Council seeks participants for parade

The Blair County War Veterans Council and Central Pennsylvania National Guard Association is looking for participants in its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 25, in Altoona.

Veterans groups and non-veterans groups are encouraged to help honor fallen veterans.

Parade participants will line up at 10 a.m. and step off at 10:30 a.m. Participants will line up on Eighth Avenue and 16th Street by Stevens Mortuary.

To sign up, email micmac42649@aol.com or text

814-329-8472.

Blair Garden Club to meet May 18

The Blair Garden Club will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, May 18, at the American Legion Post 516 Social Hall, 1501 N. Juniata St., Hollidaysburg.

Master Gardener Lisa Haas will present “Planting a Pollinator Tea garden.” Plants in this garden have historically been used by herbalists in many ways; delicious teas and medicinal remedies.

Club officers for 2026-28 club will be installed.

Altoona Class of 1964 to meet

The Altoona High School Class of 1964 meets for lunch at 11:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

This month’s meeting will be on May 21 at Longhorn Steakhouse, 333 W. Plank Road, Altoona. Call or text Sue at 814-935-7774 or Evelyn at 814-931-5962 to RSVP.

Homers Gap Civics plan dinner May 20

Homers Gap Civic Association, 135 Preston Lane, will hold a meatball sub dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 20. Cost is $12, which includes a 6-inch homemade meatball sub sandwich, macaroni salad, potato chips, pudding and a cookie.

Orders must be made by Monday, May 18, by calling Meg at 814-932-3883.

Historical society to hold lecture

The Blair County Historical Society will present the third lecture in its 2026 eight-lecture series at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, in the Seidel Auditorium on the first floor of the Railroaders Memorial Museum, 1200 Ninth Ave., Altoona.

Michael G. Farrow will present “The History of Altoona’s Knickerbocker Neighborhood.” The lecture and PowerPoint presentation will include the history of the founding of the Pennsylvania South Altoona Shops and surrounding points of interest.

Farrow has recently written a detailed, illustrated history of the Knickerbocker development. It will be offered to the public at the lecture along with other selections from the Baker Mansion Museum Shop including the new America250 publication “A Revolutionary War History of Blair County” by James Lowe, and vintage postcard scenes, booklets of local history, and souvenirs of local interest.

Admission is free, although donations will be accepted.

Health, welfare council to meet May 22

The Blair County Health and Welfare Council will meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 22, at the United Way of the Southern Alleghenies, 208 Hollidaysburg Plaza, Duncansville. A Zoom option will be available.

A.C. Stickel and Jim Lowe will talk about local events surrounding the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The council provides education and information to the public on health and human service needs, services and resources. The public is welcome to attend the meeting.

For more information, visit blaircountyhealthand

welfare.weebly.com/

Genealogical society to host speaker

The Blair County Genealogical Society will host its May speaking event at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at Roller Hojeth Memorial Library, 431 Scotch Valley Road, Altoona.

Glenn Nelson will present “Fort Roberdeau: America’s First Revolutionary War Lead Mine.” He will explore the fort’s critical role in supporting the American cause during the Revolutionary War.

Nelson will discuss the fort’s origins, the challenges faced by frontier settlers and soldiers and the importance of the lead mining operation to the war effort.

Attendees will also learn about the continuing preservation efforts that have made the reconstructed fort one of Blair County’s most significant historic sites.

Nelson has served as director of Fort Roberdeau since 2013 and is widely recognized for his work in Revolutionary War education and local history preservation.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Toastmasters part of Community Day

The Allegheny Mountains Toastmasters Club will participate in “Community Day, Then and Now!,” the 250th birthday of the United States of America celebration event hosted by the Adam Holliday Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

The event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 31, at Legion Park in Hollidaysburg.

Toastmasters members will host a booth to engage with attendees, share information about the organization and showcase the power of communication on stage.

Visitors can learn more about how Toastmasters helps individuals build confidence, improve public speaking skills and grow as leaders in both personal and professional settings.

Allegheny Mountains Toastmasters Club meets from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month at the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library.

For more information about this event and the club, visit www.allegheny mountains.toastmasters clubs.org.

Martinsburg BPW to present awards

Martinsburg Business & Professional Women will honor its Woman of the Year Rosanne Conrad and Employer of the Year Small Town Pizza (Stacey Kopco) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Homewood Living’s Terrace Cafe, 437 Givler Drive in Martinsburg. Use the Southview entrance.

Refreshments and bites will be served.

RSVP to Chair Gloria Blakely at 814-793-0054 by Monday, May 25. The business meeting will follow the awards. New members are welcome.