NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN.  MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

ELIGIBILITY

The Sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry  and who reside within fifty (50) miles of the circulation area of the Publication(s) (the “Entrant” or “Entrants”).  Employees, contractors and interns of GateHouse Media, LLC and the Sponsor, as well as the Business Sponsor(s), and each of their respective divisions, affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies (including, in each case, immediate family members) are not eligible to enter the Sweepstakes. For purposes of this Sweepstakes, “immediate family members” is defined as spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren, whether as "in-laws", or by current or past marriage, remarriage, adoption, co-habitation or other familial extension, and any other persons residing at the same household location, whether or not related. In order to enter the Sweepstakes or win the prize, the Entrant must comply fully with these official rules (the “Official Rules”), and by entering agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor, whose decisions shall be binding and final in all respects.

HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES AND SUBMIT A PHOTO

In celebration of HomeTown Heros, Entrants should submit photos of Hero in the community (the “Photo” or “Photos”). 

Entrants should log on the Website during the Photo Submission Period and complete the applicable registration form.  Entrants must provide all requested information in the required fields and upload the Photo as instructed on the Website.    Entrants should then click “submit” to be entered in the Sweepstakes (the “Entry” or “Entries”). 

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE OFFICES OF THE PUBLICATION BY THE SUBMISSION END DATE.  NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS TIME.

Entries for the Sweepstakes will not be accepted through e-mail, via facsimile, postal mail, hand-delivery or express mail delivery services.  No Entries will be accepted at the offices of the Publication.

There is a limit of 1 Entrie(s) that may be submitted  by each entrant in this Sweepstakes.

PHOTO RULES

1.         There is no limit to the number of people that may be included in the Photo.  Upon Sponsor’s request, the Entrant must be prepared to provide, within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of Sponsor’s request, a signed release (the “Release”) from all persons who appear in the Photo submitted.  Failure to provide such Release upon request may result in disqualification of the Entrant at any time. 

2.         The Entrant must be the owner of the Photo, or otherwise have the right to submit the Photo for consideration in the Sweepstakes (the “Consent”).  The Entrant will be required to submit the Consent to Sponsor upon request.  Failure to provide such Consent upon request may result in disqualification of the Entrant. 

3.         Professional photos (“Pro Photo” or “Pro Photos”) will be accepted.  By submitting the Pro Photo in this Sweepstakes, the Entrant represents that he/she has a copyright release from the photographer (the “Copyright Release”) for the Pro Photo, and will submit the Copyright Release to Sponsor  upon request.  Failure to provide such Copyright Release upon request may result in disqualification of the Entrant. 

4.         If the Photo contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the Entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the Photo, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the Photo in the manner set forth in these Rules without additional compensation.   The Entrant will be required to submit copies of any releases and consents to Sponsor upon request.  Failure to provide such releases and consents upon request may result in disqualification of the Entrant at any time. 

5.         The Photo must be in natural color or black and white.  Sepia tone and duotone Photos are not acceptable.  Photos that have been altered, manipulated or enhanced using computer software programs will not be accepted.  Minor adjustments to the Photo such as lightening or darkening areas of the Photo, slight contrast or color adjustments and cropping are acceptable.  If Sponsor determines a Photo has been altered, manipulated or enhanced, Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify the Photo. 

6.         The Photo must not be under consideration for prizes or publication elsewhere.

7.         The Photo must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of Sponsor, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content (collectively, “Inappropriate Content”).  Sponsor retains sole discretion as to what constitutes Inappropriate Content.

8.         All Photos become the property of Sponsor and may be used by Sponsor for marketing or any other commercial purpose.    

USE OF E-MAIL ADDRESSES

By participating in the Sweepstakes, each Entrant agrees to opt-in to receive e-mail communications from Sponsor.  If an Entrant chooses to opt out of such future communications from Sponsor, he or she will be able to do so by following the instructions on any electronic communications sent by Sponsor.  Upon opting-out, Sponsor will no longer send e-mail messages to the Entrant.  An Entrant’s choice to opt out will not affect eligibility in the Sweepstakes.

ODDS OF WINNING

Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible Entries received by Sponsor in total by the Submission End Date. 

WINNER NOTIFICATION

Each of the potential winners will be notified by phone, e-mail or overnight mail in accordance with the contact information provided at the time of entry, and will be required to confirm his or her e-mail address for paperwork delivery and/or prize delivery.  If a potential winner does not respond within three (3) business days of an initial notification attempt from Sponsor, the prize may be forfeited and alternate potential winner(s) will be selected from remaining eligible entries. 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Each potential winner is required to execute and have notarized an (a) Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release and (b) an IRS W-9 form (i.e. Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) before any prize is awarded.  By entering the Sweepstakes, an Entrant agrees to execute these documents if selected as a winner. Except where prohibited by law, failure to execute any of these documents or comply with any of these terms will result in forfeiture of the prize. 

If the Winner submitted a Pro Photo, the Copyright Release must be submitted to Sponsor in order to be eligible to accept the prize.  If the Copyright Release is not submitted, the Winner will be disqualified and an alternate Winner may be selected in a random drawing.

Required documentation must be returned within five (5) business days to Sponsor, or the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate potential winner(s). 

TAXES

All local, state and federal taxes incurred by accepting a prize will be the sole responsibility of the Winner.  Any person winning over $600 in prizes during any one (1) year period will receive an IRS Form 1099 at the end of the calendar year, and a copy of such form will be filed with the IRS.

PRIZE CONDITIONS

No substitution or transfer of the prize will be allowed, except at the sole discretion of Sponsor.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value.     The prize has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash at any time. 

Gift Cards/Gift Certificates

No compensation will be given for lost, stolen, mutilated or expired gift cards or gift certificates.   Sponsor is not responsible for replacing lost, stolen, mutilated or expired gift cards or gift certificates.  Fulfillment of gift cards and gift certificates is the sole responsibility of the merchant, not Sponsor, and is only redeemable at the specified locations.  The gift certificate or gift card must be surrendered upon redemption and no photocopies or reproductions will be honored.

Tickets

No compensation will be given for lost, stolen, mutilated or expired tickets.  Sponsor shall not be responsible for any cancelling or rescheduling of any event.  Fulfillment of the tickets is the sole responsibility of the venue, not Sponsor.  It is illegal to scalp any tickets won from Sponsor.  If a prize winner is caught scalping tickets, he or she will be ejected from the venue and this will result in the winner’s disqualification from this and all future Sponsor sweepstakes and contests.  The resale or auction of Sponsor prizes or tickets will result in the winner’s disqualification from all future Sponsor sweepstakes and contests.

INTERNET

It is the Entrant’s responsibility to enter in the appropriate manner. Each Entrant is responsible for all costs or charges involved in accessing the Website and warrants that the cost of accessing the Website, if any, is part of a larger agreement with an Internet Service Provider or some other means, and that the cost of this access is not an incremental cost. If for any reason the internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Sweepstakes. Should the Sweepstakes be terminated prior to the Submission End Date, winners will be drawn at days-end from eligible Entries received online up to the time of cancellation.  Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communication line failure, theft, or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, misdirected, illegible, damaged or undelivered entries. Sponsor is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, services or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or entry to be received due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading of any material in this Sweepstakes. CAUTION: Any attempt by an Entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. In the event of a dispute, entries made by Internet will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g. business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Automated entries are prohibited, and any use of such devices will cause disqualification. Collection and use of personally identifiable information will be in accordance with the Publication’s Privacy Policy as posted on the Website. 

CONDITIONS

By entering, an Entrant agree to comply with these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor  which are binding and final, and release Sponsor, and each of its divisions, affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and anyone associated with the production of this Sweepstakes, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability for any claims, injuries, losses or damages (including attorneys fees) of any kind arising out of their participation in this Sweepstakes or resulting from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize. The potential prize winners waive the right to assert as a cost of winning the prize any and all costs of verification and redemption or travel to redeem said prize and waives any liability or claims (including attorneys fees) which might arise from redeeming or seeking to redeem said prize. In the event of non-compliance with these Official Rules, or if prize notification is returned to Sponsor as undeliverable, if prize is refused or cannot be accepted for any reason, the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected in a random drawing. Upon forfeiture or refusal, no compensation will be given. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to use the winner's name, photograph, likeness, Sweepstakes submissions and/or statements attributed to winners regarding the Sweepstakes, for advertising and publicity purposes without further compensation or consent.  All entries become the property of Sponsor.    This Sweepstakes shall only be construed and evaluated according to the laws of the state of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws and submission of any entry constitutes acceptance of such laws.  This Sweepstakes is void where prohibited.  All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

This Sweepstakes is not intended for gambling.  If it is determined that an Entrant is using the Sweepstakes for gambling purposes, he/she will be disqualified and reported to authorities.

Sponsor and its affiliates reserve the right to use any and all information related to the Sweepstakes, including information on Entrants obtained through the Sweepstakes, for marketing purposes or any other purpose, unless prohibited by law.

Sponsor and its affiliates reserve the right to change the rules of this promotion at any time by posting updated Rules to the Website.  An Entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes after the posting date of revised Sweepstakes rules signifies notice and agreement to the revised Official Rules of the promotion.

The decisions of Sponsor regarding all aspects of the Sweepstakes shall be final and binding  in all respects.  Sponsor will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the Sweepstakes. 

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions regarding this Sweepstakes, please contact Rebecca Capparelli, Executive Director of Promotions at promotions@gatehousemedia.com. 

NAMES OF WINNERS

To obtain the names of the Winners, contact the Publication at Rebecca Capparelli, Executive Director of Promotions at promotions@gatehousemedia.com.