A Festive Environmental

The 2013 Delaware River Eco Film and Earth Fest took place throughout the Pocono, PA region. Several events were offered in keeping of the festival’s theme of “Healthy Body/Healthy Energy” designed to encourage individuals become more aware of how the health of our bodies and the planet we dwell upon are effected by the choices we make. These events included a Kickoff event and the “50 Shades of Green” Benefit Dance Party and Fashion Show at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort in Shawnee on Delaware, PA, an afternoon “Bike and Brew” ride on the McDade Trail, and an art exhibit and a film festival at the Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery in Delaware Water Gap, PA. The festival began on Friday April 12th and continued until the 21st. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend a majority of the events the festival offered.

However, I did manage to attend the segment of the festival held at The Antoine Dutot Gallery and Museum located in Delaware Water Gap, PA on Saturday April 20th. It was a chilled day as a handful of individuals attended the day’s festivities. They were met by several vendors were present sharing items and information relating to the environment. They included produce from Mountaindale Farms and the Josie Porter Farm, Jewelry from Deidre Rose Designs and Cups of Peace, and Images created by Salvatore Vicario Jr. Photography. Music filled the day as performers such as The Juggernaut String Band consisting of Peter Taney on Banjo and Fiddle, Cat Burbage on Drums, and Dave Larrison on Bass along with solo performances by Gregory McKillop and Denise Dill who shared their considerable talents with the small but appreciative gathering.

In addition to the vendors and music presented during this segment of the festival, a number of films relating to the environment were shown inside the Gallery/Museum. They included “Living Downstream,” “Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees telling us?,” “An Inconvenient Truth,” and “Galsland.” I arrived rather late in the day to view these film but I have had the opportunity to experience these films and their messages on other occasions in the past. However, on the day of the festival, I did manage to catch part of the film titled, “Dear Governor Cuomo” which I didn’t see before which depicts a concert given to enhance the awareness of the Governor of New York State that a significant number of the its population did not want the drilling practice known as Fracking allowed in their state. You can learn more about the film and the issue it presents at www.dear-governor-cuomo.com.

As already mentioned, the attendance on April 20th was few in number. However, these few shared their hearts in conversations flowing from their mutual concerns about the environment and its precarious state. It was unfortunate more people were unable to attend the day’s event for various reasons but, as also mentioned earlier, there were a number of events throughout the area which were part of the festival. By all accounts, they were very well attended. You’ll be able to see more photographs taken during the segment of this year’s festival held on Saturday April 20th at The 2013 Delaware River Eco Film and Earth Fest at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151611164935421.1073741829.636000420&type=1.

The 2013 Delaware River Eco Film and Earth Fest was presented by Christine Griffin and is the second Annual festival relating to the environment she has presented. It is hoped that the festival will continue as an annual event in order to spread awareness of environmental issues. Please explore The 2013 Delaware River Eco Film and Earth Fest Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ecofestchris.griffin for more information.