A cemetery that some say has seen better days may be in line for a fix-up if a city in Luzerne County can find enough volunteers.
At first glance, parts of the Pittston Cemetery look clean and well kept but Bob Ricker, who lives next door, points out piles of trash just thrown over a cliff; everything from a couch and a television to cement blocks and household garbage.
"I'd like people to quit dumping stuff in here. I'd like for them to realize it's a cemetery not a party. Respect the people here," Ricker siad.
He added that disrespect has been happening for years at the Pittston Cemetery and even though he doesn't have a loved one buried here, it upsets him.
"I live here. It's my neighborhood," Ricker said.
The cemetery, according to Pittston officials, has been run for many years by a cemetery association, a group which city officials said no longer appears to have any active members.
There is a care-taker there but city clerk Ron Mortimer admitted it's too big a job for one person.
"City council is interested in cleaning this mess up," Mortimer said, adding Pittston has added the cemetery to the city's new Adopt a Park Program, where business, youth, church and scouting groups can volunteer to keep an area looking good.
He said the program works great in other municipalities and may be the best way to avoid situations like this again.
"We were just amazed at the tombstones in there. People buried there in the 1800s! It's something we should work on," Mortimer said.
Letters went out Monday informing people of the Adopt a Park Program, which again, includes the Pittston Cemetery.
There is also a meeting about it on December 2, 6 p.m. at council chambers.
If you're interested in helping, you're asked to call city hall.
At first glance, parts of the Pittston Cemetery look clean and well kept but Bob Ricker, who lives next door, points out piles of trash just thrown over a cliff; everything from a couch and a television to cement blocks and household garbage.
"I'd like people to quit dumping stuff in here. I'd like for them to realize it's a cemetery not a party. Respect the people here," Ricker siad.
He added that disrespect has been happening for years at the Pittston Cemetery and even though he doesn't have a loved one buried here, it upsets him.
"I live here. It's my neighborhood," Ricker said.
The cemetery, according to Pittston officials, has been run for many years by a cemetery association, a group which city officials said no longer appears to have any active members.
There is a care-taker there but city clerk Ron Mortimer admitted it's too big a job for one person.
"City council is interested in cleaning this mess up," Mortimer said, adding Pittston has added the cemetery to the city's new Adopt a Park Program, where business, youth, church and scouting groups can volunteer to keep an area looking good.
He said the program works great in other municipalities and may be the best way to avoid situations like this again.
"We were just amazed at the tombstones in there. People buried there in the 1800s! It's something we should work on," Mortimer said.
Letters went out Monday informing people of the Adopt a Park Program, which again, includes the Pittston Cemetery.
There is also a meeting about it on December 2, 6 p.m. at council chambers.
If you're interested in helping, you're asked to call city hall.
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