North & West Branches of Susquehanna River Meet at Sunbury

Over 450 people from up and down the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania attended the premier of the WVIA-TV’s documentary about the cultural, economic and environmental history of the Susquehanna River November 4 in The Campus Theater in Lewisburg.

“In the classic storytelling tradition, Looking To The River seeks to convey ideas that entertain and enlighten,” said A. William Kelly, President and CEO of WVIA, a public television station in Pittston. “We hope that after you watch the film, you will better understand and appreciate its affect on all our lives, and the possibilities it holds to define our future. Most importantly, we hope the documentary compels you in some way to participate in the nurturing of the Susquehanna River.”

"This is the first step in a series of programs on WVIA that will advocate the importance of the river to the quality of life in our region and the health of the Chesapeake Bay," said H.W. “Skip” Wieder, of Geisinger Health Systems and chair of the Susquehanna River Heartland Coalition. "One objective of the project is to reintroduce the river to residents in the region to connect them to this great resource."

The documentary is one of the first to examine issues primarily from the perspective of the Middle, West and North branches of the Susquehanna River.

Looking To The River will air on WVIA December 2 at  9:00 p.m., December 6 at 8:00 p.m., December 10 at  6:00 p.m. and December 11 at 3:00 p.m.  It is also expected to be shown on local public television stations in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Public Television Network. Check local listings for times in your area.

As part of a regional education initiative, the Sunbury Daily Item and Danville News newspaper published a special section in their October 15 editions they called Susquehanna – A Special Report on the River. The report provided background information on the river resource as well as the environmental and economic challenges it faces.

For more information, visit the Looking To The River webpage and download the special Looking To The River theatrical premiere program. The premiere program includes a list of the sponsors that made the documentary possible.

11/4/2005