Susquehanna River Rally Calls for Clean Water

Organizations join together for upcoming event in Harrisburg

 

Environmental organizations and activists are joining together for a Susquehanna River Rally on Saturday, June 17 in Harrisburg to create a mass call for clean water funding as state budget negotiations commence.

There is a water crisis in Pennsylvania, and a united voice of citizens is needed to inspire and enact change at the state level. State elected officials have failed to protect the water we drink by failing to protect our waters and streams, and as a result, Pennsylvania ranks third — behind Texas and Florida — for most reported drinking water safety violations.

On Saturday, June 17 — before the start of crucial state budget negotiations — participants will wave paddles and rally signs from kayaks and canoes with the state capitol as our backdrop. As we urge our state legislators and Governor Wolf’s administration to prioritize clean water, we’ll have a raffle, music and a river paddling. Let’s come together on our beloved Susquehanna River and speak up for clean water!

The health of the Susquehanna River, part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (America’s first water trail) and the source of drinking water for more than 6 million people, is threatened by animal waste and eroding soils. The river attracts locals and visitors from near and far and is a vital resource to our communities and a boom to our local economies.

 

Event Details

What: Susquehanna River Rally: Paddles & Signs in the Air!

When: Saturday, June 17, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: City Island, Harrisburg, PA 17101 – Beach House Area

Who: National Parks and Conservation Association, PennFuture, Choose Clean Water Coalition, The Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition, Pennsylvania Parks and Recreation Society, The Conservation Fund, Susquehanna Heritage, clean water activists and PA tap water drinkers.

Other Info: You are encouraged to bring your own rally signs and your own kayak or canoe, if you have one. Please dress for the weather, bring sun protection and wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting wet. Free parking is available.

 

RSVP Today! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-susquehanna-river-rally-raise-your-paddle-your-voice-tickets-35187240985

For More Information:   https://www.facebook.com/events/1473775269352278/

 

We hope to see you there!

Funding for PA Conservation & Outdoor Recreation Programs in Jeopardy

 

As the official Pennsylvania Heritage Area for Lancaster and York Counties, Susquehanna Heritage is very concerned about the impact of the recent budget bill passed by the PA House of Representatives (HB 218) on the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR.)

DCNR is an essential funder and partner in planning and developing outdoor recreation projects in our region. We see the positive impact of DCNR investments firsthand along the Susquehanna River. Check out this great article in Lancaster Chamber’s Thriving Magazine to see how DCNR-funded projects like Columbia Crossing and the Northwest River Trail benefit local residents and businesses: http://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/LancasterThriving/LancasterThriving_Summer2017/index.php#/32.

Our Zimmerman Center facility with its programs for kids and families is also a great example of what can happen with DCNR funding support.  Check out our Facebook page to see our recent school field trips at the Zimmerman Center: https://www.facebook.com/SusquehannaHeritageArea/

Although we are pleased that HB 218 continues funding for PA Heritage Areas, it also includes major cuts to other DCNR funding that will jeopardize the agency’s ability to keep helping local partners make great things happen in our communities, particularly for trails, parks, and conservation projects.

It’s now up to our State Senators to make things right with DCNR funding as they consider a final budget bill. We encourage our friends to contact your Senators and ask them to restore DCNR’s funding in the final budget.  See the list below for Senate contact information. Senate support is critical to ensure that good, sensible investments in conservation and outdoor recreation continue to enhance our quality of life and economic well-being for the next generations of Lancaster and York Countians.

Thank you!

LANCASTER COUNTY SENATORS

Scott Martin (District 13)
smartin@pasen.gov
Senate Box 203013
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3013
Room: 183 Main Capitol
(717) 787-6535

48-50 W. Chestnut Street
Suite 308
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 397-1309

Ryan P. Aument (District 36)
http://www.senatoraument.com/contact/
Senate Box 203036
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3036
Room: 15 East Wing
(717) 787-4420

301 East Main Street
Lititz, PA 17543
(717) 627-0036

YORK COUNTY SENATORS

Mike Regan (District 31)
mregan@pasen.gov
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3031
Room: 460 Main Capitol
(717) 787-8524

1 East Harrisburg Street
Dillsburg, PA 17019
(717) 432-1730

2151 Market Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011
(717) 975-1985

Scott Wagner (District 28)
http://www.senatorscottwagner.com/contact/
Senate Box 203028
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3028
Room: 9 East Wing
(717) 787-3817

218 North George Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 846-2828

Mike Folmer (District 48)
http://www.senatorfolmer.com/voice-your-concerns-2/
Senate Box 203048
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3048
Room: 337 Main Capitol
(717) 787-5708
(877) 222-1897

400 S. 8th Street
101 Municipal Building
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 274-6735

Richard L. Alloway II (District 33)
http://www.senatoralloway.com/contact-me/
Senate Box 203033
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3033
Room: 172 Main Capitol
(717) 787-4651

37 South Main Street
Suite 200
Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 264-6100

Join us May 9th in Harrisburg, PA for Keep PA Growing Greener Capitol Day!

Take part in the rally on the capitol steps or attend the reception to support the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Coalition and Growing Greener III which is vital to the work Susquehanna Heritage does along the river.  We hope to see you there!

 

 

 

Susquehanna Heritage is proud to be part of places2040 – the exciting initiative to chart a shared vision for Lancaster County’s future.

“We’re a regional organization, and being focused on quality of life and economic development through heritage and outdoor tourism, we want to ensure that our goals are reflected in places2040…We would be an implementer of initiatives to advance the goals of the plan.” – Mark Platts, President, Susquehanna Heritage

Check out Mark’s full comments here: https://youtu.be/d3-WcAbXwVU…

Our friends at the Chesapeake Conservancy have developed this great new 1.19 mile online virtual walk from the Zimmerman Center for Heritage up to and through Native Lands County Park to Klines Run Park: https://www.terrain360.com/trails/zimmerman-center…. You can speed up the walk using the arrow at the lower right of the page, rotate 360 degrees at upper right, or select any spot on the trail to visit with the map at upper left. When you finish exploring Native Lands, also check out the Conservancy’s complete Susquehanna River 360 tour here: https://www.terrain360.com/map/susquehanna-river/visual. Thank you Chesapeake Conservancy!

In mid-February 2017, Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania re-introduced Susquehanna Heritage’s National Heritage Area designation bill in the 115^th session of the United States Congress.

During a visit to Washington for meetings related to the Annual Meeting of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas, Susquehanna Heritage President Mark Platts and Vice President Jonathan Pinkerton met with staff for Senator Casey, Senator Pat Toomey, Representative Lloyd Smucker and Representative Pat Meehan. They met personally with Representative Scott Perry. Each of our House members was asked to introduce or co-sponsor a companion House bill to Sen. Casey’s Senate bill.

During a productive week in Washington, Susquehanna Heritage had the opportunity to provide each of our congressional representatives with an overview of our National Heritage Area initiative.

On Friday, October 7, 2016, AIA Baltimore (American Institute of Architects) honored the best projects of Baltimore-based design firms at the 2016 AIA Baltimore Excellence in Design Awards Celebration. We are proud to share that the Susquehanna Heritage Zimmerman Center for Heritage Waterside Pavilion and Accessibility Enhancements Project received two awards! First, we were awarded the 2016 Good Design = Good Business Award! The project was designed by Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects of York and Baltimore. Two teams of distinguished practitioners and educators from Austin, TX judged the awards. A local jury honored 2 projects with the Good Design = Good Business Award. In addition, we received an Honorable Mention Award in the Excellence in Design category!

On Friday, October 14, 2016 Preservation PA hosted the 2016 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards at the Historic Yorktowne Hotel in York, PA. Through several categories of awards, this annual program showcases exemplary preservation projects of buildings and sites in Pennsylvania, and also recognizes individuals who play leading roles in preservation across the Commonwealth. Susquehanna Heritage’s Zimmerman Center for Heritage Waterside Pavilion and Accessibility Enhancements Project was awarded an Initiative Award for Education. This award acknowledges the outreach and public accessibility created through the project that transformed our location to an educational center for people of all ages and shares the culture of the area, building on the themes of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.

The grounds of the Zimmerman Center are open to the public dawn to dusk every day. The Visitor Contact Station is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and features Susquehannock artifacts and the Visions of the Susquehanna river art collection, which showcases views of the trail from New York to the Chesapeake Bay.

Experience new programming offered by knowledgeable guides on Saturdays at the Zimmerman Center. At 11:00 am and 3:00 pm learn about the Susquehannock Indians through Interactions – The Land and Its People. At 1:00 pm expand your understanding of the river with The Susquehanna – Nature and Inspiration. All programs are offered by friendly and knowledgeable guides.

National Park Service Launches Visitor Contact Station at Zimmerman Center for Heritage

On Saturday, August 27, 2016 the National Park Service, Chesapeake Office and Susquehanna Heritage officially launched the first Visitor Contact Station for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail at Susquehanna Heritage Zimmerman Center for Heritage. A public ceremony was held 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. on the front lawn of the Zimmerman Center. Keynote speakers included Chuck Hunt, Superintendent of the National Park Service, Chesapeake Bay, and Cindy Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Visitor Contact Station at the Zimmerman Center is the place to go to learn about, and get information on, the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Designated by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 2006, the Captain Smith Trail is based on Captain Smith’s explorations of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in 1608. The Susquehanna River is the single largest source of fresh water to the Chesapeake Bay and in 2012 the trail was expanded to include the entire river. Although Captain Smith did not travel up the Susquehanna, in 1608 he met and interacted with the Susquehannock Indians at the mouth of the river, near what is today Havre de Grace, MD. Captain Smith kept detailed records of his voyages and his visit with the Susquehannock.

The specific themes of the trail are the 1608 voyages of Captain John Smith, the natural environment, and 17th Century American Indians. From the Zimmerman Center for Heritage visitors may launch canoes or kayaks to explore the water trail itself, enjoy iconic views, hike into Native Lands County Park to learn more about the Susquehannock Indians who lived there in the 1670s, and find out about other things to do and places to visit along the historic trail.

Begin your exploration of the Susquehanna Riverlands with us! The grounds of the Zimmerman Center are open to the public from dawn to dusk every day. The Visitor Contact Station is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and features Susquehannock artifacts and the Visions of the Susquehanna river art collection, capturing segments of the trail from New York to the Chesapeake Bay. Interactive programming related to the themes of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail are offered on Saturdays. At 11:00 am and 3:00 pm learn about the Susquehannock Indians through Interactions – The Land and Its People. At 1:00 pm expand your understanding of the river with The Susquehanna – Nature and Inspiration. All programs are offered by friendly and knowledgeable guides.

Eastern York School District 4th graders are sworn in as official NPS CAJO Junior Rangers at the Zim Susquehana Heritage. Read the full article here.