York Notebook: Senior Dance and Green Grants for Homeowners

Monday, June 13, 2011

News from York County this week includes the upcoming senior citizens' dinner and dance and grants available for homeowners with green projects to do around the house.

“Puttin’ On The Ritz” will be the featured theme for York County’s 16th Annual Senior Citizens’ Spring Dinner Dance, to be held on Saturday, June 18, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at York High School.

Seniors ages 55 or better are cordially invited to attend and singles or couples are welcome. Entertainment will be provided by Higher Ground Big Band, and participants will also be eligible to win door prizes.

The dinner dance is sponsored by the Senior Center of York, York County Board of Supervisors, and the York County School Board. While admission is free, tickets are required for admission due to limited seating.

Seniors should register and pick up tickets by June 13 at the Senior Center of York, located at 5314 George Washington Memorial Highway in the Washington Square Shopping Center. York High School is located at 9300 George Washington Memorial Highway.

The Senior Center requests that those attending support the York County Church Women United Emergency Food Closet by bringing current non-perishable food items, which will be collected at the door.

For more information about this event, call the Senior Center at 898-3807.

Grants Available For Green Projects

York County homeowners who are looking to make energy efficient improvements to their houses could be eligible for a $1,500 rebate through the Green Jobs Alliance and the county’s Economic Development Authority.

These NEXT STEP Residential Energy Efficiency grants, provided by the US Department of Energy and administered by the Green Jobs Alliance, can be used for green home improvements if they reduce the structure’s energy consumption to achieve 15 percent projected energy savings. Single-family homeowners can receive 25 percent of the cost of qualified improvements up to $1,500 per residential address.

Through this new program, the Green Jobs Alliance has already issued 300 grants out of the 1,000 available in Hampton Roads. In York County, 14 have been issued so far.

Some qualifying improvements include: air sealing, duct sealing, insulation, and Energy Star upgrades to equipment and hardware.

For more information, contact Randy Gilliland at 814-0001 or rgilliland@greenjobsalliance.org.