The Spark

F&M’s Center for Public Opinion Research has conducted a random-sample survey of 900 Lancaster County Residents. Typically, about 60 attend the two-day forum. Those who attend are briefed about topics and issues they are asked to deliberate about. On day 1, attendees are asked to discuss topics and potential solutions to challenges. On Day 2, they deliberate and identify solutions and recommendations in small groups while moderated.

Professor Stephen K Medvic and Berwood Yost, the Director for Opinion Research at Franklin and Marshall College joined the Spark to discuss their recent Reforming Democracy Forum that took place in Lancaster.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Conversation and Natural Resources oversees 124 parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn, and Planning Chief in the Resource Management and Planning Division of DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks Rachel Eckman made an appearance on the Spark with host Asia Tabb to chat about what new parks are in the works, and what’s new to come to the PA DCNR. Listen to the podcast above to hear more about plans for the rest of the season.

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Lesa Brackbill is a wife, mother, advocate, and author raising awareness about Krabbe Disease.

Her daughter Victoria was born in July 2014 and began exhibiting symptoms of Krabbe Disease in January 2015.

“She was perfectly healthy, so we thought. And it wasn't until she was five months old that everything changed. She became a completely different baby. It was it was kind of like a light bulb or a light switch had been flipped. She had stopped smiling, talking, laughing, playing, you name it. And we were like, first time parents. Is this, okay? Like, I don't think so. So, we began to pursue answers, but we never, ever would have dreamed that we would receive a diagnosis like Krabbe disease, which is fatal. And so, on February 13th, we were told that our six-month-old daughter was dying.”

Lesa soon found there was no cure for Krabbe, and treatment could’ve began at birth. However, Victoria was not screened for Krabbe when she was born.

“When I think back to diagnosis Day, I think about how when we were pleading with the neurologist for something that we could do because we were like, it's 2015, what do you mean? Our daughter's dying and there's nothing you can do. And she said, if they had caught it at birth, they could have treated it.”

Victora passed away on March 27, 2016. In her honor, Lesa has devoted her time to advocating for newborn screening of Krabbe, and raising awareness of Krabbe Disease. She’s even strengthened the Newborn Screening Program through Act 133 that was signed into law in Pennsylvania in 2020.

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

The SS United States Conversancy has issued a $500,000 emergency fundraiser to rehome America’s flagship. The SS United States has been docked at Pier 82 in Philadelphia since 1996.

“SS United States or America’s flagship is the nation’s only remaining great ocean liner. She smashed the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage in 1952, and she is an extraordinary symbol of American achievement and excellence and technological innovation. And there’s nothing like her left anywhere. And we are working so hard to save her, “said SS United States Conservancy President Susan Gibbs.

The pandemic babies who were toddlers, and preschoolers are now school aged showing signs of learning loss, speech delays, behavioral problems and more. Ms. Denean Bressi serves as the Director of Special Education and Student Services at the Susquenita School District and came and spoke to us about the affect the pandemic had on these young children.

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The Cumberland County Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASA) is in dire need of volunteers to work with abused and/or neglected children involved in the child warehouse court system.

CASA Outreach Coordinator Virginia Koser, and CASA Volunteer Art McNulty, made an appearance on The Spark to talk about why people should volunteer.

"I've been assigned two kids. One's a little bit on the older side, so it's required less of my involvement. But it has been an absolute pleasure to work with these kids. And to be a big part of their life. The older one continues to call me virtually daily for some advice. And the other one I get a chance to see and speak with every week. So it's it's been a pleasure. I feel like I'm giving back to the community. I'm helping some kids who really need some help. And just enjoying my time with them, "said McNulty.

CASA is hosting two virtual informational sessions on Monday, July 15, Noon-1p.m. and 6-7 p.m. To attend a virtual session, email your name and time you can attend at [email protected].

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Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, Kelly Clarkson, and Tracy Morgan have all tried the Ozempic drug for weight loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic in 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as an effective weight loss tool.

The hype surrounding the injectable drug has led to an increase in sales and shortages. But is Ozempic safe for those struggling with weight loss? Dr. Taraneh Soleymani, the Director of Obesity Medicine at Penn State Health Medical Group, and Dr. Franceschelli Hosterman, the Physician of Clinical Nutrition and Bariatric Medicine at Geisinger Health both joined the Spark to weigh in on the Ozempic craze.

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The Dauphin County’s Drug and Alcohol Services is hosting its first annual ‘Youth Summer Sports Fest’.

It began in June, and will continue every Wednesday until August 14 from 12 p.m.-2 p.m.

Basketball, soccer, volleyball, and other outdoor activities will be held at local parks around Harrisburg giving young people a positive alternative activity to take part in while school is out.

“So, with prevention, you know, what we try to do is provide as many alternatives to risky behaviors, basically. So, we know that kids, you know, when they don’t have much to do or they have a lot of downtime, they might be more inclined to participate in something that might not be the healthiest choice for them. So instead, if we can provide different activities and experiences for kids to get together to connect with their peers, and to basically fill their time with something other than something dangerous, then that is why we’re trying to do this, “said Lauren Krebs, Prevention Program supervisor at the Dauphin County Drug and Alcohol Services.

The games will be held at these times and locations:

• July 17 Volleyball at City Island (Skyline)—noon to 2 pm

• July 24 Soccer at City Island Skyline Soccer Complex—noon to 2 pm

• July 31 Basketball at 7th and Radnor—noon to 2 pm

• August 7 Basketball at 7th and Radnor—noon to 2 pm

• August 14 Basketball at 7th and Radnor –noon to 2 pm

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The pandemic babies who were toddlers, and preschoolers are now school aged showing signs of learning loss, speech delays, behavioral problems and more. Ms. Denean Bressi serves as the Director of Special Education and Student Services at the Susquenita School District.

Bressi expressed the students were affected in many ways depending on age level. The students that were in kindergarten and preschool growth were stifled a little more than the older students.

“It had a lot of impact. From the perspective of not only the students that were in school and then left, but the ones who never begun school. First of all, a lot of times the kids, we find that kids after the pandemic weren’t seeking out their peers to play with. They were much more isolated. They didn’t have functioning skills. They weren’t able to take turns.”

According to Bressi, the early years are critical for brain development. The kids who started school since covid, on average are two years behind grade level.

“When you have a child that is in third grade who very well may have lost a year, year and a half of education because of the pandemic, they’re still being graded or tested or expected to achieve at that third-grade level, even though they miss those skills.”

However, because their brains are developing at a rapid rate, there’s still time for those pandemic babies to catch up.

“Kids are resilient. The brain is resilient. There’s so much growth that occurs in these time frames that yes, they can. The key is to catch it early, to give them those remediations early. And they can make it up. We’re beginning to see that. But it’s a slow process.”

Listen to the podcast to hear more of the conversation.

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The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES)’s 2023/2024 Watershed Report Card found the Chesapeake Bay has improved its health score for the first time in 20 years.

According to the report card, the Chesapeake Bay received a C+. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation Vice President for Environmental Protection and Restoration Alison Prost stopped by The Spark to share her thoughts on the progress.

“Pennsylvania was a standout. The Susquehanna River basin has improved its grade and is one of the highest grades. The other one that’s a standout is the lower portion of the bay. Where the bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, because there’s a lot of mixing and different water sources coming in that lower portion.”

The Chesapeake Bay watershed includes Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The health is a reflection of the multistate watershed.

“You know someone said yesterday and I agree with that sentiment that, water knows no political boundaries. It also doesn’t know any geographical boundaries. Like we do have to work together because the water that comes in Pennsylvania does impact someone that lives in Virginia and Virginia waters impact Maryland and DC. You know, we kind of have to lean into the connectedness. I don’t think it probably helps us to point the fingers and try to take a divided approach to cleaning up, because it’s a natural system. It’s all connected.”

In the past Pennsylvania has faced harsh feedback for not doing enough to prevent pollution from flowing into the bay. In the 2023/2024 UMES report, Pennsylvania’s efforts were highlighted to block pollution from entering state waterways. Prost commented on what that says about Pennsylvania efforts.

“I think Pennsylvania has learned in. I think they have leveraged the influx of federal dollars to establish an agricultural cost share program for the first time in the state to get more practices on the ground. I think there is a recognition that, while many people in Pennsylvania may not be connected to the bay, they’re connected to their local waters and take great pride in spending time in their communities, hunting, fishing, other forms of recreation. And if they focus on and we all focus on clean water for Pennsylvania, the bay will still benefit. And so I think it was, a shift from organizations like my own in terms of how much blaming to do versus rolling up or sleeves and working together. I think we’ve just seen a different approach in the last few years, and the report card demonstrates that it’s working.”

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The York County SPCA is hosting a half price dog adoption event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday July 14 at the Brougher Companion Animal Shelter. The Communications Director, Kristen Dempwolf, says this event lower barriers for those looking to adopt a dog.

"the process of an adoption can be a little intimidating to people. You know, there are some rescues and some shelters that, it really feels like you have to go through a lot just to get in the door to meet an animal. And something we've worked really hard on, on the last over the last four years has been reducing our barriers to adoption

If you're eager to bring home a canine companion, here's what you need to know:

To speed up the process, please complete our dog adoption questionnaire by Thursday, July 11. Then, head over to https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/adopt/YORK/Dog to complete the application.

Bring your whole household—humans and canines—to meet our summer-loving pups! Please keep your dogs comfy in the car with the A/C on until it's time for introductions. You can take them for a walk in the grassy areas near the parking lot.

Remember to bring a collar and leash for your dogs! If possible, opt for a slip-lead leash or a regular collar and leash over retractable ones.

Check-in at the welcome table before browsing our available dogs in the kennel.

Ensure you have a collar and leash in case you find your new companion. We will have some for sale, but supplies are *LIMITED. *

Please note your top 4-5 dog picks to help our team better assist you. You can also browse our kennel if you are unsure who you want to meet.

While most dogs will be ready to go home on the event day, some may need to be picked up later due to necessary vaccinations, spaying/neutering, or medical care.

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