Environment & Outdoors
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Cheltenham Passes Ordinance Outlawing Plastic Bags
Cheltenham Township’s Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance that bans the sale or distribution of single-use plastic bags. Kenny Cooper wrapped up the action’s details for WHYY. The new law takes effect in January 2024, with retailers getting a 90-day period to realign their merchandise bagging practices. Township officials have even reset the bar on…
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The Ultimate Guide to Butterflies and How to Prevent Their Decline
Butterflies and moths have been around for millions of years. They used to be a common sight in gardens, but numbers have declined since the 1940s, along with our other native wildlife species such as bees and hedgehogs, according to The Ultimate Guide to Butterflies & How to Prevent Their Decline. It will come as no surprise to…
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Souderton Company Founder Spreads Word on Organic Alternatives to Beautifully Bug-Free Lawns
Nate Clemmer was in the backyard of his new house in 2013 when he came to a realization. “The house is adjacent to a creek,” he said. “One day, I was out pushing my spreader, putting down fertilizer. It hit me that there was no question a part of what I was spreading would go…
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Wissahickon Creek Clean Up Mobilizes Community for Earth Day
In honor of Earth Day, hundreds of volunteers will descend on Wissahickon Creek for a spruce-up on the morning of Apr. 29. The annual Creek Clean Up has been running for 53 years and works in tandem with Friends of the Wissahickon. Rachel Ravina waded through the details for Mainline Media News. Families, friends,…
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Turtle’s Version of ‘Hey, Babe, Can I Buy You a Drink?’ Results in Viral Video at Nearby Wildlife Refuge
Philadelphia stand-up comedian Jamie Pappas was eager to get outside one Saturday morning and enjoy the nice weather. So the 29-year-old drove to the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum to do some bird watching. Victor Fiorillo, Philadelphia Magazine, reported on the romantic interlude. She found a turtle slapping another turtle. So she recorded…
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Villanova Neighbors Continue Efforts to Uproot Tree-Removal Plan for Historic Property
While Lower Merion School District plans to convert part of an Oakwell property in Villanova into athletic fields, its neighbors are doing all in their power to stop that from happening, reported Joe Holden for CBS Philadelphia. The sports fields will be used by the students at the new Black Rock Middle School, located just…
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Retired Jenkintown Resident Glenn ‘Hurricane’ Schwartz Is Still Watching the Skies
Former NBC10 meteorologist Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz could have retired from the airways, mothballed his bow tie collection, and padded around his Jenkintown home all day. Instead, he continues sharing his climate insights for the public good. Ximena Conde warmed to the assignment of interviewing him for The Philadelphia Inquirer. After stepping away from 42 years…
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Wondering What These Devices Floating in a Doylestown Lake Are? Read to Learn More
In an effort to control the natural fauna of flora of a lake in Bucks County, officials have begun using unique devices to help local wildlife. Residents of Doylestown may have recently noticed yellow devices floating in Lake Galena. As part of a mission to keep the area clean from pollutants, environmental officials have placed…
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Delaware County Fisherman Discovers Alligator-Like Creature in Philadelphia Park
An alligator-like creature later identified as a caiman was caught Sunday, March 5, by Ike Peyton from Delaware County, writes Neirin Gray Desai for the Daily Mail. Peyton was fishing at FDR Park in South Philadelphia when he spotted the 3.5-foot animal at about 10 AM relaxing on the shore. He captured it with his…
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Cross-River from Bucks County, New Jersey Sees Bald Eagles Thriving
Once near extinction in the area, the country’s national bird is making a comeback in population in an area just outside of Bucks County. Jon Hurdle wrote about the famous bird for the NJ Spotlight News. Once on the brink of extinction, the bald eagle is again becoming a familiar sight to anglers and recreational…
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Is Lansdale Prepared to Handle a Toxic Spill?
The Feb. 21 chemical disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, has alarmed environmentalists nationwide. Local government officials across the U.S. are considering their preparedness for public-safety threats of this kind. Officials from Lansdale — site of a convergence of industrial and commuter rail systems — are confident that the chances of a catastrophe akin to Ohio’s…
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Local ‘Go for the Green’ Awards Open to Nomination; No Golf Skills Required
Lower Merion Township has announced that its 2023 Go for the Green awards will open for nominations on Mar. 1. Richard Ilgenfritz reported the call for entries in Mainline Media News. Despite its name, the program does not honor local residents who excel on the enviable golf courses in Montgomery County. Rather, it recognizes residents,…
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Once a Pennsylvania Pest, Spotted Lanternflies Infiltrate Canada
Canada is sounding the alarm on spotted lanternflies, that invasive species whose annual appearance in the Philadelphia area is met with a mix of environmental concern and public weariness. The Canadian finding was announced in a staff report from The Sudbury Star, an Ontario publication. Spotted lanternflies “threatens many of our native tree species, including…
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How Ambler Is Beating the Dubious Distinction of ‘Asbestos Capital of the World’
Scrappily resilient Ambler has labored mightily to reinvent itself from an industrial past that once brought with it the distinction of being the “Asbestos Capital of the World.” Michael Frost, of Hidden City, chronicled the area’s transformation that balanced both safety and preservation. The source of the contamination was the Keasbey & Mattison Co., an…
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Willow Grove Native and Conservationist Loves More Than One Kind of Eagle
While Arizona is readying for The Birds to flock to the Super Bowl, the state has many eagles of their own. Members of the state’s Game and Fish Department keep watch over the bald eagles near the Tonto National Forest, writes Jessica Kartalija for CBS Philadelphia. One of them is a Willow Grove native Kyle…
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WCU’s Weekly Research Seminars Cover Array of Sustainability Topics
Every Wednesday at 12 PM, West Chester University’s Office of Sustainability (OoS) offers a look at how WCU scholars, students, and staff explore and apply principles of environmental, social, and economic sustainability in their research and on-campus work. At 50 minutes each, these Sustainability Research and Practice Seminars introduce an array of topics related to sustainability in…
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There Is Enough Groundwater in Delaware River Basin to Last Until 2060
According to a new report by Delaware River Basin Commission, Delaware River Basin has enough groundwater to last until 2060, even through possibly dry years, writes Zoë Read for the WHYY. This is good news for more than 13 million people across four states, including Pennsylvania, who get their drinking water from the Delaware River…
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Aqua Expands Electric Vehicle Fleet with $36,000 State Grant
Aqua Pennsylvania has announced it has been awarded a $36,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The grant, which will enable Aqua to replace gasoline and diesel utility vehicles with all-electric versions, is part of the DEP’s Alternative Fuel Incentive designed to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania…
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