An explosion on the BP operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed eleven crew members on April 20, 2010, sparking the greatest environmental disaster in United States history. In combination with the Texas City Refinery Explosion and the Prudohoe Bay Oil Spill, this marks the third serious incident involving BP in the United States in the last five years. Current estimates put the amount of oil being discharged from the broken well at above 1,050,000 US gallons per day! There are over 400 different species of animals living in the area affected by the spill. 330 sea turtles and 39 dolphins have been found dead within the spill area (NOAA). BP is operating oil skimmers and other cleanup tools to try to remove oil from the water and Louisiana is building oil containment berms to halt the spread of oil. Experts are uncertain what effect, if any, these efforts will have.

View what your town would look like here.

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Garages store more than just cars. They store paint and cleaning supplies, tools and lawn care equipment – all of which can pose environmental hazards. These tips from the experts at Black & Decker will help you green your garage.

Go Gas-Free

This spring, millions of Americans will be working hard to improve their backyards, but what does that mean for the environment?

According to the EPA, did you know that:

* Gas-powered lawn equipment produces as much as one-tenth of the smog-forming pollutants from all mobile sources?
* It is estimated that the few ounces spilled during refueling lawn and garden equipment alone total about 17 million gallons of gasoline, most of which evaporates into the air to contribute to the air pollution problem?
* The average gas mower produces as much air pollution in one year as 43 new cars driving 12,000 miles each?

Keep your garage and the area surrounding clean without the mess of gas-powered products. Gas-free products – like the Black & Decker 36V Cordless Mower, 24V String Trimmer and full line of 18V outdoor products – mean no fumes, no unnecessary trips to the gas station and no gas to potentially store or spill. And when you use them – zero emissions in your yard.

Make Recycling Easier

The garage is the perfect place to set up your own home recycling center. It’s also a high-traffic location, reminding your family to make recycling a habit. Avoid clutter by investing in stackable recycling bins, and reach out to your local recycling center for sorting requirements and regulations.

Get Energy-Efficient

Make sure your garage is well insulated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that sealing and insulating garage walls and ceilings can be a cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and save money on your utility bills. This can include weather stripping, installing energy-efficient windows and installing an energy-efficient door from the garage to your house.

Going green in the garage is easy – on you and on the environment. For additional information on how to “go green,” visit: blackanddecker.com/convertamerica.

Source: Black & Decker

In addition to moving the 28-person company from Mohnton, Pa., to its new East Point Drive location in Cumru Township, the loan was used to construct an on-site 60×160’ multi-purpose, state-of-the-art building and beautiful outdoor display area. New Castle Lawn & Landscape received the SBA loan through National Penn Bank in 2008 and constructed its facility shortly thereafter.

Company co-owners Bryan Weise and Brian Cuccaro credit much of their success to the SBA’s Philadelphia District Office and National Penn Bank. “We are very grateful for the support of both the SBA and National Penn Bank,” said Weise. “We also have a great group of dedicated employees and we couldn’t have done any of this without them.” Cuccaro said the company is growing quickly as its business has surged in recent months.

New Castle Lawn & Landscape was recently included in the SBA “Celebrating Success” tour, an ongoing SBA initiative that publicly recognizes successful business owners that have received assistance through one of the SBA’s business development or finance programs. The company recently won two prestigious awards for its landscape excellence.

Among those in attendance at the ceremony were Cumru Township Commissioners Barry E. Rohrbach, president, and Edward Gottschall, vice president. Also on hand were Marcia McGavisk and Steven Smith of National Penn Bank and Mike Wilk and John Fleming of the SBA in Philadelphia.

About National Penn Bancshares, Inc.:

National Penn Bancshares, Inc., with $9.2 billion in assets, is the fourth largest bank holding company based in Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Boyertown, National Penn operates 127 offices. It has 124 community banking offices in Pennsylvania and one office in Maryland through National Penn Bank and its HomeTowne Heritage Bank, KNBT and Nittany Bank divisions. National Penn also has two offices in Delaware through its wholly-owned subsidiary Christiana Bank & Trust Company.

National Penn’s financial services affiliates consist of National Penn Wealth Management, N.A., including its National Penn Investors Trust Company division; National Penn Capital Advisors, Inc.;  Institutional Advisors LLC; National Penn Insurance Services Group, Inc., including its Higgins Insurance division; and Caruso Benefits Group, Inc.

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “NPBC”. Please visit our Web site at www.nationalpennbancshares.com to see our regularly posted material information.

About the SBA

The SBA is an independent federal agency, created in 1953, to assist small businesses start, grow, and prosper.  The SBA provides financial assistance by: (1) making loans to help families and businesses recover from national disasters and (2) providing loan guarantees to commercial financial institutions for working capital (7a loans), buildings/land/equipment (504 loans  through the Certified Development Corporations), and for exports.  Through our resource partners, the SBA also offers a variety of business development programs and services such as training, government contracting and export assistance.   SBA resource partners include Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Businesses).  For information on the SBA’s programs and services contact us at 610-382-3062 or www.sba.gov/pa/phil.

The SBA’s Philadelphia District consists of Pennsylvania’s 40 eastern counties.

This article does not constitute or imply an endorsement by SBA of any opinions, products or services of any private individual or entity.

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New Castle Lawn & Landscape is celebrating its successes since receiving an SBA loan in 2008 through National Penn Bank. The loan was used to move the 28-person company from Mohnton, Pa., to its current 3+ acre Cumru Township location and construct an on-site 60×160’ multi-purpose, state-of-the-art building and beautiful outdoor display area.

New Castle Lawn & Landscape was recently included in the SBA “Celebrating Success” tour, an ongoing SBA initiative the publicly recognizes successful business owners that have received assistance through one of the SBA’s business development or finance programs. The company recently won two prestigious awards for its landscape excellence.

WHEN:

Wednesday, May 19, 2010
12 noon – 1 p.m.

WHERE:

New Castle Lawn & Landscape
3 East Point Drive
Birdsboro, PA  19508

About the SBA

The SBA is an independent federal agency, created in 1953, to assist small businesses start, grow, and prosper.  The SBA provides financial assistance by: (1) making loans to help families and businesses recover from national disasters and (2) providing loan guarantees to commercial financial institutions for working capital (7a loans), buildings/land/equipment (504 loans  through the Certified Development Corporations), and for exports.  Through our resource partners, the SBA also offers a variety of business development programs and services such as training, government contracting and export assistance.   SBA resource partners include Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Businesses).  For information on the SBA’s programs and services contact us at 610-382-3062 or www.sba.gov/pa/phil. The SBA’s Philadelphia District consists of Pennsylvania’s 40 eastern counties.

This article does not constitute or imply an endorsement by SBA of any opinions, products or services of any private individual or entity.

About National Penn Bancshares, Inc.:

National Penn Bancshares, Inc., with $9.7 billion in assets, is the fourth largest bank holding company based in Pennsylvania.  In addition, wealth assets under administration or management amount to $8.5 billion.

Headquartered in Boyertown, National Penn operates 127 offices. It has 124 community banking offices in Pennsylvania and one office in Maryland through National Penn Bank and its HomeTowne Heritage Bank, KNBT and Nittany Bank divisions. National Penn also has two offices in Delaware through its wholly-owned subsidiary Christiana Bank & Trust Company.

National Penn’s financial services affiliates consist of National Penn Wealth Management, N.A., including its National Penn Investors Trust Company division; National Penn Capital Advisors, Inc.; Institutional Advisors LLC; National Penn Insurance Services Group, Inc., including its Higgins Insurance division; and Caruso Benefits Group, Inc.

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “NPBC”. Please visit our Web site at  www.nationalpennbancshares.com to see our regularly posted material information.

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The one thing he misses the most is a local site that offers similar services for the Pottstown, Pa area.  So he created a site called ePottstown.com where local users can post local classified ads for free.

You can post an ad for free here.  Registration is required to help prevent misuse, but the registration is simple and quick. You can register for free here.

Looking for a dresser? Want to sell your car? Now you can do it for free at: www.ePottstown.com

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Cooke Carpentry & Construction, LLC is a comprehensive custom remodeling, building, and carpentry company.  We are able to effectively and efficiently manage your home improvement project, from start to finish, from the simplest home repair to the most custom home remodel.

Combining superior customer service with an unparalleled construction process and finished product, Cooke Carpentry & Construction, LLC is committed to excellence and perfection in every client relationship as well as every remodeling project.

Our business revolves around one simple belief…that “quality custom remodeling” comes not from simply building things right, but by building lasting relationships while building things right.

Cooke Carpentry & Construction, LLC is fully insured and licensed in the State of Pennsylvania (PA#2783).  We are an Accredited Member of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Pennsylvania and you can view our Reliability Report here: www.bbb.org.  We are also members of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry.

We are based out of the Philadelphia Main Line area, and proudly serve customers from the areas of Chester County, Montgomery County, Berks County and Delaware County.

Cooke Carpentry & Construction, LLC has a loyal customer base and an impeccable performance record.  So, before starting your next remodeling project, contact us first, and we guarantee you will never need another contractor.

Let us add you as one of our many satisfied customers!

Contact Us Today  (Please mention you saw us on the Pottstown Herald!!)

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The show reaches its peak bloom during the first three weeks on November. This year, a cloud of topiary bees above the indoor lawns are poised to pollinate the beds of flowers beneath. Topairy forms, including butterflies, spirals and our largest thousand-bloom chrysanthemum ever, with over 700 blooms, adorn the Conservatory.

Longwood’s landscapes glow with shades of yellow, orange, purple, and red trees. Golden honey-locusts and ginkgos, scarlet sweet-gums and sourwoods, and ruby red oaks add bursts of color.

More than 100 different types of gourds and squash with bizarre shapes, unusual colors and evocative names like ‘Orange Smoothie’, ‘Jumbo Pink Banana’, ‘Blue Magic’, ‘Cotton Candy’ and more are featured in unique displays throughout the gardens, from October 3 to 31. Our monstrously large pumpkins are back on display October 2–28.

For more information visit: http://www.longwoodgardens.org

Eighty-five students from 11 universities gathered on an Indiana research farm recently to test their mettle by identifying more than two dozen weeds on sight. They were competing for coveted “Golden Hoe” awards in the 2009 Collegiate Weed Science Contest, sponsored by the Northeastern and North Central Weed Science Societies.

In addition to identifying weeds, students were asked to determine the herbicides used on demonstration plots by examining the “symptoms” exhibited by treated plants. They took a written test on herbicide sprayer calibration and application technologies – and then were given just 15 minutes to set one up using the proper nozzle tips, pressure and speed. In another scenario familiar to agricultural extension educators and company field representatives, they were asked to diagnose and recommend effective solutions for pests, fertility issues and other common crop production problems.

“Our goal was to see how students responded to the kinds of real-world scenarios that weed scientists encounter each day,” said Fritz Koppatschek of ABG Ag Services, a member of the Weed Science Society of America and contest coordinator. “The event gave them a great way to network with leading practitioners and to gauge whether they can effectively apply what they’re learning on campus.”

Participating schools included: Cornell University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Penn State University, University of Guelph, University of Illinois, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, University of Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.

Each regional society presented awards to both teams and individuals. The Northeast Weed Science Society awarded top honors in the graduate division to a team from Penn State that included Ryan Bates, Benjamin Crocket, Franklin Egan and Nelson Debarros. The University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, took top honors in the Northeast undergraduate division with a team that included Andrew Reid, Blair Freeman and Scott Timmings. Individual winners included Angela Post of Cornell University (graduate division) and Andrew Reid of Guelph University (undergraduate division).

For the North Central Weed Science Society, a graduate team from Michigan State took top honors, including Kelly Barnett, Molly Buckham, Calvin Glaspie and Kate Withers. A team from the University of Illinois took top honors in the North Central undergraduate division, including Sean Breen, Caitlin Allen and Jared Roskamp. Individual winners included Michael Bell (graduate division) and Jared Roskamp (undergraduate division), both from the University of Illinois.

The two teams with the highest scores among all the universities competing won the Golden Hoe. Penn State took the honor for the graduate division, while the University of Guelph topped the undergraduate division.

The 2009 Collegiate Weed Science event was hosted by ABG AG Services on its farm near Sheridan, Indiana.

About the Weed Science Society of America

The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit professional society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science Society of America promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit www.wssa.net.

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Sidebar:

A Rogue’s Gallery of Weeds

The 2009 Collegiate Weed Science Contest asked students to test their mettle by identifying 25 weed species at various stages of development – from seeds and sprouts to fully grown plants. The weeds included in the contest were:

1.   annual bluegrass (Poa annua)
2.   Asiatic dayflower (Commelina communis)
3.   barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli)
4.   buckhorn plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
5.   common chickweed (Stellaria media)
6.   common mallow (Malva neglecta)
7.   common mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
8.   common reed (Phragmites australis)
9.   common waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis)
10.   Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
11.   fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum)
12.   field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
13.   garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
14.   giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
15.   green foxtail (Setaria viridis)
16.   henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
17.   hemp dogbane (Apocyanum cannabinum)
18.   hophornbeam copperleaf (Acalypha ostryifolia)
19.   horseweed (Conyza canadensis)
20.   Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)
21.   prickly sida (Sida spinosa)
22.   quackgrass (Agropyron repens)
23.   shepherd’s-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
24.   wild carrot (Daucus carota)
25.   yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris arcuata)

Think you can pass the same test? Visit www.wssa.net to try to match each weed with its photo.

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