Reading has more children with elevated blood-lead levels than anywhere else in Berks County and some of the highest in the state, according to a study by a retired Kutztown University professor who specializes in medical geography. And, in the city the blood-lead levels are linked to some high-poverty areas with old buildings that are rental properties. The highest percentage of children with elevated blood-lead levels are reported in census tracts in downtown Reading along Penn Street betwee

At the Nolde Mansion in Cumru Township, Brood X cicada nymphal shells, called exuvia, seem to be everywhere. And if you want to learn about the bug that you can see every 17 years, the mansion at the Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center is a good place to start, said environmental educator Sarah Presogna. Presogna is leading a family-friendly walk Wednesday, May 26, morning at 9 a.m. to learn about cicada holes, nymphs and emerging adults. You can check out the nymphal shells there, too

Along Valley Run Creek near Frontier Pastures farm in Washington Township, the reed canary grass was choking out native plants. The creek flowed warm and murky, a sign of a high load of sediment and farm runoff. "We call it 'the green death,' " said Kent Himelright, watershed coordinator for the Berks County Conservation District, referring to grass that was brought to North America more than 100 years ago from Europe and Asia. Eliminating the grass is one of several aspects of a two-year riparian restoration project that culminated last week with the installation of logs made of coconut husks. The logs, called coir logs (pronounced "coy-er"), provide a base into which native plants and trees were planted. They were light enough for four or five people to carry, but when soaked with water they are practically immovable, Himelright said. Coir comes from the fibrous husks of the inner shell of the coconut. It has been used for hundreds of years for all sorts of products familiar to many, such as doormats. Other items including rope, rugs, brushes and stuffing for upholstered furniture. Coir resists rot and is biodegradable.

Tests from the state Department of Environmental Protection show elevated levels of a group of chemicals in water systems in Berks County. The chemicals are combined concentrations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS, a class of toxic chemicals used in products like nonstick cookware, carpets, firefighting foam and fast-food wrappers. None of the levels in Berks is higher than the limit advised by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which is 70

Jeannette Buchanon's litter tipping point came about two years ago when she stepped out her door on South Seventh Street in Reading. The lifelong resident of the city was so appalled by the litter in front of her house she decided she would not wait for the next cleanup day or a city crew to come by. She put out a trash can. "I was so sick of coming out in the morning, picking up trash in front of my house," said Buchanon, 60, an active member of South of Penn Task Force. Jeannette Buchanon's insight on prevention is bolstered by a new study.

In Mark Lopez's farmhouse kitchen, there's a sketch made from an old photograph of his grandparents, Elmer and Sarah Stoltzfus. They look lovingly into one another's eyes, smiling as if they'd just shared a joke. They seem confident and wise. The picture is a poignant reminder of where Lopez finds himself as owner of Wholesome Dairy Farm in the 21st century, and inspiration for where he wants to go.

When Amelia Giangiulio stepped into Rock Hollow Woods her heart changed. She didn’t understand it entirely. She was just 11. But the woods in Robeson Township have called to her ever since. They might have even saved her. “The most distinct part of it felt like a wonderland of forest,” said Giangiulio, now 28. “To be in that sizable chunk of forest — it was so opposite of my every day in school. It was cleansing. Those woods kind of hold this magic. It was almost like Narnia.”

Christina Smith had a price for preserving her 70 acres of forest and farmland in District Township: no hunting and save the stone fences. Those were her main requirements as she worked with Berks Nature to preserve the land along Treichler Road in what is called the Oley Hills. They sealed the deal in November. She donated the value of the easement. The easement legal work was financially supported by the Pine Creek Valley Watershed Association, WeConservePA and Exelon Corp. through the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund. Exact figures were unavailable. "We are all absolutely thrilled and delighted," said Ingrid Morning, who leads the volunteer Pine Creek Valley Watershed Association in Oley. "I hope she realizes what gift it is to the community." The impact of the easement will reach beyond the borders of the township and last well past her lifetime because her property includes wetlands in the watershed of the West Branch of the Perkiomen Creek.

Reading has more children with elevated blood-lead levels than anywhere else in Berks County and some of the highest in the state, according to a study by a retired Kutztown University professor who specializes in medical geography. And, in the city the blood-lead levels are linked to some high-poverty areas with old buildings that are rental properties. The highest percentage of children with elevated blood-lead levels are reported in census tracts in downtown Reading along Penn Street between Eighth and 11th streets and north of Perkiomen Avenue, according to maps developed by Dr. Robert Ziegenfus using unpublished data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The first thing you notice in John Secoges' photograph of an American goldfinch is its eye. With its head cocked slightly to the side, the bird peers directly at you.  Drawn to the eye, you see the remarkable patterns of delicate yellow, black and brown feathers encircling that dark pupil. The wisps of feathers lay ordered like perfect brushstrokes of some brilliant painter. In the goldfinch's pupil is reflected a bit of the blue sky and a camera. Secoges used a macro 105 mm lens set just 4 inches away from the bird to capture the exquisite details.  Eleven months ago, Secoges, a corporate photographer, didn't even know what an American goldfinch was. Now he can identify it — and many other birds — by species, gender, flight patterns and song.  "I knew absolutely nothing about birding," Secoges said. "I could identify robins and sparrows in the yard, and that's the extent." Then, COVID-19 happened. Businesses closed. The economy dipped into a recession. The country’s economy shrank by 9.5% from April to June, the worst quarter on record. Small businesses were hit particularly hard: Nearly 7.5 million of the nation’s 30 million small businesses were at risk of closing permanently.