week the center held a ribbon cutting for their new location at 1323 N Front Street in Harrisburg. The LGBT Center of Central Pa has been active for nearly 20 years, and board members believe this new location will provide stability for the folks they serve.

"I've been using the term grow forward as we have this new home. We have been here in the community, serving the community for almost 20 years. And I think having our own space and having this beautiful, safe space that folks can come and we want to welcome our allies as well as the queer community to come in. And we want to say, hey, like, what events would you like to see? What groups would you like to see? I've been really trying to focus on listening to the community when we're out at tabling events, or when I'm meeting people and saying, how can your LGBT center serve you best?"

Normal operations are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. To learn more about the LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania, CLICK HERE.

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As the demand for electric vehicles are on the rise, car dealerships and mechanics are faced with new challenges. Roger Cackovic is a dealer at RJ Cackovic Auto Sales, Service and Rental, and has been in the industry for over 60 years. Cackovic was a guest on The Spark and spoke with Asia about where the auto industry is going now that the demand of electric vehicles. Listen to the podcast to hear his perspective.

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In January Governor Josh Shapiro announced the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, or PTRR for short. With the program, hundreds of thousands of older and disabled Pennsylvanians will now be eligible for a rebate up to $1,000. This brings the maximum standard rebate up from its previous level of $650. Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne sat down with The Spark Host Asia Tabb to share how the program works, and why the deadline is being extended. Listen to the podcast to learn more about the program.

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There's a new tool created by the Pennsylvania State Police for individuals with autism to enhance interactions with law enforcement officers. The cards, which include a person’s name, contact information and emergency contacts, state that the cardholder has autism and urge officers to be patient and direct in their interactions.

Lieutenant Adam Reed with the Pennsylvania State Police and Mark Davis, President and CEO of Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability joined The Spark to offer how the new informational cards will impact those living with autism. Listen to the podcast to hear the conversation.

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There has been some unofficial conversation about the possibility of reopening of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Dauphin County. The plant was completely shut down in 2019 after more than 40 years in service. TMI was also the site of the 1979 accident which completely crippled the unit two reactor. Terry Fitzpatrick the President and CEO of the Energy Association of Pennsylvania, the main trade group of all utilities in the state. Fitzpatrick joined The Spark to share what this could mean from his perspective.

"TMI closed in in 2019. And there's been a big change since then. I mean, circumstances have really changed. There's a lot of federal money support now available for nuclear power. That's one thing that's changed. The other big thing that's changed is with the growth of data centers in particular, and also more generally, just the switch, the shift towards using more electricity with electric vehicles, etc.. There's more concern now that demand is growing. So all of a sudden, you know, nuclear power didn't look so good or TMI didn't look so good back in 2019. But now the outlook has changed. So that's led to this discussion about the possible restart."

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