Mountain Top On The Move Holds Summit

By ELAINE BERNSTEIN
Correspondent

Over coffee, bacon and hash brown potatoes, some Mountain Top community leaders recently gathered to update each other on the progress of various local groups and plan for a vision of what Mountain Top can be in the future.

The Mountain Top on the Move (MTOTM) Summit took place at the Chalet restaurant on November 14th. MTOTM typically holds Summit meetings twice per year, inviting the public to learn about the current projects and future plans of a variety of Mountain Top groups.

Current MTOTM president George Kauffman served as the “Master of Ceremonies” of the program throughout the morning. MTOTM Past President Emilia Kramer welcomed the group of approximately 18 participants, who represented over 10 community organizations and businesses.

Red Lines, from the Mountain Top Historical Society, discussed the Society’s new book, entitled Railroads through Mountain Top. Lines also stated that the group is asking the public for “old photos” of Mountain Top for its new DVD project, noting that these photos would be scanned and returned to the owner. Additionally, the Historical Society plans to award two scholarships to high school students this year.

Marcia McGann, Executive Director of the Marian Sutherland Kirby Library, had mixed news to report to the group. “The bad news is that we have lost a lot of funding, but the good news is that we are still going ahead with the parking lot expansion.” She stated that the Library has experienced a 21% cut in state funding, although the impact of that will likely not be known until the end of the year. McGann emphasized that they will “definitely” be keeping children and adult programs, and that the Library is open six days per week. McGann reported that the F.M. Kirby Foundation is helping to fund the parking lot project, emphasizing that “the Kirby Family has been very good to us.” She additionally noted that the Library’s fall programs are ending, and that she invites the public to come meet Santa at the Library on the afternoon of Saturday, December 5th.

Roger Schwartz, Vice-Chairman of the Mountain Top Environmental

Oversight Board, discussed his group’s mission: to inform the community of what is going on with the TCE Problem on Church Road: and to work as a liaison for the community, Foster Wheeler and the EPA to bring problems to attention. The group was founded about five months ago, and is funded by Foster Wheeler, which “wants to become the good guy,” Schwartz stated. “Foster Wheeler has been very cooperative. I’ve got to give them credit,” Schwartz added. The current TCE problem is the result of the Foster Wheeler Company’s use of a degreasing agent at their site over a 30 year period.

John Augustine, from the Wilkes- Barre Chamber of Commerce, announced the Chamber’s partnership with MTOTM with the creation of the new website www. mountaintoponthemove.org . This site will be “the first online community calendar for all of Mountain Top.” Each local group will be given a user ID and password, in order to be able to add information to the calendar about their group’s events. The public will also be able to add information to the calendar, through an approval process. The timetable for having the site up and running is around the first of the year. Additionally, through this site, businesses may have the opportunity to create one-page websites for advertising purposes. Augustine hopes that www. mountaintoponthemove.org will be “the most popular page we will have in Mountain Top.”

Augustine brought the group up to date on the status of the former Eberhard Faber building in the Crestwood Industrial Park. He stated that the Chamber has applied for the “last piece of funding” involved with an $800,000 grant to demolish the building by this time next year.

Mountain Top Area Recreational Association (MARA) discussed its afterschool program. “There are a lot of latch-key kids in Mountain Top at risk,” stated Don Armstrong, who spoke for the group. MARA has contracted with the Luzerne County Housing Authority to use a vacant home in the Fairview Park development for the 3 days per week program that hopes to include 10-12 student participants. “The school looks at it like it is a good thing, “ Armstrong stated, noting that the MARA hopes to provide the students with “not only a spot to go, but also [opportunities for] recreation and computer use.” Armstrong also commended Diane Hopersberger, who has headed up this project for MARA. For more information on MARA, please contact mara18707@ aol.com.

Katie Lick described how the Mountain Top Photo Club is “changing the view of Downtown Wilkes-Barre,” with the works of its members currently being displayed in the University Corners area. She additionally noted that the Club currently has exhibits in two local restaurants. According to Lick, the organization is two years old, and has members ranging in ages from “12 to 70-something.” The Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Kirby Library, from 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm. For information, please contact the Club at mtpc18707@aol. com.

Patti Warwick, District Governor of the Lions Club District 14W attended the summit, along with past District Governor, Walter Bechtold. “We would like to get more involved,” stated Warwick, emphasizing that the Lions are “a group that serves the needs of the community.”

The Mountain Top Welcome Club, formerly known to the community as the Welcome Wagon, was represented by current president Elaine Bernstein. Bernstein stated that the Welcome Club continues to help integrate newcomers into the Mountain Top community, but also offers much more in terms of service projects and social outlets. To learn more about the approximately 100 member group, please visit www. mountaintopwelcomeclub.com.

The Welcome Club is currently working with MTOTM on a joint project to “beautify Mountain Top” with approximately 20 banners that will hang along Route 309 in Fairview Township. The purpose of these banners is to Identify Mountain Top.

Past Presidents Karin Caporuscio and Shannon Williams co-lead the banner project for the Welcome Club, and have involved Crestwood High School art students in the banner design process. Bernstein displayed the work of the three student finalists, all of which have components which might be incorporated into the final banner design.

“This project was a win-win for all of us,” Bernstein stated. “The students seemed very excited to be involved.”

MTOTM President Kauffman added that “the banners are a short term thing that could be used in a long term way.” He noted that in the future, additional banners could be ordered to continue the display along Route 309 into Wright Township. Additionally, banner sponsorships might be available to local businesses, whose name would be displayed under the banner on a separate smaller flag.

MTOTM President George Kauffman closed the program by discussing the group’s current efforts to create a “Downtown Mountain Top.” MTOTM is currently pursuing a $150,000 grant to develop a Downtown Mountain Top area.

A key element in this effort is to combat traffic issues on Route 309. Ironically, several years ago, MTOTM was instrumental in getting an additional lane of traffic created on Route 309 to help alleviate traffic congestion. However, traffic moving more quickly down the road is “not conducive to people walking along the highway” with their children in order to visit local shops. Kauffman emphasized that his group would like for residents to be able to walk “from shops to sidewalks” in the new Downtown Area.

Kauffman also noted that MTOTM hopes to hold a “Mountain Top Recognition Program” in the spring.

This is part of the November 25, 2009 online edition of The Mountaintop Eagle.

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