An industry focused on death faces an existential crisis

An industry focused on death faces an existential crisis

Strathroy | Istock | Getty Images For nearly a century, John Dioguardi’s family has been making custom headstones and other memorial markers at Rome Monument in western Pennsylvania. Recently, he’s wondered how much time his business has left. Dioguardi has been trying to adapt for more than a decade as the rise in cremations has … Read more

Windows Broken Into Become Earrings in One Woman’s Quest to Keep Glass Out of Landfills

Windows Broken Into Become Earrings in One Woman’s Quest to Keep Glass Out of Landfills

Sydney Jones in front of her Odd Commodity stall – credit, oddcommodityshop.com Car break-ins in the Bay Area are down, but not out. From each one of these ugly surprises, local artisan Sydney Jones creates a surprising amount of beauty. Using a kitchen-top kiln, she takes advantage of safety glass’ crystalline structure to quickly turn … Read more

Community Rallies to Protect Local Cobbler Until Supermarket Cancels Plans to Expand

Community Rallies to Protect Local Cobbler Until Supermarket Cancels Plans to Expand

Alan Macdonald, of Bishop Cleeve – credit, Tom Wren / SWNS When a corporate shoe repair chain wanted to open a location in a Gloucestershire, town, locals rallied in a signature gathering campaign to protect their local cobbler. An example of small-town sanctity, a petition to reject the corporate newcomer was promoted on social media … Read more