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  • Off Pitt Street Theater Offering Multiple Fall Events, Starts in October

    ERIC SHIELDS, Correspondent|Oct 7, 2021

    In this time of uncertainty, Off Pitt Street Theater (OPS) in Bedford continues to bring live theater to the stage. The fall theater schedule begins with "Fall Fright Nights," a Halloween edition of the group's Atomic Radio, on the third and fourth weekends of October. Director Dawn Ziviello said, "We've got a great cast with a lot of people, a changing cast, probably fifteen different actors." She continued, "We have been hired by several business organizations to do original interactive...

  • Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. to Present Halloween Fundraiser Next Weekend

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Oct 7, 2021

    Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. will be presenting a Halloween Fundraiser at their location at 516 Walnut Street, Hollidaysburg on Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. each evening. The event is a fundraiser to raise additional funds to continue renovation projects of the Hollidaysburg Museum House. The roof project is finished. Now repairs to the exterior wood trim, restoration of the original windows, and painting of the wood frames need done. “We decided on a more educational style Halloween event because we are a h...

  • Claysburg Homecoming Happening This Weekend

    ERIC SHIELDS, Correspondent|Sep 30, 2021

    It is that time of the year again. Homecoming is here. Claysburg’s homecoming will begin with the traditional football game on Friday, Oct. 1, at the Hollidaysburg field. Claysburg-Kimmel will play Juniata Valley, which just recently acquired players from Williamsburg, as Juniata Valley and Williamsburg are doing a co-op. On Saturday, there will be a parade featuring Claysburg-Kimmel’s band, cheerleaders and football team, as well as community organizations, Little Bulldogs and Little Cheerleaders. The parade will start at 2 p.m. and will las...

  • Ye Old Time Fair to be Held at Baker Mansion

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Aug 26, 2021

    The Blair County Historical Society will be holding a Ye Old Time Fair on Saturday, Aug. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. in the yard at The Baker Mansion. According to events committee member Barbi Burns, there will be a wide variety of vendors including both crafts and food vendors. There will be a beer tent, plus music, games and a scavenger hunt. One of the highlights of the event, beginning at 2 p.m., will be a beard and mustache contest, which will be from Victorian Times. There will be ten different categories. Winners will receive prizes. There...

  • Picture Perfect Frame and Gallery Opening in Hollidaysburg

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Jul 29, 2021

    Suzanne Pequignot is not only opening a new art gallery. She is also set to take over her brother-in-law Brian Smith's custom framing business, which he has run for 29 years. Pequignot said that Smith decided that he wanted to do something new. "He was thrilled when I said that I was interested in taking it over. So, I am doing that along with expanding to include an art gallery," she said. She added that she has been having an amazing time interviewing many very talented artists in the area...

  • Baker Mansion Events for August

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Jul 29, 2021

    Movies, dance, music, history and a Ye Old Time Fair: These are just some of the exciting things that are coming up in August at Baker Mansion in Altoona. The month kicks off Aug. 4 at 8:45 p.m. with a free movie night featuring “Toy Story 4.” Then, the 2019 version of “The Lion King” will be presented for another movie night on Aug. 23, also at 8:45 p.m. The mansion’s Sunday on the Lawn series will feature a variety of entertainment starting on Aug. 8 with the Huntingdon Dance Academy on the backyard stage. A week later on Aug. 15, the Altoo...

  • Blair County Court to Celebrate 175th Anniversary on July 27

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Jul 22, 2021

    In conjunction with the 175th anniversary of Blair County, the Blair County courts are also celebrating the milestone birthday. A special free event will be held July 27 at 3 p.m. in courtroom one and is open to the public. According to District Court Administrator Janice Meadows, there will be a celebration commemorating the date of the first court case in Blair County. Senior Judge Jolene Kopriva will be presiding over the event. She says that the ceremony will include admission of new...

  • Five Inductees to Join Claysburg Area Hall of Fame Saturday, July 17

    ERIC SHIELDS, Correspondent|Jul 15, 2021

    Induction into the Claysburg Area Hall of Fame is the highest honor any resident or former resident can receive. "It's normally an annual event" said Rich Allison, founder of Claysburg PAST, the Claysburg history group. The group annually selects up to five people for the induction. The 2020 event, which was postponed due to COVID-19, will be held Saturday, July 17, at 3 p.m. in the Claysburg-Kimmel High School's auditorium. Light refreshments will be served afterward. The seventh annual event,...

  • Blair Co. Anniversary Continues with Colonel William Murray Civil War Days

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Jul 8, 2021

    The celebration of Blair County’s 175th anniversary continues the weekend of July 17 and 18. The Colonel William Murray Civil War Days will be a two-day event taking place at two different locations including the Historic Hollidaysburg Inc., (HHI) House Museum Headquarters located at 516 Walnut St., Hollidaysburg, and the Jacob Walters Log Cabin Homestead, built in 1820, located at 819 3rd Ave., Duncansville. A wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Union Soldier Monument in front of the Blair County Courthouse Sunday afternoon. Also o...

  • Blair County Historical Society to Hold Charity Auction

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Jul 8, 2021

    Editor's Note: The craft show and charity auction have been postponed due to the forecast of thundershowers. The craft show and auction will take place Sunday, July 18. The craft show will last from noon to 5 p.m. The auction will begin at 2 p.m. The Blair County Historical Society is holding a craft show and charity auction to benefit the society. The free event will take place on the lawn of The Baker Mansion. The craft show is from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. with the auction beginning at 2 p.m. Events coordinator for the historical society Kate...

  • Blair Co. 175th Anniversary Events Will Go Through Summer into Fall

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Jul 8, 2021

    Blair County is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. There will be several events marking the occasion throughout the summer into the fall. • July 17 and 18, Historic Hollidaysburg Inc., is holding Colonel Murray Civil War Days. The cost is $10 for adults and free for children under fifteen. Events will take place in both Hollidaysburg and Duncansville. There will be reenactors, a presentation on Lincoln, information about medicine during the Civil War and Colonel Murray himself. • J...

  • Pa. Roundhouse Rally to Start May 27, Run Through September

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|May 27, 2021

    Summer in Blair County can only mean one thing for motorcycle enthusiasts. It is time for the Pennsylvania Roundhouse Rally to be held at Roundhouse Harley-Davidson in Duncansville. The event started in 2018. The first two years, it was held at the Railroaders Memorial Museum in downtown Altoona, and it was a three-day event in June with vendors and bands. Then, according to Marketing Director Debbra Heath, the organization decided at the end of 2019 that they wanted to do weekend events that wo...

  • Off Pitt Street Theatre Provides Plenty of Summer Entertainment

    ERIC SHIELDS, Correspondent|May 13, 2021

    Off Pitt Street Theatre (OPS) in Bedford will provide many entertainment options for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. Starting Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15, OPS will be performing a special edition of Atomic Radio. Titled "Spaceballs," based on the late '80s movie by the same name, the show has been adapted for radio by OPS director Dawn Ziviello and will feature a very talented cast of voice actors. The times for the show will be 8 p.m. each night with the doors opening at 7:30...

  • Hollidaysburg's Springfest Back With Races, Live Music, Sales

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|May 13, 2021

    Spring is here and that means Hollidaysburg's Springfest will be here soon as well. Springfest is set for Saturday, May 15, beginning around 8 a.m. with the YMCA Diamond Dash, a race that is done every year. There will also be a kid's race. It will be a short race and the kids will get a certificate for participating. The Hollidaysburg Area High School Drumline will perform at 9:45 a.m. The stores will open around 10 a.m. Most will stay open until about 2 p.m. and will have specials throughout...

  • Blair County Loses 'A True Patriot'

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|May 6, 2021

    John F. Gority has been described as a true patriot. According to fellow veteran Stanley Snyder, John really loved America. He was proud of his country and he was proud of his family. Gority, a veteran who passed away April 12, lost a leg by stepping on a landmine in Vietnam. According to Minister Paul Johnson, he still never gave up on life. "John was a real go-getter. He didn't let the loss of a limb slow him down," Johnson said. Johnson said that if you knew Gority, you knew he was a...

  • Lines Being Drawn in Battle over Fair Voting Districts in Pennsylvania

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Apr 15, 2021

    Debbie Trudeau, volunteer for the advocacy group Fair Districts Pennsylvania, says the group's goal is to end gerrymandering. Gerrymandering, is the process of creating voting districts to try to guarantee that one party wins and the other party loses any election in the district. The group wants to get Senate Bill 222 and House Bill 22, also known as the "Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Act," passed and in place in time to make a difference in the redistricting that will happen...

  • Alternative Baseball Helps Players Develop Life Skills

    Eric Shields, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Apr 1, 2021

    Georgia native Taylor Duncan would like to bring an alternative baseball league to Altoona. According to its website, Alternative Baseball "provides an authentic baseball experience for teens and adults (ages 15 or older) with autism and other disabilities for physical and social skills enrichment in life on and off the baseball diamond. In Alternative Baseball, games are played using professional league rules." The league helps to teach physical and social skill enrichment in life on and off th...

  • Duncansville Turned 130 Years Old on March 4

    Eric Shields, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Mar 25, 2021

    March 4 marked Duncansville's 130th anniversary as a borough. It all started around 1830 when Samuel Duncan settled on land on the western banks of the stream which cut through the area. He named the town Duncansville. Around the same time, Jacob Walters settled on the eastern side of the stream and named his settlement Walterstown. Eventually, the two settlements decided that it would be mutually beneficial to merge. A big celebration was held, where the locals came out and assembled on the...

  • The Mysterious Faces of the Blair County Courthouse

    Eric Shields, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Mar 18, 2021

    During the recent renovations on the courthouse, it was discovered that there were carved stone faces adorning different areas of the exterior of the building. It turns out that there are 55 to 58 heads. Former Blair County Commissioner Terry Tomassetti contacted the Blair County Genealogical Society and asked for their help in identifying the faces. The courthouse was dedicated in the summer of 1877. In the July 11, 1877, edition of the Hollidaysburg Democrat Standard, all four pages were...

  • Community , 4-H Had a Leader and Friend In Fred Imler, Sr.

    ERIC SHIELDS, Correspondent|Jan 28, 2021

    "He was a Shriner's Shriner," Dan Kindle, Jaffa recorder, said of Fred Imler, Sr. "Anything that supported the kids, he was always there," Kristin Bigelow, former 4H educator, said. "Fred always had a smile on his face," Joe Hurd, president and CEO of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce, said. "His family was very important to him. He considered everybody that he worked with every day to be part of his extended family," his grandson Bryan Imler said. Fred Imler Sr., who passed away Jan. 12, was...

  • Pro Basketball Team Coming to the Altoona Area

    ERIC SHIELDS, Hollidaysburg Correspondent|Jan 21, 2021

    York native Rikk Coleman said that he decided that Altoona was the "perfect spot" for a new professional basketball team because of the community's love for the game. Also important was that the city is far enough from the bigger cities like Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, where there is more competition from other pro sports teams. "It is an area where I can bring a professional sports team and give the people the entertainment that you can get at this type of event," Coleman said. Coleman said...

  • Roaring Spring Author Had a Good Year

    ERIC SHIELDS, Correspondent|Jan 14, 2021

    Roaring Spring author Trisha Ridinger McKee had three books come out this year. First, she had "The Beyond" series, which consists of three parts. The third and final one came out in December. She also had a Christmas short story collection published in December. McKee said that the "Beyond" series started out centered around Ella. She is a middle-age woman whose life is spiraling out of control. Her daughter is a teenager and Ella feels like they are not connected any more. Her husband left...

  • Pro Basketball is coming to Altoona

    Eric Shields, Correspondent|Jan 14, 2021

    York native Rikk Coleman said that he decided that Altoona was the "perfect spot" for a new professional basketball team because of the community's love for the game. Also important was that the city is far enough from the bigger cities like Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, where there is more competition from other pro sports teams. "It is an area where I can bring a professional sports team and give the people the entertainment that you can get at this type of event," Coleman said. Coleman said...

  • Theater to Bring Christmas to Loysburg

    ERIC SHIELDS, Correspondent|Nov 25, 2020

    The Cove Community Theater group, Loysburg, is practicing for its upcoming production of "Christmas Town" in December. Performances are planned for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 5 and 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 5 and 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 at the former United Methodist Church in Loysburg. Mary Ellen Laird, director of the Cove Community Theater, says Christmas Town is about Elf, which is Buddy trying to find the real meaning of Christmas. He starts at New York City and walks through all of...