FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jeremy Peplow

727-394-6176
peplow.jeremy@spcollege.edu

St. Petersburg college students

produce documentary on going green

Students partner with WEDU to inspire viewers to counteract

 economic and environmental woes through alternative resources

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 29, 2008) -- A group of St. Petersburg College video production students have teamed up with local PBS affiliate WEDU to produce and air a 30-minute television documentary that will be previewed on May 7th at 7:30 p.m. in SPC’s Seminole Campus Digitorium.

The program, “Go Green Tampa Bay,” is designed to inspire viewers to come up with ideas to counteract economic and environmental woes through the use of alternative resources. The students hope to encourage viewers to help younger generations create awareness so that they may enjoy cost-effective, greener futures.

“It is our intent to inspire, stimulate, and educate the viewers to take action and develop habits of financial efficiency and healthy environments,” said Executive Producer Danny Heaton. “We also are aiming to influence viewers to get involved with community efforts to conserve energy and reduce threats of global warming.”

The show consists of six stories featuring local individuals or organizations. They include:

·        The Old Wood Co., where founder Darren Green addresses the old adage of “waste not, want not” by salvaging and recycling old building materials to reinvent them into furniture and home products.

·        A veggie car, a Volkswagen Golf converted to run on used vegetable oil.

·        A recycling operation that works with developmentally disabled adults at the Louise Graham Regeneration Center. The center recovers paper and cardboard from local businesses, government agencies, and other institutions that would otherwise be thrown it away.

·        A segment on green houses where owner Nicole Kibert lets viewers into her home, built from the ground up with eco-friendly materials and techniques.

·        The show contains a segment on Westchase Elementary School and its bid to win a national contest on classroom green initiatives.

·        The Eternal Rest Cemetery, where owner Charles Scalisi III talks about the economic and environmental benefits of green burials.

“This year marks the 50^th anniversary of our station’s award-winning efforts to tell great local stories that provide both inspiration and education to our viewers; ‘Go Green Tampa Bay’ complements that effort,” said Jack Conely, vice president of content for WEDU, West Central Florida’s primary PBS television station.

“WEDU is committed to environmental-friendly practices and we hope that this documentary will provide insight to individuals and businesses alike on ways they can make a difference today and in the future,” he said.

“Go Green Tampa Bay” will air on the WEDU digital channel “WEDU WORLD” in July.  “WEDU WORLD” delivers thought-provoking stories seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Viewers in west central Florida can access “WEDU WORLD” on Bright House channel 605; Comcast channel 203; Knology channel 137; Verizon 876; and digital broadcast channel 34.

The public is invited to attend a premiere of the documentary on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Seminole Campus Digitorium.

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For more information, or to schedule an interview with “Go Green Tampa Bay” Executive Producer Danny Heaton, call 727-394-6176 or e-mail livingourdreams@yahoo.com.

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