Pennsylvania grand canyon (Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, York: motel, home, wedding)

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by Krisps

I know the Allegheny well, it definitely starts in PA then goes north into NY and then south back into PA.

Uh oh, I was wrong by ten miles

Allegheny River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[ki0eh]

We grew up north of there, now live south of there, but we own a camp in Tioga County and do a lot of volunteer work for a new dirt hiking trail crossing the county. Mid State Trail Association of Pennsylvania (Not to be confused with the rail trail, which is also nice and relatively popular.)

We've found that many outdoors lovers really like the "Grand Canyon" and the woods around it. However, some seem disappointed as maybe they expected something different. I'd say there's a lifetime of hiking and MTB opportunities in the area. A lot of others have fun paddling.

Compared to many other outdoor-oriented areas, it's still relatively low key and "undiscovered" although one might find a bit of crowding at Blackwell on spring weekends or the road to Leonard Harrison SP in the fall. Nothing like Ohiopyle in either season, yet.

[ki0eh]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

Traffic is terrible, the previous school board was responsible for an epic disaster with the high school, property taxes are high versus average incomes, there are limited employment opportunities, etc.

I'm sorry but I had to laugh at the "traffic is terrible" comment - in many years of coming to Tioga County in all seasons, and often during the week for business too, I think the only times I've even been slowed down by other cars have been on event weekends right downtown Wellsboro, or when the fireworks let out. I'd say the traffic is about as bad as the crime.

With the high school fiasco I was definitely glad our place is in Northern Tioga SD and not Wellsboro Area. But the property taxes still probably don't even register on the scale of even adjacent Steuben County, NY. My sister's taxes in Painted Post are $10k/yr on a $200k house.

As for the lack of employment opportunities, well, there's definitely a reason we haven't moved there yet. I've seen a lot worse places in PA with an equal dearth of employment, though!

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

I'm sorry but I had to laugh at the "traffic is terrible" comment - in many years of coming to Tioga County in all seasons, and often during the week for business too, I think the only times I've even been slowed down by other cars have been on event weekends right downtown Wellsboro, or when the fireworks let out. I'd say the traffic is about as bad as the crime.

The problem I am referring to is the Highway 6 intersection with main street at the Diner along with the intersection down the street where the turn off is for Maccas. The traffic has been getting backed up to more than half a mile at different times of the day along with difficulties of being able to make a left turn at either intersection. It's bad enough PDOT considers it one of the worst intersections in the state and they recently had a public meeting to decide what to do about it. There is talk of a bypass and if they can do that it will take a lot of trucks off of the main street area and it will make it easier to get around between 2 and 5 pm.

[ki0eh]

Oh yeah, that. The ways I go the traffic light at the new Eckerd takes care of that problem for me. Might also explain why so many people seem to cut up through Catlin Hollow Rd. A bypass sure would be quite an undertaking and probably would vastly reduce the attractiveness of the possibility of extending the bike trail up through Stokesdale to town since inevitably that would be mangled by any bypass route.

[pabear]

Gotta chime in! Living in Wellsboro is NOT all it is cracked up to be! Traffic isn't the greatest on Fridays in particular. Payday for most in this area running to pay their bills and errands. Our .25 acre in the borough runs us about $1600 a year in taxes on a home around 80k. The school system is fine for the most part, it is what you make of it. Either you are involved or not. There is NO work to speak of. Wanna buy a house

Originally Posted by ki0eh

I'm sorry but I had to laugh at the "traffic is terrible" comment - in many years of coming to Tioga County in all seasons, and often during the week for business too, I think the only times I've even been slowed down by other cars have been on event weekends right downtown Wellsboro, or when the fireworks let out. I'd say the traffic is about as bad as the crime.

With the high school fiasco I was definitely glad our place is in Northern Tioga SD and not Wellsboro Area. But the property taxes still probably don't even register on the scale of even adjacent Steuben County, NY. My sister's taxes in Painted Post are $10k/yr on a $200k house.

As for the lack of employment opportunities, well, there's definitely a reason we haven't moved there yet. I've seen a lot worse places in PA with an equal dearth of employment, though!

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by pabear

Gotta chime in! Living in Wellsboro is NOT all it is cracked up to be! Traffic isn't the greatest on Fridays in particular.

Well we will be on our way up there a week from this Thursday to celebrate Valentines Day.

Hopefully I will be able to handle one Friday in Wellsboro, after fighting traffic to watch the Steelers parade this morning

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by pabear

Gotta chime in! Living in Wellsboro is NOT all it is cracked up to be! Traffic isn't the greatest on Fridays in particular. Payday for most in this area running to pay their bills and errands. Our .25 acre in the borough runs us about $1600 a year in taxes on a home around 80k. The school system is fine for the most part, it is what you make of it. Either you are involved or not. There is NO work to speak of. Wanna buy a house

I think that $50 million dollar boondoggle high school is a burning tire around the neck of the town. I suspect there was some graft involved amongst negligence and some people should be doing hard time for it. It's a disgrace. And we pay out the butt for property tax on it. $1600 might not sound like a lot to some but like for a lot of people if your paycheck is only $300-$400 a week or lower it's a tidy sum to pay out every year.

Recently I've heard a lot of people talking of moving from Wellsboro to better economic climes. If I myself didn't do the work I do traveling around the country I couldn't live here. There is nothing really to speak of in terms of jobs. Unfortunately, I think it's going to get worse. The population is mostly older and once the WW2/Korean war generation dies off the population will spike even lower. I think we've got to get the old boy anti business fuddy duddies out of town and get working on bringing some dynamic life to the town. Apparently Harley Davidson wanted to take over the old Eagle milk plant to be a parts factory for them and the fuddy duddies in town made sure it didn't happen because "we don't want those sort of people in our town". Morons.

Yes the main street is nice and yes we do have some festivals and the rally, but really if you look closer the place is dying a slow death. Walk in any restaurant and most of the patrons are old geezers sipping their dinner through a straw. Nothing against old folks, but that is what most of the town is and we need to breath some life into this place and attract families and businesses here. 18 year old high schoolers have few choices at graduation: the military, college or move away and very few stay. That is no way to guarantee the life of the town.

[ki0eh]

In my line of work I've traveled around to many communities in PA. Most communities have trouble marketing themselves, quite frankly.

But in Wellsboro you can pick up two different free publications (the Enjoy! and Mountain Home) that both carry the same message: "Retire to Wellsboro." (Or come be a doctor at the hospital, the retirees need those.)

The trouble is, the new school really didn't fit into that otherwise clear message. Retirees want low taxes. Then they can spend money at the cute stores.

I suppose one can still retire to the Northern Tioga SD which hasn't caught new-school-itis yet (fortunately for our place). Or capture nearby New Yorkers, my sister's half-acre lot in the Village of Painted Post carries with it $10,000 in annual property tax.

[pabear]

You got it in a nut shell Wanneroo! Also, comparing Wellsboro traffic to Pittsburgh traffic is like comparing apples and oranges. For this area traffic is congested at times. But really, that is just a drop in the bucket of things that aren't what they used to be, or never will be again. The whole school issue just adds salt to the open wound for us.

Originally Posted by wanneroo

I think that $50 million dollar boondoggle high school is a burning tire around the neck of the town. I suspect there was some graft involved amongst negligence and some people should be doing hard time for it. It's a disgrace. And we pay out the butt for property tax on it. $1600 might not sound like a lot to some but like for a lot of people if your paycheck is only $300-$400 a week or lower it's a tidy sum to pay out every year.

Recently I've heard a lot of people talking of moving from Wellsboro to better economic climes. If I myself didn't do the work I do traveling around the country I couldn't live here. There is nothing really to speak of in terms of jobs. Unfortunately, I think it's going to get worse. The population is mostly older and once the WW2/Korean war generation dies off the population will spike even lower. I think we've got to get the old boy anti business fuddy duddies out of town and get working on bringing some dynamic life to the town. Apparently Harley Davidson wanted to take over the old Eagle milk plant to be a parts factory for them and the fuddy duddies in town made sure it didn't happen because "we don't want those sort of people in our town". Morons.

Yes the main street is nice and yes we do have some festivals and the rally, but really if you look closer the place is dying a slow death. Walk in any restaurant and most of the patrons are old geezers sipping their dinner through a straw. Nothing against old folks, but that is what most of the town is and we need to breath some life into this place and attract families and businesses here. 18 year old high schoolers have few choices at graduation: the military, college or move away and very few stay. That is no way to guarantee the life of the town.