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Editorials

City’s tax bump will help future

An article published in the Mirror’s Dec. 11 edition not only reported on the Beaver County community of Aliquippa’s exodus from state fiscally distressed status. That article also delved into Altoona’s exodus from the same program in 2017 after only five years of that unwanted status. With the start of a new year — one that will see Altoona property owners pay only an additional half-mill of city real estate tax — it is a good time to reflect on why the Mountain City is in the solid financial shape it can boast about while numerous other Pennsylvania municipalities are ...

Our political foundation must improve

America’s current political climate already is portending that 2024 could end up being one of this nation’s most ugly years ever. What a terrible observation on which to welcome or anchor a new year, but it is true. This country is engaged in a dangerous “game” inside politics that really is not a game. Rather, what is in play is an exercise of hatefulness, bitterness and harshness that could undermine the United States for generations. Anyone who does not know the meaning of the words “virulent” or “virulence” needs to look them up in a dictionary, pronto, then ...

Measuring community improvements

Last year at this time, as area residents were preparing to greet 2023, the Mirror challenged its readers in an editorial to do their part toward making the new year generally better and more productive than 2022 — still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. “As an individual, you have the power to make a difference, if you commit yourself to it,” we wrote. “Generally, people of the Southern Alleghenies region are good, decent, down-to-earth individuals who are capable of sorting the good things from the bad things they will encounter over the next 12 months.” Over the ...

Despite world events, Christmas gives us hope

On this oftentimes dreadful planet, it is hard to imagine how the words “Peace on Earth” have any true relevance anymore. To many people on this Christmas Day, that phrase is considered obsolete, just a minuscule remnant of a better time, although looking at this planet as a whole, there never has been a time of absolute peace, happiness and joy. Belief in the meaning of Christmas and all that it represents is far from being universal. Many people don’t believe that there ever was a Christ Child or that Jesus came to Earth on behalf of salvation for mankind. But for those who ...

Reflect on your many reasons to be thankful

As the final hours wind down toward the official arrival of Christmas 2023, many people, weary from the hustle and bustle of trying to create a perfect holiday for family and friends, nevertheless are already looking ahead to after-Christmas sales, parties and other holiday-related activities and events. It is almost as if the holiday itself has been relegated to second or third place on individuals’ priority lists, but that is not what should be occurring. Stop, take time to relax, and during that time reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the many things about which you ...

Fingers crossed on additional train service

The best way to ensure the long-term existence of a new transportation asset is by embracing it — that is to say, using it as much as possible and touting its advantages while encouraging others to become regular patrons of the service. That will be the formidable challenge when Amtrak launches a second Harrisburg-to-Pittsburgh train, now that the Keystone State will be receiving $143 million from the federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act to upgrade rail infrastructure in what is referred to as the Keystone West Corridor. For years through its editorials, the Mirror has been ...