education – Page 9 – PhilaNet.com

Warming: Philadelphia Hold Your Breath

Posted on July 19, 2015July 20, 2015 by admin

By Daniel Brouse

Do Not Breath in Philly on This Day / NOTE: Graphics are from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America)

Many days in the Philadelphia region are not good for breathing. On “Ozone Action Alert Days” you are advised to avoid activity outside. Children should not play outdoors. Avoid running and other fitness activities. Do not breathe in un-conditioned air.

View the current air quality for Philadelphia.

July 19, 2015 is one of those days:

NOTE: Graphics are from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America)

Ozone is not only killing humans, it is also killing the trees.

In 2005, the EPA and NGO’s were contacted about the deforestation problem:

Dying Trees, The Membrane Domain (2009)

Bird Watching

Posted on April 8, 2015 by admin

Glen Foerd on the Delaware, the 18-acre historic estate located in Northeast Philadelphia is a public park that has long been a destination for local birders. Situated on the bank of the Delaware River, the site attracts a variety of bird from bald eagles to blue herons. Right off of the estate’s shores is a nest that is home to ospreys, a bird listed on the threatened species list by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Glen Foerd will be celebrating their winged friends with a Feathered Fun Day in coordination with Elmwood Park Zoo and the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. The Elmwood Park Zoo, located in Norristown is an accredited zoo by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. They maintain a collection of over 100 species with the mission of inspiring active participation in conservation. Elmwood Park Zoo will be bring their live raptors for guests to view. John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove will be bringing objects from their touch collection. Guests will be able to learn what makes each bird different and how the various types of birds have adapted to their habitats. Children’s crafts will also be available for families to enjoy.

Pricing for the event which will run from 11:00-1:00 PM is $5 per person, children under 5 are free. The day will kick off with a 9:00 am Bird Walk lead by the Delaware Ornithological Club around the grounds of Glen Foerd. Ticket pricing for the Bird Walk $5. Special joint ticket pricing of $8 will be available if you would like to attend both events.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware is the last of the grand Philadelphia riverfront estates open to the public. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Landscapes Survey. Glen Foerd connects visitors to the legacy of the estate through programs in the arts, nature and history and preserves and protects the landscape, buildings and collections for the enjoyment and enrichment of the community and future generations. Glen Foerd is a Fairmount Park property operated by the Glen Foerd Conservation Corp. in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and supported in part by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.

Local Illustrator‎

Posted on March 28, 2015 by admin

Helping Horace Helfin
Written by John Philip McCarthy

Rated: 3.9 on the KART Kids Book Scale Children (8 – 12) – Will receive a 4 Star Rating on our website

The winter holidays are over and Christmas may be the last thing on most readers’ minds; but fans of the loveable dynamic duo, Horace Helfin and Sally Connors, are in for a special treat. Original creatures and cultures, fascinating foods and amenities, and unique friends and foes set the stage in John Philip McCarthy’s action-packed third installment of this adventure series.

The North Pole is in shambles. An evil elf dictator has overthrown the democracy of the elfin society, Santa has taken refuge in the Human World, and robot, yes, robots have destroyed goodness and removed joy from the residents of the North Pole. With the former Christmas and Halloween escapades behind them, Horace and his team of unlikely heroes must now prepare for the ultimate battle. Using newly discovered supernatural abilities, Horace, Sally, and friends hone their talents and discover that true power comes from working together.

Combined with Paulette Bensignor’s meticulous drawings and illustrated glossary, McCarthy’s vivid details and thought provoking topics (such as the value of believing in your own gifts and talents, instead of yearning for those of another person and what may seem small to you may be the most powerful of all) provide a wonderful landscape for teachers and parents to develop discussion questions while older elementary and middle school students immerse themselves in this epic fantasy of friendship and self-discovery.

With the Blessing of Santa, enjoy Helping Horace Helfin.

More About Paulette Bensignor