Johnstown, PA

[PBDBCB]

Originally Posted by mbj1227

I appreciate your opinion, but your statement contains inaccuracies. As for the rivers being clean, please visit Stonycreek - Conemaugh River Improvement Project (SCRIP). These people work hard to raise money to clean up the acid mine drainage. This quote is from the Greater Johnstown Watershed website:"The Stonycreek River, after years of cleanup work, enters looking clear and healthy. But then the Little Conemaugh River converges with it near Point Stadium, carrying a surge of orange-brown pollution from upstream mine discharges." One only has to vist the Inclined Plane to see that the color of the river is not one found naturally.

As for recycling, Cambria County has recently stopped accepting any glass at all. They accept only limited cardboard and plastic. And I would not say recycling is encouraged! I grew up in a small town similar to this, and town recycling trucks come twice a week (just like garbage trucks.) Here we have to hunt for recycling bins.

Yes, it is true, one can find organic food in the grocery stores here if you are partial to moldy peppers and mushy black bananas.

Pertaining to crime, I have some firsthand experience. We, too, live in one of the nicer areas of town. Housing prices in our neighborhood range from $200-500,000. A convenience store within walking distance was recently held up at gunpoint in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon. A neighbor returned home one day to find a homeless person rummaging through her fridge. A contractor brought some workers in to do some work on a neighboring house, and one of the workers took off and attempted to assault another neighbor who was leaving for the morning. When that attempt failed, he moved on to another neighbor's house where he was apprehended trying to break into a second floor window by climbing on the basketball hoop. While this is not rape and murder, it is crime. And these are incidents that have happened within the past year.

I am glad that you are happy here, but the original intent of my post was to let someone who is not from here what it is like. People who have lived elsewhere will have a very different viewpoint of the pros and cons of living here.

You are not being fair. You had a few problems with crime around your place, ok, criminals are not all stupid. If you have a $500,000 home compared to say, Morrelville's $30,000 homes, which one do you think is more inviting? And the assult has nothing to do with what Johnstown is like. Explain to evey one where you found this horrible produce? Or did you just make that up too? I will say, I did not know about the glass no longer being recycled until recently, that is true. Sad, but true. As for the rivers... when you make a statement, maybe you should be more specific, as you were with your reply, instead of making a general statement to some one who is looking to relocate here. Look up AMD and art and see what is being done about it. Johnstown is depressed, it is very hard to find a job here unless you are a nurse or an insurance salesman. Even those of us who have degrees are finding it more difficult with every passing week. You do have some good points, but please reply with complete honesty and not half-truths, Johnstown is a very good place to raise kids, its safe, and there are things to do if you just look.

[Hair4U]

It has been a life long goal to return to the Johnsotwn area. After living most of my life in Chicago. I could not wait to live in the mountains once again. I agree its not easy being a newbee. But its not easy being new anywhere.The last few years in Chicago, I stopped going to events. Too much trouble and dangerous. This past summer I went to both festivals and LOVED it! The food! The music!One has to be ready for another type of lifestyle. To embrace its differences!The natural beauty in Johnstown is stunning!!My hope is that Kernnville will be the art community of PA! That large company employeers pay more.The excellent school system continues. And that glass recycling returns.

[south4me]

I grew up in Johnstown. Moved away for 10 years and moved back and have been here 13 years and we are leaving in june. In the ten years gone and the 13 years back nothing has changed here. Johnstown is like entering a time warp we are about 20 years behind everyone else. The housing is start to get exspensive and the real estate and school tax in some areas is getting to be ridiculas. Yes you can get a house in a nice area for under or a little over 100,000 but expect to put another 50,000 into it in repairs(most need updated from the 60's or 70's) then when you do, do improvements your taxes increase. The schools are starting to build new schools that are not really needed in a dying area(population declines ever year)and your taxes go up more. Yes it is a nice area to raise a family, and crime is low, but the negatives outweigh the positive in my opinion.
It is always gloomy here. If you like nice weather and love to be outdoors alot this is not the place. Unless you like winter or cooler weather type activities. Yes there are lots of church festivities but after going to them over and over they are the same thing at all and there really isn't much for kids.
I worked at a job for 10 years and was layed off due to the declining population and not enough work. I feel most people here are retired or welfare(not that I have anything against welfare) but when the jobs are few and far between you will have that.
Yes they are bringing a tech park but most of the jobs will be for the higher educated and they will bring those people in from out of town. Yes the will hire from here but not as many as they claim.
My children are teenagers and involved in dance, sports etc.. very active and find it to be very boring here with little to do.
Most locals are very clicky and I feel employers got you by the b***s because they know you can't quit one day and get another job the same day or next like in other areas.
I geuss Johnstown is whatever you make of it...Some love it some hate it!!!!!!!!
Me I think it is a town that used to be hopping that is now very depressing...They are trying to change it but, most locals don't like CHANGE!!!
If I could do the last 13 years again I would of stayed away!!!!!!
Can't wait til June then I am heading south!!!! Hello Sunshine...

[Kimonoskunk]

I wish I could have seen your post earlier.
I am a cdl b driver who is married with a lil 4 year old girl looking to move to Johnstown, Oil City, or areas that have very reasonable rents. I am now in Chester county Pa, and I hate the rents here, being almost 900 a month before bills.

If you are still looking to hire, post a reply. I'll be reading...

Kimmyskunk

Originally Posted by ted-c

Hey Johnny,
If you had me for a friend, I wouldn't give you free food, free money or Section-8 housing. What I would give you is a job.
I did get caught in a downsizing. I was working for a large company in Johnstown on a project in Oil City (hence the J-town - O.C. connection). I was middle management in a company with 6000 employees. In '90 they chopped middle management out. I got laid off on a Friday afternoon and Saturday morning I started building a business, been self employed ever since. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Congratulations on getting off the welfare rat system. You're the first person I've heard of that it actually worked for.

[Yay Sayer]

Originally Posted by LiveinPA

but I think after a few months you will be wishing you hadn't picked such a small, depressed town.

You'll have a tough time making friends, it's not easy to suggest going to grab something to eat when the nearest town is 1/2 hour away and doesn't take food stamps.

Rent first!

I think Oil city is a great choice. Everyone I saw was friendly and welcoming. The YMCA has better and newer equipment than the one here in Lancaster, the library system is MUCH better than in more populated areas, and if you want out of the rat race, or to just gain some perspective on how much better a life you can have by reducing your cost of living, then we think alike, and you'll love Oil city.

Check my other posts, I just took a weekend trip there and will be moving there soon. I love the life and the arts community is growing.

Since you operate an internet based business, you can lead the trend and take advantage of the opportunities while the majority of American followers have to move closer to major cities and work longer hours and commute through ever increasing traffic for their shrinking wages.

Oil City is a good choice. See you there!

[NoMoss]

I have lived in PA, VA, WY, AK, CO, FL, NY, KY, TN--in small places and big places. Believe me, I have said for years, "Oh, I'd never go back to PA." Well, I am now on here researching towns to move to in PA. My sister has gone back to the town we are from and is working in a small diner around the corner from where we grew up. I live in TN now and am sick of the racism and as for warm weather, you can have it. The fleas are unbelievable, and I am spending over $100 fighting them on my pets and in my house per month. I am looking at Johnstown or Warren, maybe. I would like to avoid Indiana County, as I prefer not to run into old boyfriends all the time. I just saw an apartment in Johnstown on craigslist for less than $500 (I have a 2Bd house now for $400 in TN) and that is the right price. I have no interest in paying $1,000 to rent a trailer in NY, as I did before, and forget about moving back to N VA anymore unless you are bringing in the big bucks. If anyone has any recommendations on mid-size towns that are pet friendly with low rents (and believe me, I am not looking for a palace), I would appreciate it.

[ki0eh]

Franklin/Oil City area could be another possibility.