I am writing this letter to publically endorse Kelly Irwin Adams for the AASD School Board. As my daughter’s lifelong friend and neighbor, I admire Adams for her character, dedication and work ethic. Adams was born and raised in Altoona and graduated salutatorian from AAHS in 1995. Upon ...

Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr. is at it again, folks. As told in the Mirror recently, he is on a crusade to stop all union representation on school district time. This is a man bound and determined to solve every problem that doesn’t exist. Anyone who has ever belonged to a union knows ...

School boards benefit when individual members have a comprehensive awareness of the scope of needs for students, issues for teachers, curriculum challenges, athletic opportunities and the overall district focus. As a former elementary teacher and an active PTA mom of three children in AASD, ...

Following recent news stories regarding the similarities in viewpoint shared by the two Republican candidates for sheriff, citizens of Blair County may be wondering if they have a meaningful choice to make in that election. There is a candidate who stands out from the rest: Holly Garner. ...

These four Altoona City Council members have shown leadership that will be just what the City of Altoona needs once Act 47 is a memory. They are Michael Haire, Dave Butterbaugh, Christine Jordan and Matt Cacciotti — all hard-working leaders. The City of Altoona needs these four, not a ...

Voting is the people’s voice in government. Candidates should be selected on their experience, integrity and commitment to the community as a whole. Therefore, I am endorsing Scott A. Clapper for magisterial district judge of Altoona based largely on his dedication to church, family, ...

H.T. Fownes has plans to help the working person who makes a mistake by looking at the idea of night court. His ideas for truancy would hold teens responsible again, rather than strapping families with fines for a teen’s lack of respect. I believe his willingness to attend magisterial ...

On April 22 across the country and across the globe people who believe in evidenced-based research, accurate facts and the health of our communities will be “Marching for Science.” Recent news stating the Trump administration was instructing government researchers not to communicate with ...

I have watched the Middle East with growing anticipation. Bashar al-Assad’s six-year civil war wasn’t going anywhere. Iran was still in the infantile stages with its nuclear plans, and Hezbollah and ISIS were just considering a joint effort to control Syria and Iraq. But how quickly ...

No one wants to think about being a victim of a crime, but crime affects everyone. I know because I have seen it. As a past employee of the Victim/Witness program under the district attorney’s office, we worked with people who weren’t familiar with our program until they needed our ...

For those who have followed, made a money pledge, or had any other interest in the possibility of placing a flagpole and U.S. flag on city property, it’s now a dead project. What I hoped to be a simple project started last June has been anything but an easy pursuit. The idea of ...

I am writing in response to the Altoona Water Authority rate study article published in the March 24 edition of the Mirror. The reasons cited for the study are logical enough. I take issue with tying sewage rates to consumption without some method of also providing residents the ability ...

I am fortunate to have been Derek Elensky’s coworker in the district attorney’s office for more than three years. Together, we worked on many cases, including two child abuse trials. One of those trials was particularly difficult because the child victim had to testify, and most of the ...

I am a coach in the Altoona Area Little League. Since the weather is improving, we have been practicing in the Prospect ballfield. Apparently, we have no dog law enforcement in Altoona because both times we were assigned to practice at Prospect, the coaches must collect bags of dog feces ...

During my 20-plus years in the military, I learned that you respected the uniform and the rank it carried even if you didn’t respect the individual wearing the uniform. That is the way I feel about the office of the President of the United States. I respect the office of the ...

After reading, or trying to read John Hunter Orr’s rambling diatribe in the March 23 edition of the Mirror, I feel the strong need to reply. The content of this opinion seems to be once again rehashing a bit of fake news taken out of context concerning President Donald Trump. Referring ...

I am pleased to provide a professional endorsement for Jackie Bernard to serve as judge in the Blair County Court of Common Pleas. I have known Bernard in a professional capacity for many years, and I can attest to the depth of skill, knowledge, compassion and integrity that she has brought ...

It’s that time of year again: We are seeing the return of sunshine and warmer weather, and it is welcome after a few rough weeks of winter. This is also the time of the year when Lois Kaneshiki comes out of hibernation and sticks her head out of the Blair County Republican headquarters to ...

John Frederick’s article on recycling as a lifestyle, in my opinion, should be a way of life for all of us. When are we going to realize it takes more than a few of us to stop the landfills from filling up? It takes an effort and working together to make recycling a larger priority for ...

Democrat or Republican we, as Americans, need to stand united. We need to stop bickering amongst ourselves. We need to hold the elected officials, regardless of party denomination, responsible for the welfare of the residents of the United States. Division is what politicians want and ...