The Spark

Johlene “Spooky” Riley has been managing the Gettysburg Ghost Tours for over 15 years. She has always been fascinated by ghosts and was drawn to the job description. She went from being the premier tour guide to the manager of operations.

“I have always had an interest in things I didn't. I didn't quite understand or couldn't explain.”

The Gettysburg Ghost Tours has a connection to Gettysburg and the Civil War. There’s a few Civil war soldiers that can be sensed on the tours.

“Well, you're not going to have the same experience in any place that they're all different, obviously, due to the different landmarks that you're taking the guests to, the different types of spirits. You might go to a town that didn't have a civil war impact. So, you're going to get altogether different kind of activity.”

The ghost’s tours are endorsed by the Gettysburg Paranormal Association. It hosts professional run ghost hunts at private haunted locations.

“We have about 15 indoor and outdoor exclusive locations now that we can take our guests where they don't have to be outside with public investigations, where you don't know how many people are going to be out there or the weather conditions or the intent of the people out there as well. So, we provide them with ghost hunting equipment. We teach them how to use it, and we're pretty proud about it. We're very proud of our organization and we're having a membership.”

The Gettysburg Ghost tours cannot ensure that you will see a ghost while on tour, however they say you have a good chance of a ghostly encounter or photo along the routes.

“The ghosts, I always say, are not on their payroll, so we don't know what they're going to do. And unlike people, because they were people at one point and they're just now in spirit form. They're drawn to some people more over than others. And that's just a fact. So, and sometimes they're grumpy just like people are, or they may just not they just may not be active at one particular location at that particular time. It comes down to being at the right place at the right time more than anything else.”

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The Center for Rural Pennsylvania has been examining substance abuse and the opioid crisis for 10 years, holding a total of 20 public hearings. Dr. Kyle C. Kopko, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania says in rural areas, there’s less infrastructure, less healthcare providers, and transportation issues.

“We've seen that rural Pennsylvania for a period of time actually had higher overdose rates once you standardize for populations relative to urban areas. Now, it's hard to pinpoint why that is, but our best hunch is due to those access types of issues having fewer providers, it's harder to get to treatment centers. There are just fewer doctors, fewer nurses, and health care professionals in general in our rural communities versus our urban communities. So, we have to be really mindful of that, “said Kopko.

The last public hearing was at Kutztown University in Berks County. Senator Gene Yaw, Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania says there’s a lot of misconceptions about substance abuse disorder.

“And I think in simple terms, we need to make the point that a person that becomes addicted to heroin or opioids, that's not a moral short. I mean, for that person, as he said, it changes your body makeup. And those drugs do. For some people, it's just like diabetes. I mean, some of us processed sugar with no problem. Others don't. And you need to take medication in order to survive every day.”

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The 51st edition of Historic Harrisburg Association’s Candlelight House Tour will be presented on Sunday, December 8. The tour includes more than 17 properties in Bellevue Park, Breeze Hill, and many historic homes in the Capitol View District. David Morrison, Executive Director of the Historic Harrisburg Association, says research plays a huge role about the stories of the historic homes.

“Very often we've got we've got a library at historic Harrisburg and a lot of books that the talk about what these houses were. We have old city directories which cross-reference the prior owners and so forth. People can research who builds it and when they build it and when it changed hands, that kind of thing, or the many other ways that you can research that you can research the architecture. Who was the architect that designed this, this particular house or this group of houses or whatever? A lot of that information does exist. And we love to help people find it.”

Each year, visitors have a chance to see different historic homes on the tour. The only two that is the same each year is the Governors residence and the John Harris Simon Cameron Mansion.

“Since 1980, the governor's residence has been on every year. And every first family has agreed that they would participate with our house tours and have their open house concurrent to that. So, it's a great way that they collaborate with us. But all the other properties are different every year, and it's a combination of, as I described, big houses, little houses, apartments in some cases. This year we must have two historic churches and occasionally there'll be a business in a historic building. That’s kind of interesting. So, you never know what you're going to see, but it's always a different array of great ideas of here's what's happening in the world of historic preservation.”

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The Christmas show will include 78 performances from November 5 through December 30. Brandon Martin, President and CEO of the American Music Theatre says the show is written, built, and produced entirely in house with a team of artists and creatives.

“This is a special show, and I think they all are, quite honestly. But we're so excited for this one. You know, each year is very different and is kind of redesigned and rebuilt and created from the ground up. This year is really kind of a nod to the nostalgia of Christmas and a lot of the traditions that so many families hold dear. It takes place in a town square, which is just cynically stunning with a lot of hustle and bustle, some last-minute shopping, some festivities, tree lighting transitions into a grand cathedral for some of the sacred aspects of our show. Of course, there's quite a bit of merriment with some elves and Santa as well for the for the kids of all ages, church choir. But a real kind of family. And community vibe around this one that focuses a lot on that tradition.”

The show features 55 singers, dancers, musicians, and youth performances from across the country. Auditions occur throughout the year with on-site rehearsals that begins as early as September.

“In fact, we've been working in earnest on this particular show since January of this year. So, yeah, and even a little bit before then really in terms of the design aspects of it. Casting begins typically in the spring with a cast finalized and selected going into the summer. Rehearsals begin in September. And yes, we've been well underway for the past month or so with our cast all here in Lancaster rehearsing together. And yeah, we're coming up on it. We've got about a week to go.”

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The Last installment in the NPR podcast series Embedded follows the case of Sergeant Joshua Abate, an active-duty Marine who joined the mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2001.

NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman and producer Lauren Hodges were both at the capitol reporting on the attack.

Bowman says the interest in this interview came out of a news report that said three active-duty marines were convicted of misdemeanor charges for going into the Pentagon on January 6.

“They got 279 hours of community service, one hour for every Marine killed in the Civil War. And when I was reading the story like that is really interesting. So, I reached out to one of the lawyers to talk with him. His name is Dave Daschle. He is a lawyer in Warrenton, Virginia. And he was representing Sergeant Joshua Abate and talked with him. And then he set us up with his client.”

Out of the three active-duty marines, only Abate spoke with Bowman and Hodges. Bowman says the only reason Abate says he agreed to speak, was because of his newborn daughter.

“He said, I don't want her, you know, 15 years from now to Google my name and all of a sudden this pops up. But, you know, I was convicted of a misdemeanor on January 6th. I was part of this mob. So, he said, “I want to tell my side of the story. And that's what we got from him.”

The latest in the Embedded series is available on the NPR App or wherever you get your podcasts.

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According to CeaseFire PA, 1,600 Pennsylvanians lose their lives to gun violence each year. Adam Garber is the Executive Director of CeaseFire PA and has been leading the organization since 2020 .

“We believe that every Pennsylvanian should be able to live free from gun violence where they feel and they are safe, whether they're going to school, their grocery shopping, their walking around their neighborhood or in their in their own home. And I really came to the word because I live in South Philadelphia with my family and was watching gun violence devastate my community and neighborhood and really not just the loss of life, which is so what's so significant, but how it changed the character of people interacting because of that fear. And so I've spent a long time thinking about how do we build movements in power to address social problems. And I thought this was a really exciting opportunity, as sad as it is, to make sure that we don't have to live this way anymore, “Said Garber.

Dr. Shawn Safford is a UPMC pediatric surgeon. He also the President of the American Trauma Society Pennsylvania Division, and on the committee for the PA health professionals to end gun violence. Safford says gun violence is the number one killer of children.

“That, to me means we need to do something as a group. That's what got me involved and that's what's made me passionate, is the day-to-day process that you take care of a family, that when the child comes in who's been shot and you look to that mom to have to tell her, I'm sorry, your child's dead. And it's this is a totally preventable disease. It's a totally preventable problem. This doesn't have to happen. And if we as a group together can come together to make it stop and all together to come up with common sense ideas of mitigating these problems, we can stop children from being killed. I don't have to have that conversation again. I never want to have that conversation again, “said Safford.

Reverend Martha Harris, Priest in Charge at Saint Luke Episcopal Church works with other faith leaders to advocate an end to gun violence.

“My whole time as an ordained priest has been framed by this collective sin of gun violence, that's a uniquely American problem. And it's particularly prevalent in Pennsylvania where people own more guns than we have people in the state. Guns don't solve problems. Guns cause problems. Early childhood mortality. Teenage suicide is often on the rise. It's a hugely problematic area. And as faith leaders, we approach this as a moral issue, “said Harris.

Through partnership, Safford, Harris, and Garber says is one of the first steps to advocating an end to gun violence.

“I come at it from a standpoint of taking care of the families and taking care of the actual medical capabilities. Reverend Harris comes out from the spiritual part, all of these requiring healing across this across the spectrum of taking care of these children and their families. And again, I'm speaking specifically to children, of course, and but just the actual medical care. And then, of course, Adam helps us from the education and advocacy and getting changes at the government level in order for us to make an improved outcome from all of this. It has to be exactly this. It has to be people across a level, across specialties and their focus. I think Sean said it exactly right. And the only thing I'd add is I think it's reflective of where Pennsylvanians are. This is what Pennsylvanians want, despite the politics and the hard parts of the policy piece. Poll after poll will tell you 80% of Pennsylvanians, I was talking to 100 the other day, I have a veteran on my staff, or I have a hunter on my staff. I have a faith leader on my board and a Republican on my board. Our organizations are individuals, our communities are all sick of this crisis that is damaging and taking away our loved ones and our friends. And that's where our elected officials are really failing because they some of them are refusing to come together the way Pennsylvanians want and the way this call it, these coalitions are to address it, “said Safford.

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Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement advocating for stronger gun laws. Gina Pelusi is a volunteer with the Pennsylvania Chapter. She lost her mother to gun violence ten years ago.

“It was a cold Thursday morning, and she answered a knock at the door in a manner that she did not know. When she opened the door, she just shot her. In broad daylight. And they rushed my mom to the hospital. They were not able to save her.”

Pelusi was shocked, angry, and heartbroken by the passing of her mother. Later, she decided to turn her pain into advocacy for stronger gun laws.

“I always knew that I wanted to do something with gun safety advocacy. I just didn't really know what and how. And it actually was after the election when Donald Trump was elected, the first time that I finally went and joined Moms Demand Action and went to a meeting. I had my first child and thinking about my mom, thinking about my son, eventually going off to school one day and all of those things. I was like, I need to find a way to use my voice and share my story and try and have this tragedy mean something.”

Moms Demand Action also advocates for updated background checks and responsible gun storage. The organization also meets with lawmakers and other organizations to advocate for gun safety.

“it's just it's so important. And I think secure storage shouldn't be something that is controversial. That shouldn't be a hard thing for us to talk about. I think most responsible gun owners that I know and then I've ever had a conversation with agree with that. So it's like sometimes I think we get to this place where everything feels so polarizing. This is not polarizing. This is just common sense. It is the gun owners responsibility to secure their firearm, period.”

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

Flag football and wrestling are the newest sanctioned girls’ sports in Pennsylvania. According to Lyndsay Barna, the Assistant Executive Director of the PA Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) says both sports passed with flying colors with support from the PIAA board.

Also, on the program.

Jack Crowley, President of the Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster, recently marked World Homeless Day, by spending 24 hours outdoors, in support of those who are unsheltered. Crowley discusses the reasons behind his demonstration, and the issue of homelessness in general, especially as the weather begins to turn colder. We’ll also be joined by member of the Water Street Board Rick Rutter, who himself was once homeless.  

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Katie Meyer and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA joined The Spark's journalist roundtable for a segment on Pennsylvania House and Senate Elections. Democrats' hold one seat margin in the House, while Republicans control the Senate by six seats.

"Right now, the Senate is controlled by Republicans and the House is controlled by Democrats by just one vote. So, I mean, both of them are in play. Republicans have held the Senate for a very long time. So that is, I think, less likely. But the House could really go either way. And there are a number of races that Stephen in particular has been sort of laser focused on as the most important ones that could flip control. So it's very important. Right now, Pennsylvania's the only divided legislature in the country, I think, still. And we have a Democratic governor. So that makes it difficult for them to really do anything. And so this is going to be it's going to have a huge impact on Pennsylvanians, "Said Meyer.

Caruso shared which districts are competitive in this years senate elections.

"Democrats have been minority for a while, almost minus a small time in the 90s, basically since the 80s that they had they had a literally like a six month majority or so. So Republicans have controlled the chamber. And to flip it where Democrats have to win in Erie, a seat in Allegheny and a seat in central Pennsylvania and around Harrisburg. And they'd also have to hold one seat in Allegheny County, and that would just tie the chamber. That would basically give them a majority without getting in the legislative walker. But because of that, like, those are the main races. And I think it's just a hard path for Democrats to try and tie the chamber and get some control, "said Caruso.

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Jack Crowley, President of the Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster. Just a few weeks ago, Crowley marked World Homeless Day by spending 24 hours outside on a bench in support of those who are currently unhoused.

“The idea is not to imitate or pretend that we're experiencing what our friends who are unhoused actually are going through, “said Crowley.

The demonstration created an opportunity for different organizations to come together and brainstorm how they could better serve the homeless population. Crowley livestreamed his entire experience.

“We had conversations the whole 24 hours. I got like a four-hour window in the middle of the night where it was quiet. I didn't really sleep because it was cold out and I was on an uncomfortable bench. But we had tons of conversations with leaders from across the community, “said Crowley.

Crowley gained some new perspective when he camped out all night. He says the experience was way more than just sleeping in the cold. During his demonstration, a former visitor at the mission visited him. Through conversation, Crowley learned a new meaning to empathy.

“One of the guests who visited me on the bench is a gentleman named David who is homeless. He's staying with us right now at Water Street. And he's doing well. But he actually went through a cycle where he had been with us for three months and then he left and he was back on the street. And one of the things he combated, we were joking about my experience. So is this the morning after I'd been on the bench for 18 hours and I was sore, and I was tired, and he was he was teasing me about that. And I said, David, I know this doesn't compare to what you experienced during those two months. And he's like, Yeah, you're right. And he said, the biggest thing for him was that within 24 hours of leaving Water Street and being back on the street, sleeping on the sidewalks, he said, I knew that I was either invisible or inhuman to every person I encountered that people didn't even want to see me talk about walking down the sidewalk and people not like. Kind of ignoring him, not moving out of his way, even though he had a whole bunch of stuff he was carrying, just kind of pretending he wasn't even there. And then others who looked at him but looked at him with disgust and looked at him with condescension. And he's like, within 24 hours of leaving Water Street, I knew I was either invisible or inhuman. And the only thing that kind of carried him through those two months was he knew that he could come back to Water Street and that people would love him and that he had a church that he went to every Sunday, “said Crowley.

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