A Renewed Commitment by Heather Shayne Blakeslee In the days after President-elect Donald Trump won a narrow victory in Pennsylvania, statewide environmental group PennFuture gathered a who’s who of past and future advocates in downtown Philadelphia. In attendance were three former heads of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, current state Assembly members, myriad leaders
MoreThe Latest
Illustration by Layla Ehsan Meet the New Boss by Jerry Silberman Question: Will President-elect Donald Trump change the direction of the country?The Right Question: How much influence does a president actually have? In reality, not much. The political tenor of this, or any country—as well as its economic success or failure—operates in response to systemic
More3 mins read
State of mind by Heather Shayne Blakeslee This month, we swear in a new president. Some of us will be swearing a lot for the next four years. There is a mighty cognitive dissonance in looking at an overwhelmingly red map that exists side by side with the fact that nearly 3 million more Americans
More2 mins read
Management Positions Change at Top Energy and Sustainability GroupsThe Managing Director’s Office of Philadelphia hired Nic Esposito as director of its new Zero Waste and Litter program. Esposito has worked previously for Parks and Recreation as a training specialist, project manager and—most recently—sustainable practices manager. The city’s goals for this program include: diverting almost all
More3 mins read
Illustration by Lynn Scurfield The Long (Long) View interview by Heather Shayne Blakeslee Elizabeth Kolbert’s book “The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History” is a great read for anyone who is in need of a little perspective about our place as humans on an ever-changing planet. It was 1705 when the first mastodon tooth was discovered
More5 mins read
Illustration by Kailey Whitman 1. Recycle your tree and wreaths There’s no reason to send holiday decorations to the landfill. Drop off trees at city sanitation centers from Jan. 2 through Jan. 14, or find a neighborhood program like Greenlimbs. 2. Program the thermostatIn addition to saving energy, using a programmable thermostat can help you
More1 min read
Savory Winter Stew by Anna Herman Some version of this soup is always on my stove during open house gatherings in fall and winter. Although the recipe is somewhat vague on quantities, almost any combination of vegetables works. The key to a good soup—or any other dish—is the quality of the ingredients. Use whatever you
More1 min read
Spud Life by Peggy Paul Casella As soon as my sister and I were big enough to wield snow shovels, my mother would pawn us off to help clear the steep driveway outside Grandma and Grandpa’s house in Huntingdon Valley. Our reward? One whole quarter each from Grandpa (50 cents if we did a really
More1 min read
Slow-Cooked Beans and Beer by Brian Ricci Winter brings an excess of darkness and chills. It invites us to stay indoors and gather to share a meal. You might want to read a book for a while and catch a nap—either way: Before you do, read this, go shopping and start your cassoulet. Ultimately, this
More3 mins read
Illustration by Charlo Frade Black Snake at Standing Rock by Judy Wicks A 1,000-year-old Lakota prophecy tells of a Black Snake that would rise from the deep and move across the land, bringing destruction and great sorrow. The Sioux believe that the Black Snake has arrived in the form of the Dakota Access Pipeline and the
More3 mins read