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Garfield Park shows partnership works

Letters to the Editor

Four years ago, our Blair County Pickleball Club was given by the City of Altoona and the Blair Rec Commission two abandoned tennis courts in the back of Garfield Park to be used for the conversion to six new pickleball courts. All we had to do was privately raise the funds to pursue this new court construction. Over the course of four months, over $90,000 was raised and in June 2022, we dedicated our new courts. As a follow-up gesture, the City and Rec Commission subsequently procured DCNR funds to build walking trails surrounding these courts, renovate the existing pavilion, install ...

GOP party loyalty needs re-evaluated

Letters to the Editor

I know our district is deep Trump country, but hear me out, because many of us are tired of the chaos. The drama between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has me convinced we need a new way forward. Musk (an American citizen) isn’t perfect. You don’t have to like the A.I. nonsense, his ego or his salutes, but he’s an innovator. Trump (with all his flaws) had some good instincts, but his “Big Beautiful Bill” was the last straw. Republican politicians know better, but they keep nodding along, terrified of MAGA rage. We deserve a party that stands for something, not just whatever ...

Railroad merger may aid Altoona

Editorials

If Norfolk Southern Railroad’s proposed merger with the much larger Union Pacific Railroad comes to pass, the combining of the two carriers might be bad for Altoona’s Juniata Locomotive Shop, but it actually might be good instead. Look at the possible merger from two perspectives, first the negative one that seems to be dominant at this point. The negative perspective envisions at least a cutback in employment, if not total closure of the local operation. Union Pacific no doubt would control major decisions, if regulatory approvals are forthcoming, because it is the much bigger of ...

Future of America a horrifying thought

Letters to the Editor

Think of the United States of America as that big, beautiful blimp, the Hindenburg airship in 1937, admired by everyone looking up to it everywhere it passed. The whole world admired the innovation and accomplishment it had come to represent. A spark ignited the gases that kept the big, beautiful blimp aloft and it was destroyed, along with more than half of the people aboard. The big ugly destructive Republican budget bill is like the spark that started the fire that destroyed the Hindenburg. The structure is consumed and no longer supports the lives of the people dependent on it. ...

Weather spikes cause concern for our future

Editorials

People here feel and express sorrow for those in this region and state, as well as those in other parts of the country and around the world, who increasingly seem to be beset with catastrophic weather events. Even in this region, which has experienced virtually nothing when compared with what others have experienced — destruction, injuries and deaths, thousands of people and families having been afflicted — many individuals and families here also have experienced difficult circumstances due to Mother Nature’s fury and ravages. While this region’s winter snow events are mild ...

Heros can be found in many places

Letters to the Editor

The Altoona High School class 1963 will celebrate their 80th birthdays on Aug. 2. The Friday before, a group of graduates will get together at Finelli’s Italian Villa. When I come home, I like to go to Finelli’s; it is so friendly and hospitable. Growing up I really didn’t know Frank Finelli since he is younger. He told me once that when he played football for Roosevelt the ’62 football team were his heroes. It never entered my mind that we were heroes. Looking back, I do remember that the older players at the high school were also my hero’s when I played for Roosevelt. ...