ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE

Ready to Stop Climate Change? Get it Done!

Battle climate change and get pay back in both cash and the satisfaction of knowing that you and thousands of your neighbors, businesses and Towns throughout the Delaware Valley are getting the job done! Some steps require no investment and some do. ALL can save you money. Web sites like https://haverfordclimateaction.org/ provide a one-stop shop for information on things you can do, upcoming webinars, videos and more. The biggest savings in energy is to use less; please consider an energy assessment if you have not had one done. Peco offers this for $49. For a limited time, PECO is offering Solarize Delco participants a special $10 discount* for any home energy assessment. Please use the special promo code SOLARDEL23 on the website or call 888.573.2672 to schedule your appointment.*Limited time offer expires September 30, 2023. Limited supply per household and where applicable. Certain restrictions apply. You must be a PECO residential electric customer to participate. One Energy Assessment per residence, per year. This program is subject to change, including termination, without prior notice. Appointments are available MondayFriday. Limited number of appointments available on Saturdays.

Solar the Easy Way

Solar

PV

Tax Credits Supercharged

Home solar tax credits went up to 30% for 2023 and beyond making solar payback even better. Non-profits can now also benefit and get a direct 30% federal rebate for systems turned on in 2023. Deadline to sign up for 2023 is Sept. 30, 2023.

Solarize DelCo Group Pricing

Residents and businesses in Delaware County Email us at solarizedelco@gmail.com with name, address and phone number and we can help you assess whether the Solarize Delco program with vetted vendors and a significant discount over market rates is right for you.

New Low Income Grants and Leasing Options

Income qualified homeowners can apply for a grant (up to $5,000) while funds last or take advantage of our new partnership with a vetted leasing firm that can reduce monthly bills by a combination of Solar PV and weatherization. Solarize Delco can help you decide what is best for you.

Who are we?

Your neighbors, an all volunteer non-profit providing education, unbiased information and an easier path to putting solar on your home, business or house of worship. We can help Houses of Worship and other nonprofits find sources of funding as well. More info at www.solarizedelco.org

Search Solarize Philly and Solarize SE PA for programs outside of DelCo.

Climate Webinar Series Videos

Watch these informative recorded Climate Action Workshops on Solar Home, adapting to Electric Vehicle use, Purchasing Renewable Energy, and others at https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCwISP41eRhD0SUyHxGpY9xQ

The Clean Energy Co-Op can help businesses and nonprofits go solar through education and solar development with the capital of local Co-op members. Contact info@cleanenergy.coop to learn more.

POLITICAL TOPICS It's About Time!

In spite of our best efforts, we can't beat the clock! However, legislators at the state and national level are doing their best to throw a monkey wrench into our daily lives. The confusion, surrounding this issue, is illustrated by the below cartoon drawn by Wolverton from the Los Angeles Daily News.

timekeeping has moved from sundials to digital watches, our bodies do not adjust to the switching of numerals or the turning of hands. Jet lag attests to this truism.

Time zones are based primarily on fixed lines of longitude drawn relative to the earth's rotation. This is reflected in the sun rising earlier in Maine than in Pittsburgh. Latitude, determined by the distance north medicine at Stanford University's School of Medicine.“The time change causes misalignment between the body's daily rhythm and the clock, making it harder to fall asleep at night, disrupting sleep quality, and leading to sleep loss which can negatively impact health and safety. DST results in more darkness in the morning hours and more daylight in the evening hours.”

Many of us love summertime, when the living is easy. We can eat dinner outside, take an evening stroll, play golf after work, or go shopping before dark. Advocates for permanent DST — particularly those with business interests connected with restaurants, tourism, or outdoor recreation — have capitalized on this idea. However, in the 1970s, when the United States experimented with maintaining DST throughout the year, the data failed to confirm expected economic gains. After the first winter, public support declined. The actual sunlight, rather than the clock, is critical in prompting our moods and behavior.

It all has to do with eliminating the switching of our clocks twice a year. Falling back in November and jumping forward each spring have been shown to be disruptive and dangerous. Data has shown that accidents increase and medical issues multiply concurrently with the time shift. Logistical challenges occur as schedules and time-keeping devices need to be adjusted.

If we don't want to seasonally alter our clocks, we have two options — Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time (DST). To make an educated choice, we all need to become better informed.

Many School Districts have changed school start times to accommodate the biological needs of high school students. In response to growing evidence of sleep scientists, many other districts have also adopted healthy hours with secondary schools beginning instruction at 8:30 or later. Such changes have been correlated with improved mental health and better performance both in academic and athletic endeavors.

Although most of us are not subject to the same internal rhythm that puts high school students at risk from waking up too early, we can't fool Mother Nature. Throughout time, our bodies have been in tune the sun — with morning light most important to setting our internal clocks. While or south from the equator, determines the amount of daily sunlight. This changes with the seasonal position of the Earth in relation to the sun as well as its axis tilt. In Pennsylvania, we get significantly more daylight in June than we do in December Locations south of us experience less variation in sunlight than those to the north. Florida is the Sunshine State and Alaska is the Land of the Midnight Sun!

In spite of our personal, economic, or political desires, our inability to alter the earth's rotation and revolution around the sun makes switching clocks and time zones problematic. For example, permanent DST would delay sunrise in Philadelphia past 8:00 a.m. for nearly two-and-a-half months — 2.4 to be exact. While the sunrise would be as late as 8:22 a.m. in Wayne, it would be as late as 8:43 a.m. in Pittsburgh. There dawn would be past 8 a.m. for 3.5 months! Because of the intrinsic connection between the sun and our bodies, permanent DST is a health and safety risk. While you may worry about your children waiting for school buses in the dark, everyone is at risk.

“Daylight saving time increases our morning exposure to darkness and evening exposure to sunlight, the most powerful timing cue for the human body clock,” said Dr. Shannon Sullivan, chair of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Public Safety Committee and clinical professor of sleep

On the other hand, those advocating for permanent Standard Time point to data that indicates this schedule promotes greater productivity, higher student achievement, fewer absences, and even a reduction in auto accidents. Perhaps this is why more than sixty percent (60%) of the world, including our neighbors in Mexico, Hawaii, our U.S. territories, and most of Arizona, operate on Standard Time all year.

Time is measured by more than a clock. Your body tells you its impact. To find more about how your life may alter under permanent DST or Standard Time, check out some websites for additional resources. A good place to begin is one hosted by the Regional Adolescent Sleep Needs Coalition. It can be found at Start School Later - Southeastern Pennsylvania. The site includes links to the latest legislation, related websites, YouTube videos, and publications on the topic. Save Standard Time features a wealth of credible resources complete with charts, graphs, and photographs.

Although the League of Women Voters does not have a stand on this important issue, the topic of time would be ideal for a local, state, and/or national study. Through such a process, different perspectives are reviewed and discussed until a consensus among members is reached. As a result, a position is developed from which advocacy for political action is launched. Time is of the essence. It's up to you to stop, look, and act. The clock is ticking.

HEALTH & WELLNESS Cancer prevention starts with you:

5 tips to reduce your cancer risk. In the past few hundred years, the health care world has made huge strides in understanding cancer. And while a lot of advancements have been made in treating the disease, much of the progress is in reducing your risk of developing it in the first place.

The best way to fight cancer is to take steps to prevent it. Fortunately, many cancer prevention measures are simple. By making small efforts to prevent cancer, you can make big impacts on your health.

1. Eat healthy.

Every day, you make decisions that impact your risk of developing cancer, starting with what and how much you eat.

"Eating healthy improves your overall health, reduces your risk of obesity (another cancer risk factor) and reduces your chances of developing cancer," says Aarti L. Shevade, MD, an oncologist at Main Line Health.

2. Get moving.

Physical activity has a wide range of benefits. It's a known way to control your weight, improve your hormone levels, support your immune system and reduce your risk of cancer.

Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (like walking, biking, gardening or housework) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity (exercise that increases your heart rate, uses your muscles and makes you sweat) each week. Or, you can do a combination of the two.

"No matter what your activity level is now, adding just a little bit of exercise each day can go a long way in keeping you healthy and cancer-free," say Dr Shevade.

3. Don't smoke.

All kinds of tobacco products contain thousands of chemicals—70 of which are known to cause cancer (called carcinogens).

“From nicotine and formaldehyde to arsenic and ammonia, these are just a few of the carcinogens that you inhale with every puff of a cigarette, cigar or pipe,” says Dr. Shevade. “As for e-cigarettes, while they're marketed to be safer, they contain addictive nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals known to cause cancer.”

The best way to protect your health is to quit smoking. And it's never too late to stop. Every day you don't smoke, your health improves, and your risk of cancer decreases.

While HPV isn't treatable, it is preventable—starting with the HPV vaccine. It's most effective when given to children between the ages of 9 and 12, but it can be given up to age 45.

Detecting early signs of cancer

While these steps to reduce your risk of cancer are crucial, it's also important to use cancer screenings to detect any signs of cancer as early as possible. Cancer screening tests are used to find cancer even if you don't have symptoms. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat.

You can also determine your cancer risk based on your genetics. Main Line Health's Genetics and Risk Assessment Program offers consultations for cancer genetics as well as cardiovascular genetics and prenatal genetics. This knowledge can help you and your health care provider make a plan to reduce your risk of developing cancer

With advanced tools and knowledge, cancer prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment are not only possible but are a reliable aspect of health care as we know it.

Main Line Health Cancer Care provides compassionate care through all stages of cancer treatment, from diagnosis through survivorship, for patients throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond.

To schedule an appointment with a Main Line Health cancer specialist, call 1.866.CALL.MLH (225.5654) or visit mainlinehealth.org

A healthy diet includes:

Plenty of fruits and vegetables

Whole grains, such as in bread and pasta, and brown rice

Fiber-rich foods, like beans and peas

Healthy meat options, like fish and poultry

Foods that are not excessively high in calories

A healthy diet limits:

Red meats, such as pork, lamb and beef

Processed meats, such as sausage, bacon, deli meats and hot dogs

Sugary drinks, such as soft drinks and fruit drinks

Highly processed foods and refined grain products, such as white bread and white rice

Alcohol

Following a healthy diet may require some planning, but it's well worth the effort when it comes to cancer prevention.

For help with quitting, Main Line Health's Tobacco Dependency Treatment Program offers free personal sessions to help you stop smoking.

4. Wear sunscreen.

The warmth of the sun on your skin may feel great, but without sunscreen it can be harmful. Most skin cancers are caused by excess sun exposure, particularly ultraviolet (UV) rays. These rays cause damage to your skin cells, which can lead to cancer

Protecting yourself from the sun starts with sunscreen. Before heading outside (in both the summer and winter months), put on a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Make sure to reapply every two hours or after you swim, sweat or use a towel to dry off.

5. Protect against HPV. HPV—or human papillomavirus—is common. In fact, eight out of 10 people will get HPV at some point in their lives. And HPV can go on to cause six different types of cancer.

PET HEALTH & WELL-BEING

How to Avoid Heat Stroke in Pets

Just like us, our pets are affected by high temperatures and on extremely hot days animals can experience heat stroke. This is when animals overheat and their cooling mechanisms no longer function properly. In this event your pet will need to be

How do you treat a heat stroke?

Hospitalization of patients with heat stroke is imperative. Most animals require intensive care and monitoring for a couple of days. Initial treatment involves cooling the patient relatively aggressively, oxygen support and IV fluids. Some patients with severe upper respiratory compromise require a tube placed in the trachea to breathe through. Sedation may be necessary to keep very anxious or hyperactive animals quiet and cool. Broadspectrum IV antibiotics and GI protectants are indicated in most cases. Other specific medications will be used based on the signs/sequella that arise (i.e. antiseizure medications, antiarrhythmics). Blood pressure, ECG and urine output monitoring is important.

Above all the most important thing for owners to understand about heat stroke is that it's an emergency situation. The animal should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment.

What is a heat stroke in animals?

Heat stroke is hyperthermia (high body temperature) that develops when the body's normal cooling mechanisms (mainly panting) are overcome by heat. The body temperatures in these animals are often 106° F and above.

What are some signs of a heat stroke?

Excessive panting and signs of discomfort indicate overheating in dogs. A dog overheating may also be unable or unwilling to move around. Other signs of heatstroke in dogs include drooling, reddened gums, vomiting, diarrhea, mental dullness or loss of consciousness, uncoordinated movement, and collapse.

How long does a heat stroke last?

While heat stroke can happen quickly, there is often a progression from mild heat stress to the more moderate heat exhaustion before reaching the most severe condition of heat stroke.

Cooling during transport with air conditioning and wet towels is a good idea, but delay in getting the animal to the hospital for cooling at home is not recommended. Aggressive care at a veterinary facility will give the best chance of full recovery, but owners must be aware of the possibility of complications and the guarded prognosis from the beginning.

How can heat strokes be best prevented?

To protect your dog from a heat stroke, take the time to learn the signs and symptoms of heat stroke in dogs. Always ensure that your dog has access to water and shade in hot temperatures, and never leave your dog in a hot car even if it is only for “a few minutes”. When temperatures rise beyond what are average, give your dog greater respite from the heat. Modify your dogs exercise routine in hot weather, forego rigorous exercise during heat waves.

Are certain animals more susceptible to heat stroke?

Obese animals and those with thick hair coats are at an increased risk. The brachycephalic (short-nosed) dog breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, etc. are especially predisposed due to breed related upper airway conformation. Dogs with laryngeal paralysis are also at risk. Animals shut in cars without the windows down can suffer from heat stroke even on a cool day.

Willows Park Preserve

Tis the Season, Nesting Season, that is...

residents include two tree swallow families, two house wren families, and three bluebird families. Sadly, there was some drama early in the season as a bluebird couple ousted some chickadees nesting in the Saw Mill Park nest box. The demand for housing clearly exceeds the supply!

the parents. Special training is required to be an active monitor.

Passive monitoring

adjacent Skunk Hollow and Saw Mill Parks you may have noticed the new nest boxes installed on the first “bluebird trail” in Radnor Township. The nest box installation was conducted by the Willows Park Preserve (WPP) in partnership with the Radnor Township Parks and Recreation Department, the Birding Club of Delaware County and the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania (BSP). The trail of nest boxes established in these parks is the only officially-monitored bluebird trail in Radnor Township, meaning that the trail is on the list of trails that are being actively monitored for bluebird activity by the Delaware County chapter of the BSP. The monitoring results for the 2023 nesting season will be incorporated into the DELCO report which, in turn, will be included in Pennsylvania's statewide report.

Bluebird numbers were once in decline but, thanks to the efforts of conservationminded individuals and organizations, their numbers have increased in recent years. A crucial factor contributing to this increase has been the installation of nest boxes on private and public property. Such installations help compensate for the loss of natural habitat due to commercial and residential development, and also competition from non-native bird species such as starlings and house sparrows. Bluebirds are “secondary cavity nesters”, that is, they build nests in cavities previously created by “primary cavity nesters” such as woodpeckers. Unfortunately, there are not enough natural cavities to go around, hence the importance of nest boxes.

Planning for this project began last December and the nest boxes were installed in February, coinciding with the time when male bluebirds begin scouting for nesting sites. If occupancy is an indicator of project success then the new Willows Park Bluebird Trail has exceeded expectations. The “No Vacancy” sign went up weeks ago. All seven nest boxes on the trail have tenants. Of course, bluebirds are not the only secondary cavity nesters attracted to nest boxes. Our Willows Park

As this article goes to print there are eggs or nestlings in all of the nest boxes, and a couple of surprises: in one of the nest boxes a bluebird mama laid 6 white eggs! Bluebird eggs are almost always — you guessed it — blue, but in rare cases (< 5% of the time) a bluebird will lay white eggs. In another one of those “Mother Nature oddities”, a brown-headed cowbird laid an egg in one of the house wren nests. Odd though this may seem, it is not at all uncommon. The cowbird is a so-called “brood parasite.” Instead of building her own nest, the female cowbird will lay an egg in the nest of another bird species, relying on that species to incubate the eggs and raise the young. In essence, the birds of another species become the unwitting foster parents. It can be both comical and oddly touching to watch a small bird feeding a “baby” bird more than twice its size!

If you would like learn more about this bluebird nest box project and/or lend your support, you can send an email to info@willowsparkpreserve.org. You will be connected with Krista Hixon who is overseeing a team of “active” and “passive” monitors. How do these roles differ?

Active monitoring

Active monitors commit to specific days to actively monitor the nest box. This means visiting all of the nest boxes on the trail and opening them to observe what is happening inside. Initially the primary objective is to determine if a bird species is nest building and what species is doing the building. As the nesting season progresses the objective is to ensure the well-being of the nestlings and to address threats that may arise (e.g., ant infestations, wasps). Once there is an active nest, visits should occur between 12pm-3pm to minimize interference with the feeding rhythms of

For passive monitors there is no commitment to a specific day or time and no active nest monitoring (i.e., opening the nest box). Observation of the nest box occurs from a distance with binoculars, ideally in the morning or evenings when bird activity is at its peak. Passive monitors report back on activity observed around the nest box and alert the active monitoring team to any items of interest or concern, taking photos if the situation merits. In the early stages, when nests are being built, the passive monitors can help ID the bird species taking up residence. After the eggs have hatched the passive monitors can be a big help by confirming that the parents are alive and well, and feeding the nestlings. Avian predators (e.g., hawks) and climbing predators (e.g., racoons) are always a concern. If something happens to the parents, the nestlings might survive if they are taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center in time.

Another way to help bluebirds is to install one or more bluebird boxes on your own property (provided that you have suitable habitat). An educational session on becoming a “bluebird landlord” was held at the Willows Mansion in November 2022 and will be repeated again in the Fall of 2023 - an opportune time to plan for the next nesting season. You can stay informed on this and other interesting programs offered year-round at the Willows Mansion by reading the monthly Willows Park Preserve newsletter. If you are not already on the distribution list simply send an email to info@willowsparkpreserve.org requesting to subscribe.

The WPP would like to extend special thanks to Tammy Cohen, Radnor Township Director of Parks and Recreation, and Steve Legerton, Supervisor of Parks Maintenance, for their enthusiastic support of this project. Steve and his team performed the installation of the nestboxes and baffles donated by the Birding Club of Delaware County. They have also graciously accommodated the additional challenges of mowing around the nest boxes!

If you would like to host your next event at the WPP, register for a program, learn about volunteer opportunities, provide financial support, or simply want to learn more about the WPP, please visit our website: www.willowsparkpreserve.org or email us at: info@willowsparkpreserve.org