ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pa. will be hosting the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival at 7 p.m. tonight at the State Theatre. This is the third year that ClearWater is holding the festival and the first year that the films are being shown at the State Theatre. If you haven't already, read the preview story I wrote: http://www.centredaily.com/2011/09/21/2922142/wild-and-scenic-film-festival.html.

Here in Centre County, we are fortunate not only to have an abundance of parks, forests and open space, but also a community in which many people care passionately about preserving our natural resources. ClearWater Conservancy has done a wonderful job of conserving land and protecting water resources in our area. The Wild & Scenic festival is a great way to educate audiences about environmental issues, so that people may feel inspired to learn more about the issues in their own community and get involved with conservation organizations such as ClearWater.

I had the pleasure of helping select the films to be shown in the festival, and I can confidently say that no one who attends should be bored. The feature-length film, "Living Downstream," is very powerful; and there are short films, like "The Majestic Plastic Bag," narrated by Jeremy Irons that "documents" the life cycle of a plastic bag, that are humorous as well as educational.

I think that film festivals are a wonderful means of bringing community members with common interests together. I will be volunteering in the lobby before the festival, so I hope to make some new environmentally conscious acquaintances tonight!