Our Top Five Stories of 2021
These are the features our readers responded to the most, and they cover everything from ascendent small towns to recreation amenities to high tech wizardry.
Your 2021 Made-in-PA Holiday Gift Guide
There's never been a better year to shop local. From cast iron pans to colorful textiles to soothing soaps to tasty treats, we've got something for everyone on your list.
Key Change Episode 9: Mayor Brandy Schimp goes to bat for her hometown
The young mayor of Kane, PA, just earned a second term. She chatted with us about how she plans to use it, and what exactly has made this haven in the PA Wilds so successful.
Circular Philadelphia reimagines the consumer economy
A circular economy would let us use, collect, sort, and recycle or repurpose everyday materials on a large scale, replacing the world of single-use items, from food containers to this season’s fashions to demolished buildings. A new nonprofit organization is tackling this "big, hairy, audacious goal."
The small town that could
Dublin is a Bucks County hamlet that has long been overshadowed by its neighbors. That is starting to change thanks to a raft of new businesses and The Square, a dynamic mixed-use development.
To tackle inequality, The Bridge taps abandoned spaces
The organization's first project is reimagining the 115,000-square-foot former Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg into a mixed-use development featuring housing, retail, community services, and urban agriculture.
A historic mill is reborn in Altoona
Originally built over 130 years ago, this 100,000-square-foot mixed-use commercial space is set to welcome tenants and boost the local economy. The thoughtful and ambitious rehab was a team effort.
To Market, To Market: A local institution gets a facelift in Lancaster County
The historic Columbia Market House has been renovated and rejuvenated, helping to feed and cohere this riverfront community.
In Pittsburgh, the Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center serves its community
Indigenous communities are an important part of Pennsylvania’s past and present. This longstanding organization is a perfect example of how this culture and its people have endured, adapted, and come together. In addition to educational and social-service programming, the organization hosts a yearly Pow Wow that draws thousands of people of all backgrounds.
Lights Out Philly rallies to protect the birds
A simple fix — and a whole lot of teamwork — has made the skies above the city safer for millions of our feathered friends.