Your Christmas tree has treated you to another great holiday season, don’t return the favor by sending it to rot in some landfill. Treecycle it! On Saturday, January 7th from 10am to 4pm, you can bring your tree to Columbus Square park (corner of 13th and Reed streets) and have it turned into wood chips and mulch that will be used in local parks and gardens.

A $5 donation is suggested to cover the costs of the tree chipping. Please be sure to remove all decorations (they don’t make good mulch). Unfortunately, we can’t take early drop-offs so make your plans now to be there between 10am and 4pm. Please note that the City of Philadelphia does not recycle trees left at the curb.

Do you have a couple hours you can offer to help out with this event? We’re looking for a few good volunteers. Email contact@passyunk.org if you’re interested.

At PSCA General Membership meeting on January 3, Board President Christine Knapp reminded attendees that they can still take advantage of a program run by EnergyWorks to make low-cost home energy assessments and reduced cost home energy efficiency improvements available to members of the Passsyunk Square Civic Association.

EnergyWorks brings together all available rebates, tax credits and low-interest financing for home energy improvements. Through the EnergyWorks Select Partnership neighborhood associations, civic groups, faith-based and community-based organizations can receive group discounts on home energy assessments, and in some cases the contracted work. Neighbors or group members come together and act as a buying group, thus bringing down the price and saving time and energy for everyone.

Since EnergyWorks has over one hundred registered building analysts and contractors, Select Partners get to choose from a preferred list of contractors and analysts that have demonstrated exceptional work, financial stability and who participate in a unique discount purchasing program offered through the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance which allows them to provide additional savings to the homeowner on energy efficiency materials and products.

PSCA has signed up for the EnergyWorks Select Partnership, and we have had a number of households sign up already. Those who would like to register their interest can do so through an online intake form here.

Under “How did you find out about us?” choose “Other” and enter Passyunk.org. For “Are you a member of a Home Owners Association?” choose yes and enter “Passyunk Square Civic Association” in the next field after that.

Please fill out the intake form online or come to the meeting to sign up and save money and energy in your home this winter!

On Tuesday, January 3, at 6:30pm the Passyunk Square Civic Association will host its monthly general membership meeting at the South Philadelphia Older Adult Center (East Passyunk Avenue and Dickinson Street). Whether you’re celebrating your first or fiftieth New Year as a Passyunk Square resident, make getting involved in your neighborhood one of your goals for 2012. Attending a general membership meeting is a great way to get started. You’ll find out the latest news for what’s going on in the neighborhood, meet some of your fellow Passyunk Square residents and hear from our featured presenter.

For this month we’ll have updates of upcoming zoning committee cases, development projects in the neighborhood, news from the town watch front and more!