Abington Township RECENT BOARD ACTIONS • • • • • • • Motion to adopt PennDOT Snow and Ice Agreement, Abington would assume responsibility for winter road maintenance for state owned roadways in our community, on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7:30PM. Bid Authorization for Water Disposal/Transfer Station operation: The Waste System Authority is responsible for the management of the Solid Water Plan for the eastern portion of the County and controls the disposal of all municipal solid waste for the member communities. Adoption of the Wastewater Service Agreement between Cheltenham Township and Abington Township. Public hearing on Ordinance No. 2055- An Ordinance amending Chapter 108- "Nuisances" Section 12"Weeds" Bamboo on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 7:30PM. Ordinance No. 1931 adopted to amend Chapter 65 "Burning." Motion to adopt Resolution No. 14-023 One-Year Action Plan and Community Development Block Grant Budget. Deer Hunt in Karebrook approved for the season from September 20, 2014-January 24, 2015. HOLIDAY CLOSINGS Columbus Day- Monday, October 13th Trash/Newspaper Pick-Up on 14th Veterans’ Day- Tuesday, November 11th Trash/Newspaper Pick-Up on 12th Thanksgiving- Thursday, November 27th Trash/Newspaper Pick-Up on 28th Christmas - Thursday, December 25th Trash/Newspaper Pick-Up on 26th New Year’s Day - Thursday, January 1st Trash/Newspaper Pick-Up on 2nd Martin Luther King, Jr. - Monday, Jan. 19th Trash/Newspaper Pick-Up on 20th Presidents’ Day - Monday February 16th Trash/Newspaper Pick-Up on 17th CONTACT YOUR TOWNSHIP 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Telephone: 267-536-1000 Fax: 215-884-8271 www.abington.org Address: 1176 Old York Road Abington, PA 19001 Public Works/Trash 7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tax Office Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 267-536-1025,1026,1027,1028 Newsletter Fall 2014 Volume 18, Issue 3 RED LIGHT CAMERA ENFORCEMENT Following a two-month warning period in August and September, Red Light Cameras become fully operational on October 1 at three Abington Township intersections where enforcement is most difficult: Old York and Susquehanna Roads, Old York and Old Welsh Roads, and Fitzwatertown and Moreland Roads. The state-mandated fine for redlight running is $100. If an officer were to make a traffic stop for red-light running, the fine would be $127.50, and the driver would incur 3 points; however, no points are incurred with Red Light Camera fines. During August, the first of the two-month warning period, 510 violations were submitted by Gatso, the company providing red light camera technology. Of the total number of violations recorded, Abington Township residents accounted for 26%, and non-residents accounted for 74%. The Abington Police were pleased to report that during this first month for which complete statistics were available at press time, they did not see an increase in rear-end accidents that are sometimes attributed to Red Light Cameras being installed. Abington Traffic Safety Officer Posey reminds citizens to keep a safe distance when driving behind vehicles. The goal of Red Light Cameras is to reduce accidents and injury-related accidents for the safety and wellbeing of the public. ABINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE PREVENTION WEEK OPEN HOUSES: 6:30 P.M.- 8:30 P.M. • Abingt on Fire Company Monday,October 6, 2014 • McKinley Fire Company Tuesday,October 7, 2014 • Roslyn Fire Company Wednes day, October 8, 2014 • Weldon Fire Company Thursday, October 9, 2014 • Edge Hill Fire Company Friday, October 10, 2014 2015 BUDGET MEETINGS Don't Fall for PECO Scam All workshops and meetings are scheduled for 7:30 P.M. 10/10/14 - Budget package forwarded to Commissioners 10/16/14 - Thursday - Budget Workshop 10/23/14 - Thursday - Budget Workshop, Capital 11/13/14 - Thursday - Preliminary Budget Meeting - 7:30 P.M. 11/20/14- Thursday - Budget Workshop as needed 12/18/14 - Thursday - Final Budget Meeting Public Hearing on Millage Ordinance7:30PM All Meeting are held in the boardroom of the Township Building, 1176 Old York Road Abington, PA. Financial Statements for 2013 are on the website under Finance Department. Economic Development Events Keswick Fall Fest Saturday, October 11th Noon to 6pm Rain Date: 10/12 Keswick Trick or Treat Saturday, October 25th 5pm to 7pm Holiday Events : Keswick: Friday 12/5 6-9pm Ardsley Tree Lighting: Saturday 12/6 6PM Roslyn: Sunday 12/7 4-6pm McKinley: Saturday 12/13 4-6pm For Information on Programs Contact Tara 267-536-1002 53rd Annual Specialty Dog Show The Great Dane Club of Pennsylvania invites you to their 53rd Annual Specialty Dog Show on Sunday October 5th at the Abington Friends School on 575 Washington Lane in Jenkintown, PA. Come and see over a hundred of the best Great Danes on the East Coast. Local residents and businesses have been receiving calls from scammers claiming to be representatives of PECO Energy. The callers, who appear to have mostly foreign accents, are telling people that their electric bill is overdue and that they must obtain green dot money cards, or some other prepaid method, and make payment immediately or their service will be shut off. If you receive any calls from someone claiming to represent PECO, do not fall for this rouse! If you believe there is a problem with your PECO account or your bill is overdue, you can contact PECO customer service at 1-800-494-4000. NEW Township Website Coming Soon In 2013, the Board of Commissioners approved a capital budget which included an update to our website. Since then, we have asked for and received public input for suggestions of features and designs for the new website. We have begun developing the website based on those suggestions and the direction of our own internal committee. We hope to have the page live early in 2015. In the meanwhile, we are asking for Abington Township residents to continue to send us your suggestions and your best pictures from community events for our photo galleries. Please send your submissions to [email protected] and stay updated on our township events and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AbingtonTownship. Volunteer Opportunties !!! The Abington Police Athletic League, located at St. John of the Cross School in Roslyn, needs more volunteers to help supervise and mentor young people in sports, arts & crafts, and other programs to help with various jobs at the PAL site. The PAL center is open Fridays or Saturday nights, 7PM-11PM, for those age 11 through grade 12. There are additional volunteer opportunities through Abington Police Department's Community Policing Division. To inquire, call Dave Rondinelli in Abington Community Policing at 267.536.1074. Environmental Advisory Council Workshops Why Rain Barrels? Collect your free rain water to lower your water bill: use for lawn, garden or washing cars ~ Keep rain water runoff out of our streets & sewers to reduce pollution in streams and lower our water treatment and sewage costs ~ learn to make your own barrel. On Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014,10:00 AM at the Township Training Center, 2299 Florey Lane, Abington, PA ★ Attend to get a rain barrel for as low as $25 (instead of $100+) Info at EACAbington.org ★ Custom colors & painted art barrels ★ Directions at http://goo.gl/maps/1tYK8 Green Tip: Please put out your recycling bin only when it is at least half full Energy $aving Expo Find Your Key to $aving Money by $aving Energy Learn how local residents have saved up to 40% on their energy bills. Join us on Monday, November 17, 2014 at 7:00 PM at the Abington Township 1176 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19901 Recycling events at the Township Florey Lane Highway Yard Paper Shred Event on Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 AM to 12 PM Anything with a Plug E-Cycling: Saturday, Nov. 8, 9 AM to 1 PM For more information visit: Abington.org/refuse/index.htm Library Programs Adult Programs: Witches and Vampires and Demons, Oh My! Thursday, October 30, from 7-8:30pm at Abington Library- A discussion of "The All Souls Trilogy" by Deborah Harkness. The Ruth and Robert Abel Memorial Book & Film Discussion Group: Wednesdays at 7pm at Abington Library - Nov 12 "The Secret Scripture" by Sebastian Barry; March 18 " The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt; April 8 "Poetry" by Maya Angelou; May 6 "The Circle" by Dave Eggers. Reducing Stress this Holiday Season through Meditation: at Abington Library on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7pm. This session is being facilitated by Jim Rose. In Book and Film with Jennifer Kurowski: Monday, December 8 at 7pm at Abington LibraryA discussion of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" continues. FREE Blood Pressure Screening: Wednesday December 10, from 10:30am- 11:30am at Abington Free Library. Children's Program: Abington Library Drop-in Story Times- Thursdays, Oct. 2 - May 21 from 11-11:30am led by Jenkintown Kiwanis Club members and library staff. Children must be accompanied by parent/caregiver. (All ages) Teen Book Club- Monday, December 1 from 6:30-7:30pm. Book will be announced. First 10 to sign up will get a free copy of the book! Roslyn Branch Library Pajama Parties- Mondays from 6:30-7:00pm: Nov. 10 and Dec. 15. Stories, songs, finger plays, and crafts. Children are invited to wear their pajamas and bring a stuffed animal to cuddle. Registration begins Sept. 8. (Ages 3-6) Baby Days- Mondays, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1 at 6:30pm. Tuesdays, Nov. 4, Nov. 18 and Dec. 2 at 11am. (Ages 5 months- 2 years) Babies and caregivers will sing songs, read stories, and do finger plays. Registration begins October 13. Friends of Abington and Roslyn Libraries Events Mimi Zabel Jewelry Silent Action- Month of November. Donate now! This is a great opportunity to purge your jewelry box of items you no longer wear and benefit you library. Please drop jewelry donations at the Circulation Desk. Election Day Bake Sale- Tuesday, November 4 contributions of home-baked goods on Nov. 3 or Nov. 4 are needed for this event and will be greatly appreciated. Barnes & Noble Book Fair- Saturday, December 13 at Barnes & Noble, 102 Park Ave in Willow Grove. Activities will be held from 9am-3pm. A percentage of net sales using the voucher number will be donated to Abington and Roslyn Libraries. Responsible and Safe Use of Sewers Article1-2 We have been experiencing increased frequency of sanitary sewer pipe blockages caused by foreign objects such as handy wipes, rags, paper towels and plastic items that are flushed down the toilet. These items MUST be disposed in the trash. The resulting sewer backups caused by these foreign objects result in backflow into basements. PLEASE NEVER flush any of these objects. Remember, the water may flow away from your property, but there are always properties upstream from you which could cause a blockage and backflow into your basement. Please respect your neighbors by not flushing these objects and never draining oils into the sink to prevent blockages. Shade Tree News We need Tree Tenders! The Abington Township STC seeks assistance with tree inventory, bare root tree planting, mulching and light pruning throughout the year. No prior experience is needed. We will train you. Key dates include: "Let's Talk Trees" Mondays, September 22 and October 6, 7:00 to 8:30 PM Join the conversation with other local residents interested in learning and greening Abington Township at the Abington Township Public Library. Please register in advance at: http://abingtonfreelibrary.org/events/361 Bare Root Tree Pickup and Planting- Saturday, November 15, 10 AM to 4 PM Assist residents with tree pickup and planting, or support a project to plant street and park trees- your choice! Grove House, 1383 N. Easton Road, Roslyn PA 19001 Tree Tending- Ongoing, scheduled according to volunteer availability Team up with an existing member of the STC to mulch and prune young street trees throughout the township. Suitable for youth group service projects PHS Tree Tenders - Basic Training, Philadelphia- This 3- part class runs 10/8, 10/15 & 10/22 from 5:45 -9 PM The PHS Tree Tenders program offers hands-on tree care training and covers tree biology, identification, planting, proper care, and working within your community. Available for ISA, PA LA, Act 48 and PLNA credit. Register at: http://phsonline.org/events/phs-tree-tenders-basic-training-philadelphia Annual Arbor Day Celebration and Watercolor Exhibition- Saturday, April 25, 2015, 10 AM to 3 PM Plant and tend trees & sharpen garden tools plus enjoy the second annual watercolor art exhibition! Grove House, 1383 N. Easton Road, Roslyn PA 19001 Please join us! Contact Rita Stevens at [email protected] or 215.435.2781 Radio City Christmas Spectacular Featuring the Rockettes The Bureau of Parks & Recreation has arranged for a 56-passenger bus to leave from Alverthorpe Park on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 7:00 A.M., arriving in New York at approximately 9:15 A.M. Showtime is 2:00 P.M. Before the show you will be on your own to tour the city. Promptly after the show we will board the buses to return to Alverthrope Park at approximately 7:00PM . Cost is $97.00 per person (Transportation & Show Ticket). Register in person at Alverthorpe Manor, Mon.-Fri. 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. or by mailing the form and fees to: Abington Parks & Recreation. 515 Meetinghouse Road Jenkintown, PA 19046 For more information: Phone: 215-576-5213 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ABINGTON.ORG/ PARKSREC Tethering Ordinance S 58-2. Rules and Regulations for the tethering of dogs outdoors. It shall be unlawful for any person to tether, fasten, chain, tie, restrain, or allow a dog in such person's care or located on such person's property to be fastened, chained, tied or restrained by means of a rope, chain, strap, or other physical restraint in a matter that: Deprives the dog from access to necessary sustenance or clean water; or Deprives the dog from access to sanitary shelter which will protect the animal from inclement weather in such manner as will allow the dog to remain dry and retain its proper bodily temperature; or Prevents the dog from having the ability to rest in an area that is reasonably safe and sanitary; or Prevents the dog from being able to move around an area that is reasonable in size, based on the size of the animal and the area that is otherwise available for the dog's movement; or Uses an anchor, latch or similar tethering device which enables the tether to become entangled around any object so as to limit the dog's freedom from within the tethered area or causes the dog, or any of its appendages, to become entangled by the tether; or Otherwise creates a condition that is cruel, unsafe, unsanitary, inhumane or otherwise creates an immediate danger to the life and health of such animal. Reminder: All dogs are required to be vaccinated for rabies, licensed, and on a leash when they are off of their owner's property. Briar Bush Nature Center Autumn Fest FREE seasonal festival at Briar Bush. Come enjoy hikes, crafts, animal shows and more. Great for the whole family! Sunday, October 26 from 1-4:00 P.M. Billy Jonas Band Concert Benefit concert for Briar Bush Nature Center at Mitchell Performing Arts Center on November 2 at 3:00 P.M. Tickets are $5 per person; children under 2 are free. Register online at www.briarbush.org. Feather Our Nest Join us for dinner, drinks, live and silent auctions, DJ, and unique entertainment at Keneseth Israel Synagogue on Saturday, November 1 at 6:30 PM. Commissioner Walks Join Commissioner Thomas Farren at Baderwood Park, Highland and Ghost Road in Abington on Saturday, November 8 at 9-10:30 A.M. Join the Conversation Alternate Perspectives: How different cultures view the environment Join Robert Dostal, professor of Environmental Ethics at Bryn Mawr College, for a look at the role culture plays in one's environmental perspective on Wednesday, November 19 7:00 P.M.-8:30 P.M. Board of Commissioners Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4 Ward 5 Ward 6 Ward 7 Ward 8 Ward 9 Ward 10 Ward 11 Ward 12 Ward 13 Ward 14 Ward 15 Vice Pres., Steven N Kline Michael Markman Lawrence F. Jones, Jr. Jimmy DiPlacido President Wayne C. Luker Stephen J. Kalinoski Benjamin V. Sanchez Peggy Myers Dennis C. Zappone Thomas Hecker John L.Spiegelman Thomas J. Farren, Sr. Carol E. Gillespie Lori A. Schreiber Thomas Bowman [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Daylight Saving Time As you turn your clocks back on November 2nd, please remember to replace your smoke detector’s batteries. If your smoke detector is older than 8 years, please replace it with a fresh one. Residential Rain Gardens Rain Gardens are shallow, planted depressions that are designed to absorb water from your roof, allowing it to drain directly into the soil. Typically, a downspout from your home is disconnected from the storm sewer system and diverted into the rain garden, which can prevent hundreds of gallons per year from entering the Township's storm sewer system and help to decrease the pollution in our community streams. Rain gardens are one of the most cost effective ways to manage storm water runoff and can be a beautiful addition to your existing landscape design. What is Rain Garden? A rain garden is a planted shallow depression designed to catch and filter rainfall runoff. The water sinks into the ground, aided by deep rooted plants that like wet and dry conditions. A residential rain garden should dry out between rains and should only hold water for one day (24 hrs). This timeframe prevents standing water that could create mosquito habitat. How to Build a Rain Garden Find the Right Location: Near a downspout or in a low spot were water collects. Size the Rain Garden: To capture flow from a 1-inch rain falling on the drainage area. Prepare the Garden Bed: Dig out the bed and mix the soil with sand compost. Plant Attractive Native Species: Plant drier species on the perimeter and wetter species in the interior of the garden. Perform Care and Maintenance: Water plants, mulch, prune and weed as you would any garden. Get more information The Township Engineer's office has a beautiful manual on building a rain garden available for $10.00. Check out the following websites: www.phillywatersheds.org; www.ttfwatershed.org; www.wvwa.org/.
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