Local greens surge, Storm damage assistance, drain cleaning, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:

Customers turn to local farmers markets’ in wake of parasite outbreak. Local farmers are seeing an uptick in foot traffic at farmers markets. Customers say that a big reason for shopping locally is that local produce does not travel as far, potentially keeping it safer from the national cyclosporiasis outbreak because it has come in contact with fewer surfaces. Some shoppers also appreciate being able to ask farmers directly what pesticides are being used and how it was harvested. The Philadelphia Inquirer

City offers storm damage assistance. The Office of Emergency Management is offering financial assistance to residences and businesses impacted by the July 11th storms. Damage sustained by the storm – including flash flooding and destructive microbursts – continues to impose a financial burden on property owners. The city is helping with downed tree removal, home repairs, and temporary housing costs. 

Germantown residents clean flooded drains. Kadafi El-Kardah, a Germantown resident and environmental science graduate, noticed that storm drains are often broken or overflowing with garbage, leading to flooding in the streets during ever-intensifying storms. He started a drain adoption program, wherein residents volunteer to monitor and clean storm drains. El-Kardah hopes that the program will not only help address climate-induced flooding, but also help neighbors connect and engage with one another. The Philadelphia Citizen

Nonprofit gives money to encourage legal dumping. To incentivize would-be illegal dumpers to dispose of waste legally, the nonprofit North10 is offering $120 vouchers to Richard S. Burns & Co. recycling center. The nonprofit says that over 250,000 pounds of debris have been diverted to the recycling center since the project began. WHYY

Washington Ave connector street almost completed. A connector street project along Washington Avenue aims to connect the neighborhood to the Delaware waterfront. The project calms traffic, provides a curb-protected bike lane, improves sidewalks, and adds greenery and benches. The project is set to be completed at the end of this month. Billy Penn

Cover photo: Storm drain on a wet sidewalk, Ilya Semenov via Unsplash