Reducing Toxics in the Home Environment: Lead Posted on October 27, 2020 by Masoud Sayles The last week in October (25th-31st, 2020) is National Lead Poisoning Prevention week! During this time, there's a great deal of focus on reducing the threat of lead hazards in our environment. As you may know, lead is a naturally occurring chemical element that exists at low levels in a variety of earth materials. It is also a potent neurotoxin with negative impacts on a variety of systems within the body: in fact, there is no level of lead that…Read More
Where the Wild Things Were… and Could be Again Posted on May 6, 2019 by Masoud Sayles As humanity has tightened its grip on Earth, we have been party to the loss of many species. While many of us are aware of the cautionary tales of the dodo and the Tasmanian tiger, we are blind to the processes that led to their extinction. In seeking to fulfill our desires (for space, for goods, for control over the natural environment) we too often fail to consider the needs of the system that sustains us: the dodo, for example,…Read More
Environmental Hazards: Close-to-Home Posted on March 5, 2019 by Masoud Sayles The snow is already beginning to melt, and we can see the first spikes of spring ephemerals like snowdrops and crocus poking through the snow. Having spent the short days of winter cooped up indoors, many people are pleased to feel the days getting perceptibly longer. As we cross the thresholds of our respective houses out into this warming world, we transition between two very distinct sorts of environments: one familiar, consistent, and controlled, the other unpredictable, varied, and sometimes…Read More
Health Access Community Discussion Join the Steel Rivers Council of Governments and the Allegheny County Health Department for a talk about health care access in your community. The Steel Rivers COG and ACHD are hosting a discussion about what health care access looks like in your town. Come share your thoughts and experiences about what works and what could be better about going to the doctor. This talk is open and welcome to all. Refreshments will be provided. RSVPs are required. To RSVP, select…Read More
5 Ways to Give Back your Energy This Holiday Posted on December 3, 2014 by Grounded Strategies Here are a few of my favorite ways to give back your energy this Holiday Season: Seal any air leaks If it feels like Jack Frost is blowing at your window, it is time to seal up your windows. Plastic and a little caulk can go a long way for not a lot of money. Anywhere you feel a little air coming into your home means that you’re losing energy! Don’t pay to heat the outside, find these spaces and seal them up.…Read More