The Altoona Chess Club, which has been in existence since 2017, will hold the 2024 Altoona City Chess Championship. Play will commence at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11.

The tournament is not U.S. Chess Federation rated so anyone can play.

Entry fee is $15, and all proceeds go into the prize fund.

Prizes will be: first place, 40%; second place, 30%; third place, 20%; and fourth place, 10%.

The Hollidaysburg Veterans Home held its annual carnival on June 13. Members of the Blair County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees worked the bloomin’ onion booth. Cathy Keefe also attended with those in the photo including Jill Anthony, Eileen Conlon, Doris Felty and Mary Jane Hammers.

Games may be played during the regular Chess Club meetings from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Altoona Area Public Library, 1600 Fifth Ave.

It is a five-round Swiss system tournament to be played one round per week for five weeks. If people are not available on Thursday nights, they can still play anytime during the week as long as it is completed by the following Wednesday night.

Chess sets and boards — and a limited number of clocks — are available, but players are encouraged to bring their own equipment if possible.

For more information, call Don Hanes at 801-735-6600 or by visiting AltoonaChessClub.com

Blair Garden Club to meet Monday

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair Garden Club will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, June 24, at the American Legion Post 516 Social Hall, 1501 N. Juniata St.

Four members will create a floral design following NGC standards. They will explain their thought processes about their designs and will answer questions from members.

The public is invited to attend.

Ballroom dance to celebrate one year

BELLEFONTE — A ballroom dance will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 14, at Lambert Hall to commemorate the one-year anniversary of renewed ballroom dancing in Centre County.

Cost is $10 per person. Text/call 717-543-8348 for more information.

Civil War descendants to meet June 26

BELLWOOD — The Descendants of Civil War Veterans will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Bellwood-Antis Public Library.

Dee Blazer will speak on “The Dark Side of George E. Pickett: The Hanging of 1864.”

The meeting is open to the public.

Historical society plans used book sale

BEDFORD — The Bedford County Historical Society will hold a used book sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, through Friday, July 19, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at 6441 Lincoln Highway.

Bring the kids and show them that history is fun. Each child will be given a free book about American history and a free American flag.

Donations of used books are appreciated.

The society will be collecting books from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 1 to 3 and July 9 to 12. No paperback romance novels please. They have plenty of those.

All proceeds benefit the Bedford County Historical Society. Call 814-623-2011 for more information.

Area clubs and nonprofits can email articles and photos to community@altoonamirror.com. For more information, call Brenda Carberry, community news coordinator, at 814-946-7459.