Mountaintop, Pa. real estate, economy, schools- ALL BAD

[colorfulchic83]

Originally Posted by auntieannie68

i was a local and coming back the reality here is the LOCALS buy the drugs,make the drugs in their basements and constantly steal money in large amounts from their jobs of trust in their local communities------those inner city problems are ALL HERE FROM LOCALS and are being ignored due to corruption in the legal,police systems,under table payoffs,and all the other reasons one would find in corrupt inner city area---the difference here is the criminals,slumlords ARE ALL WHITE LOCALS-----this is reality here---no one wants to deal with it!

btw--i too came from a large coal mining family--and the grandkids of some of my family members got sucked into all the bad of living in this area--difficult to avoid if one stays here----(fits the if you lye down with swine saying)

OMG, the slumlords here are appalling, and like you said, "white LOCALS". They could care less about their properties or the neighborhoods. They only want money. They forget that the responsibility of a properties upkeep is not solely on the tenant. The owner has a responsibility. Since they are too cheap to make necessary upgrades and repairs, decent people don't ant to move in, and those who get tricked into it, quickly move.
I improved the place since I moved here, and fixed the nasty 1970's decor. The landlords here won't even paint to improve their properties, let alone change the nasty matted rugs that are in most homes for decades. At least it can look pretty in my house while I'm here. Until I leave, I'll just avoid all the ugliness outside, and only deal with people as needed. Thankfully, there are much better, and progressive areas, even in Pa.

[Jay68442]

I moved to Mountain Top from Long Island and to me the house prices in mountain top are very reasonable when compared to LI and the taxes are a joke. It's all a matter of perspective.

[harbinger4truth]

Colorfulchic83 certainly has a colorful array of adjectives to describe people and circumstances in NEPA. I’d like to add another color to the spectrum. I am not native to this area. However, having lived here for 6 years, I can say that per capita, Mountain Top has an abundance of wonderful, caring and magnanimous people. You will find them if you seek them. They are not hard to find. Like every place on the map in this great country, there will be communities having both advantages and disadvantages resulting from both uncontrollable and controllable circumstances. NEPA is part of the rust belt. It has certainly had its share of economic challenges which have been further compounded by local governments plagued with corrupt politicians. Our fearless leader Vice President, Joe Biden, is from this area. Need I say more? But, I digress. We have all witnessed people in our lives who have worked in the face of adversity to make positive changes where none was thought possible. Instead of making jaded personal observations that are no doubt reflections of personal plight, perhaps becoming involved in your community in a positive way will yield the improvement you seek. To the person who has returned to Mountain Top after his military and educational endeavors, let me say thank you, for your service to our country. And yes, you must have witnessed some large homes being constructed throughout Mountain Top. That is because your home is evolving and slowly improving. Your NEPA healthcare system is improving greatly, in fact. Public hospitals have become privatized. Competition has mandated improvement. Very skilled physicians are moving into this area almost daily and serving a larger community base. Highly skilled business professionals are moving back into this area. Natural gas and petroleum opportunities in the region will have a positive impact. These people and factors will bring new jobs and promise for a greater quality of life for every resident in the area. Moreover, as the Federal Government further rids NEPA local governments of the corrupt malignancy of politicians and extortionists, more opportunity will come to your home. In fact, Mountain Top’s physical location to major routes 81, 80, PA Turnpike NE Extension and 84 make it a wise choice for business and industry to locate here. A key to increasing the pace of Mountain Top’s (NEPA’s) growth will be you. Vote to rid the NEPA region of its long-time political party strangle hold. Put an end to their empty promises that have prayed on the naiveté of citizens and have served only to promote a hopeless proletariat. Rebuild your community. Organize groups to clean-up trash from your sidewalks and roads. Get involved with your community programs and Churches. Contact your political leaders and remind them that they are there to serve your needs, not the other way around. Give hope to those who feel hopeless. Be part of the change and improvement and opportunity will come to you too. Mountain Top has been a lovely experience. My two daughters were born here. The healthcare has been quite good and my wife and I have received immediate referrals to specialists at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital when additional evaluation and treatment has been needed. Within 2 hours, you are at the doorstep of two of the top rated Children’s Hospitals in the world. Mountain Top is a charming little town moving in a good direction and with buckets of potential.

[auntieannie68]

mountaintop is accessible most of the snowy year by snowmobile,snowplow,dogsled,snowshoes-----it has no local police force and what fire dept covers it----the nearest hospital is geisenger---a facility whose specialists are few and far between and not well trained--necessitating the need to take a sick or injured child or adult out of the area for optimum treatment--ex--philly--almost 3 hrs away via turnpike(been there---done that)

homes are overpriced,truck traffic stinks but so glad above poster found nice people there

[harbinger4truth]

Wow. You must have made trips to Philly in a rickshaw...or perhaps a horse-drawn sleigh. Google it, folks. Zip 18707 to the Philly Airport is 115mi. or just under 2hrs. I am at the airport parking lot in 1hr 40min. down PA Turnpike NE Extension. Having lived and worked in McLean VA, it took me that long to get to Dulles or BWI airport even though they were much shorter distances. Everything is relative. The knock I do have about Mt. Top (the NEPA area in general) is there is a noticeable contingent of negative people like this one. Come on...snow mobile and snow shoes. We've had mild winters for the past 2 years here. You make it sound like Fargo, ND. Really? I've discovered that many of the "I hate the world" people here...are those who feel hopeless as their world evolves despite their incessant negativity and lack of contribution. Ironically, these same people in NEPA often vote-in the same convicted criminals back into political office and then complain how much their proletariat life blows. They should be voting in new people with new ideas. For example, the un-seated congressman Paul Kanjorski admitted to using over $10mm in campaign funds to establish a business for his family. After he got caught, he paid back the stolen money and was never prosecuted. Then, the people here voted him back into office. Imagine that! Fortunately, even jaded ideologues have their limits because in an 80% democrat area, they voted him out eventually. As I said before, NEPA in general is part of the rust belt and many of its people are hanging onto an ephemeral hope that they will get their union jobs back. Moreover, any politician who promises free stuff to the masses here will win the political seat. Once elected, these politicians build their own wealth with their new-found access to power and financial resources while leaving behind the hopeless public. Sound familiar? It's a vicious cycle that gets repeated here in particular. In any event, new professionals are bringing-in new resources, wealth and positive energy. The bitter will simply come along for the ride. Regarding healthcare, both Geisinger Hospital and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital (part of the new Commonwealth Health System) are a about a 12 minute drive from Mt. Top. Both hospitals have excellent doctors. In fact, many doctors in this area are affiliated with nearby regionals like Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Hahnemann University Hospital. By the way, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hahnemann Hospital and University of Pennsylvania Hospital are all reachable within a 1.5hr - 2hr. drive. Yes. Home prices are going up here...an obvious result of demand and yes...the truck traffic on Route 80 stinks. But, have you been outside of this area? Truck traffic is annoying everywhere!

[harbinger4truth]

Oh, by the way...Mountain Top Fire Company, Rice Township Fire Company and White Have Fire Company all serve this area very well. I live in a 4,000SF home with security built in 2007. The police are at my door within minutes if my alarm triggers. But, since I live in the state of PA in which its people apparently have antipathy for others not like us and we cling to our religion and our guns...yes, a malicious intruder will stare down the business end of a host of weapons should he break into our home and with an absence of police assistance ;-)

[Cpt.Trips]

Harbinger...Very well thought out and composed post. You also make several very valid points as to the benefit's of NEPA. But I pissed myself laughing at the " Our fearless leader Vice President, Joe Biden," comment. Oh well, glad you're happy.......

[auntieannie68]

Originally Posted by harbinger4truth

Wow. You must have made trips to Philly in a rickshaw...or perhaps a horse-drawn sleigh. Google it, folks. Zip 18707 to the Philly Airport is 115mi. or just under 2hrs. I am at the airport parking lot in 1hr 40min. down PA Turnpike NE Extension. Having lived and worked in McLean VA, it took me that long to get to Dulles or BWI airport even though they were much shorter distances. Everything is relative. The knock I do have about Mt. Top (the NEPA area in general) is there is a noticeable contingent of negative people like this one. Come on...snow mobile and snow shoes. We've had mild winters for the past 2 years here. You make it sound like Fargo, ND. Really? I've discovered that many of the "I hate the world" people here...are those who feel hopeless as their world evolves despite their incessant negativity and lack of contribution. Ironically, these same people in NEPA often vote-in the same convicted criminals back into political office and then complain how much their proletariat life blows. They should be voting in new people with new ideas. For example, the un-seated congressman Paul Kanjorski admitted to using over $10mm in campaign funds to establish a business for his family. After he got caught, he paid back the stolen money and was never prosecuted. Then, the people here voted him back into office. Imagine that! Fortunately, even jaded ideologues have their limits because in an 80% democrat area, they voted him out eventually. As I said before, NEPA in general is part of the rust belt and many of its people are hanging onto an ephemeral hope that they will get their union jobs back. Moreover, any politician who promises free stuff to the masses here will win the political seat. Once elected, these politicians build their own wealth with their new-found access to power and financial resources while leaving behind the hopeless public. Sound familiar? It's a vicious cycle that gets repeated here in particular. In any event, new professionals are bringing-in new resources, wealth and positive energy. The bitter will simply come along for the ride. Regarding healthcare, both Geisinger Hospital and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital (part of the new Commonwealth Health System) are a about a 12 minute drive from Mt. Top. Both hospitals have excellent doctors. In fact, many doctors in this area are affiliated with nearby regionals like Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Hahnemann University Hospital. By the way, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hahnemann Hospital and University of Pennsylvania Hospital are all reachable within a 1.5hr - 2hr. drive. Yes. Home prices are going up here...an obvious result of demand and yes...the truck traffic on Route 80 stinks. But, have you been outside of this area? Truck traffic is annoying everywhere!

will ignore your rudeness and inaccurate character and life accusations(typical of a dyed in the wool northeasterner)

it takes 2and one half hrs going speed limit(always has)--3 if u r old or ill and need a break---look up the so called well trained md's here and check where their med ed and residencies were----but if one does not know much about medical training one can need to believe the drs here are excellent--btw--3 hours is not nearby-----as to comments bout winter--if one has spent their lives living here and loves treacherous driving regularly then this is the place(not for those of us used to only wind and rain----truck traffic IS NOT BAD EVERYWHERE-----having driven throughout most of the united states in the last 15 years i can vouch that not every place has a speeding truck every other vehicle(this includes the residential areas of these lovely fine cities)--note the daily car truck accidents on the news

btw--i lived in dc--dupont circle--still visit friends there--metro areas r expected to have long commutes but good medical care IS NOT 3 hrs away---btw--- how many moderate trauma victims survive in this area?--not that many---note the large amt of deaths in those early retirees locally-----far surpasses the countries congested retirement areas---being retired from the medical field--have some accurate knowledge
enjoy mt.top and nepa--someone should-----and keep up the character assassination of those you disagree with in a post

on topic---the op could listen to all viewpoints and assess their own needs----as to my feelings i could not answer without my own viewpoints based on my experiences--35 yrs ago when i lived here my points would have been positive but then i lived in a small lackawanna county town