Join us at the Rochester Performance and Arts Center for a screening of The American Southwest, "a family-friendly wildlife movie that takes viewers on an unforgettable journey down the mighty Colorado River. Narrated by Quannah Chasing horse, the film beautifully showcases the region’s abundant wildlife, confronts the ecological impacts of dams and water overuse, and advocates for better management of the river. Made in association with Natives Outdoors, the movie incorporates an indigenous storyline and is told through the perspective of some of the Southwest’s most charming characters… such as industrious beavers, bugling bull elk, and soaring condors. Between its legendary landscapes and fascinating wildlife, The American Southwest aims to endear millions of people to better cherish, love, and conserve this unique region."
We'll close out the evening with a panel discussion, where attendees will have the opportunity to reflect. Refreshments will be available.
Tickets: $30 per person (adults and children 5+)
Parking Information: limited street parking is available outside of the venue. Street parking in this area has a 2 hour limit that ends at 5pm, so parking from 3pm on would not be a problem. There is also the North Main Street Lot (no time limit), 60 Wakefield Lot (24 hour limit), and Union Street Lot (this lot also has a 2 hour parking limit that ends at 5pm) within reasonable walking distance.
Meet the Panel
Melissa Paly
Melissa Paly is Conservation Law Foundation’s Great Bay–Piscataqua Waterkeeper, advocating daily for the health of the waterways that make the coastal region of New Hampshire and southern Maine such a spectacular place to live, work, and play. She works closely with a wide range of stakeholders—from state and federal environmental officials to scientists, consultants, local decision-makers, and grassroots activists—to reduce pollution and restore the health of the Great Bay ecosystem.
Before joining CLF, Melissa was a principal at CrossCurrent Communications, where she provided communications strategy, PR, and media production services to state agencies, businesses, and nonprofits focused on environmental and social issues. She previously worked for USEPA Region 1, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the World Resources Institute. Melissa holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Yale College and the Yale School of the Environment, respectively. She serves on the boards of Kittery Land Trust, Coastal Conservation Association–NH, and Maine Conservation Voters, and is a former trustee of the Maine Island Trail Association and Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Melissa resides in Kittery Point with her husband, David Batchelder, and their mischievous pup, Murphy, and has three grown children scattered across the country.
Josh Megyesy
Josh Megyesy is a wildlife biologist with the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, where he has served since 2014. His expertise is in turtle ecology, and he has spent the better part of his career monitoring and conserving state-threatened and endangered turtle species. Josh works with partner state and federal agencies, private landowners, municipalities, land trusts, and other NGOs to guide conservation practices for rare turtles and associated wildlife. He also serves on regional working groups composed of state biologists and academics to develop Best Management Practices and standardized monitoring protocols.
Josh has collaborated with other nongame biologists on projects involving the New England cottontail, Karner blue butterfly, piping plover, and various reptile and amphibian species. Outside of work, he serves on his local Conservation Commission and is a board member of New Hampshire Turtle Rescue.
Dr. Chris Whitney
As Program Scientist, Chris analyzes data and creates visualizations to help PREP partners and local communities make informed management decisions aimed at improving the health of our estuaries. He also manages all data-related aspects of PREP’s work and assists partners with data processing, analysis, and visualization needs. Before joining PREP, Chris was a graduate student working primarily in the watersheds of the Plum Island Estuary, studying how freshwater ecosystems influence the quality of water flowing downstream to the coast.
Chris has been at UNH since 2013, when he entered the master’s program in Soil and Water Resources Management, where he studied the effects of fluvial wetlands and beaver ponds on nitrate removal from aquatic ecosystems. He continued at UNH to research beaver ponds and human-made reservoirs, examining how the ecosystem services provided by these inland water features regulate downstream nutrient fluxes, ultimately earning his Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Growing up on Cape Cod, Chris has always had a love for the ocean and is excited to apply the skills he developed studying freshwater ecosystems to the health of our estuaries.