As the director of Fort Roberdeau, I am obliged to defend our Blair County Revolutionary War Fort.I do not want the Mirror readership to think the bored Tinkerson cartoon character is reality compared to the more than 2,500 students from 30 schools in our seven-county region who participate ...
I wish to add to the letter written by Maria Brandt (May 24, "School director wording offensive.")Lois Kaneshiki did not in any way use the word retarded to describe a human being.The standards for politically correct language change from month to month, and I find it difficult to keep up with ...
As a small business owner interested in taking my children to sites such as Fort Roberdeau, I found the "Take it From the Tinkersons" Fort Boring cartoon insulting.It takes a cheap swipe at the hard work of the dedicated historical interpreters. It also suggests a lack of dedication by hard ...
The headline on the May 19 Cesare Battisti article should have read "People with vendetta against club not OK with changes."I think the only people not in favor of the outdoor shows are people with axes to grind with the club.We need to stop wasting taxpayer money and tell these people to ...
I had the privilege to attend the graduation celebration for the Altoona Area High School Life Skills students.Having become friendly with one of the families and participants through Miracle League, I was invited and attended mainly to show admiration and support for the students and give a ...
I am writing in reference to the May 19 apology by Hollidaysburg Area School Board member Lois Kaneshiki.Kaneshiki used the word "retarded" on a Facebook post. She later apologized at a school board meeting, stating she did not realize the word was offensive.The fact that she used language to ...
Sexual abuse is not only an event or an episode.More importantly, it is a traumatic event that has a life-long impact on individuals - their work, their relationships and their families. Recent developments in the theory of epigenesis suggests abuse even impacts cellular structure.An apology ...
Many living organ donors today experience higher premiums or denial of insurance coverage based solely on their status as a donor.But hopefully not for long.In late February, the Living Donor Protection Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate and in the House of Representatives.This bill will ...
On Nov. 2, 2015, it was determined that my husband needed intensive skilled nursing care.At this time there were extremely limited options in Blair County for placement for him. Through the assistance of local agencies, I was guided to Cambria Care Center in Ebensburg.Imagine my uncertainty in ...
I was amused to see my picture on the front page of the May 10 issue of the Mirror, showing me sharing my concerns with the Altoona Area School Board, and disappointed that your reporter did not mention those concerns in the accompanying article.Ten of us from Saint Mary's Parish attended the ...
Recently there have been several editorials expressing the opinion that if priests were allowed to marry, they would not resort to sexually abusing young boys.The correct term for someone who abuses young children would be "pedophile." How would being married change this behavior?If these ...
I attended the 30-year anniversary show of the Hollidaysburg Community Chorus on Sunday.Sandy Harteis was the director. Her dad, mother and aunt were charter members of this group.She started as pianist in 1998. There are 11 charter members who have been singing for 30 years - amazing. What a ...
A new law in New Jersey will give adult adoptees the right to get their original birth certificates as of Jan. 1, 2017.A similar law took effect in Ohio last year, and more than 7,000 adoptees have received their birth certificates.In Pennsylvania, HB 162 would provide this same right to ...
Please send this message to Donald Trump.You are not a presidential person. You are a businessman and nothing more.I am a simple American man, but I think I know a lot more about the nuts and bolts that keep this nation able to lead the world. Never in my life have I voted Democrat, but I will ...
Bravo, George Foster.His candid open letter to Catholics was bold, blunt and necessary to blast the faithful out of passivity. It is an important question to ask what each Catholic will do. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Investigative Grand Jury (GJ) report lays out the facts and ...
Whoa, really?All you had for Sunday, Mother's Day was a front-page article on mothers in prison.As a mother of four, I found this article very offensive. It could have been placed in the Life section, but to put it as a front-page article was at most very demeaning to all those mothers out ...
Shame on you, Altoona Mirror, for all the more coverage you gave to our hometown boy, Mike Reid.The Mishler was packed. He put on a beautiful, funny, sentimental show.He deserves much more than what you gave him.Ellie RyanAltoona
Point fingers where blame actually lies.A letter was printed by Robert Leonard of Altoona on May 6 blasting police for high-speed chases.Leonard asserts that cruiser repairs, risked lives and property damage cost taxpayers, thus suggesting pursuits should be completely abolished. The letter ...
President Barack Obama said we ignorantly cling to our guns and Bibles in Pennsylvania.Recent Pennsylvanians are more sophisticated. The world now knows us for Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, Joe Paterno and the sexual abuse of boys.History will also remember Altoona-Johnstown for sexual abuse ...
I just got home from a Mike Reid concert, and wow.It brought so many emotions home to me, including how much Altoona has affected a lot of us. Reid's love for Altoona is heartwarming.What an awesome man, and to put on a concert benefiting Contact Altoona is spectacular. Everyone attending ...