Listening to Lancaster

For this episode of Listening to Lancaster Hourglass was joined by Kate Austin, Green Infrastructure Asset Coordinator for the City of Lancaster. Lancaster City created a 25-year Green Infrastructure Plan in 2011 to help reduce pollution from its combined sewer system overflows. Today the city has more than 70 green infrastructure projects that manage 50 million gallons of stormwater annually, with a goal of ultimately managing 80 million gallons. Learn more from Kate about local examples of green infrastructure, how they are helping the city meet a Consent Decree with the EPA, and what the future has in store for Lancaster City’s green infrastructure.

For this episode of Listening to Lancaster Hourglass was joined by Cody Kiefer, the new Urban Forester for the City of Lancaster. Lancaster’s urban forest includes trees in public areas and on private property, including along its streets, in its parks and open spaces, in backyards, and on the grounds of commercial and institutional establishments. These trees provide many benefits, including ecosystem services that are important for the City to meet the EPA’s mandate to reduce combined sewer overflows. Cody is currently inventorying the City’s trees (there are 11,500 in public spaces alone!), developing a master plan, and working on some exciting initiatives for the future.

For this episode of Listening to Lancaster Hourglass was joined by Todd Roy, President of the Conestoga River Club. Todd gave us the scoop on the new Conestoga Water Trail Rehabilitation Plan, a study and comprehensive planning effort for environmental and recreational improvements along 30 miles of the Conestoga stretching from Brownstown to Safe Harbor.

For this episode of Listening to Lancaster Hourglass was joined by Adriana Atencio, Co-Executive Director, and John Hursh, Spring Fling Board Chair, of The Common Wheel. We spoke about all things bikes– Lancaster’s bike infrastructure, Vision Zero, National Bike Month and more! If you’ve ever wondered how we can make Lancaster a better community through the energy and equity of bikes, this interview is you. Enjoy!

For this edition of Listening to Lancaster Hourglass was joined by Ramon Escudero, Executive Director of F&M’s Center for Sustained Engagement with Lancaster. Ramon talks about the focus areas for the center, including poverty & social inequality, environmental sustainability, social practice and community-based art, and current projects being funded by the center or led by faculty or students. Enjoy this informative interview!

For this installment of Listening to Lancaster the Hourglass was joined by Alisa Jones (President & CEO) and Jackie Concepcion (VP of Community Impact) from Union Community Care. They discussed the merger of Lancaster Health Center and Welsh Mountain Health Center to create Union Community Care. The conversation also touched on issues related to social determinants of health and the COVID-19 pandemic. Enjoy!