Environment & Outdoors
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Hilltown Township Homeowners Association Takes Dim View of Couple’s Solar Power Collectors
Athena and Bob Bauerle of Hilltown Township thought they were within the restrictions of their homeowners’ association (HOA) when they installed solar panels on their roof. The community oversight committee not only disagreed but called for the removal of the technology. The matter has now reached the court system, reports Michaelle Bond for The Philadelphia…
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Warm Autumn Afternoons May Be Cozy and Comforting, But They’re Also Concerning
Warm autumn afternoons, requiring only a light jacket for a scenic walk to enjoy the golden foliage, are vastly appealing in the Philadelphia suburbs. But as much as they give locals a sense of serenity, they’re also cause for concern from a climate change perspective. Taylor Allen and Mike D’Onofrio covered the implications for AXIOS.…
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Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority Enters 50-Year Agreement to Keep Lake Galena Clean and Accessible
The Bucks County Commissioners recently accepted a proposal to ensure the ongoing preservation and accessibility of Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park. Bucks Local News covered the 50-year, $24.7 million arrangement with the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority (BCWSA). The county agreed to lease the lake to the BCWSA. The terms include conservation easements…
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Jump in Home Heating Oil Prices Shouldn’t Cause Bucks County Buyers to Get Hot Under the Collar … Yet
As Bucks County weather turns increasingly frosty, many local homeowners are flipping on the heat for the first time since late spring. As they do so, they may find the resulting home heating oil bills a little surprising. Walt Frank, of the Altoona Mirror, gauged the trend. “People’s concern is that [the price of oil]…
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PDEP Caps Levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Near Former Bucks County-Area Military Bases
The Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection has cleared the way for a proposed rule that would set maximum contaminant levels of “forever chemicals” in local waterways. The pollutants, so named because of their persistence, are a drinking-water concern to areas like Bucks County that housed former military bases. Frank Kummer highlighted the danger in The…
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Philadelphia Is Among Top Clean Technology Innovation Hubs in Nation
Despite low-scoring state support, Philadelphia ranks as one of the top clean technology innovation hubs in the nation. The distinction comes from a new Saoradh Enterprise Partners study, reported by Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The research defines cleantech innovation hubs as functioning geographic ecosystems that are based on metrics that include research…
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Vintage Irving Cliff Brewery Bottles May Further Bucks County Representative’s Recycling Goals
An antiques collector from Wayne County, 33 miles northeast of Scranton, happened on an Irving Cliff Brewery crate containing empty beer bottles from 1913. He decided to return them for their deposit. The payment from the brewer was a minor windfall. But it highlighted an evolving effort, including from a local champion, to revive bottle…
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The Old Farmer’s Almanac Prediction for Winter 2022: Keep Those Parkas and Snow Shovels Handy
The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a trying winter for the Philadelphia region. Its prognosticators see periods of frigid temperatures accompanied by above-average snowfall. Michael Tanenbaum buttoned up the details for Philly Voice. The 230-year-old publication released its 2021-22 winter predictions last week with a map that shows the anticipated seasonal conditions across the country.…
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Hurricane Ida Confirms Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s Stance That the Waterway Is Both Risky and At-Risk
Even without the deluge caused by Hurricane Ida’s recent stomp across Bucks County, the Delaware River’s water levels have been rising. Keeping watch is the Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN), a Bristol nonprofit environmental advocacy group. Daelin Brown waded through its ongoing advocacy efforts for Inside Climate News. Owing to a variety of factors — some…
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Local, State, and Federal Officials Continue Assessing Hurricane Ida Damage Throughout the Suburbs
Local officials are still assessing the damage Hurricane Ida left in its wake as it stomped through the region. Alfred Lubrano, Justine McDaniel, Laura McCrystal, and Ellie Rushing waded through the details for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Water quality is one of the main issues at this time. Aqua Pennsylvania — which serves nearly a million…
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In Terms of Bucks County Quality of Life, Niche Data Indicate Things Are Pretty Good Around Here
The Bucks County quality of life shines in comparison to data from the rest of the state and the nation. Niche reported the factors that make our area outstanding. To determine its ranking, Niche compared counties nationwide based on metrics that includes: Public schools Cost of living Job opportunities Local amenities Bucks County ranked as…
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Positive Test Results for Coronavirus Are Showing Up in Pennsylvania’s Deer Population
In a recent federal study 44 percent of Pennsylvania deer tested positive for coronavirus, writes Justin Heinze for MSN. Researchers are puzzled how the deer showed up with the coronavirus antibodies. The deer came from central and southeastern Pennsylvania. The risk of deer spreading it to humans is low, according to the U.S. Department of…
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Population Data Show Philadelphia To Be One of the Most Racially Segregated Metro Areas in the Country
Philadelphia ranks as the 13th most racially segregated urban area out of the 100 largest metros in the country, write Chad Pradelli, Cheryl Mettendorf, and Maia Rosenfeld for 6abc. According to an ABC Owned Television Stations analysis of 2019 U.S. Census Bureau data, more than half the neighborhoods in the tristate area ranked as extremely…
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Philadelphia’s Ongoing, Long-Term Inferiority Complex: It’s Time to ‘Get Oudda Here Wit Dat’
Despite the deeply ingrained inferiority complex among Philadelphians, the City of Brotherly Love is attracting people from America’s most populated and popular cities. And they love it here, writes Jo Piazza for Philadelphia Magazine. Philadelphia saw an influx of new residents during the pandemic, with an estimated 7,500 people moving here just from New York…
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Bristol Bails Out from What National Weather Service Defined as ‘100-Year Flood’
Flooded roads, underwater basements, and frightened residents were just part of the aftermath of a wild July afternoon in Bucks County. NBC10 covered the meteorological mayhem. A strong cold front swept through the Philadelphia region in the late afternoon. It dumped 6-10 inches in Bucks County. The National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office called it…
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Mysterious Disease in Local Songbirds Silences the Summery Sounds of Their Trilling and Chirping
Groups of songbirds have recently been turning up dead throughout Bucks County and the greater Delaware Valley. Their cause of death remains a mystery to scientists and wildlife officials, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Similar deaths have been reported in other parts of Pennsylvania and across several other states, going back to April.…
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Kindness to Kestrels: Lehigh Valley Avian Advocate Helps Local Bird of Prey
The kestrel is akin to a falcon, sharing its feeding habits of swooping up small game. Kestrel populations are down locally, leading one advocate to help. Drew Anderson covered his efforts for WFMZ 69 News. Paul (last name withheld) is a federal- and state-licensed bird expert who has been tracking American kestrels for decades. He bands them to ease…
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Mucus to Hikers’ Ears: ‘Elephant Snot’ Helps With Bucks County Trail Maintenance
With pandemic recommendations to avoid closed-quarters settings, the past 18 months led to a regionwide increase in outdoor activities. Most of that enjoyment was benign. But some people took it as an opportunity to leave their mark, reported WFMZ 69 News. Incidents of graffiti rose during the pandemic on trails throughout Pennsylvania. “Artwork” has defaced rock formations on…
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