Montgomery County is pleased to host a one day sale on rain barrels and compost bins:
Greater Plymouth Community Center
2910 Jolly Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA
Saturday May 19th, 2012
8:00 am until 3:00 pm
Tag: environment
bookmark_borderEnter the Philadelphia Recycling Contest
Win free groceries for a year.
Win a trip to Florida.
Philadelphia Recycling Rewards Sweepstakes
OFFICIAL RULES
The Philadelphia Recycling Rewards Sweepstakes (the “Philly Sweepstakes” or “Sweepstakes”) begins at 12:01 a.m. EST on April 1, 2012 (the “Philly Sweepstakes Start Date”) and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on June 30, 2012 (the “Philly Sweepstakes End Date”) (such period referred to herein as the “Philly Sweepstakes Period”). The Philly Sweepstakes is sponsored by
Recyclebank, LLC (“Recyclebank”, or the “Sponsor”).
1. HOW TO ENTER:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
To enter the Philly Sweepstakes, participants must take any of four (4) actions available on Recyclebank’s website, www.recyclebank.com. Participants will receive one (1) entry for every action taken:
Register for a Recyclebank account.
Refer-a-friend who becomes a member of Recyclebank (referred friends must become members of the Recyclebank website during the Philly Sweepstakes Period in order for the referral to count as an entry).
Earn points for recycling or through other actions made available on Recyclebank’s website.
Redeem points for rewards on Recyclebank’s website. You may also redeem points for rewards via the Recyclebank Customer Care Center.
To enter the Philly Sweepstakes by mail, print your first and last name, complete address, city, state, zip code, daytime telephone number, date of birth, and e-mail address (if available) on a three-by-five-inch card. Put the card in an envelope, affix first-class postage, and send it to Recyclebank at the address provided under Section 7. No illegible, incomplete, forged or altered
entries will be accepted. All entries must be received by Recyclebank. Sweepstakes entry limited to one (1) entry per post-card. Multiple Sweepstakes entries through multiple post-cards or multiple actions as described above are permitted. Mechanically reproduced entries not accepted.
All entries become the property of Recyclebank and will not be returned.
Participation in the Philly Sweepstakes is voluntary and does not require you to purchase anything from Recyclebank. All entries are subject to Recyclebank’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
2. PHILLY SWEEPSTAKES PRIZES:
Grand Prize: One (1) grand prize winner will receive one (1) year of free groceries from one of the following grocery stores: Whole Foods, Shop Rite and Fresh Grocer. Maximum prize value is $5,000.
First Prize: Ten (10) first prize winners will receive twelve (12) monthly Septa transit passes. Approximate retail value of each pass is $83. Total approximate retail value of each first prize is $996.
Alternatively, first prize winners may opt to receive $500 cash, in lieu of the Septa transit passes.
Second Prize: Twenty (20) winners will receive a $100 Gift Card from Target to be provided either via email or hard copy. Total approximate retail value of each second prize is $100.
The odds of winning are affected by the number of eligible entries received by Recyclebank during the Philly Sweepstakes Period. Total approximate retail value of all Philly Sweepstakes
prizes: $16,960 (actual value may vary). Allow 3-4 weeks after validation of arrangement for receipt of prize. The actual number of prizes awarded is based on the number of eligible entries received. There is no substitution, cash equivalent or transfer of prizes allowed except where specified. Winners will be solely responsible for all other expenses not specifically set forth herein. Recyclebank reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. No other substitution or transfer of prizes permitted. Recyclebank is responsible only for prize delivery; not responsible for prize utility, quality or otherwise. In order to receive a prize, winner may be required to provide proof of identification. Any and all taxes on any prize, including income and/or sales taxes, are the sole responsibility of the winners. However, Recyclebank may elect to cover all or a portion of such tax liability, in Recyclebank’s sole and absolute discretion.
3. ELIGIBILITY:
The Sweepstakes is only open to legal residents of the United States who reside within the city limits of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry. Entries are limited to individuals only; commercial enterprises and business entities are not eligible. By participating in the Sweepstakes, each participant accepts the conditions stated in these Official Rules, agrees to be bound by the decisions of the Sponsor and warrants that she/he is eligible to participate in the Philly Sweepstakes, as applicable. Employees, independent contractors, officers, and directors of the Sponsor, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, and fulfillment agencies, legal advisors, and their immediate family members and persons living
in the same household, are not eligible to participate in the Sweepstakes.
THE SWEEPSTAKES IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW and is subject to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
4. SELECTION OF WINNERS:
Twice during the Philly Sweepstakes Period, and once after the Philly Sweepstakes End Date, the Sponsor will randomly select the winners. Winners will be selected from all eligible entries received at the time of the drawing. Drawings for the prizes will occur as follows:
Drawing #1: Based on entries received through April 30, 2012
Two (2) first prize winners
Five (5) second prize winners
Drawing #1 winners will be announced by May 20, 2012.
Drawing #2: Based on entries received through May 31, 2012
Two (2) first prize winners
Five (5) second prize winners
Drawing #2 winners will be announced by June 20, 2012.
Grand Prize Drawing: Based on entries received through June 30, 2012
One (1) grand prize winner
Six (6) first prize winners
Ten (10) second prize winners
Grand Prize winners will be announced by July 20, 2012.
The winners for the Philly Sweepstakes will be notified by e-mail using the information provided when the participant entered the Philly Sweepstakes. Such notification shall include instructions for proper acceptance of the prizes by the winners. In the event a winner does not accept a prize, a winner is ineligible, or the prize or prize notification is not deliverable, an alternate winner may
be selected. The Sponsor is not responsible for and shall not be liable for late, lost, misdirected or unsuccessful efforts to notify a winner. The winners agree to Sponsor’s use of their name, address, likeness, and/or prize information for promotional purposes in any medium without additional compensation to the extent permitted by law. Where lawful, the winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release of Liability, and Publicity Release (the “Release”). If the winner is a minor, the Release must be completed by the minor’s parent or legal guardian. Upon a Sweepstakes entry being selected, all other entries submitted by that
participant shall be disqualified for any further prizes other than the Grand Prize.
5. CONDITIONS: The Sponsor, and its respective agents, directors, officers, shareholders, employees, insurers, servants, parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, predecessors, successors, representatives, advertising, promotion, and fulfillment agencies, and legal advisors (the “Released Entities”), are not responsible for, shall not be liable for, and hereby disclaim all liability arising from or relating to: (i) late, lost, delayed, damaged, misdirected, misaddressed, incomplete, or unintelligible entries; (ii) telephone, electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, computer or other malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind, whether human or technical; (iii) failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer or e-mail transmissions; (iv) any condition caused by events beyond the control of the Sponsor; (v) any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of any prize, or any portion thereof that may have been awarded, or acceptance, possession, or use of any prize, or any portion thereof that may have been awarded, or from participation in the Sweepstakes; or (vi) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend, modify or cancel the Sweepstakes or any component of the Sweepstakes should any unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond the Sponsor’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. In the event that proper administration of the Sweepstakes is prevented by such causes as contemplated above, the Sponsor will pick the winners from all eligible, non-suspect entries received prior to such action. By participating in the Sweepstakes, participants and winners agree to release, discharge and hold harmless the Released Entities, and all others associated with the development and execution of the Sweepstakes, from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind arising out of or relating to the Sweepstakes, participation in the Sweepstakes, any prize, or any portion thereof that may have been awarded, and/or acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, or any portion thereof that may have been awarded, including but not limited to statutory and common law claims for misappropriation or participant’s right of publicity. This Sweepstakes shall be governed by New York law. By participating in this Sweepstakes, participants agree that New York courts shall have jurisdiction over any dispute or litigation arising from or relating to this Sweepstakes and that venue shall be only in New York, New York.
6. WINNERS LIST: To obtain the first name, last initial, city and state of the Philly Sweepstakes winners after the Philly Sweepstakes End Date, send a separate self-addressed, stamped envelope marked “Philly Recycling Rewards Sweepstakes Winners List” to the
Sponsor. Requests for the winners list must be received no later than ninety (90) days from the Sweepstakes End Date (residents of Vermont and Washington need not include return postage).
7. SPONSOR: Recyclebank LLC
Philly Sweepstakes
95 Morton Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10014
8. NOTICE: The Sponsor reserves the right to prosecute and seek damages against any individual who attempts to deliberately undermine the proper operation of the Sweepstakes in violation of these Official Rules and/or criminal and/or civil law.
Copyright © 2011 Recyclebank, LLC. All rights reserved. Recyclebank and the associated logos are trademarks of Recyclebank, LLC. Any other trademarks in these Official Rules are used for prize identification purposes ONLY and are the properties of their respective owners.
bookmark_borderAmbler News On The Environment
BARE ROOTS TREES
If you or your neighbors want a bare roots tree, they would need to be planted on April 27 or 28 and need to be within 10′ of a sidewalk or street curb. $20 shared cost. Property owners need to call me before Feb 23 to claim one. 215-591-1551.
BOTTOM DOLLAR
Plans were submitted to the Zoning Hearing Board Thursday night. ZHB postponed their deliberations until Feb 21, when they do not intend to take more public input. I urged them not to approve a monument sign size increase that would stand 8′ tall and 4 feet wide at the entrance near Serrao’s State Insurance property. There will also be a high and tall name of the store on the front flush wall of the store. They believe that the store will be out of the flood level but they are only planning using the 100-year flood levels of old mapping. Because of vegetation, they will be reducing impervious surface by 49 square feet.
The plan shows an addition of 21 trees, with 6 internal tree islands, and 15 along Butler and the two entrances.
There seem to be traffic conflicts with delivery trucks which will entail driving into the parking area and then backing (beep-beep-beep) into a loading dock very near Cone Heads. They will have about 45 employees, 25-30 part-time positions. Store hours will be open 7:00 Am to 10:00 PM — 7 days a week. They will share parking with the beer store. There is a culvert for Tannery Run that cuts through the middle of the 3 combined properties. Recent TV investigations revealed there were no weaknesses or need of repairs.
BILLBOARDS — 3rd party advertising
MC Outdoors, a company that sells billboard advertising, has signed a lease with the owners of the property where Shell/Dunkin Donuts are merely tenants. The owners are Bronson Oil of NJ. The lease is for 29 years pending compliance with a new ordinance that Ambler has to write. Ambler has 3 more months to create our ordinance. MC Outdoors wants a billboard more than 668 square feet (56 feet tall, 14 feet wide) It would be installed along the back wall of the property to be seen by traffic from both directions of Bethlehem Pike. The LRB Club turned down a similar lease.
Neighbors from Upper Dublin and Lower Gwynedd showed up to try to stop this before more of the same gets to their townships along Bethlehem. A staff from Todd Stevens office is trying to get something to limit billboards through state actions.
The Council are not in favor of any billboards, but the Supreme Court has ruled that these companies have Right to make a living. The Borough can restrict the location, size and frequency of billboards. Another township lost its appeal to allow only 25 square foot signage. Joe Bresnan, solicitor, will draw up a test ordinance that although painful, may be the biggest size that the borough can tolerate. If it is appealed, the extra court costs could run $200,000 (there is no lawyer cost since Bresnan is on retainer), so Bresnan recommended the Council accept the largest area that they could tolerate.
I urged them to prevent billboards ( i.e. off-premises advertising) from being allowed to be erected on roofs.
TEMPLE AMBLER FLOODPLAIN STUDY
The Borough was approached to contribute some amount toward a study of the Rose Valley Creek true flood plains with identification of places for beneficial remediation. I urged Council to contribute SOMETHING.
All residents who suffered flood damage will receive some small reimbursement through Borough administered FEMA funds (a total amount of $3,000 will be divided equally among all claimants.)
UPDATING LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT PLANS to remove any invasive species
Still in progress!
RATE INCREASE
The Borough is filing with Public Utilities Commission for a rate increase. It will likely be 10 months before it goes in effect. The PUC (Pennsylvania Utilities Commission) governs the water and sewer rates for Ambler. The borough CAN NOT increase rates without the approval of the PUC there is a great deal that goes into the borough getting a rate hike and it can take years. These rates will increase for those who have accounts with the borough water department. These are usually the property owners but can be a renter. Remember the borough water department services Ambler, parts of Upper Dublin, Lower Gwynedd, Whitemarsh, and Whitpain.