‘Mrs. Roper Romp’ to be held July 11

“Mrs. Roper Romp of Blair County” will be held Friday, July 11, beginning at 5 p.m. at Zmac’s Riverside Pub, 118 River Road, Hollidaysburg.

Come dressed in your colorful caftans, and bling up your outfit with stylish and colorful earrings and necklaces if you’d like. (Mrs. Roper is a character named Helen from the TV show “Three’s Company.”)

The group will then proceed to the Old Canal Inn for 6 p.m. The plan is to be at the US Hotel Tavern for 7 p.m. to take a group photo there and then go in.

Then, the group will make its way to Shan Nicole’s Irish Pub for 8 p.m.

There will be two separate fundraisers of the participant’s choosing: donate to the Central PA Humane Society or sponsor items for Jared Boxes for Blair County to be distributed to local hospitals.

Donation information will be available the night of the romp. Organizers are urging the public to “recruit other Helen’s and Stanley’s that you know to make the tour of the local Regal Beagles a success. The more the merrier. Come out to have a good time and enjoy some laughs and some looks.”

Historical society to host lecture July 16

The Blair County Historical Society will present the fourth lecture in its 2025 eight-lecture series, titled “The Alleghany Furnace Story 1811-1844: Iron Making in Blair County at the Elias Baker Estate.”

The lecture will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, 1200 Ninth Ave., Altoona. Admission is free, although donations are accepted.

The lecture and PowerPoint presentation will include the history of the estate lands from William Penn’s ownership to the present and include Elias Baker’s ore mines, workers homes, lime kilns, company stores and other accessories to the iron furnace. Elias Baker’s little known furnace and forge, the Indiana Iron Works and other furnace endeavors in Indiana County will also be presented.

The lecture will be given by Michael G. Farrow, Ph.D., who has recently written a detailed, illustrated history of Alleghany Furnace. It will be offered to the public for the first time at the lecture along with ther selections from the Baker Mansion Museum Shop including vintage postcard scenes, booklets of local history and souvenirs of local interest.

Sweet Adelines to hold ice cream social

The Altoona Chorus of Sweet Adelines will hold a ladies ice cream social at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 8 at Jaggard Methodist Church, 1801 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona. There is no charge to attend.

Come and hear the sounds of harmony and join in the fun to “get the scoop” on the group. Bring a friend.

Historical society to meet in Duncansville

The Duncansville Area Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, at the Duncansville Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1200 Fourth Ave.

Warren Baker will present a discussion on “The Runaway Train Wreck of Nov. 6, 1916.” The society is encouraging more local people to attend the meetings.

The society is interested in copies of pictures and information regarding Duncansville. Information can be sent to Nancy DeLozier, P.O. Box 115, Duncansville, PA 16635. The society meets on the second Tuesday of every other month, except January.

Writing conference set for July 19-20

The Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia (WCoNA) will host a writing conference “Writers on the Prairie” at Jennings Environmental Center in Slippery Rock, July 19-20.

WCoNA director Kimberly McElhatten of Blue Knob is one of the regional presenters at the workshops, critique and place-based writing. She will present Pathways to Publication.

Held during peak bloom in the state’s only protected prairie, the event offers writers the opportunity to explore how place, nature and research can enrich their work with depth, detail and authenticity in a remarkable ecosystem.

With only 25 seats available, the retreat is designed for emerging and seasoned writers alike, and writers across all genres. It offers a space to develop work that reflects the people, places, and cultures of northern Appalachia.

Workshops include: Writing About the Natural World: A Personal Celebration of Place with Ben Moyer; Poetics En Plein Air: Writing in Nature, Environment & Place with Tabassam Shah; Enrich Your Writing with Research with Rita Wilson, and small-group critique sessions led by Bob Craven.

The conference reflects the organization’s mission to honor the diverse voices, landscapes and literary traditions of northern Appalachia.

Participants can register for the full two-day experience, $94, or Saturday only, $67, at wcona.com/events.

AAHS Class of 1973 plans events

The Altoona Area High School Class of 1973 will hold a “Cheers to 70 years Birthday Party” on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the US Hotel Tavern, 401 S. Juniata St., Hollidaysburg.

It will include a DJ, appetizers and a cash bar. Dress is casual. Cost is $30 per person or $50 per couple. Make checks payable to: US Hotel Tavern, 401 S. Juniata St., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Add a note “For Class of 1973 Birthday Party.”

Then on Sunday, Aug. 17, a brunch will be provided by David and Paula Binus at 9 a.m. at a location to be determined. There is no cost to attend, but organizers are asking for an in-kind donation for GNO Altoona Inc. for those suffering/healing from breast cancer.

Car, bike show in honor of Runk

The Mikey Runk Memorial Car/Bike Show will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at Pleasant Valley Recreation Center, Altoona. Everyone is welcome to come share stories. Proceeds will go directly to the family of Michael Runk, who was killed on his motorcycle on May 18. Food trucks will be on site. No revving or burnouts are permitted. For more information, email a.loner856@gmail.com.

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.