Issue 4
July 2010
Upcoming Events
SGHA Open House
Zimmerman Center for Heritage Saturday, August 7
3-5pm
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Board of Directors
Julie McNamara
Chair
David VanArsdale
Vice Chair
James D. Warner
Treasurer
Alex Snyder
Secretary
William W. Adams
Senator Mike Brubaker
Charles E. Douts, Jr.
Comm. Doug Hoke
David Keller
Juan A. Kimble
Timothea M. Kirchner
Daniel G. Meckley III
Carol A. Park
Dr. Joel M. Rodney
Fred Uffelman
Lori Yeich
Nevin Cooley
Rufus Fulton
Jan Herrold
Robert Kinsley
Richard Kneedler, Ph.D. Eric Menzer
Sharron Nelson, Ph.D.
Staff
Mark Platts
President
Vice President
Marie Cartwright
Outreach & Communications
Coordinator
Pam Kilgore
Administrative Coordinator
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We're the Regional Lead Organization for the Susquehanna Greenway.
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Summer Happenings
Greetings from the beautiful banks of the Susquehanna River. We are pleased to share with you a number of exciting announcements in this issue of Susquehanna Currents. Currently we are finalizing our membership program, facility rental program, and 4th quarter events. Look for future announcements about these areas!
We would like to say a big 'Thank You' to everyone who helped make our 2010 River Experience Fundraiser a huge success! We exceeded our fundraising goal and had a fun evening in the process. We truly could not have achieved the evening without the help and support of the River Experience Committee, the SGHA board, all the event sponsors, food and beverage vendors, volunteers, and of course the attendees!
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SGHA Welcomes New Staff
SGHA is pleased to announce the hiring of two new staff members, Pam Kilgore - Administrative Coordinator, and Marie Cartwright - Outreach and Communications Coordinator.
Pam brings a solid record of administrative experience to the Heritage Area. She has over 15 years office management and bookkeeping experience which includes service to York area churches and other organizations. Pam's primary responsibilities are handling financial and bookkeeping needs, greeting guests to the Zimmerman Center, and overseeing the day to day administrative duties of SGHA.
Marie holds a B.S. degree in Speech Communications from Millersville University. Her experience includes working with non-profit staff and volunteers and developing new business. She most recently worked as a Client Advisor for a local technology company in York County. Marie will be handling outreach and communications for SGHA, overseeing fundraising, and further develop the membership program and event offerings.
New Water Trail Website
 SGHA, in conjunction with the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is pleased to unveil the new Susquehanna River Water Trail website for the Lower Susquehanna, www.SusquehannaWatertrail.org. This website offers information on river and trail accessibility, as well as information on purchasing water trail map and guides.
SGHA Inducted into Keystone Society for Tourism
All twelve Pennsylvania Heritage Area Managers were inducted into the Keystone Society of Tourism, the Commonwealth's highest honor for tourism leaders on June 4, 2010. SGHA President Mark Platts and Vice President Jonathan Pinkerton were in attendance at the Governor's home for the induction ceremony.
It was a special honor that the ceremony also recognized four other Lancaster and York County tourism leaders for their accomplishments: Claire Storm, President of Rivertownes PA USA; the late Melissa Glenn, former director of the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce; Alice Sanders, former PA Dutch CVB staffer and community activist; and Carl Knoch, Chairman of the York County Rail Trail Authority and trail development manager for the Rails to Trails Conservancy's Northeast Regional Office. Click here to read the full Press Release from HeritagePA, our state association of heritage areas.
National Heritage Area Designation Update On May 19th, SGHA President Mark Platts was invited to testify on our National Heritage Area designation bill (S.349) before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on National Parks in Washington, DC. We are very excited about this development in the process and hope the bill will be passed before the end of the year.
Zimmerman Center Official York County Heritage Site
 The York County Planning Commission voted unanimously on July 6th to designate the John and Kathryn Zimmerman Center for Heritage at Historic Pleasant Garden as an official York County Heritage Resource and Site. This program celebrates the County's legacy by highlighting heritage resources that give the County its unique sense of place.
Zimmerman Center Site Improvements
On March 26th SGHA received official notice from the National Park Service/Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network that we have been awarded a $100,000 grant award to fund construction design and permitting work for new visitor facilities at the Zimmerman Center. This grant allows us to move forward with the development of a new water trail landing facility, with floating dock, canoe/kayak launch, access/interpretive pavilion, boardwalk, shorefront garden; new pedestrian road crossing and pathway network; access drive/parking lot enhancements; and new trailhead and interpretive pavilion for the adjacent Native Lands County Park and Heritage Trail.
Learn more about the Site Improvements at our open house, Saturday, August 7, 4-6 p.m at the Zimmerman Center for Heritage - 1706 Long Level Rd., Wrightsville, PA 17368.
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State Budge Update
As many of you may know, we were awaiting the approval of the state budget to learn how the current economic climate would impact funding for Pennsylvania Heritage Areas and conservation initiatives. The good news is that huge cuts in funding for conservation were not included in the budge. This should ensure that some level of state funding is available for Pennsylvania's Heritage Areas. We will provide updates as we receive them. For now, please note the following information from the PA Land and Trust Association:
As a result of all of your calls, emails and letters, the General Assembly:
1. Preserved the Keystone land trust project money and left other environmental funds alone.
2. Expressed the intent to pass a Marcellus shale severance tax by 10/1/2010 with revenues to be divided between the "Commonwealth, counties and municipalities, and environmental initiatives." (There is still a lot of very important detail to be worked out on this!)
3. Imposed no new drilling leasing mandates on the State Forests.
This is a great outcome considering that just three weeks ago we were facing $132 million in raids on environmental funds. Your outreach to legislators made all the difference! Thank you!
Just as your voices made a huge difference in this budget, the same will probably be true in regards to the anticipated enactment of a severance tax this fall. Please take every opportunity this summer to impress upon your legislators the importance of severance tax revenue to Growing Greener. Specifically help them to understand Growing Greener's importance to making water cleanup, open space and farmland protection, and trail and park projects happen in your communities.
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