Commissioner Roseanne Milazzo

The Silver Circle is Back!

After taking a break from meeting because of the COVID-19 Outbreak, West Norriton’s senior citizen club, The Silver Circle, has resumed meetings. The club welcomes all senior citizens 55 years and older. This year the Silver Circle will meet once a month on Wednesday afternoons from 1 - 3 pm.

Some changes are in order. In the past the club has charged $5 for a yearly membership and an entrance fee for each event. This year, because the pandemic interrupted the schedule, all memberships are free, and the club will only charge for special events, such as the Thanksgiving Luncheon. The club’s September meeting took place at the Jeffersonville Golf Course where they heard from staff about how they are keeping bees and producing honey. In October, the meeting will move to a local brewery, Von C, for a tour and beer tasting. Future events will include holiday celebrations, art classes, and entertainment by local performers. Watch the Township Parks and Recreation Facebook page for announcements or stop by the township building for a flyer detailing the next meeting. For more information, please contact Commissioner Roseanne Milazzo by phone 484-981-7764 or email rmilazzo@wntwp.com.

October Silver Circle Event

2021-2022 Event Schedule

Inaugural Fall Festival

Come out and join us for our Inaugural Fall Festival at Centennial Park! This new event will be a day filled with fun and entertainment for the people in our community! Help spread the word to your family and friends so we can all enjoy a fun fall day together!

If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Department at 610-630-1251.

American Rescue Plan

Small Business Recovery
&
Non-Profit Public Service Support Grants

West Norriton Township is offering a total of $400,000 in grants via American Rescue Plan funds to assist the local small business and non-profit community recover from adverse impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Small Business Recovery Grant
The township has allocated $300,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to assist the small business community in their recovery efforts.
Eligibility

For-profit business located within West Norriton Township in operation as of March 1, 2020.
Have incurred a loss of income as a result of Coronavirus/COVID-19.

Funding

Grant funding must be used for business payroll, rent, mortgage, utility, or COVID mitigation.
Program period/expenditure time-frame is March 1, 2020-September 1, 2021.
During the program period, proof of payment must be submitted to document eligible use of grant funds.
The business recipient will be required to certify that the Township's assistance is not duplicative of any other funding.

Grant Application: Small Business Recovery Grant

Non-profit Public Service Support Grant Program
The township has allocated $100,000 in American Rescue Plan funds to assist the local non-profit community in supporting programs that impact our residents.
Eligibility

IRS designated 501(c)3 entity.
Located within West Norriton Township and in operation as of March 1, 2020.

Funding

Grant funding must be used for the provision of public services including, but not limited to food, housing, homelessness, transportation, and education assistance.
Up to 25% of funds may be used for operational costs (payroll, rent, mortgage, utility, COVID mitigation).
Program period/expenditure time-frame is March 1, 2020-September 1, 2021.
During the program period, proof of payment must be submitted to document eligible use of grant funds.
The recipient will be required to certify that the Township's assistance is not duplicative of any other funding

Grant Application: Non-Profit Public Service Support Grant

About the Funding
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, or American Rescue Plan, is a US$1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, to speed up the country's recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession.
West Norriton Township was allocated $1,634,200 as part of this plan through Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The money is distributed in two, even payments with West Norriton receiving $817,100 in June 2021.

Hurrican Ida Update

On Friday, September 10th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Ida from August 31 to September 5, 2021.

Financial assistance is available for affected individuals and businesses in Montgomery County, as well as in Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Northampton, Philadelphia, and York counties.

Federal assistance programs may include but are not limited to rental assistance, repair or replacement of housing to a safe, sanitary, and functional standard (not pre-disaster condition), funds for other needs (e.g., vehicles, clothing, appliances, etc.), and low-interest loans.

Follow the below steps to start your recovery process and apply for assistance:
Step 1: Take photos of your damaged home and belongings.
Step 2: Make a list of damaged/lost items.
Step 3: If you have insurance, you must file a claim with your insurance company. If you do not have insurance, continue to Step 4.
Step 4: Gather and have ready the following information:

Social Security Number
- You, another adult member or minor child in your household must have a Social Security number. You or they must also be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien. If you don't have a Social Security number, read the article How do I apply for a new or replacement Social Security number card.
Insurance Information: types of coverage (e.g., homeowners, flood, automobile)
Damage Information: description of the damage and your property
Financial Information: total annual household income, before taxes, pre-disaster
Contact Information: address/phone for damaged property and applicant
Direct Deposit Information (optional): FEMA may be able to deposit funds directly to your bank account (need bank name, type of account, routing, and account #s)

Step 5: Apply for disaster assistance from FEMA using one of the below methods. The application deadline is Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

Online at www.disasterassistance.gov (Espanol: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/es)
Over the phone at 1-800-621-3362 / TTY 1-800-462-7585 (7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, 7 days a week)
Via the FEMA smartphone application: Google Play or Apple App Store
**NEW** In-person at the Montgomery County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)
- Details:Recovery specialists from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be available to assist homeowners, renters, and business owners in applying for federal aid. In addition, they will be able to answer questions and provide information on the types of federal help available as a result of the Major Disaster Declaration for the remnants of Hurricane Ida. Additional agencies present at the DRC include (list updated 9/20/21, subject to change):
  - Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
  - Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  - Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
  - Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
  - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
  - Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
  - Pennsylvania Insurance Department
- Location: Montgomery County Community College - Health Sciences Center Gymnasium (340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422)
  - To download a campus map, click here.
- Access: Parking is free on-site and SEPTA bus routes 96 and 94 both service this location. Masks are required for entry into the DRC.
- Hours of Operation (effective September 17th)
  - Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  - Sunday: CLOSED

Step 6: You will be contacted by a FEMA inspector, who will schedule an appointment to visit your property to confirm your eligibility for assistance.

NOTE: FEMA inspectors come from all over the country using phones from various area codes. If you apply for assistance, be prepared to answer your phone when called, even if it is from a number that you do not recognize.

Step 7: If recommended by FEMA or if you believe you might be eligible, consider applying for a low-interest loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (see the next section below for more information).

Stay Connected with West Norriton

The township website, www.westnorritontwp.org, makes a variety of detailed information more accessible to the public, including offices, resources, forms, and Township news and events. Residents can find information regarding the area’s parks and recreational events, view the Township’s monthly calendar, and even access and review minutes from public department meetings. Links to social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, keep residents updated regularly through smartphones as well as computers, while important forms and applications will soon be available for easy completion and submission online. Our notification system allows you to be alerted via email or text message when information is updated on our new website.

The township has an active presence on Facebook that allows us to directly interact with our residents at the click of a button. If you are looking to stay up to date on township new and events, please like the following pages:

West Norriton Township - Facebook.com/WestNorritonPA
West Norriton Township Parks & Recreation - Facebook.com/WestNorritonParksandRec
West Norriton Township Police Department - Facebook.com/WestNorritonPD
Jeffersonville Golf Club - Facebook.com/JeffersonvilleGC

Introducing Of Course Honey

Jeffersonville Golf Club Superintendent Rich Shilling and his staff started the Jeffersonville Golf Course Apiary to help save the honey bee population. Honey bees, wild and domestic, perform about 80 percent of all pollination worldwide. A single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers each day.

Healthy bees mean a healthy golf course and vice versa. All proceeds from the sale of Of Course Honey will help support future projects- enhancing and protecting the local environment.

Honey can be purchased at the West Norriton Township Building during normal business hours while supplies last. The price is $12 per 16oz jar. This is pure, raw honey.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

Leaf Collection

West Norriton has provided leaf collection services for over 30 years. Leaf collection occurs October through the second week of December. Due to weather conditions, the dates may vary.

On average, the township collects roughly 5,000 cubic yards of leaves each year. Using EPA’s conversion factors for vacuumed leaves, this volume results in a total of 866 tons of materials diverted from landfills. As part of this program, the township has a joint composting site at the Norristown Farm Park and provides feel leaf mulch to our residents. The bin is located at the Jefferson Fire House at 85 School Lane.

Leaf Collection Guidelines

Curbside leaf piles are to be 12 inches high and 18 inches wide.
Do not mix limbs, brush, and other debris with leaf piles, as such items may cause damage to collection equipment and injury to township personnel.
Adverse weather conditions may cause delays.
Township employees and/or equipment are not permitted to enter private property to remove leaves.
Once the leaf machine has passed it will not return until items on every street in the township has been collected.
If your residence is located on the corner of the street, please place the leaves to be picked up at least 25 feet from the intersection.
If you live on a private street in the township we will pick up your leaves, but they must be bagged. Since most of the private streets in the township have narrow widths, we cannot take the leaf machines down those roadways and safely turn the machine around. Once you have the leaves bagged, please call the township office at 610-631-0450 and schedule the pickup.

Fall 2021 Edition