All along his journey through America, the Traveler has been saddened to see how the traditional "town" in America is dying, as people are living farther apart from each other, no longer shop or even visit their "Main Street"... and there's no longer a place where the townsfolk meet up with each other, socialize, and reaffirm that sense of community. Main Streets have been replaced by the soulless strip mall with their chain stores run by corporations thousands of miles away. These malls are usually splattered in random locations throughout the countryside, specifically designed so you drive there, park your car, shop and leave, with the least amount of human interaction possible.

Every now and again, though, the Traveler does see glimmers of hope ... towns which either by choice or by circumstance, have managed to maintain that sense of cohesion and close-knit community. Sunbury is one of those towns.

Perhaps it is more circumstance: with a river on one side, and steep hills on the other three, there not an easy place to build a strip mall. Instead strip malls have been built on the other side of the river, near Selinsgrove. Sunbury has kept its original layout: Town center, surrounded by residential neighborhoods, surrounded by forests. There are people in the streets. There is a feeling of community. This town feels alive.

So what are some of the things Sunbury has done that other towns haven't. As the Traveler wanders around, he begins to compile a list:

-First, Main Street still has businesses that people need in their day to day lives, not just antique stores and specialty shops. There's a supermarket, drugstore, and a couple of cheap restaurants . People living in town can just walk to the store, instead of needing to drive elsewhere for their shopping needs.

-Secondly, right in the center, is a beautiful little park area with benches and a gazebo where people can come, sit and interact with each other, right in the heart of their town.

-Thirdly, the government has set up a program where empty properties downtown have to be put to use--or torn down and turned into something else. Seeing abandoned properties sitting for years on end gives people the feeling that they are living in a dying town and it has a ripple effect on property value. You have to be pro-active to avoid that.

-Finally, the town has recently turned its riverfront into a walking/jogging area, so the locals can enjoy the beautiful Susquehanna scenery. A wall is built to protect the city from flooding, with stairways over it so you can still enjoy the river.

The one thing this town does seem to be lacking is in middle class jobs. Fortunately, Sunbury is within commuting distance to Harrisburg, so these jobs should manage to keep this town alive.

Walking the backstreets, the Traveler comes across two bicycles in front of a house with a sign: "20 $ each. Put the money under the door." Obviously there's a good bit of trust and feeling of community, if someone knows they can sell their bicycles using the "honor system"...

Overall, quite inspired by this town.