pkeith@altoonamirror.com
After a year of being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a brighter, enlivened Railroaders Memorial Museum is ready to receive visitors at its 1200 Ninth Ave. location and at the world famous Horseshoe Curve.
Local residents are encouraged to visit both locations to see what’s new, different and improved, said Executive Director Joseph DeFrancesco. The improvements in exhibit artifacts, videos and a general “refreshening” happened during the closure through the efforts of volunteers under the guidance of new staff specially trained in historical curation.
“We are excited the museum has three credentialed staff members who have used their curatorial abilities and training to make detailed improvements,” he said. The Curve opened Friday and the museum opened March 19 for the 2021 season.
pkeith@altoonamirror.com
Area anglers are strongly advised to use “extreme caution and common sense” when ice fishing, local officials said, because ice thickness varies.
“There’s really no such thing as ‘safe ice, ” said Tim Yeager, assistant park manager at Prince Gallitzin State Park, so those who enjoy ice fishing need to be prepared as well as cautious because ice conditions vary from location to location around the 26 miles of shoreline of Glendale Lake.
An incident Wednesday triggered an alarm for emergency responders after “concerned bystanders” noticed footprints leading from a parked truck going out onto the ice. Further investigation found those who left the tracks were safe and ice fishing out of view on another part of the lake.
pkeith@altoonamirror.com
A long-time advocate for women, Virginia Day of Altoona, is being remembered for her faith and community involvement.
Day, 76, died Jan. 27 after an illness, according to the Rev. Keith Moore, pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where Day was a life member.
“She was a very private person,” Moore said, explaining that Day had been in declining health for about a year.
He described her as the “pillar of the community” whom everyone referred to as “Miss Virginia.”
Day sang in the choir and served as financial secretary for many years and received the title of “trustee emeritus” last year.
pkeith@altoonamirror.com
Irving “Irv” Seltzer of Duncansville died Friday and is being remembered as a Blair County businessman, Rotarian, philanthropist and leader.
“Irv never did anything halfway. He put his heart and soul into everything he did,” said Joe Hurd, president/CEO of the Blair County Chamber. “You don’t realize until after someone is gone the void that is left by his passing.”
Altoona businessman Larry McAleer said he knew Seltzer as a client in his plumbing and heating business, as a Rotarian and friend.
“I was really, really lucky to see a lot of Irv,” McAleer said. “Irv always seemed to be calm. He didn’t rattle. He was steady all the time.”
12/11/20 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski /
Blair County native Bill Campbell of Pittsburgh has been selected by AARP, the nonprofit organization for people 50 and older, to receive the 2020 AARP Pennsylvania Andrus Award for Community Service the association’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award for community service.
Named for AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus, the award recognizes outstanding individuals who are making their communities better in ways that are consistent with AARP’s mission, vision and commitment to volunteer service, and who inspire others to volunteer.
Andrus’ motto, “To serve, not to be served,” has shaped AARP’s community service efforts at all levels.