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Early start
(Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski)
Rachel Phillips, 4, works on her Kid Writing project Friday as teacher Maryann Karlheim watches at Begin With Us Child Care and Preschool.
May 12, 2008
Allison Lockard already is learning to read at age 4, picking out letters and words she recognizes, sounding out words and spelling them for her mom, Marsha.
The Altoona child participates in the Pre-K Counts program at Begin With Us Child Care and Preschool, a year-old state-funded program to help prepare children for kindergarten and beyond.
“I think the program is wonderful,” Marsha Lockard said. “She has done great since she’s been here.”
Allison joined the program when it began last fall.
» Full Story
Pa. tax breaks won’t be cash
May 12, 2008
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Property tax reductions from Pennsylvania slot-machine revenue likely will stir a lot of questions when school districts send 2008-09 real estate tax bills in June.
» Full Story
Book bonder
May 12, 2008
MARTINSBURG — Joyce Paden beams with pride when talking about the local children who call her ‘‘the book lady.’’
The title fits Paden, who has been Martinsburg Public Library’s director since 1978.
» Full Story
Biting the bullet on reassessment
May 11, 2008
BEDFORD — By the end of next year, all 36,000 properties in Bedford County will go through a re-evaluation process aimed toward establishing more accurate property values and adjusting local taxes fairly.
» Full Story
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Erik Brown
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Sell Wins 3rd USA 25K Title
Sun, May 11, 2008 @ 9:56PM
On Thursday I wrote that I couldn't find anything in the pre-race coverage that indicated what Brian Sell's expectations were for Saturday's USA Track & Field 25K Championships at the Fifth Third River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On Saturday morning I found a post on RunnersWorld.com that quoted Sell as follows: "I'm taking it very seriously." So I wasn't too surprised to learn later that day that Brian had won his 3rd USA 25K title in the last four years. Sell finished first in a time of 1:15:07 - approximately 4:50 per mile pace over the 15.5 mile course. The second place finisher was Wellay Weldeglyorges from Ethiopia in a time of 1:16:06. Please don't ask for the pronunciation of that last name. I have to believe this was a terrific confidence booster for Brian as he heads into the final 12 weeks of preparation for his Olympic marathon at the Beijing Games. Congratulations Brian!
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Emily Dimov-Gottshall
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A bit of Chumbawamba...
Sun, May 11, 2008 @ 8:31PM
Had to share this video...love the imagery and words.
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Ray Eckenrode
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Here and there: Gas prices, Penguins and coffee
Sun, May 11, 2008 @ 10:27PM
Too high? > High gas prices getting you down? Delude yourself thusly: Start putting a set dollar amount of gas in your tank each time you refill. It’s imperative you put the same amount, be it $30, $40 or $50 in your tank each time. Soon, your brain will begin registering the cost of gasoline as that flat amount rather than the per gallon price. So gas will be $40 tomorrow, $40 this weekend and $40 next week. Sure, you’ll have to stop to get gas slightly more frequently, but it will be the same price each time. See? Penguins wrap > Please remember that when you're talking about playoff hockey, being up 2-0 is simply doing what you're supposed to do. There's no advantage in the series until someone loses at home. > I gave them a try Sunday, but if I never hear Joe Beninati and Darren Elliot announce a hockey game again, it will be too soon. Boring, biased, bad.
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Cory Giger
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Suspended players not yet reinstated
Fri, April 25, 2008 @ 10:16PM
A report Friday in the York Daily Record said suspended Penn State players TE Andrew Quarless, DT Chris Baker, LB Navorro Bowman and DB Knowledge Timmons have been reinstated to the team. That report turned out to be incorrect, Penn State spokesman Guido D'Elia told the Mirror. The four players are being allowed to work out with the Nittany Lions, but coach Joe Paterno has not reinstated them to the squad just yet. Isn't working out with the team the same as being on the team? Apparently not. If the players continue to toe the line and do everything Paterno and the coaching staff ask of them, they will have a chance to be reinstated during the summer or fall. If they do not follow the rules and keep up with their academic work, they may not be allowed back on the squad. Allowing the players to work out with the team is a good idea because it will help them stay in shape so they physically will be ready to go if they indeed are reinstated.
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Amy Jo Hanna
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Eight Belles gave all for “the love of the sport”
Wed, May 7, 2008 @ 3:21PM
After a tragedy occurs, such as the one that involved Eight Belles at this year’s Kentucky Derby, it takes me a while to compose myself enough to write somewhat intelligently. I will start by saying I have known many horse owners. Many close friends. I can vouch for the deep love they felt and the impeccable care they gave to their animals. I went through a heartbreaking time when a good friend had to have her old horse put down. Somehow it seemed the bigger the animal the greater the pain even to an outsider like me as she described holding onto her ole’ boy as the vet, in tears, administered the euthanasia. My friend’s lean frame, trying to provide comfort until the very last minute to her longtime companion, crumbled along with her 1,500 lb. horse as he went down for the final time. I remember it took a long time for her tears to dry. They had been friends for almost 27 years.
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Kristin Heinbaugh
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Too cute to pass up
Mon, May 5, 2008 @ 0:33AM
There are so many times I hope to capture an absolutely darling picture of my kids. With Cayleigh, that's not so easy. When she sees the camera, she says cheese before you can turn it on, then she runs over to "see Cayee" before you can snap the picture. That's the downfall of digital cameras. She knows she can see herself on the screen, so you can't get her to hold still. That was the case when I tried to videotape her recently. I had a laser light line level and was shining the light across her arms and stomach. She was trying to pick the red line off herself, but she couldn't. I desperately tried to capture the moment, but she would not hold still because she wanted to "see Cayee." But I found a way to thwart the problem: get her from behind. And that's exactly what I did to document her wearing my hat she found. It's one of those pictures I find adorable.
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Christian Ingram
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First Fantasy - Trend/Mirade (April)
Fri, April 18, 2008 @ 5:42PM
First Fantasy – Trend/Mirage by: Christian Ingram Through two weeks of games in this young 2008 season, we’ve had a chance to get a glimpse of a few tendencies this season. As it stands at the moment, Florida and St. Louis are pretty good, Detroit and Cleveland are not good at all, and Johnny Cueto has redefined the word “good” when he is involved. I think it now means something close to the word “Jesus” amongst fantasy owners. It all comes down to, as Jack Nicholson put it in the original Batman: “Who do you trust?” That is the question you have to be asking yourself as a fantasy owner.
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Sam Johns / Julian Baughman
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Two Quick Comic Hits, And Then Sam's Soapbox Part III
Wed, May 7, 2008 @ 9:48PM
As Julian told you in his last post, one of us would get to you about "Iron Man". It's great; see it and stay till the end. You will get a special treat that gives you an insight into Marvel's film future for the next few years. One of those films will be "Captain America". Recently, word has been spreading that Matthew McConaghey is being fast tracked to star as The Star-Spangled Avenger. With the movie not due to open for another two years, it's probably just a rumor, but we will see. Now, onto the third edition of Sam's Soapbox. This time, we are focusing on the hand that feeds me and the man they employ to write a column once a month in the "Go" magazine, Cory Giger. More often than not, Giger's columns are not something to get worked up about, but last week, he stepped too far over a line that he had no business even approaching: he went and dissed Indiana Jones.
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John Mehno
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Penguins Mania
Sat, May 10, 2008 @ 2:42AM
It's a hockey town, especially when the hockey team is a step away from playing for the league championship. Certainly there are bandwagon jumpers and just as surely, they're going to be resented by long-term fans. It comes with the territory. Everybody loves a winner and the Penguins are currently 10-1 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. They sold out every game this season and the feelings are so strong that a mostly young crowd has been gathering on the lawn at Mellon Arena to watch the games on a big screen. Bob Smizik recently suggested in a Post-Gazette column that the Penguins are now threatening the Steelers' level of popularity which is, of course, silly. They're nowhere near that and probably won't ever be. Hockey just isn't as accessible as football is for most people. The Penguins are having a great ride and have a legitimate chance to win it all. That means the bandwagon will continue to load as the playoffs continue. Good for them.
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Jennifer Morchesky
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Doctor, doctor, give me the news
Tue, May 6, 2008 @ 6:47PM
I've got a bad case of ... Affluenza? I chose Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic as the first selection in my one-woman (?) book club. I admit, I already started it, and I love it so far. The basic premise is that we're expending a great amount of time and energy amassing stuff (junk) to the detriment of our health, our relationships, our mental well-being, and our overall quality of life. This pursuit of stuff is a sickness, complete with yucky symptoms and multiple causes. The authors propose a cure, but I haven't gotten to that part yet. I hope to finish it by next week and talk about it in more detail. And speaking of cures, I found an awesome one for eczema, no thanks to my dermatologist. My solution came from the People's Pharmacy column that runs in the Mirror on Sundays. I've put up with those dry, itchy, scaly patches on the skin all my life and have tried numerous prescription creams with no real success.
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Kate Morris
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Signs of spring
Thu, April 10, 2008 @ 0:31AM
Here is my top 10 list of signs of spring: 10. Long lines have formed at area car washes. 9. Neighborhood kids are out and about with their skateboards. 8. Skunks, also known in these parts as wood pussys, no longer are curtailing their wintertime activities and are out searching for grubs. 7. My yard is home to lots of fat, singing robins. 6. One neighbor is hanging laundry out to dry. 5. Co-worker Larry is wearing shorts, not long pants, to work. 4. Another neighbor has brought out his backyard grill. 3. The Curve boys are back at the Blair County Ballpark. 2. Thunder in the mountains: motorcycles are everywhere. And my No. 1 sure sign of spring: Orange cones have reappeared on Route 22.
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Jim Price
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A Crazy Sunday Afternoon Tradition Returns
Fri, April 25, 2008 @ 7:09PM
This Sunday afternoon, April 27, things will get crazy at the Greenwood Firehall. And most of those responsible will be under the age of 21. It’s Crazy Fest time again! The 18th annual Crazy Fest Amateur Youth Talent Show will take place this Sunday starting at 1 PM at the Greenwood Firehall. Organized and hosted by local entertainer and balloon artist Dennie Huber, Crazy Fest puts the spotlight on the talents of youngsters ages 21 and under.
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Neil Rudel
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Bower in thick of NBA playoffs
Fri, May 9, 2008 @ 3:54PM
NBA playoff observations: *It's nice to see former Hollidaysburg and St. Francis product Jeff Bower enjoying tremendous success as the general manager of the New Orleans Hornets. The organization drafted Chris Paul and almost overnight became a significant factor in the rugged NBA Western Conference. Byron Scott was voted the NBA's coach of the year, but there's no question Bower has put his stamp on the organization. Here's hoping the Hornets get past the Spurs and into the Western finals against the Lakers or the Jazz. *Gotta love TNT's 40 (playoff) games in 40 nights program. *That Cleveland is crashing and burning so far against Boston is not necessarily an indictment on Cavs coach Mike Brown. But the fact that LeBron James is a combined 8-for-42 from the floor is. LeBron has been positively awful, and it's in part because Brown has been totally outcoached by Doc Rivers (who was totally outcoached by Mike Woodson).
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Nick Recchia Tom Worthington
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New Street Fighter Movie casting seems questionable
Fri, May 2, 2008 @ 2:13PM
So after doing a bit of reading last night (OXM) and some internet detective work (IMDB.com) I found out that they are making another Street Fighter movie titled "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li". I'm not sure if this is a good move or not. So far the casting has seems a little shotty. Not saying that the actors, rumored or confirmed to play key characters, in the movie aren't good actors just that I think they could find some better lesser known actors to play the roles and be better at it. Lets check out the list of actors and their roles. Chun-Li - Kristin Kreuk, of Smallville fame, is set to play Chun-Li. I can't decide whether or not she is a good choice. To most guys it won't matter, she is good looking and that is good enough for them. To hardcore Street Fighter fans it might be a huge let down. Balrog: » Read Full Blog
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Kelly Valeri
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Traveling with an entourage takes time and effort
Wed, May 7, 2008 @ 5:23PM
Just a few short years ago, the desire to take a walk around my neighborhood only required that I locate a pair of sneakers. Granted, sometimes that took some effort depending on the status of my closet, but for the most part, I could be striding along in a matter of minutes. Then I added a dog and a baby to my life, and walks suddenly became a bit more tricky. Getting out the door is an event in itself. I've considered slapping a sticky-note checklist on the wall so I don't forget anything: dog leash, plastic bag for any messes, stroller, blanket, burp cloth, toys, kitchen sink. Up until last week, I had been too afraid to attempt controlling an overly enthusiastic puppy while maneuvering a stroller around jagged sidewalks without the help of my husband. At least with him, we're evenly matched -- two adults vs.
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Sam Wagner
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Uncle Sam Couldn't Be Happier
Wed, April 23, 2008 @ 2:17PM
So Pennsylvania chose Hillary. 75 percent of the vote in Cambria County is a pretty big deal. I wonder what would have happened yesterday if Obama would have bowled a strike a few weeks back. I guess we’ll never know. There is much bigger news when it comes to Uncle Sam though, literally. My sister is about 15 weeks away from having a baby which will slap a new and exciting title in front of my name: Uncle. It’s pretty hard to explain how I feel about it.
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Ken Womack
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"Deception"
Sun, April 27, 2008 @ 7:04PM
Deception ** Yuck. All I can say is yuck. Deception begins as a sexy, stylish thriller, only to lose itself in a string of improbable plot twists and narrative layers designed explicitly to confound moviegoers. In itself, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Unfortunately, in the hands of first-time director Marcel Langenegger, Deception ends up being a rather perverse and nonsensical exercise in chicanery. Deception stars Ewan McGregor as Jonathan McQuarry, an introverted accountant who spends almost all of his waking hours alone, working deep into the night on behalf of his latest corporate client. His life is transformed—seemingly for the better—after he meets Wyatt Bose (Hugh Jackman), a suave and confident attorney.
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penn state altoona graduation
AAHS Senior Citizens' Prom
Dist. 6 JR High Track Champ
18th St Comm Church Block Prty