In “The Buddha Knot” by Michael McManus, the poems cover a period of 20 years of the author’s life. They explore, among other things, his close friendship with a Vietnam veteran and poems about what is wild and true because nature never lies. Published by Prolific Press ($16.95. 84 ...

Area band Mama Corn “blazes its own trail” when it comes to bluegrass-influenced music. Its unique stylings have won fans since forming in 2007. They are one of four bands performing at the Altoona First Frontier Festival July 28 at the Railroaders Memorial Museum. All band members sing ...

The Academy of Sacred Music Choral Institute concert will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 344 Baynton Ave., Altoona. The concert features Durufle Requiem plus contemporary selections. An offering will be accepted to benefit voice and instrument scholarships for ...

I confess. I love words; writing them, speaking them, playing games with them. Because of this, I’ve been delighted to discover a plethora of word games available on my smartphone. My all-time favorite is Ruzzle, in which a player locates words by linking together letters on a puzzle board. ...

HEIDI E. BLACK Air Force Air National Guard Lt. Col. Heidi E. Black graduated from Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in May, with a master of strategic studies degree. She also received the Reserve Component Award, which “recognizes the best research paper providing a ...

When I was a child, nobody ever taught me how to properly greet a strange dog. All too often, I would rush up to the poor soul and attempt to throw my arms around its neck. All this even before it had a chance to size me up and get a whiff of me. I was bitten more than once and soon learned ...

Jeffrey Woods of Altoona submitted this photo of the First Holy Communion class at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hollidaysburg. The photo was taken on May 5, 1968. Shown are (from left): first row — Michael Altmanshofer, Gregory Gildea, Brian Varga, Thomas Kowaleski, Michael Rossman, Thomas ...

Horseshoe Seniors plan dinner-dance Horseshoe Seniors will hold a dinner-dance on Thursday at the Bavarian Hall, 112 S. 13th St., Altoona. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m., followed by three hours of dancing to music by a DJ. Admission is $10 per person. Singles and couples are welcome. This ...

Cortnie Carlheim PHILADELPHIA — Cortnie Carlheim of Altoona was among the 254 graduates awarded the doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine at the college’s 127th commencement on June 2 at the Academy of Music. She is a 2008 graduate of ...

ALLEGANY COLLEGE OF MARYLAND, Cumberland, Md. DEAN’S LIST Alexandria — Michaela L. Ormsby. Bedford — Kacy M. Blevins, Julie A. Conway, Siarra M. Dudek, Benjamin J. Heidorn, Marissa J. Holland, Austin R. Sipes, Mary Helen Tichnell, Megan A. Whitmer, Krisie A. Wilkins, Jacob A. ...

JUNIATA COLLEGE, HUNTINGDON Bedford County Tanner Joseph College, Osterburg, B.S., education; Allison Price, New Enterprise, B.S., prek-fourth grade and special education preK-eighth grade; Makayla Jane Robinette, Bedford, B.S., in biology; Neal Michael Smith, Saxton, B.A., international ...

HOLLIDAYSBURG — All Blair County children are invited to participate in an art contest to illustrate the theme: “Safe Homes, Healthy Children, Strong Families, Protective Communities.” Children are free to use any medium — charcoal, pencil, ink, paint, fabric, etc. — and any ...

Gretta Ghaner of Duncansville and Caleb Brown of Altoona are engaged to be married. Dr. Ghaner is the daughter of Preston and Catherine Ghaner of Duncansville. She is a 2011 graduate of Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School and a 2015 graduate of Saint Francis University, Loretto, with a ...

Katelynn Brown and Michael Sybert, both of Blue Knob, are engaged to be married. Miss Brown is the daughter of Earl and Amanda Brown of Claysburg. She is a 2009 graduate of Claysburg-Kimmel High School and a 2013 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a bachelor’s ...

Erin Paul and Matthew Lanfried, both of Hampton, Va., are engaged to be married. Miss Paul is the daughter of Jerry and Virginia Paul of Altoona. She is a 2010 graduate of Altoona Area High School and a 2015 graduate of Penn State University, University Park, with a master’s degree in ...

Desiree Mumau and AJ Campbell, both of Marion Center, are engaged to be married. Miss Mumau is the daughter of DJ and Lisa Mumau of Marion Center. She is a 2013 graduate of Marion Center High School and a 2013 graduate of Indiana Vocational Technical School with a certified nursing ...

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Gill of 713 Garber St., Hollidaysburg, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner at the U.S. Hotel Restaurant & Tavern, Hollidaysburg, and a June cruise to Bermuda. They were married May 25, 1968, at the Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren. Mrs. ...

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hillard of Altoona celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on June 12. They were married June 12, 1953, at Wesley Methodist Church, Altoona. Mrs. Hillard is the former Mary Antes. The couple have three children: Jim Hillard and Matt Hillard, and wife, Edith, all of ...

Mr. and Mrs. William Horell of Altoona will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary on June 18. They were married June 18, 1983, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Altoona. Mrs. Horell is the former Melissa Rossman. The couple have two children: Megan of Altoona and Morgan of Falls Church, ...

Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Smith of Treasure Lake, DuBois, formerly of Altoona, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday with a party with friends and family at Legion Park, Hollidays-burg. They were married May 25, 1968, at the Church of Christ in Summerville. Mrs. Smith is the ...

Alyssa Christine Wray and Nathaniel Lee Sanders were united in marriage on April 21 at St. Rose of Lima Church, Altoona. The bride is the daughter of Todd and Sherry Wray of Altoona. The bridegroom is the son of Todd and Patricia Sanders of Altoona. Father Carl Spishak performed the ...

Echo Kincaid of Rock-wood and Jonathan Yoder of Imler were married on May 5 at The Hayloft in Rockwood. They were married by the Rev. Dwayne Hay. Echo is the daughter of Larry and Tammy Kincaid of Rockwood. She is a 2014 graduate of Penn Highlands Commun-ity College and works for the ...

Brittney Lowey and Kenneth Saltsman were united in marriage at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 28 in an outdoor ceremony at Bree-Z-Acres Farm in Warriors Mark. The bride is the daughter of Thayne and Amy Lowey of Duncansville. The bridegroom is the son of Mark and Wendy Saltsman of Salem, Ohio. Pastors ...

Jessica R. Cox and Adam J. Hunter were united in marriage on Feb. 24 in Castries, St. Lucia. The bride is the daughter of Patrick and Vicki Reed of Altoona. The bridegroom is the son of the late Robert and Cynthia Hunter, who had lived in Altoona. The ceremony and reception took place ...