The rise of esports has been meteoric, transforming from a niche subculture to a global phenomenon that captivates millions of enthusiasts. With the advent of high-speed internet and streaming platforms, competitive gaming has become easily accessible to audiences around the world. Esports, organized multiplayer video game competitions, has evolved into a mainstream spectacle, drawing massive crowds both online and in physical arenas. Professional esports athletes are now celebrated figures, and tournaments offer multimillion-dollar prize pools. The growth of esports is fueled not only by the widespread appeal of video games but also by the community-driven nature of the industry. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming have enabled fans to engage directly with their favorite players and teams, fostering a sense of connection and shared passion. As traditional sports organizations and major brands increasingly invest in esports, the industry's popularity shows no signs of slowing down, solidifying its place as a cultural and entertainment powerhouse in the 21st century. And a new youth Esports training facility has officially opened its doors in Cumberland County. Valhallan Esports Training Arena franchise in Camp Hill, is designed to provide its youth members with education, life skills, and inclusive competition in the world of Esports, and today we spoke with owner Andrew Aultman 

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Four years ago, the law that allowed Pennsylvanians to vote by mail without having to provide a reason, was hailed a major milestone that would make voting easier and more convenient for many voters. For the most part -- it has and was especially valuable in 2020 when the COVID pandemic limited public gatherings like voting in person.

But there also have been hiccups with mail-in voting.

Former president Donald Trump said during his re-election campaign -- without evidence to back it up -- that fraud would be rampant if large numbers of voters cast their ballots by voting by mail. That didn’t happen.

However, there have been several issues in the last three years that have caused confusion – printing errors and questions about whether to count ballots where voters didn’t complete them properly.

That was the issue before a federal court a few weeks ago when a judge ruled ballots that weren’t dated correctly should be counted. It created some chaos amongst the state’s 67 counties because of the timing of the decision according to Jerry Feaser, Director of Registrations and Elections in Dauphin County on The Spark Tuesday. Feaser said counties must certify election results twice and the ruling came out the day before the second certification. feaser indicated Dauphin County worked to include 112 ballots that either weren't dated or had the wrong date. But not all counties did and that's what can sow mistrust,"These after the fact, after the election rulings are where a lot of people start to question the legitimacy of election results because, well, wait a minute, they changed the numbers after the Election Day was held. So, you know, again, should they be counted or should they not be counted, That's not for an election official to call. That's for the courts, the legislature, the governor. They're the policymakers. But it really created a lot of concern because some counties didn't include them."

Pennsylvania's counties have pleaded with the legislature to allow them to "pre canvas" or count mail-in ballots before Election Day, which currently is when state law says mail-in ballots can be opened and counted. Feaser suggested a bit of a compromise," In my mind, if they allowed under pre canvasing -- just the ability to open the ballot envelope, the first envelope and leave the ballot secrecy envelope and the ballot in there, that at least cuts in half the amount of time we have to take to get the ballots opened to put them in the scanners. So that would help us tremendously."

Feaser is retiring as Dauphin County's Director of Registrations and Elections at the end of this week. He was asked what he would recommend to improve voting and take pressure off election administrators,"My parents moved to Florida, and one of the things my mother and father love is early voting. And I've talked to county election officials in Florida when I go and visit and they tell me that when you allow for early voting, a two week period from a Saturday to a Saturday and you allow voters to come in, sign in electronically in a poll book, put their ballot into a scanner, you save those results. You don't touch those until Election Day. You are then reducing the pressure on Election Day. So, 40% of the vote is done by early voting. 30% is done by mail, absentee balloting and then 30% in-person Election day. You can smooth out that pressure of everything happening on one day."

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There always have been questions about when to tip, who to tip and how much to tip. But it seems answers to those tipping questions changed during the COVID pandemic.

A survey by the Pew Research Center this summer found 72% say tipping is expected in more places now. During the COVID pandemic, we started tipping more to front line workers and those who rely on tips.

Elaine Swann is the most nationally recognized lifestyle and etiquette expert in the country and is the founder of The Swann School of Protocol. She appeared on The Spark Monday, saying there have been changes to tipping protocol,"There are some instances where we're seeing that we're being asked to tip in other areas that we normally wouldn't have. I don't necessarily agree with all of those areas, for example, but self-service check out, that's a no. So everyone should refuse tipping in that instance. But yeah, we're starting to find more places and I think there's just a lot of things have changed. Employers are trying to add perks for their employees and they're putting it on the backs of consumers. And then, of course, we have the electronic devices that were used using all the software that adds that tipping feature in. And so it's just showing up everywhere. I mean, so many people are winning, but it's not it's not as easy on the consumers. So my recommendation is to really go with some some standard guidelines."

What are the standard tipping guidelines,"Go with with its original what it was originally meant for, which is to improve prompt service. A tip should go to those individuals who really have improved their the service. They've somehow given you some sort of service that was above and beyond -- someone who's really been there for you. If we're looking at the holiday season there, the person who has really did great with you during the entire year, or if it's just that across the counter thing, maybe you can bypass that tip jar that's on the counter regularly. But if that person goes above and beyond the service, then that's an instance when you can tip. So bottom line, if someone does something great for you, then you can certainly tip them. And we're talking about outside of the actual restaurant industry, standard tipping in the restaurant industry still remains. Swann said that's still a recommended tip to servers of 15-18%.

It’s the holiday season when we often appreciate service rendered to us throughout the year and reward with tips. Swann recommended,"I'm sharing with you the new standard for holiday tipping. And that's what I refer to as the 20, 30 and 50% rule. And so what you'll do is look at the service and how they provide a service for you throughout the year, and you can tip 20% above for good service, 30% above for great service or 50% or more above your normal rate that you pay for excellent service. So, for example, if you normally pay 100 bucks to your hairdresser and we were pretty good throughout the year, give them a 20% tip or more if it's your babysitter or your gardener and you pay on a weekly basis and you say what, this person has been fantastic. I'm going to give them 100%. I'm going to give them a whole week's pay or a whole night's pay above what I normally do or 50% of what you do. So it really has to do with the amount that you normally pay and the level of service that they provided. So this way it really works for everyone's pocket, regardless of if you're on the East Coast or if you're here in California, along the coastline or out in the valley somewhere."

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Seventeen people die in this country every day waiting for an organ transplant. More than 103,000 people are on the national transplant waiting list. Most are waiting for kidney transplants – in fact almost 89,000. Nearly 16,000 kidney transplants have been performed so far this year.

Nineteen-year-old Brianna Herrera is one of them. She suffers from Alport Syndrome, which damages the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys. Brianna has been waiting for a kidney since last spring. On The Spark Monday, she talked about waiting for a kidney after being diagnosed two years ago,"I feel every single symptom. I felt nauseous. I wasn't able to wake up to go to school waiting for a kidney transplant. It's  frustrating, but it's so relieving to know that there's an answer, that there's something that I can rely on. It's completely terrifying, I will admit. But it's something that gives me hope."

The Spark focused on organ donation Monday and why there seems to be some confusion or reluctance when it comes to donating. Rick Hasz is the President and CEO of the Gift For Life program,"When we do polls and we ask people do you support organ and tissue donation? Resoundingly, overwhelmingly, 95% of the people that we talk to are very supportive of organ donation. But when we asked, did you then take that next step and speak about donation with your family or put that donor designation on your license, that's where you see that folks aren't as willing to do that. Some of that is just, I think, our culture and not always wanting to talk about death and what might happen after that. I don't think organ donation is any different than people putting together their wills or talking about how they want to deal with other aspects of their pre-planning. And I think we just have to be able to talk about it because so many people's lives depend upon that simple."

Gary Stever's son Dave died from  fall in July of 2022. His kidneys and pancreas were donated. Gary spoke to his five children about organ donation," Back when they were all turning teenagers and getting their licenses, I had the conversation with them about being an organ donor. I've always been one. And then I left the decision up to them. So Dave ultimately decided on his own to be an organ donor."

On The Spark, Gary called Dave's organ donate a gift,"To look back on years of amazing life with him and then suddenly life without him. The fact that we can now envision amazing people like Brianna, who will one day get to the top of that list, who we know are living and thriving in their own lives, it is something substantial and positive for my family to hold onto rather than just fill that void with sorrow."

Learn more about how to donate you organs here.

During each episode of The Spark, we hope to spark conversations with...and among...our audience. Follow us on Facebook to join the conversation.

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Highlights from this past week!

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Today on "The Spark," the innovative initiative Rent-For-Moms took center stage as they shared their mission to alleviate the financial burden on struggling mothers facing challenges in paying their rent. In a heartfelt conversation, DiDi Delgado from Rent-For-Moms discussed their ambitious goal of raising over $100,000 to provide crucial assistance to mothers in need.

The organization's spokesperson eloquently conveyed the urgency and importance of addressing the financial hardships that many mothers are grappling with, particularly those who might be at risk of eviction due to their inability to cover rent expenses. The initiative, rooted in empathy and solidarity, aims to create a supportive community rallying behind these mothers.

During the interview, Rent-For-Moms explained the various ways they are mobilizing resources, from fundraising events to partnerships with local businesses and influencers, to achieve their fundraising target. 

The Rent-For-Moms spokesperson also shared heartwarming stories of impact, illustrating how the funds raised would directly contribute to securing housing stability for struggling mothers and their families. As the conversation unfolded, it became clear that Rent-For-Moms represents a beacon of hope and support, embodying the spirit of community and shared responsibility in addressing the pressing challenges faced by mothers in financial distress.

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In this episode of 'The Spark,' Aaron Spangler delved into the vibrant traditions surrounding the Hanukkah holiday, offering listeners a glimpse into his family's cherished customs. Spangler passionately shared insights into the basics of Hanukkah, emphasizing the festival's significance and the warmth it brings to his household.

Detailing his family's unique traditions, Spangler spoke eloquently about the festive cuisine that graces their Hanukkah table. From golden latkes sizzling in the pan to sweet sufganiyot filling the air with sweetness, he painted a vivid picture of the culinary delights that accompany the celebrations.

Reflecting on the past and looking towards the future, Spangler discussed the traditions he continues with his own family today. He highlighted the importance of passing down cultural practices, ensuring that each generation contributes to the rich tapestry of their heritage. As candles flicker in menorahs and laughter resonates in his home, Spangler encapsulates the essence of Hanukkah — a time of joy, unity, and the enduring spirit of tradition."

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Eighty million tons of food is wasted in the United States each year. Over $444 billion in food is thrown away. Thirty-eight percent of all food in America is wasted. Twenty-two million pounds of food is wasted on college campuses.

Elizabethtown College in Lancaster County is the first in the country to use new technology that could possibly lead to less food being wasted.

It’s called KITRO and Etown's General Manager of Food Services Austin Benner explained how it works on The Spark Thursday,"KITRO's operation is based on real time data capture and collection. The technology involves a scale and a camera integrated into (where the waste is discarded). The scale and camera combination records the weight and visual data of discarded food items. This information is then processed by AI and categorized into what kind of waste it is allowing for a comprehensive understanding of what and how much food is being wasted."

Benner said the data is sent to KITRO's company in Switzerland for analysis.

KITRO went into service at Elizabethtown in October. Benner was asked if they've noticed any trends,"We've seen a couple of trends that have been interesting to say the least, as far as our busy service times, possibly students not having enough time to eat. We've seen trends in students that may be unsure of what we're offering on our main dish of the meal period for lunch. So they will get backups that are staples at our all you can eat facility, like hamburgers and wraps. And they may try a new menu item that we've put out. And if they like that new menu item, we see those staples ending up in our waist can."

Benner indicated KITRO should be able to provide data on the foods students are choose,"We're hoping with the more data collection that we receive and the more time that we're implementing these devices, we're able to determine exactly what menu items are popular with students, what menu items are not popular. And based off that information in the future, we will be able to adjust our menus and create menus based on that data."

Benner said right now the food item that is being thrown away most often is french fries.

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There are about 15,000 children in foster care and part of the child welfare system in Pennsylvania. Nearly half of those in foster care haven’t found a job four years after leaving the system. Young women in foster care are two and a half times more likely to become pregnant by the age of 19.

One county in Central Pennsylvania has a record number of foster children in the county’s child dependency system right now. Dauphin County has more than 360 kids, ranging in age from infant to 17, in the system.

Court Appointed Special Advocates or CASA has a mission to recruit, train, educate and supervise volunteers to work with these children and report back to the court to help a judge in placement.

On The Spark Thursday, Will Foster, the Executive Director of Dauphin County CASA was asked why there are so many children in foster care now,"It's the time of year, but also you have to think globally that there are so many things going on in our society today that are causing a lot of strife for a lot of families. I mean, the working poverty level is higher than it was once upon a time or lower than it was. Families are just kind of struggling. Mental health issues seem to be a lot more prevalent. And when you have those kind of kind of things happening, you tend to get other side effects, which would be what a lot of our kids are experiencing."

Kim St. Clair, CASA’s Program Supervisor, was also on the program,"Our job is to talk to everyone in this child's life. Caseworker, bio mom, foster parent, teachers, coaches, whoever is in this child's life and bring all the information together so that judges can see a full picture of what this child's life looks like. And that helps them make the decisions. So within these reports, we pretty much have a template. We include all of those folks they are heading and underneath what we have found out from all of them, the end family concerns, family strengths and any recommendations we feel we can make because of what we know about this child and furthering their future and what what they need to have in it."

The Dauphin County CASA has only 17 volunteers to work with the foster children and St. Clair said they could use more.

CASA says children they've worked with are more likely to find a safe, permanent home and to succeed in school, and are half as likely to re-enter the foster care system.

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Mitch Albom is the author of books that have sold more than 40 million copies, including eight New York Times number one best-sellers.

Several are considered classics like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Appearing on The Spark Thursday, Albom talked about his latest book -- a novel called The Little Liar,"The Little Liar is a novel set during World War II, narrated by the Voice of Truth. And the little liar is actually a boy who lives in a Greek city who, until he's 11, has never told a lie in his life. And there's a little girl in the town who loves him for it. And then when the Nazis invade, they discover his reputation and they decide to use him as a weapon. And they trick him into standing on the railroad tracks and telling all the people in his town that the trains are going to new homes and new jobs and that everything's going to be good and they should get on them. And he does this thinking, telling the truth and believing that if he does this, they'll let him go back to his family. And only on the very last day does he see his family and the little girl shoved into a boxcar and he finds out that these trains are actually going out, but in the concentration camp and he realizes that the first lie that he's ever told in life is actually going to be the worst lie he's ever going to tell. And the book follows him and the little girl and the family for the next 40 years and shows the consequences of that single lie on that single day and how it affected him, the girl, the family, even the Nazi who tricked him. It ultimately becomes a story about forgiveness and hope against that backdrop. But has the question of the truth and how precious the truth is and what happens when we pervert it."

When asked whether the timing of the book's release was influenced by the misinformation and disinformation we're subjected to everyday, Albom responded,"I can't take any credit for the fact that it comes out during a time when suddenly anti-Semitism and echoes of the past are prevalent. Because I started a couple of years ago, no one would have known that. But but I did know that we live in a time where people are choosing their own truth and, they listen to one cable TV channel and don't listen to any of the others, or they read one paper, they follow one through social media thing. And we live in a time where at that famous expression goes a lie told once is easily seen as a lie, but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth. And, we see how quickly on the Internet and in social media and Twitter and the like, how a single lie can be shot across the world before truth gets its pants on. And and so I thought this is absolutely a time for a book narrated by the Voice of Truth that talks about -- look at what you're doing to me. Look at how you're ruining me and destroying me."

Beginning with his book Tuesdays With Morrie, Albom has been viewed as one of the world's iconic writers. Here's what he said about his writing career,"I've had a very fortunate career and it's been very varied. And I meet people who say, Oh, I just knew you from ESPN, I didn't even know you wrote books. And these other people say, I only know you from your books. I didn't even know you covered sports. And so I've had a lot of different lives, but I've been very blessed to meet some very influential people like Morrie Schwartz, who was the story of Tuesdays with Morrie. And I think that that was kind of a turning point in my life when I was able to sit with a man who was dying from Lou Gehrig's disease and hear what was important in life and what wasn't once he was going to die. And I never forgot those lessons that I wrote. I wrote that book not to become a bestseller. I wrote it to help pay his medical bills and to have something personal for me to remember. And the fact that it became a big bestseller was sort of accidental. But it also taught me that those themes are really important to people, and I've been writing books that sort of touch on them ever since. And the fact that they find a wide audience is a blessing. But, I don't think it's me. I think it's the themes that I write about. And, that's why people embrace the work."

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