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A foundation for thanks
Penn State Altoona volunteer Adrienne Brown helps 5-year-old Saahirah Thompson select her food Thursday at the Gloria Gates Foundation Thanksgiving dinner at Fairview Hills Community Center. (Mirror photo by J.D. Cavrich)
November 20, 2009
The after-school program at Fairview Hills housing project served a turkey dinner Thursday for Thanksgiving.
But Wednesday evening was more the heart of it, said Toni Bilik, director of the Gloria Gates Foundation, which runs the program.
On Wednesday, the kids helped the staff fix mashed potatoes and stuffing, while making placemats and setting tables.
Growing up poor, they tend to be on the receiving end of good works, but Wednesday they learned how it feels to give, Bilik said.
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Judge orders texting records
November 20, 2009
HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Blair County judge ordered Verizon on Thursday to produce text message records in connection with a murder case heading to trial in March.
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Altoona Water Authority awards $26.9M in contracts for sewer treatment plant upgrade
November 20, 2009
The Altoona Water Authority on Thursday awarded contracts worth $26.9 million for upgrading its Westerly Sewer Treatment Plant to meet new standards for protection of Chesapeake Bay.
The authority awarded the general contract for $20.
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Jail ‘at bottom of list’ for swine flu vaccine
November 20, 2009
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Inmates are last on the priority list for swine flu shots, the president of the company providing Blair County Prison’s medical care said Thursday.
» Full Story
Top Headline Poll
When will you do most of your holiday shopping?
It’s already done
19%
Thanksgiving weekend
4%
Early to mid-December
25%
At the last minute
21%
I don’t shop for holidays
31%
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Erik Brown
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Meb is a class act
Mon, November 2, 2009 @ 10:47PM
Joe Shay, father of Ryan Shay, who collapsed and died two years ago during the U.S. Olympic Men's Marathon Trials says that Meb Keflezighi is "one of the class acts in all of sports". That may be an understatement. If you read only one article about Meb's remarkable victory at Sunday's New York City Marathon, this is the one. It's a very quick read and trust me, you'll be glad you saw it. Thanks for reading Against The Win.
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Emily Dimov-Gottshall
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Artists that ROCK!
Sat, July 11, 2009 @ 9:52AM
I recently learned about a group of artists/musicians called E.V.K.. Band members include: Evan, Chelsea, Mo Sizzle and Stevie...a local group of kids who like to jam out to tunes by AC/DC, Metallica, Miley Cyrus,Guns and Roses, Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ramones, and original songs. I recently asked their PR person, Marina Moses (aka mom) what the band stands for. Marina Moses: The band name stands for Eric Vincent Kelly (aka Fat Vinny of Fat Vinny and the Wise Guys-a well known local band). He was my two kids' guitar teacher, helped the band get started and passed away unexpectedly. When did the band form and where will you be performing next? MM: E.V.K. got together for the first time in Nov. '08. They will be at the Altoona Library at 10am on July 17th. Are there plans for a CD? MM: They now have two original songs and will be recording soon for downloading off of the internet.
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Ray Eckenrode
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Penn State-Michigan State pregame stretch
Fri, November 20, 2009 @ 11:41AM
Nit-bits > Steve Sampsell makes a very good point in his Gameday column this week (and one we were going to make with Giges on the radio but never go to): Before the season started, the vast majority of media covering the team predicted Penn State would finish 9-3 or 10-2 and expressed concern about the offensive line, secondary and young receivers. So, no matter what happens today, Penn State will finish 9-3 or 10-2, mostly due to issues with the offensive line, secondary and young receivers. Yet, there are many of us (present company included) who consider the season results to be a disappointment. Hmmmmmm. > There are very strong indications that today will be Navorro Bowman’s final regular season game in a Penn State uniform as several NFL Draft experts came out this week with first round grades on the speedy linebacker. ESPN’s Steve Muench went as far as to say he thinks Bowman could start in the NFL right now.
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Buck Frank
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Live from Heinz Field -- Nov. 15
Sun, November 15, 2009 @ 11:37AM
Final: Bengals 18, Steelers 12 Despite Ben Roethlisberger's bad day, the Steelers had the ball, 67 yards away from a winning touchdown, with nearly 2 minutes remaining. Incompletion, incompletion, incompletion, incompletion. If this game would have been against the Vikings a few weeks ago it wouldn't have been as devastating to the Steelers. The fact that it came in a game that will have significant implications on the Steelers' chances of winning the division makes it tough to swallow for Steeler fans. But the Bengals have been a better team than the Steelers up to this point and deserved to win the game. A lot can change over the next seven weeks -- the Raiders could beat the Bengals next week. OK, maybe not. Steelers fans should remember Bill Cowher's line, though. You're never as good as they say you are after a win (beating the Broncos), and you're never as bad as they say you are after a loss (Sunday). NFL seasons are roller coasters.
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Cory Giger
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An explanation for the JoePa-Giger exchange
Wed, October 7, 2009 @ 0:11AM
I am the reporter mentioned in this story, and if you haven't seen or heard the footage, unfortunately the exchange between Joe Paterno and me got pretty heated at the end Tuesday. I'm sorry that it did. I did not go into the press conference with the intention of starting an argument. However, I did go in with the intention that I was not going to back down from my questions, no matter how agitated Joe may get. I've been in enough press conferences with him to know what questions he does and does not like to answer, and I knew he would not want to get into specifics about why this game is on the schedule. To everyone who wants to criticize me, all I can say is this: I was doing my job. Penn State is playing a creampuff game this week in a season that already has included three creampuff games. It's ridiculous that a Division I-AA opponent is on the schedule in week six when the rest of the non-conference slate was Akron, Syracuse and Templ.
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Ashley Gurbal
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"Split Ends"
Tue, September 29, 2009 @ 5:27PM
I love Style Network's "Split Ends," which swaps two polar opposite hair stylists for three days of drama. So I was beyond excited to learn that Looks Hair Design in State College would swap stylist Stacy Padden of Warriors Mark with Sammy Mar, who co-owns Helmet Head in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood. After writing a preview story on the episode, which aired for the first time Saturday, I had to know more about what everyone involved thought -- especially Mar. I called Mar on Tuesday afternoon, and she said the experience "was a lot of fun -- it was a hoot." But what about the drama with the salon personnel, I asked her -- especially with Joe, the salon owner, whom she repeatedly addressed as "little man." Mar wouldn't say how much of the drama was put on for TV, but she said Joe and salon coordinator Anita were "very nice people." "It was just kind of funny, how it all ended up in editing," she said.
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Amy Jo Hanna
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Our Exclusive Interview with Psychic Sylvia Browne!
Mon, November 9, 2009 @ 5:00PM
REGISTER TO WIN! ONE OF (4) AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF SYLVIA BROWNE’S “All Pets Go To Heaven: The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love” AT BARNES & NOBLE, ALTOONA OR CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE! WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27! The One And Only Sylvia Browne... When you are presented with an opportunity to interview Sylvia Browne, you don’t pass it up. Now, I have always known that Sylvia Browne is a New York Times best-selling author and a world-famous psychic, however I am probably one of ten people in the world who has never watched any of her countless appearances on The Montel Williams Show or Larry King Live where she has appeared as a special guest for more than 15 years. I also have many close friends who follow Sylvia’s teachings yet I have never read one of her books until her new release, “All Pets Go To Heaven, The Spiritual Lives of the Animals We Love”.
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Matt Leaper
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09-10 Game 2 Islanders vs Penguins
Sat, October 3, 2009 @ 11:56PM
Normal 0 0 1 1064 6065 50 12 7448 11.1282 0 0 0 New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Summary The first few minutes where fast paced and a little sloppy. Both teams had some bad turnovers and it lead to some fast paced back and fourth hockey. New York seemed to have an advantage in play right up until a great chance setup by Fedotenko to Crosby. Crosby took the pass off the wall and protected the puck with his body as he came fast to the net. As he had Roloson moving from left to right he fired the puck 5-hole. It would stay that way until McKee took an instigating penalty. The Islanders worked the PP well and had several good chances and finally cashed in on a goal from the point. It also saw rookie and #1 draft pick Tavares’s first NHL point. Again we saw some back and fourth hockey but the period would end tied at one.
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Mark Leberfinger
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S-N-O-W
Thu, October 15, 2009 @ 8:41PM
Welcome to winter! Wait a minute. Where did fall go? Actually where did summer go? We seemingly went from spring into winter. The storm affecting central Pennsylvania has made some history. The National Weather Service says the earliest snowfall record was broken for State College. That record dates back to 1901. Altoona also had its earliest snowfall, beating the record set in 1957. So it means the snow lovers can dream about skiing, sledding and other winter fun. Others like myself can grumble about shoveling sidewalks and scraping ice and snow from our vehicles. It also means area police can grumble about drivers traveling too fast for conditions. "It's not like we're not used to this kind of weather," Logan Township Police Chief Ron Heller said for a story in Thursday's Mirror. Enjoy the early taste of winter, but be careful out ther.
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John Mehno
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Distant view of PSU ticket situation
Wed, November 18, 2009 @ 1:31AM
I don't cover Penn State, but I know that this issue of a ticket increase is a hot one. I also understand that a state university involves a different set of circumstances than you'd have with a private enterprise like a pro football or baseball franchise. So let me offer a couple of comments with those disclaimers in mind, based on my years of covering sports: 1. Most meetings to discuss ticket prices include the words, "Can we get away with....?" It's a matter of determining what the market will bear. It's a disaster if you go past that threshold. For example, the New York Mets had a huge jump in ticket prices last year when they moved into their new stadium. The team was barely better than the Pirates in 2009, so the Mets had to back off and slash some of the prices. But it's rare that prices ever go down. 2. Football tickets can withstand more price manipulations than other sports.
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Jim Price
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It's Toys for Tots Concert Season!
Fri, November 13, 2009 @ 12:59PM
In a positive trend that seems to be growing with each holiday season, an onslaught of benefit concerts to help out the U.S. Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign begins this weekend, and will continue into the early weeks of December; as area musicians and venues chip in to help out needy area families. At least four such concerts are happening in the region in the next few weeks, and more are likely to be announced. Two of the concerts are scheduled for this Saturday, November 14. The first takes place at the Green Gables Hotel, 900 South Main Street in Lewistown. This concert begins at 2 p.m. and runs until midnight, and all ages are welcome until 8 p.m. The show will feature performances from the bands Fifth Shot, Alternative Crush, Johnny Unit, Wiskerbisket, Represent The Lie, A Beautiful Mess and Bent. There will also be door prize drawings. The donation at the door will be either $5 or a new unopened toy of equal or greater value.
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Neil Rudel
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LJ has soft landing
Thu, November 19, 2009 @ 8:10AM
Sorry I've been gone for a while. We'll I've been around but gone from here. Ya know. Anyway, I'll try to be more diligent in cyberspace, help keep Mr. Eckenrode "15 Minutes" happy, with a few more frequent thoughts of the sports day: I can't believe the Cincinnati Bengals would sign Larry Johnson. Just can't believe it. Not because I don't think LJ deserves another chance. The guy repeatedly embarrassed himself with the Kansas City Chiefs, who made the right decision not to keep him around to break the team's all-time rushing record held by a respected Chief, Priest Holmes. But because everything has been going so well for a Bengals team that may be the NFL's biggest surprise. Plus Cincy has a history of working with players who have shown character if not legal flaws and doesn't seem to need another one. LJ is the son of a very respected coach and he, of course, played at Penn State and before that State College High School.
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Nick Recchia & Tom Worthington
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ESRB ratings and the parents who use them
Tue, November 10, 2009 @ 9:55AM
The holiday shopping season is upon us whether we like it or not. Crazy drivers, crowded stores and packed parking lots are just a few of the wonderful things that we have to look forward to in the next few months. But on top of that, the video game industry gets a magnifying glass put on them because kids love getting video games for Christmas. Its the same story every year. Some nut goes out and harms others and video games are to blame. This is of course is followed up by every news outlet discussing how parents could let their children play such horrible video games. Well lets be honest, times are changing. Less and less are you going to have parents who don't know a thing about technology or in this case video games. It's more likely now-a-days that parents grew up playing video games and have a good understanding about what their children are playing. Not only that but I am sure that more and more the parents are playing the games along side their kids.
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Kelly Valeri
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Constant kid clutter makes house feel like a toy store
Tue, September 8, 2009 @ 4:43PM
I no longer live in a house. I live in a toy store. I remember the days when my beautiful decorative baskets were filled with the latest issues of Bon Appetit magazine instead of overflowing with colorful plastic apparatuses that beep and sing if I?bump into them. I remember when I could walk from one end of my living room to the other without having to step over a knee-high kitchen. I?remember when the only lawn mower we owned cut grass instead of blowing bubbles. Those days are long gone. When we bought our house three years ago, my husband and I spent months getting everything exactly the way we wanted it. We changed light fixtures, took down a drop ceiling,?painted nearly every surface and even replastered walls. And when I wasn’t wielding tools or a paintbrush, I?was scouring stores and Web sites to find exactly the right accessories to decorate each room.
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Ken Womack
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"The Men Who Stare at Goats"
Sun, November 8, 2009 @ 7:53PM
The Men Who Stare at Goats *** In contrast with much of recent cinema, The Men Who Stare at Goats toys with greatness. In the end it comes up short, but the filmmakers deserve credit for reaching for the stars. After a summer of schlocky blockbusters, it’s nice to see a little effort for a change. Based upon the book by Jon Ronson and directed by Grant Heslov, The Men Who Stare at Goats suffers from an identity crisis from which it never fully recovers. On the one hand, it aspires to be a work of subtle quirkiness; yet on the other, the movie seems bent on saying something larger about life, the universe, and everything. In its most successful moments, The Men Who Stare at Goats generates pleasant entertainment through its biographical study of Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a member of a secret Army team of paranormal soldiers being trained to conduct an innovative form of warfare as members of the New Earth Army.
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