scranton living? (Archbald, Jessup, Stillwater: house, to buy, school)

[weluvpa]

The festival is just not what it used to be. The race is still very big but it seems that since they moved it from the Albright ave area that the music and crowds has gone down hill. It used to be a nice family event with music and food, lots of food and a good crowd of people that seemed to stay for the day into the evening and enjoy the atomsphere. Now its very sterile the food is served from trucks the music is questionable at times and the crowds are gone as soon as the race is over leaving only a few people that are there mainly to drink. I have been going to the festival for years and we used to have a Lower Greenridge after party at my houses and my neighbors that would have at least a 150 people in attendance but now no one seems to go. Our entire neighborhood turned out in force to clean up the bank along Nay Aug ave so that everyone would have a good time, we all enterd floats in the regatta. Nay Aug ave was closed to all traffic allowing families to not have worry about their kids getting hit but now its right on Olive which does get closed and is a very busy street. It seems like the LRCA let it just get away from the entire day festival to a race with some food and some music. I didn't like the last two or three events that they have had at the Olive st location and I have been approached by many people to try and get the festival back in Lower Greenridge were it seemed to be better. After the levee system is completed we will approach Bernie and the LRCA to petition them to bring it back to a neighborhood that is on the river and not just some empty field next to the ice box where it feels sterile and not a very inviting atomsphere for families.

[NEPA-x-pat]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

The festival is just not what it used to be. The race is still very big but it seems that since they moved it from the Albright ave area that the music and crowds has gone down hill. It used to be a nice family event with music and food, lots of food and a good crowd of people that seemed to stay for the day into the evening and enjoy the atomsphere. Now its very sterile the food is served from trucks the music is questionable at times and the crowds are gone as soon as the race is over leaving only a few people that are there mainly to drink. I have been going to the festival for years and we used to have a Lower Greenridge after party at my houses and my neighbors that would have at least a 150 people in attendance but now no one seems to go. Our entire neighborhood turned out in force to clean up the bank along Nay Aug ave so that everyone would have a good time, we all enterd floats in the regatta. Nay Aug ave was closed to all traffic allowing families to not have worry about their kids getting hit but now its right on Olive which does get closed and is a very busy street. It seems like the LRCA let it just get away from the entire day festival to a race with some food and some music. I didn't like the last two or three events that they have had at the Olive st location and I have been approached by many people to try and get the festival back in Lower Greenridge were it seemed to be better. After the levee system is completed we will approach Bernie and the LRCA to petition them to bring it back to a neighborhood that is on the river and not just some empty field next to the ice box where it feels sterile and not a very inviting atomsphere for families.

I liked the old site too. It was a nice location. levees at both locations makes it hard to get the boats out but, it did have a nice feel over there. I guess Bernie wanted to show off the development along the river. The race used to go all the way to the Schmidt athletic field. That was before I started participating. I hope you do get your wish and get it back to the old site. It was kind of wierd, two years ago, nearing the finish, you could look over on the river bank and there was a tent city. Must have been homeless guys. They found a camp in the thichket of trees near the finsih line. Are they still there?

[weluvpa]

They have always lived in the area between Olive st and the Lackawanna Ave bridge. There have been tents there since I could remember. The city told Bernie that because of the levee project that they would not be allowed to use the old site because it was city owned land. The project in our area has yet to be started and its been 3 years since they told Bernie that. They have decided to use the land from the old site to store clean fill dirt that the city uses to fill in the basemenst of homes that they demo thru the city. Basically they have trashed the old site to the point where it could not be used anymore. Once the project is completed the entire length of Nay Aug ave will disappear and become levee and greenspace so its our hopes that we will be able to use that area to try and get it back over here. The board of directors of the LRCA has had some changes over the last few years due to members constantly having to battle with Bernie over what they feel as the board is right and what Bernie wants to do. The food service that used to be in the tents is no longer there because Bernie could not and does not want to find someone with the food service permits to handle it so his solution is a food truck or trailer from Shookies and wherever he can get the cheapest food from and it shows. He doesn't get the whole bad PR idea thing and thinks that the race alone will just keep it going and I don't believe it will. The music is now local bar bands since Bernie now finds himself spending alot of time in the BOG. The bigger area bands like the Village Idiots or Old Friends just want nothing to do with it. I swear that it seems like he wants it to be a kegger in the field by the river because he spends so much time in the bar with college kids that he has lost focus on the overall atomsphere of what the river fest was. They are hurting for funds because it seems like the LRCA is just not doing anything in regards to the river anymore. They are having a anniversary dinner and the general admin price is $75 per person with a cash bar. Nice I'm sure as long Bernie is trying to hob knob he is focused on the LRCA right? He thinks he is Natalie Sofanelli and the Lackawanna Valley Heritage group. The problem is he couldn't hold a candle to her connections and her ability to raise funding but he keeps trying and he wonders why the membership numbers are down and no one is contributing. I think that Bernie needs to step aside for awhile and let the board of directors get the LRCA back on track and moving forward with the river and its core mission statement and stop trying to play politics. If you know Bernie at all then you probably get the grasp of what I'm saying.

[NEPA-x-pat]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

They have always lived in the area between Olive st and the Lackawanna Ave bridge. There have been tents there since I could remember. The city told Bernie that because of the levee project that they would not be allowed to use the old site because it was city owned land. The project in our area has yet to be started and its been 3 years since they told Bernie that. They have decided to use the land from the old site to store clean fill dirt that the city uses to fill in the basemenst of homes that they demo thru the city. Basically they have trashed the old site to the point where it could not be used anymore. Once the project is completed the entire length of Nay Aug ave will disappear and become levee and greenspace so its our hopes that we will be able to use that area to try and get it back over here. The board of directors of the LRCA has had some changes over the last few years due to members constantly having to battle with Bernie over what they feel as the board is right and what Bernie wants to do. The food service that used to be in the tents is no longer there because Bernie could not and does not want to find someone with the food service permits to handle it so his solution is a food truck or trailer from Shookies and wherever he can get the cheapest food from and it shows. He doesn't get the whole bad PR idea thing and thinks that the race alone will just keep it going and I don't believe it will. The music is now local bar bands since Bernie now finds himself spending alot of time in the BOG. The bigger area bands like the Village Idiots or Old Friends just want nothing to do with it. I swear that it seems like he wants it to be a kegger in the field by the river because he spends so much time in the bar with college kids that he has lost focus on the overall atomsphere of what the river fest was. They are hurting for funds because it seems like the LRCA is just not doing anything in regards to the river anymore. They are having a anniversary dinner and the general admin price is $75 per person with a cash bar. Nice I'm sure as long Bernie is trying to hob knob he is focused on the LRCA right? He thinks he is Natalie Sofanelli and the Lackawanna Valley Heritage group. The problem is he couldn't hold a candle to her connections and her ability to raise funding but he keeps trying and he wonders why the membership numbers are down and no one is contributing. I think that Bernie needs to step aside for awhile and let the board of directors get the LRCA back on track and moving forward with the river and its core mission statement and stop trying to play politics. If you know Bernie at all then you probably get the grasp of what I'm saying.

That is a shame. It is a really nice event, and it could be great. I always wondered why there is so little publicity for the event. It could attract a lot of paddlers to the river. It also seems like LRCA hasn't been too proactive on securing enough water for the event. There have been a few attempts to release water from Stillwater dam in a nudge nudge wink wink unrelated release as the ACE is not in the business of recreation. I think a bit of new blood would be great for the LRCA. I saw models of the restoration project proposals for the canyon area. They had plans for an amphitheater and riverwalk area. How nice would that have been? Not sure about the status. OBTW...my cousin used to play in the Village Idiots...Robbie Walsh

[weluvpa]

I know Robbie and MJ is one of my neighbors. I paddle the river all the time when the water levels are where they cover the gravel beds. Its a great paddle especially if you go further up stream and put in Jermyn or Carbondale. Its a good full day paddle from Jermyn to Scranton and we do it all the time. Personally I think that McGurl is more part of the problem with the LRCA then he is part of the solution and he is the reason that I feel that they have strayed away from their core mission with the river. They received a new house in Scranton to put their offices in and nothing has really changed. I know that Bernie is the founder but sometimes you need to step aside and allow others to grow what you have started.

[NEPA-x-pat]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

I know Robbie and MJ is one of my neighbors. I paddle the river all the time when the water levels are where they cover the gravel beds. Its a great paddle especially if you go further up stream and put in Jermyn or Carbondale. Its a good full day paddle from Jermyn to Scranton and we do it all the time. Personally I think that McGurl is more part of the problem with the LRCA then he is part of the solution and he is the reason that I feel that they have strayed away from their core mission with the river. They received a new house in Scranton to put their offices in and nothing has really changed. I know that Bernie is the founder but sometimes you need to step aside and allow others to grow what you have started.

Hey cool, another paddler! It is a great river and we like the section from Forest City to Simpson. Excellent whitewater. But ususally due to time constraints when visiting my family back in PA, just usually get in a short run from Archbald to Mellow Park in Blakely. The good lord willing we will be back up for this year's race. We will probably do an upper section of the Lacky, or maybe the Lehigh, as a warm up for the race. My brother lives in Nazareth, so sometimes we do that river.

I guess I have to agree with you that there used to be a bigger presence of boaters on the river in years past, with a lot more spectators lining the river. Only in Scranton (NEPA) would the spectators offer beers to the racers at 10:00 in the morning! There were some guys that used to stop at every bridge and pop open a can or two. You will see a lot of DNF in the results. One year about three or four canoes stopped below a bridge, got out and went over the the Parker House for a beer (I think that is what they said they were doing!.

The last two times the river didn't look like it was cleaned up a lot, there was a lot of tires, and stuff in the bed. Shame. I see such promise for that river. There are several homes in the Archbald to Blakely section, especially in Jessup that have really adopted the river. They have very nice decks and patios built right out over the river. They have nice seating, deck heaters out to enjoy the river.

Sorry to high jack this thread but I think the river is one of the best things about life in Scranton (and vicinity) . If I were ever to move back, I would try to get one of the homes near the river in Archbald, Jessup or Blakely and build a nice deck to overlook the river.

[weluvpa]

I agree. We used to be really involved with helping the LRCA with the clean up but it seemed that Bernie was only concerned with the finish area and we just stopped helping him with his personal crusade and attempts to get into the political arena for the LRCA. Last year the river was a mess before the race and I paddled the river right aftet the raced and then contacted Bernie about the amount of trash in the river and told him that I thought he was getting away from the core mission of the LRCA. He was mad but hey it is what it is. He started to tell me about the lack of help and the cost of the dumpsters and blah blah blah. I told him that in the past the board members that were involved never had any probnlems getting the cans for free as long as the landfill fee was covered and I told him that when they had companies like prudential helping to sponsor the event that they never had a shortage of help. I asked whats changed? No answer. So I said that the board has changed and the members that were proactive are gone and that I felt he was not doing a good job. Well you know how that went over. Its a shame but he is just a obstacle. I have yet to get up higher on the river probably because I don't know the area too well and I do alot of paddling alone. I have a 7'2" Perception method air and a older overflow creek boat as well as some 12' rec boats that have been modified with whitewater thigh braces and can be rolled if needed. They will also accept the neo skirt from the squirt boat. I usually use them with a good touring skirt and I have paddled the river from Archbald when it was as high as 6ft on the gauge in archbald. You need to try the section in Jessup above Mellow and just above the next bridge there in Jessup by the mini golf manufacturer when the river is at 5+ft. There is one hell of a hole there and when it drops to 3=4 ft there is a nice set of standing waves that you could surf all day long with eddies that let you hop up stream about 50yards thru to get to more waves. I actaully had a surf board on the one wave for about a 2 minute nonstop ride. I love the river and I love having it so close but I just don't like it when it comes in my home.

[NEPA-x-pat]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

I agree. We used to be really involved with helping the LRCA with the clean up but it seemed that Bernie was only concerned with the finish area and we just stopped helping him with his personal crusade and attempts to get into the political arena for the LRCA. Last year the river was a mess before the race and I paddled the river right aftet the raced and then contacted Bernie about the amount of trash in the river and told him that I thought he was getting away from the core mission of the LRCA. He was mad but hey it is what it is. He started to tell me about the lack of help and the cost of the dumpsters and blah blah blah. I told him that in the past the board members that were involved never had any probnlems getting the cans for free as long as the landfill fee was covered and I told him that when they had companies like prudential helping to sponsor the event that they never had a shortage of help. I asked whats changed? No answer. So I said that the board has changed and the members that were proactive are gone and that I felt he was not doing a good job. Well you know how that went over. Its a shame but he is just a obstacle. I have yet to get up higher on the river probably because I don't know the area too well and I do alot of paddling alone. I have a 7'2" Perception method air and a older overflow creek boat as well as some 12' rec boats that have been modified with whitewater thigh braces and can be rolled if needed. They will also accept the neo skirt from the squirt boat. I usually use them with a good touring skirt and I have paddled the river from Archbald when it was as high as 6ft on the gauge in archbald. You need to try the section in Jessup above Mellow and just above the next bridge there in Jessup by the mini golf manufacturer when the river is at 5+ft. There is one hell of a hole there and when it drops to 3=4 ft there is a nice set of standing waves that you could surf all day long with eddies that let you hop up stream about 50yards thru to get to more waves. I actaully had a surf board on the one wave for about a 2 minute nonstop ride. I love the river and I love having it so close but I just don't like it when it comes in my home.

I know it well!! We call it Nick's Hole, after the son of one of my VA paddling buddies. Let's just say that the hole had its way with their canoe and with Nick! It was a little scarey, he went under the canoe and we couldn't see him in the hole for a while. It does get sticky. I have some pictures of that hole from this spring with snow melt...not friendly at all! I have an older Necky Jive riverrunner. I am getting a new boat this spring. Most likely a WS remix. It would be cool to see other paddlers on the river, we are always the only ones when we go out. Was your picture on the LRCA site surfing near the take out?

[weluvpa]

No it was right at that hole in Jessup. I don't do the race and I have never really been to concerned about doing it. I usually run the course the day before and the day after. The day after is always nice you find coolers, bilge sponges, paddles and whatever else ends up in the drink. I've been looking to get a new boat with a little more volume to compensate for my increased volume.

[NEPA-x-pat]

The next time you are there, look for the patio-deck on river left right above the hole about 50 yards. The last time I ran that section, there was a couple out there, having some wine and cheese, watching the river. They had an optimum site to enjoy the river. There is a high levee that had stairs installed back to the house. It would be a lot of fun to get some folks together for a run this May. I usually bring 3 or 4 paddlers with me from Virginia who enjoy the food as much as the paddling.