The Spark

Artificial Sweeteners are chemicals used to replace table sugar.  There’s been an ongoing debate on whether artificial sweeteners are healthier than sugar. UPMC Dietician Sarah Beaty says artificial sweeteners doesn’t really have calories or they have a small amount of them.

“Artificial sugars can help to sweeten foods without the extra calories. So, if someone's trying to lose weight or if someone's trying to like diabetics kind of watch those added sugars, they can be a good substitute. And some people like the taste of them better too. So, it's not that one's better than the other. It's more about like what the reason why they'd be using them for in like.”

Artificial sweeteners are even regulated by the FDA, and according to Beaty, there’s not many health concerns when it comes to sugar substitutes.

“I think like that's something that if people get anything from this conversation, is that knowing that these are the most, like extensively researched. Like products worldwide, they get regulated by the FDA, they get looked at from like the World Health Organization, the Food Agriculture Organization. So, they're extensively researched, and they need to undergo a lot of scrutiny in order to be approved by the FDA.”

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Author Tory Gates has written a new fiction novel called How the story ends. The inspiration of the book was born out of a trip he’s taken to Chambersburg about 6-7 years ago.

“I was driving down I-81 to get there, I was looking at the fields, looking at the hills and that kind of thing. And I'm from Vermont originally, and there's certain parallels that Vermont and Pennsylvania have that make you feel kind of home.”

The Main character Jhana is an NPR reporter and is loosely based on Gate’s experience in the media field and meeting people along his journey.

“I think there is always a bit of an element of me. And for Jhana, she is a person who has tried to be the different one, not necessarily in an outrageous way, but she is the person that she found people turn to because she walked her own path, and she was fortunate enough to have parents that were there going to let the kid run, let her figure out for herself. And as she's done that, she realizes that she has to go some other place other than this semi-idyllic hometown to find her life.”

Gates hopes that readers see themselves in the characters in ‘How the story ends.

“Everyone has a story, and I hope that people get to like them. They get to identify with them and maybe see themselves. And the other thing too, is no matter what you put the characters through, and I put my characters through an awful lot because that's just how that is. I look at it as maybe you see something in yourself, and if you see something in yourself that maybe you're wondering about and you see what these people go through, it's like, I want these people to be as real as possible. You can be that person. You are that person. Where do you go from here? What do you want to do next? And that's important. There's no such thing as can't. There's no such thing as cannot. It's. It is not what you can't. It is what you can and what you will. And Jonah was a great example of I. I can and I will.”

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Penn State College of Medicine and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation teamed up to launch a new healthcare system in a grab and go format. The ‘Health to Go’ vending machine provides 24/7 access to anyone in need.

The vending machine is located outside the entrance of the emergency department at UPMC Harrisburg. Dr. Alice Zang, Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine says they saw the need for the vending machine during the Covid epidemic.

“When we're seeing a lot of fatal overdoses happening, a lot of services were closed because of them. And so, we had thought of an idea to try to have a way to dispense needed, harm reduction items and naloxone to try to save lives within the context of the pandemic. And then from there kind of grew to try to include other health items and other things that the community might need. And so now we have a variety of different items in the vending machine besides naloxone and harm reduction items, “said Dr. Zang.

Items inside the vending machine includes Opioid overdose reversal kits, Xylazine and fentanyl test strips, Medication Disposal bags, male and female condoms, pregnancy tests, menstrual kits, would care kits, personal care items, and HIV and sexually transmitted disease self-test kits.

Dr. Anthony Guarracino Chair of Emergency Medicine at UPMC Harrisburg says many patients don’t have transportation or financial means to receive healthcare and are often negatively affected by various determinants of health. This location provides those services in a convenient location those patients may not otherwise be able to access.

“You don't need an appointment. You don't need transportation. It's right there in the community. And it allows the patient a sense of independence, because they can now take care of some of some minor health needs, if you will, all on their own. It provides hygiene kits and wound care kits in addition to naloxone. It includes fentanyl test strips for those that are using heroin and other substances so they can make sure that they're not getting, you know, adulterants or stuff way more potent than what they're used to. And so, it provides the community, the services, you know, it meets the community where they are, “said Dr. Gurracino.

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Coming up on The Spark Weekly:

It was July 13 when shots rang out during a rally in Butler County featuring republican candidate Donald Trump. One person was killed, and three others were injured including Trump. Numerous investigations uncovered gaps in security leading to gunfire. Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA, Tracy Leturgy and Irina Bucur of The Butler Eagle reported extensively on the Trump assassination attempt. They all joined host Asia Tabb on The Spark for the Journalist roundtable.

Also on the program:

According to the Pennsylvania Tree Growers Association, Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for the number of Christmas tree farms. There are more than 1,400 Christmas trees in Pennsylvania.

The winter holidays are months away, but for the tree farmers, it’s a year long process. Gerrit Strathmeyer Jr, President of the PA Christmas Tree Association says tree farms are a large investment.

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WITF and Tim Lambert received some good news last week. Tim’s story about his father being one of the last living witnesses to a unique atomic test in the 1950’s was honored with a national Edward R. Murrow Award for best use of sound.

Director of Journalism Scott Blanchard who was Tim’s editor for the project sat down with Asia Tabb to talk about the impact of this story.

“The Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious in the industry. The Radio Television News Directors Association presents Murrow Awards for first in 14 regions across the US. Broken down by the size of the market a station serves, and then the regional honorees are judged, and one story is recognized as the best among all regions in its market size. As the organization says, stories must uphold the RTDNA Code of ethics, demonstrate technical expertise, and exemplify the importance and impact of journalism as a service to the community, so they honor the dedication and excellence that broadcaster Edward R Murrow was known for. This is the seventh time that Tim has received a national Murrow, and the 18th time for WITF since 2007. So, it's a big deal to be honored on a regional level. And in fact, Tim Story received three regional awards for sound digital presentation and for Feature Story. And I want to take a minute to note that the, did digital producer Jeremy Long, graphic designer Tom Downing, and videographer Doug Watson all played key roles in the project.”

The story called “A Pennsylvania man saw the true power of Atomic Annie,” is about Tim’s father, who was in the Army, witnessing a nuclear test in the Nevada desert in 1953.

“It was the only time that a tactical nuclear device was fired from a cannon. So it was a massive logistical undertaking. And a lot of that comes through in Tim's story. And in May 1953, when that test took place, the Korean War was on going, and North Korea and Russia were paying really close attention to what the U.S was doing. So, as you'll hear, the historian that Tim talked to, you say the U.S. was very much sending a message to those adversaries with this test. So this is a fascinating story about Tom Lambert's personal experience amid the bigger picture. Of this, event that had such international impact. And it's also a story that lives in American cultural history, the whole atomic age.”

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February 2, 2001, is a day many won’t forget in York County. Norinia Bentzel was the Principal of the North Hopewell-Winterstown Elementary School when she was attacked twice by a man with a machete.

Bentzel noticed someone unfamiliar trying to get in the school around 11:23 a.m. The intruder, William Stankewicz snuck in behind a parent dropping her child off for school.

“To me, he just looked like a grandfather coming in. So that's kind of how I got started. In the event I, I did go looking for him then just to see if I can help him. And I looked in the lobby when I went out there heading toward the cafeteria. I couldn't see him anywhere. I took a few more steps. I thought, well, he must know where he's going. Took a few more steps and again there was some voice that came into my head, and I said, stop, turn around. And so, I did. I didn't know what was going on as far as those messages were in my brain. But I stopped, turned around, and he was standing outside of our kindergarten classroom just beyond the office area where I had come out.”

When Bentzel found Stankewicz, he looked at her and then pulled out the machete. She yelled for the staff to call 911 as he was pushing her down the hallways.

“He came in on me for the second time and started attacking me again. And every time he was attacking me, it was basically he was aiming for my head. So, my hands were criss crossed above my head to protect my head because I didn't have anything else to protect me.”

11 students and two other adults were hurt in the machete attack.

“I went through six hours of surgery, two teams of doctors, one on each hand and left arm. I was there for five days, and in those five days, I was very upset, and I cried a lot. Most people thought I was upset about my injuries, and that was not the case. Or possibly just because of the event. And I knew what happened and how horrific it was. And that wasn't the case either. I cried because I didn't think I could ever go back to my school. I thought that it was too painful to ever go back as the principal there.”

Nearly 20 years later, Bentzel has written a memoir, “Glorious Sadness – Faith – Love – Hope – Trumps School Attack”.

“My basic reason for writing this was that I had learned so much in these 23 years, since 2001, when this happened, 23 years has gone by and I have learned so much about healing and trauma, perspective, loss, tragedy, crisis. I'm an educator, so I determined that it was necessary for me to write down what I knew in hopes of benefiting others. Because as we grow in our world, it doesn't seem to be getting any better. School attacks continue to happen and very innocent people continue to be killed or hurt. And somehow, someway, I'm hoping that we can stop some of this anyway, get to a better place.”

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West & Ward a musical duo is working to incorporate advocating for mental health through their music. Their priority is galvanizing a local community into action that will change how mental health is discussed, and hopefully change how the mental health care system works here and beyond. West & Ward has recently dropped an EP, which includes “Battlefield” and “How Long”, songs that examine the feelings a person might have on their mental health journey. Elijah Cross and Macy Leonard of West & Ward sat down with The Spark Host Asia Tabb to talk about how their music is influencing change.

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It was July 13 when shots rang out during a rally in Butler County featuring republican candidate Donald Trump. One person was killed, and three others were injured including Trump. Numerous investigations uncovered gaps in security leading to gunfire. Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA, Tracy Leturgy and Irina Bucur of The Butler Eagle reported extensively on the Trump assassination attempt. They all joined host Asia Tabb on The Spark for the Journalist roundtable.

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The Little League World Series tournament is held from July 27 through August 25. Approximately 935 kids will participate in the tournament.

Jason Fink, President and CEO of the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau says the first world series took place in Williamsport in 1947.

“This year is the 77th Little League World Series.”

With this event being a true global event that is broadcasted on major networks like ABC and ESPN, it brings a lot of business to the South Williamsport area.

“This is something that, we see thousands, some were estimated in the 70 to 75,000 unique visitors. That will come here, over those 11 days. Some will come in, for a day or two. Others will stay, you know, upwards to a week. Not a lot. Stay for the entire 11 days. That's, challenge for a lot of people, to be able to make it that long. But, we do have those who do make this the annual trip for them, just because they, they want to do it or it's that bucket list item that they fully want to experience the, the whole, you know, range of, of games and other programing that goes in and around, the annual series and, and activities.”

In addition to watching the tournaments in South Williamsport, spectators can check out the Little League Museum.

“It's a great complex, to be able to take and really see, the history of Little League baseball, but also some notable people who have played Little League over the years, the opportunity to to go through the museum, to be able to, to get a better understanding of, you know, what, what it's all about. You know, it's not just about playing baseball. It's about other things that are involved and being able to be part of a team, some leadership qualities that are involved there. And so from that aspect of it, it's a great opportunity to do that. There's also some fun activities that they have there. You know, you have the opportunity to feel what it's like to be able to catch a baseball at a certain level as a catcher. So there's some, some good interactive activities that they have there. During the World Series, it's open, pretty much throughout the whole, time. So you'll be able to come to the complex. It's actually on, the complex where the, the, two stadiums are, where they play the games. So folks will be able to take and not only come to the games, but then they can go up the hill, to be able to see, the museum as well.”

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An EF1 tornado hit a Dauphin County neighborhood on Friday August 9. The National Weather Service says the winds were up to 110 miles an hour in the Bellevue Park Neighborhood.

Bellevue Park is located within the city limits of the City of Harrisburg. Dennis Kauffman, President of the Bellevue Park Association Board says his dog alarmed him of the severe weather.

“My dog's afraid of thunder. So, he woke me up and we went down to the basement. So, you can't see or hear it as well. So, I didn't even know about it till I started receiving emails from my neighbors, “said Kauffman.

Dan Diebler, Architectural historian, was in bed when he heard the weather.

“I heard this incredible noise, which, I just identified as wind, which was an unusual sound, but I didn't think anything other than that. And I know I got up and sort of looked out the window and suddenly saw. All this tree debris in my yard just everywhere. It was the most I think I've ever seen, “said Diebler.

Kauffman spoke with other neighbors in the Bellevue Park community where he learned of the damage done to their properties.

“I just went out and looked around and was stunned. By all the, visible tree damage that. Fortunately. Fortunately, our house was not damaged in any way. Except with a gutter was dented by a falling limb, but that's pretty minor. But. You. I was just when you looked out over the landscape, there were all these our neighbors who have a very open yard. Their yard was covered with huge trees that had fallen around them. And again, they were not. Your house was not hit. Their yard was covered. Debris. And the roads were filled with debris that the city had already started clearing, “said Kauffman.

The neighborhood association is currently working with the City of Harrisburg to clean up the community.

“The city has been very helpful. They've been very responsive to helping us get our, neighborhood cleaned up. People have been able to just take the phone lines and such to the curb, and they come by and pick them up. They've been helping us with our reservations, cleaning up the debris from there. The fire company was very helpful as well, “said Kauffman.

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