Springdale Township cancels summer concerts, to give away TVs instead

Springdale Township canceled its summer concert series because of the covid-19 pandemic, but officials still wanted to give residents something fun.

So why not a free television?

The township is getting ready to give away 50-inch televisions to residents on Aug. 3 and Sept. 1.

Residents don’t have to enter the contest. All they have to do is pay their water bill.

Since there was still money in the township budget due to the cancellation of four live outdoor concerts at Williams Street Park, commissioners wanted to provide residents something fun like the chance of winning a new TV, said Anthony Rozzano, president of the township’s board of commissioners.

The township gave away free TVs last year with a drawing following its free concerts.

With no concerts to hold live drawings, the township decided to use water bill account numbers as the most inclusive way to enter the approximately 758 township households in the drawings this year.

The water bill account numbers are put into a plastic container in the township office and the winner is drawn by two commissioners.

But there was one caveat: Winners had to have their water bills paid up.

“It’s amazing what the chance of a free television can do,” said Rozzano.“People are paying their waters bills to keep them up to date.”