Articles Written by Julie Hancher

We're interrupting our normal broadcasting to take a moment to introduce a new faces around here. We have a few interns this Spring that are writing, social media-ing and making Green Philly Blog more fun for you. Let's learn more about them!

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) established its Green Cities, Clean Waters Plan as an innovative, greener approach to stormwater management. Rather than tear apart and rebuild old sewage drains, the Green Cities, Clean Waters plan encourages innovative, sustainable solutions like porous pavements, creative foliage layouts and street bump-outs. The 25-year plan has just begun. The PWD recently released the City of Philadelphia's Green Streets Design Manual, to move forward with the process.

The 2014 Tri-State Sustainability Symposium returns to Philly on March 7. Currently in year #4, industry, university & community leaders share sustainability insight, questions and cutting edge information - relevant right in our region. The Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGBC) are hosting the affair, followed by a free sustainability forum with PA's gubernatorial candidates. Find out what the Sustainability Symposium will feature (and my session!), after the jump.

Friends, a momentous event occurred this past weekend. I'm not talking about the Olympics. Or Broad Street Run bibs announced. I'm talkin' Grilled Cheese Party. A simple idea inspired by MNN, we temporarily escaped from this wintery, snowy with an impromptu grilled cheese party?

Happy Valentine's Day... if that's your thing to green. More importantly, today’s Twitterverse is blowing up with #whyilovephilly, on a campaign started by the awesome folks at Philly Love Notes. In honor of the occasion, we brainstormed our favorite reasons why Philadelphia rocks. Here are 8 reasons why I love Philly, after the jump!

Need to empty your closet of clothes that haven't seen the outside world in a while? There's a few places to drop off used clothing in Philadelphia, as we address in this week's Where Can I Wednesday column.

Our favorite Spring day returns once again, this year! Gather your brooms, shovels & rakes! Philly Spring Cleanup Day 2014 The 7th Annual Philly Spring Cleanup Day returns on Saturday, April 5, 2014 (with the rain day on Saturday, April 12). The 2013 efforts boasted over 13,000 volunteers collecting 1,014,540 pounds of trash (and an additional 23,341 recycled goods!) across the city.

The locavore & beer lover's favorite feel-good event of the year returns on March 9, 2014. The Brewer's Plate Philly has changed locales to the Kimmel Center of Performing Arts, but is guaranteed to be amazing as always. The 10th annual Brewer's Plate's smörgåsbord of food & beer pairings brings some of Philly's best chefs, farmers, brewers, distillers and more together to celebrate. Presented by Fair Food and Rolling Barrel Events, the culinary adventure promotes buying local and fresh, building momentum of the locavore movement. Plus, Fair Food promotes a humane, sustainable food system for the region, inspiring partnerships of local providers and your favorite eateries. What's not to love?!? Find out the details of the Brewer's Plate 2014, after the jump!

Who's excited for more snow this weekend? Regardless of your feelings of the cold white stuff outside, we can be thankful for hats, gloves and more to keep us warm. Find out more about the SOSNA drive, after the jump!