Double duty
Tom Sanker mows the grass and leaves on his lawn adjacent to his 49th Street home in Altoona on Monday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Funding supports bus trips to prisons
Families of incarcerated people will once again have access to affordable bus transportation to visit their loved ones, following a $600,000 state investment in the Pennsylvania Prison Society’s transportation program. “In-person visits can reduce recidivism by up to 20%, and studies show that regular family visits are associated with fewer disciplinary incidents and safer prison environments,” said Kirstin Cornnell, chief program director at the Pennsylvania Prison Society. “Loved ones on the outside report that in-person visits lessen their anxiety about their incarcerated ...
Sweet sculpture: Bedford Springs pastry department creates replica resort from gingerbread
BEDFORD — Omni Bedford Springs Resort now features an edible version of itself. For the past five years, the resort’s pastry department has displayed large-scale gingerbread creations in the lobby, including houses, villages and even a working carousel. Constructing a replica of the ...
Authority fees to fund EMS discussed at AMED meeting
During a recent discussion about a modest decrease in call volume for AMED and the fiscal challenges connected with the fee-for-service model that agencies like AMED use to fund operations, agency Executive Director Gary Watters pointed out that a handful of ambulance services in Pennsylvania have adopted a new funding method. That method involves creation of an ambulance authority — AMED is already an authority — and the subsequent imposition of an operational readiness fee on property owners in the authority’s service area, based on powers granted in the Pennsylvania ...
Draft of Portage Borough operating budget shows decrease in deficit
PORTAGE — A first draft of the 2027 proposed Portage Borough operating budget shows no property tax increase and has both revenues and expenditures set at about $1 million, leaving a projected operating fund gap of $43,955.35. Borough Manager Makayla Zonfilli-Lang noted the gap is smaller ...
Briefcase: Beach Bunny Tanning holds grand opening
Beach Bunny Tanning (formerly South Beach Tanning Co.) held its grand opening Saturday at 2200 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona. Beach Bunny Tanning features 14 UV tanning units and a VersaSpa sunless spray tanning system, providing a variety of options to suit individual preferences. With equipment from Ergoline, ProSun and Matrix, the salon offers a selection of tanning experiences in a professionally maintained facility, including options featuring Pure UV plus red-light LEDs. For those who prefer a UV-free option, VersaSpa spray tanning provides a sunless alternative. Business hours ...