Story Info
Story Info
Trebbe Johnson
Hallstead, PA
2017
Type of Wounded Place
Story & Experience
Wayne Chumleigh, Paul Kelly, Shirley Kelly, Sara Chumleigh, Trebbe Johnson, Jake Rosen, Sue Pipetone, Victoria Roberge, Barbara Clifford, and Frank Finan (taking photo) –
In the summer of 2016, a group of about 16-20 people in Susquehanna County formed SCAN, Susquehanna Clean Air Network, to support stringent clean air regulations in the face of a hazardous waste incinerator that was being planned for our poor, rural, beautiful county. The incinerator application was withdrawn in November, but we continue to face other possibly dangerous challenges from the industrialization resulting from the natural gas boom that began here in 2008.
SCAN is a wonderful, diverse group of people. We range in age from 18 to 80 and represent several religions, political ideologies, and backgrounds. We meet weekly, and we listen intently and respectfully to each person’s input and ideas. We all feel uplifted after our meetings.
For the Global Earth Exchange, Radical Joy for Hard Times founder Trebbe Johnson invited SCAN members to come to the Susquehanna River to celebrate what we love about our home place. Eleven of us sat in a circle on the grass on a sweltering hot day and talked for a while about what we appreciate about Susquehanna County. The reflections tended to focus on the natural beauty and the friendliness of the people. We had each brought flowers from home and we wove them into a wreath. Before giving our wreath to the river as a gift to the whole land here, we each shared our hopes, prayers, or wishes for this place.
For example:
- I hope I will always be able to look up from my porch and see a fox walking across the lawn.
- I hope I will see my grandchildren rolling down the green hills without having to worry about ticks.
- I hope the hemlock and ash trees will recover from all the invasive insect pests.
- I pray that the quiet will return.
- I wish that there will always be people who love this place enough to fight for it.
- I hope neighbors will always wave to each other when they walk or drive past.
We placed our wreath in the pewter-colored water and watched the river take it away.
Wayne Chumleigh, Paul Kelly, Shirley Kelly, Sara Chumleigh, Trebbe Johnson, Jake Rosen, Sue Pipetone, Victoria Roberge, Barbara Clifford, and Frank Finan (taking photo) –
In the summer of 2016, a group of about 16-20 people in Susquehanna County formed SCAN, Susquehanna Clean Air Network, to support stringent clean air regulations in the face of a hazardous waste incinerator that was being planned for our poor, rural, beautiful county. The incinerator application was withdrawn in November, but we continue to face other possibly dangerous challenges from the industrialization resulting from the natural gas boom that began here in 2008.
SCAN is a wonderful, diverse group of people. We range in age from 18 to 80 and represent several religions, political ideologies, and backgrounds. We meet weekly, and we listen intently and respectfully to each person’s input and ideas. We all feel uplifted after our meetings.
For the Global Earth Exchange, Radical Joy for Hard Times founder Trebbe Johnson invited SCAN members to come to the Susquehanna River to celebrate what we love about our home place. Eleven of us sat in a circle on the grass on a sweltering hot day and talked for a while about what we appreciate about Susquehanna County. The reflections tended to focus on the natural beauty and the friendliness of the people. We had each brought flowers from home and we wove them into a wreath. Before giving our wreath to the river as a gift to the whole land here, we each shared our hopes, prayers, or wishes for this place.
For example:
- I hope I will always be able to look up from my porch and see a fox walking across the lawn.
- I hope I will see my grandchildren rolling down the green hills without having to worry about ticks.
- I hope the hemlock and ash trees will recover from all the invasive insect pests.
- I pray that the quiet will return.
- I wish that there will always be people who love this place enough to fight for it.
- I hope neighbors will always wave to each other when they walk or drive past.
We placed our wreath in the pewter-colored water and watched the river take it away.
Hallstead, PA
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