Bridge to the Past

Buried beneath a leafy canopy and camouflaged by summer shrubbery, this brick skew arch bridge has kept its integrity 116 years after its construction and 67 years after the last trolley ran through it. Originally built for the Fairmount Park Transit Company in 1897 with 15 consecutive angled brick arches, the “Chamounix Tunnel” ported trolleys

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1 min read

Save Big with Grid Issue #55, Out Now!

  Grid #55 is out, with a cover feature that can save you thousands of dollars in incentives, rebates and low interest financing through energy-saving programs like PGW’s EnergySense and PECO’s Smart Ideas. Room by room, we’ll show you how to make your home more comfortable, more efficient and more economical — and how to

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1 min read

Gone with the Wind: PECO Wind is defunct, but you can still buy local, renewable energy

story by Liz PachecoSince 2004, the PECO Wind program has allowed customers to purchase renewable electricity that supported wind projects in Pennsylvania. But as of December 31, the PECO Wind program ended, leaving 20,000 customers without service.
The good news for these 20,000 customers--as well as anyone interested in buying renewables--is that there are plenty of

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1 min read

Re-Shop Flower Shop gifts recyclable bouquets to local sustainability heroes

Local artist Kathryn Sclavi sets up the Re-Shop Flower Shop with students the McVeigh Recreation Center in Kensington. | Photo by Michael Reali Last Wednesday, local artist Kathryn Sclavi braved Philadelphia’s rush hour traffic and the January cold in her ZipCar to pick-up flowers in West Philly. But Sclavi wasn’t going to a florist or

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1 min read

Against the Grain: Shiny furniture without the fumes

When the time came to purchase a dining room table, I fell in love with a piece made from stunning, richly grained mango wood. The table was an extravagant purchase, so I listened very carefully while the salesperson recited care instructions. Then I dutifully purchased the recommended furniture polish.
As soon as the table was delivered,

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1 min read

Zoning Amendment Threatens Urban Farms in Philly

Grumblethorpe Historic House and Garden is one of the gardens that would be seriously affected by the new zoning changes. The two-acre garden grows fruits and vegetables and employs high school students at a weekly farmstand.
This article was originally published in the January 2013 issue of Weavers Way Co-op's Shuttle newspaper.
On December 13, 2012, less

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2 mins read

Salad Solution: Local grocery grows lettuces, tomatoes

Chris Williams, head grower at BrightFarms' Yardley greenhouse, shows off a tomato start from the farm's first planting. | Image via BrightFarmsAnyone who has bought a bag of spring mix only to discover half the leaves wilted and slimy, knows first-hand the problems grocers face when trying to provide fresh produce to customers during the

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2 mins read

Blight’s Out

story by Liz Pacheco | illustration by Melissa McFeetersWhen Mabel Wilson and her mother moved to Gray’s Ferry in 1929, her cul-de-sac block was lined with rowhomes. Soon though, many homes were abandoned and the City tore them down, leaving behind a block of empty lots. Looking at these new eyesores, Mabel

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9 mins read
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