TCH News

Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Entertainment

Movie fanatics got their fill last weekend when the Pike County town was packed for the eighth annual Black Bear Film Festival in the main theater on Catharine Street as well as in the Salon and at Envirofest, which was held for the first time at the Grey Towers National Historic Site.

There were three film areas at Envirofest where environmentally friendly films were shown for free as a trolley car took people to and from there and the main theater.
During Saturday's events, moviegoers got a surprise as a bear was stuck in a tree in downtown Milford for a good part of the day as many gathered to see the bruin, which seemed aware and almost wanting to be a part of the action. It took a while before the bear finally left because there so many onlookers.

The Black Bear Film Festival's mission is to "support innovative and independent films while recognizing Pike County's history as the birthplace of the American conservation movement."

"The leap to Grey Towers has been a good move for us with a free trolley ride to and from the theater. This is our first year here and attendance has been wonderful," said Sandy Long, Envirofest co-coordinator.

First-year Envirofest volunteer Heidi Finkelberg said, "I saw a lot of people come through and a lot of them were families with children. I saw all ages but not many teenagers."

One of the featured Envirofest movies was "Nature's Keepers," shot entirely in Pike County. This was a director's cut film and is still in production with a release date late next year. The film focuses on wildlife and Pike County environmental issues. It also features Milford shopping and outdoor activities.

According to the film, the way of life there "is under great pressure" with Pike County the fastest growing county in the state. The film features many passionate people of Pike County coming together to help in what is felt to be a winning battle to protect land from development that shrinks the habitat and they are considered the nature's keepers.
Tables were set up on the grounds of Grey Towers by different area environmental organizations: Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, PEEC, National Park Service-Upper Delaware, Gifford Pinchot Audubon Society, Lackawaxen River Conservancy, the shops of Milford, the Eagle Institute, Delaware Highlands Conservancy and Pike Conservation Partnership. Grey Towers Heritage Association, Delaware Valley Eagle Alliance and Michael Gadomski Photography also had tables with information.

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