Sometimes when researching news and happenings for the Weekly Round Up, I come across an interesting local story. Not really a good fit for the Roundup, but helpful in giving you a fuller picture of what’s going on in town and in the world in general.
Here are a few articles I found particularly engaging. (Hitting all the hot button issues in one.) Enjoy.
Science:
This idea of fire stewardship was getting a lot of attention last fall after President Trump weighed in with his personal forest management philosophy via tweet after the Camp wildfires had devastated areas of California. While the political back-and-worth can be entertaining at times, I thought it insightful to read what the professionals have learned about the best adaptive land management strategies. In this article fire ecology experts from Longwood Gardens explains what goes into extinguishing an active wildfire and how they manage controlled burns on their own lands.
Longwood Gardens blog: Mind Over Matter, Stewarding Lands Under Fire
Religion:
We often hear about protecting religious beliefs, what we hear less often is protecting someone’s right to not believe. I thought this profile of West Chester resident and Freethought Society founder, Margaret Downey an interesting new angle on a much discussed topic.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Atheism is the Last Taboo
History:
Coming off the 75th anniversary of D-day, I thought this story of an untold WWII hero particularly timely. Working in his East Ashbridge Street lab, G. Raymond Rettew’s service did not come on the battlefield, but his efforts protected many whose service did. You can read his story written up by distant relative Bill Rettew in the Daily Local.
The Daily Local: At one time, penicillin was mass produced in West Chester
Education:
Recently, the West Chester Area School District took up the topic of school start times. The potential change has been spurned by recent research showing teenagers are chronically sleep-deprived and that later school start times, especially for older students, better align to their circadian rhythms. This research has led to the American Academy of Pediatrics to recommend middle and high schools start no earlier than 8:30. This article from Keystone Crossroads and WHYY shares the experiences and results seen in other districts that have tackled the time change including two from Chester County.
WHYY: PA School Districts Say Later Start Times are Boosting Grades
Summer reads:
As we get ready for our annual retreat to the beach, this article from County Line Magazines was particularly timely. It is a roundup of what various book clubs in the area are reading. A ready made summer reading list of topical, interesting reads? Check.
County Lines Magazine: What is Your Book Club Reading?
Want more ideas? Here’s 5 more for you, plus a story about what happened when Amazon delivery drivers mistook a West Chester sidewalk for a road (repeatedly).
Hope your enjoying these on a sun drenched porch somewhere or more likely, hovered over a cup of coffee while the rain comes down outside. Keep supporting local journalism.