Enter the Philadelphia Recycling Contest

April 12th, 2012

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.

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Come To Pennypack Park to I.D. & Sample Plants!

April 12th, 2012

Saturday, April 14, 2012 2:00 PM

Peter Kurtz, Pennypack’s Environmental Education Specialist, will lead this tour: Herbs & Greens from Field, Forest, Lawn & Garden

More About Edible Plants

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Have a Gasket or Washer Problem? Call Gasket Solutions

March 15th, 2012

PHILADELPHIA’S GASKET SOLUTIONS COMPANY IS AN INDEPENDENT FLUID SEALING COMPANY ENGAGING IN THE MANUFACTURING OF QUALITY GASKETS FOR EVERY PURPOSE.

We have been in business since 1987

GASKETS · WASHERS · PACKING · SEALS


BRAND NAME GASKETS


ISC, GARLOCK, CHESTERTON, RM, KLINGER, DURABLA, CRANE, ROBCO


BOILER GASKETS


FIBERGLASS ROPE, HANDHOLE AND MANHOLE GASKETS, KAOWOOL
TADPOLE TAPE, KITS FOR CLEAVER-BROOKS, SUPERIOR, ETC.


GASKETS & WASHERS


CUSTOM MADE GASKETS & WASHERS – MADE TO MIL SPECIFICATIONS

gasket and washer materials:

FOOD GRADE, BUNA N, CORK, EPDM, FELT, FIBERGLASS, ASBESTOS, GRAPHOIL, METALLIC, MIL-SPEC, NEOPRENE, RED RUBBER, SILICONE, SPONGE, SYNTHETIC, TEFLON, TOPOG-E, URETHANE, VEGETABLE FIBER, VITON®

construction:

CLOTH-INSERTED, COMPRESSED, DIE CUT, ENVELOPE, HOMOGENOUS,
KISS CUT, METALLIC, MOLDED, ROPE, SPIRAL-WOUND, TADPOLE TAPE,
WOVEN CLOTH & TAPE


COMPRESSION PACKING


material:

FOOD GRADE, GFO, CARBON GRAPHITE, FLAX, KEVLAR, METALLIC
MIL-SPEC, SYNTHETIC, TEFLON, TUX, ASBESTOS

construction:

BRAIDED, DIE-FORMED, LAMINATED, WRAPPED, JACKETED, WIRE-INSERTED


HYDRAULIC-PNEUMATIC SEALS


DUCK AND RUBBER, LEATHER, MIL-SPEC, O-RING, PISTON CUP, POLY PAK
ROD WIPER, SPRING, ENERGIZED, TEFLON, U-CUP, U-RING, V-RING (CHEVRON SETS)

Viton® is a registered trademark of DuPont Dow Elastomers.


**** PLEASE CONTACT US FOR ALL YOUR GASKET AND SEALING NEEDS ****

511 Gates Street – Philadelphia, PA 19128

PHONE: (800) 721-8033 · FAX: (215) 508-3404

Email us at isc87@aol.com

Visit Our Website

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2012 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure

February 2nd, 2012

First, I encourage you to please view this video message from Founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, regarding the recent changes to Komen granting strategy. I also remind you that, like you, the Philadelphia Affiliate is concerned about these changes and are in discussion with Komen National Headquarters to do all we can to protect you our loyal supporters and all you invest in our work here at home. Then please continue to read this month’s news from the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate…

It’s February… and love is in the air. So is the 2012 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure!

As we enter the heart of Race season, your lives as keepers of the Komen Promise will be awash with appeals to register, fundraise, support others … and you will delve more deeply into what it is you hope to achieve in your personal breast cancer mission.

The inundation of love occurring around February 14 has me thinking how perfect love is for empowering our breast cancer movement. It’s an emotion possessed by all of us. It’s so pure and naturally achieved… requiring no thinking, planning, reasoning, hard work or ’stressing’ to experience it in its fullness. Even just a smidgen of love can put everything into focus, reminding us of what really matters.

And so, In the midst of all our Race activity, my message to you is simply: return to the basics of LOVE. Let love provide your focus. Let love inspire your activism. Love of the men and women in your lives today. Love for your granddaughters, and great-grandchildren you have yet to meet. Love for yourself.

I assure everyone, if you don’t worry so much about the what, where, when and how of your activism – but instead let your love illuminate your path – that love will manifest itself in beautiful ways that bring our community, as well as our world, ever closer to an end to breast cancer forever.

Whatever Valentine’s Day means to you, I truly hope you experience the full joy of receiving – and giving – love with those who matter most.

With thanks and love,

Elaine I. Grobman
Chief Executive Officer

RACE UPDATES
Focus on Registration – for the Race, for the Kids Dash, for the Fun & Fulfillment!

You may have noticed, for this year’s Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure, we’re ‘coming on strong’ to motivate EVERYONE to officially register for the Race. Yes, we love to see Eakins Oval awash in Race-goers every Mother’s Day. However, three simple facts are all we need to stress why registration is so critical:
If everyone who came out to last year’s Race actually registered, we would have raised an additional estimated $2,695,000.
Through our Community Grants Program, $2,695,000 could potentially fund 21,560 mammograms.
Last year, it’s estimated 100,000 PA women in need of a mammogram did not have access to one.
So, you see, registration DOES make a measurable difference. And we’ve got great motivations for every age and type of breast cancer activist to register officially this year:
Volunteers: be inspired by a heartfelt message from fellow volunteer & 2012 Race Co-Chairperson, Rick Brown
Kids: read about our February Sponsor Spotlight featuring the UnitedHealthcare’s Kids for the Cure: Dash to Make a Difference and Children’s Funfest
Perks Lovers: Everyone who registers benefits from the V.I.P. green!
In-Person Fans: From Macy’s to the Phillies & more, we have tons of convenient opportunities for you to register plus get your Race materials on the spot.
RACE TEAMS

Team Rallies Keep Rolling with Our First-ever Fundraising Fair.

First, we thank Cancer Treatment Centers of America, our Champion Sponsor of the Promise, for, once again, hosting an incredible, inaugural Team Rally for our Race for the Cure season. Please take time to experience and be inspired by this Rally of Champions with our Rally photo gallery and the First Commandments of Race Participation offered by some of our top fundraisers and Team Captains.

Secondly, we call all Team captains, members and Race volunteers to “Step Right Up!” to our first-ever FUNDRAISING FAIR, taking place at our second Team Rally on February 21 at Chapman Nissan. The concept is simple: we give you free ‘Komen Cash’ to spend, and you experience the fundraising fun and fundamentals! No matter what the size of your team, the Fundraising Fair has fabulous ideas and learning ‘by example’ to help make this a stellar Race season for everyone.

Check out all the exciting details and R.S.V.P. now.

Thank you to the Chapman Auto Stores family for opening their venue to us, as well as providing all our Rally food, beverages and accommodations.

AFFILIATE NEWS

Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Expands Our Service Area to 15 Counties.

We are proud and very happy to announce that the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate’s request to expand our service to include Adams and Lebanon Counties, PA was recently approved by Komen National headquarters.

Our expansion initiative was motivated by the fact that the two new counties previously had no formal Komen representation, and there is a measurable need for breast health services in many of their communities – with statistics showing that more than one-third of the women living in Adams and Lebanon counties are not receiving recommended breast cancer screenings. Moreover, a steady growth of Affiliate resources will allow us to provide the new counties with the same quality of services we’ve been delivering to our other thirteen counties for years.

We thank all of you for helping to make this new chapter in our history possible – for it is due to your loyal support, growing generosity and devoted volunteerism that we can expand our service to Adams and Lebanon Counties, as well as continue to serve the other thirteen counties relying on us to lead them into a world without breast cancer.

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Abraham Lincoln Union Open House

January 27th, 2012

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Union League of Philadelphia, founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln, will host its annual Open House on Saturday February 4, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited to stay after the open house for a special presentation by Bob O’Connor, author and historian, “Ward Hill Lamon: Abraham Lincoln’s personal bodyguard.”

The Open House and the Ward Lamon program are free and open to the public.

O’Connor, who lives in Charles Town, West Virginia, has ortrayed Lamon in programs at schools, historical venues, and civic organizations in six states. He has authored the only account of Lamon’s life, a historical fiction book called “The Virginian Who Might Have Saved Lincoln.” He also has edited the only book Lamon ever wrote, “The Life of Abraham Lincoln As President,” written in the 1880s but never published. Mr. O’Connor found the manuscript in the Huntington Library in California and purchased the rights to publish it. He added over 1700 footnotes. The book was published for the first time in December 2010.

Ward Hill Lamon is largely a forgotten figure in history, according to O’Connor. “He was born just a few miles from where I live, and moved to Danville, Illinois at age 18. There he became a new attorney assigned to the 8th Circuit Court where Abraham Lincoln was a long established lawyer. Lamon and Lincoln were law partners from 1852-1856, defending 114 cases in Vermilion County, Illinois. Lincoln took Lamon with him to Washington and became the unofficial presidential bodyguard. Lamon was with Mr. Lincoln every single day of his presidency until Tuesday,
April 11, 1865, when the president sent Lamon on a special assignment.

Lamon did not want to leave Mr. Lincoln unguarded, as he felt there was still danger. The Lincolns went to Ford’s Theater on April 14 in spite of Lamon’s urging that he not leave the White House, and the rest is history.”

O’Connor thinks Lamon is overlooked by historians. “He was probably Abraham Lincoln’s most trusted friend. He had more access to President Lincoln during the Civil War than anyone else. To say he is an insignificant character is quite outlandish.”

O’Connor, speaking as Ward Lamon, will tell of his friendship with
Abraham Lincoln, personal experiences they had, and the tragic loss of his life-long friend. At the end of the program, Mr. Lamon will take questions and will answer them in character.

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Benefit Dinner For Occupy Philadelphia

January 25th, 2012
You are invited to a dinner
to benefit

Occupy Philadelphia

Friday, February 10, 2012
6:00 p.m.
at the Friends Center
1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia
*a children’s program will be provided.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Philadelphians have quietly supported
Occupy Philadelphia from the background. Though the encampment has been disbanded for the winter, Occupy Philadelphia continues to meet daily to plan and strategize the ongoing movement. This gala evening is an opportunity for quiet supporters to meet one another, celebrate the accomplishments of Occupy Philadelphia, and learn new ways to add our energy and power
to the movement for economic justice.

Our Program
6:00 Hors d’oeuvres
6:30 Briefing on Occupy Philadelphia
6:50 Dinner: Prepared and served by Occupiers for Occupiers
8:30 After-dinner discussions and opportunities to organize
_____________

Please pay online with a credit card at http://occudinner.eventbrite.com
If you prefer to pay by check, please make checks payable to Occupy Philadelphia 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 and Contact occudinner@occupyphillyga.net or Call (215) 821-8021 to reserve your seat at the table. ­­­­­­­­­­­­
__________________________
Proceeds will benefit:
Occupy organizing and direct action • Fliers and direct action posters
Bail fund • Food Working Group
Please forward this invitation onto family, friends, supporters, and all those who are interested in learning more about Occupy Philadelphia.
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Philadelphia Orchestra 155th Anniversary Concert

January 23rd, 2012

The Philadelphia Orchestra returns once again for a performance in the magnificent Academy of Music for the 155th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, January 28, 2012. Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin will make his Academy of Music debut conducting The Philadelphia Orchestra, with special guests multiple Grammy Award-winners singer/pianist Diana Krall and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Tipping its hat once again to the first Academy Anniversary Concert, the program will be a mix of orchestral repertoire and popular music.

The Anniversary Concert is produced by Wayne Baruch and Charles F. Gayton, who have produced the Academy Anniversary concerts since 2007.

Concert-only tickets are available at $200 and are located in the Amphitheatre level. Concert-only tickets can be purchased by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215.893.1999

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Philadelphia See The Light

January 19th, 2012

Philadelphia, PA – The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) has implemented two ordinances designed to encourage the use of solar panels systems in Philadelphia. Sponsored by Councilman Jim Kenney, the two ordinances amend the Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code to greatly reduce the costs of securing both electrical permits and building permits for solar panel systems (also known as photovoltaic systems).

Licenses and Inspections Commissioner Fran Burns stated, “These changes are not only part of the ongoing reform and focus on supporting business development, but also a step towards ensuring a sustainable and competitive future for Philadelphia and its residents. I am excited to support this energy option since solar panel systems decrease dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the risks of rising energy costs in the long-run.”

Commenting, Councilman Jim Kenney said, “Today we move Philadelphia in the right direction, towards a more sustainable and greener future, while also encouraging economic development and job creation. As we continue down this green path, we must be open to further innovation and development of cleaner fuel sources.”

Passed by Council and signed into law by Mayor Nutter in the 2011 Term, Bills 110533 and 110829 amend the Code to exclude the costs of solar panels and inverters in calculating electrical permit and building permit fees when a photovoltaic system is installed.

In 2009, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability released the landmark Greenworks report, setting a variety of sustainability goals, including a key target of purchasing and generating 20 percent of electricity used in Philadelphia from alternative energy sources. The passage and implementation of these code amendments are important steps towards meeting the vision of Greenworks — to make Philadelphia the Greenest City in the United States.

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Serving the Youth of Northeast Philadelphia

January 19th, 2012

On Saturday, January 21, 2012, Cub Scouts from all over Northeast Philadelphia will gather at Wissinoming Park, (5801 Frankford Avenue) for the Annual Roosevelt District, Cub Scout Klondike Derby. This year’s theme is;
A Hillbilly Hoedown in Dogpatch. The day’s program will run from 9 a.m. until completion.

At the Boy Scout level a Klondike Derby is a winter skills competition which pits troops and patrols against each other and the elements as they test their knowledge of camping, cooking, first aid and outdoor survival. A Cub Scout, Klondike Derby is a modification of this competition which will present an opportunity for our youngest Scouts, (ages 6 to 10), to showcase what they have learned as part of the advancement program. Unlike the Boy Scout version, the Cub Scout Klondike will be less competition and more fun as the Cubs will participate in games and events focusing on discovering abilities and learning new skills. All this while tooling around Wissinoming Park in custom built albeit modified dog sleds.

This event is sponsored by the Roosevelt District of the Cradle of Liberty Council, BSA. Delaware District represents units in Northeast Philadelphia, as well as the Bridesburg, Kensington, Port Richmond and Fishtown neighborhoods, and its youth members range in age from 6 to 21. The Boy Scouts of America is the premier youth organization in the United States, instilling in young men and women, citizenship, good character, a sense of service to others and a firm foundation of knowledge and skills on which to grow into successful adults.

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No Sale For Mantua Gardens East

January 11th, 2012

More Real Estate

HUD SUSPENDS PHILADELPHIA COMPANY AND PRESIDENT
James Grier and Mantua Gardens East, Inc. improperly threatened low-income tenants with eviction

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that it immediately suspended James H. Grier and Mantua Gardens East, Inc. (MGE) of Philadelphia from doing business with the U.S. Government. In addition to the immediate suspension announced today, HUD also proposed their debarments to prevent Grier and the company from participating in government-related business for a period of five years.

HUD’s actions are based upon Grier and MGE’s improper withdrawal of $325,000 from reserves without HUD approval and submission of false and misleading financial reports to HUD. MGE also failed to provide sufficient notice to tenants of its intention to opt out of the Section 8 project-based program, thereby denying the tenants adequate time to make housing arrangements, and threatening them with eviction.

“As president of this Company, Mr. Grier, through a number of acts and omissions, was responsible for MGE’s violations of important HUD requirements,” said Helen Kanovsky, HUD’s General Counsel. “By failing properly to notify their tenants, Mr. Grier and his company deprived them of an important legal right to make other housing arrangements and to spare them from the possibility of eviction.”

Background:

In December of 1970, MGE agreed to a $720,000 mortgage loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). As an FHA mortgagor, MGE is required to establish and maintain a reserve account to meet emergency needs at the multi-family housing development, which comprises ten buildings located in Philadelphia’s University City neighborhood. In 2008, Grier and MGE improperly withdrew $325,000 in reserves without required HUD approval and then refused to restore those funds to the Company’s reserve account. Grier and MGE then pledged those funds, along with one of the development’s buildings and future rent payments, as collateral for a separate loan from a lending institution. This misappropriation of reserve funds and unauthorized encumbrance of property are serious violations of FHA requirements. Grier and MGE also filed a false and misleading annual financial report to HUD by failing to note this new liability.

For approximately 27 years, MGE received project-based Section 8 subsidies under a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract with HUD. Under the terms of the Contract, MGE was entitled to opt out of the contract, but was first required to provide one year’s advance notice to the tenants. That notice would have allowed tenants sufficient time to make other housing arrangements. In October of 2011, MGE notified HUD that it was opting out of the program, failed to properly notify tenants, and instead threatened them with eviction.

###

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the
need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build
inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.
More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and
http://espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at
www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s News Listserv.

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