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Across the Area

Catholic Daughters meet

Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Prince Gallitzin No. 2625, Altoona, resumed meetings in February at St. Rose of Lima Social Hall.

Catholic Education Award winners will receive their awards at a reception at a future date.

This year’s winners are: Ruth Stevens and Isaiah Stotler, poetry; Lucy Sprouse, Khole Maddox, Marilyn Houston, Skylar Irwin, Abigail Grimminger and Felicity Rogers, art; Reagan Eluzabeth Noel, Mikayla Geishauser, Evelyn Bunk, Abigail Chverchko and Valerie Grimminger, essay. Honorable mentions were Fernando Gonzalez, Thomas Charlesworth, Roselyn Himes, Carl Fischer, Dontavia Summerville, Kenadie Ulrich, Aaliyah Noel and Grace Camberg.

Court members were involved with the first indoor Bocce Tournament Fun Night at The Arc in Altoona.

A fall quilt made by Susan Ronan, the court’s district deputy, was raffled off as a fundraiser for the group.

Christmas cards were signed and delivered to parish shut-ins, as well as to local veterans and active soldiers of the Armed Forces; Jared Boxes for hospitalized children were filled and presented to Tim Balconi, president of the UPMC Altoona Hospital Foundation and Christmas gifts were presented to Jenn Brunner, executive director of the Gloria Gates Foundation, to be given to children through The Gloria Gates Foundation.

Members are participating in a Spiritual Book Club with their first selection being “Focus on the Moment and Trust in God’s Love” by local Deacon Gene P. Neral.

Court members plan to attend the CDA PA State Convention in April at the Blair County Convention Center.

All Catholic women interested in joining the CDA may contact Regent Carol Galioto at 814-946-3769 or any court member.

Fire forester visits club

Wildland firefighter Mandy Burgoon of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource was the guest of the Women’s Club of Altoona at the February meeting held at the clubhouse.

She is a fire forester for Blair County, but she has fought fires all over the United States. Burgoon displayed pictures of the various fires she has fought while discussing what it is like to be a wildland firefighter, explaining that fire fighter teams are called on to assist with wildfires all over the country.

In her experience, she has met only one other female wildfire fighter.

Burgoon presented an overview of a day “out on the line.” She demonstrated the uniforms worn and the pack she must carry. The pack weighs 40 pounds.

Women’s Club President Jennifer

Cacciotti reminded members that her President’s Project, which focuses on deployed military, will be ending in the spring. Members were encouraged also to sign up to work on the major fundraiser, A Night at the Races, that is scheduled for May at the Bavarian Hall.

House Secretary LuAnn Hallinan said that the Garden and House Committees will be working on spring cleaning the clubhouse, until the weather permits returning to garden work. The two groups meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Mondays.

The club continues to provide dinner for the Teen Shelter one night a month. Janet and Jacklyn Grove were the volunteers in January.

CDA Court 1755 meets

The Catholic Daughters of Americas, Court Our Lady of the Alleghenies No. 1755, met March 8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Hollidaysburg.

Discussion was held on the state convention to be held on April 21-24 in Altoona. For registration, meal selections and the Cathedral tour on April 20, contact Regent Laurie Staub at 814-327-9663. T-shirts can be purchased for fun night for $5 from Pattie Fromknecht by March 25.

The Forty cans for Forty Days Food Drive by the Knights of Columbus concludes April 6. Drop off donations from 7 to 10 a.m. at Knights’ Hall.

Members will attend a retreat at St. Bernadine’s Monastery from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 25.

The court will donate $200 to Phoenix Volunteer Fire Department.

A ham and cheese sandwich sale will be held April 11. Preparation starts at 5 p.m. at the VFW with pick up at 6 p.m. Cost is $3.50 each. To order, call Mary Dively at 814-239-5065 by April 4.

A court Education Contest is underway. Entries due by the May meeting.

A blood drive will be held from 12:30 to 6 p.m. May 2 at the Knights of Columbus. Volunteers should call Patti at 814-327-4110.

The court will attend the 8 a.m. Mass on May 7 at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, followed by breakfast at Prime Sirloin Buffet.

The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

Family Services of Blair County will present a program on “Human Trafficking.”

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