Grid is seeking contributors for our monthly backpage essay, “Dispatch.” These personal essays offer a window into the worlds of people trying to live more sustainable lives, whether they’re lamenting the melancholia of harvest time or the battle with their spouse over leaving the lights on. Keep in mind, these are personal essays, not editorials.

Clem Murray for the InquirerTalk about a clean form of transportation! This Inquirer article tells the story of Roby Burch, a 12-year-old Gladwyne boy who rides his horse to school every day: It’s not often you see a kid riding his horse to school on the Main Line. Burch, a sophomore at the Haverford School, has been

Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corp. (OARC) has great things to help green and clean Northwest Philadelphia. The organization has planted close to 2,000 trees, built a working green house for students of Martin Luther King High School and renewed the Awbury, Waterview and Morton Recreation Centers, to name a few accomplishments. Next Saturday, September 25, OARC will

This Saturday, Grid contributor and all-around cheese maven Madame Fromage (a.k.a. Tenaya Darlington) will host another tasting at Quince Fine Foods. Here’s what she had to say on her blog: The weather lately has been sweatery, and that means apple season is upon us. Join me for a tasting of cheese, apples, and ale next Saturday,

Congrats! The Sustainable Business Network has launched their new website. It now includes: An updated Membership Directory to help shoppers find member businesses in their neighborhoods. A Jobs Board for Job Seekers. A Members Photo Album. The ability to compare membership levels to see what’s right for you. Referral program for new members. Improved Calendar of Events.

Tomorrow is (PARK)ING DAY! This international event seeks to reclaim parking spots and transform them into engaging, people-friendly public spaces for one day. Over 30 spots in Philadelphia will participate. In one example, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will transform two spots in front of their headquarters into a “living room” featuring couches made of sod-covered hay bales,

Philly Brownstoner has a great report on creative reuse for unconventional spaces—namely, churches: Applied to sacred spaces, adaptive reuse is a development strategy easily supported from a social perspective. Houses of worship play an important role in characterizing the historic neighborhoods of Philadelphia, their inspiring spires and domes rising above the low roof lines of

A Reuters blog post from Felix Salmon has been making the Interweb rounds. In it, he talks about cycling in New York city, but a lot of his observations can be easily applied here: As a result, drivers don’t treat cyclists as legitimate users of the road, even when they’re going in the right direction.

Anna Bario and Page Neal in their new spaceAs we mentioned in this month’s Dress Local insert, Bario-Neal Jewelry is set to open their first boutique at the corner of Sixth and Bainbridge. I just got word that the grand opening will be this weekend. Here are the details: What: Grand Opening Party at Bario-Neal

The PECO rate caps will expire on December 31, 2010. As you may have noticed, Grid has made it our personal mission to make sure you’re prepared (check out August’s Energy Issue for a full run-down). If you’re still filled with questions and concerns, check out this free public forum on energy caps sponsored by