The Spark

The holidays are usually a time for socializing, celebrations, and cocktails. However, some people decide to bring in the new year by not indulging in alcohol at all by participating in Dry January. Dry January is a month where one refrains from drinking any alcohol as a personal challenge. According to Dr. Melissa Brown, UPMC Clinical Psychologist, society has played a role in the challenge of becoming more popular.

“I think it's just as we it became popular, just as we, you know, as a society have started to become more conscious of our health and, and focused on how certain substances might not be as safe for us or as healthy for us as maybe we once thought about, “said Dr. Brown.

Dr. Adam Barnathan, UPMC Addiction Medicine Specialist, says the benefits of participating are quite notable.

“So, we do have medical data on the long-term effects of dry January. So, the benefits range from better sleep to weight loss to ongoing reduction even past one month extending out to six months. So, people who do participate tend to reduce their drinking long term, “said Dr. Barnathan.

Dr. Brown suggests creating a goal when participating in dry January.

“Once they set that intention, then they can certainly look at their lifestyle and then how can they follow through with that? So being very conscious of your goals and very specific with them is just one great way and great place to start, “said Dr. Brown.

For those who drink alcohol excessively, it is important to reach out to a medical provider in case severe withdrawal take effect.

“If you have what we call a diagnosable alcohol use disorder where you're at risk for detox or severe withdrawal effects, and that should be done under medical supervision. This is targeted more towards people who fall into the problematic or heavy drinking, which is a lot more people than you would believe. So, it's upwards of seven drinks per week for females and upwards of 14 drinks for males. And that's really who the target audience is, “said Dr. Barnathan.

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The Jewish week-long festival will take place in just a few days. This year, Hanukkah falls on the night of December 25 and ends on January 2. Zach Benjamin, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Harrisburg and Marc Kline, Interim Rabbi of the Temp Ohev Shalom joined to the spark to share more information.The history of Hanukkah begins 2200 years ago.“The Syrian Greeks were in control of what we now call Israel Palestine, and they brought Greek culture, which was replacing the existing Jewish culture, and they trashed the temple and didn't destroy, but they trashed and were sacrificing pigs on the altar. And Jews said, we can't let this happen. And so Matthias and Judah Maccabee and their followers warred against the Syrian Greeks and they defeated the Greeks and rededicated the temple. The rest of the story becomes a matter of different versions of history. The story everybody seems to know is that when they went to light the lights on the altar, they had one cruise of oil that hadn't been destroyed. They thought it would last for one day and it lasted for eight. That story's first written about 500 years later. Many of the versions of the story, though, deal with the fact that we changed the practice from Pagan to to God at the altar, that people stopped the war to rededicate themselves to God. So whatever story you're looking at, we're looking at bringing the light of peace and faith over the ugliness of paganism and war, “said Kline.Zach Benjamin explained the significance of sundown and those eight days of Hanukkah.“Well, in at its most basic, the Hebrew calendar and the Gregorian calendar, what we think of as our typical calendar, they're different in a number of ways. The Hebrew calendar has 13 months. The our Western calendar has 12 months. And another way that they are different is that the Hebrew day begins at sundown and goes from sundown to sundown. And thus Hanukkah, like all other Jewish observances, begins at sundown on the first day. And Hanukkah lasts eight days. And so it goes until sundown.”

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Kwanzaa honors unity, pride, and African traditions from December 26 to January 1. This celebration brings people together by sharing stories, lighting candles, and community. Naaja Rodgers, Professor of Africana studies at Dickinson College says Kwanzaa is a Kiswahili word.“So it's actually a Kiswahili word, which means maternal, your Kwanzaa, which means first fruits. So essentially Kwanzaa means first fruit. And these are typically celebrations that are held throughout Africa.”Kwanza was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga. He was a part of a cultural nationalist group that promoted African culture.“The Watts riots in Los Angeles and just the racial tensions going on during the Black Power movement inspired him to think about what we can do to kind of help African people as a collective Pan-African. Keep that theme intact. How can we ensure that black people are able to reason to remember and prepare for the new Year as opposed to just like the commercialization of Christmas where it's like a hustle and bustle, you're shopping and then you give a gift and then you go on to the new year.”There are seven principles of Kwanzaa:

Umoja (Unity)

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)

Nia (Purpose)

Kuumba (Creativity)

Imani (Faith)

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This week kicks off Christmas and there is no denying that poinsettias make for bright and festive decorations during the winter months. But have you ever wondered how they got to be the official Christmas flower? Shirley Halk, Master Gardener with the Penn State Agricultural Extension Service says they have a long history.

“The flower or the poinsettia reminds people of the Star of Bethlehem. When the three wise men were coming to Jesus to bear their gifts. So that's one thing about the poinsettias. You have this Christian belief. You also have when you look at the Aztecs and the Mayans, they use the poinsettias for medicinal values. They believe sometimes in magical values of the plant. So, it's it's used in a variety of ways.”

Poinsettias are grown in warm settings and are native to Mexico and Guatemala.

“They are actually considered a perennial shrub and they can grow up to 15 foot high, which you won't see here usually in the States.”After Christmas, Poinsettias can be preserved.

“They can be they can be made to bloom, believe it or not, year after year, if you so desire. And when I say year after year, the longevity on a poinsettia plant can be anywhere from 10 to 20 years.”

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Since it’s the week of Christmas, The Spark Team at WITF decided to do a whole segment on Christmas Traditions. Listen to the podcast link to hear from David Payne, Researcher/ Producer, John Kinzer, Program Manager, Emma Halsey, Audio Engineer/ Producer, and Host Asia Tabb to hear some of their favorite Christmas stories growing up.

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Visioncorps is accepting Braille letters to send to Santa. Kids who submit a letter will hear back even if it is after Christmas. Erika Rothermel is a teacher of the blind and visually impaired at Visioncorps.

“So being able to write a letter to Santa is a long standing tradition that children have been doing for years. But being able to open it up to the Braille population has been a new adventure. And it's, yeah, something fun to include everybody. So we started doing that here at Vision Core about five years ago, “said Rothermel.

9-year-old JJ Maldonado took advantage of the opportunity and is looking forward to hear back from Santa soon.

“I asked for a microphone.. and a police car, “said Maldonado.”

Maldonado’s mother, Yaritza Riversa says Visioncorps has helped with JJ’s journey. JJ was diagnosed with cancer at just a month old.

“He was born with cancer. It's a genetic type of cancer. But he's that one person that was actually born without mom and dad having that gene. And it is bilateral, meaning he has it in both eyes, “said Rivera.

He began chemo at just three months old and underwent a lot of chemo and radiation.

“He actually got his right eye removed at the age of three years old. And that's kind of where the vision kind of went down a little bit. I'm the only eye he had. And so, yeah, and then Vision Corp kicked in and helped so much during this transition because it's definitely tough and they made it so much easier, especially for JJ and myself, because, you know, as a mom, it's like, what do I do? Not knowing this is on you. So, they have been a blessing to us. And even though JJ is now in school when he's 13, they still involved him and everything, and they're there for him no matter what. Just on a on a regular time. You know, they check up on Jay and make sure he's doing great. So they're amazing and we are so blessed to have them, “said Rivera.

According to JJ, learning braille can be challenging.

“It's really hard to learn all the contractions and all how to like type with your fingers and how to read properly. It's been a hard journey, “said Malonado.

When JJ grows up, he wants to be a rapper. Listen to the podcast link to her his performance.

There is no deadline for letter submission this holiday season. For those looking to send their letters to Santa in braille, letters can be addressed:

Santa’s Attention, VisionCorps (Erika Rothermel, head elf)

244 N. Queen St. Lancaster, Pa. 17603

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The Jewish week-long festival will take place in just a few days. This year, Hanukkah falls on the night of December 25 and ends on January 2. Zach Benjamin, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Harrisburg and Marc Kline, Interim Rabbi of the Temp Ohev Shalom joined to the spark to share more information.

The history of Hanukkah begins 2200 years ago.

“The Syrian Greeks were in control of what we now call Israel Palestine, and they brought Greek culture, which was replacing the existing Jewish culture, and they trashed the temple and didn't destroy, but they trashed and were sacrificing pigs on the altar. And Jews said, we can't let this happen. And so Matthias and Judah Maccabee and their followers warred against the Syrian Greeks and they defeated the Greeks and rededicated the temple. The rest of the story becomes a matter of different versions of history. The story everybody seems to know is that when they went to light the lights on the altar, they had one cruise of oil that hadn't been destroyed. They thought it would last for one day and it lasted for eight. That story's first written about 500 years later. Many of the versions of the story, though, deal with the fact that we changed the practice from Pagan to to God at the altar, that people stopped the war to rededicate themselves to God. So whatever story you're looking at, we're looking at bringing the light of peace and faith over the ugliness of paganism and war, “said Kline.

Zach Benjamin explained the significance of sundown and those eight days of Hanukkah.

“Well, in at its most basic, the Hebrew calendar and the Gregorian calendar, what we think of as our typical calendar, they're different in a number of ways. The Hebrew calendar has 13 months. The our Western calendar has 12 months. And another way that they are different is that the Hebrew day begins at sundown and goes from sundown to sundown. And thus Hanukkah, like all other Jewish observances, begins at sundown on the first day. And Hanukkah lasts eight days. And so it goes until sundown.”

Listen to the podcast to learn more about Hanukkah.

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As today is Christmas Eve, the entire Spark Team at WITF FM thought it would be great to read a Christmas story on air. Ryan McCrory, Executive Director of the Dauphin County Library System, read "I Got the Christmas Spirit" by Connie Schofield-Morrison.

Listen to the podcast to hear the story.

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Kwanzaa honors unity, pride, and African traditions from December 26 to January 1. This celebration brings people together by sharing stories, lighting candles, and community. Naaja Rodgers, Professor of Africana studies at Dickinson College says Kwanzaa is a Kiswahili word.

“So it's actually a Kiswahili word, which means maternal, your Kwanzaa, which means first fruits. So essentially Kwanzaa means first fruit. And these are typically celebrations that are held throughout Africa.”

Kwanza was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga. He was a part of a cultural nationalist group that promoted African culture.

“The Watts riots in Los Angeles and just the racial tensions going on during the Black Power movement inspired him to think about what we can do to kind of help African people as a collective Pan-African. Keep that theme intact. How can we ensure that black people are able to reason to remember and prepare for the new Year as opposed to just like the commercialization of Christmas where it's like a hustle and bustle, you're shopping and then you give a gift and then you go on to the new year.”

There are seven principles of Kwanzaa:

• Umoja (Unity)
• Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
• Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility
• Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
• Nia (Purpose)
• Kuumba (Creativity)
• Imani (Faith)

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly.

Asia speaks with Jenna Wise from PennLive about her recent reporting on our journalist roundtable.

Also on the program:

The Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame is a multi-room museum of autographed albums, guitars, and so much more. Brandon Valentine, Executive Director and Founder of the Central Pa Music Hall of Fame, opened the museum in 2023.

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The Hershey Theatre, a historic landmark in Derry Township, has announced it will close its doors for 2025 for renovations. Donald Papson, Executive Director of the MS Hershey Foundation, says the theatre will undergo major renovations.

“We're hoping to be able to renovate the seats and actually we will be taking out 1904 seats and historically and accurately putting them back in with new seat cushions, some new armrests, some things that will bring those seats up into what we call 2025, 2026 standards.”

The renovations will also include new carpeting, new dressing rooms, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units.

“So, although most people tell me they don't notice it because we have 1930s technology in our air conditioning. You can get a time in that theater where it's not quite as cool as you may have hoped it has been. So the air conditioning again will be brought up to 2026, 2025 standards, and we'll also be doing a adding new boilers so that the heating will be improved and we'll also be adding an entire new electrical system in that space so that the lights will not only be more energy efficient, but actually will be able to light that auditorium space throughout the year.”

The Final show before the closure will be “Pretty Women” which is scheduled for January. The first show after the renovations is yet to be determined, but the theatre is set to welcome back audiences on Dec. 1, 2025.

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