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Aiding veterans truly a mission worth ‘sharing’

“Illuminating the spirit of Christmas” was the headline of last year’s Dec. 24-25 Mirror editorial. However, as more people here learn each year, illumination of that spirit actually begins in early November when the Mirror launches its annual Season of Sharing fundraising campaign on behalf of some worthy organization or cause. This year, Season of Sharing will benefit Sweat for Vets, a nonprofit organization started by local veterans nine years ago. As this weekend’s article about the launching of the campaign reminds this and surrounding communities, Sweat for Vets is ...

Don’t shelter important discussion

The Mirror’s Oct. 19 editorial dealing with a housing proposal for the former Keith Junior High School athletic field urged city officials to seek input from people residing near that property. The editorial emphasized “it is better for the proposal to be fully aired at some point before final decisions are forthcoming than to have misunderstanding and/or anger undermine what might be the best alternative available.” Even before that editorial had been published, two neighbors of the property in question had reached out to express concern and opposition regarding the proposal. ...

Emergency care for children needs scrutiny

There are many good causes with their proverbial hands out, seeking money from the federal government. There always will be. However, the Wall Street Journal, in its Oct. 2 edition, called attention to a need that should spike interest in the mind and heart of every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Additionally, those elected officials should engage in some determined legwork to identify whether the problem on which the Journal focused is indeed a problem — or not — in their particular sphere of representation. The bottom line is that the people they ...

Social workers help to provide library support

Under the headline “The booming business of American anxiety,” the Wall Street Journal on Aug. 22 focused on the observation that companies are aiming to fill demand for mental-health help, but the science behind much of the industry is unclear. The article goes on to point out that “a search for anxiety relief on Google pulls up links for supplements in the form of pills, patches, gummies and mouth sprays. There are vibrating devices that hang around your neck and tone your vagus nerve, weighted stuffed animals, bead-filled stress balls and coloring books that claim to bring ...

Fire safety awareness must remain constant

This is the time of the year when considerable attention is focused on ghosts, goblins, witches riding broomsticks, pumpkins and reliving the longstanding traditions of neighborhood trick-or-treating and costumed Halloween parties. However, what deserves much more attention — much more serious attention — during this first full month of autumn is fire safety, which, specifically, includes what to do and what not to do when confronted with a fire emergency. The start of a new heating season oftentimes brings blazes resulting from a number of causes, including failure to have had ...

Feedback needed on Keith project

City officials and the Altoona Redevelopment Authority merit plaudits for watching for any opportunity to improve or develop the municipality’s housing base. The latest new opportunity to receive publicity involves the former Keith Junior High School athletic field. According to city councilman and authority member Ron Beatty, there have been conversations about the authority obtaining control of the property for housing development. On the surface, that appears to be a reasonable proposal, but public input from people residing in that area needs to be sought and ...