Area resident strives
to cleanup environment

Susan Obleski works hard to keep local watersheds free of litter and educate the public on the importance of cleaning up the environment

By KATHRYN ONDISCO
Reporting
Spring 2003

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Being assertive, firm, and not settling for second best, has guided Susan Obleski to a life-long desire to help the environment.

Obleski has always looked up to people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Indira Ghandi, former prime minister of India.  “These are people who have brought about change with non-violence,” said Obleski.  “I admire people who fight for advancing people’s rights and relieving the world of racism and hunger.”

When she is not reading, hiking to remote locations, or running marathons, Obleski can be found in her garden.  “I plant flowers which are native to this area and are drought resistant, like perennials,” said Obleski.

Obleski also has an ongoing interest in the media, outreach programs, and the environment – which drove her to become the director of communications for the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) and has kept her there for the past six years.

“I am very happy working here (SRBC),” said Obleski.  She has worked in various places including private and public organizations, the state capitol, and large corporations, but the SRBC is her favorite of them all.  “Working in a smaller place like this gives me a sense of closure and accomplishment,” said Obleski.

Thomas Beauduy, deputy director of the SRBC, said he is very happy to have someone like Obleski working for the SRBC.  “Susan possesses a genuine desire and commitment to improve and protect the environment,” said Beauduy.

Ann Devine, Obleski’s co-worker, admires her ongoing endeavor for the environment.  “She's always willing to spend a day removing trash, tires, and other debris from a stream or helping out a local volunteer watershed organization,” said Devine.  “Because of her interest, she greatly enjoys working in the environmental field.”

Obleski believes that without a clean environment people and animals would not be able to survive.  She wants everyone to realize they can do small tasks to improve the environment, like helping animals, which cannot help themselves.

“Man often forgets that we are part of a bigger environment,” said Obleski.  “When we harm the environment it harms us.”  She believes that environmental education is crucial, especially to kids.  “Just telling kids how much water is lost with a leaky faucet or toilet can make a difference,” said Obleski.  “It is small steps like these that will change the big picture.”

In her attempt to make the world a more beautiful place, Obleski and the SRBC is starting a new cleanup program for the river.  The program is called the Streamside Cleanup Training Academy and Assistance Program.

Obleski came up with the idea for the program from a cleanup that already takes place in Ohio.  “The Ohio River Basin currently has a massive river sweep,” said Obleski.  Although the Ohio sweep only takes place once a year and is almost like a holiday for the surrounding towns.  “Our cleanup will be an on-going sweep that will be done piece by piece from the local watersheds,” said Obleski.

“The biggest purpose for the streamside cleanup is to bring awareness and to educate people at the local level to remove litter,” said Obleski.  This program will not only help to remove local waste, but it is also an effort to minimize debris to the Chesapeake Bay.  “The Susquehanna is the bay’s largest water source,” said Obleski.

The program is setup for local watersheds to get training on how to prepare an organized cleanup.  “The training academy will be giving tips, such as approaching businesses for funding and supplies, getting volunteers, and safety issues in general,” said Obleski.  “Also, we want to get the media involved because the whole purpose of the program is to boost confidence and encourage the public, organizations, corporations, and so on to outreach and help the river.”

“I said it once and I’ll say it again: environmental education is crucial,” said Obleski.  “By raising awareness to the public about the effects of harming the environment, I am hoping to instill a life-long desire to help the environment in whatever way possible.”

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