It seems like every time I turn on the news or open the paper, there’s another horrendous story about murder, mass shootings, bomb threats, or other violent acts. For whatever reason, people think violence is OK and the most appropriate way to end disputes. Our culture has less and less ...
According to a recent online article in Editor and Publisher, a Nielsen Scarborough study suggested “that in an average month, 169 million adults read a U.S. newspaper. They may be reading it in one or more iterations — in print, on the web, via a mobile app, courtesy of an e-newsletter or ...
There has been extensive press coverage regarding financing of our health care. The current system, including Obamacare, is not working and continues to become more expensive. Because of the high cost, many employers and individuals find it difficult to afford and may drop health insurance ...
Flying under the radar at the close of the recent state legislative session was a new law that will create a formal process to consider the closure of a state prison facility. In the last five years, three state prisons have closed with little or no warning, affecting thousands of corrections ...
This is in response to an Oct. 13 column in the Mirror, “Socialism will tank economy,” by Betsy McCaughey. McCaughey’s column was filled with Trumpism, irrationalism and outright lies. She claimed that many Democrats view capitalism in a negative light and want to replace that system ...
On Sunday, Oct. 28, we attended the 4 p.m. performance of the Pittsburgh-based Tamburitzans at the Mishler Theatre. To my surprise, when I called the theater the Wednesday before the performance, there were still tickets available, so I hurriedly rushed to the box office. Again, to my ...
The Hollidaysburg Halloween parade is fast becoming a parody of itself. For years, the parade started at 6 p.m., and it lasted no less than two full hours. To get a good spot for viewing the parade, you had to get there two hours or so before it started. People would be lined up three- and ...
We are under attack in a way my father, a World War II veteran, would not have understood. He was a very intelligent man and would be so sad to see our country so divided and angry. He was no fool and would have believed the U.S. Intelligence agencies’ charge that Russia interfered with ...
The city of Altoona, being flush with cash, now needs to focus on jobs. Former Mayor Bill Schirf set up a business-like plan for Altoona. This plan has produced excellent results; going forward will need his leadership. Altoona will need to stop increasing retail spaces and make time for ...
This letter is in response to the editorial “Terror begets terror, and fear begets fear,” published in the Oct. 28 edition of the Mirror. In the seventh paragraph, this article’s author states that Kaczynski “engaged in a misguided and doomed-to-fail-from-the-start attempt to trigger ...
On Saturday, Robert Bowers carried out a vicious attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh during Shabbat services, taking away the lives of 11 innocent worshipers. This deadly attack on the Jewish community came after the shooter proclaimed anti-Semitic slurs such as “all Jews ...
Local Boy Scout Troop 49 and Cub Pack 49 were recently given a tour of the Railroaders Memorial Museum by Joe DeFrancesco, chief curator. It was a wonderful opportunity for the scouts, leaders and family members to explore the rich history of railroad in our fine community. What I was ...
It’s heartwarming to know that there are some caring people in this world, and fortunately for me and my son, on Tuesday, Oct. 16, there happened to be a group of them working for Peoples Gas Co. just outside our house along Garber Street in Hollidaysburg. On that day, as we were heading ...
We are all lemmings. What kind are you? Are you the rebel, long-hair, ponytailed smoking Harley rider or the politically correct man who defers to everyone? Are you the tattooed beauty who got in line for one because it made you unique, or the nose-ringed tattooed teen who yearns to be ...
The world head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, arrived in the U.S. for a three-week visit earlier this month. His first stop was the national headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, located in Silver Spring, ...
I watched the Kavanaugh hearings with an open mind, ready to hear an incredible he said/she said tale woven by the two. As I was watching Christine Blasey Ford — her demeanor, her body language — and hearing the timbre and tone of her voice, I realized I had seen the exact same mannerisms ...
As reported in the Mirror’s Oct. 17 article, “Skateboarders to face stiffer fines,” Hollidaysburg Borough leaders have increased the fines for those found violating the borough’s skateboarding laws. This decision provides an opportunity for community reflection and conversation about ...
After several years of calling the Logan Township Police Department to have something done about speeding and failures to stop at stop signs, I have come to the conclusion that the township just doesn’t care. I recently contacted the LTPD again and was told they would enforce traffic laws ...
On Oct. 16 at 7 p.m., Indivisible Blair County and the Blair County Tea Party co-sponsored a candidate forum. The forum was held for the 13th Congressional District, currently and 80th State Representative District. The two candidates for the 13th Congressional seat are Democrat Brent ...
In many ways, President Donald J. Trump is the best thing to happen to the GOP in recent memory. He’s energized our base and brought new voters into the Republican fold. He’s advocated a bold agenda. Because of his policies, our economy is growing at a record pace. He has instituted ...