Photo: Neal Santos, for the City Paper
- City Paper looks at how one project associated with the Water Department’s quarter-century, $2.5 billion “Green City, Clean Waters” initiative seeks to make better use of rain water all while educating young students about ecology and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) studies. The greenSTEM system cheaply monitors soil variables and then relates them remotely to the school children caring for the rail gardens. “In a few weeks, the first batch of greenSTEM Network devices will be introduced to four public schools — Nebinger, Greenfield, Cook-Wissahickon and the Science Leadership Academy’s Beeber campus.”
- A study from the University of Minnesota shows that it American urban areas, it’s more than just income inequality that statically differentiates the races; it’s also the level of pollutants in the atmosphere.The Atlantic Cities preempts any readers’ dismissal of the findings as mere correlation, noting “that even high-earning non-whites are sucking in relatively larger quantities of pollution.” The urban areas with the greatest discrepancies were found to be concentrated among older industrial regions, with Greater Philadelphia placing second overall.
- Several musicians with the Philadelphia Jazz Project presented a pop-up concert at the Reading Terminal Market during yesterday’s lunch hour, says NewsWorks. They played “Tenor Madness,” a 1956 collaboration between Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. The performance is meant to promote April’s designation as the city’s jazz appreciation month (Philly JAM), which will include over 350 events around the region.
- West Philly Local shares the location of University City’s five parklets this year, two of which where installed this week. They’re at 40th & Locust, 44th & Spruce, 42nd & Baltimore, 47th & Baltimore, and 49th & Catharine.
- The City has shuttered the Blasius Chocolate store in Kensington, says Philly.com, which reportedly owes more than $12,000 in delinquent taxes. The lead-up to the Easter holiday is generally the make-or-break season for any candy business, and so the timing of the move has the popular store’s owner Phil Kerwick exasperated: “Why would you shut someone down when they’re trying to make money to pay you?”
About the author
Stephen Currall recently received his BA in history from Arcadia University. Before beginning doctoral studies, he is pursuing his interest in local history, specifically just how Philadelphians engage their vibrant past. Besides skimming through 18th century letters, Steve is also interested in music and travel.
