“JUSTIN SANE: The Joy and Pain of A Beautiful Man ‘s Soul: A Dance with Addiction and Mental Health” by Justin P. Dodson. The late Justin P. Dodson, a 2003 graduate of Altoona Area High School, struggled with addiction and bipolar disorder for 20 years but, he always had hope. He ...

Tale follows young girl on big adventure in a small town “Messy Bessy Goes to Town,” a new book by Annette Ritchey of Martinsburg, has been released by Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc. “Messy Bessie Goes to Town” is a delightful short tale inspired by author Annette Ritchey’s small ...

Free lunch available Second Avenue United Methodist Church, 130 Second Ave., Altoona, will offer free to-go bagged lunches from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16. Lunches will be handed out at the Second Street door. Those attending are asked to keep a social distance while waiting ...

Virtual Christmas Day service set Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church will host a virtual Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. Participants can join the Zoom service at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89742957641?pwd=VDg1clh3WD MxWE8zeTg4aGpTa2hPQT09. The meeting ID is: 897 4295 7641; Passcode: 515261 ...

American Wine Society plans event The Laurel Highlands Chapter of the American Wine Society will hold its bi-monthly event at 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Altoona Grand Hotel ballroom. Most members are from the Altoona/Hollidaysburg area. The theme is “Wine, Chocolate and Valentine’s ...

Courtesy photo Ruthie Cron, a sixth-grader at Altoona Area Junior High School, was assigned a STEM challenge for her virtual science class. Her teacher is Mrs. Hampton. The challenge was to build a book stand out of newspaper that was strong enough to hold her science book. She wanted to see ...

These photos are from the 1971 inauguration parade in Harrisburg. In the top photo, the Altoona Area High School color guard members turn toward the reviewing stand preceding the 40 majorettes and 112-member band directed by Darwin H. Bistline. The band marched in the parade’s second ...

Breathe PA urges the public to protect their home and family from radon. January is Radon Awareness Month, making it a good time to share some facts about radon in Western Pennsylvania. Radon comes from the break-down of trace amounts of uranium in soil. It is a gas that moves up into homes ...

MORAVIAN COLLEGE, Bethlehem — Jaelyn Mitchell, Huntingdon; Elisabeth Mohney, DuBois. CENTRAL PENN COLLEGE, Summerdale — Evan Cottle, Hopewell; Katrina Montgomery, Dudley. UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON — Ashley E. Usaitis, DuBois; Lauren P. Usaitis, DuBois. KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY — Jackson ...

PENNSYLVANIA HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FALL DEAN’S LIST Altoona — Megan Anslinger, Kayla Baker, Ayla Botteicher, Garrett Burns, Kyle Dennis, Noah Drumm, Edward Drzewiecki, Alicia Friedenberger, Mara Guinard, Herman Johnson, Bailey Kudlawiec, Shaina Lear, Maura Lowey Jamie Mankos, ...

Courtesy photo Ruthie Cron, a sixth-grader at Altoona Area Junior High School, was assigned a STEM challenge for her virtual science class. Her teacher is Mrs. Hampton. The challenge was to build a book stand out of newspaper that was strong enough to hold her science book. She wanted to see ...

Bedford County Regional Education Foundation awards scholarships EVERETT — The Bedford County Regional Education Foundation announced that a number of students were awarded scholarships to attend the Allegany College of Maryland Bedford County Campus. Local students include: n Zachary ...

The Associated Press Michigan has joined Washington and several other states in announcing renewed efforts to combat the coronavirus as more than 11 million cases of COVID-19 have now been reported in the United States — with the most recent million coming in less than a week — and as ...

Amy O’Hearn of Greensburg and Nicholas Hofer of Duncansville are engaged to be married. Miss O’Hearn is the daughter of Ed and Mary Beth O’Hearn, Greensburg. She is a 2015 graduate of Greater Latrobe Senior High School and a graduate of Saint Francis University, Loretto, where she ...

Amigh Finelli and Robert B. Taylor, both of Altoona, are engaged to be married. Miss Finelli is the daughter of Frank and Jeanne Finelli of Altoona. She is a 1996 graduate of Altoona Area High School. She is employed in the family business, Finelli’s Italian Villa, Altoona. Mr. Taylor ...

Jessica Smith and Eric Harteis, both of Hollidaysburg, are engaged to be married. Miss Smith is the daughter of Brian and Tammy Smith of Altoona. She is a 2009 graduate of Altoona Area High School, a 2013 graduate of Penn State Altoona with a bachelor’s degree in human development and ...

Mr. and Mrs. George Ernest Hamilton of Dover, Del., formerly of Clinton, Md., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a quiet dinner. They were married Jan. 23, 1971, at Bethany United Methodist Church, Portage. Mrs. Hamilton is the former Sandra Gay Orlowsky. George is the son ...

Mr. and Mrs. David Coy of Flinton marked their 50th anniversary on Nov. 21. To celebrate, a family gathering, trip and open house are being planned in 2021. They were married Nov. 21, 1970, at Graystone Presbyterian Church, Indiana, Pa. Mrs. Coy is the former Sharon Campbell. The ...

Mr. and Mrs. Michael “Tom” Starzecky of Tyrone observed their 69th wedding anniversary on Jan. 8. A celebration will be held at a later date. They were married Jan. 8, 1952, in Cumberland, Md. Mrs. Starzecky is the former Alfretta McCracken. The couple have three children: Gay Price ...

Wilbert L. “Wib” and Delores I. “Dee” Hite of Roaring Spring will celebrate 40 years of marriage. They were married Dec. 20, 1980, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Roaring Spring. Mrs. Hite is the former Delores Empfield. They are the parents of a combined family of six ...

Michelle Peoples and Nathan Kephart were united in marriage at 4 p.m. Sept. 5, 2020, at Gillbrook Farms in Warriors Mark. The bride is the daughter of Jerry and Anita Peoples of Coalport. The bridegroom is the son of Harv and Tracy Kephart of Brisbin. The Rev. Robert Ford performed the ...

Karen Voeltz and Justin Hann were united in marriage on Oct. 16, 2020, at Ontario County Park in South Bristol, N.Y. August Gordner officiated the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Steve and Tammy Voeltz of Canandaigua, N.Y. The bridegroom is the son of Buddy and Kathy Hann of ...

Kelsey Jo Dick and Brady Ebersole were united in marriage at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19, 2020, at Stoney Point Events, Altoona. The bride is the daughter of Richard and Melissa Dick of Martinsburg and Heather Kegg. The bridegroom is the son of Alton and Cheryl Ebersole of Claysburg. Pastor Lee ...

Andrea Lynn Sesack and Matthew Edward Barton were married at 5 p.m. Aug. 22, 2020, at a gazebo that overlooks the lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park, Patton. The bride is the daughter of Teresa A. Sesack of Central City and the late Frank E. Sesack of Central City and the stepdaughter to ...