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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 ...

Taking steps to win battle over blight

A sports team that finds itself on the losing end of the scoreboard early in a game must strive to identify and fix quickly what has caused its bad start, before the score is too lopsided in the other team’s favor. The Altoona Redevelopment Authority is facing a similar challenge regarding blighted properties but, unlike what many sports teams must admit, it is not to blame for the uphill battle that lies ahead. Time is one of the culprits necessitating the authority’s new mission, as well as property owners who, for whatever reason, allowed their residences to deteriorate to the ...

Education state across globe is concerning

There are times when information emerges that not only is unexpected but, instead, downright shocking. Similarly, there are instances when new findings merely confirm what people — experts as well as many individuals not regarded as experts — long have anticipated. A front-page report in Wednesday’s Mirror was an example of the latter — on a topic relevant not only in the United States, but throughout the world. The information contained in that article should serve as a guideline in terms of avoiding the unwanted situation ever again. Actually, there is too much at stake. ...