2020 Sustainability Awards and Photo Contest Details

Sustainable Cheltenham unites Township residents, businesses, institutions and other stakeholders behind a shared vision for a more resilient and environmentally active community. To recognize community members that significantly contribute to the Sustainable Cheltenham mission, the Cheltenham Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) has established annual awards program. The EAC accepts nominations year-round up until early May. If you have a project or know of a person, business or institution who has a project that contributes to the Sustainable Cheltenham mission, consider nominating yourself or person or organization for an award. The EAC will review nominations and recognize award recipients at the annual Sustainable Cheltenham Festival during Arts in the Park at High School Park in June. Questions: [email protected].
Award Criteria:
- Demonstrate that the effort is located in Cheltenham Township.
- Demonstrate how the effort benefits Cheltenham Township and/or this region.
- Provide some measurement to support the achievement of the goal(s), if possible.
- Describe any regional impact of effort.
Sustainable Award Nomination Form
SUSTAINABLE CHELTENHAM AWARD RECIPIENTS
2019 Winners
- Greta Bunin - Energy, Mobility, Healthy Living
- Cheltenham School District (CSD)- Energy, Mobility, Sustainable Development,
- Jeff Chirico - Community Engagement, Ecological Stewardship, Local Economy
- Christa Sywulak-Herr - Community Engagement, Ecological Stewardship, Water
- The Ways Brewing - Waste Reduction, Local Economy, Water
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Pictured from Left to Right:
John Raisch, EAC member; Greta Bunin, winner; Jim Custer director of
transportation, CSD, Julie Haywood, president, CSD board (holding
certificate); Dan Schultz, CSD board member; David Cohen, CSD board
member; Tim Way, winner (from Ways Brewing); Irv Brockington,
Commissioner (Ward 7) and Kurt Ahrens, EAC chair. |
2018 Winners
Community Engagement | Energy | Waste Reduction | Ecological
Stewardship
For developing award-winning designs for solar energy and
vertical gardening at the PECO Innovation Challenge (2017 and 2018), developing
community outreach and education on a variety of environmental and energy-related
topics, and establishing a partnership with Glenside Elementary students on
sustainable garden design. Patricia Ward and Mitchell Green, leaders of Glenside
Elementary Green Team
Community Engagement, Waste Reduction | Ecological
Stewardship | Water Management
For engaging students and families in sustainable practices,
bringing students out into the environment and environmental education into the
classroom, and working with school administration and staff to improve the
opportunities for routine sustainable action at school (improved recycling
compliance and water bottle filling stations).
Cedarbrook 8th graders (Peri Albert, Anwar Bethel, Maddie
Conwell, Syleena Evans, Ameer Jones, Alonna Lemmon, Raina Miller, Ahmod Newton,
Aniyah Phillips, Corey Redeross, Jordan Toran and Melena Walter) and their
teacher, Karen Shaffran
Energy | Ecological Stewardship | Community Engagement
For developing an award-winning project (2018 PECO
Innovation Challenge) describing an outreach event to educate the Cheltenham
community about the negative impacts of fossil fuels and the urgent need to
switch to renewable energy.
Danelle Witkowski
Mobility | Healthy Living | Ecological Stewardship |
Community Engagement
In addition to coaching a mountain biking team, she
regularly commutes to work by bicycle. She engaged her students on Bicycle to
Work Day and challenged them to ride their bicycles to school. Danelle is also
an environmental steward and caretaker of the trail networks, regularly
participating in trail maintenance and clean up days.
Wendy Ankrom
Community Engagement | Energy | Waste Reduction | Ecological
Stewardship | Monitoring
For starting the “Switch to Renewables” campaign, supporting
Sustainability Education in the schools and community, and taking on leadership
of the Energy and Emissions Committee of the Environmental Advisory Council.
Joe Mazza
Community Engagement | Energy | Waste Reduction | Ecological
Stewardship | Monitoring
For adding solar energy production at home, creating spaces
for community engagement in creative reuse (maker spaces) and Little Free
Libraries, and taking on leadership of the School Liaison Committee of the
Environmental Advisory Council.
Rhonda Isser
Community Engagement | Water Management
For helping members of our community constructively engage
with the vexing issue of sewer repairs. Rhonda created a forum for discussion
and learning so everyone could have a voice and find out how they might be
affected by deferred maintenance of the sewer infrastructure.
Amy Chapman, Elcy’s Cafe
Community Engagement | Sustainable Development | Local
Economy | Healthy Living for All, Ecological Stewardship
For striving to use local vendors and provide healthful menu
options, supporting a bee-friendly garden and water conservation (grey water
usage, whenever possible), and supporting local artists and community
engagement, including support of a local Scout-led Earth Day project.
Amy Chapman, Elcy’s Cafe
2017 Winners
EAC Chair Kurt Ahrens (back, right), joined by Cheltenham Commissioners (left to right) Daniel B. Norris, Irv Brockington (back) and Brad M. Pransky, presented the following awards during the recent “Arts in the Park featuring Sustainable Cheltenham” event held at High School Park in Elkins Park:
• Caryl Levin (front, right) accepted the award on behalf of the Melrose Park Neighborhood Association for its regular cleanups, beautification projects and more.
• Lorna Rosenberg (front, second from right) was honored for her longstanding efforts in watershed, energy and overall sustainability projects with both the township and Cheltenham School District.
• Bob Hamburg (back, second from right) accepted on behalf of his sister Diane Hamburg for her utilization of photovoltaic electricity, home composting, rainwater management and more at her Glenside home.
• Elizabeth Compitello (front, third from right) accepted on behalf of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission for its leadership in programs like the LED Conversion Project and SolSmart.
• Earl Stamm (back, third from right) was honored for his effort to successfully to incorporate sustainability goals into the township’s comprehensive plan and zoning code.
• Cheltenham Elementary School Principal Nick Pere (back, second from left) and teachers Katherine Falso (front, third from left) and Wendy Quinn were honored along with ten other staff members for the school’s extensive real-world environmental education.
Also honored but not shown were Joe Mazza for his many green improvements to his home; Wyncote Elementary School Teacher Kristin Krause for creating an eco-code, performing a waste audit and more; and other Cheltenham Elementary School staff members Angel Schalk, Delilah Montemayor, Elisabeth Farnsworth, Ken Buckwalter, Kris Hovis, Michael Ferris, Rebekah Taboada, Wade Huggins, Stephanie Jacob and Syieda Graham Logan.
2016 Winners
- Midgard Properties - Sustainable Development, Local Economy, Community Engagement, and Energy
- Bill Mettler - Community Engagement, Healthy Living, Waste Reduction, and Alternative Transportation
- Karen Shaffran - Community Engagement, Ecological Stewardship, Local Economy, Waste Reduction, and Water Management
- ShopRite of Cheltenham Mall - Local Economy, Community Engagement, Waste Reduction, and Healthy Living
- Arcadia University Community and Civic Engagement Center for Community Engagement, Local Economy, and Energy and Waste Reduction
- Streamkeepers: Nathan Johnson, Robin Irizarry, Chris Hunter, Kathy Hodgkiss, Gina Craigo, Kurt Ahrens, Karen Serfass, Hannah Reimer, Callie Raymond, and John, Johnny, Glynis and Maris Raisch - Community Engagement, Ecological Stewardship, Water Management, and Monitoring

The honorees were selected by the Cheltenham Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), which oversees the township’s Sustainability Plan, a first of its kind in Montgomery County. EAC chair Kurt Ahrens (third from right) joined Cheltenham Township Commissioners (left to right) Morton J. Simon, Jr., Ann L. Rappoport and Daniel B. Norris in making the award presentations
2015 Winners
- Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc. - Community Engagement, Ecological Restoration, Water Management, and Healthy Living
- Glenside Farrmers Market - Community Engagement, Local Economy, and Healthy Living for All.
- Elkins Park Hazon CSA - Community Engagement, Local Economy, Healthy Living for All, and Ecological Restoration.
- Judith Gratz - Community Engagement and Ecological Stewardship.
- Dottie Baumgarten - Community Engagement and Ecological Stewardship.
- Friends of High School Park - Community Engagement, Ecological Restoration, Water Management, and Local Economy.
- Elcy's Cafe - Community Engagement, Local Economy, and Healthy Living for All.
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Left to right: Cheltenham Township Commissioner Morton J. Simon, Jr.; award-winner Dottie Baumgarten; Commissioner Ann L. Rappoport; Lorna Rosenberg, EAC vice chair and Kurt Ahrens, EAC chair.
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Left to right: Cheltenham Township Commissioner Morton J. Simon, Jr.; Commissioner Ann L. Rappoport; Lorna Rosenberg, EAC vice chair; Kurt Ahrens, EAC chair; and award-winner Judith Gratz. |
Left to right: Cheltenham Township Commissioner Morton J. Simon, Jr.; Commissioner Ann L. Rappoport; award-winner Julie Slavet, TTF executive director; Kurt Ahrens, EAC chair; and Lorna Rosenberg, EAC vice chair. |
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Left to right: Cheltenham Township Commissioner Morton J. Simon, Jr.; award-winner Cynthia Blackwood, FHSP President; Lorna Rosenberg, EAC vice chair and Kurt Ahrens, EAC chair. |
Left to right: Dean Galemb of Elcy's Cafe; Lorna Rosenberg, EAC vice chair; Robin Rifkin ofE Elkins Park Hazon CSA of Kol Ami Congregation; and Kurt Ahrens, EAC chair. |
2014 Winners
First Annual Sustainability Festival at Arts in the Park (video), June 1, 2014
- Myers Elementary School Green Ambassadors for sustainable development as a LEED Gold School and community engagement via PTO and Green Ambassadors
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Ramah Day Camp at the Mandel Education Campus Garden for healthy living, water management and community engagement
- Ben Adams & Gail Korostoff for energy efficiency, renewable energy and health and wellness (chickens)
- Sidney Kahn and architect John Hubert for the LEEDS Platinum Kahn Residence
- Federation Housing Inc. - Samuel A. Green House
for healthy living, water management and energy efficiency
- Ancillae Assumpta Academy for 1) energy production and purchase and 2) waste reduction
- CreekSide Food Co-op for healthy living, community engagement and local economy
- La Mott Community Garden for healthy living and community engagement