how i t wo r k s linear approach, just do PA registrations first, then attend to the Philadelphia registrations. There are nominal fees incurred in the process and you should allow at least 6 to 8 weeks for processing. The result will be that you’ll have what you need—a City of Philadelphia Tax Account Number—to obtain the absolutely necessary Commercial Activity License. To do that, you must use the city’s eCLIPSE system (i.e., Electronic Commercial Licensing, Inspection, and Permit Services Enterprise.) You may find Airbnb’s interface to be much more user-friendly, and posting your rental offering can easily be completed in less than an hour. One consideration is the existing local competition. With a couple of queries (varying length of stay, time of year, etc.) you’ll see 15 to 20 lodging options right here in Queen Village already. Nightly rates range from $29 to $200+ with bed/ bathroom attributes usually acting as the primary pricepoint driver. Parking is a valued perk. Posting your offer on AirBnB involves answering a straightforward series of questions resulting in clearly delineated attributes. You determine how often and when your space is available (but make sure you check out the “Know Your Zoning” sidebar for more legal requirements). Lastly, you post a picture or two. With that, you are officially a Queen Villagebased small business owner and Airbnb host, all rolled into one. As a final cautionary note, our close quarters in the city mean that being a good neighbor includes communicating to guests that Queen Village is primarily a residential neighborhood that values safety, quiet, and clean streets. Make sure to check in with neighbors and take seriously any complaints. Happy hosting! ■
Keep it Fresh, Green and Safe How to live safely with a freshcut Christmas tree in your home
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e bring them home fresh to light up our holidays — and often they leave us dry in the new year. Inside your home, a Christmas tree needs daily attention to help keep your home and family safe. A tree with shedding needles is a fire hazard. According to the National Fire Prevention Agency, a dry tree can burn faster than newspaper. So always choose a tree with fresh, green needles. Here’s five more safety tips: • Place your tree away from heat sources, • Don’t use candles on or near it. • Decorate it with indoor lights, UL or ET/ITSNA tested. • WATER YOUR TREE DAILY. • Unplug tree lights at bedtime and when you’re not home. • If the tree starts to shed needles, remove it from your home.
When It’s Time to Say Goodbye Here are two ways to dispose of your Christmas tree: Recycle it. First, remove all decorations and then you can drop it off at a City Sanitation Center: http://bit.ly/ChristmasTreeRecylePHL Leave it with your trash for curbside pickup. (Trash pickup is on Saturday (not Friday) after Christmas and again after New Years.)
Queen Village Quarterly Crier // PAGE 31
