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Shining rays of sun on some good news:
Penn State Altoona has enjoyed tremendous community support over its 83-year history.
From its humble beginnings in 1939 when it opened in the old Webster School Building in downtown Altoona to its move to Ivyside Park in 1948 to its expansion over the past 20 years into downtown Altoona -- giving it the best of both worlds -- what was once and is still known as "the campus" remains an important entity to our community.
To maintain its place for so long, of course, takes generosity, and that was on full display during the retirement celebration of Chancellor Lori Bechtel-Wherry on Oct. 19.
Sponsored by the Sheetz, Hite and Devorris families, the evening raised $1.3 million in Bechtel-Wherry's honor.
The event was highlighted by one of the biggest gifts PSU Altoona has ever received -- a $1 million surprise donation from local philanthropist Rosalind Sky, made on behalf of her family.
We congratulate "Roz," whose name, along with the Port family, already graces the Port-Sky Cafe, the dining hall at Penn State Altoona, as well as Bechtel-Wherry, a Cove product who served the school for 37 years.
The Mirror is particularly pleased to see Penn State Altoona remain so vibrant because our roots are the school's roots.
Late Mirror publisher J.E. (Ted) Holtzinger chaired a citizen's committee in the 1930s that successfully convinced Penn State President Ralph Hetzel to create a branch campus in Altoona, and the Slep Center was named in 1964 for the family of former Mirror owners and current publisher Dan Slep.
Kudos to Dr. Zane Gates of Altoona, who was recently presented with an Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award at the University of Pittsburgh, one of the school's highest honors.
Gates' success story is inspirational. He earned his medical degree at Pitt and returned to his hometown, often serving the underprivileged -- in part, as he has often said, because he could relate.
Gates grew up in the Evergreen Manors housing project and was raised by a single mother, Gloria, in a challenging environment.
Gates' mother did what she could for him and others less fortunate, feeding them and serving as a positive example, and he later established the Gloria Gates Foundation as a tribute to his late mother.
We applaud Pitt on an excellent choice.
Barry England of Penn England Farms in Williamsburg was honored Wednesday with the Blair County Chamber's prestigious Agricultural Community Excellence Award.
It's especially significant since agriculture is one of the region's biggest employers.
England has been involved with his family's sprawling farm for more than 40 years, and to his credit, he said the award should be for his entire family.
In addition to his agricultural involvement, England has served as president of the Williamsburg Community School District board of directors for many years.
We all tend to complain too much about the weather -- when there's nothing we can do about it -- but hasn't this been a gorgeous fall?